In less than half an hour, Li Buwei's team had grown from six people to nineteen.
Nearly twenty people marched through the forest. Any cultivators who saw them kept their distance, or even turned and fled.
With such a large group, very few dared to approach easily, unless they were also numerous and belonged to a major sect or power.
Although everyone's goal was the same – to find the young man with the Golden Core, as reported by the Shanhe Gang – if someone dared to get too close, they might be devoured, leaving only bones to be scattered in the wilderness.
In such an environment, it wasn't just rogue cultivators who might be tempted to act, but even disciples from certain factions or sects.
After all, the easiest way to accumulate wealth on the path of cultivation was through robbery and murder.
Rather than hoping for mercy from others, it was better to be more vigilant and stay away from potential dangers.
“Fellow Daoist Li, I believe it would be better for us to split up and cover different directions.”
Someone in the group couldn't help but speak up, feeling that continuing in this manner would be futile.
Though others remained silent, their intentions were clear. Even Cheng Junjie and his early allies couldn't help but show some worry.
Indeed, when the target's exact location was unknown, spreading out to cordon off an area was the safest approach.
At least, it was far more reliable than blindly heading in one direction and offered a much higher probability of encountering the target.
“Fellow Daoist, you are mistaken.”
Li Buwei sighed, putting on a knowing expression.
He turned and scanned everyone, inwardly amused. They had been walking for almost an hour before realizing this?
However, he had no intention of revealing his thoughts and spoke earnestly, "The other directions lead back to the formation or to the gathering place, or somewhere in between."
At the formation, cultivators of the third realm were still fighting over Golden Core fragments, while at the gathering place, disciples from the three major sects and twenty to thirty cultivators who had arrived late were present.
As soon as the news from the Shanhe Gang spread over an hour ago, cultivators had already set out, blocking the paths between the two locations and slowly searching inwards.
This meant that even if Ji Yuan and Li Buwei had originally planned different routes, they now had to follow this sole direction to attempt to escape the pursuit of numerous cultivators.
“If that young man wishes to escape safely now, the direction we are heading will be his only choice.”
Li Buwei stated with certainty.
Seeing the thoughtful looks on their faces, he further assured them that as long as they continued in this direction, they would eventually find their target.
Even if they were to split up and cover a large area, it should only be done after they had traveled a significant distance.
It was all about seizing the initiative!
“Fellow Daoist Li is right!”
As everyone pondered, Cheng Junjie was the first to voice his support for Li Buwei's plan.
With his intervention, the group was swayed from contemplating the plan's validity to whether they should agree to it.
Witnessing this, even Ji Yuan, hiding in the treetops, couldn't help but chuckle inwardly and give a silent thumbs-up to the noble young master playing the game of pretending to be a rogue cultivator.
For a moment, he almost thought that Li Buwei's men had colluded beforehand, their cooperation was so perfect.
In the end, the group decided to temporarily follow Li Buwei's suggestion and head in this sole direction, only considering splitting up to cover an area once they had traveled far enough.
As they neared the area that the two had previously set up, Ji Yuan and Li Buwei's hearts grew increasingly tense.
The closer they got to the critical moment, the more they couldn't afford to be careless. This was a lesson learned at a heavy price by those who came before.
It was as if the heavenly dao itself had a peculiar sense of humor, always throwing in twists and turns at the crucial final moments, as if to test cultivators who defied it.
As expected, less than half an hour later, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed from behind them.
Li Buwei slowly turned and saw cultivators from the Jingxin Hall and Qingyang Sword Sect rushing towards them.
A rough count revealed that there were twelve cultivators from the two sects combined, and their target was clearly their group!
Suppressing his confusion, he immediately exchanged glances with the two people beside him: Cheng Junjie, whom he had met earliest, and a middle-aged man named Zhu Tao.
The group of nineteen was roughly divided into four teams. He and Cheng Junjie formed one, while Zhu Tao and his five companions formed another.
The remaining two teams consisted of the person who had raised the objection earlier, and another who remained silent throughout, seemingly present only to make up the numbers.
However, among the four teams, this last one was the strongest, led by a cultivator in the mid-Spirit Control realm who called himself a mountain hermit. The three people beside him were all extraordinary, clearly possessing considerable skill.
Before long, the disciples from the two sects arrived and, from about ten to twelve feet away, scattered to form a semicircle, confronting the rogue cultivators before them.
“Fellow Daoists, do you have some business with us?”
The young man who had raised the objection earlier, coincidentally at the rear of the group, had no choice but to step forward first. “I am Liu Qi, from the Feiyun Merchant Association!”
Upon hearing this, numerous gazes converged. Even Li Buwei and the others hadn't known that this person had such a powerful background.
The Feiyun Merchant Association held a status in this county comparable to the combined might of Mingxin Xuan and Haohan Tower in Luoxia County. Its business spanned the entirety of Lingyang Prefecture and it monopolized numerous industries within Feiyun County.
“Just an outer associate of the Feiyun Merchant Association, and you dare to use the association's name?”
A disciple from Jingxin Hall scoffed, his contempt undisguised.
With these words, everyone present immediately retracted their surprise and understood the contempt.
To put it nicely, they were outer associates of the Feiyun Merchant Association; to put it crudely, their status was even lower than that of rogue cultivators.
The so-called outer associates were merely hired thugs of the Feiyun Merchant Association, specifically employed for unpleasant and unsavory tasks.
As if sensing the shift in everyone's gaze, Liu Qi's expression immediately darkened. However, no one paid him any further attention, as their focus shifted to the disciples of the two sects before them.
“May I ask why you are in such a hurry? Is there something important?”
Li Buwei coughed lightly, stepped forward a few paces, and cupped his hands.
“Whether there's something or not, you'll find out soon enough.”
A middle-aged man snorted, then walked towards them with two slightly older youths.
They were disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect, all wearing robes of dark blue with gold patterns, carrying long swords on their backs, and exuding a sharp aura.
As this person advanced step by step, his keen gaze swept over everyone's faces. Although there was no overt insult, it still made people feel uncomfortable.
However, due to his late-stage Spirit Control realm cultivation, everyone could only suppress their anger and internalize their complaints.
“If you believe that the young man who obtained the Golden Core is hiding behind us, you are mistaken.”
Li Buwei saw this and immediately said with a fawning smile.
Yet, even though he had adopted a humble posture and maintained a smile throughout, he was still met with several sharp gazes.
“Shut your mouth!”
A youth snapped, his voice laced with intense impatience.
He frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed, maintaining his smile as if he didn't take it seriously.
However, those around him could sense his state of mind. As rogue cultivators, they had encountered similar situations more than once. In the eyes of those from established sects, they were no different from the mud on the ground.
Before long, after confirming that the young man described in the intelligence was not among the group before them, the middle-aged man from the Qingyang Sword Sect showed a hint of displeasure.
After toiling for an hour or two, rushing forward recklessly, they had found no clues. The young man had seemingly vanished into thin air.
“You will all take off your Shanhe bags, or your personal belongings, and stand in a line over there!”
The middle-aged man frowned and said without any politeness, “If, after inspection, it's confirmed that the Golden Core is not on you, you may leave!”
As his words fell, no one moved. Silent gazes fell upon the middle-aged man, and a subtle murderous intent began to permeate the air.
They were indeed rogue cultivators, and they often joked about being the mud beneath everyone's feet, the weeds by the roadside, with no status whatsoever.
But no matter how lowly or humble, they still had some dignity. If the humiliation wasn't too excessive, they would endure it, as their cultivation was inferior.
However, taking off their belongings and allowing themselves to be searched was something they absolutely could not do.
Humiliation was one thing, but to ask them to part with their magical artifacts and wealth was completely out of the question!
Everyone present was certain that if they complied with the demand, they would never get their belongings back. They would be confiscated for various reasons, enriching the pockets of these disciples from major sects.
In fact, it was possible that in the end, there would be no reason given at all; they would simply be taken, and what could they do?
“Hmph, a bunch of insignificant wretches, and you dare to feel murderous intent towards me?”
A flash of anger crossed the middle-aged man's eyes, and a powerful aura erupted from him.
He was like a sword about to be unsheathed, his spiritual energy circulating within his body, while faint sword qi began to rise from the sword on his back.
Behind him, two youths stepped forward simultaneously, their mid-Spirit Control realm auras unleashed without reservation. They drew their swords from their backs.
On the gleaming sword blades, cold light flowed, and a chilling aura permeated the surrounding area for several yards.
Clang!!!
From a little further away, three disciples from the Qingyang Sword Sect advanced in unison. Although they were only at the early-Spirit Control realm, their sharp auras already surpassed those of most rogue cultivators present.
“Heh heh, since you are rogue cultivators, you should have the corresponding self-awareness. If you don't want to die, you'd best comply.”
The six individuals from Jingxin Hall stepped forward, each releasing their aura.
Like the Qingyang Sword Sect, they comprised one late-stage Spirit Control realm cultivator, two mid-stage, and three early-stage. Even the weakest among them had an aura slightly stronger than two or three rogue cultivators.
At this sight, the expressions of Li Buwei and the others turned extremely grim. Some even involuntarily retreated several steps, unable to withstand the oppressive aura bearing down on them.
“We can all swear a Great Dao oath, guaranteeing that the Golden Core is not on us!”
Li Buwei took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
If possible, he certainly did not want to engage in a fight. Although their side had a large number of people, they were no different from a disorganized mob.
In fact, if a fight were to break out, some would undoubtedly flee without looking back.
However, in response to his proposal, the two sects' disciples exchanged glances, then revealed cold smiles and disdain. Some even showed anger.
“Do you, with your meager standing, think you can negotiate terms with us?”
The middle-aged man from the Qingyang Sword Sect seemed to have heard a joke, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.
However, within that smile, there was an intensely bone-chilling coldness!