With Greenwood and Ling Meng, two True Lords at the Nascent Soul stage, leading the way, everyone clearly felt much more relaxed during the journey.
They chatted and laughed along the way, discussing various anecdotes and secrets. Li Fan just smiled and listened, not actively participating.
During the journey, they occasionally encountered cultivators from other provinces.
While exchanging information, Li Fan happened to learn that prophecies about the return of the Medicine King Cauldron were starting to circulate in various places.
However, at this point, everyone treated it as a joke and didn't take it seriously.
It seemed that Jiao Xiuyuan had already started making efforts in his plan. However, truly influencing public opinion would still take a considerable amount of time.
Time passed quickly, and after almost half a year, the group finally returned to the Cong Yun Sea.
By now, it had been thirteen years since the anchor was set.
Most people had exchanged contact information, and after bidding farewell, they each went their separate ways to rest.
The clone, who had entered the Tianxuan Mirror Realm, activated the ritual and arrived in the White Bone Realm.
...
On the nameless deserted island.
Xiao Heng, who was already in the later stage of Qi Condensation, suddenly showed a change in expression while meditating.
He activated the necklace on his chest, and his consciousness also arrived in the White Bone Realm.
"Senior? Have you awakened?" He looked at the skull, which seemed to have regained some vitality, and spoke with excitement.
"Cough, just a slight recovery, I've barely escaped the fate of complete disappearance. I woke up this time because there's a task I need to assign to you. Next, I'll continue to heal my injuries in my sleep." The skull spoke weakly.
"While I was in slumber, it seemed like I sensed someone with a similarly excellent talent around you...," the skull continued.
Quickly, Xiao Heng responded, "It's a companion who came out of my hometown with me, Ye Feipeng. His cultivation speed is also fast and very reliable."
The skull pondered for a moment, seemingly sensing, "Hmm, the talent of this little fatty is indeed not much weaker than yours. It's a pity that the person I sensed during my slumber doesn't seem to be the same."
Xiao Heng was puzzled for a moment and quickly replied, "Could it be my little sister? Although she's still very young, she can already run and jump, and her strength is frightening!"
"Ah, this little girl's talent is quite terrifying as well. However, how come she hasn't started cultivating yet? Such talent should have been absorbed into our Immortal Revival Organization long ago, right? Child, why are you so lax?" The skull interrupted him.
Xiao Heng blushed and explained, "Senior, please don't misunderstand. I just thought my little sister was still young, so I didn't rush to let her cultivate."
The skull interrupted him again, "Peerless talent cannot be measured by common sense. You're only holding her back."
"Well, you are still too young after all. It seems that it was a hasty decision to pass such a heavy responsibility to you back then..."
The skull muttered to itself in a low voice.
"Senior..." Xiao Heng was at a loss for words for a while.
After a long time, the skull seemed to make a decision.
"Holding this responsibility is too difficult for you alone."
"So, I'll lend you a hand."
Saying this, the skull flew into the sky. In its hollow eye sockets, a faint light shot out.
In the light, countless scenes quickly flashed.
After a while, the flickering images suddenly stopped.
The skull, as if it had consumed too much energy, fell to the ground.
Xiao Heng hurriedly went forward but was stopped.
As the light emitted by the skull hit him, several people's information quickly appeared in Xiao Heng's mind.
"Liuli Island, Zhang Haobo..."
"Night Island, Yin Yueting, Yin Yuzhen..."
"Senior, what is this?" Xiao Heng couldn't help but feel a little confused.
"These are the sons and daughters of destiny that I found within the scope of the Cong Yun Sea using a secret technique. These people either have outstanding cultivation talents or possess extraordinary abilities. They will be of great help to you in revitalizing the Immortal Revival Organization."
"Unfortunately, my strength is exhausted. In the future, it will depend on your own luck."
"Remember, focus on developing and improving your own strength. The power of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is immense, and even at the Nascent Soul level, it's difficult to make any waves."
"So, your top priority is cultivation."
"For these new additions, don't directly reveal the details of Immortal Revival Organization to them. Just say it's an independent cultivation organization to avoid scaring them."
"As for the specifics, it's up to you to decide..."
The voice of the skull became fainter and fainter, finally becoming ethereal, disappearing into the darkness.
"Senior..." Xiao Heng held tightly to his fists.
After a long time, his gaze gradually became firm again.
Awakening from the pre-expedition realm, Xiao Heng planned to find Ye Feipeng first and discuss with him about finding the various sons and daughters of destiny.
Unexpectedly, Ye Feipeng had already taken the initiative to come over.
Sneakily dragging Xiao Heng to a secluded and uninhabited place, Ye Feipeng began to speak slowly.
"Tian Yang Cave? Several Foundation Building cultivators went in for exploration under the leadership of a Golden Core cultivator, but the results were disastrous, with heavy casualties, and only the Golden Core cultivator managed to escape?" Xiao Heng looked at Ye Feipeng, feeling a bit puzzled.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Ye Feipeng said sternly, "The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance is preparing for a second exploration. This time, the exploration team is likely to be led by a Nascent Soul cultivator, with the addition of several Golden Core cultivators."
"However, it's useless!"
"No one can escape death! I boldly speculate that the second exploration team will still be wiped out!"
Xiao Heng was taken aback, "It's impossible. Didn't you say it's a Golden Core cultivator's cave? How could even Nascent Soul cultivators die inside?"
Ye Feipeng snorted, "That's because the Tian Yang Cave's seventeen puppets have strange characteristics!"
"They are weak against the weak and strong against the strong!" He emphasized each word, speaking solemnly.
Xiao Heng squinted his eyes, pondering the meaning of these words.
Suddenly, he stared at Ye Feipeng and asked, "How do you know all this so well?"
Ye Feipeng waved his hand dismissively, "I just know it, I just know it! Have you forgotten?"
"That's not the point. The point is, we must quietly sneak into the cave before the second exploration team is formed and seize the opportunities inside!" Ye Feipeng asserted decisively.
"Otherwise, when the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's team is wiped out again, it will cause a huge sensation and make it impossible for us to seize the opportunities without attracting attention!"
Seeing Xiao Heng's skeptical eyes, Ye Feipeng became anxious and asked repeatedly, "You don't believe me?"
"Would I harm you?!"
"We are both cultivators from Dali, we are both members of Immortal Revival Organization, and we've even signed a contract."
"We're on the same boat, from the origins!"
"How could I harm you?!"
...
In the end, Xiao Heng was persuaded.
The two quietly approached the vicinity of Tian Yang Cave and the underwater volcano.
At this time, the news about Tian Yang Cave had not spread on a large scale, and the surroundings were quiet without any cultivators lurking.
"You go in first and learn the attack patterns of those puppets. See how long you can endure."
"The puppets at the Qi Condensation stage have weak attack power. Even if you are hit, it won't matter."
"I'll keep a lookout outside."
Ye Feipeng instructed.
Xiao Heng nodded slowly, his expression serious, and he flew into Tian Yang Cave.
After about twenty breaths of time, Xiao Heng rushed out looking somewhat embarrassed.
Without saying a word, he just closed his eyes and pondered.
After a while, he flew back in again.
This time, Xiao Heng persisted twice as long.
The third time...
After half a day, Xiao Heng exhaustedly said to Ye Feipeng, "I have roughly figured out the attack patterns of these puppets."
"But my spiritual energy is limited. Even with this understanding, I can't hold on for long."
Ye Feipeng, looking confident, handed a storage ring to Xiao Heng.
When Xiao Heng took a look, the ring was filled with spirit stones.
"Where did you get these?" he couldn't help but ask.
Ye Feipeng, feeling proud, said, "I have my own methods. Don't worry about it."
"How about it? With these spirit stones, how long can you endure?"
Xiao Heng took out a spirit stone and sensed its spiritual energy concentration.
After a while, he affirmed, "With enough spiritual energy to support me, those puppets, although numerous, should not be able to harm me."
Ye Feipeng hurriedly said, "No, no, this won't do. You must be at a disadvantage but not be defeated. In this way, endure for as long as possible until I come out from inside."
Xiao Heng frowned, "Fatty, are you teasing me? What kind of weird request is this?"
Then, he carefully scrutinized Ye Feipeng and said suspiciously, "Do you have something you're hiding from me?"
"Don't be so suspicious. I'm not telling you just to prevent it from affecting your mentality, thereby reducing your combat power." Ye Feipeng said helplessly, "In terms of danger, I'm in greater danger inside the cave. If something really happens, you still have hope of escaping from the exit. I, on the other hand, can't even escape."
Xiao Heng nodded slowly upon hearing this.
"Alright, no time to waste. Let's make some preparations and take action immediately. My life is in your hands!" Ye Feipeng looked a bit nervous, but after taking a deep breath, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Let's go!"
After a while, the two rushed into the Tian Yang Cave one after another.
Seventeen puppets blocked their way.
Ye Feipeng's feet flashed, and he quickly maneuvered around them, appearing behind the puppets.
The enraged puppets were about to pursue but were intercepted by deep blue water swords.
Countless water swords, like flying dragons, erupted simultaneously.
Xiao Heng instantly stood within the seventeen puppets.
Surrounded by the attacking puppets, Xiao Heng looked extremely wretched.
The puppet's attacks always almost grazed his body.
There was a risk of severe injury with the slightest carelessness.
Yet, seemingly with extremely good luck, he managed to avoid every attack.
The situation appeared perilous but was actually completely under control.
The battle between the two sides continued for some time.
The puppets that couldn't break through seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation.
The power displayed in each move gradually exceeded the scope of the Qi Condensation stage.
On their crimson bodies, a faint black light began to shine.
A sense of foreboding suddenly emerged in Xiao Heng's heart.
He took out another spirit stone to replenish his internal spiritual energy.
He shouted towards the inner part of the cave, "Fatty, are you done yet?"
Echoes spread all around, but there was no response.
Xiao Heng had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.
The puppet's attacks became more ruthless, and Xiao Heng began to struggle.
As he was about to be hit by the puppets, he shouted, "Water Dragon Song!"
Twice as many water swords suddenly appeared.
The densely packed Sea Fixing Swords immediately scattered the puppets.
The seventeen puppets paused for a moment.
Then, cracks gradually appeared on their bodies.
"Fatty! Something's not right!" Xiao Heng shouted.
"Tian... " A sudden ancient and mechanical voice echoed from the cave.
"Damn it! How come there's nothing?" Ye Feipeng's extremely frustrated voice also sounded at the same time.
He turned into a thin line and dashed out of the depths of the cave without looking back.
"Run!"
While fleeing, he shouted anxiously.
Xiao Heng had never seen Fatty so scared before.
His heart trembled, and without hesitation, he burst out with his spiritual energy.
The Sea Fixing Swords, like a torrential rain of pear blossoms, forced the seventeen puppets to retreat.
Xiao Heng followed closely behind Ye Feipeng, escaping from Tian Yang Cave.
"Yang..."
Before leaving, Xiao Heng heard the sound of something shattering.
"Keep running, as far as you can!" Ye Feipeng's fearful voice came from beside him.
Xiao Heng's heart tightened, and he followed the plump but extremely agile figure of Ye Feipeng, escaping in a sorry state.
Shortly after Xiao Heng and Ye Feipeng left, a small team of more than a dozen people happened to arrive at the entrance of Tian Yang Cave.
"This time, with True Lord Gouxuan leading the way, exploring a small Golden Core cave is sure to be a piece of cake," praised a Golden Core cultivator in the team.
"Hahaha, let's go! I want to see if the puppets in this cave are really that amazing!" True Lord Gouxuan laughed heartily and walked into the cave first.
What greeted him was a giant black hand full of cracks.
...
"Tian Yang's soul..."
"Not weaker than man!"
Thick smoke rose to the sky as the underwater volcano repeatedly erupted.
In the face of this terrifying power, the Golden Core cultivators had no resistance.
This exploration team, just a second ago, had smiles on their faces.
The next moment, they mysteriously and inexplicably vanished from this world.
The towering Tian Yang puppet stood tall, roaring angrily.
After discerning the direction, it took a big stride towards Ten Thousand Immortals Island.