The eerie laughter coupled with the darkening sky, and then this dilapidated temple…
It was inevitable that some unpleasant associations would arise.
Ziyun and Zibing instinctively took a step back, their expressions highly vigilant!
It was one thing for one of the elders to be at the Foundation Establishment stage, but the aura of the other bald man was terrifying!
Nascent Soul stage!
"Junior Brother, let's go." The two whispered instructions to each other, grabbing Ye Fan and preparing to flee.
They were only at the Golden Core stage. The consequences of facing a Nascent Soul cultivator could be figured out with their eyes closed!
They even suspected if they had fallen into someone's trap!
Although the Imperial City Grand Competition hadn't officially begun, the moment they left Ziyun Sect, it meant they had already entered a vortex of conflict.
After all, the Gaokao, ahem, the Imperial City Grand Competition was the nation's largest talent selection method, and it was inevitable that some ill-intentioned individuals would resort to underhanded tactics.
Over the years, many cultivators had been severely injured or died before even reaching the Imperial City.
A small portion were accidents, but most were man-made.
Perhaps the perpetrators and victims didn't know each other, but eliminating one competitor was enough.
That was sufficient.
The Great Liang Kingdom's stance on such matters had always been peculiar, consistently maintaining an indifferent attitude.
The two women protected Ye Fan, retreating step by step towards the door.
Their footsteps were light, and even the sound of their breathing was imperceptible.
This wasn't cowardice, but a strategy to avoid danger.
It could also be called following their true feelings.
Ye Fan raised an eyebrow, gently pushed the two women aside, and walked into the temple.
"Junior Brother Ye…" The two women were about to stop him but suddenly paused.
They exchanged glances, their faces flushing.
Awkwardly…
After spending half a month together, they had habitually regarded Ye Fan as an ordinary mortal without cultivation.
For example, once when Ye Fan was flying on his bed and got distracted, he crashed into a mountain.
Good heavens, he bled profusely, and it took him a long time to regain consciousness…
Or another time when Ye Fan was leaning over the side of a flying boat to admire the scenery, a strong gust of wind blew, and he was swept overboard…
If the two hadn't reacted quickly and gone to pull him back, his grave would likely be overgrown by now…
However, at this moment, they finally remembered what their master had said.
Ye Fan was a powerhouse, one whose cultivation began at least at the Void Comprehending stage!
They had actually worried about the powerful Junior Brother Ye just now, which was utterly embarrassing…
But soon, their expressions turned somewhat excited.
With Ye Fan walking in like this now, he would surely deal with the two enemies.
The thought of the powerful Junior Brother Ye taking action made their legs tremble uncontrollably.
Observing a powerful cultivator's battle would also be very beneficial for them.
Perhaps a moment of inspiration could be worth decades of their own enlightenment!
If their usual cultivation was like a trickling stream, a burst of enlightenment would be like a bursting dam!
Although they knew the chances were slim, their hearts were filled with anticipation.
They hoped to experience that legendary, flood-like, miraculous enlightenment themselves!
The second senior sister's face flushed with a hint of redness, her beautiful eyes not daring to blink.
Her expression, coupled with her petite, loli-like figure, made her look like an underage fangirl.
In her opinion, Junior Brother Ye would use elegant and handsome techniques to defeat the enemy, and the scene would surely be spectacular!
Although Zibing had a somewhat reserved personality, she was also intently staring at Ye Fan at this moment.
Watching his every move.
Anticipating the fierce impact that was about to come!
Junior Brother Ye, let me see how strong you truly are!
However, Ye Fan walked to the back of the two elders without any further action.
He even bent down and said something that left the two senior sisters utterly bewildered.
"Second Elder?"
The two grinning old men froze abruptly, then slowly turned their heads.
However, the scene was somewhat bizarre.
When a normal person bends down and turns their head, they would first twist their neck, and then their body when their neck couldn't turn further.
But these two elders turned their heads and bodies in unison…
Such a peculiar movement, combined with the darkening sky…
It was quite invigorating!
Soon, Zibing and Ziqing were shocked!
Because the one with hair was the long-lost Second Elder!
"Ye Fan? Xiao Bingbing? Xiao Qingqing?" The Second Elder stood up, his expression beaming. "Why are you here?"
"Oh right, let me introduce you." Before Ye Fan and the others could answer, the Second Elder pointed at the bald monk beside him. "This is my good friend, Master Xieyan!"
"Amitabha," the old monk said, raising his right hand in a Buddhist salute.
"Xieyan, these are all my good friends." The Second Elder was a little displeased. "My friends are your friends. You've forgotten to smile at good friends, haven't you?"
"It is this old monk who was impolite," Master Xieyan apologized and quickly put on a sincere smile.
Ye Fan and the two sisters took a step back in unison!
Not out of fear.
But out of self-preservation.
The old monk was a hunchback. When he spoke earlier, he was hunched over with his head bowed.
But as he looked up and smiled now, the scene instantly became unsettling!
The old monk's right eye stared directly at the three of them, unmoving, while his left eye twitched erratically!
Up and down!
Left and right!
Spinning and jumping!
Sometimes drawing a circle, sometimes a triangle…
The most bizarre thing was that his smile was also clearly different from a normal person's!
When he smiled, the right side of his mouth was normal, curving upwards.
But the left side of his mouth was vertically inverted…
Ye Fan was stunned!
What kind of divine craftsmanship was this…
"Alright, let's not stand around here. Let's go inside and talk," the Second Elder called out, taking the old monk's hand and leading him towards the nearby room.
The Second Elder's behavior was perfectly normal.
Ye Fan and the two senior sisters even suspected if the Second Elder had encountered some master who had cured his mental illness.
Ye Fan and the two senior sisters glanced at the spot where they had been crouching.
A kettle lay on the ground, with several ant nests nearby.
However, they had now completely turned into a 'vast ocean.'
Dozens of ants were floating in the water, desperately struggling with their tiny legs…
Recalling the sentence 'Let's see where you can run now' they heard upon entering, the three nodded in realization.
It seemed their assumption that the Second Elder had been cured was indeed wishful thinking…
Although the room was still dilapidated, it was quite clean.
After a brief conversation, the three finally understood what was going on.
Simply put, after the Second Elder parted ways with Er Ha and the others, he had traveled all the way here.
As for how he got here, the Second Elder himself couldn't explain.
Ye Fan and the others didn't dare to ask.
They were afraid that asking too many questions would elevate their own minds to the Second Elder's level…
"Xieyan, I'm so happy," the Second Elder said excitedly to Xieyan. "The three of them are good people; they traveled so far without complaint to see me."
"We are good friends, so if you are happy, I am naturally happy too," Master Xieyan once again displayed his divine craftsmanship of a smile, even letting out a happy laugh. "Hehehe! ... Hehehe!"
Master Xieyan's laughter was indeed as divine as his smile.
He would laugh for a moment, pause, and then continue laughing.
Zibing and Ziqing instinctively rubbed their arms.
They knew the two old men wouldn't harm them, but they felt an inexplicable chill…
Ye Fan nodded silently.
There was a reason why the Second Elder and the squinting Master could become good friends!
If this were before his transmigration, he would definitely have booked two VIP beds at Green Mountain!
"Second Elder, when do you plan to return to the sect?" Ye Fan asked tentatively. "Everyone is very worried about you since you've been gone for so long."