The yin-yang fish and dark clouds in the sky quickly disappeared, and two suns reappeared, bathing the land in warm sunlight as if nothing had happened. Guo Xingyue and Ye Mingcheng supported each other back to the oasis. Upon reaching the small lake, they saw that the massive body of the Giant Spirit Serpent had turned completely black; only the tail still resembled its original form, the rest reduced to charcoal, long dead.
Both Guo and Ye were injured, especially Ye Mingcheng, who suffered more severely after facing the serpent's lightning. Seeing that the Giant Spirit Serpent was dead, they sat by the lake to recuperate. Guo Xingyue's injuries were lighter; after a short period of rest, he felt somewhat better. Although the damage to his Nascent Soul hadn't healed completely, he could move with relative ease, with his broken right arm having healed enough to function, though he couldn't exert much strength yet. Ye Mingcheng was more gravely injured and had no remaining true energy to set up formations. Guo Xingyue, worried about the possibility of spirit beasts attacking during their recovery, hastily finished his rest and sat beside Ye Mingcheng to guard him.
Just as Guo Xingyue was about to check the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform on the lake's surface, he suddenly felt an unease. Turning his head, he saw a cultivator flying in on a sword from the depths of the desert, who soon landed before Guo Xingyue. The visitor had long black hair, high nose, deep-set eyes, and unusually purple irises, wearing a green robe, his cultivation already at the late Nascent Soul stage. Guo Xingyue approached him and asked, "I am Guo Xingyue. May I ask what brings you here?"
The visitor didn't respond, his expression astonished as he stared at the massive corpse of the Giant Spirit Serpent. When he caught sight of the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform in the lake, greed flickered in his eyes.
He coughed and said, "I am Yu Tong of the Changmo Sect. May I ask why you killed our sect's guardian serpent?" Guo Xingyue, having a keen ability to read expressions, sensed hostility in the visitor's words. This Yu Tong clearly coveted the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform and was looking for an excuse to seize it. Knowing that his elder brother was still healing and that he himself was injured, Guo Xingyue pondered whether he could handle someone of Yu Tong's cultivation, realizing he needed to take the initiative. Though his mind raced, he maintained a calm demeanor and replied, "So it's a friend from the Changmo Sect. I apologize for the lack of hospitality, haha, forgive me…"
He spoke at length without addressing the serpent or the lotus platform. Yu Tong, annoyed by Guo Xingyue's evasiveness, grew impatient, taking advantage of Guo Xingyue's injuries. He shouted, "Enough! You killed our sect's guardian beast. Return the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform to me, and I won't pursue the matter further!"
Guo Xingyue thought: As expected. I have no choice but to act now. He discreetly summoned his flying sword, keeping it hidden against his back, and replied with a smile, "Of course! The Seven-Tier Lotus Platform isn't something rare. If you want it, feel free to take it."
Yu Tong snorted coldly, "Good to see you're sensible." He began forming hand seals, preparing to take the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform. Guo Xingyue seized the moment to strike, launching his flying sword like a bolt of lightning towards Yu Tong. The two were only a few yards apart, and Yu Tong was preoccupied with the lotus platform; by the time he noticed the gleaming sword, he could only let out a startled cry before Guo Xingyue's sword pierced through his skull.
Guo Xingyue retrieved his sword, laughing, "If you want treasures, you'd better have the life to enjoy them." He then turned to check on Ye Mingcheng's condition. Suddenly, Yu Tong's corpse twitched, and a small armored figure emerged from the top of his head, flying away quickly on a sword into the depths of the desert. Guo Xingyue didn't realize that for cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above, the destruction of their physical body did not mean death; as long as their Nascent Soul survived, they could reincarnate, though the chances were slim.
The next day, as the sun rose, Ye Mingcheng finally awoke from his meditation, his injuries significantly improved. Although still serious, he could move freely. He stood and looked at Guo Xingyue, saying, "Brother, you've worked hard." Suddenly spotting Yu Tong's corpse, he quickly asked, "Who is this person?"
Guo Xingyue laughed, "A greedy fellow who claimed to be from the Changmo Sect, trying to forcibly take the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform. I killed him, but his Nascent Soul escaped."
Ye Mingcheng's expression changed, "This is bad! Although the three factions of the Giant Corner Star are small, they have a few experts. You've killed a disciple of the Changmo Sect; this enmity is now established. Once word gets out about the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform, their masters will soon arrive. We need to leave quickly!"
Being a former assassin, Guo Xingyue understood the dynamics of pursuit well. He said, "Brother, we're both injured and likely can't outrun them. It's better to find a place to hide and wait until their vigilance decreases before leaving."
Ye Mingcheng thought for a moment and agreed, "That's settled then." He harvested the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform and cut off the intact tail of the Giant Spirit Serpent, handing them to Guo Xingyue. "This is your fortune, take it!"
Guo Xingyue chuckled, "Brother, I can't refine pills, so it's of no use to me. Moreover, sister-in-law is an alchemist. I ought to present her a gift, shouldn't I? You can keep the Seven-Tier Lotus Platform for her!"
Ye Mingcheng replied, "Alright, once the pills are refined, I'll give them to you."
The two of them flew away from the oasis, traveling for half a day until they reached the depths of a mountain range, where they found a cave. Ye Mingcheng set up several formations at the entrance to conceal it, and they began to heal inside.
Just a day after leaving the oasis, five cultivators flew in from the depths of the desert, all at least at the Spirit Division stage. The leader was at the late Spirit Division stage. Shortly after they landed, over a hundred cultivators arrived at the oasis, examining it closely. They quickly determined that Guo and Ye had just departed, and after a brief discussion, the five experts divided their forces to search the mountain range.