Chapter 319: Return to the City

In the Spirit Stone Mine, Chen Mobai and the other seven cultivators watched all the Qi Refinement cultivators depart, then bid their own farewells. Since the teleportation array was unusable, their only remaining option for escape was a desperate, final method. Each person decided to disperse in different directions, leaving their survival to chance.

After their goodbyes, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators transformed into streaks of spiritual light and vanished into the sky. One fled towards Xiaoguo, another headed for Hongguo in Six-Armor Mountain, while Weng Chuanyou and Yue Tianheng chose Shuangguo, under the jurisdiction of the Blowing Snow Palace. Surprisingly, one even went directly into the heartland of Yanguo, seemingly believing the most dangerous place was the safest.

"How will you go, Junior Brother Chen?" asked Xi Yisheng, as only he and Chen Mobai remained.

"Towards Rolling Thunder Mountain," Chen Mobai replied.

This meant facing Ji Dingjin's army head-on. Xi Yisheng looked puzzled but didn't press further. He waved his hand and also transformed into a sword light, heading for Shuangguo.

After everyone had disappeared, Chen Mobai looked at the now empty Spirit Stone Mine and let out a soft sigh. The Minor Displacement Talisman was a single-use artifact, so he could only wish the other Divine Wood Sect disciples a safe return after enduring the tribulation. He took an unopened jar of wine from his storage bag, slapped it, and the seal opened as if cut by a sharp sword. After taking a large gulp, Chen Mobai turned to leave the area.

Suddenly, an earthy-yellow spiritual light descended from the sky like a meteorite, crashing heavily towards him. Amidst a deafening roar, the entire Spirit Stone Mine seemed unable to withstand the impact, shaking violently. Chen Mobai retreated into mid-air, standing atop the misty clouds, looking down at the dust swirling everywhere below. A tall figure clad in full armor appeared before his eyes. It was Ji Dingjin.

"Oh, is it just you, you rat?" Ji Dingjin looked around, frowning when he saw that the area was empty and devoid of any people.

"You arrived quickly," Chen Mobai commented. "It seems this spirit stone mine is indeed very important to your Earth-Shaking Peak." As he spoke, he raised the wine jar, took another sip, and then sat on the Scarlet Cloud Mist Gauze, seemingly wanting to chat with Ji Dingjin.

"Leaving your lives behind is what's most important to us," Ji Dingjin retorted. He clenched his fist, and an invisible, surging fist force tore through the air towards Chen Mobai. However, an ancient bronze mirror appeared, blocking Chen Mobai's path. Ji Dingjin's terrifying fist force, strong enough to shatter a small mountain, merely shook the third-tier magic tool for a moment before being dissipated into nothingness.

"You show great courage by staying behind to cover the retreat for the Divine Wood Sect," Ji Dingjin said, "but if I were you, I would have been the first to flee." He saw only Chen Mobai before him and, considering the latter's identity and status, believed he must have voluntarily stayed behind. Although he felt admiration, as an opponent, Ji Dingjin was obligated to kill this Divine Wood Sect genius, who was most likely to achieve Core Formation in the future, right here.

"If Grandmaster Nan doesn't intervene, I doubt you alone can kill me," Chen Mobai stated. Although the person before him was a peak Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator, Chen Mobai was confident he could escape. After all, the Minor Displacement Talisman was a spatial technique, something Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't stop.

"Such arrogance!" Ji Dingjin scoffed. "I admit your talent is astonishing, and you possess a third-tier magic tool, but if I were to sacrifice my life, I could still drag you with me to the underworld. Moreover, if I just keep you stalled until my Earth-Shaking Peak army arrives, we can use the grand formation and numerical advantage to trap and kill you."

Ji Dingjin began to use psychological warfare, but Chen Mobai, with plenty of trump cards, merely smiled. He even picked up the wine jar again and took another long sip, looking up at the sky. Such unbridled and fearless defiance, a disregard for death, made Ji Dingjin sigh inwardly, wondering why this young man wasn't a disciple of their Earth-Shaking Peak.

"Ji Zhenshi is on the verge of death," Chen Mobai remarked, "and you still have the leisure to surround and kill me here?" This sentence made Ji Dingjin roar in anger.

"Even if Zhou Shengqing and Mo Douguang make a move, you simply don't know the terror of the Void-Nullification Physique," Ji Dingjin declared. "Moreover, Ancestor Nan of Six-Armor Mountain has already broken through Rolling Thunder Mountain and is now heading for Earth-Shaking Peak. Your Divine Wood Sect's schemes will absolutely not succeed."

"Heading for Earth-Shaking Peak?" Chen Mobai scoffed. "I think he'll probably just run back to Six-Armor Mountain." Although Chen Mobai's words were still mocking, he was inwardly worried about his two disciples. He hadn't expected Ancestor Nan to break through Rolling Thunder Mountain; Fu Zongjue should have been able to hold him off. Or perhaps some unforeseen event had occurred. But now was not the time to ponder such things.

Chen Mobai finished the last sip of wine, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and then, laughing loudly, flung the empty wine jar at Ji Dingjin. *Bang!* The wine jar was directly crushed by Ji Dingjin's palm. Then, the peak Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator of Earth-Shaking Peak's eyes widened, his body expanded by a full circle, and surging black and red spiritual energy engulfed him as he rapidly shot into mid-air.

Chen Mobai looked up at his opponent, who was now close at hand. His eyes flashed, and two invisible, formless spiritual sense blades instantly erupted, slicing into Ji Dingjin's sea of consciousness the moment their gazes met. Although Ji Dingjin was a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, his focus on physical strength meant his spiritual sense was a weakness. For this very reason, Ji Dingjin had never been able to take the crucial step towards Core Formation. The Divine Mind Severance entering his sea of consciousness was like two fine needles piercing his forehead, causing Ji Dingjin to frown instinctively.

Taking advantage of this moment, Chen Mobai reached up and pulled out the Flying Sparrow Hairpin from his topknot. With his Fire Spirit Body, Green Sun Fire Seed, and Sun Ascent Art, combined with this top-grade second-tier flying sword which best unleashed the Scarlet Flame Sword Art, Chen Mobai unleashed the strongest sword light he could produce at his current stage.

Although spiritual sense was Ji Dingjin's weakness, his higher cultivation realm allowed him to forcefully suppress the two spiritual sense blades that had entered his sea of consciousness with his vast spiritual sense. Then, facing the dazzling sword light that had already reached him, he glared fiercely and spat out a surge of majestic vital energy. A black vortex appeared out of thin air before the sword light, like a black hole, devouring Chen Mobai's sword light. It then erupted in mid-air not far away, crashing onto the ground and carving a deep, hundreds-of-meters-long gash.

Amidst the howling winds, Chen Mobai saw Ji Dingjin transfer his sword light away, then pull an arm-thick black mace from the void. With terrifying force capable of pulverizing refined iron, he swung it heavily towards Chen Mobai. The Scarlet Cloud Mist Gauze transformed into wisps of airflow, gradually dissipating Ji Dingjin's attack while retreating with Chen Mobai. However, the defensive power of this magic tool was still insufficient against a peak Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator; it quickly burst into a cloud of mist. Chen Mobai could only activate the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror at his ear. A golden divine light streamed from the mirror's surface, forming a spherical shield that protected him completely, without any blind spots.

The black mace struck the Profound Yang Divine Light Shield, producing an extremely muffled thud. Yet, the power of a third-tier magic tool was still something Ji Dingjin couldn't break through. Although Chen Mobai was forced back over ten meters, he only experienced slight ringing in his ears and was otherwise unharmed.

After this probing exchange, Chen Mobai assessed his own strength. Fighting a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, relying on a third-tier magic tool, he might still achieve a surprise victory. But against an experienced peak Foundation Establishment cultivator like Ji Dingjin, he had virtually no chance of winning.

"That technique you used to deflect my sword light just now, was that your Earth-Shaking Peak's famous 'Void-Nullification Physique'?" Chen Mobai asked. Although he had considered that his sword light might not be able to break through Ji Dingjin's defense, Chen Mobai hadn't expected it to be nullified so easily. Even Mu Hanxiong had to rely on multiple layers of defense to withstand such an attack head-on. But Ji Dingjin's method just now sent shivers down Chen Mobai's spine. It wasn't because the Void-Nullification Physique's ability was strange, but rather it reminded him of the Underworld Grand Formation he had encountered at Lone Spirit Ridge. The abilities of the two were very similar. Could there be some connection between them? But one was a Corpse Cultivator, and the other was a foundational cultivation technique of a major sect in the Eastern Wilderness; there should be no connection between them.

"Today, you will die here," Ji Dingjin declared, without directly answering Chen Mobai's question. He pulled another black mace from the void. This time, Chen Mobai paid close attention. When the black mace appeared, a black vortex emerged in mid-air, exactly like when the Underworld Grand Formation was activated.

Just then, streaks of escape light lit up in the distance, flying towards their location. Chen Mobai activated his Spirit-Piercing Eyes and naturally saw that they were the other Foundation Establishment cultivators from Earth-Shaking Peak. Behind them were flying boats, indicating that Yanguo's army of cultivators had arrived. It was time to leave.

However, he still needed to say something for appearances' sake, so as not to diminish the prestige of the Divine Wood Sect. "I didn't have enough fun fighting today. Let's call it a draw for now. If there's a chance another day, we'll have a proper fight." In reality, Chen Mobai had already used all his available techniques. His last trump card would be to use the Flame Burst Art to detonate the Green Sun Fire Seed's cosmic power in one go and unleash a sword light. However, that would mean losing years of arduous effort spent refining the fire seed, so he certainly wouldn't do it.

"While I would very much like to fight you one-on-one with all my strength and rekindle the fighting passion that has long cooled," Ji Dingjin said with regret, "the sect's interests are paramount. I can only allow you to die under the siege of our battle formation." Ji Dingjin's words carried regret. Chen Mobai was the most talented sword cultivator he had ever seen in his life, possessing astonishing luck and even a third-tier magic tool. Given time, he would undoubtedly achieve astonishing things. But he was an opponent, and Ji Dingjin had to keep him here today. Even if the other Divine Wood Sect members escaped, this young man absolutely had to be killed.

"There will be a chance," Chen Mobai countered. "Next time we meet, I'll also show you what I can do at full strength." Chen Mobai remained fearless as the Earth-Shaking Peak cultivators in the distance began forming a battle array to encircle him. Just as Ji Dingjin thought he had gone mad, he saw Chen Mobai take out a silver talisman. Was it a third-tier or fourth-tier talisman? Was he going to risk his life? Ji Dingjin's heart tightened. It was possible for someone who possessed a third-tier magic tool to also carry a fourth-tier talisman. His Void-Nullification Physique was not yet fully cultivated; facing the power of a fourth-tier talisman, he might very well die on the spot.

Just as Ji Dingjin rapidly retreated, Chen Mobai activated the Minor Displacement Talisman in his hand. A silver light, like fine gauze, shimmered, instantly enveloping his entire body. Then, his figure slowly blurred, eventually dissolving into countless particles of light and vanishing without a trace!

"Sky遁 Talisman! This is impossible! How could he have such a talisman!" Ji Dingjin was dumbfounded by this sight. In his knowledge, only a fourth-tier Sky遁 Talisman could instantaneously teleport a person away. But such a talisman could not be refined by anyone in the entire Eastern Wilderness. Even if Core Formation Ancestors possessed one, it would be treasured as a life-saving trump card. Could this person have obtained the legacy of some hidden grand sect! This thought suddenly appeared in Ji Dingjin's mind, and his expression changed dramatically. But with Chen Mobai gone, he could only stamp his foot and order the approaching Yanguo cultivators to scatter and pursue the remaining Divine Wood Sect disciples. Whatever amount of lost spirit stone ore could be recovered, they would take; even if it couldn't be recovered, they had to kill them all to vent their anger.

Amidst the flashing silver light, Chen Mobai experienced a feeling different from teleporting with the Turtle Treasure. Compared to the Turtle Treasure's ease, the Minor Displacement Talisman still caused a bit of dizziness. Even though he had tried it twice before, he still wasn't quite used to it. Opening his eyes, he found himself in complete darkness. With a sword-finger slash, he carved an entrance in the sealed, desolate mountain cave, wide enough for a person to pass through.

Once outside, Chen Mobai looked towards Rolling Thunder Mountain. Activating his Spirit-Piercing Eyes, even from a great distance, he vaguely saw wisps of inexplicable, piercingly dark flames that made his eyes ache. This dark flame instinctively filled him with dread, as if a single touch would shatter his Dao foundation and scatter his spiritual sense. Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to fly towards Rolling Thunder Mountain. He returned to the desolate mountain, resealed the cave entrance, and then took out his phone.

He decided to return to the Immortal Sect first and hide for a while. In any case, the key to the current battle lay with the three Core Formation Ancestors of the Divine Wood Sect and Golden Light Cliff. If they could kill Ji Zhenshi and Ancestor Nan, then it would naturally be a great victory. As a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, he couldn't play a significant role on such a battlefield. Moreover, he had bravely stalled Ji Dingjin in Yanguo for a period, buying time for the other sect cultivators to escape, which was already doing his utmost. When the time was right, he would return to this area to see the outcome. If the Divine Wood Sect achieved a great victory, he would claim he had covered the retreat of the disciples, fought a fierce battle with Ji Dingjin, narrowly escaped with severe injuries, and thus needed time to recover before returning to the sect.

If they lost... Chen Mobai clenched his fist. He had developed some feelings for the Divine Wood Sect. He decided in his heart that once his cultivation reached a high level, he would definitely kill Ji Zhenshi and Ancestor Nan to avenge the two ancestors and his fallen sectmates. With a clear mind, Chen Mobai pressed "Return to City."