At the same time, the faces of those from the Pure Land Sect , the Supreme Mystery Teachings , and the Ten-Pace Courtyard turned extremely ugly. Some of the cultivators hadn't noticed the issue just now, but those like the Golden Core elders and others with keen observation had already discovered the difference. The way these two demonic cultivator teams had been teleported out was different from before. Li Yan and the others had emerged from bubbles, while the demonic cultivators had just appeared within a mass of five-colored light. They had already guessed the different meaning behind this different method of teleportation.
Just as everyone was speculating, another dazzling five-colored ball of light lit up from the spherical mountain. As the light slowly dissipated, it revealed more than a dozen figures. In the lead was a yellow-haired giant. He looked around with a joyful expression. Seeing that he had returned to the outside of the Wheel of Life and Death and was the focus of many gazes, he let out a wild laugh. Summoning his flying magical artifact without a moment's hesitation, he wrapped up the people behind him and shot toward the Malevolent Spirit Sect's peak with a whistling sound.
"Hey, it's the five-colored light again! It's Gan Shi of the Malevolent Spirit Sect ! Look at that joyful expression on his face; he must have gained a lot of benefits."
"In that case, this kind of teleportation, which isn't like the bubbles before, should be for the top three teams. But according to what Jin Chuiyan said earlier, could the Malevolent Spirit Sect have actually obtained two spots?"
"It's Senior Uncle Gan and his team! Why did Mei Bucai and Cheng Jingnian come out with this team?" Many of the Malevolent Spirit Sect cultivators looked confused after getting a clear view, and their gazes turned to Gong Chenying, who was standing not far from Elder Peng.
"Mei Bucai and the others are really still alive." A smile appeared on Gong Chenying's pretty face when she saw the six of them and the Spirit-Storing Pouch hanging from their waists. Li Yan also felt a sense of relief. He was also concerned about these companions with whom he had shared life and death. But when he saw the six of them, a trace of sadness inevitably arose in his heart. Although he had long known from Gong Chenying that their team was down to only fourteen people, when these people actually appeared before his eyes, he felt that many familiar figures were missing. One by one, people who had been with him, for better or worse, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in life and death, were now either lying in Gong Chenying's storage pouch or had vanished from this world without a trace.
Just as Gan Shi came whistling over, another ball of five-colored light lit up on the spherical mountain, instantly stealing the focus from Gan Shi's group. All eyes turned to that area, which made the attention-loving Gan Shi couldn't help but turn his head to look back and mutter something.
"That fellow Baili, couldn't you have waited until after I reported to the elders before coming out?"
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the light disappeared, revealing Baili Yuan and the dozen or so people he was leading. After confirming his position, he nodded slightly. With a wave of his large sleeve, a rustic-looking scroll floated in mid-air and grew to a dozen or so yards. Baili Yuan stepped onto it, and the dozen Qi Condensation disciples behind him followed closely. Seeing his disciples were aboard, Baili Yuan unhurriedly urged the scroll beneath his feet, flying directly toward the Malevolent Spirit Sect's peak.
"Amitabha!" Over at the Pure Land Sect , the imposing, rosy-cheeked Great Master Yisong , the Buddha who had been sitting in meditation with his eyes closed, suddenly shot up from his rock. As his eyes opened and closed, a sharp light flashed, and he stared unblinkingly at the slowly dissipating five-colored light on the spherical mountain.
Similarly, the Ten-Pace Courtyard , the Supreme Mystery Teachings , and the demonic cultivators also stared intently at the spherical mountain, hoping for another flash of light. For a moment, it was surprisingly quiet here. Until Gan Shi and Baili Yuan landed on the Malevolent Spirit Sect's peak, the central spherical mountain remained still.
Qiu Jiuzhen's jade-like face grew paler and paler, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably. Gradually, a look of despair appeared in her eyes. Finally, she glared fiercely in the direction of the Ten-Pace Courtyard , where a person was lying flat at Sword King Xiahuà's feet.
The moment Mei Bucai and the others came out, they immediately started searching for Gong Chenying, but before they could get a clear look, they were swept away by Gan Shi. After they landed, the group looked around anxiously and immediately spotted Gong Chenying and Li Yan beside her in the crowd ahead. The six of them couldn't help but show excitement on their faces and hurried over. This scene fell into the eyes of Wang Tian and the others, who couldn't help but look surprised. For a moment, they really didn't know why Mei Bucai and his group had appeared in Gan Shi's team.
Mei Bucai's fat body was not slow at all. He had already bypassed Gan Shi and was running directly toward Gong Chenying. This stunned Gan Shi, who was walking majestically toward Elder Peng, enjoying the attention of the crowd. Seeing it was Mei Bucai's group of six, he was taken aback for a moment, then muttered resentfully, "A bunch of ungrateful things. I was the one who brought you out." He then looked in Gong Chenying and Li Yan's direction, a broad smile on his face. Behind him, Rui Feikai, Dai Jing, and Zhu Gaotai also saw Li Yan. After apologizing to Gan Shi, they also walked quickly toward Li Yan's side, which frustrated Gan Shi to no end. He had no choice but to walk toward Elder Peng alone.
This scene had long surprised the other cultivators of the Malevolent Spirit Sect . Even the Golden Core elders looked at Gong Chenying's side with interest.
"It seems what Gong Chenying and Li Yan said was not false. The expressions on Mei Bucai and the others' faces cannot be faked. Even those few from Gan Shi's team look excited. It seems they are heading for Li Yan," a faint smile appeared on Elder Yi's usually stern face, and the others all nodded in agreement.
Mei Bucai's group moved extremely fast, arriving in front of Gong Chenying in the blink of an eye. Under the various surprised and doubtful gazes of Li Wuyi , Wang Tian, the Chu brothers, and others, Mei Bucai untied the Spirit-Storing Pouch from his waist. With an excited expression, he respectfully presented it to Gong Chenying and said loudly, "Disciple Mei Bucai has not failed his mission and has brought back all the remaining junior brothers and sisters. Please inspect them, Martial Aunt Gong."
Gong Chenying also wore a smile as she reached out to take the Spirit-Storing Pouch . "You've worked hard. You all should rest now."
As she spoke, the Spirit-Storing Pouch in her hand flashed, and the eight heavily injured people, including Wu Shixi and Ding Yiwei, appeared on the ground. Looking at these eight people, a trace of sadness appeared on Gong Chenying's face. She remembered the twenty-two who had died. Then she turned her head and looked pleadingly at Elder Peng and the others. Just as she looked over, an elder from Lord Lao Peak had already strode over from among the elders. At this moment, Gan Shi, who had just arrived, also had a dim look in his eyes. He slapped his waist, and after a series of flashes, ten figures from two Spirit-Storing Pouches appeared beside Wu Shixi and the others. Gan Shi gave a deep bow to this Lord Lao Peak elder, then actually turned his head and gave a respectful fist-in-palm salute to Li Yan, who was standing to the side, before walking toward Elder Peng and the others again.
At this time, Mei Bucai, Cheng Jingnian, and the eight others, including Zhu Gaotai , who had long been out of the Spirit-Storing Pouch , all turned to Li Yan with grateful expressions. They all bowed deeply to Li Yan. "We pay our respects to Martial Uncle Li!" Li Yan had already seen Mei Bucai and the others. Looking at the people before him, he couldn't help but feel a bit dazed, as if he was seeing the scholarly Yu Yiyong again, the scholar who had brought him to the Malevolent Spirit Sect . And also Hu Ziyi , who had deep feelings for Yu Yiyong, and even Qi Busheng and Mi Yuanzhi , who had been at odds with him. In just a few days, they were separated by life and death, without a trace left. For a moment, he was filled with countless emotions.
The actions of Gan Shi and Mei Bucai's group fell upon the eyes of the other Malevolent Spirit Sect members in the distance. They were greatly surprised. Even Li Wuyi , Li Changting , and Zhao Min had looks of astonishment, not knowing why Mei Bucai and the others were so respectful to Li Yan. Although Li Yan was their nominal martial uncle, everyone understood that very few people in the four peaks truly treated Li Yan as an elder. Li Yan was too junior in terms of both seniority and cultivation.
Especially Gan Shi's actions, which were even more puzzling. Gan Shi was an extremely arrogant person. Among his peers, only a handful were worthy of such an attitude from him, perhaps only Li Wuyi , Baili Yuan, and a few others. Even Gong Chenying and Wang Tian were not qualified enough.
But just as everyone was looking on in astonishment, an even more shocking scene occurred. Baili Yuan had also led his group over. Baili Yuan first released his heavily injured members for that Golden Core elder to treat, then actually gave Li Yan a fist-in-palm salute with an extremely polite attitude. The Qi Condensation cultivators behind him, like Mei Bucai and Zhu Gaotai , also walked up to Li Yan and gave a deep bow.
"We pay our respects to Martial Uncle Li! If Martial Uncle Li has any orders in the future, just send a message."
Seeing this, Li Yan knew that his mind-nature had matured in the past few years, but he still felt a bit awkward facing something he had never experienced before. He said in a flustered manner, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
After Mei Bucai's group of several dozen people finished their salutes, they were about to speak to Li Yan in detail with joyful faces. But the Lord Lao Peak Golden Core elder, who was kneeling on the ground treating the injured, raised his head. His Divine Sense expanded, instantly enveloping the dozens of Qi Condensation disciples. His lips moved slightly. A moment later, the dozens of Qi Condensation disciples had looks of confusion on their faces, but no one came forward to get close to Li Yan anymore. However, the gazes they directed at Li Yan were still filled with respect.
This made Li Wuyi and the others even more curious. But seeing that the Golden Core elder was using his eyes to signal them not to go forward and talk to Li Yan here, they could only stop in their tracks, their hearts filled with questions.
From the other peaks dozens of li away, these situations looked like simple greetings after a reunion. The Lord Lao Peak Golden Core elder had also not mentioned the events inside the Wheel of Life and Death when Mei Bucai and the others were saluting, so he let them meet with Li Yan. The excited expressions of Mei Bucai and the others upon seeing Li Yan after getting off the flying magical artifact had been seen by many. If he had bluntly stopped them, it would have seemed suspicious, so he let them say hello.
But when Mei Bucai's group of dozens wanted to talk to Li Yan in detail about their separation, he immediately sent a voice transmission giving a gag order. Although this order confused the dozens of Qi Condensation disciples, seeing that Li Yan was fine, it was clear that the Golden Core elder's action was not directed at Li Yan. How could they dare to ask further questions? They could only stand to the side and wait for the final outcome of this trip.
As time passed bit by bit, discussions gradually arose on the various peaks. The faces of the Golden Core grand cultivators from the Pure Land Sect , the Ten-Pace Courtyard , and the Supreme Mystery Teachings grew darker and darker. In the end, they couldn't help but turn their gazes to the Malevolent Spirit Sect . The demonic cultivators, after Jin Chuiyan and Wu Wu'an returned, were also called over by Yin Congfeng and the others for detailed questioning. In the end, they also looked at the Malevolent Spirit Sect .
The eight Golden Core elders of the Malevolent Spirit Sect seemed not to have seen any of this and were whispering with Baili Yuan and Gan Shi.
Finally, the Qi Condensation disciples were called over by the curious Foundation Establishment cultivators for questioning. But what these people didn't know was that anything related to Li Yan was glossed over by these Qi Condensation disciples. The unified answer was that the reason they were so grateful to Li Yan was that although his cultivation was low, his special constitution had helped them pass the trials with fewer casualties, especially in the last trial when everyone was merged into one area. Martial Aunt Gong had let this Martial Uncle Li find the other two teams, and when their spirit beasts were reduced and their medicinal pills were insufficient, he had assisted them in setting up formations and using poison. These reasons were very far-fetched. With the intelligence of Wang Tian, Li Wuyi , and others, although they felt there was definitely a big problem, they vaguely understood that this was the intention of the sect's upper echelons and didn't dare to press further.
But the more it was like this, the more mysterious these Foundation Establishment cultivators found Li Yan. They began to elevate Li Yan in their minds. Especially some who had previously looked down on Li Yan couldn't help but start to take him seriously.