novelE2F Chapter 185: Forgiveness
Chapter 185: Forgiveness
Chapter 185: Give Quarter When Possible
Whether Lin'an Stronghold was lost or not had little to do with him,
But the mine tunnel beneath this cave dwelling, and the Middle Grade Spirit Stone Mine at the end of that tunnel, certainly did.
Although he had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment (Early Stage) realm,
These low-grade Spirit Veins and low-grade spirit stones were no longer as tempting to him.
But this Middle Grade Spirit Stone Mine was different.
The spiritual energy contained within this item was quite pure,
Far surpassing ordinary low-grade spirit stones.
Its spiritual energy was so abundant that it was greatly beneficial even for cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage.
If Li Lan wanted to take another step forward in the future and reach the Lingqi Middle Stage realm,
He naturally couldn't do without this item.
What's more,
The middle-grade spirit stones here could even self-repair, saying they were inexhaustible wouldn't be an exaggeration,
Such a treasure trove for cultivation, no one would likely be willing to give it up easily.
If Lin'an Stronghold remained in the hands of Guangji Sect,
He would have a proper reason to be stationed here,
This Middle Grade Spirit Stone Mine might still be concealed for a period of time,
And Li Lan would have ample time to explore the secrets deep within it.
But if Lin'an Stronghold was snatched away by other rogue cultivator families,
With the situation becoming complicated,
This Middle Grade Spirit Stone Mine would likely be exposed in an instant.
At that time,
The situation would no longer be something Li Lan could control.
After all,
Low-grade Spirit Veins were relatively easy to deal with,
Among cultivators who could reach Foundation Establishment (Early Stage), who would lack low-grade spirit stones?
These high-level cultivators,
If they weren't considering it for the sect or for the cultivation of future generations, but purely for themselves, it would be completely unnecessary to lower their status to snatch a low-grade Spirit Vein.
But the medium-grade ones were not so easy to deal with.
Looking at the entire Jiuhua County, there were only a handful of publicly known Medium-Grade Spirit Veins, just three in total.
Once this Medium-Grade Spirit Vein at the bottom of Lin'an Stronghold was exposed,
Even powerhouses in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, or even the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, would likely be unable to resist intervening.
After weighing the pros and cons,
Li Lan finally stopped.
He raised his hand and set up numerous small restrictions again, concealing the mine tunnel entrance.
Subsequently,
He flashed and arrived outside the cave dwelling.
At this moment,
Some outer disciples had already gathered here,
Scratching their ears and cheeks, contemplating how to break these restrictions,
And inform Li Lan about the attack by the Wang Family and other rogue cultivator families.
At this moment,
The disciples' vision blurred, and they suddenly found an extra figure in front of them.
"Senior Brother! Those rogue cultivator families led by the Wang Family---"
A few quick-witted disciples, after seeing who it was, quickly reported what had happened recently.
"I already know about this matter. How many Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators does the other side have?"
Li Lan inquired concisely.
"Reporting to Senior Brother, the other side doesn't seem to have any Foundation Establishment Stage powerhouses stationed, but they have brought eight Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators...—·"
Senior Brother, what should we do now?"
That Lingqi Middle Stage disciple's mood was particularly heavy,
His voice was even trembling slightly.
After all, that was eight Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators,
Even if Wang Chi and all the other Senior Brothers were here, it would be difficult to gain any advantage.
Let alone now that they were all absent,
The entire Lin'an Stronghold was left with only Li Lan, a single Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator.
Even with the assistance of ancient formations,
No matter how powerful a cultivator was, it would be difficult to resist so many powerhouses of the same realm.
The outcome of the city being breached and death seemed to have become an unavoidable fate for most Guangji Sect disciples present.
The Lingqi Middle Stage disciple became more and more pessimistic the more he thought about it, and his heart was already covered in a layer of dead ash.
Li Lan did not know what the other party was thinking,
With his emotions hidden, he ordered with a normal expression:
"Find a way to report this matter to the inner sect. I will go and handle it for a while."
Outside Lin'an Stronghold, cultivators from the Wang Family and other rogue cultivator families swarmed in like a plague of locusts, covering the sky and earth.
Numerous magic artifacts and spells fell like meteors,
The momentum was so vast, as if they were going to level the entire Lin'an Stronghold.
However, these spells and magic artifacts, just as they were about to smash into the stronghold,
Were blocked by layers of light halos.
These light halos enveloped the entire Lin'an Stronghold,
No matter how hard these cultivators tried, they couldn't shake it in the slightest.
In the corner tower on the city wall of Lin'an Stronghold.
A yellow-faced outer disciple in the Cultivation Base of Qi Refining Late Stage muttered incantations, and his hands quickly fluttered, forming seals.
Streams of spiritual energy shot out from his fingertips, injecting into the ancient formation in front of him.
The patterns carved on the city wall, as complex and mysterious as ancient totems, flickered with extraordinary spiritual light under the injection of spiritual energy.
Most of the formation cores of the ancient formation on the entire Lin'an Stronghold city wall were set up in these corner towers.
As long as this formation was not broken,
Even if those rogue cultivator families had eight Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators stationed,
Taking down this Lin'an Stronghold would still require considerable effort.
Although the great formation remained stable in the short term.
But the yellow-faced cultivator's expression was not good,
Hearing movement coming from behind him, he didn't dare to be distracted,
He said without turning his head:
"Quickly find some more fellow disciples in the Cultivation Base of Qi Refining Late Stage to come; I alone can't maintain this great formation for too long--.ah!"
The yellow-faced cultivator hadn't finished speaking,
When a bloody knife tip protruded from his chest.
He turned his head in disbelief,
Wanting to see the face of the person who was taking advantage of the situation.
But as soon as he made a move,
His entire body was chopped into pieces by the blood-stained magic artifact.
"Heh heh, Junior Brother, you don't need to bother maintaining this great formation anymore. From now on, just leave everything to Senior Brother."
Saying this,
A figure slowly walked out of the corner tower.
This person was short, with a face full of pockmarks, and was none other than Wang Chi, who was responsible for guarding this Lin'an Stronghold.
After breaking this formation,
He didn't stay here for long,
Using the same method, he eliminated all the cultivators in the corner towers responsible for powering the ancient formation on the city wall one by one,
And then took the opportunity to close all the great formations.
The layers of light halos protecting Lin'an Stronghold swayed twice and immediately disappeared without a trace.
The outer disciples present were filled with disbelief upon seeing this.
They had completely not expected that this great formation left behind from ancient times would be broken so quickly.
Watching those rogue cultivators, fierce as wolves and tigers, pour into Lin'an Stronghold in a rush.
A feeling of powerlessness to turn the tide instantly surged in the hearts of all the disciples.
Most of the outer disciples of Lin'an Stronghold were already prepared to offer their necks for slaughter.
And some registered disciples who had come here to perform sect missions,
Were holding tokens from their own families, anxiously searching everywhere for a way out.
"The overall situation is settled. Everyone, stop making futile struggles.
This Spirit Vein already belongs to the Wang Family. Those willing to surrender, for the sake of being fellow disciples, I, Wang, will still give you a way to live."
Wang Chi floated in mid-air on his artifact, speaking with a hint of smugness on his face.
He hadn't finished speaking,
When several figures sped in from outside the city.
One of them, a rogue cultivator with a body full of muscles, didn't give him any face at all and snorted coldly:
"What do you mean it belongs to the Wang Family? Wang Pockmarks, don't forget the agreement between us."
At this moment,
A graceful woman with a voluptuous figure came out to mediate.
"Oh dear, don't contradict Brother Wang.
After all, this idea was his,
To successfully take down this Lin'an Stronghold, Brother Wang should be credited with the greatest contribution.
According to the agreement, this Spirit Vein will also be prioritized for the Wang Family's use for the first three years,
So saying it belongs to the Wang Family now is not inappropriate."
Wang Chi cupped his hands towards her and smiled:
"Many thanks, Fairy Huang, for speaking kindly on my behalf,"
However, I, Wang, dare not claim this first contribution,
Without Fairy Huang's strategizing by my side, I would have needed to put in more effort to lure those three elite disciples out of the stronghold."
"Alright, alright, what's the point of saying so much nonsense?
Let's hurry and check out the spiritual plant garden to see what good things Lin'an Stronghold has.
If we're late and these little beasts destroy them, it would be a huge loss."
That rogue cultivator with a body full of muscles seemed to be most annoyed by these hypocritical words, waved his hand, and rudely interrupted Wang Chi again.
Although Wang Chi was angry in his heart, he didn't show it on his face at all,
And still said with a smile:
"Brother Zhao, don't be in a hurry. Before we divide the spoils, there is probably one more thing we must do.
In this Lin'an Stronghold, there is still a cunning and experienced Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator present.
I, Wang, invited him several times and offered great benefits, but this fellow never took the bait.
I don't know if he saw through my scheme long ago, but this person was sensible enough not to report this matter to Guangji Sect,
And entered seclusion for death several years ago.
In my helplessness, I could only let him go.
This person's character and shrewdness are the greatest I, Wang, have seen in these past years. Everyone, do not underestimate him lightly."
The rogue cultivator surnamed Zhao, however, was dismissive.
"What kind of damn shrewdness? I hate hypocrites like you who are so reserved.
He's just a mere Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator. Can he grow wings and fly away under the combined efforts of us eight cultivators of the same realm?
Quickly activate the ancient formation of Lin'an Stronghold. We'll just give him a taste of catching a turtle in a jar,
And let him sleep forever here!"
The others beside him either readily agreed or remained silent regarding this,
Not a single person voiced opposition.
They just casually decided the life and death of a stranger cultivator like that.
The rule of the jungle in the Cultivation World was something they, as rogue cultivators, were naturally very familiar with.
If the number of people was equal and the cultivation realms were similar,
They might perhaps consider it a bit and prioritize harmony.
But under circumstances where the disparity was so vast,
What more was there to consider?
Naturally, turning the treasures in the opponent's storage bag into their own use as quickly as possible was the best strategy.
The eight Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators, believing the overall situation was settled,
Did not avoid their conversation at all,
And it spread throughout the entire Lin'an Stronghold.
It seemed as if all the cultivators present had become fish on a chopping block.
A plainly dressed middle-aged cultivator slowly walked out from the Spirit Stone Mine.
Hearing these words, he couldn't help but reveal a helpless expression.
He slowly controlled his artifact and flew into the air, seemingly unwillingly saying:
"Fellow Daoists, is there really nothing to discuss?
Give quarter when possible,
If you few retreat now, I, Li, guarantee I will absolutely not report this attack on Lin'an Stronghold.
In the future, your families can still maintain a good relationship with Guangji Sect, one of the Three Great Sects.
What do you all think of my suggestion?"
Wang Chi was not too surprised to see him honestly come out,
Still with a smiling expression, he cupped his hands and said:
"Li Daoyou, if you had listened to me, Wang, four years ago, you wouldn't have ended up in this situation today.
As for now, it's already too late to say anything."
The few people around watched coldly, not saying much,
But they all tacitly took out their respective magic artifacts,
And at the same time, subtly formed a pincer attack, surrounding the other party.
The cultivator surnamed Zhao even revealed a sinister smile and said bluntly:
"You're Li Jiangchuan, right?
We can talk, but first, offer up your head!"