Chapter 318: Fu Zongjue

After occupying the spirit stone mine, the Divine Wood Sect naturally wouldn't just loot it and leave. One by one, the Qi Cultivation disciples they had transported via the teleportation array began mining under Weng Chuanyou's command. Although none of them were professionals, spurred by the spirit stones, everyone spared no effort, controlling their magical artifacts to dig. One hundred Qi Cultivation disciples, along with eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, could excavate raw ore worth seven to eight thousand spirit stones from this mine daily.

During this time, Ji Dingjin led his team in two charges, but they were repelled by Chu Zuoshu, who relied on a larger force and a more meticulous battle formation.

Inside the mine tunnel, the Scarlet Cloud Smoke Silk on Chen Mobai's wrist unfurled. Under the control of his spiritual sense, the smoke and cloud energy transformed into wisps of sword qi, slicing the surrounding rock walls into neat, square blocks as easily as cutting tofu. A sweep of his spiritual sense instantly made it clear in his mind which parts contained spirit stones and which were ordinary rocks. The smoke and cloud energy, like a long dragon, swept up the cut stones. Under Chen Mobai's precise manipulation, the ordinary rocks were quickly crushed into dust, leaving only irregularly shaped spirit stones of varying sizes floating amidst the scattered stone dust.

Chen Mobai nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of his hand, over a dozen spirit stones from the ground flew into the storage pouch at his waist. In comparison, his mining efficiency was quite high. However, even Foundation Establishment cultivators could not maintain their spiritual sense projection non-stop day and night, let alone Qi Cultivation disciples. Therefore, spirit stone mines are usually excavated by utilizing mortals to slowly hollow out the entire mine. Because mortals lack the power to damage spirit stones, though slow, it ensures no waste or loss. While immortal cultivators have higher mining efficiency, due to their limited spiritual sense, there is a high chance of damaging the integrity of the spirit stones during violent excavation.

However, Chen Mobai and his group were not in their own spirit stone mine, and they feared the Shake Mountain Peak might dispatch large armies of cultivators from the Rock Kingdom and Sky Kingdom to encircle them. So, seizing this opportunity, each displayed their unique abilities, digging as much as they could. Losses and waste could only be ignored for now. In contrast, Chen Mobai's spiritual sense far surpassed that of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he also possessed the Void-Piercing Spirit Eyes which could see spiritual light, so he didn't have this concern. In the ten days spent at this spirit stone mine, he had already excavated raw ore worth nearly four to five thousand spirit stones. The other Foundation Establishment cultivators also had incomes of two to three thousand spirit stones each. Weng Chuanyou stipulated that each Foundation Establishment cultivator must hand over two hundred spirit stones to the sect daily. For the rest, he turned a blind eye, allowing them to keep it in their own storage pouches. It was precisely because of this that every Divine Wood Sect cultivator was mining with great enthusiasm.

But such good days would eventually come to an end. This day, as Chen Mobai and the others were mining, a terrifying, invisible, oppressive aura suddenly descended from the sky. Accompanied by a cold snort, the entire mine suddenly began to tremble and vibrate.

"No, it's a Core Formation cultivator!"

When Chen Mobai was in Danxia City long ago, he had faced such an existence directly. The moment his spiritual sense perceived it, his expression drastically changed. But just as he took out his Minor Teleportation Talisman, preparing to flee, that terrifying aura suddenly receded. It seemed there was another, more urgent matter. Chen Mobai pondered for a moment, and his expression drastically changed again. The Core Formation cultivator's hostility towards them was undisguised. Given their cultivation level, killing all of them might not even take half a day. Yet, even so, he still abandoned this spirit stone mine. There was only one possibility: a more valuable target for him to act upon. Compared to their small squad, the only thing a Core Formation cultivator would prioritize was the large Divine Wood Sect army led by Chu Zuoshu.

"Oh no!" Chen Mobai immediately rushed out of the underground tunnel. Not just him, but all seven other Foundation Establishment cultivators who had sensed the Core Formation cultivator's aura also flew out.

Weng Chuanyou grimly announced bad news. "The teleportation array was destroyed."

The Core Formation cultivator's choice was indeed swift, precise, and ruthless. He rushed to deal with the elite Divine Wood Sect army led by Chu Zuoshu; if he could heavily injure or even kill a few key Foundation Establishment cultivators, he could directly rout them and achieve a great victory. As for their small squad that had intruded into the Rock Kingdom, he hadn't let them off either. After cutting off the teleportation array, once the Divine Wood Sect's army besieging Ji Dingjin was defeated, there would naturally be time to slowly encircle and hunt them down.

"Can it be repaired?"

"No, a Core Formation cultivator acted, severing the ley line. However, just in case, I obtained two sets of small teleportation array materials from the sect. We can set up another one." Weng Chuanyou's first half of the sentence made everyone present grim-faced. Fortunately, there was the good news that followed; otherwise, they would probably already be considering how to escape.

"Setting up a teleportation array takes three days. If a Core Formation cultivator acts, Hall Master Chu's side might not even last a day," Xi Yisheng spoke with a worried expression.

"Before, it took three days because the ley line's rank was insufficient, requiring spirit stones to reinforce it. This time, if we set it up here, it will only take two days." Weng Chuanyou delivered another piece of good news, and everyone's expressions relaxed slightly.

"There's also a safer method," Liao Shiying of the Punishment Hall suddenly proposed. "We can find another uninhabited ley line nearby and set up the teleportation array there. This way, even if the front line collapses, it will take time for the Shake Mountain Peak people to find us. Three days, I think, is enough for us to re-establish the teleportation array and return to Rolling Thunder Mountain."

The Foundation Establishment cultivators present pondered after hearing this. Compared to this spirit stone mine, which would surely become a key target of contention after the war, finding another ley line was indeed better.

"But in that case, what about the sect's Qi Cultivation disciples?" Weng Chuanyou said, frowning. It would naturally be easy for the eight Foundation Establishment cultivators to hide, but with a hundred Qi Cultivation disciples in the spirit stone mine, it certainly wouldn't hold if they left.

"If we encounter a Core Formation cultivator, even with us here, we can't stop them," another Foundation Establishment cultivator named Yue Tianheng calmly analyzed. "But if it's just the Shake Mountain Peak's army, we can hold out for three days relying on formations." Everyone then looked at Weng Chuanyou, as he was nominally the commander of this unit. He needed to make a decision.

"Abandoning this spirit stone mine, and our eight of us secretly leaving, would basically ensure our safe return. Staying here means we can only hope that after the Core Formation cultivator defeats our sect's main army, only the Shake Mountain Peak's army will come to encircle us. In that case, we might be able to hold out for three days relying on formations." There were two choices. Since the teleportation array's location needed to be decided immediately, there wasn't much time left for them to consider.

Weng Chuanyou was a bit indecisive. In reality, as the commander, if he made the decision to abandon the sect's disciples, then regardless of whether the Divine Wood Sect won or lost the war, his future in the sect would be over. But it concerned his own life, and the murderous intent of the Core Formation cultivator from earlier was still imprinted in his heart. Instinctively, Weng Chuanyou was somewhat inclined towards the first option.

"Junior Brother Chen, what do you think?" Weng Chuanyou asked Chen Mobai. Although he was the commander of this team, Chen Mobai was the strongest combatant, and everyone's gaze immediately turned to him.

"I will absolutely not abandon the sect disciples," Chen Mobai declared unequivocally, fully displaying the courageous and straightforward demeanor of a sword cultivator.

Xi Yisheng listened, and nodded approvingly.

"Then let's put it to a vote." Liao Shiying of the Punishment Hall suddenly spoke, and everyone thought he disagreed with Chen Mobai.

"Junior Brother Chen and I are in agreement." Xi Yisheng, as the Vice Head of the Sword Practice Department, although he knew leaving would save his life, did not want to go against his conscience. The remaining few Foundation Establishment cultivators, upon hearing this, also showed hesitation on their faces. While fear of death was instinctive, the Divine Wood Sect had indeed been good to them. If they abandoned these Qi Cultivation disciples now out of concern for their own lives, even if they returned to the sect alive, they would probably have uneasy consciences. If everyone had gone along with the idea of abandoning them, they would naturally have followed suit. But now, Chen Mobai's righteous words and determination made them feel somewhat ashamed.

Ultimately, six people raised their hands, indicating they should set up the teleportation array here, to at least give those Qi Cultivation disciples some hope of returning alive. The only ones who hadn't expressed their stance were Weng Chuanyou and Liao Shiying. However, after the other six had agreed, Weng Chuanyou, as the commander, would naturally follow the majority.

Only Liao Shiying of the Punishment Hall remained. But when everyone looked at him, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. Then, a powerful aura erupted, and Liao Shiying's face suddenly changed, transforming into a heroic face familiar to everyone.

"Greetings, Ancestor Fu!" Chen Mobai had not expected this person to be another Core Formation Ancestor of the Divine Wood Sect. Although E Yun had warned him earlier, no one could have imagined that he was hidden within this small squad.

"Chen Gui Xian, you are doing well." Fu Zongjue looked at Chen Mobai with a highly appreciative gaze. Then he waved his hand, signaling everyone not to be overly formal. "What is here is merely a puppet body. My true body is still with Chu Zuoshu. Nan Shidao's cultivation is above mine; if I engage him, I will have to withdraw this third-tier puppet body."

As time was pressing, after Fu Zongjue revealed his identity, he immediately began to give orders for the subsequent strategy. "Senior Brother Mo has also arrived in the Rock Kingdom. Senior Brother Zhou and he are joining forces, determined to slay Ji Zhenshi on the spot. I originally came here to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, but encountering Nan Shidao can also be considered a gain."

"While you set up the teleportation array and prepare to retreat, also guard against Shake Mountain Peak mobilizing cultivators from the other two kingdoms to encircle you."

"All disciples are part of the sect. However, if you truly cannot hold on, I permit the seven of you to retreat first." With these words from Fu Zongjue, everyone felt as if they had found their backbone, and they responded with loud affirmations.

"Ancestor Fu, this is the harvest from these past days. It will be safest with you." Weng Chuanyou placed over three hundred thousand spirit stones, collected since occupying the mine, into a large storage pouch, and respectfully handed it to Fu Zongjue's puppet body. The latter accepted it without ceremony. Then he transformed into a streak of green light, soaring into the sky and disappearing from everyone's sight.

"Junior Brothers, let's get to work." The moment Fu Zongjue left, Weng Chuanyou began to direct with renewed vigor. Secretly, he wiped away a bead of sweat; if he had abandoned the Qi Cultivation disciples and left earlier, his future in the sect would surely have been bleak. He had to thank Chen Mobai; if it weren't for this sword cultivator junior brother insisting on his principles and refusing to abandon anyone, Weng Chuanyou and the others would certainly have prioritized their own lives.

"Junior Brother Chen, we owe you a favor today. If there's ever anything you need in the future, just say the word." Weng Chuanyou thanked Chen Mobai, and the others also nodded in agreement. If they had collectively fled today, even if Ancestor Fu had let them off due to the war, they certainly wouldn't have had an easy time back at the sect later.

"I merely followed my heart." Chen Mobai spoke eloquently, but in reality, he thought that if Chu Zuoshu's army were defeated, Rolling Thunder Mountain might not be a safe place either. Going there via the teleportation array might just be walking into a trap. Moreover, he had the Minor Teleportation Talisman in hand, making it convenient to escape if a Core Formation cultivator truly came attacking.

Not long after, they felt two terrifying surges of massive spiritual energy erupt from the miniature spirit stone mine where the armies of the two southern sects were located. It was likely that Fu Zongjue and Nan Shidao, both Core Formation cultivators, had engaged in battle. By this point, the war was already considered a major battle.

However, bad news soon followed. Fu Zongjue, being in the early Core Formation stage, was indeed no match for Nan Shidao. However, his appearance still ensured that the Divine Wood Sect army did not collapse, and they retreated from the Rock Kingdom in an orderly fashion. But as a result, Ji Dingjin's army was freed up. Fortunately, Fu Zongjue had stalled for enough time, allowing them to set up the teleportation array. Bad news, however, came one after another. After repelling the Divine Wood Sect, the Shake Mountain Peak army, without any rest, immediately charged towards their location.

"Let's retreat first. I hope at least half of these disciples can return to the sect safely." Weng Chuanyou gave his final order to Chen Mobai and the other six. Outside the seven of them, the Divine Wood Sect cultivators, who had long prepared their storage pouches, many of whom were anxious and had a confused look about their uncertain future, but most still gritted their teeth resolutely and departed the spirit stone mine in all directions.

Each activation of the teleportation array required some time. After the seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, the spots would definitely be taken by those in the late Qi Cultivation stage. Those Qi Cultivation disciples who knew they wouldn't have enough time chose not to wait for the teleportation array and left first. After seeing most of the Qi Cultivation disciples leave, Weng Chuanyou estimated the time, designated the order in which the remaining Qi Cultivation disciples would use the teleportation array, then nodded to Chen Mobai and the others, and was the first to step into the teleportation array. The seven of them, plus three disciples at the perfected Qi Cultivation stage, made up the first group of ten.

However, after the spiritual light flashed, the ten of them were still standing in the same spot.

"No, the teleportation array on Rolling Thunder Mountain has been shut down or destroyed. That place must have fallen." Weng Chuanyou's expression drastically changed, as he considered the worst possible scenario.