"A pity, a true pity," the man in black and the youth in blue both shook their heads, expressing their regret.

"My Spirit God Temple bears no ancient enmity with the Yin Ruins. Why did you intervene the moment you appeared?"

Kou Xilai's expression was rather grim. Throughout the entire Tianling Continent, the most ancient power was the Yin Ruins. Since its founding, the Spirit God Temple had always kept a respectful distance from the Yin Ruins, never actively provoking conflict. The primary reason for this was the deference shown to the 'Ancestral Heaven Divine Luo Tree' within the Yin Ruins.

However, deference did not equate to outright fear!

While others were ignorant of the Yin Ruins' true foundation, the Spirit God Temple was acutely aware. The Ancestral Heaven Divine Luo Tree possessed strength unparalleled across the Tianling Continent, yet it had long since merged with the Yin Ruins and could never leave. Should it depart, the entire Yin Ruins would collapse, and the Tree itself would suffer grave injury.

Therefore, even though the Spirit God Temple could not directly challenge the Yin Ruins, the experts of the Yin Ruins could not pose a significant threat to the Temple either. For countless years, the Spirit God Temple and the Yin Ruins had generally coexisted peacefully, with any intelligence gathering on the Yin Ruins conducted only in secret.

Now, seeing two High Gods from the Spirit God Temple consorting with individuals from the Yin Ruins made Kou Xilai intensely displeased, carrying a touch of resentment toward the two High Gods as well.

Out of respect for them both being former Hall Masters of the Spirit God Temple, Kou Xilai could treat them politely, but he certainly did not fear them.

The Spirit God Temple also maintained a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship with the descending Spirit Gods. The Temple provided them with resources that could aid their cultivation, and in return, the Spirit Gods would lend assistance when the Temple had legitimate needs, making the arrangement mutually advantageous.

But this specific cooperation left Kou Xilai deeply dissatisfied.

According to his plan, it would have been most appropriate for the two to immediately deploy the 'Three Gods Condensing Origin Formation.' Instead, they became overly curious about the two individuals trapped within the formation's boundary, wasting an entire night. If he hadn't urged them forward by claiming his own divine power was nearly depleted, they might still be fussing over it now.

The delay was a minor issue; the main grievance was that the two High Gods of the Spirit God Temple were actively befriending people from the Yin Ruins. It was a good thing they hadn't agreed to introduce the Wood Ancestor of the Yin Ruins. If they had demanded that Flower Spirit or the Spirit Mansion as payment for cooperation, would the Spirit God Temple then have been forced to spit out such a juicy morsel?

Upon hearing Kou Xilai's words, the man in black and the youth in blue looked somewhat abashed and dropped the subject of the Yin Ruins.

Seeing Kou Xilai glaring fiercely at her, Mu Xueyi merely smiled, "It’s quite simple. We simply couldn't stand watching the Spirit God Temple bully the few with the many, so we offered a small reminder."

"A reminder?"

Kou Xilai scoffed, "That was a reminder just now. Are you planning to step in and seize it now?"

"No, no, you misunderstand."

Mu Xueyi said with a gentle smile, "If we were to step in and take it by force, wouldn't that be bullying the weak, no different from your Spirit God Temple overwhelming the few? If your Spirit God Temple still intends to pressure that Flower Spirit into submission, then please, continue. We will also remain here as spectators, just like everyone else."

With that, Mu Xueyi gracefully turned and walked to the side. The five figures behind her exchanged bewildered glances, utterly confused, but since Mu Xueyi had made her decision, they had no choice but to follow. However, their doubts only deepened, especially the woman in green who couldn't help but tug at Mu Xueyi's sleeve.

"You…"

Kou Xilai was furious, his temper flaring uncontrollably. Bullying the weak? Which 'strength' were they relying on? The 'Ancestral Heaven Divine Luo Tree' that even the Yin Ruins couldn't expel? It was wise of them to recognize their limits. If they had truly dared to interfere, Kou Xilai and the eighteen members of the Spirit God Temple could have annihilated those six women from the Yin Ruins in a heartbeat!

With a cold snort, Kou Xilai turned back to look, only for his expression to abruptly freeze in shock.

"Where are they?"

He roared these two words out loud, his eyes bulging like bronze bells, his face twisted with extreme ferocity. The man in black and the youth in blue beside him also changed color slightly, looking rather stunned.

The surrounding crowd instinctively turned to look at the source of the noise, only then realizing that the mass of bloody clouds had ceased all fluctuation, appearing like rootless duckweed, rapidly shrinking within the net. In the span of mere seconds, the last trace of the blood cloud dissolved into smoke, vanishing completely.

As for the two herbs tightly intertwined within the blood cloud, there wasn't even a shadow left.

What happened?

The crowd exchanged glances. Had the 'Three Gods Condensing Origin Formation' completely obliterated the Flower Spirit and her master, or had the two of them managed to escape from within?

"Where did the people go?"

Kou Xilai roared in fury, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as if ready to kill.

His primary objective in coming to this 'Forbidden Spirit Marsh' was to capture the Flower Spirit, for which he had even invited the descent of two High Gods. For a powerful expert like him, only a Flower Spirit possessing divine power could offer genuine assistance. As for the potential Medicine Spirit within the Spirit Mansion, it would likely only be useful for refining the 'Silent Spirit Tribulation-Breaking Pill,' offering him little benefit compared to the Flower Spirit. How could he allow this?

Yet, right under his and the High Gods' noses, the Flower Spirit and her master had vanished without a trace.

"Was it you lot?"

His eyes swept across the experts of the Spirit God Temple, then to the crowd dozens of meters away, finally settling on the six individuals led by Mu Xueyi not far off. The purplish light flickered within Kou Xilai's round eyes like lightning and thunder, and a savage aura lunged furiously toward them.

"Whoosh!"

Streams of verdant energy rose up, enveloping Mu Xueyi and her companions, dissolving that fierce wave of tyrannical intent into nothingness. Seeing Kou Xilai's eyes burning with rage, Mu Xueyi smiled sweetly, "Hall Master Kou, please don't blame the innocent. If we possessed the ability, why would we have waited until now?"

"Is that so?"

Kou Xilai's voice was icy.

Suddenly, the man in black, who had been frowning in thought, shook his head and sighed, "It truly wasn't them. They indeed lack the means to snatch people away silently. Based on my guess, it must be that the Flower Spirit's master activated some kind of talismanic artifact, most likely using the 'Spirit Returning Jade Amulet' to return to the Spirit Mansion. This 'Forbidden Spirit Marsh' is within the scope of the Spirit Mansion, and only via such a method could they disappear so cleanly."

"We were careless,"

The youth in blue looked slightly regretful. "Just a moment ago, I thought I sensed a faint trace of divine power emanating from the formation. Xilai, didn't you say the Flower Spirit's master also possessed divine power?"

Kou Xilai took a deep breath, drew back his gaze, and said gravely, "Two High Gods, the 'Three Gods Condensing Origin Formation' can condense all forms of power, including divine power. How could he have utilized it?"

"This..."

The man in black and the youth in blue exchanged glances, both somewhat perplexed. This was a puzzle they could not solve. While utilizing divine power inside the 'Three Gods Condensing Origin Formation' wasn't impossible, one would first need the ability to break through the formation at will. But if one possessed such strength, why would they be trapped within the formation in the first place?

"No matter! Since they fled into the Spirit Mansion, then let's open the Spirit Mansion! Second Elder, the six of you immediately deploy the 'Spirit Intent Sealing God Diagram' and shatter this gate! Esteemed High Gods, please wait a moment. I want to see where they can run once the Spirit Mansion is open!"

"Yes!"

"..."