Wei Yunqing looked up at the darkening sky and suddenly felt an uneasy premonition. The moment a furious beast roar echoed, her body shivered. She was certain that the giant beasts were about to launch a new wave of attacks.
At that moment, Wei Yunqing was pleasantly surprised to find other cultivators within her divine sense. They seemed to notice her too. She hesitated only for an instant before quickly moving closer, realizing it was Sheng Yuhong.
Sheng Yuhong was equally puzzled. When he had scanned this area with his divine sense earlier, he hadn't detected any cultivators. How could one appear so suddenly? Was it an illusion?
But seeing Wei Yunqing running toward him with such relief, he felt uncertain. Anything could happen in a secret realm, so he remained alert as he watched her approach.
Wei Yunqing noticed Sheng Yuhong's caution and stopped three steps away, saying: "Senior Brother Sheng, is that really you?"
"You are Wei Yunqing?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Why are you here? Why didn't I notice you before?"
Wei Yunqing spoke anxiously: "Senior Brother Sheng, I don't know how it happened. I didn't notice you either earlier. But right now, we should join forces. The giant beasts are coming."
As soon as her words fell, a massive black bear appeared in their line of sight.
Sheng Yuhong had no time to ask more questions. His divine sense revealed more than one black bear, so he summoned his Life Sword, ready to attack.
Wei Yunqing gripped her spirit sword tightly and stood beside Sheng Yuhong, equally prepared for combat.
At the same time, Wei Chenyin joined with Lin Keyang, Zhang Lingrui, and Cao Yi. Time was critical, so the three of them immediately entered battle, slaughtering the frenzied beasts without hesitation.
The same scene played out in different parts of the forest. Cultivators who met each other had likely been teleported simultaneously. Their comparable strength allowed them to appear in adjacent regions.
When Yun Xi left the Wu Tribe settlement, the first cultivator she encountered was Senior Brother Shi Jun Zhēnjūn of the Mingjian Sect, the Martial Uncle of Zhou Langchen. They had met briefly during the Shuangshan City incident.
However, Yun Xi's disguise was flawless. Shi Jun Zhēnjūn did not recognize her. At that moment, he was unleashing a powerful attack: a huge cyan sword shadow fell, cleaving the rampaging giant elephants into pieces, buying him a moment to catch his breath.
Yun Xi immediately stepped forward with a respectful bow: "Shi Jun Zhēnjūn, I am Feng Xi Yun of Haoran Sect. I once teamed up with Zhou Langchen Daoyou for training."
Shi Jun's divine sense scanned her and detected that her cultivation was late Golden Core stage. He asked: "You were also teleported here? Have you discovered anything?"
Yun Xi cupped her hands and said: "Zhēnjūn, I found a teleportation array to leave this place, but it requires nine people to activate it."
Shi Jun rubbed his fingers before asking: "How did you find it?"
"I was teleported here and discovered an abandoned tribal site. In the mountains behind this tribe, there is an ancient teleportation array.
It requires spirit power to activate, and nine different types must be injected. I came out hoping to find companions so that once we have nine, we can leave this strange place.
The first person I encountered after leaving was you."
Shi Jun Zhēnjūn's divine sense continued to cover Yun Xi, and seeing that she was honest, he nodded: "Then let's deal with these frenzied beasts first, and then you can take me to the teleportation array."
"Yes."
Yun Xi agreed readily. Convincing one person was a start, but to secure her place, she needed to demonstrate her strength next.
Their conversation was brief, just enough for the frenzied beasts to charge again. This time, not only giant elephants but also the massive rhino beasts Yun Xi had slain before appeared.
Yun Xi slowly opened the Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella and gently rotated the handle, infusing wind spirit power into the canopy. The black dragon etched on the umbrella came to life with a roar, frightening the charging beasts. In the next moment, wind blades sliced through the herd, cutting them down.
It was Yun Xi's first time using the Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella for an area attack. She felt the spirit power in her dantian pouring into the umbrella like a flood. She swallowed an exquisite spirit replenishing pill and held a high-grade spirit stone in her other hand, frantically restoring her power.
Shi Jun kept a distance but, noticing the gap Yun Xi's attack had created, synchronized his strikes. His eyes flashed with appreciation, then he accelerated his attack.
While unleashing her ultimate attack and replenishing her rapidly depleting spirit power, Yun Xi finally understood Black Yao's words: "The umbrella's true power depends entirely on its master." With Shi Jun watching, she could not hesitate, or control would fall to someone else.
After Yun Xi and Shi Jun cleared the frenzied beasts before them, more cultivators appeared within their divine sense. Interestingly, these were all Nascent Soul stage, making Yun Xi stand out even more.
She did not pause to examine further, immediately taking a spirit replenishment potion to quickly heal. Soon, two figures appeared before them, including the Nascent Soul man who had spoken to her at the Pressure Stairway.
One wore a white robe with a gray overcoat from Extreme Cold Sect, while the other, a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn from Kunmo Sect, wore a black patterned robe and a matching mask.
Having fought earlier, both retained their aura. They bowed politely to Yun Xi and Shi Jun. Yun Xi instinctively stepped back; they were clearly approaching Shi Jun.
"This Daoyou of Mingjian Sect, have you discovered anything after entering this forest?"
Shi Jun returned the bow and spoke: "This forest is highly strange. Every night I am besieged by giant beasts. Today they were unusually ferocious, attacking recklessly. I joined forces with disciples of Haoran Sect to clear this area."
Both nodded. The Yuányīng Zhēnjūn of Extreme Cold Sect then looked at Yun Xi: "Daoyou, have you discovered anything?"
Yun Xi did not answer immediately, instead looking at Shi Jun. He hesitated, then nodded, signaling her to speak honestly.
She then revealed her discovery of the ancient teleportation array, omitting the matter of the Wu Tribe descendants, only describing it as an abandoned tribal site.
"We still need five more companions," said the Kunmo Sect Yuányīng Zhēnjūn gravely.
Shi Jun looked up at the sky: "Then let's send a transmission talisman to our familiar companions so they can arrive quickly."
Both agreed. Regardless of any disputes, leaving this place was the priority.
Yun Xi held the transmission talisman in her hand, unsure whom to send it to. None of the Yuányīng Zhēnjūn she knew had arrived, and the ones present were strangers.