True Lord Fenglong was initially a bit confused as to why Sikong Yuanlie was blocking him.
However, after Sikong Yuanlie's whispered telepathic message, his face immediately showed shock and disbelief, and he couldn't help but scrutinize Ning Fa with a furrowed brow.
The rage in his eyes had faded, replaced by profound shock.
This was because Sikong Yuanlie had just briefly informed Ning Fa of his current formidable strength, clearly not joking.
The burly man in brocade robes and the beautiful white-haired woman also had drastic changes in their expressions, as they had also heard Sikong Yuanlie's telepathic warning.
The five of them immediately looked at Ning Fa as if facing a great enemy.
Ning Fa, on the other hand, stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face, looking completely at ease.
However, his gaze towards Sikong Yuanlie carried a hint of coldness.
Having let Sikong Yuanlie escape with his life last time, he would never let him go this time.
As for these five people, even without the assistance of Blue Lightning and Hei Yu, his current strength alone should be more than enough to deal with them.
Not to mention his own strength, his Five Flames Lamp spiritual treasure had been fully repaired, and he had also obtained an even more powerful Zhou Tian Lei Yan Mirror.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his current strength could rival that of a high-level Great Cultivator.
However, Ning Fa did not act rashly. Instead, he turned to look at the black-shirted youth who was suspected to be a late Nascent Soul Heavenly Puppet.
This person was also looking at him, even with a smile on his face.
Ning Fa's brow furrowed slightly. This Heavenly Puppet was not simple. Not only could it see through his Spirit Concealment Moon Art, but he also had a strange feeling that he couldn't easily subdue it.
For a moment, the underground hall, which had been roaring violently, fell into an eerie silence. None of the three parties made a move, clearly showing mutual apprehension.
Just then, the black-shirted youth's lips moved.
The next moment, a somewhat lazy young male voice echoed in Ning Fa's sea of consciousness:
"It seems fellow Daoist also has designs on what this cave mansion holds. But it appears you have quite a few grudges with these people?
How about it, interested in cooperating?
If you and I join forces, we can kill all these cultivators first. Afterward, I wouldn't mind giving you some of the treasures in this cave mansion."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fa looked at him with surprise. This Heavenly Puppet seemed to possess high intelligence.
He also transmitted his thoughts: "Who exactly are you? And why should I cooperate with you?
Although I have some grievances with them, I am more wary of you.
So rather than cooperating with you, I'd rather join forces with them to eliminate you first."
The black-shirted youth chuckled and continued to transmit his thoughts: "Heh heh, kid, I want to cooperate with you, not because I'm afraid of you.
To be honest, even if all of you combined, while I might not be their match, killing me is still a far cry.
The reason I want to cooperate with you is because I sense a familiar aura from you.
If I'm not mistaken, you should also have a Heavenly Puppet, right?
And the fact that the feeling is so strong suggests that your Heavenly Puppet has likely reached the fourth stage.
Tsk tsk, it's truly rare. In all my years of living and traveling to so many places, this is the first time I've met such a high-level Heavenly Puppet besides myself."
Ning Fa's heart trembled at this, but he quickly regained his composure.
At this moment, the black-shirted youth added, "I'm only proposing cooperation because you also have a Heavenly Puppet.
If you agree, I can not only share some of the treasures in this cave mansion with you.
I can even tell you about a special cultivation method that I've comprehended and summarized over thousands of years, a method specifically designed for high-level Heavenly Puppets like us.
If your Heavenly Puppet can cultivate it, it's very possible it could reach the late Nascent Soul stage like me in the future."
As soon as this person finished speaking, Ning Fa's expression drastically changed. The black-shirted youth's words had deeply moved him.
This was because Hei Yu couldn't improve its cultivation realm like normal cultivators through meditation or by consuming pills.
As for how to improve, Hei Yu itself had no idea.
If the black-shirted youth's words were true, then it was indeed very tempting for him.
Seeing Ning Fa's interest, the black-shirted youth smiled and continued, "Kid, I can see that your Divine Abilities are extraordinary, and you have a fourth-stage Heavenly Puppet assisting you.
But let me tell you, you're not the only ones here. There are two other powerful individuals hiding nearby, waiting to reap the benefits.
The strength of one of them is even comparable to mine.
So if you think you can win with certainty, you're greatly mistaken. Instead, they might join forces and attack you."
After this person finished speaking, Ning Fa's expression immediately changed.
There were actually two other people present? How was this possible?
But he had only sensed one person lurking. Where was the other one?
Ning Fa was greatly alarmed. If this person could even hide from him, then their strength must not be underestimated.
He quickly activated the Moon God Heart to its fullest, opening his Spiritual Sense to meticulously scan the underground hall.
On the other side, Sikong Zhibo's brow was tightly furrowed, his lips moving constantly. Beside him, Sikong Yuanlie's eyes flickered uncertainly.
Just then, he suddenly took a deep breath and shouted, "Xiao Hongying, I know you're here too. Show yourself."
Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but be startled.
Ning Fa's brow furrowed. Then, his expression shifted as he looked in a certain direction.
A red light suddenly flared there, and then a graceful, slender figure slowly appeared.
This was a young woman of unparalleled beauty, dressed in a fiery red palace dress that made her skin appear as lustrous as jade. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and a stunning, exquisite appearance – a rare beauty. A faint smile played on her lips, exuding an indescribable nobility.
After she appeared, a powerful spiritual pressure emanated from her as well. She was, in fact, also at the peak of the Mid Nascent Soul stage.
Ning Fa looked at the woman with a slightly solemn expression.
So there was indeed another person hidden here, and they could even elude his senses. This woman in the red dress was extraordinarily powerful.
As far as Ning Fa could tell, her strength was likely no less than that of Xuan Po, the former Hall Master of the Punishment Hall.
This meant she might possess strength comparable to a Lower Great Cultivator, or perhaps even exceed an ordinary Lower Great Cultivator.
He then recalled the name Sikong Yuanlie had shouted, and his expression shifted. He had a vague idea of this woman's identity.
The woman in the red dress showed no panic after appearing. Instead, she first appraised Ning Fa with great interest for a few moments.
Then, she turned her gaze to Sikong Yuanlie, a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes. She then smiled charmingly and said, "Little sister thought she had hidden well enough, but I didn't expect Brother Yuanlie to see through me so easily."
Sikong Yuanlie looked at her and said with a hint of a wry smile, "Actually, fellow Daoist Xiao's concealment techniques are extremely brilliant. I didn't see through anything.
It's just that my spirit pet, the Spirit Seeking Rat, has extremely keen spiritual senses, and it's very afraid of your Seven-Colored Python. It sensed something, which is how I guessed fellow Daoist Xiao should be nearby.
Fellow Daoist Xiao is indeed powerful. I thought you were only coming to the Jinchuan Archipelago to participate in the Twin Moon Festival. It seems you already knew about this place and deliberately came here."
Upon hearing this, the woman in the red dress showed a look of sudden realization on her pretty face, but she didn't seem embarrassed about being discovered.
She smiled softly and asked, "Then, Brother Yuanlie, why did you suddenly call me out?"
Sikong Yuanlie took a deep breath and said gravely, "That person's name is Ning Fa. I believe with the Sikong Family's intelligence network, fellow Daoist Xiao should already be aware of his reputation.
He and my Sikong Family have a deep-seated enmity. Therefore, I hope fellow Daoist Xiao can take action and help me kill this person.
In return, all the treasures in this Cave Mansion will belong to fellow Daoist Xiao."
Hearing this, True Lord Fenglong, the brocade-robed man, and the white-haired beautiful woman not far away all changed their expressions.
However, at this moment, Sikong Yuanlie's lips moved, and he transmitted his voice. Although True Lord Fenglong and the other two frowned, they didn't say anything further.
The red-dressed beauty named Xiao Hongying couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression on her beautiful face.
Then she looked at Ning Fa again and said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist Ning, although we've never met, little sister has long admired your great name.
However, little sister has a question. Based on the information I received earlier, the Fu Ling Hall suffered heavy casualties in the battle at the Sky Furnace Fire Marsh.
Of the three core figures, True Lord Tian Xu, Xuan Po, and Qiao Sheng, two died and one surrendered. The remnants of the Fu Ling Hall retreated to the Five Spirits Sea and have been missing for several years.
And you, fellow Daoist Ning, were previously a newly promoted Thunder Son of the Fu Ling Hall. I wonder what position you hold in the Fu Ling Hall now?
With your strength, you should be one of the Hall Masters of the Punishment Hall or the You Hall, shouldn't you?"
As soon as she said this, Ning Fa didn't react much, but True Lord Fenglong, the brocade-robed man, and the white-haired beautiful woman all changed their expressions.
After all, the Fu Ling Hall had been the foremost underground power in the Nine Middle Seas for tens of thousands of years, and even the Tianshu Alliance had tacitly allowed its existence.
It had always acted domineeringly and held grudges, so ordinary cultivators generally feared the Fu Ling Hall, and even cultivators like them at the Nascent Soul stage were no exception.
Therefore, even though the Fu Ling Hall's strength had been greatly damaged, hearing that Ning Fa might now be a Hall Master of one of its branches still filled them with trepidation. After all, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.
At this moment, Xiao Hongying looked at Sikong Yuanlie again and said with a charming smile, "For little sister to help Brother Yuanlie deal with someone of such strength and status, the treasures in this Cave Mansion alone are not enough as compensation."
Sikong Yuanlie couldn't help but frown tightly, but after a short while, he gritted his teeth and said, "In addition to that, I'll add a Heavenly Spirit Fruit with a medicinal age of five thousand years."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongying immediately broke into a smile and nodded, "This offer is about right."
At this moment, Ning Fa couldn't help but curl his lips into a cold sneer.
This woman named Xiao Hongying, since her appearance, seemed to be in control of the situation, not even taking him seriously. It seemed she was truly confident in her own strength.