Chapter 157: Hidden Cloud Cave (Part 1)

"How did these three fellows manage to tangle themselves up in this muddy water..."

In the open clearing by the lake, nearly twenty cultivators were split into five or six factions, keeping each other in check.

Among them, the faction from Taiping Peak had preserved their strength the best, followed by the senior and junior brothers from Sword-Wiping Peak.

As for Li Qingfeng and the other two...

Rather than saying they were embroiled in a chaotic battle, it was more accurate to say they were fleeing for their lives.

Song Yan's gaze lingered briefly on the three female cultivators before shifting back to the trio, pondering inwardly: "Logically speaking, the three of them shouldn't be the easiest targets to devour here..."

"Did they break some heavenly law?"

Yet, immediately spotting the three beauty fruits, a ripple stirred in his eyes.

"Four hundred spiritual stones."

Song Yan was quite well-versed in market prices.

It seemed they had just snatched the fruits and were now at the critical juncture of running for their lives.

"Hmm..."

Song Yan genuinely wanted to engage in more matches with well-matched opponents during this sword-testing event to put his own strength to the test.

With so many opponents around, he had to admit that wiping them all out in the midst of a chaotic melee would still be somewhat strenuous.

Moreover, based on his experience, once one side displayed slightly superior strength in a multi-faction brawl without vastly exceeding everyone else, a predictable situation would arise: the remaining factions would temporarily join forces and launch a collective assault on the standout.

Just as he was contemplating a countermeasure, Gu Qingqing let out a startled cry, interrupting his thoughts.

As it turned out, after a few rapid turns, Gu Qingqing was actually fleeing right back toward the direction of the three beauty fruits!

She intended to take advantage of the distraction between the competing factions from Sword-Wiping Peak and Tongchen Peak to pluck yet another one!

Naturally, such a move could not escape the notice of the other cultivators.

"Boom—"

Aside from Sun Zhengfu and Li Qingfeng, every single cultivator embroiled in the chaotic fray turned their attacks toward Gu Qingqing!

Greedy, utterly greedy.

Though he muttered silently in reproach, the sword Qi within Song Yan's wide sleeves was already swelling.

Exposing himself at this moment was indeed somewhat perilous.

Yet, with friends ahead, he could hardly stand idly by and watch them come to harm.

Green Serpent in the Sleeve.

The accumulated sword Qi erupted abruptly, and simultaneously, his figure darted toward the lakeside like a streak of lightning.

With a flick of his sword finger, two formidable streams of sword Qi tore through the air.

They precisely intercepted the multiple spells hurtling toward Gu Qingqing.

The shockwave from the collision between the sword Qi and the Daoist magic blew her back a few paces, though it inadvertently brought her a bit closer to Sun and Li.

The crowd turned to look at the newcomer with varying expressions.

"Senior Brother Song!"

Gu Qingqing cried out, her eyes holding a mixture of shock and delight.

Seeing this, Li Qingfeng immediately closed the distance alongside Sun Zhengfu.

Amidst the crowd, Wu Shuangzhi stared blankly at the young cultivator.

Her rosy lips quivered slightly as she wanted to call out his name.

Senior Brother Song...

Yet the current situation hardly seemed appropriate.

She glanced back and saw that not far away, beside the vermilion fruits, the three disciples from Sword-Wiping Peak had already escorted the two Tongchen Peak disciples out of the fray and decisively secured the third vermilion fruit.

Though somewhat reluctant, she still made a resolute decision and lowered her voice: "Right now, our spiritual power is depleted and we are utterly exhausted."

"The spiritual fruits have also been divided. Let us preserve our strength, fight while retreating, leave this place, and make plans later."

"Very well, Senior Sister Wu."

"We will follow your lead."

The leading disciple of Sword-Wiping Peak stuffed the final vermilion fruit into his Qiankun pouch.

The number of spiritual patterns on the waist token had actually reached nineteen.

"These three... fought their way all the way here."

They possessed no small amount of strength.

"Old Song..."

Li Qingfeng wanted to say something, but Song Yan interrupted him: "It is best we leave here first."

Although that previous sword strike had deterred some people, the disciples of Taiping Peak and Sword-Wiping Peak had already locked their sights on them, and more cultivators were rushing over upon hearing the commotion.

Furthermore...

Pushing his spiritual sense to its limits, the fluctuations of spiritual power around the lakeside Qingjiang Ping and the nearby dense forests were growing increasingly chaotic, with twenty or thirty different auras gathering toward this spot.

He glanced up and down at the three fellow disciples from Sword-Wiping Peak, roughly committing their appearances to memory.

He decided to seek an opportunity to cross swords with them later.

This sword-testing trial bore no restrictive rules whatsoever concerning team formation or alliances.

Those who allied were mostly close friends within the sect or fellow disciples of the same peak.

Even though Song Yan hailed from the same peak as these three, they could certainly be adversaries as well.

As for now, since he had decided to help them to the end, figuring out a way to help his three friends break through the encirclement was the priority.

"..."

Suddenly, he noticed Li Qingfeng exchanging glances with Sun Zhengfu and Gu Qingqing.

All three of them looked rather shifty, plotting goodness knows what.

In truth, Li Qingfeng was also feeling rather aggrieved.

He had originally intended to ride on Old Song's imposing aura to act mighty for a while, and only resort to *that* move if they truly ran into danger.

He simply hadn't expected this scenario to arrive so swiftly.

"You guys..."

"Old Song, what matters most for you right now is preserving your combat strength so that in a few hours, you can go toe-to-toe with those 'heavyweights'."

"As for our end, I, old Li, have my own brilliant plan."

He patted Song Yan on the shoulder.

"Take this!"

Three puffs of culinary smoke suddenly rose from Li Qingfeng's hands, enveloping all four of them within.

Since they had long since made up their minds, he felt neither hesitation nor doubt.

Splendid spiritual light flared in Sun Zhengfu's palms as he pressed his hands downward into the empty air.

The earth rolled like surging waves, and several earthen walls rose with a rumbling sound, isolating the chaotic mob one by one.

Though Song Yan had no idea what scheme these three were concocting, to prevent other cultivators from slipping into the smoke to launch a surprise attack, he had already conjured several streams of sword Qi to guard his entire body.

He then saw Gu Qingqing dart out from behind him, her gaze toward him carrying a rather crafty glint.

"Hehe, don't you worry, Senior Brother Song... This Gu Qingqing isn't made of dough!"

Before he knew it, a fiery-red talisman had already been slapped onto his Daoist robe.

Li Qingfeng formed a hand seal, and the spiritual patterns on the specially crafted talisman instantly lit up.

Before Song Yan could even react, his figure vanished from the spot with a "swoosh."

"It worked!"

Li Qingfeng chuckled, but turning around to see the murderous disciples of Taiping Peak and Zuowang Peak charging toward them, his face instantly collapsed: "Hey, wait! My good brothers, can our grudge... ouch."

"Brother Sun, Qingqing, scatter and break into smaller units!"

"Run for your lives individually!"

...

"?"

The brief sensation of the world spinning slowly dissipated.

Song Yan stood at the edge of a pitch-black and crimson mountain range, staring eye-to-eye with the small serpent poking its head out from the collar of his robe.

"..."

This... surely this wasn't the specially crafted transmission talisman, was it?

"That fat scoundrel Li doesn't know what's good for him."

Holding it in for a long while, he couldn't help but unleash a string of bitter curses.

"...Just you wait for me."

Such a precious item was actually wasted on one's own people!?

"Had I known, I would have taken the talisman and left on my own instead."

As for whose idea such a trick was, it was glaringly obvious.

Brother Sun was always rigid and upright, and Gu Qingqing's little brain wasn't that convoluted.

He understood the reason behind the trio's actions all too well: they were simply afraid that worrying about the three of them would distract him, preventing him from performing at his absolute best when facing formidable opponents.

"Pulling a stunt like this..."

However, he immediately shook his head and laughed in spite of himself.

The fact that the three of them were dead-set on not dragging him down actually reminded Song Yan of one thing.

His friends were not flowers cultivated in a greenhouse, needing him to constantly tend to them.

At its root, his own mindset had been somewhat arrogant.

He ought to respect them as competitors.

These individuals were truly no pushovers either...

Only...

Since they had already made their move, if they met again next time, he would have to give that fat Li fellow a severe thrashing!

"Where on earth did this send me?"

Suppressing his emotions, he pulled out the map to cross-reference.

"Linyun Mountain Range..."

This mountain range lay at the very southwestern edge of the sword-testing territory, bordering a vast expanse of the sea.

Half of the mountain range was immersed in gray mist, while the other half was swallowed by the seawater outside the protective barrier.

Regarding this place, the map bore no markers for resource gathering whatsoever.

It was a remarkably "barren" location.

"The time is still early; let's venture inward slowly."

Just as he was about to take a step forward, he froze in place.

Because at this very moment, the Yin-Yang Bead, which had lain dormant for so long...

Was actually emitting a gentle, resonant humming sound!