At this moment, Wei Junyu raised a hand to signal everyone to quiet down. Once the voices in the crowd gradually subsided, he said:
"I have some standard-issue flying sword Dharma Artifacts from the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's outer sect here, along with some talismans for everyone. Those without weapons may come to me to collect a flying sword and several talismans."
With a slap of his storage pouch, several hundred flying sword Dharma Artifacts scattered across the ground. Though they were all low-grade Dharma Artifacts, one could still see the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's immense wealth.
Nearly three hundred miners had gathered here. Most were in the Early Qi Refinement Realm, with only a handful at the Qi Refining Middle Stage. There was not a single one at the Late Qi Refinement Realm.
Seeing the Dharma Artifacts on the ground, the surrounding voices became noisy once more. Many faces had already turned pale, and some people had even begun to tremble slightly.
"We mine for the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, so the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect must guarantee our safety!" someone shouted.
"Exactly! We're just ordinary Rogue Cultivators. We don't have any combat experience."
"The Yellow Mountain Sword Sect must take responsibility!"
Many people in the crowd echoed the sentiment.
"I understand everyone's feelings..." Wei Junyu was about to continue comforting them.
At that moment, a cultivator carrying a heavy sword grabbed Wei Junyu. "Senior Brother Wei, there's no need to explain so much to them."
Then he shouted at the crowd, "Have you all spent too long in the mortal world and the markets? This is the Cultivation World. Cultivation has never been calm seas and smooth sailing!"
"Once you entered the Million Mountains, you should have been prepared to defend yourselves at all times. No one will protect you forever! Nor will anyone be your wet nurse forever!"
The crowd was slightly stunned by the cultivator's words. Most of them were low-level cultivators who had indeed always lived within peaceful human territory. Most had never even been to the Million Mountains.
Qin Huaian did not know much about the Million Mountains either. The original owner of this body had only gathered some common spirit herbs along its outskirts, while the Red Copper Mine lay deeper within.
"Junior Brother Zhong, most of them are still only in the Early Qi Refinement Realm," Wei Junyu said.
"Senior Brother Wei, at a time like this, none of us may be able to escape safely. One more person means one more bit of strength. Without the will to fight, they'll only die more miserably!"
Wei Junyu fell silent and no longer tried to stop him.
The cultivator surnamed Zhong continued:
"Cultivation itself is about fighting—for opportunities, for resources. Coming to the Million Mountains to mine is also for resources. The Million Mountains are the domain of demon beasts. Since you came here, you should have been prepared to be attacked by demon beasts."
"And now the demon beasts have already attacked. Stop blaming Heaven and resenting people. Just pick up your weapons and fight them!"
"Open your eyes and look at these demon beasts covering the mountains and plains. We can barely protect ourselves—who do you think can protect you?!"
"I've said all there is to say. Those willing to resist, those unwilling to sit and await death, pick up your weapons!"
The crowd immediately fell silent. At that moment, a fierce-looking burly man stepped forward and picked up a flying sword.
Qin Huaian recognized him as Jiang Yuan. He too stepped forward and picked up a flying sword. Though he did not know sword techniques, having a weapon was still better than having none.
More and more people stepped forward to take flying swords. At that moment, Little Fatty spotted Qin Huaian and quietly walked to his side.
"Brother Qin, let's look out for each other later."
Qin Huaian silently nodded. He and Little Fatty could be considered acquaintances. In the chaos of battle, having someone to watch each other's backs was not a bad thing.
Wei Junyu handed everyone several talismans, some offensive and some defensive. Qin Huaian received two Shield Armor Talismans and two Fireball Talismans.
After distributing the talismans, Wei Junyu said to everyone, "The three stewards will detonate the protective formation shortly. You must follow them and break out together. If we stay here and defend the mine tunnel to the death, we have no chance of victory. We'll be worn down and die here."
Outside, wave after wave of Silver Moon Demon Wolves fearlessly slammed into the protective formation. Qin Huaian saw that not far away, three snow-white demon wolves, much larger than ordinary Silver Moon Demon Wolves, stood atop a small hill. Those should be the Silver Moon Wolf Kings.
"Everyone, prepare to break out!" a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in front shouted.
At the same time, the barrier of light formed by the formation suddenly radiated a dazzling brilliance.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Accompanied by several thunderous explosions, the formation's light barrier exploded outward toward the wolf pack. Swathes of Silver Moon Demon Wolves were turned into bloody mist, instantly clearing an open space ahead.
At that moment, the three Silver Moon Wolf Kings leaped into the air and charged toward them. The three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators also flew into the sky on their swords to meet them.
"Everyone, follow me!" Wei Junyu roared. Drawing his flying sword, he charged toward the weaker side of the demon wolf pack.
Qin Huaian did not rush out with them immediately. Seeing this, Wang Baole also did not charge at the very front. After that brief delay, the two of them fell into the middle of the crowd. Only then did Qin Huaian say in a low voice, "Go!"
The instant the crowd collided with the wolf pack, several cultivators charging at the front were torn apart by the demon wolves' sharp claws. They did not even have time to throw out the talismans in their hands.
Seeing severed limbs scattered everywhere, Qin Huaian became strangely calm. He had to find a way to escape. If he fought the demon wolves to the death, he would certainly lose his life.
Little Fatty beside him was somewhat pale, yet there was a faint glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
At that moment, several demon wolves charged toward them. Qin Huaian threw out a Fireball Talisman. The fireball burst open and flew toward the wolves.
The leading demon wolf raised its claws and swatted at it, colliding with the fireball. It was instantly swallowed by the flames, while the advance of the other wolves was also halted.
"Run that way." After saying that, Qin Huaian slapped a Divine Movement Talisman onto himself and ran in a direction away from Wei Junyu and the others. Little Fatty hurriedly slapped on a Divine Movement Talisman as well and followed Qin Huaian.
Wei Junyu and the others were immensely powerful. Whenever sword light flashed, several demon wolves died. But the more they killed, the more demon wolves gathered around them.
"This way!" After Qin Huaian cut down a First-Order Early Stage demon wolf with one slash, he called for Wang Baole, who was fighting back-to-back with him, to follow.
Relying on the Spirit Eye Technique, Qin Huaian tried his best to avoid Silver Moon Demon Wolves at the First-Order Middle Stage and later stages as he rapidly broke outward.
Though they were both choosing the soft persimmons to pinch, there were simply too many demon wolves. Their offensive talismans were soon used up. Relying on Vajra Talismans for protection, the two began hacking and slashing with their swords.
It had to be said that the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's flying swords were of excellent quality. Although neither knew sword techniques, they poured spiritual power into the flying swords and used them like sabers. They carved their way through the wolves, leaving behind countless demon wolf corpses, while both of them were already covered in blood.
Led by Wei Junyu and the other Yellow Mountain Sword Sect cultivators, the group had reached the outskirts of the wolf pack. By now, fewer than half of the miners who had attempted the breakout were still standing.
Qin Huaian glanced into the distance. The three Silver Moon Wolf Kings and the three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were still fighting in pairs, and the battle was extremely fierce. The three cultivators were deliberately drawing the wolf kings farther and farther away from the wolf pack.
Escape was within sight. Wang Baole had also noticed Qin Huaian's unusual ability. He could always avoid demon wolves of higher realms. Though the two had fought through blood and battle, neither had suffered any real injuries.
Just then, two First-Order Middle Stage demon wolves suddenly pounced toward Qin Huaian and Wang Baole.
"First-Order Middle Stage demon wolves! Watch out!" Qin Huaian hurriedly swung his sword to block one of the pouncing wolves. Then he slapped a Vajra Talisman onto himself. He saw that the other demon wolf had already lunged at Wang Baole.
Wang Baole would certainly be unable to withstand a First-Order Middle Stage demon wolf. Without Wang Baole supporting him from behind, Qin Huaian's situation would become even more difficult.
Spiritual power circulated, and a fireball condensed from 5% of his spiritual power shot toward the demon wolf pouncing at Wang Baole.
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