Accompanied by the hoarse mutterings of the black-robed elder, which appeared to be self-talk, the surrounding members of the Red Emperor Army exchanged glances and lowered their gaze simultaneously.
Most of them were responsible for guarding the bronze tripods containing the Lifeless Lotus Mothers and began again as if they hadn’t seen or heard anything, unanimously pretending to be invisible men.
On the side of the empty ground, a few of the Holy Knights, who were convalescing due to injuries and thus appeared idle, helplessly cast their gaze towards the tall figure sitting under the shadow of a tree.
The man was over two meters tall, wearing a white robe and tall boots, with eyebrows and eyes like a full moon. He held an Eight-foot Chi Dragon Sword, his aura refined and perfect. Just sitting there, he resembled a sheathed sharp blade, exuding a sharpness that stinged the skin.
It was none other than the currently ranked 250th on the human list, "Purple Qi from the East" Yan Hui!
Beneath his white cloak, there seemed to be a swirl of blood mist at his waist, as if he were playing with it.
Noticing the glances from several people, Yan Hui ceased interacting with the bizarre blood mist, stowing it back into a round, narrow, cowhide knife pouch that clashed with his temperament, and casually nodded his chin.
Seeing this, three Holy Knights, who had injuries with bandages wrapped around their chests and abdomens, hesitated no longer, stood up immediately, and headed towards the marsh’s perimeter along a inconspicuous path beneath the cliff.
After traversing several hundred meters, they arrived at the entrance of the marsh valley. The mountains outside had strong winds and snow blizzards, dazzlingly white.
Looking outwards, not a single person was seen.
The leader was a robust, red-haired woman who knocked on the nearby stone wall. The snow accumulating in the corner suddenly popped open, revealing several heads looking at her.
These were the "Scouts" responsible for guarding the entrance. There were also a few "Sentinels" on the treetop above. No one could escape their observation, which allowed them to react swiftly.
"No news from outside?" The red-haired woman inquired.
"No..." The scouts instinctively shook their heads.
Yet at this moment, from the distant wind and snow came the rustling sound of footsteps.
Several of them immediately became vigilant, concealing themselves in the snow, their gazes fixed on the direction ahead.
Before long, they saw two masked people supporting each other, emerging from the mist and wind and snow.
There was a pair: a burly man with a sinister gaze; a woman with a clever face, alluringly curvaceous beneath her cheongsam.
The Red Emperor’s army members let out a sigh of relief, recognizing the pair.
It was the Annihilation Association’s "Oil-fried Mao Rabbit" and "Abdominal Yin Tiger."
Although not comrades of the Salvation Army, these two were also their own, having collaborated and communicated for months, familiar enough.
However, as they approached, everyone’s gaze slightly condensed, noticing that both were injured.
Mao Tu was slightly better, with merely some dried blood stains on his clothing, indicating he had undergone basic treatment; Yin Hu, however, looked rather miserable, with deep wounds visible to the bone all over him, the wounds carrying a scorching heat, seemingly eternally roasting him, his aura extremely weak!
"Ah, this..."
Everyone immediately sensed trouble, glanced back, but found no other companions, momentarily bewildered.
"Why only you two? Where are the others? Where’s Evans?" The red-haired woman asked solemnly.
Mao Tu glanced at the nearby Annihilation Association’s "newly appointed Yin Hu" Xu Shu, already prepared internally, and fluently answered first: "We were ambushed by another team, they all perished. Where’s Yan Hui? We have urgent matters to report to him immediately!"
"What? Such a thing?!"
"Could it be the work of that mysterious enemy prior?"
"Come with me quickly!"
Upon hearing the dire news, the Red Emperor Army’s members widened their eyes in disbelief.
But they soon began to think diversely, connecting it to the previous event where the stationed team in Luling County was annihilated by a mysterious enemy, associating it with the currently unidentified foe.
Considering that this event happened just today morning, mere hours ago, they initially came for this reason, entering the No-Life Mysterious Sect with prior planning but encountered unexpectedly.
Therefore, that unknown enemy is likely within the ruins right now, entirely conceivable!
At this moment, everyone had their conjectures.
While they wanted to inquire about specifics, they dared not delay, hurrying alongside Mao Tu, Yin Hu, and others deeper into the swamp.
After they left, the scouts at the entrance reinstituted the seal on the entrance.
On the ground, several small footprints appeared inexplicably, mixed among many others, unnoticed in the confusion.
A moment later, the group anxiously traversed the swamp mire, arriving before the eerie temple beneath the enormous locust tree.
At this time, the black-robed elder was panting heavily, sitting cross-legged on the ground to restore energy, while black energy surged incessantly within "Yangtianzhenyi Temple."
From the scene, it was evident that this mysterious and eerie "High Person" had attempted again, yet like before, failed due to the absence of a Lotus Mother.
Upon hearing commotion, the elder immediately spotted Yin Hu and Mao Tu, their sharp gazes under the hood fixed on the two like a venomous snake.
Though Yin Hu Xu Shu was "gravely injured," he still showcased the presence expected of a Third Rank Late Stage powerhouse, defiantly looking back.
Thus, he saw around him the seven nodding and swaying "Lifeless Lotus Mothers," behaving like they were high.