313: Three forces

While Jiang Donghua, like a ghost in the night, traversed the southern Black Wind Mountain Range, meticulously searching for Mu Chen's tracks, another powerful force silently entered this land of contention.

On a mountain peak not far from the Barren Wood Forest, space subtly rippled, and two figures quietly emerged.

The leader was a middle-aged man, appearing to be around forty or fifty years old, with a refined face and eyes that gleamed with sharp light when opened and closed. His aura subtly merged with the heavens and earth, revealing him to be a Peak Dou Zong expert!

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the perilous mountain forest below, and he shook his head slightly.

Beside him was a handsome young man with an anxious and worried expression, who was none other than Xiao Han.

The middle-aged man was Xiao Han's grandfather, Xiao Zhen, the Old Ancestor of the Xiao Family.

He glanced at his most beloved grandson, his voice tinged with helplessness and solemnity as he spoke.

"Han'er, the young man named Jiang Donghua you mentioned in your message, with the power of a Three-star Dou Zong, was able to kill Black Snake in front of the old ghost Chen Ming of the Xuanming Sect. This courage and combat strength are indeed monstrous, making him an unparalleled genius."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.

"However, as you can see, this Black Wind Mountain Range is currently a huge powder keg."

"The Xuanming Sect is determined to drag him out and dismember him this time. From what I can sense, there are no less than three Dou Zong here, and the aura of that old ghost Chen Ming is like a lighthouse in the darkness, incredibly powerful."

Xiao Zhen sighed and patted his grandson's shoulder.

"Grandpa, I'll say this first: if the situation becomes impossible and we can't save him, you and I cannot sacrifice ourselves."

"At that time, the two of us must retreat immediately, understand?"

Xiao Han's face grew even more anxious upon hearing this, but he also knew that his grandfather was speaking the truth.

The Xuanming Sect was too powerful; even his grandfather couldn't go head-to-head with them for an outsider.

He could only nod reluctantly, clenching his fists.

"Grandson understands, but Grandpa, that jade slip..."

"Hmph, you still dare to mention that jade slip!"

Xiao Zhen glared at Xiao Han in annoyance, his tone filled with reproach, but even more with lingering fear.

"You audacious brat! How could you give such a thing to an outsider!"

"When the jade slip shattered, the Soul Imprint I left in it also dissipated. Did you really think Grandpa wouldn't sense it?"

Xiao Zhen shook his head helplessly.

He had been cultivating in seclusion with his family when he suddenly sensed that the life-saving jade slip he had given his grandson had been activated and completely destroyed. He initially thought Xiao Han had met with misfortune, and was filled with shock and anger.

But when he followed the sensation, he discovered that his grandson had given the jade slip to someone else, and that person had used it to cause a world-shaking incident.

"If you hadn't been so frantic, threatening to die if I didn't come to this den of dragons and tigers to rescue him, I wouldn't have wanted to get involved in this mess!"

Xiao Zhen looked at his grandson's expression and his heart softened, his tone softening.

"A genius? In this world, how many geniuses have died prematurely?"

He looked in the direction where the Xuanming Sect experts were gathered, his gaze profound.

"Only those who truly grow strong are worthy of being called experts."

"Although I am also a Peak Dou Zong, the Xuanming Sect's foundation is far beyond what my Xiao Family can compare to. This journey will likely bring more misfortune than fortune."

Xiao Han remained silent. He knew his request was selfish, but he couldn't stand by and watch Jiang Donghua die.

He could only place his hope in his grandfather and pray that the guy who created miracles could hold on a little longer.

"Let's go. Conceal your aura. We'll also search the southern area. Hopefully, we can find your friend before those guys do."

Xiao Zhen said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, he took Xiao Han, and their figures once again blended into the environment, silently heading in a similar direction to Jiang Donghua.

In the southern part of the Black Wind Mountain Range, in an area called the Barren Bone Forest, three figures exuding powerful pressure were conducting a carpet search, almost like plowing the ground and sweeping out a lair.

The leader was Chen Ming, the Second Elder of the Xuanming Sect.

His face was so gloomy it seemed like water would drip from it, and the chilling Dou Qi emanating from him made the surrounding air almost solidify. The grass and trees beneath his feet were covered with a thin layer of black frost.

At this moment, the accumulated rage in his heart was almost bursting through the sky.

During the ambush in the Black Wind Mountain Range that day, he personally oversaw the operation, believing it to be a sure thing. Not only would he lure out the remnants of the Hong Family, but he would also capture and kill the presumptuous Jiang Donghua.

He never expected that the opponent would possess a life-saving jade slip of such a level, unleashing a full-power strike comparable to a Peak Dou Zong. Not only did he kill Fifth Elder Black Snake right in front of him, but he also used that opportunity to escape with a secret technique.

This was a great humiliation for him!

Upon returning to the sect, the Sect Master was even more furious and issued a death order.

They must find him alive or his corpse. If they couldn't dismember Jiang Donghua, then the elders responsible for the pursuit wouldn't need to return to the sect alive!

The thought of the Sect Master's wrath and the consequences of failure intensified the killing intent in Chen Ming's eyes.

Behind him were the Seventh Elder and Eighth Elder, both Five-star Dou Zong cultivators. At this moment, their expressions were also solemn, not daring to show the slightest slack.

If they failed the mission, Elder Chen Ming might only receive some punishment due to his Peak Dou Zong strength, but the two of them would undoubtedly suffer a miserable fate.

"Search carefully! Don't miss an inch of ground!"

Chen Ming's cold voice swept through like a biting wind.

"That brat was struck by my Xuanming Cold Palm. His injuries will only get worse and worse; he definitely can't escape far!"

"He must be hiding in some corner of this area, relying on Wood Attribute vitality or ground fire yang energy to suppress his injuries!"

"Yes, Second Elder!"

The Seventh and Eighth Elders quickly responded, releasing their Soul Power with even more effort, scanning the mountains, caves, and fissures below like radar.

Wherever they passed, silence reigned.

Any Magical Beast with a bit of intelligence in the mountain range had sensed the danger and fled when the large contingent of Xuanming Sect members arrived.

The remaining ones were just some low-tier Magical Beasts that followed their instincts for killing and territory.

"Roar!"

A Fourth-Tier Bloodthirsty Demonic Leopard, perhaps mistaking the Seventh Elder flying at low altitude for prey invading its territory, roared and pounced from the dense forest.

The Seventh Elder, already annoyed by the fruitless search, flashed a fierce look in his eyes, not even bothering to look, and casually waved his sleeve.

A condensed black Dou Qi, like a venomous snake striking, arrived later but struck first, precisely hitting the Demonic Leopard.

"Bang!"

Without even time to let out a cry, the Fourth-Tier Magical Beast, which was incredibly fierce in the eyes of ordinary mercenaries, instantly exploded into a cloud of blood mist in mid-air, leaving no bones behind.

"Hmph, a beast ignorant of death!"

The Seventh Elder snorted coldly, as if he had merely swatted a fly, and continued to focus on the search.

Chen Ming watched this scene expressionlessly, but the anxiety in his heart remained undiminished.

This crude search method was too inefficient, but there was no better way at the moment.

He could only hope that the young man's injuries would flare up, or that he would be startled by the energy fluctuations generated by their search, revealing his tracks.

"Keep looking! Even if we have to turn this mountain range upside down, we must drag him out!"

Chen Ming gritted his teeth.

"At this rate, it won't take many days before we find his rat hole!"