"Brother Ye, Mingqin Sword Immortal has gone down with his men. Do you want to go down quickly too? The more people, the more chance of winning," Ji Feiyang said, looking at the bottomless abyss in the distance with some worry.
"Mr. Ji, there's no need to worry. The Orochi now is far from what it used to be. In the past, due to the constraints of Blue Star, there were very few cultivators at the Core Formation stage. Now that the constraints have loosened and the spiritual energy is becoming more and more abundant, there are more cultivators at the Core Formation stage than before. This is just the vanguard of the cultivators. If I guessed correctly, there are already Core Formation cultivators nearby," Ye Qingyi explained to Ji Feiyang.
The revival of the Orochi this time actually made all the major sects and cultivation families harbor their own intentions, but their goal was the same: to prepare for the lifting of the constraints.
Ji Feiyang looked at Ye Qingyi and couldn't help but ask, "This is..."
"Oh! I forgot to introduce you. This is the owner of Qingzhu Tavern on the outskirts of Kyoto City – Ye Qingyi. And beside him is the boss's sister, Ye Qingcheng," Ye Bufan quickly introduced to Ji Feiyang.
"Oh! So it's Boss Ye. I've heard of you for a long time, for a long time!" Ji Feiyang clasped his fists and bowed to Ye Qingyi and Ye Qingcheng.
Ye Qingyi and Ye Qingcheng quickly returned the courtesy to Ji Feiyang, who then said, "Do you want to come to my tent to rest? The journey must have been difficult."
Ye Bufan waved his hand and said, "Let's put resting aside for now. We still need to pay attention to the situation below the sky pit and see if Mingqin Sword Immortal can handle it before we make our next plan."
"Roar—"
A huge roar came from below the sky pit, followed by a sword qi flying up from below. Then, Mingqin Sword Immortal flew up, with the Orochi following closely behind. The two figures trembled in the air for a moment before Mingqin Sword Immortal struck down with another sword.
"Hmm—"
Ye Bufan saw Mingqin Sword Immortal's sword strike and felt a hint of the "Mountain-Splitting Sword" technique that Lin Xiaoyao had taught him. However, when Mingqin Sword Immortal used it, it seemed slightly different.
Although the Orochi only had one head left, the necks of the other seven heads could still move and became its weapons under its control. From Ye Bufan's perspective, it looked like an octopus fighting above.
In the nearby forest, Yun Tianying watched the battle between Mingqin Sword Immortal and the Orochi and sighed.
"I didn't expect Mingqin Sword Immortal to be here so early. Our plan is all ruined. A half-step Core Formation, he should be the strongest cultivator on the scene now, right?" Yun Tianying sighed.
Xu Chang sighed beside him, looking at the wound on his arm and thinking that his young sect master's idea was too naive.
If it weren't for the ambush by people from Sakura Island before, and him being injured while saving Yun Tianying, now three out of the five of them were injured, making them look extremely pathetic. The outside world was truly perilous.
On the other side, Mingqin Sword Immortal's sword had slashed open a wound on the Orochi.
"Hahahaha, foolish humans, my skin cannot be harmed by ordinary magical artifacts. However, you are quite capable to inflict a wound on me." As soon as the Orochi finished speaking, its seven headless necks smashed down towards Mingqin Sword Immortal.
Song Mingqin was greatly alarmed, not expecting the Orochi's speed to be so fast. He had been holding the advantage, but the opponent's speed instantly increased, causing Song Mingqin's advantage to gradually disappear.
"Sleeves of Blue Serpents!"
The Orochi charged towards Song Mingqin, and a sword light descended from the sky, weaving back and forth between the Orochi's several headless necks.
"Baga!" the Orochi roared, "Shameless! You actually launched a sneak attack!"
Sword qi erupted from Can Jian's body, instantly cutting multiple wounds on the Orochi's skin.
Song Mingqin was stunned by the familiar sword move, a look of surprise on his face. For a moment, he thought Lin Xiaoyao had arrived.
Ye Bufan's figure appeared before Song Mingqin. Ye Bufan used the "Mountain-Splitting Sword" technique, combined with the sharpness of Can Jian, to cut a large bloody gash on one of the Orochi's necks.
"Senior Song, the rest is up to you," Ye Bufan transmitted his voice into Song Mingqin's ear.
Song Mingqin immediately moved. He also used his sword technique, which resembled the "Mountain-Splitting Sword," and instantly charged into the Orochi's body. Before long, the neck near its brow exploded, becoming a bloody mess.
"Roar—"
The Orochi let out a scream and finally fell from the sky.
"My heavens, who is that young man? He could actually injure the Orochi."
"He clearly teamed up with Mingqin Sword Immortal. Without Mingqin Sword Immortal's earlier fight, how could he have had an opportunity?"
"No, no, no, the credit belongs to both of them. Without some strength, who could leave wounds on the Orochi?"
Ye Bufan and Song Mingqin exchanged a smile, ignoring the discussions behind them, and continued their own conversation.
"Little friend, your sword technique looks very familiar to me," Song Mingqin said with a smile. "It reminds me of an old friend."
"Junior Ye Bufan pays his respects to Senior," Ye Bufan introduced himself to Song Mingqin. "The old friend Senior is referring to should be my master, Lin Xiaoyao, right?"
When Song Mingqin heard Ye Bufan mention Lin Xiaoyao, the smile on his face froze. A moment later, his eyes became a little moist.
"You... you are Senior Xiaoyao's disciple?" Song Mingqin looked at Ye Bufan, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"I should have realized!" Song Mingqin muttered to himself. "You are so young, only someone like Senior Lin Xiaoyao could have trained a disciple like you. To have reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment at such a young age."
"Senior is too kind," Ye Bufan replied.
"Where is Senior Xiaoyao?" Song Mingqin asked.
"Master, he couldn't hold on until the day Blue Star broke through its constraints. He has already passed away," Ye Bufan's expression was filled with sadness.
Upon hearing the news of Lin Xiaoyao's death, Song Mingqin's eyes also filled with sorrow. He murmured to himself that after they parted ways back then, he never expected it to be a final farewell with Senior Xiaoyao.
"Senior, the Orochi is injured. What should we do next?" Ye Bufan adjusted his emotions, realizing that now was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Song Mingqin also quickly composed himself and said, "It is extremely dangerous below this sky pit. Of the few people who went down with me earlier, some are dead and some are injured. We don't know how many people from Sakura Island are lurking in the shadows. I suggest we split into two groups. Some people can accompany me down the sky pit, while the rest go and clear out the people from Sakura Island hidden in the dark."