"A bit unexpectedly weak!"
Ji Yuan sent out a surge of spiritual energy, taking the mountain and river bags of the two into his hand.
He casually threw the old man's belongings to Xu Lin, who was slowly walking over, and sighed.
"If you wander outside, you'll get used to it."
Xu Lin was not surprised by this at all.
Normally, wild cultivators from mountains and marshes were at the bottom among cultivators of the same realm.
In the first and second realms, it was still somewhat alright. The strength of cultivation techniques and magic treasures could bring about huge disparities, but it was not entirely unrecoverable.
However, upon reaching the third realm, and even the Golden Core level, this gap would be infinitely magnified.
Mere bravery and a will to fear no death were no longer enough for wild cultivators to gain an advantage.
Because no one who could cultivate to the third realm would be someone who feared death.
At least, when it was time to fight for their lives, no one would falter in their spirit.
And the differences in cultivation techniques, magic treasures, and artifacts would be fully revealed after the third realm.
A disciple from a sect could easily suppress several wild cultivators.
Let alone someone like Ji Yuan and Xu Lin.
In fact, without the former's intervention, the latter could easily kill both of them with his blade.
"Although they were a bit weak, I am curious where the Shen Xuan Sect found these people?"
Ji Yuan turned his gaze to the distance. Although there were dense tree shadows blocking his view, he still seemed to be able to see the scene beyond.
Within this forest, there were eleven to twelve auras of the third realm. This did not include the two they had already killed.
Although these auras were all at the nascent stage of the third realm, or were very weak existences.
But their sheer numbers, if combined, could pose a considerable threat.
It was a pity that he couldn't figure out what the Shen Xuan Sect was thinking, to have scattered these already not-so-strong wild cultivators and sent them to deal with them separately.
Such an action was almost equivalent to handing over benefits.
Even though they were all wild cultivators, those who could cultivate to the third realm had some background, and some of their trump cards were quite valuable.
For example, the two wooden boards that the old man from before had conjured could erupt with power comparable to a magic treasure when they resonated with each other.
If not for his own weak strength, it could have posed a slight threat to them.
"They are stalling for time."
Xu Lin said in a deep voice.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan's brow twitched, and he quickly began to calculate.
As a Taoist, divination was a basic skill, not to mention that the Xuan Tian Dao Scripture contained records of relevant Taoist arts in its Taoism scroll.
And as he calculated, his expression gradually became somber, his brows furrowed with a look of worry.
"How is it?"
Xu Lin looked over, quite curious.
The Shen Xuan Sect had gathered a group of wild cultivators, but had not concentrated them, instead scattering them.
Apart from stalling for a bit of time, he could not think of any other possibility.
But what use was this brief period of stalling?
Although the individuals were scattered for now, they were at most two to three li apart, and could arrive in a very short time.
And in this short period, even if the Shen Xuan Sect cultivators joined forces to kill them, it would not be easy to kill any one of them.
"Karma is being shielded; there is a force interfering from the unseen."
Ji Yuan shook his head. Although he was not particularly adept at deduction,
With his cultivation and his understanding of the Xuan Tian Dao Scripture, he could still perform some ordinary calculations.
And the technique that could interfere with him was at least that of a third realm cultivator who had done some research.
And it was certainly not some wild cultivator from the mountains and marshes; it should have originated from a complete lineage.
"Let's regroup with the others first."
He glanced around and then said in a deep voice.
Before his words had completely fallen, the two had already taken action. Although the forest was not convenient for travel, it was still like walking on flat ground for them.
Before long, Ji Yuan and the other met Tie Xiongxin.
The old man from the Shanhe Gang appeared somewhat disheveled. If not for the protective talismans on him, the fall earlier would have at least resulted in serious injuries.
Even so, his clothes were torn, and his skin was visible in some places.
"Damn it, I almost fell for it!"
Tie Xiongxin said indignantly, the anger in his eyes not yet completely subsided.
As soon as he landed, despite the protective talismans, he was dazed by the fall. Before he had even fully regained consciousness, he was attacked by two wild cultivators.
And these two were quite insidious, using moves that attacked the lower body, and the magic treasures they used were silver needles, scrapers, and the like.
If Tie Xiongxin's physique had not been cultivated to the point where it could withstand ordinary magic treasures, he would not have been merely injured at this moment.
As for the two who had ambushed him, they were naturally beaten to death by his iron fists in his rage.
Just as the three were talking, sounds suddenly came from all directions.
However, they were not surprised at all, and seemed to already know who was coming.
"Is everyone alright?"
Elder Hong Tian asked, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
Including Ji Yuan, there were a total of eight third realm cultivators, all of whom were currently uninjured.
The strength of those wild cultivators was truly unbearable to look at, making one wonder how they had reached the third realm.
In comparison, the rebel cultivators that Ji Yuan had encountered around Lin Fu County, although also wild cultivators, were significantly stronger.
"They are all people who were lucky enough to stumble upon some fortuitous encounters and break through to the third realm."
Tie Xiongxin said dismissively, "What kind of harm can these things do to us?"
Everyone present was either from powerful sects like the Jiu Xuan Sect, or from forces like Ming Xin Xuan. And Xu Lin was from the Ming Jian Si of the imperial court.
Wild cultivators who had forcefully broken into the third realm merely by relying on elixirs or some chance encounters.
Unless more than a dozen or twenty of them came at once, they could pose a sufficient threat.
"What exactly are the people of the Shen Xuan Sect thinking?"
Cui Yinghong frowned.
Earlier, everyone had used their respective methods to confirm that there were no cultivators lurking or hiding nearby.
Of course, if there were those special talismans from before, then that would be another matter.
"If they want to stall for time, then what is their purpose?"
Even Elder Hong Tian could not figure it out, always feeling that something had been forgotten.
Ji Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd. First, he could confirm that the Shen Xuan Sect's target was not the Shanhe Gang, the Ming Xin Xuan, or the Ming Jian Si represented by Xu Lin.
The three forces had no enmity with the Shen Xuan Sect, and they would not casually provoke such enemies in other prefectures.
Could it be aimed at the disciples of the Jiu Xuan Sect?
There was a possibility, but it was not very large.
Although the cultivators of the Shen Xuan Sect were called madmen, they possessed an extraordinary pride. Unless it was an extreme situation, they would not act in such a manner.
Moreover, the disciples of the Jiu Xuan Sect also possessed some trump cards. Even if attacked, they could send out a distress signal immediately.
But up to this point, they had not received any news.
Could it be...