Chapter 156: Unexpected Turn

"Let's go; the seaside is unsafe, let's find a place to recuperate."

"Jiang Yu, keep up with me." Xia Bing waved a hand, said nothing to the group of Eastern Continent cultivators, and headed first toward the distant Yuanlin forest.

The late‑stage Foundation Establishment seniors from the Four Great Sects, faster than Jiang Yu, said, "Comrade Xia, since we're forming a team, we should elect a captain."

Jiang Yu fell a few steps behind; she wanted to ask the turquoise little snake on Guo Jue's wrist for directions, but the creature was quite tsundere: "How would I know the road? Just head toward where the sun rises; that should be fine."

"What about when seven suns rise together every day—won't that roast people to death?" Jiang Tu could only rib Jiang Yu, but the turquoise little snake didn't hear them.

Jiang Yu wanted to ask more, when Wen Xin squeezed up from behind to her side and said, "If that person dies in his due place, we won't have to act."

She gave Wen Xin a noncommittal look; the girl instantly glared, "Don't tell me you intend to repay a grievance with virtue."

"That guy in the ancient city is coming straight for our lives."

"No." People die silently; whose hand caused it makes no difference, Jiang Yu didn't want to say more.

"That's about right; you're not bad, we'll be friends from now on," Wen Xin said to herself.

Jiang Yu didn't take it to heart; she not only bears a grudge against that Nan Su, but also has a feud with Profound Heaven Sect's Wen Lan.

After a brief pause, she asked, "This time, among the Golden Core Real Persons from your Profound Heaven Sect who entered, is there any elder from your family?"

"Yes, Aunt Wen Lan. After we reach the innermost layer, I'll have Aunt Lan watch over you." Wen Xin is still generous toward friends.

But she couldn't resist gossiping, "I heard that Xue Miao of the Fallen Moon Sect also entered; you once offended her because of Senior Brother Dai, so be careful."

"But, how did you offend her?"

"It's a long story." Sometimes Jiang Yu is an obedient student; for example, a saying she heard at school inspired her: make many friends, turn enemies into a minority, so your side can secure an advantage.

"Then cut the long story short; I'll ride your flying sword." Hearing the late‑stage Foundation cultivators ahead shout "Sword Flight," Wen Xin immediately leapt onto the flying sword Jiang Yu released.

As Jiang Yu's sword flew away, the previously mentioned Wen Lan was at that moment traversing a sea of flowers.

By chance, she ran into Master Lin, Jiang Bai, and the others.

Without waiting for Master Lin to speak, Wen Lan already darted away like an arrow.

"Cultivators of the Profound Heaven Sect?" Jiang Bai had once bought portraits of high‑rank cultivators from Tianyuan Continent at the Inner Affairs Hall of the Grand Void Sect.

"True Person Wen Lan has been in seclusion these recent years; in a short time she's already reached the Golden Core Great Perfection realm."

"You should be careful with her…" Master Lin glanced at Jiang Bai's junior brother, then switched to a telepathic transmission.

He relayed the secret information Jiang Yu obtained in the mortal realm to him.

Jiang Bai asked, "Sui Lv Zhenjun, did you inform the Profound Heaven Sect's higher‑ups?"

Master Lin gave him a sidelong glance, "If someone tells you your junior brother was possessed, what would you do?"

"…" Jiang Bai knew his first reaction would be to suspect that person of sowing discord.

The junior brother beside him wasn't curious about their words; he simply projected his spirit sense to scout around.

Sweeping thirty li to the left, just as he was about to turn right, he suddenly saw spiritual ripples moving in the forest over there, accelerating rapidly.

"Senior brother, look at that…" Before he could finish, the forest shuddered violently, followed by a thunderous roar.

As the three sped closer, many cultivators emerged from all directions, scrambling like a competition to claim treasure.

Unexpectedly, after a few rumblings, the forest emitted a massive blast; with a "Boom!", a jet of fire carrying molten lava shot skyward.

In an instant, countless lava spewed from the ruptured opening, the sudden scorching heat slamming into them.

Even the most advanced Golden Core cultivators feared this sudden extreme heat; everyone retreated silently, step after step.

Then, as several fireballs followed the lava erupting from the ground, the Golden Core cultivators lost composure.

"Anomalous fire!"

"Chase!"

The crowd surged forward, Jiang Bai and the others were no exception, "Master Lin, capture a specimen that I can give to Jiang Tu; it can save you."

Jiang Bai's junior brother also flew swiftly, "Senior brother, why is there another Jiang Tu? What relation is he to Jiang Yu?"

Jiang Yu had no idea that treasure hunters were still so curious about her.

She, along with everyone, flew to a vast forest, and soon set up formations at the foot of the mountain with her senior brothers and sisters.

The reason no one chose to ascend and carve a cave is that the trees here are unusually towering; their intertwined branches form continuous canopies that block out all sunlight.

After continuous battles draining their mana, unwilling to re‑enter the forest to fight unknown beasts, they could only retreat and, at the mountain's base, lay interconnected formations.

Once the arrays were set, each sect's disciples naturally occupied their own sector to carry out the next plans.

Jiang Yu, being young and of low cultivation, obeyed the two senior brothers and sisters without question as long as her life wasn't in danger.

Xia Bing, with an unexpected look, said, "The disciples of the Four Great Sects want to nominate Comrade Zhang from the Profound Heaven Sect as captain."

The other sects and free cultivators don't support it, especially the four demonic cultivators, who firmly oppose it.

"My point is, after we cross this forest, we'll act on our own."

"I agree; the more people, the more trouble—over twenty‑eight of us, from a dozen sects; except when guarding against Eastern Continent cultivators, we can't be of one mind." Deng Yuanwu also didn't want such a large team.

Jiang Yu nodded, "I'll follow the seniors."

Xia Bing said solemnly, "If you're willing to listen, then from now on, show less of your wealth in public."

"The Heavenly King Temple needs top‑grade spirit stones; why don't you request them from everyone? In the group, there's neither excess nor shortage."

At that time, everyone was desperate to escape, and we happened to encounter beasts; otherwise someone would have plotted against you behind the scenes earlier.

"Senior sister's lesson noted; I'll be careful next time," Jiang Yu said, and the two immediately handed her ten top‑grade spirit stones.

She took two each and stepped back quickly, "From others I only took two hundred medium‑grade or twenty thousand low‑grade; with the seniors I'll just bask in the glow and take the top‑grade."

"Don't force‑give them to me, or I won't join the team."

Xia Bing and Deng Yuanwu exchanged a glance, silently pocketed the rest, and said, "We'll take turns guarding; Jiang Yu, you go meditate first."

"No need; I already cultivated for an hour this morning." Jiang Yu's return to the sea this time didn't cost much spiritual energy.

The two didn't refuse, each unfolded their own space‑folding dwelling and entered to cultivate.

While Jiang Yu guarded the array gate, Guo Jue and Guo Ye, senior brothers, visited, and the two expressed a desire to continue forming a team.

There is no other reason: in the cultivation world, Daoists and Buddhas can, in everyday life, cooperate to deal with demonic cultivators, but they compete privately.

Guo Jue's master, Enlightened Master, is on good terms with Jiang Yu's master; they also know Jiang Yu, so from the outset there is an extra closeness.

Especially the emerald‑green little snake said, "Go find that Jiang Yu; the sword in her hand must come from the Great Luo Cave Heaven."

Moreover, she possesses dragon breath.

These words, Guo Jue told Jiang Yu unchanged.

Irritated, the emerald‑green little snake flew onto their gleaming bald head, ready to bite.