Xiong Shan's expression froze for a moment, then he gave a bitter smile. "Congratulations."

Li Zhiyuan: "My condolences."

Earlier, when we found the second and third brothers, Tan Wenbin had his reservations, considering whether to inform Xiong Shan right away, but Xiong Shan had the experience of leaving this place. Once he found the people, there was no reason to hide it.

Yet Lin Shuyou, Yin Meng, along with Brother Hu, a total of five people, were a considerable target even before the pool burned, but neither side found any of them.

Indeed, there's a probability they were accidentally missed, but that probability is actually very low. Considering that before going into the water, Lin Shuyou could open his eyes, turn his head, and mouth words, showing clear self-awareness, it's highly probable they came here, but left before we came down.

As for where they went?

Li Zhiyuan turned around, looking at the damaged Stone Gate.

I was in the vanguard, they were placed as the second line behind me, and now it turns out the second line went ahead of me.

At this moment, Xiong Shan took a deep breath and spoke:

"The second and third brothers were likely tricked by the Xie Family and the Bo Family.

When the Xie and Bo families made their move, they wouldn't exclude joining forces with the Wang Family.

I suspect that if Lihua hadn't arrived early because of you, she might have met the same fate as the second and third brothers."

Li Zhiyuan: "They have their own Luck, nothing much to do with me."

That's how he said it, but the young man thought to himself:

So if I hadn't led the team here early, Xiong Shan, wouldn't you be a lone man by now?

Struggling to suppress the outbreak of corpse poison by the lake, you suddenly saw your wife, child, and brothers brought down by the corpse-chasing team, then you dive down alone to rescue them, only managing to wake your wife, and before you could break the seal, you witness your wife, child, and brothers burning, melting, and exploding before your eyes.

You might even have been so distracted, along with the impact of corpse poison, you couldn't escape the pool's range in time and got engulfed in this ghostly sea of fire.

So, was it destined for you all to perish in this wave?

I came to an unfinished exam room prematurely, but I'm not waiting for the next exam with new papers. Instead, the people here all died at their desks, I took a seat, picked up the blood-stained unfinished paper beside their corpses, and continued doing it?

"Little brother, what's wrong?"

"I was thinking..." Li Zhiyuan pointed to where the ghostly eye was located previously, "Those three families are preparing to move, either by today during the day or by late tonight at the latest."

Since those three families arranged to bring the Thunder Talisman and corpse oil here, to destroy all the bodies, they couldn't possibly allow the corpse-chasers here any chance of retrieving people to replenish the lamp oil.

"I think the same way, which leaves me with a dead end. If I continue forward to seal that General, am I not just helping those three families?"

Li Zhiyuan nodded.

"There's something, please forgive me, little brother. I'll ensure you leave here, but if on the way we happen to meet your people, I'll certainly help if I can, but I won't intentionally rescue them, nor attempt to seal that General again.

I have to survive this place to seek revenge on those three families.

Since they dared to use my men as sacrifices, I must make them pay the price!"

Initially, Xiong Shan had also hinted at using those three families as cannon fodder.

But such grievances are truly felt only by those who experience them.

Tan Wenbin, beside him, rubbed a paper ball to stop his bleeding nose, and listening to Xiong Shan, could only reflect:

Our Yuanzi is still kind-hearted; either he doesn't act or he goes for their household registry, firmly intending to settle scores personally.

Li Zhiyuan thought more profoundly:

Perhaps Xiong Shan also wants to use this way to justify withdrawing from the lamp lighting, searching for a valid excuse, a reason ample enough to soothe his own heart.

He won't tread this path anymore, he's focused on avenging his brothers.

Li Zhiyuan: "I understand, but I have to rescue my people. You lead the way first, and when the time comes, we can part ways."

"Alright." Xiong Shan pressed his lips, "Little brother, it's my fault; I owe you one."

Xiong Shan had said this before, but just like last time, Li Zhiyuan didn't take it to heart then, nor did he this time.

Xiong Shan and Lihua walked ahead, Li Zhiyuan led Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin followed behind them.

As they climbed the steps, Li Zhiyuan took a special look at the fist pit in the center of the staircase. Even after so many years, the fist patterns in the pit were still clearly visible.

Run Sheng kept comparing his fist to the fist pit.

Upon entering the damaged Stone Gate, instead of a corridor, a wind blew directly, carrying sand that sparkled with eerie glimmer.

Li Zhiyuan: "Phantom Sand, huh."

Generally, places with intense Evil Qi, grudges, and where a mass of people died, could form a Phantom Sand pattern, a kind of natural miasma.

Xiong Shan: "This is Phantom Sand, it can evoke the strongest joys and sorrows in one's memory, amplifying them. Stay stable, don't lose yourself in it."

Li Zhiyuan: "Heart Clearing Charm."

Tan Wenbin and Run Sheng immediately took out their Heart Clearing Charms and stuck them on their foreheads.

Although they could also try to rely on their own willpower to pass through this Phantom Sand, since they had this option, there was no reason to endure unnecessary hardship.

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