Chapter 184: Entering the Mixed Zone
After obtaining the Ghost Vine Flower, the group officially left the campsite and embarked on their journey to find Ye Xinglan's team.
The Sea Witch looked at Xiao Bai and said:
"My spiritual perception radius is about five kilometers. I'll take care of the central area."
"Mine is weaker, only slightly over a kilometer."
Xiao Bai sighed lightly and nodded, pointing to the right side of the road. "I can take this side to connect with your perception."
Seeing that the two women had divided the work among themselves, Xuan Miaoyin stepped forward and pointed to the left.
"Since you two have chosen your sides, I'll take care of the remaining area."
As a Spirit Douluo, she was not particularly skilled in spiritual perception.
However, her martial soul, the Bat, had a unique scouting ability.
As a result, Xuan Miaoyin's perception range was even larger than Xiao Bai's—nearly three kilometers.
Ye Tian looked ahead, counted on his fingers, and said:
"This way, our total search range is roughly ten kilometers."
If he were alone, searching for his sister would be nearly impossible.
He wouldn't even be able to enter the Star Dou Forest.
"Ten kilometers is sufficient," Xiao Ying lifted her gaze and looked at Ye Tian.
"As long as we find the first mark left by Ye Xinglan, we can follow it in one direction to track her down."
"That's right," the Sea Witch nodded gently and raised her jade-like hand toward Xiao Ying.
"You and Ye Tian have relatively weaker strength, so follow me while we explore ahead."
"If anything happens, we'll be able to look out for each other."
Xiao Ying was momentarily stunned, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.
She had initially assumed that Ye Tian's strength was unfathomable, which was why she couldn't gauge his cultivation level.
But from the Sea Witch's words, it seemed like Ye Tian wasn't that strong.
This sparked Xiao Ying's curiosity.
The Spirit Hall had always revered strength.
She had never heard of someone with weak strength reaching the upper ranks of the Spirit Hall.
Could Ye Tian be like the famous Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, a theoretical expert?
Xiao Ying silently shook her head. No matter the case, as long as she could save her family, forging a connection with Ye Tian was worthwhile.
"Little girl, what are you thinking about? Did you hear what I just said?" The Sea Witch glanced at her and asked.
"I'm listening, I'm listening," Xiao Ying quickly responded.
Then, she spoke with a calm but firm tone:
"Big Sister, please rest assured. I will protect Lord Ye Tian."
Hearing this, the Sea Witch chuckled and said with a bright smile:
"He doesn't need your protection. You just need to lead the way."
With their roles assigned, the group continued forward.
Due to the spread of their spiritual power, they triggered the territorial instincts of soul beasts.
Along the way, Ye Tian and his companions encountered many soul beasts that actively attacked them.
After dealing with an 8,000-year-old Devouring Bull, the Sea Witch clapped her hands lightly.
She then turned to Ye Tian and said:
"Little brother, you'd better be prepared."
"We've now passed the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest and entered the Mixed Zone."
"Deeper inside is the Core Zone."
"In that place, there might be 100,000-year-old soul beasts. While I can protect myself against them, with you and Xiao Ying's frail little bodies, it will be extremely dangerous."
As soon as she said this, Xiao Ying shrank back slightly.
Most soul beasts in the Mixed Zone were at least ten thousand years old.
With her mere rank-34 Soul Elder cultivation, she was nothing but a firefly before the moon.
A sense of hesitation crept into her heart.
She had originally assumed that Ye Tian and his group would just be searching in the outer areas.
She hadn't expected them to enter the Mixed Zone so soon—and without even realizing it.
At that moment, Xiao Ying looked at the Sea Witch with newfound admiration.
The woman wearing glasses before her had an unfathomable cultivation level.
She had just witnessed with her own eyes—the Sea Witch had taken down the 8,000-year-old Devouring Bull with a single palm strike.
Hearing the Sea Witch's warning, Ye Tian responded without hesitation:
"Did you forget? The Sea God once gave me a Jiao Pearl. With it, even a 100,000-year-old soul beast won't be invincible before me."
"Let's continue searching. If we do encounter danger, we can retreat then."
The Sea Witch gazed at Ye Tian deeply and sighed softly:
"You really are a good little brother. If your sister knew, she'd probably cry from gratitude."
Ye Tian simply smiled without replying.
But beside him, Xiao Ying's pupils contracted sharply.
What had she just heard?
Sea God!
Although she had never heard of this title before…
One thing was certain—this was undoubtedly a true unfathomable being!
She never would have imagined that Ye Tian was connected to a figure of that caliber.
If even someone of such high status couldn't resolve the crisis facing her Xiao family…
Then there truly was no hope.
The thought of backing out flashed through Xiao Ying's mind for a moment.
But it was soon replaced by a firm determination.
If she could help Ye Tian during this search for his sister…
She might be able to use that as leverage to ask for his aid.
On the other side, Ye Tian remained unaware of Xiao Ying's thoughts.
His gaze remained fixed in the distance.
After a long moment, he asked with a slightly grim expression:
"Miss Xiao Ying, given my sister's team's strength, they wouldn't have come to the Mixed Zone to hunt for spirit rings, would they?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ying's face turned deathly pale.
She bent slightly and said solemnly:
"I dare not deceive you, my lord… According to my estimation… the chances are slim."
Ye Tian's expression darkened at her response.
This was not good news.
He sighed lightly and waved his hand.
"Let's keep searching."
"There were six people in her team, including the instructor. It's impossible for all of them to have vanished at once."
"Young Master Ye Tian, I found a marker!"
Just as the Sea Witch was preparing to continue leading Ye Tian forward…
A bat flew through the air and spoke in a human voice.
Without a doubt, it was Xuan Miaoyin.
"Oh? Where is it?" Ye Tian's voice carried urgency.
Xuan Miaoyin pointed southeast.
"Two kilometers this way."
"My other bat clone has already gone to notify Xiao Bai."
"We can go ahead first."
"Alright."
Ye Tian nodded and stepped forward.
But just then, the Sea Witch stopped him by tugging on his sleeve.
She looked at Xuan Miaoyin with a bright smile and spoke in an exceptionally gentle voice:
"Hold on. Let's wait for Xiao Bai to catch up first."
It was clear that the Sea Witch was being cautious of Xuan Miaoyin.
This made Xuan Miaoyin flutter her wings in mild frustration, though she said nothing.
About five minutes later…
Xiao Bai swiftly returned, leaping from the treetops and landing lightly beside Ye Tian.
By now, she had changed into a loose, plain white palace gown.
It was obviously borrowed from the Sea Witch.
(End of Chapter)
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