On the other hand, the Jiuli people who obtained Yang Yuqi’s ceremonial tools can now freely roam the Mortal World, posing a threat to other places besides Cangzhou.

As they delve into the Mortal World, this in turn places them in a position of isolation and helplessness to some extent.

This also presents an opportunity for the Mortal World to hunt them down.

Therefore, the Tang Imperial Court responded quickly. Although Grand General Shangguan Yunbo had just returned to Luoyang with the Expelling Invaders Halberd for rest, Xiao Xueting was sent out from the Imperial Capital with another divine weapon, the Mountain and River Sword, heading to Cangzhou to join Ye Moquan, coordinating personnel from various places to jointly hunt down Li Yan and others.

"Second brother, the patriarch of the Ye clan is late this time. Could it be that his health is actually unwell, making him unsuitable to confront strong enemies?" Xiao Xueting asked.

If not, it’s hard to explain why the other party was a step slow, thus giving Li Yan and others an opportunity.

If Ye Moquan could return to the ancestral land in Cangzhou in time, even without the geographical advantage, the outcome of this battle would be different.

After all, Ye Wei of the Eighth Heavenly Layer wielding the Star-Chess Seal and Ye Moquan of the Ninth Heavenly Layer wielding the Star-Chess Seal are entirely different matters.

Xiao Chunhui pondered: "Although the news we received earlier indicated that the battle years ago between Ye Lao and Elder Xu of Dragon Tiger Mountain ended in defeat and injury for Ye Lao, after years of recovery, his injuries should have long healed.

But now it seems that his health indeed seems to have issues, just the exact reason is currently unclear.

Compared to his slow recovery due to age, I lean more towards believing that the injuries caused by Elder Xu back then were deeper and more severe than we knew.

However, the specific details still require further investigation."

Xiao Xueting cracked some pine nuts: "Without Wei Ancheng, but still there’s Li Yan from Jiuli and the Blood River Lineage of the Witchcraft Sect carrying on their troublesome legacy."

Xiao Chunhui smiled upon hearing this: "At present, this scenario is better than having Wei Ancheng still around and adding Li Yan to the mix."

Xiao Xueting popped a pine nut into her mouth: "That’s true, we must thank Long Hu Mountain Celestial Master Tang."

"Celestial Master Tang, with heavenly talent and profound abilities, is truly deserving of her great reputation."

Xiao Chunhui stated: "Although she has just reached the Ninefold Heavens Mahayana High Truth Realm, defeating Wei Ancheng is quite expected. Even when she was at the Eighth Heavenly Layer with the Celestial Master’s Sword in hand, Wei Ancheng couldn’t deal with her. This time in the Earth Sea was indeed her moment to advance during seclusion, capturing it was crucial naturally."

Among Ninth Heaven’s cultivators, a fifty-four-year-old at the Ninth Heavenly Layer and a hundred-two-hundred-year-old at the Ninth Heavenly Layer may have similar cultivation levels, but what they demonstrate in actual combat spellcasting cannot truly be viewed equivalently.

"However, hearing the news initially startled me somewhat."

Xiao Chunhui remarked: "It isn’t surprising that Celestial Master Tang could defeat Wei Ancheng, but that she managed to kill Wei Ancheng who carried the Sea of Blood Map was unexpected."

Xiao Xueting looked over: "Second brother, do you mean before Wei Ancheng engaged Celestial Master Tang...?"

Xiao Chunhui replied: "I heard that Master Lei, who was providing protection for Celestial Master Tang, got injured."

Xiao Xueting nodded: "Although Master Lei remains at the Eighth Heavenly Layer, his abilities are exceptional. Additionally, with the Celestial Master Seal and Celestial Master’s Sword in hand, despite battling Li Yan and Wei Ancheng, the engagement occurred in intervals. Normally, in a one-on-one situation, he shouldn’t have been injured by Wei Ancheng in such a brief moment.

If it wasn’t due to negligence, then the greater likelihood is that both sides fought fiercely, suffering mutual injuries.

While Master Lei certainly sustained injury, he simultaneously injured Wei Ancheng as well. Hence, when Celestial Master Tang emerged from seclusion to confront Wei Ancheng, Wei Ancheng couldn’t escape."

Xiao Chunhui stated leisurely: "This generation from Dragon Tiger Mountain indeed produces talented individuals. Given time, you and I might witness Dragon Tiger Mountain producing three Ninth Heaven Great Ascension High True Ones simultaneously."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xueting turned her gaze westward: "Second brother, about Xumi Vajra Sect over there..."

Xiao Chunhui responded: "Currently stable, they show great patience. The future depends on how the situation evolves."

Xiao Xueting nodded lightly.

Bidding farewell to Xiao Chunhui, she set out formally traveling eastward from Luoyang.

......

At this moment within the Celestial Master Mansion of Longhu Mountain, a certain Celestial Master was laughing heartily: "Well done!"

A tall woman draped in Nine-colored Cape was gearing up excitedly, pacing back and forth in the hall.

After several turns, she halted and glanced at Lei Jun who was seated nearby: "You are truly sly!"

Though she spoke so, her face was beaming with joy, evidently very satisfied with Lei Jun’s ploy of impersonating Ye Morong in the Earth Sea with that shot.

Earlier, she herself felt somewhat vexed when Li Yan escaped in the Earth Sea.

But now that Li Yan stirred up trouble in Cangzhou, Tang Xiaotang was instantly delighted.

Lei Jun maintained a calm demeanor, shrugging: "This deserves thanks to Ye Morong, the old general himself."

Tang Xiaotang resumed circling: "It’s a pity, besides Ye Feishan, we didn’t manage to eliminate any significant figures from Cangzhou Ye Clan. If Jiuli people keep fighting like this, I don’t even want to find them anymore. Let them and Cangzhou bite each other as much as they please."

Including Ye Morong who died earlier in the Earth Sea, the Cangzhou Ye Clan suffered considerable losses this time.

Ye Morong was one of the most crucial high-level core members under Ye Moquan of Jinzhou Ye Clan, also one of the clan’s top masters.

And Ye Feishan was undoubtedly the leader of the younger generation, cultivated by Cangzhou Ye Clan as the future helm.

With the loss of both, it was akin to having flesh carved from the Cangzhou Ye Clan.

However, this mainly reflected in terms of quality.

In terms of numbers, the Cangzhou Ye Clan remained deep-rooted and robust.

For years prior, they hadn’t lost any Upper Three Heavens masters.