Teammates

Before long, Dongfang Yueming and his group arrived at the gate of the Earth Spirit Sect.

What comes into view is a magnificent scene. The mountains are verdant and shrouded in mist, with ancient and majestic palaces scattered among them, their eaves and brackets gleaming with Liuli. The air is filled with a rich spiritual energy, several times thicker than that of the outside world, which makes people feel refreshed and relaxed.

Even the most outstanding talents of various dynasties were deeply moved by this sight, their eyes filled with longing.

Dongfang Yueming's gaze quickly swept over the other arriving teams. He noticed that, in addition to the Great Yan Dynasty and the Snow Dynasty he had encountered earlier, there was also a team called the Great Sheng Dynasty, which also had a powerful Marrow Cleansing Realm expert with a profound aura. It seemed that the competition in this Battle of the Python Gate was indeed fierce.

Just as everyone was marveling at the event, the Deacon Wang in charge of the matter arrived gracefully and calmly announced news that surprised everyone, "You have all come from afar, thank you for your hard work. After discussion within the sect, the originally scheduled Battle of the Python Gate will be temporarily postponed."

"What? Postponed?"

Why the postponement?

Immediately, murmurs arose, and the faces of the trainees from each team were filled with astonishment and confusion.

Deacon Wang did not immediately explain, but instead summoned the team leaders to the side and discussed the matter in hushed tones for a moment.

Soon, the instructors returned to their respective teams with varying expressions. Zhao Qingfeng coughed lightly and said to the students of the Great Yan and Great Xia teams, "The sect has issued an order that, due to the recent appearance of a vicious assailant known as the ' Ash Demon ' in the city, who has been indiscriminately killing innocent people, we have decided to organize the students of each team to carry out a cleanup operation. The specific method of action will be determined by drawing lots, with two people forming teams across dynasties."

"A lottery? Cross-dynasty team formation?" Wang Bufan asked curiously, but then became somewhat dismissive. "It's just catching a murderer, why make it so complicated?"

Soon, the draw began.

The lot that Dongfang Yueming drew corresponded to the female student in the Snow Dynasty team who had a beautiful appearance and a slightly aloof temperament.

"The Dongfang Yueming."

"Xue Ning."

The two exchanged names briefly, thus becoming acquainted. Dongfang Yueming could sense a hint of curiosity in the other's eyes.

Shi Qing was also quite lucky, as he teamed up with Zhao Jin, Tendon Transformation Lesser Completion from the Great Yan Dynasty.

As for Wang Bufan, his expression was rather unpleasant. His partner was a student from another unknown dynasty, whose cultivation level was only at the Lesser Completion of the Tendon Transformation Lesser Completion. The other party's gaze towards Wang Bufan clearly carried a hint of disdain, as if he looked down on his Bone Forging Realm cultivation level as too low. Wang Bufan also curled his lip, secretly thinking that this teammate's strength was lacking, and he hoped that he might drag him down later.

With the teams assembled, Deacon Wang announced loudly once more, "This extermination of the Ash Demon is also a test. If any team successfully captures or kills the Ash Demon and brings back the token, then the two members of that team will be exempt from all preliminary rounds of the Battle of the Python Gate and will directly advance to the final decisive round!"

"Whoosh--"

This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples. Direct advancement to the final round? The reward is undeniably generous!

In an instant, almost all the trainees' Central Capital ignited with a burning passion, eager to try their skills.

Dongfang Yueming frowned slightly, his doubts deepening: 'As the overlord of this region, the Earth Spirit Sect is full of experts, yet they can't even catch a serial killer? And they need to rely on the help of us outsiders? There's something fishy going on here...'

At the same time, he also noticed the way the Earth Spirit Sect disciples around him were looking at them—it was an undisguised sense of superiority, as if they were looking at a group of country bumpkins from the countryside, with a scrutinizing and condescending tone.

Among the disciples dressed in the robes of the Earth Spirit Sect, one stood out, his attire even more luxurious, and his demeanor clearly extraordinary—it was Li Xuan. A faint smile played on his lips as his gaze swept over the prodigies from various dynasties in the arena. His smile held a hint of amusement, like a hunter scrutinizing his prey about to enter his net.

Dongfang Yueming keenly noticed the strange light deep in Li Xuan's eyes, and a sense of unease arose inexplicably in her heart, as if she were being locked onto by some kind of cold gaze.

After announcing the disbandment, everyone returned to their respective residences.

On the way, Wang Bufan couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What bad luck! If it weren't for the legendary Crimson Flame Stele Glazed Jade Bones, this genius would have already broken through to the Tendon Transformation Realm. How dare that guy look down on me!" He recalled the disdainful look in his teammate's eyes, and then thought of the Snow Dynasty leader's "quick fix" theory in front of the Crimson Flame Monument. His heart couldn't help but waver. "Was I really wrong? Should I continue to hone my Bone Forging Realm, or... advance now?"

Just as Wang Bufan was struggling with his decision, a clear, cold voice came from behind him.

"The Dongfang Yueming."

Dongfang Yueming looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Xue Ning had come to his side at some point. She was dressed in a snow-white dress, with a slender figure and an exquisite face, like a snow lotus on an iceberg. Her temperament was aloof and refined, and her bright eyes were like the Qiushui of an autumn pool. At this moment, she was quietly watching him.

"What are your thoughts on this ' Ash Demon ' matter?" Xue Ning's voice was as clear and melodious as shattered jade and ice crystals.

Dongfang Yueming pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Logically speaking, the ' Ash Demon ' has been causing trouble for some time now. Judging from the locals' reactions, the Earth Spirit Sect has taken some action. But why is this fiend still at large? Can't the Earth Spirit Sect really catch him?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Ning's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a hint of appreciation. "You've observed very carefully." She shifted slightly, moving a little closer to Dongfang Yueming, her breath sweet as orchids, her eyes carrying a subtle, ambiguous quality, "Not many people can think of this."

Dongfang Yueming's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained impassive. "I just find it a bit strange." He was inwardly wary; what was Xue Ning's intention behind this sudden closeness?

Instead of taking immediate action, the two split up to conduct a detailed investigation into the "Ash Demon" incident. Through interviews and inquiries, they pieced together a general outline: the earliest "Ash Demon" had indeed appeared and had been "killed" by a core disciple of the Earth Spirit Sect. However, not long after, the "Ash Demon" reappeared, its methods slightly different from before, becoming more covert and cunning.

"It seems that ' Ash Demon ' might not refer to a specific person, but rather a replaceable code name," Xue Ning concluded, her tone carrying a cold certainty. "Given certain conditions, anyone could become the next ' Ash Demon,' which is why he is 'unkillable.'"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming had an even bolder and more dangerous thought, "Is it possible... that the core disciple who was initially responsible for exterminating the Ash Demon has become the new Ash Demon himself? But why would he do that? As a core disciple of the Earth Spirit Sect, he enjoys a prestigious position and abundant resources. What could drive him down this evil path? Moreover, if it really is him, then things become very complicated. The ' Ash Demon ' could be an outsider, or a hidden demon, but if he himself is a member of the Earth Spirit Sect, and a core disciple at that... then this pool of water runs far too deep."