Thirty years later, in a forest on the outskirts of the place where Yun Xiao and the other two cultivated.
This place was still dozens of li away from Yun Xiao's cave abode. Several cultivators had gathered here. Among them, a short, dark-skinned man in black robes with a long, thin beard stared in the direction where Yun Xiao and the other two were cultivating.
"Sixth, are you sure Daoist Zhao has left?"
As he spoke, undisguised chilliness, greed, and fear surged in the Daoist's eyes. A speck of spiritual light danced up and down between his slender fingers, revealing the tension in his heart.
"Big Brother, Ninth, Eleventh, and I have investigated thoroughly. Daoist Zhao left three days ago. Only the Three Xiao Immortals remain in the mountain now. This is the best time to strike!"
The woman who spoke was seductively beautiful. An icy Killing Intent like a great python coiled around her body, continuously exhaling faint mist mixed with a subtle fishy sweetness. Any grass or tree touched by even a trace of it immediately began to wither.
The man called Big Brother looked toward the other two. One stood atop a treetop, golden eyes gleaming as he played with a short metal rod. The other had half his body sunk into the earth. When the man looked their way, both nodded.
These two were the Ninth and Eleventh mentioned by the woman: Monkey and Dog. The former excelled in eye-based divine abilities, while the latter excelled in earth-escape arts. Together with Sixth Snake and Big Brother Rat, they were the members of the Twelve Earth Thieves most skilled at scouting and surveying locations.
Seeing Monkey and Dog nod, Rat naturally revealed a delighted expression.
But at that moment, a handsome youth could not help speaking. "Big