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"Xiao Ming, it seems we've come to the right place," the Blue Silver Emperor replied.
"Since we've found footprints, it means the fallen ones aren't far from here. But with so many of us, won't we make too much noise and alert them, giving them time to prepare?" Bibidong voiced her concern.
"That's a valid point. With this many people, it's impossible to move silently," Lin Yongming nodded, lowering his head slightly in thought.
"Esteemed guests, perhaps the three of us deacons should go ahead to scout," Fang Yan offered.
"No, your strength is still a bit lacking. Compared to the entrance, the toxicity in this area is much more intense. You can't leave the range of the fragrance, or I can't guarantee that the poison won't affect you," the Blue Silver Emperor said sternly, stopping Deacon Fang Yan.
"Ah Yin, how about this?" Lin Yongming, hearing the Blue Silver Emperor's words, knew she couldn't leave the group.
"I have a body immune to all poisons, and Bibidong's martial soul is the Death Spider Emperor, which naturally has some resistance to toxins. Plus, we're both Soul Emperors, so the poison in this valley won't affect us. You stay here with the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb to protect them, while Bibidong and I go ahead to scout the fallen ones' exact location."
"Alright, you and Bibidong go. I'll stay here. But don't act recklessly. If you find anything, come back, and we'll discuss it together," the Blue Silver Emperor agreed. Although she wanted to go with them, she understood that someone had to stay behind to protect the group. Otherwise, the hundred or so people might succumb to the poison, leading to a complete disaster.
With that, Lin Yongming and Bibidong nodded at each other and gradually disappeared from the group's sight.
"Esteemed guest, I'm sorry! We're holding you back," Deacon Fang Yan said helplessly as he watched the Blue Silver Emperor gaze in the direction where Lin Yongming and Bibidong had disappeared.
"Don't say that. Don't overthink it. It's just that the fallen ones chose a location that's easy to defend and hard to attack. We'll just wait here for their news," the Blue Silver Emperor turned back with a gentle smile, reassuring Deacon Fang Yan and the others.
Having been on this journey for so long, this was the first time Blue Silver Emperor had separated from Lin Yongming during an operation, and she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.
Meanwhile, as Lin Yongming and Bibidong moved further away from the group, a layer of mist began to envelop them since they no longer had the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb's fragrance to protect them.
Fortunately, neither of them was afraid of this natural miasma. After confirming that they were unaffected, they stopped paying attention to it.
Soon, Bibidong noticed more footprints that didn't belong to them.
"Xiao Ming, there are more footprints around. Has your mind's eye detected anything?" Bibidong asked, focusing on the ground. She knew the capabilities of Lin Yongming's mind's eye, so she left the task of observing their surroundings to him.
"The cliffs on both sides don't show any unusual fluctuations for now. But since there are footprints, there must be people in the valley. We just haven't reached their location yet," Lin Yongming replied.
The mind's eye functioned like a radar, constantly scanning the valley and perceiving the environment through fluctuations.
"Then let's continue deeper into the valley," Bibidong nodded.
The two of them whispered to each other as they ventured further in.
After advancing about five hundred meters, Lin Yongming's mind's eye detected various fluctuations of different sizes ahead.
Moreover, Lin Yongming noticed that the valley's crevice had come to an end. Ahead, a wall-like mountain connected the cliffs on both sides of the valley.
Most importantly, Lin Yongming's mind's eye saw numerous caves in this mountain.
"Wait!" Lin Yongming stopped and raised his left hand to block Bibidong. "There's something ahead."
"Did you find traces? How many people are there?" Bibidong whispered.
"Not sure yet. Let's get closer."
"Alright!"
The two of them lightened their footsteps and moved another hundred meters forward. Lin Yongming's mind's eye now covered the entire mountain.
"There are over twenty people living in the caves. Two of them have particularly strong auras," Lin Yongming said after sensing the area.
"What's their strength?" Bibidong asked.
"Between Soul King and Soul Emperor. Based on their auras alone, I can't determine their exact soul power levels," Lin Yongming explained. It was impossible to accurately gauge their strength just from their auras.
"That weak?"
"That doesn't make sense. If they can hide in this valley, they shouldn't be only at the Soul Emperor level. I expected at least one Soul Sage to be here," Bibidong couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"True, but if they're weaker and fewer in number, isn't that better for us?"
"Also, I don't know how deep these caves go or if there are any experts hiding deep inside. I can't sense that far," Lin Yongming explained.
"Regardless of how many people are deep in the caves, let's deal with the ones outside first and secure a favorable position before exploring the caves," Bibidong suggested.
"Alright, let's go back and gather the others."
The round trip took over half an hour.
When they returned to Blue Silver Emperor, she was anxiously waiting, as she had no idea what was happening inside.
"Xiao Ming, you're back. Did you find anything?" Blue Silver Emperor asked urgently upon seeing them.
"Yes, we found over twenty fallen ones. On the surface, the strongest among them doesn't exceed the Soul Sage level. But there are many caves in the mountain, so we don't know if there are any experts hiding inside," Lin Yongming reported.
"Without knowing the enemy's strength, launching an attack would be risky," Bibidong added.
Then, Bibidong explained the plan she and Lin Yongming had discussed earlier: first, deal with the outer members, then explore the caves.
"Alright, we'll follow the plan you two came up with," the Blue Silver Emperor agreed after listening.
"We will follow the orders of the three esteemed guests," Deacon Fang Yan spoke on behalf of the others.
"Good!" Lin Yongming saw that no one had any objections. "The fallen ones are located at the mountain at the end of the valley. So, Ah Yin will lead a group in the middle, while Bibidong and I will each lead groups on the flanks."
"That works. With this pincer attack, the fallen ones won't be able to escape."
Lin Yongming placed the Blue Silver Emperor in the center because she held the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb, which could protect both flanks. Additionally, the Blue Silver Emperor had the strongest control abilities among the three, making her the most suitable to lead the center.
After finalizing the plan, Lin Yongming, Bibidong, and the Blue Silver Emperor each led about thirty people and advanced toward the fallen ones' location.
When they were less than a hundred meters from the mountain, Lin Yongming immediately gave the order to attack.
"Blue Silver Grass!" Blue Silver Emperor, holding the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb in one hand and her Blue Silver Grass martial soul in the other, launched the first attack.
Countless blue silver vines spread across the mountain's rocky surface, entangling and attacking the fallen ones.
"Who's there!"
Two startled cries rang out as a six-ringed Soul Emperor and a five-ringed Soul King broke free from Blue Silver Emperor's vines in an instant.
"The Spirit Hall."
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 257 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 85 power stones I will publish the next chapter.