113: People's true nature is revealed in times of crisis.

"We'll leave the guarding of this Spirit Stone mineral vein to you three Junior Brothers; we must continue to the front line.

The Cultivators currently responsible for mining the Spirit Stones are all gathered from nearby small factions, not Disciples of our Sect. Therefore, you three Junior Brothers must keep a strict watch to prevent them from doing anything underhanded."

"Rest assured, Senior Brothers, we understand."

"Mhm!"

Led by Shen Feiyang, with Yu Xuzi and Shi Jian flanking him on either side, they bowed to bid farewell to the several slightly heavy figures receding into the distance.

From the handover just now, they had already learned the basic situation of this Spirit Stone mineral vein.

It was a small-scale mineral vein with Spirit Stones distributed over a hundred-mile radius underground; the surveyed reserves were approximately 150,000 to 200,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Its value was roughly equivalent to a decent quality Third-tier Low Grade Magic Treasure.

It should be fully excavated in two months at most.

At that time, they would hand over the obtained Spirit Stones directly to Baitu Hills, and this mission would be considered successfully completed.

Under normal circumstances, the value of such a mineral vein was already quite significant.

Even if it was a temporary discovery being mined in a hurry, the original arrangement of five veteran Dao Foundation Cultivators as guards was already considered a very weak defensive force.

But now, they couldn't even wait two months and were immediately redeploying all five veteran Dao Foundation Cultivators to the front line, sending Yu Xuzi and the other two instead... Shen Feiyang was a descendant of a Xuantai True Person in the Sect, so he originally didn't need to go to the front line;

Yu Xuzi's image was also that of someone who had only recently achieved a Breakthrough to the Dao Foundation Stage, specializing in Alchemy and Artifact Refining but not in combat;

As for Shi Jian, he had only broken through last year and was a complete newcomer; he might not even have a Second-tier Magical Artifact yet.

This showed just how short-staffed the front line was.

The Taihe Sect was truly running out of people.

"It seems the situation at the front line is becoming increasingly pessimistic; it's very likely even worse than the news we've received."

Shi Jian made a cryptic remark.

Yu Xuzi's expression remained calm, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Shen Feiyang, however, said with a smile, "If something catastrophic happens, the Sect Master will handle it. We don't have to go to the front line, so why worry about such things?"

"Just guard this place for two months. Once the Spirit Stones are handed over, our mission will be complete, and we can return to the Sect."

After saying this, Shen Feiyang left on his own and went to the center of the valley to meditate and cultivate.

Yu Xuzi and Shi Jian looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

How could Shen Feiyang be so naive?

The Sect was so short of manpower now; since they had already been deployed and were told to hand over the Spirit Stones at the front line, how could they possibly be allowed to return?

There was no telling how much the situation would deteriorate in two months.

Yu Xuzi guessed that once they were at the front line, it would likely be difficult to return anytime soon.

As for Shen Feiyang's great-grandfather, the Mystic Fetus Realm True Person Qinglian—if he could still shield him from the wind and rain, Shen Feiyang wouldn't have come here... Half a month later.

October 22nd, late at night.

Yu Xuzi was meditating and cultivating when his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and an inexplicable sense of crisis surged within him.

"A sudden premonition! Is something about to happen?!"

Just as Yu Xuzi opened his eyes, a massive roar came from the valley entrance.

"Rumble!"

"Enemy attack!!!"

Shen Feiyang's angry roar came from afar, carrying a distinct trace of panic.

The three of them guarded the mineral vein in daily rotations, and tonight happened to be Shen Feiyang's turn.

Two Escape Lights soared into the sky one after another; they were Yu Xuzi and Shi Jian.

Their vast Divine Sense instantly enveloped a radius of over twenty miles.

Eight figures with powerful auras appeared in Yu Xuzi's sight.

Every single one was a Dao Foundation Cultivator!

There was even a Late-Stage Great Cultivator.

On the outskirts of the valley entrance, groups of Qi Refining Cultivators who had been mining through the night were already dying silently.

If Shen Feiyang hadn't been alert, he might have been instantly surrounded and met a gruesome end just now.

"Quick, activate the Grand Formation!"

Shen Feiyang's Escape Light was rapidly fleeing back.

Although there was some panic on his face, he still had his wits about him.

He knew to retreat quickly and join forces with Yu Xuzi and Shi Jian to hold their ground using the Formation.

Behind him, eight Escape Lights were leisurely chasing him like a cat playing with a mouse, occasionally letting out mocking jeers.

Yu Xuzi made a prompt decision and said, "Junior Brother Shi, go back quickly and open the Formation; I'll go to support Senior Brother Shen."

"Alright!"

Shi Jian nodded heavily with a steady expression and turned to fly toward the center of the valley.

However, even after Yu Xuzi had met up with Shen Feiyang, the Formation barrier that should have lit up still showed no reaction.

Yu Xuzi, whose Divine Sense was stronger, suddenly turned his head.

As if he had discovered something, his brow furrowed slightly, and his expression was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that an honest man like Shi Jian would actually... "What on earth is that fellow Shi Jian doing—"

Before Shen Feiyang's angry curse could finish, a yellow Escape Light suddenly soared into the sky, desperately rushing toward the back of the valley.

Shi Jian... had fled.

"Shi Jian! How dare you!"

Shen Feiyang was instantly enraged, roaring with eyes nearly splitting from fury.

A trace of reluctance flashed in the eyes of the fleeing Shi Jian, but it was instantly replaced by the panic of escaping for his life.

It was simply an impossible fight!

There were eight Dao Foundation Realm enemies on the other side, including a Late-Stage Great Cultivator; staying behind would absolutely mean death!

As for the life-saving trump cards Shen Feiyang had mentioned before, he didn't believe it at all; he figured that even if there were any, they would only be used on Shen Feiyang himself.

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother Qiu!"

Shi Jian muttered in his heart, and then the essence blood in his body exploded, increasing his Escape Light's speed by several times.

He no longer cared about the consequences of deserting the Sect!

In any case, he was already a Dao Foundation Cultivator; at worst, he would become a Loose Cultivator in the future.

"Damn that Shi Jian!!!"

Shen Feiyang's expression grew more distorted as he couldn't help but curse, "When I return to the Sect, I'll definitely make you pay!"

Yu Xuzi glanced at the figures drawing closer behind them and said to Shen Feiyang, "Senior Brother Shen, this is a moment of crisis. If you have any trump cards, please use them quickly, or it will be too late!"

Hearing this, Shen Feiyang gradually calmed down, and his Escape Light halted in mid-air.

He said in a deep voice, "Now that there's no Formation to protect us and that beast Shi Jian has deserted, we have no chance of winning."

Yu Xuzi looked at him with a frown.

You can't just be all talk, can you?

If Yu Xuzi had to take action later, for the sake of keeping a low profile and maintaining secrecy, no one present would survive.

Including Shen Feiyang.

Shen Feiyang said frankly, "Junior Brother Qiu, I won't hide it from you. My trump card is a Third-tier Escape Talisman."

"It was refined and given to me by my great-grandfather. Unless one possesses my Shen Family Bloodline, it cannot be activated or used."

"So..."

A look of guilt and apology appeared on Shen Feiyang's face. "This time, I have no way to use the Escape Talisman to take you with me, Junior Brother Qiu."

"???"

Hearing this, Yu Xuzi narrowed his eyes and stared at him.

He was considering... whether or not to kill Shen Feiyang right now?!

Because once Shen Feiyang escaped, given the current situation and the level Yu Xuzi displayed in the Taihe Sect, there was absolutely no way he could escape!

If Yu Xuzi returned safely to the Taihe Sect afterward, what awaited him probably wouldn't be a reward, but interrogation and suspicion!

Had he hidden his cultivation? What was his purpose? Was he a spy for the Xuan Yin Palace?

And so on.

Yu Xuzi would find it very difficult to explain.

If both Shen Feiyang and Shi Jian died, there would be no witnesses after he escaped back, and perhaps he could continue to hide his secrets?

It was just that True Person Qinglian might be a bit difficult to deal with.

Troublesome!

"Junior Brother Qiu, take this!"

Shen Feiyang pulled out a Cyan Jade Talisman radiating a faint, precious glow, bit his tongue to spray a mouthful of essence blood onto it, and then handed it to him.

"Senior Brother Shen, what is the meaning of this?"

Yu Xuzi looked at him in surprise.

"I am the dignified Young Master of the Shen Family. Since I said beforehand that I would protect your lives, I must naturally be as good as my word!"

"This jade Talisman is a Second-tier supreme-grade Talisman. It has thirty percent of the power of my great-grandfather's Magic Treasure sealed within it, far exceeding a Dao Foundation Cultivator. However, it too can only be used by descendants of my Shen Family. I have already activated it now, so I'm giving it to you!"

"And this!"

Shen Feiyang handed him another yellow Talisman. "This is a Second-tier High Grade Earth Escape Talisman. Its escape speed is also extremely fast, and its aura is very well hidden while traveling underground."

"I'll leave first to distract them. Junior Brother Qiu, if you use these two Talismans together, you might find a sliver of hope for survival!"

Yu Xuzi reached out and took the Talismans, looking at this Shen Family Young Master in a new light.

Who would have thought!

Shi Jian ran away, but this man was actually an honorable person!

By comparison, his own thoughts just now seemed rather dark..."}],