Array Formation Square.

Over sixty cultivators have already been dispatched to explore the surrounding terrain and environment.

As for Fang Zhou's people, Xiao Yin initially didn't plan to direct them, but they volunteered to run out and help.

Another Innate Realm left behind was Donggong Fu. She didn't stay in the square but went out looking for a secure location.

According to her, the square was too flat and open; if attacked, they would be vulnerable from all sides here.

Xiao Yin thought there was some sense in her words, considering that they weren't yet aware of the enemy's numbers; finding a safe spot was crucial.

Before Donggong Fu returned, Xiao Yin heard muffled sounds like distant thunder coming from afar.

She reckoned it might be the four who went out having found the enemy's position and quickly issued a warning for all explorers to return.

Soon, roaring sounds like rolling thunders came again, identifiable as some kind of monstrous creature's roar this time.

The sound's volume somewhat indicated power; the more powerful a creature, the more intimidating its noise, bearing substantial deterrence.

Upon hearing this noise, the cultivators outside didn't need Xiao Yin's urging; they themselves raced back at the fastest speed.

Donggong Fu soon flew back too: "I've found a good location easy to defend and hard to attack, ready to lead people there anytime."

"Wait, we still don't know the situation, let's wait for Aoshuang and them first."

Xiao Yin intended to first watch and see, lest they lose their composure before even seeing the monster.

The cultivators who went out had returned, and Xiao Yin did a headcount, finding three people missing.

Donggong Fu curiously asked: "Who's missing?"

Those sent to explore wouldn't stray too far, and for safety, Xiao Yin had them team up, strictly forbidding solo actions.

Under such circumstances, there shouldn't be danger, yet still, two people hadn't returned.

Xiao Yin frowned, "It's disciples from the Red Sun Sect and Danxia Sect, along with Xuan Ling from Heavenly Sword Sect. Taoist Dong, could you please search around?"

At this moment, Donggong Fu wasn't interested in competing with Xiao Yin; aside from sect identities, anyone would gladly befriend Xiao Yin.

She nodded, took off again, and began searching around.

Xiao Yin also summoned Yu Qing and Qiu Yueming to help, asking others if they'd seen the two missing individuals.

Upon hearing Xuan Ling was also missing, Yu Qing's face slightly changed and hurriedly joined the search.

Before the inquiries were completed, Donggong Fu came back grim-faced and whispered to Xiao Yin, "I found the Danxia Sect disciple's corpse; murdered."

Xiao Yin shuddered in shock, her face showing surprise.

Noticing many eyes on her, she suppressed the shock and whispered, "What about the other two?"

"Haven't found them, but the scene was clean, no signs of battle. The Danxia Sect disciple was either ambushed or killed without resistance."

Donggong Fu's voice grew cold, "The murderer didn't deal with the corpse, just walked away confidently, not fearing us finding out."

Xiao Yin's face turned grave, "And where's the corpse?"

"I hid it, will take it away when leaving."

Inwardly, Xiao Yin praised Donggong Fu's sensible handling; bringing the body back wouldn't warn them but might cause panic, better to hide first, then investigate the murderer's intent and whereabouts.

Especially to determine if there's an accomplice among the remaining people; this needs clarifying.

And whether the killer was Xuan Ling or another Red Sun Sect disciple remains unknown.

Xiao Yin felt heavy-hearted as unforeseen accidents occurred one after another, smelling a strong scent of conspiracy.

Now, all she could hope for was that the "little black snake" mentioned by the Demon Suppression Saint wasn't so formidable, to kill it quickly and depart.

...

Xiao Yin's hopes were destined to fail as the entrance of the little black snake filled with funding directly frightened Yu Hua and Hong Guan.

Ming Aoshuang managed to stay somewhat calm, having seen larger creatures in the Abyss Ancient Battlefield.

After it flew out from the volcano, Fang Zhou finally saw its true form clearly.

Entirely black, its body scaleless but covered in black scales, with bat-like wings and a slender physique.

At first glance, it resembled a dragon from the Black Soul World, but all three heads were snake heads, with spiky brambles from crown to neck.

The thing was practically a stitched monster; calling it a little black snake was inappropriate, better to call it a three-headed dragon.

After the three-headed dragon flew into the air, all three heads let out fierce roars, sound spreading in all directions.

Fang Zhou's expression changed slightly; his divine sense now enveloped around the volcano, including the crisscrossed tunnels underground.

The tunnels were full of oval stones that began quivering slightly, cracking open under the dragon's roar.

Next moment, grotesque creatures crawled out from stones, echoing the dragon's howl, and began climbing up through the tunnels toward the surface.

Within Fang Zhou's divine sense, underground resembled a disturbed ant nest, countless creatures swarming like ants, enough to drive someone with agoraphobia insane.

Fang Zhou hurriedly instructed Ming Aoshuang and the other three: "You must return immediately to protect the others; there might be danger there too. Leave this to me; I'll find a way to lure the three-headed monster away."

Nearby the array formation square underground were many tunnels full of oval stones too.

Inside those stones hid monsters; if the dragon's roar was an activation signal, there must already be monsters around the square.

Such numbers were undeniably beyond what Xiao Yin and Donggong Fu could handle.

Yu Hua and Hong Guan quickly snapped out and chose to heed Fang Zhou's command.

Firstly because Fang Zhou's realm and combat power were evidently above theirs, and secondly, the three-headed dragon was too terrifying, dampening their fighting spirit, leaving no choice but to retreat.

Ming Aoshuang wished to stay but ultimately trusted Fang Zhou and chose to leave.

Clearly, the strength of this three-headed dragon surpassed the Innate Realm; they were like low-level players entering a high-level dungeon, staying would be useless.

After they all left, Fang Zhou still didn't feel assured, releasing Aya from the gourd to protect Yu Qing and the others.

With Fang Zhou's current strength, he no longer needed to cling to Aya, but Aya's combat power was still an ace, not to be underestimated.

Aya followed suit, leaving with Ming Aoshuang.

After everyone left, Fang Zhou focused on the three-headed dragon; it appeared fierce but likely hadn't yet reached the Golden Core Realm.

As long as it hadn't reached the Golden Core Realm, Fang Zhou was confident he could defeat it.

With a thought, a sea of golden sword shadows appeared overhead, almost covering the entire sky, dazzlingly visible from tens of kilometers away.

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