With Qingmu and Ling Meng, two Nascent Soul Eminences backing them up, everyone was noticeably more relaxed during the journey.
They chatted and laughed along the way, sharing anecdotes and tales.
Li Fan listened with a faint smile, never joining in.
During their travels, they occasionally encountered cultivators from other provinces.
While exchanging news and experiences, Li Fan happened to learn that the prophecy about the imminent return of the Medicine King Sect's Medicine King Cauldron had already begun circulating in various regions.
However, at this time, most people still treated it as a joke, not taking it seriously.
It seemed Jiao Xiuyuan had already begun exerting his influence and setting plans in motion, though it would still take considerable time for public opinion to take shape.
Time passed swiftly. After spending over half a year traveling, the group finally returned to the Congyun Sea. By now, it was already Anchor Year 13.
Most members exchanged contact methods with one another. And after bidding farewells, they each departed to rest.
Li Fan's avatar entered the Tianxuan Mirror, performed a ritual, and arrived within the Bone Vanguard Realm.
***
On a nameless, desolate island.
Xiao Heng, now in the late-stage Qi Refinement realm, suddenly stirred from meditation.
Activating the pendant on his chest, his consciousness instantly arrived within the Bone Vanguard Realm as well.
"Senior? You're awake?" he exclaimed with pleasant surprise, gazing at the skull that seemed to have regained some of its vitality.
"Cough... I've only recovered slightly, barely escaping the fate of complete dissipation. I awoke this time to entrust you with a task. I must return to slumber to continue healing my injuries," the skull spoke in a weak tone.
"While I was dormant, I sensed another individual with considerable talent near you..."
Xiao Heng quickly replied, "That's Ye Feipeng, a companion who left my hometown with me. His cultivation speed is remarkably fast, and he's very reliable."
The skull fell silent for a moment, as if sensing something. "Hmm, this little fatty's talent is indeed not much inferior to yours.
"Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be the one I sensed during my slumber."
Xiao Heng was taken aback, then immediately responded, "Could it be my little sister? Though she's still very young, she can already run and jump, and her strength is astonishing!"
"Hm... This little girl's natural aptitude is terrifying indeed. Why hasn't she begun cultivating yet? How has such a prodigy not been recruited into our Immortal Avengers already? Xiao boy, how could you be so negligent?
"How can I feel assured entrusting the foundation of the Immortal Avengers entirely to you if you act this way?" the skull scolded reproachfully.
"Ah?" Xiao Heng's face flushed red as he flusteredly explained, "Senior, please don't misunderstand! I simply thought my little sister was too young and didn't want to rush her into cultivation—"
The skull cut him off. "A peerless genius cannot be measured by ordinary standards. By doing this, you're only holding her back.
"Hmm, you are still too young after all. It seems my decision to immediately burden you with such heavy responsibilities was somewhat rash..." the skull murmured to itself.
"Senior..." Xiao Heng was momentarily at a loss.
After a long silence, the skull seemed to reach a decision.
"A single pillar cannot support an entire structure. This burden is indeed too heavy for you to bear by yourself.
"Very well. I shall lend you a helping hand once more."
As it spoke, the skull soared into the air. From its hollow eye sockets, a beam of ghostly light shot forth.
Within the radiance, countless images flickered and alternated rapidly. Xiao Heng could vaguely make out visions of many islands, each with distinct and varied landscapes.
After a moment, the flashing images abruptly ceased. The skull fell to the ground, as if having expended too much energy.
Xiao Heng rushed forward but was called to a halt.
As the light emitted by the skull struck him, information about several individuals instantly surfaced in Xiao Heng's mind.
"Liuli Island, Zhang Haobo...
"Yelan Island, Yin Yueting, Yin Yuzhen...
"Senior, who are these people?"
Xiao Heng felt bewildered.
"These are children of providence within the region of the Congyun Sea. I found them with a secret art that allows me to detect such beings in heaven and earth.
"These individuals either possess remarkable cultivation talent or harbor unique abilities. They will be of great help to you in revitalizing the Immortal Avengers.
"It's a pity my injuries are too severe, and the secret art was interrupted. I only managed to find these few..."
The skull sighed.
"Kid, my power is depleted again. From here on, it's up to you.
"Remember, focus on developing and improving your own strength. The Myriad Immortals Alliance is too powerful; even a Nascent Soul cultivator can hardly make waves. So, your primary task is cultivation.
"As for these new recruits, do not directly reveal the true nature of the Immortal Avengers to them. Just refer to it as a rogue cultivator organization, so as not to frighten them. As for the specifics, you can decide on them yourself..."
The skull's voice grew fainter and fainter, eventually vanishing into silence.
"Senior..."
Seeing this, Xiao Heng clenched his fists tightly.
After a long while, his eyes slowly regained their determination.
Upon awakening from the vanguard realm, Xiao Heng intended to find Ye Feipeng to discuss the matter of seeking out the various children of providence.
Unexpectedly, Ye Feipeng sought him out first, behaving in a sneaky and mysterious manner.
He pulled Xiao Heng to a secluded, uninhabited spot before slowly delivering his piece.
"Tian Yang’s cave dwelling? Several Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by a Golden Core cultivator, went in to explore. The result was heavy casualties, with only the Golden Core cultivator escaping?" Xiao Heng looked at Ye Feipeng, feeling somewhat perplexed. "Why are you telling me this?"
Ye Feipeng said gravely, "The Myriad Immortals Alliance is preparing a second expedition. This time, the exploration team will likely be led by a Nascent Soul cultivator, accompanied by many Golden Core cultivators.
"However, it's useless! Those doomed to die cannot escape their fate! I believe that the second expedition team will still be completely wiped out!"
Xiao Heng was stunned: "Impossible, right? Didn't you say this is a Golden Core cave dwelling? How could even a Nascent Soul cultivator die inside?"
Ye Feipeng snorted coldly: "That's because the seventeen mechanical puppets within Tian Yang’s cave dwelling possess a peculiar characteristic!
"They grow weaker when facing the weak, and stronger when facing the strong!" he enunciated each word slowly, his voice heavy.
Xiao Heng narrowed his eyes, carefully contemplating the meaning of these words.
Suddenly, he scrutinized Ye Feipeng and asked suspiciously, "How do you know all this so clearly?"
Ye Feipeng waved his hand: "I was born with this knowledge! Have you forgotten?
"That's not the point. The point is, we must sneak into the cave dwelling before the second expedition team is formed and seize the opportunities inside!" Ye Feipeng declared resolutely.
"Otherwise, when the Myriad Immortals Alliance's team gets wiped out again, it'll cause an uproar. We won't have any chance to seize the opportunity unnoticed!"
Seeing Xiao Heng's doubtful eyes, Ye Feipeng grew anxious, "You don’t believe me?
"Would I ever harm you?! We're both from Li World, both members of the Immortal Avengers, and we've even signed the contract.
"We share the same breath and branches, we flourish and suffer together. How could I possibly do anything against you!"
In the end, Xiao Heng was persuaded.
The two quietly arrived at the underwater volcano near Tian Yang's cave dwelling.
At this time, news of Tian Yang's cave dwelling hadn't spread widely yet. Their surroundings were silent, with no cultivators lying in wait.
"Go in first and test the strength of those puppets. See how long you can hold out.
"When the puppets are at the Qi Refinement realm, their attack power is weak. Even if you get hit, it's nothing serious. I'll keep watch outside." Ye Feipeng instructed.
Xiao Heng slowly nodded with a grave expression, then flew into Tian Yang's cave dwelling.
After about twenty breaths, Xiao Heng rushed out, looking somewhat disheveled. He didn't speak, just quietly closing his eyes in thought.
After a while, he flew back inside again.
This time, Xiao Heng lasted twice as long.
The third time...
Half a day later, Xiao Heng said to Ye Feipeng with some exhaustion, "I've pretty much figured out the attack patterns of these puppets. But my spiritual qi is limited. I can't hold out for long."
Ye Feipeng looked completely confident as he handed a storage ring to Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng looked inside and found that the ring was filled with spirit stones.
"Where did you get these?" he couldn't help asking.
Ye Feipeng said proudly, "I naturally have my methods, don't worry about it.
"So, with these spirit stones, how long can you hold out for?"
Xiao Heng took out a spirit stone, sensing the concentration of spiritual qi within.
After a moment, he answered with certainty, "With sufficient spiritual qi support, the puppets shouldn't be able to do anything to me."
Ye Feipeng quickly said, "No, no, that won't do. You need to be at a disadvantage but not defeated. Hold out as long as you can, at least until I come out from inside."
Xiao Heng frowned, "Fatty, are you making fun of me? What kind of strange request is this?"
Then he examined Ye Feipeng carefully, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Don't be so suspicious. I'm not telling you just because I'm afraid it might affect your mindset and reduce your combat effectiveness," Ye Feipeng said somewhat helplessly. "If we're talking about danger, isn't it more dangerous for me? I’ll be inside the cave dwelling after all.
"If something really goes wrong, you still have hope of escaping through the exit. I wouldn't even be able to slip away."
Xiao Heng slowly nodded.
"Alright, no time to waste. Let's prepare a bit and start immediately. My life is in your hands now!"
Ye Feipeng was somewhat nervous, but he took a deep breath, and a flash of resolve appeared in his eyes.
"Let's go!"
After a moment, the two rushed into Tian Yang's cave dwelling one after another.
Seventeen puppets blocked their path.
Light flashed under Ye Feipeng's feet, and with a sudden flicker, he slipped past them, appearing behind the puppets.
The enraged puppets tried to pursue, but were intercepted by azure water swords.
Countless water swords filled the air like soaring dragons, erupting all at once as Xiao Heng engaged all seventeen puppets in fierce combat.
Soon, he was surrounded and besieged. The puppets' attacks missed him by mere inches, and the slightest misstep would have resulted in severe injury. Yet he was incredibly lucky, narrowly evading each strike at the last possible moment. Though the situation appeared perilous, he remained in complete control.
The battle between them raged for some time.
The puppets, unable to secure victory, seemed to undergo a strange transformation. The power behind their movements gradually surpassed the Qi Refinement realm. At the same time, faint black light began shimmering across their crimson bodies.
A sudden sense of foreboding gripped Xiao Heng's heart. He retrieved another spirit stone, replenishing his spiritual qi.
"Fatty, are you done yet?" he shouted toward the depths of the cave dwelling.
His echoes reverberated, but no response came. Thus, Xiao Heng had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure.
The puppets' assaults grew increasingly fierce, and Xiao Heng found it harder to maintain his defense.
Just as a puppet's strike was about to land, he roared, "Water Dragon's Roar!"
Instantly, twice as many water swords as were already on the field materialized. A dense barrage of Sea-Calming Sword strikes forced the puppets back.
The seventeen puppets froze for a brief moment. Then, cracks began spreading across their bodies.
"Fatty! Something's wrong!" Xiao Heng yelled.
"Tian..." An ancient, mechanical voice suddenly echoed through the cave dwelling.
"Damn it! There's nothing here!" Ye Feipeng's frustrated shout echoed simultaneously.
Transforming into a slender streak of light, he shot out from the depths without looking back.
"Run!" he screamed while fleeing.
Xiao Heng had never seen the fatty so terrified before.
His heart clenched, and without hesitation, he unleashed his spiritual qi without reserve.
The Sea-Calming Sword Art erupted like a storm of pear blossoms, forcing the seventeen puppets into retreat.
Xiao Heng followed closely behind Ye Feipeng, fleeing Tian Yang’s cave dwelling in haste.
"Yang..."
Before leaving, Xiao Heng heard the sound of something fracturing.
"Keep flying! As far as you can!" Ye Feipeng's panicked voice echoed in his ears.
Xiao Heng's tension mounted as he followed the fatty's surprisingly agile figure in their desperate escape.
Not long after Xiao Heng and Ye Feipeng departed, a squad of over a dozen cultivators arrived at the entrance of Tian Yang’s cave dwelling.
"With Eminence Gou Xuan leading us, this Golden Core cave dwelling will be a walk in the park," one Golden Core cultivator in the team chuckled.
"Hahaha, let's go! I want to see if the puppets in this cave dwelling are truly as remarkable as they say!" Eminence Gou Xuan laughed heartily, striding inside first.
What greeted him was a massive, cracked black hand.
"Tian Yang is...
"Not weaker than others!"
Billowing smoke plumed into the sky as underwater volcanoes erupted one after another.
Faced with such terrifying power, the Golden Core cultivators stood no chance.
One moment, the exploration team wore smiles of confidence. The next, they vanished from this world—swift, inexplicable, and utterly erased.
The towering Tian Yang puppet stood with its head held high, releasing an enraged roar.
After taking a moment to orient itself, it began striding purposefully toward Myriad Immortals Island.