91: Chapter 91 Escaping from Bamboo Rhyme Courtyard

Liu Tingting's pale face flushed with excitement: "Master, is it true? Have you gathered all of the last toxic herb?"

"Yes, they are all gathered. Let's go."

Wang Xinhao, who was tolling the bell, set down the Bell Mallet. His eyes were bloodshot, and he asked in a raspy voice, "Can I stop tolling it now?"

Elder Qian Yunchang did not answer, but only said to Liu Tingting, "Hurry up, everyone is exhausted."

With weak and unsteady steps, Liu Tingting staggered a couple of paces into the Pavilion. Taking a deep breath, she began to pat around frantically with both hands, chanting incantations under her breath, her forehead drenched in sweat.

Wang Xinhao slumped down against a pillar, tossed the Bell Mallet aside, and closed his eyes.

The Great Bell suspended in the center of the Pavilion swayed gently and began to descend slowly.

Everyone saw the map on the ground rapidly dimming.

A white circle appeared on the map, rapidly shrinking toward the Pavilion.

"What does this mean?" someone asked.

"Since no one is tolling the bell, the Protective Array is slowly shrinking," Deacon Qin Wen explained.

As the leader of Group A, Deacon Qin had to set an example for all the Disciples, and he had always behaved very proactively.

However, under the erosion of the toxic gas in the Forbidden Ground, he appeared senile and worn out, forcing himself to endure the pain without showing it.

"What will happen without the protection of the Formation?" someone asked nervously.

With his eyes closed, Wang Xinhao said, "We will find it difficult to withstand the erosion of the power in this place."

Anxiety immediately spread through the crowd.

"Don't worry, Junior Sister Liu will open the Teleportation Array very soon. We won't need the Formation."

Everyone turned their gaze toward Liu Tingting.

Xia Shaoxin muttered, "Senior Brothers, can't you do it on her behalf? Senior Sister Liu is working so hard!"

A low voice came from behind him: "I also have Formation Talent, but I am far inferior to Junior Sister Liu. How shameful, how shameful."

Xia Shaoxin looked back to see a Senior Brother bowing his head and sighing.

"Junior Sister Liu is only in the Qi Refining Realm, yet her talent is truly astonishing to be able to touch such an Advanced Formation."

Xia Shaoxin felt quite speechless and glanced at Elder Qian Yunchang.

The Elder's face was as calm as water. Having obtained the five types of toxic herbs, he had achieved great success, and his expression was perfectly composed.

Using Liu Tingting's talent like this—even if it ruined her—was not a pity.

The white circle on the map quickly shrank to a single point and then vanished.

In the distance, however, a strange hissing sound gradually echoed.

"What is that sound?" Xia Shaoxin felt danger and asked Elder Qian Yunchang.

"Several kinds of monsters in the Forbidden Ground are approaching this place," Elder Qian Yunchang looked into the distance with a grim expression. "The monster from earlier let out a cry before it died, seemingly calling its kind."

"The Forbidden Ground is divided into two parts. This place is protected by the Formation, while the other part is not. Even those in the Foundation Establishment stage must be careful of the monsters there."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

Wang Xinhao's eyes snapped open, and he muttered, "I think I'll continue tolling the bell for a bit longer."

Seeing how pitiful Wang Xinhao was, Deacon Qin Wen quickly said, "Let me do it."

He stepped into the Pavilion, picked up the Bell Mallet, and struck the Great Bell in the air with great force.

The Great Bell vibrated, but it made no sound.

A white circle appeared on the map once more, covering a very small area right around the Pavilion.

However, after striking it only once, Deacon Qin Wen felt as if he had been struck on the head with a club. His eyes glazed over, and he stood frozen as if he had lost his soul.

The white circle on the map began to shrink again.

Deacon Qin Wen regained his senses and struck another heavy blow, only for his entire body to go numb again, leaving him standing there in a daze.

Elder Qian Yunchang glanced at Liu Tingting and judged that the Teleportation Array would be activated very soon. He said to Deacon Qin Wen, "Stop tolling it. This bell is not so easy to toll. Deacon Wang was only able to hold out until now because he took my Medicinal Pill."

The meaning was clear: we are leaving soon, so don't waste any Medicinal Pills.

Xia Shaoxin was very curious: "What kind of Medicinal Pill did Deacon Wang take?"

Elder Qian Yunchang originally had no patience to explain, but at this moment, he had a very favorable impression of Xia Shaoxin, so he said gently:

"The bell toller will suffer a backlash from the Yin Force, which is difficult for those in the Qi Refining Realm to withstand. They simply need to take some Medicinal Pills that strengthen the body and can withstand the impact."

Hearing this, Deacon Qin Wen threw down the Bell Mallet, clutched his head, and sat down next to Wang Xinhao.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Liu Tingting.

Liu Tingting's movements were very slow.

With every incantation she chanted, her lips were forcibly sealed by an invisible force.

With every hand gesture she made, it seemed as if an invisible giant hand was holding her back tightly from behind.

Everyone could only see that she was in great pain, but they did not know exactly how agonizing it was.

The sound of the monsters in the distance was getting closer and closer.

Elder Qian Yunchang was also becoming somewhat anxious.

A few miles away, the shadow of a monster appeared.

Further away, there were several more.

Everyone crowded in front of the Pavilion, staring intently ahead, seemingly preparing for battle.

Xia Shaoxin picked up the Bell Mallet and said urgently, "Everyone, take turns tolling the bell!"

With a single strike, the bell, which had already touched the ground, instantly floated up an inch.

Xia Shaoxin did not feel any discomfort. Perhaps the Yin Force of the Great Bell had not hit him yet, so he struck it again.

The Great Bell continued to float upward, revealing the map on the ground, and a small white circle appeared, surrounding the Pavilion.

After waiting a moment without feeling any discomfort, he swung the mallet again.

Everyone looked at him in surprise, expecting him to be unable to bear it and throw down the Bell Mallet.

He was also very puzzled, as he did not experience the same reaction as Deacon Qin Wen just now.

Elder Qian Yunchang said in astonishment, "You are highly adapted to this environment; you can actually withstand the backlash of the Formation!"

Xia Shaoxin did not understand why either, but since he was fine, he continued to toll the bell.

The white circle on the map continued to expand outward, but the monsters did not stop advancing and broke into the Barrier.

Everyone knew this meant the monsters' strength would be weakened.

But it would still be a tough fight, not to mention there was more than one now.

At this time, what was needed most was for Elder Qian Yunchang to organize everyone to deal with the monsters and arrange for the Disciples to retreat safely.

However, Elder Qian Yunchang seemed completely indifferent, coldly watching the distance where the monsters were already clearly visible.

Senior Brother Shao Junwei shook his head inwardly and shouted, "I will use a Magical Artifact to block them for a bit!"

He threw a wooden plank into the air, which landed in front of the Pavilion and rapidly expanded into an iron-clad wooden shield.

With a thud, the shield let out a dull sound, and another shield appeared on both its left and right sides.

Thud, thud, thud. Soon, the Pavilion was surrounded and blocked by a ring of shields.

Everyone felt slightly relieved.

Elder Qian Yunchang nodded approvingly at Senior Brother Shao Junwei, but then shook his head.

Low-grade Magical Artifacts made in the Qi Refining Realm were only meant to bluff others; they were completely useless.

However, Elder Qian Yunchang did not want to expose this, thinking it was fine to give the Disciples some peace of mind.

Just then, buzz—

A vibration rippled through the air, and a ring of light appeared in the Pavilion.

"Hurry, let's go!" Xia Shaoxin shouted.

As if waking from a dream, everyone was ecstatic, and the few closest to it leaped into the Teleportation Array.

The others scrambled and crowded into the Teleportation Array, and the crowd in front of the Pavilion thinned out in an instant.

Elder Qian Yunchang was in no mood to organize the evacuation. Grabbing Liu Tingting, he shoved several Disciples aside, leaped, and jumped into the Teleportation Array.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Elder Qian Yunchang was actually shoving past his own Disciples!

For Elder Qian Yunchang, having obtained the five types of toxic herbs and being able to escape unscathed was already a massive success.

As for Disciples, once he achieved a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage, would he ever lack Disciples?

The remaining Disciples grew even more terrified, casting aside any brotherly bond as they scrambled and fought against one another.