Where Han Li's spiritual sense could reach, a vast yellow sandstorm surged across the sky, rising more than a hundred zhang high. Everywhere it passed, sand flew and stones tumbled, yellow dust billowing in great swirling coils like a malevolent dragon bursting into the world—an overwhelming display of killing intent.
Even he felt a jolt of alarm.
But his spiritual sense was formidable, nearly on par with a cultivator at the Late Nascent Soul stage. While the others' spiritual sense could only reach about a hundred li before being unable to push any farther—leaving them to simply watch from afar—Han Li was different. He circulated the Great Evolution Art briefly, focused his spiritual sense, and thrust it into the sandstorm.
The moment his spiritual sense entered the storm, however, it grew muddled and hazy. He could only vaguely sense things within a few dozen zhang. Pushing deeper yielded the same result—as though penetrating a thick fog.
Just as Han Li was greatly astonished, the cold-faced cultivator surnamed You also withdrew his spiritual sense. Then Marquis Nanlong spoke, his expression darkening.
"Correct. This is the Mulan people's Wind Spirit Technique! The Law Warrior I sparred with before used this very spiritual art—'Crimson Dust of Ten Thousand Fathoms.' Once activated, this technique not only blocks our spiritual sense probing, but the yellow sand and howling winds within also serve to shield the user and entrap enemies—extremely troublesome. However, I've never seen anything quite like this before. It's as though the technique's range has been expanded a hundredfold, even a thousandfold. Something's off."
"The Mulan people?"
At these words, the others all showed subtle changes of expression.
Wang Chan and Yan Ruyan turned particularly pale. But with the lowest status and cultivation among the group, neither dared to speak up.
"Brother Nanlong speaks truly. Only a Law Warrior's spiritual technique could make the sandstorm this extraordinary. And given the power on display, who knows how many Law Warriors may be hiding within. It's entirely possible that beings at our own level are among them." The white-robed elder spoke with equal gravity.
"How can that be? Why would the Mulan people suddenly deploy so many Law Warriors?" the old woman asked, alarmed and puzzled.
"Lady Tai, when was the last time we fought the Mulan people to a truce?" Wang Tiangu suddenly asked, a peculiar look on his face.
"That would be… roughly over a hundred years ago, wouldn't it? Brother Wang, you mean to say—" A look of sudden understanding crossed the old woman's face.
"A hundred years is about right. Plenty of time for the Mulan people to have fully recovered their strength." A faint trace of derision appeared on Wang Tiangu's face as he spoke in an even tone.
"Brother Wang is correct. It's about time for a new round of warfare. Who knows how many cultivators will fall this time. But what a coincidence—we run straight into the Mulan vanguard." Marquis Nanlong murmured, a helpless look crossing his face.
The others felt the coincidence was truly extraordinary.
"There are plenty of coincidences in this world. No need to be too surprised. But right now, we have only two options. First, we turn back and avoid clashing with this vanguard. We try again another time—treasures don't grow legs, and there'll be other chances. But the Mulan offensive won't be stopping anytime soon, so that rules out the short term. And the world is unpredictable—whether we'll be able to gather everyone together again is anyone's guess." The white-robed elder spoke in a measured tone.
"No need to say more. The second option is to fight straight through their wind formation. But the risk is far too great. If there happen to be a few powerful old monsters at our level hiding in there, we'll have a hard time making it. Can't we find a way around?" The old woman shook her head, disapproving.
"A detour would likely take too long. Once the Mulan launch their offensive, there can't be only one vanguard. Even if we circle to another direction, we'll still run into them. However, we could conceal our auras first and see if we can slip through from the side. As long as we don't charge headlong into the center of the wind formation, we should be fine. Once past the vanguard, we'll have enough time to avoid the main force of Law Warriors and reach the Mulan grasslands while they're stretched thin—making it much easier to secure the treasure and leave." The elder deliberated for a moment before speaking gravely.
After hearing the suggestion, the others discussed it briefly and felt there was no better choice. No one wanted to give up the opportunity before them for something uncertain years down the road.
Of course, this was largely because every one of them—Marquis Nanlong and the rest—was a Nascent Soul cultivator. Otherwise, no matter how tempting the treasure, they would have had to slink home in defeat.
Before setting off, however, each of them released message talismans, sending them toward the nearest Nine Nations Alliance strongholds. That way, the Alliance could prepare in advance and not be caught off guard by the Mulan assault.
At the very least, it was the small duty they owed as Tiannan cultivators.
Then the nine of them suppressed their cultivation auras, concealed their presence, and silently slipped off to one side, hoping to bypass the fiercest central zone of the sandstorm and sneak past along the flanks.
Fearing that Wang Chan and Yan Ruyan's cultivation was insufficient, Wang Tiangu set up a massive light barrier and enveloped the two of them within it, before the group gradually vanished from Han Li's sight.
Han Li observed all of this, a faint cold smile playing at the corners of his lips.
With his spiritual sense, how could the movements of Wang Tiangu and the others possibly escape his notice?
A hundred li was crossed in the blink of an eye.
The grayish, yellow-tinged sandstorm bore down on them like demons emerging from beyond the horizon.
Before the yellow sand even arrived, towering pillars of wind came howling toward them first.
Fortunately, they had already positioned themselves off to one side of the wind formation's main body, at a considerable distance. Only a few stray wind pillars swept past from the flanks, posing no real threat.