Not long after, Zhan Yuan found an excuse to leave the gathering spot and, consumed with anxiety and impatience, hurried towards the location agreed upon with the Black Wind Group for the handover.
At the same time, in another world within the Shangqing Realm...
"Where are Huanhuan and Yueyue? Where have they run off to?"
Old Woman Liu of the Xiao Family suddenly exclaimed loudly.
"Old Woman Liu, I saw them both sneaking away with Xiao Qianrui a short while ago. I once overheard the three of them say they really wanted to see the gathering of young geniuses being held in the Shangqing Realm. It's possible they've run off there."
A Xiao Family woman who was usually quite close to Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue spoke up.
"Gone to the Shangqing Realm? But why was there no response at all when I used the family's secret messaging technique just now to try and contact them? With our Xiao Family's messaging technique, within the Tiange World Cluster, they should be able to receive my message within a short time and reply. The fact that neither of them has responded must mean something has happened!"
A feeling of foreboding rose in Old Woman Liu's heart, and she said solemnly.
"Everyone, Huanhuan and Yueyue are two of the young women in our Xiao Family's current generation with the highest bloodline purity. We absolutely cannot let anything happen to them; otherwise, it would be a tremendous loss for our Xiao Family! If we do, we won't be able to explain ourselves to the Patriarch and the family elders when we return! Forget everything else; from now on, we must mobilize all our personnel to find Huanhuan and Yueyue!"
Old Woman Liu addressed the several other senior experts of the Xiao Family.
"Agreed. Dispatch all personnel immediately to find them and bring them back. However, the fact that Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue have sneaked out yet again, completely disregarding our Xiao Family's rules—I will definitely report their behavior to the Patriarch and the family elders upon our return for severe punishment. Otherwise, what meaning would our family rules hold?"
A stern-looking elder in a green robe, with an ancient and noble bearing, spoke angrily.
"I agree with punishing them, but the urgent task now is to find them and ensure their safety."
Old Woman Liu said anxiously.
"Fine! Dispatch everyone immediately to search for Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue!"
The green-robed elder with the noble bearing nodded.
Soon, all members of the Xiao Family were sent out to search for Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue.
Not long after, following various clues, the Xiao Family members arrived in the Shangqing Realm.
"I think I've caught a trace of Huanhuan and Yueyue's aura! In that direction!"
Shortly after entering the Shangqing Realm, Old Woman Liu suddenly wore an excited expression and pointed in a direction, shouting.
This Old Woman Liu had watched Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue grow up. She was extremely familiar with the aura of the two sisters. More crucially, she had secretly placed a mark on their bodies.
"The Black Wind Group people should have handed those two little sluts over to Zhan Yuan by now. Zhan Yuan is a young master of the Zhan Family; he'll definitely have many experts accompanying him. Once those two little sluts fall into his hands, we won't have to worry about them being rescued by our Xiao Family people!"
Among the Xiao Family forces, Xiao Qinglian's expression was unsettled, shifting between gloom and unease. In her heart, she kept silently praying that Zhan Yuan would quickly take Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue away, ensuring the Xiao Family could never find them again.
At the same time...
Under the guidance of the Black Wind Group captain, Ye Yunfei arrived in a relatively remote world within the Shangqing Realm.
"The handover location we agreed upon with Zhan Yuan is inside this world."
That captain said to Ye Yunfei.
"Good. Take me to the exact spot immediately."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
In fact, the moment he entered this world, Ye Yunfei had released his Soul Power energy, probing everywhere for any sign of Xiao Huanhuan, Xiao Yueyue, and the Black Wind Group members.
A while later...
Within a stretch of primeval forest in this world, Ye Yunfei's figure suddenly appeared in the sky above.
"We agreed with Zhan Yuan's people to hand over the goods on that peak. Our Black Wind Group delivers the people to that peak, and Zhan Yuan's people will be waiting there."
That captain pointed to a towering peak within the primeval forest and told Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei immediately directed his Soul Power energy to sense the area.
"Sure enough, there's a group lying in ambush on that peak!"
The next moment, Ye Yunfei revealed an excited expression.
"Those are our Black Wind Group people. It seems Zhan Yuan's people haven't arrived yet. If they had, our Black Wind Group members wouldn't still be here."
That captain said.
"How strong are Zhan Yuan's people?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
"Zhan Yuan is a core disciple of the Zhan Family. As far as I know, at the very least, two senior Heavenly Immortal experts are protecting him."
The captain said.
"I see."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Then, Ye Yunfei began moving, stealthily making his way towards that peak.
"Why haven't Zhan Yuan's people arrived yet? We agreed beforehand that once we delivered the goods here, his people would come to receive them!"
At that moment, on that very peak, dozens of Black Wind Group members were lying in ambush among the trees, waiting. They had already waited here for half an hour and were growing impatient.
"Don't be impatient. Wait a bit more. We only sent the message to Zhan Yuan's people after we arrived here. They'll need some time to receive it and get here."
One of the leading Black Wind Group members spoke up.
Just then, Ye Yunfei had already arrived beside this peak.
Ye Yunfei's Soul Power energy had already locked onto every single Black Wind Group member on this peak.
"Which member has the Xiao Family sisters?"
Ye Yunfei scanned the entire peak and found no trace of the Xiao sisters' aura, so he sent a voice transmission to ask the captain.
"They should be with Manager Xie. Because we agreed beforehand that after capturing them, Manager Xie would be responsible for secretly escorting them here. I suspect they are inside a spatial treasure on Manager Xie's person."
The captain pointed at one of the Black Wind Group members on the peak and sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei immediately locked onto that Manager Xie.
This Manager Xie was a Perfect Golden Immortal at the Ninety-Nine Returns to Truth level. His aura was sharp, and his strength should be quite considerable.
Just then, over a dozen figures came sweeping in from the distance. A young man at the forefront, his face filled with excitement, was charging at full speed towards the peak where the Black Wind Group members were.
"It's Zhan Yuan!"
Ye Yunfei's perception was incredibly powerful. He immediately sensed the appearance and Soul Power aura of that leading young man. His gaze turned cold, and he thought to himself.
"Everyone, be alert! The people we're waiting for are here!"
At that moment, the Black Wind Group members on the peak also noticed the dozen or so figures sweeping in from the distance and perked up, their spirits lifting.
"To think Zhan Yuan is coming personally to receive the goods. It seems he can't wait. This Zhan Yuan is the one who paid our Black Wind Group to capture the Xiao Family twins."
That captain sent a voice transmission.
At this moment, the captain suddenly felt some resentment towards Zhan Yuan. If Zhan Yuan hadn't paid their Black Wind Group to capture the Xiao Family twins, the Black Wind Group wouldn't have become enemies with Ye Yunfei, he wouldn't have led his men to deal with Ye Yunfei, and he wouldn't have ended up in his current predicament.
"We'll make our move immediately, rescuing them before Zhan Yuan arrives!"
Ye Yunfei sensed that among the dozen or so people following Zhan Yuan, there was actually a Primary Heavenly Immortal.
With his current strength, Ye Yunfei wasn't afraid of a Primary Heavenly Immortal, but if the Xiao sisters fell into that Primary Heavenly Immortal's hands, rescuing them would become exceedingly difficult.
So, the sooner he rescued them, the better.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei directly activated a Space Teleportation Token. Fixing his eyes on the spot where Manager Xie was located, he teleported directly over.
For teleportation over such a short distance, the Space Teleportation Token was extremely fast. In an instant, he appeared on the peak, standing right beside Manager Xie.
Ye Yunfei immediately unleashed Soul Sword and the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art.
Soul Swords attacked this Manager Xie's soul sea, while at the same time, a massive sword radiance roared out, sweeping horizontally.
Huang Shang unleashed a tide of ghostly mist; dense masses of malicious ghosts and fierce souls pounced on Manager Xie from all directions.
The Blood Clan Clone released a sea-like expanse of blood mist, roiling and churning. Gripping a long, blood-red blade, it swung it horizontally towards Manager Xie.
Hu Miao activated her inherited race's illusion technique. One illusion after another, like dazzling bubbles, swarmed towards Manager Xie, dragging his consciousness into one bizarre, kaleidoscopic illusion after another.
As for Goldhorned Silkworm and the two doppelganger statues, they were responsible for attacking the other nearby Black Wind Group members to prevent them from coming to Manager Xie's aid.
Manager Xie's attention was completely fixed on Zhan Yuan's group charging swiftly from the distance. How could he have expected someone would suddenly launch such a terrifying assault?
Before launching the attack, Ye Yunfei had completely concealed his aura. Manager Xie hadn't detected him at all.
"Ah...! Who are you people?!"
Even though Manager Xie was a Perfect Golden Immortal at the Ninety-Nine Returns to Truth level, facing such sudden and ferocious attacks, he was thrown into disarray and had no idea how to defend.
Especially Ye Yunfei's attacks using Soul Sword and the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art — their power was the strongest. With his strength, he couldn't withstand them.
Coupled with the coordinated attacks from Huang Shang, the Blood Clan Clone, and Hu Miao, this Manager Xie was instantly suppressed, unable to move at all.
Then, with a *pfft* sound, Manager Xie's physical body exploded into a mist of blood.
A silver-colored palace, about the size of a fist, appeared, floating there.
Besides this silver palace, many other items appeared, such as magical treasures and spatial rings.
These were items that spilled out from Manager Xie's body after it exploded.
"Kid! Who are you? Why are you attacking me?! I'm a member of the Black Wind Group!"
Manager Xie's Soul Body appeared, standing atop that silver palace, shouting furiously at Ye Yunfei.
*Boom…*
Driven by Manager Xie's Soul Body, that silver palace shot out, trying to escape.
"That palace is a spatial treasure! The Xiao Family twins are probably inside!"
That captain sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
This captain understood well that his life and death were now completely in Ye Yunfei's hands. If he could earn Ye Yunfei's favor, perhaps he still had a chance at survival. So, the moment an opportunity arose, he immediately showed his usefulness.
"Still trying to flee? Pity, but you won't get the chance."
Ye Yunfei gave a cold laugh.
At the same moment, an elder following Zhan Yuan suddenly sharpened his gaze.
"Young Master Zhan, something's wrong! The Black Wind Group people are under attack! I suspect it's someone coming to rescue the Xiao Family twins! Look at that silver palace — it's a spatial treasure. It's likely the Xiao sisters are inside. Let's rush over and seize it immediately!"
This Primary Heavenly Immortal who came with Zhan Yuan possessed extremely strong perception and an exceedingly sharp mind. In an instant, he guessed many possibilities and whispered urgently.
"Everyone, charge over immediately! Aid the Black Wind Group people! And seize that silver palace for me!"
Hearing the elder's words, Zhan Yuan's gaze also fixed on the silver palace.
*Swoosh!*
The elder beside Zhan Yuan had already accelerated and charged forward. Before he even arrived, he unleashed various powerful energies, surging forward like a tidal sea, sealing the space ahead.
"Young Master Zhan! The people you wanted are inside this spatial treasure! However, I'm under enemy ambush! I need support! Please come and assist me immediately!"
At this moment, Manager Xie saw that Zhan Yuan had arrived, and also spotted the Primary Heavenly Immortal Zhan Yuan brought. He immediately saw hope and shouted.
"Heh heh, you won't escape. They can't save you."
Just then, a torrent of ghostly mist erupted, forming one pitch-black ghostly wall after another, blocking Manager Xie's path.
Then, a jet-black, glossy ghost body suddenly appeared before Manager Xie's Soul Body. It was Huang Shang.
"A ghost cultivator!"
The moment Manager Xie's Soul Body saw Huang Shang, it began to tremble uncontrollably. He screamed in terror.
The tide of ghostly mist rolled in, solidly locking down the space all around Manager Xie.
This ghost mist was formed from pure ghost path energy and laws. For a Soul Body, it was virtually a terrifying nemesis.
"Hmph, a mere ghost cultivator dares act recklessly in front of me!"
The Primary Heavenly Immortal brought by Zhan Yuan saw Huang Shang and snorted coldly. Traversing the air, he threw a palm strike from afar towards Huang Shang. A gigantic palm imprint instantly materialized.
Ye Yunfei's figure flashed, placing himself before Huang Shang. Gripping his long sword, he executed a slash. A thick sword radiance appeared, directly blocking that palm imprint.
"Kid! It's you again! You're trying to rescue those two Xiao Family sluts again, aren't you? Pity, with me here, you can't even protect yourself! No chance to rescue anyone!"
At this moment, Zhan Yuan saw Ye Yunfei and immediately recognized him, shouting angrily.
"Oh? You know me?"
Hearing Zhan Yuan's words, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be stunned.
Even though he had seen this Zhan Yuan back in the city hosting the gathering of young geniuses, how did this Zhan Yuan know who he was?
"Ah…!"
Just then, Manager Xie's Soul Body let out a piercing scream. He had already been seized by Huang Shang.
That silver palace also fell into Huang Shang's hands.
Ye Yunfei felt a wave of relief.
Finally, he had rescued Xiao Huanhuan and Xiao Yueyue.