Li Zong looked at Ding Fan with great surprise on his face, momentarily speechless. Evidently, he hadn't expected Ding Fan to discover the existence of another path. One must know that it took him many days here before he realized there was another path. However, for most cultivators, this path is after all a bit easier to find. Clearly, this path holds some special significance for Li Zong.

But now Ding Fan had discovered another path. How did he manage to do it?

Li Zong's eyes narrowed involuntarily. Clearly, even if the other party impressively discovered another path, it must not obstruct his plan. Immediately, Li Zong said to Ding Fan:

"There is only this path here; how could there be any other path? We have already arrived, so why don't we just move on sooner?"

Upon hearing Li Zong's words, everyone nodded and said:

"Yes, Ding Fan, there doesn't seem to be any other path here. Why don't we just take this one? With Brother Li Zong around, nothing should happen."

At this moment, He Qianyao looked at Ding Fan and persuaded. It was evident that she didn't fully understand what Ding Fan was saying. After all, this place is the Thunder Abyss and is already extremely dangerous. Does it really matter which path we take?

"Why don't we just take this one? Since we're already here, this Thunder Abyss seems dangerous everywhere. Would it be any less dangerous with a different path?"

"Mm-hmm, Sister is right, I feel the same way."

At this moment, two divine warrior little girls looked at Ding Fan with some curiosity and said. Clearly, they also noticed Ding Fan being somewhat hesitant and unsure what was going on with him.

At this moment, Ding Fan looked at everyone, the seriousness on his face deepening. Ding Fan was very certain that this path would definitely not be that simple. Clearly, if everyone took this path, it would likely result in more harm than good. He persisted in saying:

"I can sense that this path will not be peaceful, and the dangers here are significantly greater than elsewhere. I still prefer to take a different path, which isn't far from here, just a bit out of the way and hard to find."

At this moment, Ye Ningbing saw Ding Fan insisting, and she followed up by saying:

"In that case, let's go with Ding Fan. After all, that path isn't too far from here, right? It's better to be safe."

At this moment, Ding Fan looked towards Ye Ningbing with some gratitude in his heart. She clearly respected his opinion, and having someone support him at this moment was undoubtedly a good thing. Everyone heard Ye Ningbing say this too, knowing that the two divine warrior little girls had spent the most time with Ye Ningbing and knew her to be a very kind sister.

Although Sister Ye Ningbing hadn't spoken much with the two of them along the way, the two divine warrior little girls could see that she and Ding Fan had an unusual relationship. As a result, the two divine warrior little girls felt some discontent towards Ding Fan, but they had a very good impression of Ye Ningbing.

Upon hearing Sister Ye Ningbing say this, the two divine warrior little girls nodded helplessly and said:

"Since Sister Ye Ningbing has spoken, there's no harm in taking a different path."

"Mm, alright then."

Subsequently, the two divine warrior little girls gave Ye Ningbing a sweet smile and said.

Upon hearing the two divine warrior little girls, He Qianyao also nodded and said:

"Alright, I agree too."

He Qianyao wasn't doing it for Ye Ningbing's sake. Clearly, seeing the two divine warrior little girls had already spoken, and as she spent more time with them along the way, she grew increasingly fond of the two little girls. They were clearly very adorable, and their cuteness dispelled quite a bit of her melancholy, leaving no reason for objection now that the little girls had none.

At this moment, Li Zong heard everyone's consensus, his face turning somewhat unpleasant. Clearly, he was the least hopeful that everyone would choose another path, but with everyone already saying so, it would be odd for him to insist.

Subsequently, Li Zong's face showed a slight smile, looking nonchalant, and he said:

"Alright then, let's follow Ding Fan."

At this moment, Ding Fan heard him, said nothing, and merely glanced at him briefly. Ding Fan knew that by doing this, he was certainly disrupting the other's plan, yet the other was quite composed, clearly not a simple existence.

Subsequently, under Ding Fan's lead, the group arrived at a small path.

Upon reaching the path, everyone was quite surprised. Clearly, this path was very secluded, not something an ordinary cultivator could easily find. For a moment, many started thinking about how Ding Fan managed to find it, which was evidently not something an ordinary cultivator could achieve.

The most surprised one had to be Li Zong. At this moment, upon arriving at this canyon path, seeing the trail within the gorge, his heart clearly became more cautious of Ding Fan. He really couldn't fathom how the other had found this path. It should be known that he had stayed here for several weeks before discovering it himself. Yet, his opponent, who was obviously visiting for the first time, had found the way right away. It was simply too unbelievable!

This trail was essentially a canyon, quite different from a plain, and it was noticeably more strenuous to walk. At this moment, the two young girls, already somewhat smaller in physique, had a more challenging time traversing this path. For a moment, they began to grumble about Ding Fan, as it was he who had led them on this path, which could not be compared to an open plain at all.

However, the two divine warrior girls did not voice their complaints to Ding Fan. It was clear that he had rescued them from the Dayang Sect and was considered their benefactor. Although they weren't very old, they understood the importance of gratitude.

But when Li Zong arrived, the two girls evidently had a more favorable opinion of him than of Ding Fan, something that Ding Fan also noticed.

Ding Fan said nothing, knowing that he genuinely meant no harm to them. However, that Li Zong, Ding Fan was sure, wasn't harboring any good intentions. As they walked along, only Ye Ningbin and Ding Fan exchanged a few casual words now and then, which amused Ding Fan.

He knew he was the one who truly cared for them, yet everyone showed such enthusiasm towards an outsider. Ding Fan understood that the other person was good at endearing himself to others, quickly integrating into the group upon his arrival.

Rumble...

Suddenly, a massive roar of thunder sounded, and immediately everyone noticed a streak of lightning rushing towards their location.

"Run!"

At this critical moment, Li Zong suddenly shouted, and everyone quickly noticed the incoming lightning, prompting them to start running swiftly. Seeing this scene, Ding Fan couldn't help but feel slightly stunned. He had also noticed the approaching lightning but was surprised that Li Zong could detect it so quickly – that was quite puzzling.

Ding Fan had absolute confidence that very few cultivators could surpass him in terms of perception. Li Zong was only at the Nascent Soul Stage, a commendable level in the Cultivation World, yet Ding Fan was certain that their cultivation was about equal. He couldn't believe that Li Zong could outdo him in perception. Why Li Zong detected the lightning first became a question mark here, but Ding Fan didn't dwell on it further and focused on safely leading Ye Ningbing and the others away.

Rumble...

A series of claps of thunder echoed, and the sky was soon filled with thunderclouds. Continuous thunder strikes fell, turning the sky to a purplish hue.

Everyone watching this scene couldn't help feeling terrified, especially the two divine warrior girls who were witnessing such a phenomenon for the first time. They were quite fearful and even held some resentment towards Ding Fan. Originally, these girls had some complaints about Ding Fan's choice of path, which made their travel arduous. Now, encountering the heavenly lightning only amplified their dissatisfaction.

Everyone was running frantically, as the thunder became denser and heavier. Even Ding Fan dared not face the lightning head-on, clearly realizing how formidable it was.

"There's a cave ahead; let's get inside!"

At this moment, Li Zong pointed towards a cave ahead, and voiced his discovery eagerly to everyone.

Upon hearing Li Zong's words, everyone felt a glimmer of hope and immediately headed towards the cave's direction.

Ding Fan, upon hearing Li Zong, felt a twinge of amazement once more. That the other could find a cave amidst such chaos was beyond what the average cultivator could do. Even though Ding Fan knew the other had commendable cultivation, this scenario still struck him as particularly strange.

Nevertheless, this was not the time for Ding Fan to say anything. Everyone quickly rushed into the cave.

Having reached the cave, the tension among the group had not subsided. Outside, the thunder continued to rumble, and the sky was as overcast as one could wring water from it. The sky was a canvas of purplish-red.

Yet the booms of thunder persisted, keeping everyone's nerves on edge. Even in the cave, the lightning claps outside persisted. Originally, they thought the cave would offer respite, but the ongoing pounding of thunder was intense, as several bolts already struck this area. Everyone was stunned by this spectacle.

Ding Fan couldn't help frowning, sensing that the lightning was inexplicably following them, which was illogical. It was unlike heavenly lightning to arbitrarily target any individual.

Ding Fan realized that the formations here were certainly to blame. After all, heavenly lightning wasn't a Yuan Beast but a natural phenomenon in the Cultivation World, especially common in Thunder Abyss. It shouldn't be attacking them without a reason.

It was their first time here, leaving no possibility of anyone triggering formation mechanisms. Only Li Zong had been here before. Ding Fan's old suspicions about Li Zong crystallized, and he conjectured that it was likely Li Zong's doing.

Outside, the continual barrage of heavy thunder rattled the cave.

People watching this scene were taken aback, not expecting the lightning to persist. Although the cave appeared safe for now, prolonged exposure to such attacks would weaken it, endangering everyone inside.

In an instant, the group became anxious, with the two divine warrior girls showing their faces full of worry.