Chapter 638: Unexpected Change

Others didn't notice Du Dong's subtle movements, but Han Li, as a precaution, had been monitoring his every action with his spiritual sense since they first entered the area.

Although Du Dong was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his head bowed, his lips trembled slightly as they opened and closed, clearly indicating he was secretly communicating via spiritual voice transmission with someone.

Du Dong apparently had an accomplice in the room.

Fearing to alert them, Han Li didn't forcefully intercept their voice transmission and naturally didn't know who the other person was. However, the only cultivators in the room who could evade his spiritual sense scan without being exposed were the four Core Formation cultivators.

Han Li's mind raced, his gaze sweeping over each of them. For a moment, he couldn't determine who was more suspicious.

Just then, Silvermoon's spiritual voice transmission echoed in Han Li's mind.

"Brother Han, the roots of this Spirit Eye Tree are also protected by a light barrier. Although I have a way to forcibly teleport inside the barrier, I can't guarantee that I won't alert the Core Formation cultivators within. Does Brother Dao need me to forcefully break through?" Silvermoon asked softly.

"Don't act rashly! Forceful methods should only be used as a last resort when there's no other opportunity. I anticipate that chaos will erupt here soon; it won't be too late to act then. Silvermoon, come back for now." Han Li rejected the suggestion without hesitation and recalled Silvermoon.

Silvermoon, hearing Han Li's words, showed no sign of disobedience. The miniature silver wolf silently slipped back into Han Li's body. Han Li then closed his eyes, making no further moves besides secretly observing Du Dong.

After an unknown period, Du Dong fell silent. At the same time, he raised his head and looked around, a faint trace of something sinister flickering in his eyes.

Han Li's heart tightened, and just as he was wondering if the other party was about to act, Du Dong lowered his head again. Nothing happened.

Han Li was slightly taken aback, feeling a little strange.

Just then, a thunderous sound like the earth collapsing suddenly roared through the air. The entire cave then began to shake violently. All the meditating cultivators abruptly opened their eyes in alarm, looking at each other with expressions of horror.

The grey-robed elder and the other two cultivators also showed a hint of surprise. The yellow-robed cultivator, frowning, hurriedly rose and walked towards the stone door. However, before he could reach it, the cave entrance opened on its own. The long-faced elder entered with a grim expression.

"Senior Brother Hu, what happened?" the yellow-robed cultivator quickly asked.

"This place has indeed been exposed! A group of cloaked cultivators suddenly appeared outside, attacking the valley's formation. Not only are there Core Formation cultivators, but it seems there are also Nascent Soul old monsters among them. It appears to be either the Righteous Dao Alliance or the Six Devilish Sects. No other force could manage such a large-scale operation. Senior Lan has already gone out to oversee the formation, but they are numerous, so the rest of you should come out with me to provide support. We only need to leave Senior Brother Wei here. As for the Eye-Washing Ceremony for these disciples, it will be postponed for now. Fellow Daoist Yue, take these disciples to the quiet room. During this time, if anyone dares to enter the Sacred Tree Cavern, Senior Brother Wei, you are to kill them without question." The long-faced elder spoke in one breath, his face filled with killing intent.

"Understood, Brother Hu! You take the others to meet the enemy! I will keep watch here." The dishevelled elder's calm voice came from within the light barrier.

Hearing this, the long-faced elder's expression softened, and he nodded. He then quickly led the grey-robed cultivator and the middle-aged man from the Hundredfold Skill Pavilion out.

Seeing this, the yellow-robed cultivator turned and unceremoniously instructed Han Li and the other disciples:

"You've all heard. The Eye-Washing Ceremony is postponed for now. Follow me to the quiet room to take shelter." He then strode away without looking back.

The young cultivators dared not delay and quickly followed him.

Han Li watched as Du Dong obediently followed the other disciples out of the stone forest and then out of the cavern, showing no unusual movements. Han Li couldn't help but sneer inwardly, then calmly followed the group.

Since even Du Dong, who harbored malicious intentions, was so calm, there was no need for Han Li to be anxious.

However, it was hard to believe that the events outside truly had nothing to do with Du Dong.

The timing was simply too perfect. Could Du Dong be in contact with someone outside, even while he was here?

A faint doubt lingered in Han Li's mind.

A moment later, after being led on a circuitous route by the yellow-robed cultivator, the ten disciples were guided into a large stone chamber. After a few brief instructions, the cultivator hurriedly left.

He was clearly intending to go and assist in the battle.

At this point, the distant explosions grew louder, and the ground shook even more violently, as if a fierce battle was raging outside.

Although somewhat uneasy, these young disciples, upon seeing the yellow-robed cultivator leave, naturally gathered into several groups according to their sects and began to whisper among themselves.

Han Li, Du Dong, the woman surnamed Mu, and Sun Huo naturally stood together.

"I never expected that Senior Uncle Bai of the Ancient Sword Sect would be a spy for the Righteous Dao Alliance! I used to admire him so much, thinking he was a Core Formation cultivator who started as a rogue cultivator!" Sun Huo seemed to have kept these words bottled up for a long time, letting them out with a sigh.

"Junior Brother Sun, do you really think it's that easy for rogue cultivators to form cores? Without a powerful family supporting them, how many have the chance to reach the Core Formation stage? You, Junior Brother Sun, are a true rogue cultivator by birth. I hear many families are interested in recruiting you as a live-in son-in-law. Perhaps you should choose one to join. You would naturally receive much assistance in your cultivation later." The woman surnamed Mu glanced coldly at the young man, speaking without emotion.

"Heh heh! I truly don't believe that cultivators need a family to form cores. I, for one, am not talented enough, but I disdain becoming a live-in son-in-law for any family." The resolute-faced young man sneered, speaking with a burst of boldness.

He then subconsciously stole a few glances at the beautiful face of the cold and striking woman, a hint of eagerness appearing in his eyes. However, the woman surnamed Mu seemed completely oblivious and did not respond.

"However, speaking of Senior Uncle Bai, he's also a pitiful person," Du Dong suddenly interjected from the side.

"Pitiful? Junior Nephew Du, what do you mean by that?" Sun Huo was momentarily stunned and looked at him with a hint of doubt.

Blue light flickered in the bright eyes of the woman surnamed Mu, and she too looked at the burly man before her with surprise.

Du Dong chuckled at their reaction, departing from his usual simple-minded demeanor. He ignored the two and instead turned his gaze to Han Li, asking sinisterly,

"Junior Brother Han, do you think what I said makes sense?"

"I don't know. I don't know much about Senior Uncle Bai, so how can I comment?" Han Li, seeing the conversation directed at him, showed no panic. He calmly replied with an unchanging expression.

"Is that so? But I feel that..."

"Junior Nephew Du, you're being too presumptuous. Didn't you hear me ask you a question?"

As Du Dong was about to say something more, Sun Huo, seeing that this junior nephew was ignoring his question, couldn't help but reprimand him with some indignation.

"Why are you speaking so loudly? It's not like I don't have ears. Of course, I heard your question. But I simply have no interest in answering such nonsense." Du Dong glared sideways at the young man, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and suddenly spoke with a menacing expression.

"What, you..."

"Who exactly are you?" The woman surnamed Mu finally realized something was amiss. Her delicate face hardened, and her slender hand quietly pressed against her storage pouch as she asked coldly.

Disciples from the other two sects also noticed the abnormality among them at this point and all looked over with some surprise.

"Heh heh! An inherited disciple of the Devilish Dao's Thousand Illusions Sect. Are you two junior nephews satisfied with this answer?" Suddenly, a man's cold voice came from outside the room.

Then, with a deafening bang, the door to the quiet room instantly shattered into several pieces, sending debris scattering in all directions.

The disciples inside were all greatly alarmed, hurriedly pulling out their magical artifacts and adopting defensive stances.

A familiar male figure appeared at the shattered doorway.

"Senior Uncle Bai!" A disciple from the Ancient Sword Sect blurted out when he saw the man. His face then changed drastically, filled with disbelief.

The other disciples, upon seeing the sudden appearance of the green-robed scholar, were equally dumbfounded and at a loss.

They had personally witnessed this man being restrained and then imprisoned earlier. How could he possibly be here now?

Furthermore, judging by his energetic appearance, there was no sign of his spiritual power being restricted.

"What took you so long?! If you hadn't shown up soon, we would have acted first," Du Dong asked coldly, showing no surprise at the appearance of the cultivator surnamed Bai.

"Hmph! How would you know the power of that old monster's sword silk? Although I was prepared, I truly was restrained at the time. If it weren't for your repeated assurances that they would be wary and definitely not harm my life, do you think I would have cooperated with you?" The cultivator surnamed Bai retorted impolitely.

"Heh heh! We also didn't expect that old monster to personally make a move. However, everything is largely as expected. Senior Uncle Fen and Senior Qin from your esteemed pavilion should be able to buy us enough time."

Hearing their exchange, although the other young disciples didn't know exactly what was happening, they understood that something terrible was unfolding.

One disciple from the Ancient Sword Sect, being quick-witted, immediately transformed into a red streak of light and sped towards the stone door on his magical artifact, intending to make a run for it.

However, as soon as this disciple flew past the cultivator surnamed Bai, a murderous aura flashed across the scholar's face, and a blinding white light instantly flickered.

A scream rang out, and the disciple and his magical artifact were instantly sliced into two, the corpse falling to the ground with a dull thud.