In mid-air, the gaunt man was locked in a stalemate with the puppet, constantly bickering with the burly man.

On the ground, Yang Yan was leisurely collecting pills.

Occasionally, he encountered someone who had woken up; Yang Yan would unhesitatingly lock their throat with a single strike, then continue his search.

After looting more than a dozen people, Yang Yan had only managed to collect fewer than ten pills.

The highest grade was only of the second tier.

Compared to the pill resources allocated within the sect and those gifted by the Pill Sect in recent days, it seemed much more paltry.

Wonder how many the leader might have...

After pocketing the pills and using some to recover his skills, Yang Yan quickly set his sights on the gaunt man in mid-air.

"Star Night!"

Yang Yan casually uttered two words, raised his gaze upward, and firmly locked onto the gaunt man’s aura.

The gaunt man, who was intently studying the puppet’s features, suddenly felt a chill down his spine and instinctively retreated backward.

The next moment, he saw a shadowy blue sword light "swish" through his abdomen.

Before he could comprehend the reason for the sudden hole in his belly, the puppet took advantage of the opening and delivered a whip-like kick, sending him straight from mid-air to the ground.

"How... why... cough!"

The gaunt man struggled on the ground, his vitality continuously dissipating from his body.

He opened his mouth to say something but first spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining the ground in front of him with a large red patch.

Yang Yan, calm and unperturbed, met his venomous yet desperate gaze, walked to his side, squatted down, and flashed a harmless smile.

"Hang in there for a bit longer, can’t let you die just yet!"

Then, he fearfully watched Yang Yan place a hand on his head.

Seeing this familiar motion, the gaunt man suspected Yang Yan might turn him into a puppet.

But then, an excruciating pain akin to tearing his soul made him realize he had underestimated the situation.

Evil!

This guy is undoubtedly an evil being!

Kill me, kill me! Spare me from this agony!

Two seconds passed, and that was his only thought.

Indeed, Yang Yan had performed the Soul Searching Technique on him.

Right now, he desperately needed to understand the conditions inside and outside the Demon Cave, and Soul Searching was undoubtedly the most convenient way.

However, for those subjected to Soul Searching, even death is a luxury.

Just like the gaunt man, the wound in his abdomen was negligible compared to the agonizing pain of Soul Searching.

His face had twisted beyond recognition, his mouth agape as if to scream, but he could only continuously cough up blood, leaving onlookers stunned.

Were it not for witnessing it firsthand, no one would connect the seemingly harmless Yang Yan with this current Evil God.

"Sword Control Technique, Demon Cultivator’s Soul Searching Technique... Has the caliber of Ancient Abyss Sect’s disciples become so terrifying now!"

At the doorway, the burly man who had witnessed the entire process, along with his group, all had cold sweat on their backs, faces ashen, daring not to breathe.

"I can’t believe I’ve been trapped in there for a full six days..."

Comparing the memories of the gaunt man, Yang Yan murmured to himself.

Six days isn’t long nor short.

But in the current situation, six days is enough to establish or devastate a small sect.

"I wonder how the others who entered the sect with me are doing now..."

After retrieving five or six pills from the gaunt man’s body, Yang Yan tossed his corpse aside like garbage, then unreservedly consumed them and began channeling his skills.

This action left the burly man and his dozen or so followers somewhat dumbstruck.

"This kid is so arrogant; isn’t he afraid of being ambushed?"

"Totally disregarding us, huh!"

...

The dozen or so people started chattering again.

The burly man, confused, stared at Yang Yan, finding it increasingly hard to decipher this junior’s tactics.

Were it not for being intimidated by the sight of Yang Yan instantly annihilating several Foundation Establishment peak cultivators, they might already have been plotting how to snatch the dozen pills from Yang Yan.

Just as they were ready to resign themselves to their misfortune and give up, Yang Yan displayed a vulnerable stance, luring them into risking a gamble.

"Boss, why don’t we take advantage of his unguarded moment and..." a burly fighter, a size smaller, whispered in the ear of the leader, miming a throat-slitting gesture.

The burly man furrowed his brow but remained silent, continuing to scrutinize Yang Yan intently.

By now, the latter had withdrawn Star Night, his presence entirely devoid of threat.

But the less threatening he appeared, the more dangerous the burly man felt.

If such an entity, capable of wiping out multiple Foundation Establishment peak cultivators in a single move, posed no threat, then their time out here had been in vain.

There was only one possibility: Yang Yan’s methods were concealed thoroughly, not allowing surface clues.

Recollecting the Sword Control Technique, Soul Searching Technique, and that unknown explosive method Yang Yan had displayed, the burly man reinforced his belief.

Perhaps the opponent is just waiting for them to be consumed by greed and fall into his trap!

Just as the burly man was about to issue commands to remain in place, a faint wave of aura suddenly emanated from Yang Yan, who was channeling his skills.

Then, he opened his eyes and softly said, "Strength is finally restored."

Though said inadvertently, it was pondered intently.

The burly man perceived Yang Yan’s unintentionally revealed aura was clearly only mid-Foundation Establishment, and that was after recovering strength!

Moreover, most of the pills Yang Yan consumed before channeling his skills were for healing.

Doesn’t this imply Yang Yan was injured, yet even while weakened, faced no pressure against Foundation Establishment peaks?!

What’s more, now with his strength restored, he should not be underestimated!

Frightened, the burly man lost all remaining confidence, turned, and shouted to those behind him, "Let’s go!"

The followers immediately understood and prepared to exit the door.

"Stop."

However, before they could take a step, a gentle voice floated from nearby, causing them to freeze, stopping dead in their tracks.

Each of their faces turned a shade of pale.

They certainly didn’t expect an escape attempt to succeed under the presence of someone capable of annihilating Foundation Establishment peak cultivators in seconds.

"Esteemed cultivator... No! What does Your Excellency mean by stopping us?" The burly man stiffly turned his head, racking his brain to formulate a well-crafted phrase.

Seeing how respectful and apprehensive they were, Yang Yan was somewhat amused.

But externally, he remained expressionless, calmly responding, "You can leave, but leave the pills."

What?

This time, it was their turn to be shocked.

They had assumed their fate was sealed, but their opponent only wanted the pills?

Recalling Yang Yan’s sole proactive inquiry, which was about whether they had brought pills, they quickly exchanged glances, each revealing a relieved expression.