143: The road is narrowing.

After leaving the Azure Profound Sect mountain gate, Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu did not immediately use their movement techniques to rush, but chose to walk for a while, sensing the Qi of the outside world.

The closer they got to Yunzhou, the more the atmosphere in the air changed.

The usually quiet wilderness and official roads now saw various streaks of escaping light passing by from time to time, mostly heading in the same direction.

Occasionally, they could also feel faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations and explosions from afar, indicating that conflicts were happening.

"It seems Master was right; it's indeed very lively here." Xiao Ruobai felt the restless Spiritual Qi in the air, a hint of eagerness in his eyes.

Fang Hanyu's gaze swept over a few streaks of escaping light hurrying away across the sky, and he nodded slightly: "It's a mixed bag; caution is paramount."

The two proceeded discreetly, even witnessing two unknown minor forces fighting fiercely over the ownership of a seemingly ordinary mine pit, a chaotic scene that no one stopped.

"They're already fighting like this before even reaching the core area..." Xiao Ruobai muttered.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, when approaching a small town on the outskirts of the former Demon Heaven Sect's territory, the two tacitly activated the Cannot See Through Me Cultivation Technique, changed their appearances, and transformed into two ordinary-looking Loose Cultivators with Qi only at the Middle Stage Core Formation Realm.

They entered "Listening Wind Pavilion," the only relatively lively tavern in the town.

The tavern was noisy with Cultivators from all walks of life gathered, most of them talking loudly, their topics invariably revolving around the huge power vacuum and Treasure Troves of resources left after the destruction of the Demon Heaven Sect and Blood Soul Sect.

The two found a corner to sit down, ordered some ordinary wine and dishes, and listened silently.

"Hey, have you heard? The Myriad Law Pavilion officially took over the largest High-Grade Spirit Stone main vein in the Black Prison Mountain Range the day before yesterday! They sent two Elders and over a hundred Disciples to guard it! What a grand gesture!" A burly man took a swig of wine and said loudly.

"More than that! The Vast Righteous Sect from Yunzhou was not to be outdone, seizing the Blood Soul Sect's largest 'Blood Marrow Jade' mine pit. I heard that jade mine is accompanied by top-grade Blood Spirit Crystals, priceless!" Another person chimed in.

"Tsk tsk, these two Sects got the two fattest pieces of meat. Other Sects weren't idle either; the Tianyan Sect occupied several important Spirit Medicine valleys..."

"It's more than just mineral veins and medicine gardens!" A sharp voice interrupted, "Those small and medium-sized Families and Schools that originally depended on the two great demonic Sects are truly miserable. Now they've become ownerless, either quickly finding new backing or being swallowed and assimilated by surrounding forces!"

"This place now is like a pot of boiling porridge; everyone wants to scoop a spoonful!"

"I heard a few days ago, the Myriad Law Pavilion and the Vast Righteous Sect almost came to blows over a newly discovered associated mine vein on the border! Elders from both sides were present, with Swords drawn and bows bent!"

"Oh? What happened then?" Everyone was attracted and asked eagerly.

"Later? They didn't fight! Both sides were restraining themselves; no one wanted to be the first to start a full-scale conflict between major Sects.

In the end, it seems they reached some temporary agreement, joint development or something... In short, it's still outwardly calm, but undercurrents are surging!"

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu exchanged glances, silently noting down this information.

The situation was even more complex than they imagined, with major Sects carving up core interests, and small and medium forces scrambling for scraps, a chaos filled with opportunities and dangers.

After eating, the two left Spirit Stones and quietly departed the tavern. Their figures flickered, turning into two inconspicuous streaks of light, rushing towards the core area full of opportunities and chaos.

As they reached a valley, suddenly, both stopped at the same time, looking into the distance.

They saw several powerful Qi approaching rapidly from far away on the horizon.

The first Qi was relatively weak, roughly at the Purple Mansion Realm, but its escape technique was extremely exquisite. Its figure was as nimble as a loach, weaving through various complex terrains, and its speed was not much slower than the strong Qi of the Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators behind it.

In a blink of an eye, both sides were close.

Running in front was a teenager who looked sixteen or seventeen, slightly plump with a round face. He was now running, drenched in sweat, his face pale, but his eyes darted around, revealing a cleverness and cunning unsuited for his age... The magic robe on his body shimmered with various life-saving rune auras, and the boots on his feet were surging with wind Spiritual Qi, clearly all top-grade items.

Chasing behind were five Cultivators dressed in unified dark red attire, each with profound Qi, their Spiritual Qi fluctuations clearly reaching the Heavenly Human Realm!

Their faces were grim, obviously extremely annoyed at being eluded by a Purple Mansion RealmKid for so long.

The plump teenager saw Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu standing on the road ahead from a distance, his eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had seen saviors, and his face instantly piled up with an expression of ecstatic "salvation."

He changed direction, rushing straight towards the two without hesitation, shouting: "Senior Brother! Senior Brother, help! They're trying to snatch my treasure!"

He shouted with genuine emotion, his movements flowing like water, as if Xiao Ruobai and the other were truly his long-lost blood Senior Brothers.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu watched his performance expressionlessly.

However, just as the plump teenager rushed to within a hundred feet of the two, almost able to clearly see the subtle expressions on their faces, the ecstasy on his face instantly froze, and then, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he suddenly made an extremely abrupt, almost ninety-degree sharp turn!

"Whoosh—!"

His plump body displayed astonishing flexibility and explosive power, forcibly changing direction, brushing past Xiao Ruobai and the other, and desperately fleeing towards a narrower fork in the mountain valley to the side and rear, his speed so fast that only an afterimage remained.

At the same time, he quickly muttered something in a low voice, though small, it clearly reached Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu's ears:

"Damn! I thought I met some big shots! How are they two Core Formation Realm rookies! Luckily, I'm kind-hearted and won't drag you down, so good luck to yourselves!"

His tone was full of annoyance at his plan falling through and a hint of... inexplicable "kindness"?

Xiao Ruobai: "..."

Fang Hanyu: "..."

This plump boy, even while fleeing for his life, didn't forget to act and complain; he was truly a prodigy.

The five Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators chasing from behind naturally also saw Xiao Ruobai and the other.

The leading Cultivator, a cold-faced middle-aged man, frowned, glanced at the two, a hint of impatience and killing intent flashing in his eyes, and instructed a companion beside him: "Fifth Brother, clean them up on the way, leave no traces, and catch up quickly."

"Yes, Senior Brother!" The Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator called "Fifth Brother" sneered, paused his figure, stopped the pursuit, and turned to face Xiao Ruobai and the other.

He didn't put the two Core Formation Realm Loose Cultivators in his eyes at all, casually striking out with a palm. A solidified bloody palm print roared towards them with a foul wind, intending to smash the two into meat paste.

In his opinion, this was merely crushing two ants, taking no more than a few breaths of effort.

Fang Hanyu looked at the bloody palm print, which could easily kill an ordinary Core Formation Realm Cultivator, his eyes calm and unperturbed.

"You've chosen a narrow path!" Fang Hanyu sighed softly!

He didn't even use a weapon, merely casually raised his right hand, pointed his fingers like a Sword, and lightly swiped forward.

Chii—!

A subtle yet incomparably sharp Sword Qi arrived later but moved faster, silently slicing through the bloody palm print as if a hot knife through butter. The palm print's Spiritual Qi instantly dissipated. The Sword Qi's momentum remained undiminished, sweeping past the Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator's neck, who watched in utter horror and had no time to react whatsoever.

A head flew up, carrying an expression of disbelief, and blood gushed out.

The Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator, even in death, did not understand what had happened.