Dong Xunchang swept away the humility he had shown in front of Mu Shiyue and looked at the others with a cold and stern expression, his gaze icy and terrifying.
"Today we lost the compass. If you don't want to lose your lives, then make sure your statements match mine!"
The others' expressions twisted for a moment, but they quickly understood and nodded repeatedly, "We understand!"
How could they not understand?
After what had happened today, losing their storage pouches was one thing, but they had also lost the most important treasure-seeking compass!
That's the most important treasure!
Not only had they failed to bring back the Treasure-Seeking Mouse, they had even lost the treasure-seeking compass.
If they don't explain things properly, they will lose their lives when they return!
They were at fault, but Dong Xunchang bore great responsibility as well.
After all, the treasure-seeking compass had been taken from his hands.
The group quickly agreed on an explanation, then returned with gloomy faces.
This time, they had to walk back on their own, since the flying magical artifacts they had brought were all inside their storage pouches.
As for spirit stones, medicinal pills, and various treasures, those were gone as well.
They didn't have a single coin left on them and could rely only on themselves.
By the time they returned to the Dong Family in Nanhuai City, several days had passed.
Given their speed, if they had rushed back with full strength, it wouldn't have taken this long.
But who wanted to return so quickly?
It wasn't as if they had accomplished something great and were hurrying back for rewards.
They were going back to be punished!
Before returning to Nanhuai City, Dong Xunchang led the others to a place.
When they came out from there, each of them had sustained injuries of varying degrees.
Though no limbs were broken, their injuries weren't light.
After arranging everything, the group returned to the Dong Family in a miserable state.
Sure enough, when they arrived, their condition drew the attention of the entire household.
The Dong Family head, Dong Senrong, looked at their pitiful appearance and his face immediately darkened.
"What exactly happened? Who injured you? Where is the Treasure-Seeking Mouse?!"
Dong Xunchang shrank pitifully, his eyes flickering, "Family Head, we encountered a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor!"
"A Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor?!" Dong Senrong's pupils contracted sharply. He shot to his feet, his expression horrified. "Where?!"
That is a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor!
Dong Senrong was over two hundred years old. More than ten years ago, he had officially broken through into Spirit Severing Stage.
After entering Spirit Severing Stage, the Dong Family's status had completely changed.
But the gap between Spirit Severing Stage and Soul Transformation Stage is like a heavenly chasm!
Many people spent their entire lives unable to step into Soul Transformation Stage!
Dong Senrong's aptitude could only be considered decent. If not for a certain decision over a decade ago, he might not even have entered Spirit Severing Stage.
He went mad trying to advance further, but that's far from easy.
Thus, he knew very clearly the difference between himself and a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor.
Moreover, there weren't many Soul Transformation Stage old ancestors. Even among the great sects, there were only a few.
Most importantly, once one reached Soul Transformation Stage, they rarely appeared in public.
After all, Soul Transformation Stage old ancestors also wanted to continue advancing upward.
Now that Dong Xunchang claimed to have encountered one, Dong Senrong was stunned.
Seeing Dong Senrong's anxious expression, a glint flashed through Dong Xunchang's eyes, and he quickly began explaining.
"We followed the instructions you gave us and went to Myriad Beast Forest… but we didn't expect that the Treasure-Seeking Mouse had run outside. After we followed the compass to that location, we discovered that a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor lived there!"
Dong Xunchang spoke earnestly, genuinely believing his own explanation.
Although Mu Shiyue hadn't personally made a move, was her displayed authority not obvious enough?
If she wasn't a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor, how could those spirit beasts obey her?
And the man who had suppressed him in a single move at the beginning, he should've been in Nascent Soul…no, Spirit Severing Stage!
Only a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor could command such obedience from people and beasts alike!
Dong Xunchang had never seen a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor, but he had seen Spirit Severing Stage experts!
Wasn't Dong Senrong himself in Spirit Severing Stage?
Yet Dong Senrong definitely couldn't command other Spirit Severing Stage cultivators to show such respect, nor could he make a fifth-rank spirit beast so obedient.
After hearing Dong Xunchang's explanation, Dong Senrong's expression changed as well, "How could a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor suddenly appear there? You're not lying to me, are you?"
"How could I dare lie to you!" Dong Xunchang immediately protested. "We nearly didn't make it back alive!"
The others nodded in agreement.
"Yes! Besides the Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor, there was also a Spirit Severing Stage expert! Brother Chang was nearly killed by that Spirit Severing Stage senior!"
"And there were so many spirit beasts!"
"Spirit beasts?" Dong Senrong frowned. "What spirit beasts?"
At the mention of spirit beasts, terror appeared on their faces.
"There was a third-rank Black Abyss Falcon, a fourth-rank Spotted Spirit Cow, and an Iron-Eating Beast…"
"And a fifth-rank Soul-Devouring Tiger!"
Hearing them speak in unison, Dong Senrong was stunned, "Are they from Myriad Beast Sect?!"
When did Myriad Beast Sect move there?
Weren't they in Baigu Forest?
Baigu Forest had a reputation comparable to Myriad Beast Forest, one in the south and one in the north, equally dangerous.
There were also many spirit beasts and demon beasts there.
"They're not from Myriad Beast Sect." Dong Xunchang shook his head. "They didn't introduce themselves. But those spirit beasts were extremely obedient!"
Dong Senrong's face was grave, "You don't know their identity?"
"How would we dare ask!" Dong Xunchang shook his head frantically, speaking half-truths. "Their courtyard was very small. When we went there, we didn't notice anything unusual. But as soon as we stepped into their territory, I was grabbed by the neck by a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator and nearly strangled to death!"
He didn't dare mention how arrogantly they had smashed the door earlier. Instead, he spoke with lingering fear about nearly being strangled, "I explained that we had entered by mistake and told them we were from the Dong Family of Nanhuai City. I even kowtowed and apologized. Only then did we manage to save our lives."
After hearing his explanation, Dong Senrong's face turned extremely ugly.
How could they have suddenly encountered a Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor?
That person hadn't mentioned this!
At that thought, he felt an urge to go find that person.
But before he could leave, Dong Xunchang hesitated and called out, "Family Head, the treasure-seeking compass…"
"That's right, where's the treasure-seeking compass?"
With that reminder, Dong Senrong immediately remembered the most important item.
"The treasure-seeking compass…"
"What is it?" A bad premonition rose in Dong Senrong's heart.
In the next second, that premonition came true.
"The treasure-seeking compass was taken by that Soul Transformation Stage old ancestor!"
Dong Senrong was struck with shock, his body swaying, "Taken?!"
Fury surged through him, his expression twisting ferociously, as if he was about to tear Dong Xunchang apart.
Dong Xunchang reacted quickly and immediately said, "I explained that the treasure-seeking compass was your magical artifact, Family Head. But she wouldn't listen! I almost got beaten to death trying to keep it!"
He clutched his chest and coughed a few times, his face full of pain, "In the end, the compass was still taken!"
He suddenly knelt down, "I beg for punishment from the Family Head!"