Xiao Ming and Xue Mao observed these loose cultivators for fun. They became recurring on the way as they joined in numbers. Before one could tell, the Heavenly Moon Sect's party aopeared rowdy not long after.
It turned out that even the loose cultivators already had an idea of the secret realm that the supersects had found.
After discovering such a great opportunity, it was only normal that they also wanted a piece of the pie. The benefit they sought to pursue even made them override the fact that they were up against the disciples of the supersects and not just loose cultivators.
However, while Xiao Ming and the others observed the loose cultivators for fun, these cultivators were equally hawking at the various members of the supersects with birdy eyes. They judged the ones to watch out for, potential threats and also the type of sect disciples to be used as fodder later on in the secret realm.