Hu Yingluo gradually became closer to the other women. After all, being women themselves, they were never short of gossipy topics, most of which revolved around Yingluo’s life in Britain.
Xiao Yufan was once again left aside. He had long since become accustomed to this situation. Fortunately, Sister Shiyun and Liu Hua remained by his side, preventing him from feeling overly awkward.
His current strength had stabilized at the凝功 (condensed energy) stage, and the density of his internal energy was in no way inferior to practitioners who had remained at this level for a long time.
This gave him even more confidence in the upcoming Ancient Martial Arts Conference. Although the Hidden Guo family had not extended an invitation to him, the Tian Alliance was among those invited, so his participation was entirely justified.
“I wonder which layer of the Dragon-Controlling Secret Formula I’m on now…”
His eyes gleamed with intensity. At this moment, Xiao Yufan’s greatest asset was the Dragon-Controlling Secret Formula within him. Such an extraordinary technique significantly enhanced both his internal energy and overall power. Once unleashed during a battle, it would surely catch opponents completely off guard.
Previously, at the middle stage of Ning Jing (condensed energy), the Dragon-Controlling Secret Formula had already reached its second layer. Now, it was likely nearing the fourth. Thinking of this, his smile deepened slightly. Strength, after all, was always crucial.
Just as Xiao Yufan was enjoying his peaceful life, high atop a snowy mountain in the northwest of China…
Three figures stood with their hands behind their backs, their natural aura seemingly blending into the heavens and earth. The icy cold wind had no effect on them, and the swirling mist added an air of mystery.
“Fourth Brother, how is the task I assigned you? We’ve waited for decades already. If we can’t return soon, we might be stuck here forever!”
One of the men, a middle-aged figure among the trio, glanced at the man beside him as he spoke slowly. His deep, penetrating eyes seemed capable of seeing through anything. Under such a gaze, even the so-called “Fourth Brother” couldn’t help but twitch his lips slightly.
“Although those fools from the Hidden Situ family aren’t particularly strong, they are quite adept at creating a stir. I suspect everyone’s attention has already shifted to the Ancient Martial Arts Conference. That will make it much easier for us to act!”
“If that’s the case, then all the better. We’ve already waited far too long!”
The middle-aged man seemed to fall into thought. After being in this world for so long, they had tried countless times to return to their own, but without success. Their once calm hearts had finally begun to stir.
“Yes, if it weren’t for the extremely thin spiritual energy in this world, Big Brother would have already broken through to take us back. Why would we have to painstakingly search for the ancient transmission array left behind in this world…”
The only woman among the three, who had remained unusually quiet, murmured softly. This place was never meant to be their world. If they hadn’t accidentally stumbled here, there wouldn’t have been so many troubles.
“Big Brother has been in seclusion for so long, I imagine he’s making a final attempt. If he succeeds, we’ll have a decent chance of leaving this wretched place. If he fails, we’ll have to find other means.”
They were well aware of their current predicament. Having stayed in this desolate place for decades, they had grown weary. And if they couldn’t break through their current cultivation level soon, the day of reckoning would inevitably come for them all.
“As long as no one notices us this time, it should be much easier to act. Previously, some of the guardian temples in China had been watching us closely. After all, the last time we attacked the Hidden Situ family, we caused quite a commotion!”
Besides waiting for their leader to break through his limitations, the three had never been idle. Previously, upon receiving intelligence that the Hidden Situ family might possess a lost transmission array, they had decided to act. However, that very incident made them realize that even in this spiritually barren world, there were still cultivators as powerful as themselves.
But their attempt had not succeeded—the Hidden Situ family did not possess what they sought. It was around that time that they had been marked by many of China’s guardian temples. If not for that, they wouldn’t have had to flee all the way to the snowy mountains of northwest China.
“I hope those fools can actually be of some use. Otherwise, all our efforts would be in vain. Those guys from the guardian temples are truly annoying!”
The middle-aged man furrowed his brows. Their current situation was indeed a precarious one—any misstep might lead to unexpected disaster. After all, even with their formidable strength, they couldn’t possibly take on all of China’s guardian temples. Fortunately, not everyone within those temples bore them ill will.
The three soon fell into contemplation. Although they had long ceased involvement in the affairs of the hidden clans and guardian temples, they knew well that the current world of martial cultivators and ancient families was far more complicated than it once was.
“Are we really doing the right thing?”
The quiet woman, though exuding a cold aura, possessed an incomparable beauty that stirred the soul. Seeing her exquisite profile, the two beside her felt a slight stir within, though they did not reveal it on their faces.
“Third Sister, this is no time for compassion. As long as we can return home, what are a few sacrifices? Besides, if they had just obeyed quietly, none of this would have happened!”
Though stern, the second eldest brother, Lao Er, held great affection for his younger sister. Even his usually rigid face softened into a faint smile. Yet they both knew their Third Sister’s only flaw was her excessive kindness.
Together with their eldest brother, the four had originally sworn brotherhood. But they had not expected to be tricked and end up in this world. Besides the eldest, Luo Lou, who had yet to appear, the second was Xiao Ding, the third was Yu Yiren, and the fourth was Li Xuan. Since arriving in this world, they had rarely ever separated.
“But…” Yu Yiren sighed softly, swallowing the words she had intended to say. Though she had never directly participated in their actions, a deep sense of guilt lingered in her heart. In the eyes of Big Brother and Second Brother, were the people of this world merely stepping stones?
“Enough. Don’t think too much. As long as we can return, anything we do is justified!”
A faint, eerie smile curled Xiao Ding’s lips. In his eyes, the lives and deaths of people in this world meant nothing. His sole purpose was to locate the ancient transmission array left behind from the previous martial era and leave this place…
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