Upon awakening from the vanguard realm, Xiao Heng intended to find Ye Feipeng to discuss the matter of seeking out the various children of providence.
Unexpectedly, Ye Feipeng sought him out first, behaving in a sneaky and mysterious manner.
He pulled Xiao Heng to a secluded, uninhabited spot before slowly delivering his piece.
"Tian Yang’s cave dwelling? Several Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by a Golden Core cultivator, went in to explore. The result was heavy casualties, with only the Golden Core cultivator escaping?" Xiao Heng looked at Ye Feipeng, feeling somewhat perplexed. "Why are you telling me this?"
Ye Feipeng said gravely, "The Myriad Immortals Alliance is preparing a second expedition. This time, the exploration team will likely be led by a Nascent Soul cultivator, accompanied by many Golden Core cultivators.
"However, it's useless! Those doomed to die cannot escape their fate! I believe that the second expedition team will still be completely wiped out!"
Xiao Heng was stunned: "Impossible, right? Didn't you say this is a Golden Core cave dwelling? How could even a Nascent Soul cultivator die inside?"
Ye Feipeng snorted coldly: "That's because the seventeen mechanical puppets within Tian Yang’s cave dwelling possess a peculiar characteristic!
"They grow weaker when facing the weak, and stronger when facing the strong!" he enunciated each word slowly, his voice heavy.
Xiao Heng narrowed his eyes, carefully contemplating the meaning of these words.
Suddenly, he scrutinized Ye Feipeng and asked suspiciously, "How do you know all this so clearly?"
Ye Feipeng waved his hand: "I was born with this knowledge! Have you forgotten?
"That's not the point. The point is, we must sneak into the cave dwelling before the second expedition team is formed and seize the opportunities inside!" Ye Feipeng declared resolutely.
"Otherwise, when the Myriad Immortals Alliance's team gets wiped out again, it'll cause an uproar. We won't have any chance to seize the opportunity unnoticed!"
Seeing Xiao Heng's doubtful eyes, Ye Feipeng grew anxious, "You don’t believe me?
"Would I ever harm you?! We're both from Li World, both members of the Immortal Avengers, and we've even signed the contract.
"We share the same breath and branches, we flourish and suffer together. How could I possibly do anything against you!"
In the end, Xiao Heng was persuaded.
The two quietly arrived at the underwater volcano near Tian Yang's cave dwelling.
At this time, news of Tian Yang's cave dwelling hadn't spread widely yet. Their surroundings were silent, with no cultivators lying in wait.
"Go in first and test the strength of those puppets. See how long you can hold out.
"When the puppets are at the Qi Refinement realm, their attack power is weak. Even if you get hit, it's nothing serious. I'll keep watch outside." Ye Feipeng instructed.
Xiao Heng slowly nodded with a grave expression, then flew into Tian Yang's cave dwelling.
After about twenty breaths, Xiao Heng rushed out, looking somewhat disheveled. He didn't speak, just quietly closing his eyes in thought.
After a while, he flew back inside again.
This time, Xiao Heng lasted twice as long.
The third time...
Half a day later, Xiao Heng said to Ye Feipeng with some exhaustion, "I've pretty much figured out the attack patterns of these puppets. But my spiritual qi is limited. I can't hold out for long."
Ye Feipeng looked completely confident as he handed a storage ring to Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng looked inside and found that the ring was filled with spirit stones.
"Where did you get these?" he couldn't help asking.
Ye Feipeng said proudly, "I naturally have my methods, don't worry about it.
"So, with these spirit stones, how long can you hold out for?"
Xiao Heng took out a spirit stone, sensing the concentration of spiritual qi within.
After a moment, he answered with certainty, "With sufficient spiritual qi support, the puppets shouldn't be able to do anything to me."
Ye Feipeng quickly said, "No, no, that won't do. You need to be at a disadvantage but not defeated. Hold out as long as you can, at least until I come out from inside."
Xiao Heng frowned, "Fatty, are you making fun of me? What kind of strange request is this?"
Then he examined Ye Feipeng carefully, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Don't be so suspicious. I'm not telling you just because I'm afraid it might affect your mindset and reduce your combat effectiveness," Ye Feipeng said somewhat helplessly. "If we're talking about danger, isn't it more dangerous for me? I’ll be inside the cave dwelling after all.
"If something really goes wrong, you still have hope of escaping through the exit. I wouldn't even be able to slip away."
Xiao Heng slowly nodded.
"Alright, no time to waste. Let's prepare a bit and start immediately. My life is in your hands now!"
Ye Feipeng was somewhat nervous, but he took a deep breath, and a flash of resolve appeared in his eyes.
"Let's go!"
After a moment, the two rushed into Tian Yang's cave dwelling one after another.
Seventeen puppets blocked their path.
Light flashed under Ye Feipeng's feet, and with a sudden flicker, he slipped past them, appearing behind the puppets.
The enraged puppets tried to pursue, but were intercepted by azure water swords.
Countless water swords filled the air like soaring dragons, erupting all at once as Xiao Heng engaged all seventeen puppets in fierce combat.
Soon, he was surrounded and besieged. The puppets' attacks missed him by mere inches, and the slightest misstep would have resulted in severe injury. Yet he was incredibly lucky, narrowly evading each strike at the last possible moment. Though the situation appeared perilous, he remained in complete control.