Under the terrifying oppressive aura of Ma Meng, the disciple from the Tan Family hurriedly spilled everything he knew.
The general account was of the various conflicts between Ye Yunfei and the Guardian Faction within the Yangming Secret Realm during this period, including Ye Yunfei obtaining the inner elixir of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, then securing first place in the trial at that plaza, acquiring treasures and resources left behind by Yangming King. Then came Lu Shi and Ye Yunfei being bounty-hunted by the Guardian Faction.
Finally, Ye Yunfei and Lu Shi appeared within that abandoned city, attracting large groups of forces from several major factions like the Guardian Faction, the Tianhai Sect, the Heixuan Sect, and the Four Directions Hall to surround and annihilate them, only for most to go missing, along with other such situations.
"The people from our Guardian Faction entered an abandoned city to surround and annihilate that kid of unknown origins and the Lu Family's Lu Shi, and they all went missing?
How could that be possible!
More than four hundred people from our Guardian Faction entered the Yangming Secret Realm. How could they all have gone missing?
Are you telling me the truth, or are you deceiving me?"
After listening, Ma Meng fixed a sharp, intimidating gaze on that Tan Family disciple and asked in a voice as icy and sinister as frost.
"Senior Brother Ma, everything I said is what I heard during this period. I can't be entirely sure what is true or false.
Senior Brother Ma, perhaps you can ask others. I believe I'm not the only one who has heard about these matters. Because these rumors have already been circulating within the Yangming Secret Realm."
The Tan Family disciple hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied.
"Get over here!"
Ma Meng's expression turned even more sinister after hearing this Tan disciple's words.
He suddenly reached out a hand, materializing a massive energy hand that roughly grabbed a distant Advanced Void God, tossing him to the ground in front of him.
"Now, tell me, what exactly happened to our Guardian Faction people?"
Ma Meng demanded in a freezing tone, a torrent of killing intent erupting from his body, shaking the sky.
This Advanced Void God was also from a major force, but facing the near-frenzied Ma Meng, he paled in fright and hastily recounted everything he had heard regarding the Guardian Faction's affairs.
The general situation was similar to what the Tan Family disciple had just said, though with certain details provided more specifically.
"So, it seems the disappearance of our Guardian Faction members is primarily related to that kid of unknown origins and the Lu Family's Lu Shi."
After listening, Ma Meng gnashed his teeth, his rage towering to the heavens. He then grabbed a few more people from afar and interrogated them, receiving largely similar answers.
Then, Ma Meng's gaze turned towards a particular location within the Yangming Secret Realm — the place where the abandoned city was situated.
Ma Meng soared into the air, his gaze looking out in that direction. He desperately wanted to rush to that abandoned city for a thorough investigation.
But at that moment, the entire space of the Yangming Secret Realm began to tremble violently once more. Everyone understood that the opening period of the Yangming Secret Realm was likely coming to an end soon. When that happened, the great gates of the Yangming Secret Realm would close. If they didn't hurry and exit in time, they could be trapped here for three hundred years.
Being young cultivators, each of them yearned for the vast world outside and freedom. None wanted to be trapped here for three centuries. Consequently, many began to exert movement techniques, charging towards the entrance and exit gates of the Yangming Secret Realm.
"We'd better hurry and exit. Once the Yangming Secret Realm's gates close, we won't be able to get out. There will be no point crying about it then."
Seeing the Yangming Secret Realm's space quaking violently again, the vast majority of people began to move, charging towards the entrance and exit gates.
Standing high in the sky, Ma Meng gazed far into the depths of the Yangming Secret Realm towards the location of the abandoned city, his face filled with indecision.
He very much wanted to go and investigate, but he also feared the Yangming Secret Realm's gates suddenly slamming shut.
"Don't just stand around watching the drama. Hurry, let's go."
At that moment, all those who had been watching Ma Meng turned and rushed towards the position of the entrance and exit gates.
Ma Meng was now caught in a dilemma. His eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tightly. Clearly, he was struggling to make a decision.
"Brother Ye, I think we should leave now as well. The Yangming Secret Realm's gates are likely about to close."
At that moment, Lu Shi sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright. I'll finish off this guy now, then we'll leave."
Ye Yunfei had been watching Ma Meng from afar the entire time, as well as the last few individuals from the Tianhai Sect, the Heishan Sect, and the Four Directions Hall.
"Brother Ye, you still want to kill him?
This guy's strength is formidable. Killing him will probably take some time. What if the Secret Realm's gates close…"
Lu Shi was somewhat worried.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," Ye Yunfei replied.
The next moment, a figure came charging towards them from the distance.
"It's you, Jiang Qiang!"
The moment Ma Meng saw that figure, an expression of pleasant surprise appeared on his face, for it was an Advanced Void God of the Guardian Faction and one of Ma Meng's trusted subordinates.
"Respectful greetings to Lord Ma."
Jiang Qiang arrived before Ma Meng and bowed respectfully.
"Speak quickly! How are the others now?
Of all the Guardian Faction members who entered the Yangming Secret Realm, why is it only you and me remaining?"
Ma Meng waved his hand impatiently and asked urgently.
"Lord Ma, we were pursuing that kid of unknown origins and Lu Shi and ended up barging into an abandoned city. That city was not only covered with terrifying formations, but also had several hundred ancient puppets left behind. Our people accidentally triggered those puppets and were then frantically surrounded and attacked, suffering heavy casualties.
Those puppets were too terrifyingly powerful, all at the Deity-level, and their bodies were incredibly tough, highly resistant to strikes. Our attacks had no effect on those puppets, but those puppets possessed immense strength. A single move from them was enough to injure or cripple us. In the end, only I managed to escape."
Jiang Qiang answered.
"What?
That abandoned city contained several hundred ancient puppets that almost wiped out our Guardian Faction members?
So, are you saying our Guardian Faction members weren't killed by that kid of unknown origins and Lu Shi?"
Hearing Jiang Qiang's words, Ma Meng was slightly taken aback, revealing a surprised expression.
But this Jiang Qiang was one of his trusted subordinates; he shouldn't be lying to him.
"That kid of unknown origins and Lu Shi may have decent strength, but how could they possibly kill so many of our Guardian Faction members?
If they possessed that level of power, they wouldn't have been hunted down and forced to flee everywhere."
Jiang Qiang replied.
"That's true."
Ma Meng couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"So that's how it is."
Some people passing nearby heard the conversation between Jiang Qiang and Ma Meng and couldn't help but think to themselves.
Previously, everyone had thought that the disappearance of so many Watchers and Tianhai Sect members was due to a kid of unknown origins and Lu Shi. Now, hearing Jiang Qiang's alternative explanation...
Jiang Qiang was a member of the Guardian Faction; his words were naturally more credible.
"So, it seems our Guardian Faction was almost completely annihilated on this expedition!
How am I supposed to explain this to the higher-ups after we get out!"
Ma Meng couldn't help but sigh.
"What's the situation in that city now?"
Ma Meng looked towards the location of that abandoned city in the distance and asked.
"Almost everyone who entered that city is dead, especially those who went in first. I arrived a step later, hearing the screams coming from inside, so I immediately charged in. But as soon as I entered the city gates, I saw densely packed formations and large numbers of Deity-level puppets.
I was besieged and pursued by over a dozen puppets. I pushed my strength to the limit and barely managed to escape. As for those others who ventured deep into the city, they likely can't get out."
Jiang Qiang answered.
"I see."
Ma Meng nodded after hearing Jiang Qiang's words. He had actually been somewhat suspicious earlier about how Jiang Qiang had managed to escape, but hearing this explanation immediately dispelled the doubts in his heart.
"Lord Ma, it seems the Yangming Secret Realm's gates are about to close."
Jiang Qiang looked at the violently shaking space around them and spoke.
"What are you still chatting with this guy for?
The entrance and exit gates of the Yangming Secret Realm are indeed about to close. If we don't leave now, we'll be trapped here."
At that moment, Hun Lao suddenly sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
Turns out, this 'Jiang Qiang' was actually Ye Yunfei. Back in that abandoned city, Ye Yunfei had devoured Jiang Qiang's soul body, gaining his memories. He was now using one of his Soul Power planets to simulate Jiang Qiang's soul body to converse with Ma Meng, without revealing any flaws.
"I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly!
Let's exit now."
At that moment, in the distance, Ning Anze of the Tianhai Sect suddenly clenched his teeth, turned, and rushed towards the entrance and exit of the Yangming Secret Realm.
Apart from him, two Tianhai Sect disciples also arrived at the exit location and followed behind him. None of the other Tianhai Sect disciples were seen.
"That Lu Shi fellow hasn't come out yet. Did he die inside?
That guy has really caused a huge disaster this time. He mixed with that kid of unknown origins, and that kid had such a severe conflict with several major forces like the Guardian Faction and the Tianhai Sect. And now, most of the disciples of the Guardian Faction, Tianhai Sect, Heixuan Sect, and other major forces have disappeared. When those major forces investigate afterwards, it might even implicate our Lu Family."
At the entrance and exit of the Yangming Secret Realm, more than ten Lu Family disciples were waiting, but they still hadn't seen Lu Shi. While waiting, they communicated via voice transmission among themselves.
"You don't need to wait. Your Lu Family's Lu Shi is already dead."
Suddenly, a young man with an ordinary appearance charged out from the depths of the Yangming Secret Realm. Seeing the Lu Family members, he immediately spoke up.
"Oh, Lu Shi is already dead?
How did he die?"
The Lu Family disciples were taken aback by his words. One of them quickly asked.
"He was jointly hunted down by the Guardian Faction and the Tianhai Sect, and was killed in the end."
The young man replied.
"Oh, Lu Shi was killed by the Watchers and the Tianhai Sect people? But wasn't it said that he and that kid of unknown origins entered that abandoned city together?" a Lu Family disciple asked.
"No, Lu Shi never got the chance to enter that abandoned city. I saw with my own eyes he was jointly hunted down by the Guardian Faction and the Tianhai Sect, and killed on the spot."
The young man said.
"Oh no, the Yangming Secret Realm's gates are about to close."
The Lu Family disciples wanted to continue questioning, but the young man suddenly became panicked because the space in the Yangming Secret Realm was trembling even more violently now.
With a *whoosh*, the young man shot out through the gates of the Yangming Secret Realm.
"So, Lu Shi was already killed by the Watchers and the Tianhai Sect."
The conversation between that young man and the Lu Family disciples was heard by many people passing by, and some whispered among themselves.
"Brother Lu, you'll have to endure some inconvenience for a period of time. If you continue to be known as alive, you might face joint pursuit from major forces like the Guardian Faction, the Tianhai Sect, the Heixuan Sect, and the Four Directions Hall, and it might even implicate your Lu Family."
Ye Yunfei said to Lu Shi.
That young man who spoke to the Lu Family disciples earlier was actually a doppelganger of Ye Yunfei. Ye Yunfei used a talisman to conceal the doppelganger's aura, so no one could tell it was a doppelganger.
"It's alright, Brother Ye. Everything proceeds as you intend. I'll be tagging along with you from now on."
Lu Shi replied.
"Hmm? Lord Ma, I seem to sense... there are a few of our Guardian Faction people over at that place, though they all seem to be seriously injured."
Suddenly, Jiang Qiang pointed towards a nearby mountain range and said with surprise.
That mountain range was very close to the entrance and exit of the Yangming Secret Realm.
"Let's go check immediately."
At this moment, Ma Meng was already in a state of fury and uncertainty. Hearing Jiang Qiang's words, he didn't even think about it. His figure flashed, and he charged towards that mountain range.
Given its relatively close distance, his movement technique allowed him to reach the mountain range within just a few breaths. Jiang Qiang followed closely behind.
"Where are our people?"
Ma Meng rushed into the mountain range and immediately released his Soul Power energy to search, but he found nothing.
The next moment, he spun around and saw over two hundred puppets suddenly emerge from behind him. Each puppet held a thick stone staff, wildly rushing to surround and attack him.
"Jiang Qiang, you have a problem!"
Ma Meng snapped back to reality with a furious roar. By now, he completely understood: Jiang Qiang had lured him here.