Mu Gaosou knew what Ding Fan was asking. He didn’t even need to think and answered, "Very abnormal! I also received a message that some strong spiritual beasts have appeared in the nearby wilderness, killing many scout cavalry and martial artists. Master, did you see any such spiritual beasts on the road?"

"This."

Ding Fan’s soul was touched, and he sighed, "Could it really be that strong experts from the Herr Family are quietly following us, cleaning up the aftermath along the way?"

Ding Fan hadn’t seen any fierce spiritual beasts along the way. Even if there were some, they were only at the First Stage or Second Stage, and not many in number. The scout cavalry’s survival ability is very strong, so how could they be killed by such spiritual beasts?

Things are abnormal, too abnormal.

If it weren’t for the Herr Family’s people helping them, then there must be a strong expert quietly assisting them in clearing the path. Otherwise, the road wouldn’t be so calm.

"It should be the Herr Family’s people."

Mu Gaosou thought for a moment and said, "Aside from the Herr Family, no one else has this ability. People from the Ye Family can’t come out from the other world right now. Think about it, if the Ye Family’s people came out, would they need to be so sneaky? They would’ve directly gone to destroy the Zhong Family."

Ding Fan thought Mu Gaosou was right. If Ye Li and the others came out, they would have already come to see him. It wouldn’t be possible for them not to find him.

"Rest for a while, then proceed at full speed."

Ding Fan stopped thinking about it. With Herr Ningshuang and Herr Rufeng helping him, and also receiving secret assistance from the Herr Family, he felt his courage increase significantly. He couldn’t let Herr Ningshuang down. He had to reach Wu Family Fortress as soon as possible, take away Xia Ling’s remains, collect all the bones from the Sirius Ancient Tomb, and he also wanted to see if he could destroy the Park Family.

Ding Fan and Mu Gaosou rested for a few hours and charged forward again. The road was equally calm, and they didn’t see many scout cavalry. This calmed the two of them, and they quickened their pace, striving to reach the Wu Family Fortress as soon as possible.

The Wu Family Fortress is very far from Tianmu Sea. Even if they rode a chariot non-stop, it would take over half a month. However, with Mu Gaosou leading Ding Fan, they moved much faster than with a chariot. Even though they took a detour, they arrived in about seven or eight days.

...

"No news yet?"

Zhong Ziqi was getting restless. Another day had passed with no news at all. He angrily pounded the table and shouted at the Scout Cavalry Hall Master, Zhong Wuchang, "Are you people in the Scout Cavalry Hall just loafing around? So many people, mobilizing millions, and you still can’t find two people. One is a Fourth Level Elementary Stage in the Divine Realm leading a Second Level in the Divine Realm. Are they flying up to the sky or what?"

The Scout Cavalry Hall Master Zhong Wuchang’s face turned as red as a beetroot from the scolding but didn’t dare to snap back. This matter was strange. He had already dispatched his top scout cavalry, yet they hadn’t even found Ding Fan’s shadow, leaving him embarrassed.

At that moment, he thought for a while, then walked to the map hanging on the wall and said, "Lord Qi, look here. On this route, dozens of our scout cavalry have died, killed by some wild beasts. But what’s strange is that people have died only on this road. It’s not surprising that one or two were killed by beasts, but forty-plus at once, that’s very strange. Plus, nearly a hundred scout cavalry and martial artists from other families have also died."

"What?"

Zhong Ziqi’s eyes flared with rage as he cursed, "Are you a pig? Why are you only telling me such important information now? It’s like you have a pig’s brain. Immediately relay my orders: report on where the dead died, how they died, and how many people died, in detail, quickly!"

"Yes! I will go right away!"

Zhong Wuchang ran out, ordering the information be reported as quickly as possible. Four hours later, the detailed data was laid out in front of Zhong Ziqi.

Zhong Ziqi scrutinized it for a while, then clapped his hands and said very confidently, "It is definitely Ding Fan. He is here, on this route, taking a detour. Not only is Mu Gaosou by his side, but there are also other strong experts. They must be experts from the Herr Family. They killed those scout cavalry to ensure we didn’t find out about Ding Fan."

The scout cavalry and martial artists from the Zhong Family who died were killed by beasts. But so many dying all at once was too abnormal. If Zhong Ziqi couldn’t see this, he wouldn’t be much of a strategist or advisor.

Zhong Ziqi pondered for a moment, then ordered Zhong Wuchang, "This time, personally lead the search. Make sure to search carefully. I will send five Fifth Level Experts from the Divine Realm to that area to stand by. Once you find Ding Fan, use a talisman to send a signal, and they will go immediately."

"Yes!"

Zhong Wuchang nodded excitedly and turned to leave. The Herr Family’s experts couldn’t openly help Ding Fan. Once Ding Fan was found, with five Fifth Level Experts from the Divine Realm attacking together, wouldn’t he be doomed?

Just as Zhong Ziqi left, a man with a dragon-like presence walked in. His imposing figure brought a sense of oppression!

"Patriarch!"

Zhong Ziqi saw it was Zhong Zhiyong who entered and quickly stepped forward to greet him. Zhong Zhiyong sat down beside the table, his face unpleasant, and said to Zhong Ziqi, "The two girls from the Herr Family have been circling outside and are now heading toward our Zhong Family Fortress. Once they arrive, the experts from the Herr Family are bound to come out. If this doesn’t go well and we end up fighting the Herr Family, the consequences won’t be pretty. The Zhao Family has already sent word that we must avoid going to war with the Herr Family. Otherwise, if Master Daozhen personally intervenes, the consequences will be our Zhong Family’s to bear."

"Humph! Zhao Family!"

Zhong Ziqi snorted coldly and said, "Zhao Wuji has grown old and lost his sharp edge. His courage has long been scared away by Master Daozhen. But that old thing, He Daozhen, has been in the Seventh Level Realm of the Divine Realm for so many years; he should’ve been too old to move by now. Does he still dare to flaunt in Tianmu Sea?"

"That’s unreasonable!"

Zhong Zhiyong waved his hand and said, "He Daozhen has cultivated in Tianmu Sea for so many years, and his accumulated prestige is significant. As long as he is not dead, no one in the Three Great Royal Families dares to act. Let’s not talk about that now, let’s address the present: if Herr Rufeng and her sister come to Zhong Family Fortress to create trouble, and Herr Wanzhan backs them up, I may not be able to defeat him. Also, you’ve dispatched so many experts outside; who’s going to hold back Herr Qianjun? If we suffer heavy losses to eliminate Ding Fan, leading to the deaths of too many experts, our family’s prestige is bound to plummet."

"You are overthinking, Patriarch!"

Zhong Ziqi confidently said, "Rest assured, those two girls from the Herr Family are just covering for Ding Fan. Their goal is to constrain our power. They won’t dare to act rashly, and Herr Wanzhan is even less likely to come over and wage war on our Zhong Family. Remember, we have a non-aggression agreement with Tianmu Sea and the Three Great Royal Families. The experts I’ve sent out cannot be called back. This matter is already so sensational that if Ding Fan isn’t killed, our Zhong Family’s prestige will be ruined."

Upon hearing Zhong Ziqi, Zhong Zhiyong was deeply troubled. He furrowed his brows and asked Zhong Ziqi, "But what if that old madman Herr Wanzhan does make a move?"

This time, Zhong Ziqi had laid out a grand scheme and dispatched many experts from the Zhong Family. Currently, there are only four Fifth Level experts of the Divine Realm left in Zhong Family Fortress. If Herr Wanzhan truly makes a move, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Furthermore, if Zhong Zhiyong is killed, the Zhong Family is bound to become unstable, and it will quickly fall to a Fourth Grade power. Zhong Zhiyong isn’t afraid to die; he fears that he would be unable to face the ancestors of the Zhong Family if the family perishes under his leadership.

As the patriarch of the Zhong Family, he must consider the overall situation, starting from the interests of the family. It isn’t crucial whether Ding Fan is killed this time or not. If he isn’t killed now, there will be more opportunities in the future, but Zhong Family Fortress must not suffer any setbacks.

After some thought, Zhong Zhiyong made up his mind and said, "Ziqi, I’ll give you two more days. If Ding Fan hasn’t been killed within these two days, call back all eight Fifth Level experts of the Divine Realm outside. Do you understand?"

The Herr Ningshuang sisters would arrive at Zhong Family Fortress within three days at the latest, and Herr Wanzhan was undoubtedly following them. Zhong Zhiyong thought it prudent to prepare.

"Patriarch! That’s not possible!"

Zhong Ziqi suddenly became anxious. If the eight experts returned, his chess game would be in vain. Without these eight Fifth Level experts of the Divine Realm, the chances of killing Ding Fan would greatly diminish. He had planned this for such a long time and had already learned about Ding Fan’s route. If he gave up, he would truly be unwilling.

"Say no more; it’s decided. This is my command!"

Zhong Zhiyong stood up with an unpleasant expression, walked toward the door, and turned his head to Zhong Ziqi, saying, "Remember, you only have two days. Two days later, I will personally order the eight experts back. Make good use of these two days."

As Zhong Zhiyong walked out of the council chamber, Zhong Ziqi’s expression became very unpleasant. He thought for a moment and called out, "Someone! Send a message to Zhong Wuchang. If he doesn’t find Ding Fan within a day, he doesn’t need to return to Zhong Family Fortress anymore."

After speaking, his fierce gaze looked into the distance, and he harshly said, "Two days! I must find Ding Fan within these two days and kill him!"

...

In a large mountain within Shenwu Country, Mu Gaosou continued to flee with Ding Fan.

"Not good..."

After rushing out of a forest, Mu Gaosou crouched in a reed field, and Ding Fan, unsure of what was happening, asked him, "There are quite a few people ahead; they seem to be scout cavalry!"

Mu Gaosou whispered before quietly retreating with Ding Fan, changing routes and moving forward again. But after just a short distance, he halted once more, worriedly saying, "Ah! There’s even more here. The scout cavalry has increased; it seems the Zhong Family has likely learned of our whereabouts."

Ding Fan took out a map and looked at it, furrowing his brows together as he said, "We’re about to cross two more regions, and we’ll be there. Judging by the distance, we’ll definitely arrive in a day. We can’t be discovered now. Mu Gaosou, please endure this a bit more; let’s find another path."

Mu Gaosou had no choice but to nod and lead Ding Fan in another direction, carefully advancing, fearing they might be detected by the scout cavalry.

However...

The path ahead became increasingly difficult, and more scout cavalry appeared, putting Mu Gaosou through a lot of hardship, navigating here and there, constantly releasing True Yuan to probe ahead. One careless move and they could be discovered by the scout cavalry. Both dared not rest, for they were surrounded by scout cavalry and any halt would lead to detection.

There were still two regions to go before reaching the Great Python Mountain Wu Family Fortress, yet so many scout cavalry had already appeared. Probably, the area around Great Python Mountain was full of scout cavalry. In such circumstances, what could Ding Fan and Mu Gaosou possibly achieve even if they reached Wu Family Fortress? It’s certain to be filled with experts, and there wouldn’t be a shortage of Fifth Level experts from the Divine Realm. Facing this situation, would the two just go to their deaths?

Ding Fan was somewhat confused, but being so close to Great Python Mountain, he was unwilling to give up and turn back. Thinking of Xia Ling’s body still hanging outside the city wall, his heart burned with deep sadness.