Her legs went weak, and she withdrew her Canchen from her waist to use the scabbard to support herself on the ground, barely managing not to collapse, panting heavily, cold sweat soaking through her white clothes.

"Senior Sister!"

Qing Jun and Jin’er rushed over, supporting the trembling Zhiwei from either side, their eyes red.

"Why are you crying? I’m fine... just exhausted."

Zhiwei weakly tugged at the corners of her mouth, raising a hand to rub Qing Jun’s fluffy head, then looked at Jin’er,

"Master believed we could kill him... and now, we’ve done it, we haven’t let Master down."

"Ugh... that wicked Master..."

Qing Jun’s nose was red, full of grievance, didn’t Master care about them at all!

They could handle it, yes, but both Senior and Junior Sisters were seriously injured...

Yet,

they indeed didn’t disappoint Master.

The three of them, in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, unexpectedly really slew the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect’s strongest True Inheritor!

This Yang Qiu was not an ordinary Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment.

He could have broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, but only for the Luoxiao Grotto Heaven did he suppress his realm; his true strength far exceeded ordinary cultivators.

Keep in mind, not long ago, even True Inheritor Bai Susu was just at the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment!

If it weren’t for Chen Ye using the Heart Slaughter Sword, it would have taken a tough battle to kill this Yang Qiu...

"This place is not safe for long."

Zhiwei forcibly swallowed the metallic taste welling up her throat.

She glanced around, and the recent earth-shattering commotion, coupled with the soaring flames and the dense corpse qi, would inevitably attract other cultivators or powerful demon beasts within the Luoxiao Grotto Heaven.

"Qing Jun, pick up his Storage Bag. We leave immediately."

"Okay!"

Though Qing Jun was panting heavily from exhaustion, she knew they couldn’t delay, quickly gathering up the spoils of battle, at the end feeling a bit worried,

"What if these items have the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect’s tracking marks? Even True Man Ye had to hide his treasures back then!"

Zhiwei nodded: "No worries, today is different from the past. At that time, the Luoxiao Grotto Heaven was mixed with dragons and fish, not only were there Golden Core True Men, there might even be hidden Nascent Soul True Monarchs... those cultivators had the ability to search for people within the Grotto Heaven. But now, in the Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, it’s all early to middle stage Foundation Establishment, likely unable to cross the laws of Luoxiao Grotto Heaven."

Currently, apart from Spirit Treasure Sect disciples, disciples from other sects couldn’t even meet up properly.

She braced her spirits, recalling her master’s strategy.

In the master’s strategy, scattered mentions were made of dozens of hiding spots, and nearby, there was a natural inverted stalactite cave.

The entrance was concealed by a Spirit Stone, with an accompanying cold spring inside, suitable for healing.

"With Master here... there’s nothing to fear."

Zhiwei’s pale lips curled into a faint, reassuring smile,

"Westward, to the Spirit Stone stalactite cave. Jin’er, can you still walk?"

"I can, Senior Sister." Jin’er nodded obediently, enduring the intense pain to pick up the magical treasures scattered on the ground.

The three girls, supporting each other, quickly erased any lingering traces of their presence at the scene under the cover of a small white fox, transforming into three faint escape lights, vanishing into the vast night of the withered stone forest.

"Squeak, squeak..."

The small white fox diligently swept away the traces left by the three girls with its tail, secretly sighing.

These three little girls are really impressive...

They didn’t even need it to take action.

As for the injuries sustained by the three girls, in its view, they were insignificant.

One must know,

the Refining God Sect is a sect of rigorous cultivation, and the hardships the little white fox experienced back then far surpassed their battle today.

In the view of the little white fox,

these blood and injuries were an inevitable path for cultivators.

Unless the three little girls were really about to die, otherwise the little white fox would never step in to help.

...

Hunyuan City.

In front of the Heaven-Suspended Tower.

The White Jade Plaza was brightly lit at this moment.

At the center of the plaza, the light screen was flickering with vague scenes from various parts of the Luoxiao Grotto Heaven.

On the white jade high platforms around the plaza, the elders of the Five Sects of Yan Kingdom and Huayue Mansion were seated.

The atmosphere of the assembly was outwardly harmonious, yet undercurrent was tumultuous.

"Crack—!"

Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound emanated from the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect’s seating area!

Originally with eyes half-closed, an elder of the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect’s team, body stiffened.

He stared intently at the black life tablet hanging from his waist.

This represented the life soul tablet of Yang Qiu, True Inheritor, and top prodigy of the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect, who carried high hopes...

At this moment, it shattered into dust!

"Yang... True Inheritor Yang?!"

The faces of the few stewards behind the Guardian turned pale, as if they were mourning their parents.

Could it be...

Successive generations of Myriad Puppets prodigies, both buried within Luoxiao Grotto Heaven?!

"Who?! Who killed the True Inheritor of my Ten Thousand Puppet Sect!!"

The Guardian’s eyes were bloodshot, looking crazed, as he struck the white jade table before him, turning it to flying ashes.

Yang Qiu was not only the True Inheritor of the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect but also a rare genius in a century, highly regarded by the True Man,

If he dies,

even as a Late Period Foundation Establishment Guardian, returning to the sect, I would not escape the ancestor’s wrath!

How could he possibly die inside Luoxiao Grotto Heaven?!

The women of Medicine King Valley are no threat;

Spirit Treasure Sect are all useless;

Refining God Sect is absent, and the two True Inheritors of Lingyin Sect are in Qi Kingdom;

Who on earth could kill Yang Qiu?

The answer seems obvious.

This turn of events threw the front of Heaven-Suspended Tower into a dead silence.

Everyone looked at the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect with bewildered and uncertain eyes, then instinctively glanced at the stunning woman representing Huayue Mansion seated in the main seat.

Daughter of the Lord of Hunyuan City, Huayue Mansion’s hidden dragon— Gu Tangyin.

Gu Tangyin was draped in a luxurious long dress with purple and gold cloud patterns, her face cold and beautiful, like an unattainable Divine Maiden.

Facing the Guardian’s rage, she didn’t even raise an eyelid, merely lifting the Spirit Tea before her and sipping lightly.

But beneath those wide sleeves, her jade fingers holding the tea cup unconsciously tightened slightly.

"Guardian Zhang, life and death within Luoxiao Grotto Heaven are dictated by fate. It’s unfortunate that Young Master Yang fell because he lacked skill, but I urge you to restrain yourself and not disturb fellow sect members."

Gu Tangyin’s voice was ethereal and cold, devoid of any earthly air.

"You—!"

The Puppet Master laughed bitterly out of anger, glaring fiercely at Gu Tangyin, saying through gritted teeth,

"If not your Huayue Mansion, who else could have killed our sect’s True Inheritor! Gu Tangyin, do you dare to swear a Dao vow to prove your innocence in this matter?!"

Gu Tangyin was also perturbed inside.

She had observed Yang Qiu, who had a profound foundation and was a rare talent, even within Huayue Mansion, he could be considered a genius.

Even the Four Heroes of Huayue, facing him one-on-one in a magical battle, couldn’t guarantee victory.

Could it be...

Did they truly kill Yang Qiu?

Damn it!

Wasn’t the target supposed to be Lingyin disciples? Why was Yang Qiu killed at this point? Isn’t it evident it was done by Huayue Mansion members?

Though shocked internally, Gu Tangyin remained composed on the surface, even chuckling coldly:

"Guardian Zhang, your claim is absurd. Within the Grotto Heaven, crises are everywhere; the most dangerous entities have never been the cultivators... perhaps your sect’s True Inheritor stepped into peril? Didn’t you see, moments ago in the light screen, a Golden Core demon plant enraged? Furthermore, grudges in the Grotto Heaven don’t escape to the outside world, even if it’s Huayue who killed him, Myriad Puppets cannot take issue."

"This... this..."

Guardian Zhang clenched his fingers, hesitating.

Earlier, in the light screen, the ground fire erupted, and a Golden Core appeared.

Such commotion drew all attention in Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, leaving other cultivators unprojected.

Even though Chen Ye’s three disciples appeared on Yunduan Mountain, they were too insignificant before Yunduan Mountain, like a speck of dust, naturally unnoticed by external cultivators.

Murmurs arose.

"Could it be, that the Golden Core demon plant killed Yang Qiu?"

"Hmm... the times coincide, most likely so. Without Yang Qiu in the Grotto Heaven, remaining disciples might not match Lingyin Sect’s prowess."

"Damn it!"

Guardian Zhang’s old face darkened, with a swift sleeve wave, he shouted,

"Quickly regroup, return to the sect, first report this matter to the True Man!"

At this moment, he had no mood to continue watching the changes in Luoxiao Grotto Heaven.

Meanwhile, on the high platform, Gu Tangyin silently communicated with the soul lamp, already aware of the course of events.

"Hmm? How did this happen... Chen Ye, huh."

Seems like it’s time to visit that person again.

Heard he’s been diligently cultivating at the Lingyin Sect base these past days.

Can’t deny.

Though Gu Tangyin detests this person, she also admires his perseverance and Dao heart...

"Such an arrogant journey, yet a devoted cultivator. He cares deeply for his three disciples, but during such critical moments, still engages in dedicated cultivation."

Gu Tangyin’s perception of Chen Ye shifted slightly, she glanced at the diverse expressions of surrounding cultivators, inwardly concluded,

"It’s not advisable to openly seek him again... In Hunyuan City, aided by the soul lamp, visiting Misty Water Pavilion alone would suffice."