After a brief period of reflection, Ye Ming finally managed to fully process the earth-shattering news.
However, what he saw next almost made him die on the spot.
At this moment, although Kawano Makoto's hands were restrained by Ye Ming, she still used a pulling motion to remove the last obstacle, the cloth.
"Makoto... Sister Makoto! Don't... don't joke like this! After this is over, I'll do whatever you want, okay!"
Ye Ming transmitted his voice to Kawano Makoto nervously, afraid that she would devour him in one bite.
Fortunately, Kawano Makoto, the huntress, was still in the observation phase and did not immediately bite into Ye Ming, her long-coveted prey.
Seeing this, Ye Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
He then quickly asked the Withered Wood Elder, "Have you learned about the specific actions of those sects on the west bank?"
He was racing against time.
He wanted to ensure he obtained all the crucial information before Kawano Makoto made her move.
"We have some information, but not much!"
The Withered Wood Elder dared not conceal anything. "From the information our Heartbreak Sect has just acquired, we can confirm that two sects have already taken action. They are the Shadow Stream and the Kingdom of Angels."
"As for the other two, they should also be making moves. It's just not obvious yet, and we haven't managed to ascertain it."
Shadow Stream!
Upon hearing this sect's name, Ye Ming knew the Withered Wood Elder was not lying.
After all, he had recently had contact with them.
As for the people from the Kingdom of Angels, he was not yet familiar with them.
"How much do you know about the deployments of Shadow Stream and the Kingdom of Angels in the mortal world?" Ye Ming asked again.
"This..."
However, the Withered Wood Elder could not provide the answer Ye Ming desired.
"Master! Their specific movements are core secrets of their respective major sects. Even with our spies out there, it's difficult to get detailed information. Based on what we know now, we only know that people from Shadow Stream and the Kingdom of Angels have appeared in many countries, and... oh... right!"
At this point, the Withered Wood Elder, perhaps recalling something, suddenly looked up at Ye Ming and asked,
"Master, are you currently in Higashi Island?"
Hmm?
Hearing this question, Ye Ming's expression turned serious.
"As expected! My actions have long since attracted the attention of those people from the secluded land!" he thought, his vigilance rising.
Ye Ming was not surprised that the Withered Wood Elder knew he was in Higashi Island; instead, it confirmed his suspicions.
"I am indeed in Higashi Island, is there something wrong?" Ye Ming asked back coldly.
"No... no! Mas... Master, I just wanted to say that our sect's intelligence mentioned that people from Shadow Stream and the Kingdom of Angels have contacted some core figures in Higashi Island. Unknown Master, have you encountered them?"
"Hmm?" Kuai Shu Ge
Hearing this news, Ye Ming's heart skipped a beat. Not only him, but even Kawano Makoto, who was preparing to make her move on Ye Ming, temporarily abandoned the thought.
Because at this moment, they were all thinking of the same thing.
They had already encountered people from Shadow Stream, so what about the Kingdom of Angels?
"Are you sure people from the Kingdom of Angels have also made contact with Higashi Island?" Ye Ming narrowed his eyes, observing every move of the Withered Wood Elder.
If the other party dared to lie to him, there would be no need to keep him alive.
After all, this matter was too important.
He had originally planned to leave Higashi Island tomorrow, but if people from the Kingdom of Angels were still lurking in the shadows, how could he rest assured leaving Kawano Shagu alone to face them?
Feeling the death gaze transmitted through the screen, the Withered Wood Elder's heart almost stopped beating. The unprecedented terrifying pressure made him suspect if Ye Ming had already descended in person and appeared before him.
"Mas... Master! Your old servant absolutely did not lie to you! The sect's intelligence did mention that people from the Kingdom of Angels had already made contact with Higashi Island. As for who they contacted, your old servant truly doesn't know! I implore Master to see reason!"
The Withered Wood Elder pressed his forehead firmly to the ground, his clothes already soaked in cold sweat, fearing that he would die on the spot at any moment.
Hearing the Withered Wood Elder's affirmative reply, Ye Ming's expression also darkened. He never expected that this small Higashi Island could be targeted by two forces simultaneously.
At this moment, as the Withered Wood Elder desperately tried to recall, he seemed to have found another piece of useful information and quickly said, "Mas... Master! Although people from the Kingdom of Angels had contact with Higashi Island, the people they sent seemed not very strong, only at the Yuan Xin realm. Their focus does not seem to be on Higashi Island."
"However, Shadow Stream has dispatched a Yuan Soul realm expert to assist in secret, indicating their determination to succeed."
Observing Ye Ming's reaction, the Withered Wood Elder also realized that Higashi Island held significant importance in his master's heart.
Therefore, he was desperately searching for any news related to Higashi Island.
"Only Yuan Xin realm!"
Hearing this news, Ye Ming finally felt a slight sense of relief.
As for the Yuan Soul realm expert mentioned by the Withered Wood Elder from Shadow Stream, he was naturally well aware of him. Currently, he had become a puppet in Kawano Shagu's hands.
"I understand!"
With his mind at ease, Ye Ming's nerves also relaxed.
Kawano Makoto was the same.
Therefore, she once again set her sights on her prey, seemingly pondering the best time to strike.
"According to what you said, the targets of those sects should be the core figures of certain countries," Ye Ming deduced from the clues he had gathered. "They want to use this method to control the entire country and establish a firm footing for the arrival of the new era."
"My Master is wise!"
The Withered Wood Elder flattered, "It is precisely because of this that the Four Great Sects on our east bank have urgently convened this meeting."
"Oh! If I'm not mistaken, you also plan to completely disregard the ancestral teachings and prepare to follow the example of the sects on the west bank and expand your territory for the new era," Ye Ming said with a hint of sarcasm.
Although he had not personally witnessed the discussions at the meeting, he could still guess the general direction.
"This... yes!"
The Withered Wood Elder nodded slightly, "As Master said, after today, it's likely that the entire secluded land will take action."
"The great trend has already formed, and no one wants to fall behind."
Regarding this, Ye Ming merely smiled faintly, making no further comments.
After all, he had been able to foresee such a situation before he began his own actions.
The Withered Wood Elder was right; this was an unstoppable trend, and no one could stay out of it.
"Alright! I understand the situation!"
Ye Ming looked at the Withered Wood Elder and said in a deep voice, "There's one more thing I don't know if you've heard of."
"Please speak, Master!"
At this moment, Ye Ming looked at Kawano Makoto and, seeing her eager movements, shuddered.
"Twenty-odd years ago, have you heard of any sect that dabbled in the forbidden art of the Demonic Cultivation of Yin Devouring?"