'Old geezer?!'

The voice startled Yang An, and even Wen Yin and Zhou Quan jumped in fright.

He hadn't detected any aura at all. The old geezer had just appeared out of thin air, completely silent.

'Has he been waiting for us here all along?'

Yang An's heart lurched when he heard the old man's words.

'Had the old coot calculated everything, right down to their arrival in the Golden Thread Pavilion's territory within the Treasure Temple Domain? Did he even know they would come to Zichuan State?'

'So he was waiting here for us from the start.'

If this had happened anywhere else, one might just say the old geezer was a master strategist, leaving nothing to chance.

But they were standing before the Mountain Gate of the Jade Flesh Sect, a minor power they had planned to investigate before finding a new base for the Life Crane Sect.

'Was their appearance at the Jade Flesh Sect also part of the old geezer's calculations?'

"Master!"

Seeing Elder Life Crane, Wen Yin and Zhou Quan immediately performed a respectful bow.

Elder Life Crane gave a slight nod, but He Tou turned to Yang An and let out a sinister chuckle.

"Great Disciple, could it be you're so overjoyed to see your master that you've forgotten your manners?

Or perhaps... you have a problem with your master appearing here?"

"Greetings, Master!"

Yang An took a quiet breath. His first reaction to seeing the old geezer, besides shock at his schemes, was a different thought entirely.

'Out here on the Outer Continent, how much of his power can the old geezer even use?'

'This Zombie God might not be so godly anymore. If he's weak and I'm strong, a fight isn't out of the question. Should I test him...?'

But after a moment's thought, Yang An resisted the impulse, suppressing the urge to provoke the old geezer for now.

'Better to establish a foothold here first and deal with the Life Crane Sect's business. Challenging him the moment we meet would be too impulsive, too reckless.'

'Besides, the old geezer fled from the Outer Continent in the first place. For him to return with such confidence, he must have a trick up his sleeve. I need to observe him more.'

He had no desire to be like Wild Forbidden—a fool who only knew slaughter and couldn't resist attacking the old geezer on sight.

"I was just surprised that you would arrive here before us, Master. To think that even our arrival was within your calculations... As expected of you, Master."

'You have to lay on the praise when it's needed. How else was he supposed to get the old geezer to lower his guard?'

But upon hearing Yang An's words, He Tou erupted into a strange cackle, looking toward Elder Life Crane.

"He bought it! He actually bought it! HAHAHAHA!"

He Tou's gaze shifted back to Yang An.

"My dear disciple! You don't really think the old geezer could have predicted you'd come here, do you? If he were that amazing, would he still be a beaten cur? HAHAHAHA!

The old geezer actually sensed your auras long before you got here and deliberately tracked you down."

"..."

Yang An felt a vein throb on his forehead. He really wanted to punch the old monster!

Unfortunately, his Nine Forces Shocking Dragon hadn't stored enough power yet, or else he could have used it to test the waters.

But even if the old geezer hadn't predicted their exact location, it was clear he had entered the Treasure Temple Domain long ago to wait for them.

After its round of mockery, He Tou looked toward the Jade Flesh Sect's Mountain Gate.

"So this is the new Mountain Gate for our Life Crane Sect? The scenery is nice, but it's a bit infested with insects."

The Jade Flesh Sect was situated amidst a range of rugged mountains. The scenery was pleasant and picturesque—an excellent location for a sect.

Yang An could tell the old geezer was quite satisfied with the location, and he nodded in agreement.

"Master, according to the rules of the Treasure Temple Domain, we can't establish a new Mountain Gate. We can only take over an existing one."

The old geezer was probably more familiar with this place than anyone, but Yang An repeated the rule anyway, just to keep the man from finding fault with him later.

'Who knew if the old geezer would use such a detail to trap him? It wasn't impossible.'

Hearing Yang An's explanation, Elder Life Crane merely nodded.

"No matter. You all wait here. From this day forward, the Life Crane Sect will be established on this very spot."

With that, Elder Life Crane turned and walked toward the Jade Flesh Sect's Mountain Gate, leaving Yang An and the others with the sight of his slightly stooped back.

But that back radiated an overwhelming killing intent. Accompanied by He Tou's strange cackles, he vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing an instant later at the Mountain Gate of the Jade Flesh Sect.

A pillar of fire erupted from Elder Life Crane's body. Crimson flames illuminated the heavens and the earth, bathing the entire Jade Flesh Sect in a red glow.

The instant Elder Life Crane used his Lighting Technique, several figures appeared in mid-air, glaring down at him viciously.

These individuals all had Cultivation Levels in the Corpse Transformation Realm, some having even reached the stage of Perfection.

"Who are you?"

one of them demanded imperiously. Although they could not perceive the depths of Life Crane's aura, they did not seem flustered.

Any sect established here was subject to frequent attacks from unknown assailants. The goal was always the same: to eradicate the sects that seemed weakest and seize their territory.

The weaker and less renowned a sect was, the more likely it was to have trouble come knocking at its door.

However, the Jade Flesh Sect had been established here for over a decade. It had endured countless attacks and provocations, yet it still stood. This was proof enough that the Jade Flesh Sect had a foundation others could not easily shake.

Looking up at the figures hovering condescendingly in the air, He Tou gave a cold laugh. It stared at them as if they were already corpses.