99: Chapter 99 Each with their own plans

Inside the Immortal Cave!

Li Zheng watched Luo Wei's departing figure, his brow furrowed tightly.

"Uncle Chen, this man is slippery and treacherous, and his words are full of half-truths. He absolutely cannot be trusted!"

Chen Qingshan asked back with interest, "Oh? What makes you say that?"

"I can't quite put it into words,"

Li Zheng shook his head, "It's just a gut feeling. I feel like his behavior today hides some other scheme."

Regarding this claim!

Chen Qingshan was noncommittal and didn't offer a direct evaluation. "Go pack your things and get ready."

"Ah? Pack my things?" Li Zheng was stunned.

"Since you've already sensed something is wrong, are we just going to sit and wait for death?"

"Previously, I was worried about not having a suitable reason for the brothers to evacuate first. Now, Luo Wei has delivered this opportunity right to our door.

Go find Old Ma immediately and have him get ready as well. Remember, do not alert anyone else."

Excitement immediately flashed in Li Zheng's eyes.

"I understand! I'll go right now!"

Having said that, he immediately turned to find the other Qi Refining Fifth Layer Cultivator who had come with them, Ma Kun.

A moment later, the three of them met up!

Without alerting anyone else at the mine, they left the range of the mine's protective Formation with composed expressions under the guise of a "routine patrol."

However, shortly after they left, a crack silently opened in the Formation, and an inconspicuous bird flew out from it!

It vanished into the mountains.

As for Chen Qingshan's group, they had only traveled about ten li before stopping, having no intention of actually patrolling.

"Do you have all your personal belongings with you?"

Chen Qingshan asked in a low voice.

Ma Kun, a scruffy and experienced middle-aged man, patted the Storage Pouch at his waist and also lowered his voice.

"Don't worry, there's enough for a year's use, and I've also prepared some Medicinal Pills and Talismans."

Chen Qingshan nodded slowly!

"Good. Just as we discussed before, find a hidden place to hide immediately. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not show yourselves!"

"Uncle Chen, you're not coming with us?" Li Zheng asked anxiously.

Chen Qingshan shook his head.

"I must go back and keep watch. If we are completely ignorant of the inside situation, we'll be like blind men, far too passive. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. It won't be that easy to make me stay."

"But..."

Being older, he was much more mature!

"Xiao Zheng! Your Uncle Chen is right."

Ma Kun grabbed Li Zheng's arm, stopping his unfinished sentence!

"If we stay together, not only will we be unable to help Qingshan, but we'll become a burden instead. Protecting ourselves is the greatest help we can give him."

He then solemnly cupped his fists toward Chen Qingshan. "Take care!"

Chen Qingshan nodded in return.

Ma Kun said no more and led the still-worried Li Zheng, quickly ducking into the rugged mountain ravines.

Having sent the two away, Chen Qingshan felt lightened. He no longer hesitated, fully restraining his aura.

He quietly slipped back to a dense thicket of shrubs about five or six li away from the mine.

Holding his breath and focusing his mind like a monolith, he began to observe the movements of the mine with silent patience.

Years of fighting Yao Beasts had long since tempered Chen Qingshan's will to be as hard as rock.

This wait lasted for three whole days.

He remained steady, but someone inside the mine was already burning with anxiety.

Luo Wei paced back and forth irritably in his Immortal Cave, his face extremely gloomy.

"Why is there no news yet? Could it be... they've escaped again?"

"What on earth are these people with the surname Chen? Every one of them is as slippery as an eel and incredibly difficult to deal with!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't help but strike the stone wall hard with his fist.

"Damn it! I shouldn't have listened to that man named Yu's temptation in the first place, provoking such an enemy for nothing. What bad luck...!"

Complaints aside, things had reached this point, and there was no turning back.

His pacing feet came to a sudden halt, and a look of resolve flashed across his face.

"I can't wait any longer! Delay brings trouble; I must act immediately!"

Once his mind was made up, he no longer hesitated. Luo Wei went alone to the main entrance of the protective Formation.

Making up a random excuse, he dismissed the two Qi Refining Disciples on guard duty there.

Once no one was around, he took out a token from his robe.

As spiritual energy was slowly injected from within his body.

"Buzz..."

The Formation's light screen emitted a wail. The originally ceaseless flowing light rapidly dimmed and contracted.

After a few breaths, the protective light shield covering the mine completely dissipated!

Almost at the same moment the Formation dissipated, a sword light rose hurriedly from the mine and sped toward the southeast without looking back!

"The Formation! Why has the Formation disappeared?!"

"Who closed the Formation? Where is Steward Luo?"

Having lost the protection of the Formation, the mine fell into chaos!

At the same time, on a high ground about ten li away, an excited voice growled lowly.

"Boss! The Formation is off, and that kid surnamed Luo is coming toward us!"

In the next moment, dozens of figures quietly emerged from the night!

Most of these people wore mismatched clothing, but their expressions were fierce, and their cultivation levels were mostly in the middle to Late Stage of Qi Refining.

The leader was a one-eyed brute, surprisingly at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!

"Damn, it's finally open!"

The one-eyed brute spat, a murderous glint radiating from his single eye.

"If I hadn't been worried that a forced attack would destroy the mine, would I have let this broken Formation block me out for so many days, having to look at the face of a Qi Refining junior!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the fleeing sword light arrived before them; it was indeed Luo Wei.

"Senior... Senior Lone Wolf,"

Luo Wei forced himself to stay calm and cupped his hands. "The Formation has been closed as agreed. There are still over ten Cultivators remaining in the mine, only that Chen Qingshan..."

Before he could finish speaking!

He was contemptuously interrupted by Lone Wolf.

"Hmph, I won't go back on what I promised you. Now get lost, this is none of your business anymore."

Luo Wei didn't dare say more and shrank to the side!

Lone Wolf didn't bother with him either and gave a cruel laugh.

"Boys! Get in there! Kill them all! Loot everything! But there's one rule—don't destroy the corpses. Better to leave them all in one piece!!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Amidst the deafening, bloodthirsty shouts, dozens of Cultivators charged toward the mine, while only Lone Wolf remained motionless.

From the disappearance of the Formation to the start of the battle cries, only a few moments had passed!

Hiding in the shadows, Chen Qingshan took in the entire scene, his heart jolting as he instantly understood all the key points!

"Luo Wei! He really did betray us!"

He had felt something was wrong before. This man had previously tried desperately to be transferred away from Fire Copper Mountain but was not granted permission.

When the Red Sand Gang contracted its defenses recently, with his cultivation, it would have been logical for him to take the opportunity to leave, yet he abnormally chose to stay.

Knowing full well that Chen Qingshan's cultivation had reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining and far exceeded his own, he still chose to stay—this in itself was a huge red flag!

Now, everything had come to light.

Taking advantage of the Bandit Cultivators' attention being drawn to the mine, Chen Qingshan acted decisively, sliding out silently from his hiding place.

Then, spiritual energy surged within him as he pushed his speed to the limit, sprinting for his life in the direction completely opposite to Li Zheng and Ma Kun's evacuation route!

However, he still underestimated the other party's cunning!

He had barely covered seven or eight li when a massive object, carrying the sound of wind and thunder, descended from the sky like a falling star and slammed violently into the ground in front of him!

"Boom—!"

The earth shook and the mountains swayed as dust soared into the sky!