Chapter 153: Sand Puppet Formation

"How did you...?"

Yaoye hurriedly turned around, smiled, and blinked at Peng Lei and Zhao Mu. The two of them exchanged a knowing smile and stopped asking further questions.

"Three elder brothers, why did you end up fighting with my senior brothers?"

Yuanchen put away his weapon, waved his hand, and said, "Hey, don't mention it. It's all because of that female fiend."

"Female fiend?"

Seeing Yaoye looking at them in confusion, Yuanchen asked curiously, "What? Didn't you encounter a very realistic illusion when you came in?"

Yaoye quickly turned to look at Peng Lei and Zhao Mu, "Eldest Senior Brother, did you guys encounter the illusion too?"

"Yes, and I saw someone killed by the illusion attack, but after that, the person simply vanished!"

"Ah, well, Yaoye! We were too abrupt just now and didn't check carefully, which is why we ended up in a conflict with your brothers. I'm sorry, everyone!"

Zhao Mu quickly waved his hand, "Several seniors, it's not your fault. We didn't look closely either, hehe!"

Yuanchen, Hulie, and the others walked over. Yuanchen patted Peng Lei on the shoulder and said, "This brother has great combat skills. We ended in a draw just now. How about we go again?"

For Peng Lei, who was a martial arts fanatic, nothing made him happier than meeting a kindred spirit. Peng Lei looked at Yuanchen with burning eyes, feeling a strong sense of mutual appreciation. Seeing this, Yaoye hurriedly said,

"I say, Eldest Senior Brother and Brother Yuan, what time is it now? You still have the leisure for this! Let's secure the inheritance first!"

Yuanchen quickly slapped his forehead. "Right, right, right. I'm sorry, Yaoye. Whenever I meet a kindred spirit, I just get a bit carried away!"

"Big brother, don't worry. There will be plenty of chances for you to fight. This time, because of the Heavenly Human inheritance, it can be said that winds are rising and clouds are gathering, and heroes from all directions have gathered here. Are you worried you won't have battles to fight, Big Brother?"

"Junior brother, why do they call you Yaoye? Judging by your relationship, you must know each other very well, right?"

Hulie smiled and took over the conversation, "Hahaha, that's because Yaoye is just too good at stirring up trouble and has too many enemies. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he had to adopt an alias!"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Dark lines crossed Yaoye's face. "Second Brother, you really know how to tear me down!"

"I'm just speaking the truth."

Yaoye shook his head helplessly. "Eldest Senior Brother, let me introduce you. This is Big Brother Yuanchen, Second Brother Hulie, and Third Brother Peng Xiang!"

Peng Lei, Xiaoxiao, and Zhao Mu quickly cupped their fists in greeting. Yaoye continued, "Back then, after I was forced to leave the Northern War Zone, I fled to the Western War Zone and even established my own forces. Unfortunately, I still crossed paths with the Yunxiao Sect, and it was Second Brother who took me in."

Peng Lei quickly cupped his fists and said, "Thank you all for taking in my little junior brother during his most difficult times!"

The three of them quickly waved their hands. "Hey! We're all brothers here. Being this polite makes you sound like outsiders!"

Just as the voices faded, Yaoye looked up and stared into the distance. Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"What is it, Yaoye? Did something happen?"

Yaoye's expression turned solemn. "Everyone, there is a battle not far ahead! Let's go take a look!"

Everyone nodded and followed Yaoye as they quietly crept forward. When they arrived at the site of the battle, they saw dozens of corpses left along the path, while several figures in the distance flickered and vanished into the horizon.

Everyone couldn't help but inspect the corpses. Hulie softly remarked, "They're all dead. The person who made the move should be comparable to us in cultivation strength!"

Peng Lei walked over to Yaoye and asked, "Yaoye, since you spotted the commotion, could you figure out who did this?"

With his face full of murderous intent, Yaoye said in a deep voice, "Brother Lei, do you remember those people in black cloaks wearing masks?"

"Could it be... that they did this?"

"Yes, and the aura coming from them is unmistakably that of the Demon Clan. It looks like we need to be careful from now on, and we must quicken our pace."

Everyone's mood turned heavy as well. At this moment, Xiaoxiao frowned, quickly took out a mirror, and said happily,

"I know where the inheritance is, but..."

Zhao Mu walked over, curiously observing Xiaoxiao, and asked, "But what? What is this mirror?"

"Aiyah, never mind the mirror for now. If we want to obtain the inheritance, we have to go through numerous trials!"

"Hey! Is that all? Don't worry, little sister, with us here, what do you have to worry about? Even that old scoundrel Lingyun is here right now, and he wouldn't be able to get any advantage from us!"

"That's right, with the few of us here, we definitely won't let anything happen to you. Just tell us which way to go!"

Hearing Hulie's words, everyone looked at Xiaoxiao with anticipation. Xiaoxiao said bashfully,

"We just need to follow this path all the way, and we'll find the inheritance!"

Looking at Xiaoxiao's directions, everyone remained half-skeptical. At this moment, Yaoye quickly stepped forward.

"Let's go. Trust my senior sister's directions, they won't be wrong. Earlier, we relied on this mirror to find you guys!"

Yaoye nodded at Xiaoxiao and walked toward the direction of the inheritance. The others hurriedly followed behind.

As they ventured deeper, the environment became increasingly desolate, until they reached a stretch of desert. Xiaoxiao hurriedly warned,

"This place is one of the trial grounds!"

Everyone quickly drew their weapons, shielding Xiaoxiao in the center as they cautiously advanced. Looking at the raging sandstorms, no one dared to let down their guard.

"There's a situation!"

At the sound of Yaoye's voice, everyone turned to look at him. Yaoye sprinted forward and slammed a palm onto a sand dune, revealing several corpses buried underneath.

"It looks like we need to speed up. Some people have already gotten ahead of us!"

Everyone moved at high speed. Along the way, they discovered a large number of human corpses and the remains of unknown ferocious beasts.

Navigating through safely, they quickly crossed the desert region and arrived at an oasis, where a figure gradually appeared before them.

"Halt, everyone!"

Everyone curiously sized up the middle-aged figure. Peng Lei asked in confusion, "Senior, is there something you need?"

"Haha, senior is too much of a title; I am merely the guardian of this stage. If you wish to pass, you must meet my requirements. Let me give you a piece of advice: don't try to force your way through, or bear the consequences yourself. Just like when you first entered—some people didn't believe it, sigh!"

Yaoye quickly stepped forward. "May I ask what the requirement is, Senior?"

The middle-aged figure nodded with satisfaction. "You are the most polite ones I've encountered! I won't make things difficult for you. There is a sand puppet formation up ahead. As long as you all pass through that sand puppet formation, you may cross!"

Everyone naturally looked toward the spot pointed out by the middle-aged man. Yaoye asked again, "May I ask, Senior, with so many of us here, does only one person need to pass for us to clear this stage?"

The middle-aged man shook his head. "Everyone must pass. Here is a piece of advice: observe more. Alright, I won't disturb you all any longer!"

As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, he vanished without a trace. Everyone blinked several times, but the middle-aged man's figure was nowhere to be seen.