Chapter 206: The Tide of Frenzied Beasts

At the end of the cave lay a square stone chamber, spacious enough to accommodate thirty to forty people. The chamber was reinforced with layer upon layer of barriers, indicating this refuge had existed for a long time.

Given the underground location, its dry and clean condition was impressive, thanks to the protective barriers. With a brief moment of relief, the group settled around the chamber, each finding a spot to sit and repair the surrounding barriers as they waited for the celestial phenomena to subside.

Qin Sang, possessing limited expertise in arrays and barriers, had mostly learned from Senior Sister Qingting's insights on formations. Yet, his skills were slightly better than others', and after busying himself for a while, he took a seat in a corner. His gaze briefly rested on Yin Xingge before discreetly shifting away, recalling the private message Mu Yifeng had shared with him earlier.

Mu Yifeng, though rugged in appearance, was remarkably observant.

Before they set off, Yin Xingge had suddenly inserted himself into the group, seizing command without giving them a moment to react.

Mu Yifeng suspected Yin Xingge's intentions were not as simple as they seemed. Pretending to be displeased, he managed to deceive everyone, leaving a message with a friend at Xuanlu Stronghold to investigate the matter—a move Qin Sang hadn't even noticed.

Mu Yifeng had lingered in Gubei Town for quite some time, awaiting news.

Unexpectedly, he discovered some clues: Yin Xingge's sect, the Medicine King Sect, had a Core Formation Realm cultivator who was currently seeking to refine an astra and was in urgent need of extreme yang spiritual items.

This Core Formation cultivator had recently gathered some helpers to explore a hidden ancient immortal abode in the core of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, known as the Emperor Flame Hidden Realm.

The entrance to this realm was filled with terrifying celestial fire, far too intense for a Core Formation cultivator to endure unaided, so he would have had to borrow a forbidden artifact from Xuanlu Stronghold. This left a traceable trail.

Piecing things together, Mu Yifeng estimated that Yin Xingge was very likely acting under the instruction of this Core Formation cultivator, with the intent to claim a Qianyang Crystal—and possibly planning to keep it for himself.

If luck were on their side and they did find a Qianyang Crystal and managed to bring it back to Xuanlu Stronghold, it would technically belong to the stronghold. Even a Core Formation cultivator couldn't monopolize it.

The three major sects would have to follow protocol and bid for it collectively.

Qianyang Crystals were among the most sought-after extreme yang spiritual materials. Anyone could benefit from them unless they were crafting extreme yin astras. Adding a Qianyang Crystal to an astra would impart a hint of yang power, increasing its utility, making it highly desirable.

The Core Formation cultivator from the Medicine King Sect had already exhausted his resources collecting spiritual items, so he likely couldn't outbid others.

...

Mu Yifeng wasn't a reckless man. After careful consideration, he decided that he and Qin Sang alone wouldn't be enough to counter Yin Xingge. He therefore conveyed the matter back through sect channels. It might be too late to contact Senior Brother Qi at Xuanlu Stronghold, but the town in the middle region had a Shaohua Mountain outpost, where they could count on support from a sect expert.

If Yin Xingge played fairly and split the profits, nothing would happen. However, if he dared to claim the Qianyang Crystal alone, they'd make sure he returned it just as he'd taken it.

This was precisely what Qin Sang wanted as well. Yin Xingge's cultivation level was one realm higher than theirs, so a direct confrontation, even if Mu Yifeng joined forces with him, would leave them at a disadvantage—unless they had a foolproof plan.

However, Yin Xingge was cautious, and it would not be easy to catch him off guard. Additionally, it was unclear whether Yunqiong knew of his intentions, and in a two-on-two situation, they would be at a definite disadvantage.

Moreover, once they entered the mine, only a united front could conceal them from the Cloud Beasts' perception. An internal conflict would lead to only one outcome—being torn apart by the Cloud Beasts!

Since the Qianyang Crystal wasn't a spiritual wood that could enhance his ebony sword, Qin Sang saw no need to risk his life. For now, he resolved to covertly monitor Yin Xingge's actions and observe the unfolding situation.

Thud, thud...

Just as Qin Sang was lost in thought, heavy footsteps echoed through the cave, reverberating through the barrier-enclosed space. The steps grew closer, and soon, a middle-aged cultivator, covered in sand, hurriedly appeared at the stone chamber's entrance.

Only a powerful cultivator would dare travel alone in these parts, likely someone rushing along who hadn't yet suppressed his aura. His cultivation level was similar to Mu Yifeng's, just shy of the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm.

The middle-aged cultivator, gripping a spiritual sword and appearing wary, was visibly startled to find ten people sitting in the chamber.

Qin Sang and his group had made no attempt to hide, clearly showing they were all together.

The man's expression shifted, particularly after noting Yin Xingge's cultivation level, and he hesitated at the entrance, uncertain about entering. Just then, more footsteps echoed from outside, unhidden and entirely unconcealed—understandable in this place.

Judging by the aura emanating from them, there were two more people approaching.

Relieved, the middle-aged cultivator hastily moved to greet them as they entered, clasping his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoists, these celestial phenomena are unpredictable and dangerous. Why not join forces for a while? We can look out for each other."

He said this while giving them an urgent, meaningful glance.

The newcomers were initially puzzled but quickly sensed the auras within the stone chamber, their expressions subtly shifting. One of them, an older-looking cultivator, laughed heartily, saying, "Exactly what I was hoping for—I wouldn't dare ask for more."

The three newcomers, with cultivation levels close to each other's, could at least put up a fight against Qin Sang's group if needed. With this reassurance, they entered the stone chamber together. The older-looking cultivator clasped his hands respectfully towards Yin Xingge, saying, "My name is Wang Daohe. As a fellow traveler, I ask for a little courtesy from everyone here. Let's make room for each other. I offer thanks in advance."

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

...

The sound of sandstorms roared outside as the earth trembled beneath them. The celestial phenomena disrupted the refuge's protective barriers, making them unstable. Everyone had to abandon their personal thoughts and focus all their efforts on repairing the barriers.

After Wang Daohe and his companions, a few more bedraggled cultivators arrived, all looking equally disheveled.

However, the atmosphere within the stone chamber became considerably more harmonious.

This time, the celestial phenomena didn't last too long. In less than two days, conditions returned to normal, and the group emerged from the cave, greeted by an endless stretch of yellow sands, seemingly unchanged.

Upon leaving the refuge, Qin Sang and his companions quickened their pace, and after more than half a month of travel, they finally reached their destination. Fortunately, they hadn't encountered any more celestial disturbances along the way. On several occasions, they narrowly avoided herds of Cloud Beasts by spotting them early and hiding.

By now, they had left the desert far behind, standing before a vast mountain range stretching out like massive, crouching dragons, with the tallest peaks reaching up to meet the fierce winds high above.

Under the naked eye, the dark, basaltic earth and rocks of the mountains reflected a metallic sheen, devoid of any signs of life—no hint of green anywhere—resembling a barren wasteland.

Qin Sang and his companions lay hidden atop a mountain slope. Though the Star Disk concealed their auras, everyone, including Qin Sang, was utterly tense, lying still and barely daring to breathe.

Ahead of them, within a massive ravine between the mountains, a dense, dark cloud covered the sky. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was actually a massive flock of eagle-like Cloud Beasts gathered together.