Formation Shattered

At this moment, Wei Junyu raised a hand to signal for silence. Once the voices in the crowd gradually died down, he said:

"I have some standard-issue flying sword Dharma Artifacts from the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's outer sect, along with some talismans, to provide for everyone. Those without weapons may come to me to collect a flying sword and a few talismans."

With a pat of his storage pouch, several hundred flying sword Dharma Artifacts scattered across the ground. Though they were all low-grade Dharma Artifacts, they still revealed the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's immense wealth.

Nearly three hundred miners had gathered here. Most were at the early Qi Refining Realm, with only a handful at the middle Qi Refining Realm. There was not a single one at the Late Qi Refinement Realm.

At the sight of the Dharma Artifacts on the ground, the surrounding voices became clamorous again. Many had already gone pale, and some had even begun to tremble faintly.

"We mine for the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect, so the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect must ensure our safety!" someone shouted.

"Yeah, yeah! We're only ordinary independent cultivators. None of us have combat experience."

"The Yellow Mountain Sword Sect has to take responsibility!"

Many in the crowd echoed the sentiment.

"I understand how everyone feels..." Wei Junyu was about to continue soothing 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 waters or smooth sailing!"

"From the moment you entered the Million Mountains, you should have been prepared to defend yourselves at all times. No one will protect you forever! And no one will 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 spent their lives in the peaceful human territories. Most had never even set foot in 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 this red copper mine lay deeper within.

"Junior Brother Zhong, after all, most of them are still at the early Qi Refining Realm," Wei Junyu said.

"Senior Brother Wei, at a time like this, even we may not escape safely. One more person means one more measure of strength. Without the will to fight, they'll only die more miserably!"

Wei Junyu fell silent and stopped trying to interfere.

The cultivator surnamed Zhong continued:

"Cultivation is about fighting for what you want—fighting for opportunities, fighting for resources. You came to the Million Mountains to mine for resources as well. 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 that the demon beasts have come at us, stop blaming Heaven and faulting others. Pick up your weapons and fight them!"

"Open your eyes and look at the demon beasts covering the mountains and plains! We can barely protect ourselves—who do you think can protect you?!"

"I've said all I need to say. Those willing to resist, those unwilling to sit and wait for death, pick up your weapons!"

The crowd immediately fell silent. Then a burly, fierce-looking man stepped forward and picked up a flying sword.

Qin Huaian recognized him as Jiang Yuan. He also stepped forward and picked up a flying sword. Though he did not know any sword techniques, having a weapon was better than having none.

More and more people came forward to take flying swords. At that moment, the chubby fellow spotted Qin Huaian and quietly walked over to his side.

"Brother Qin, let's look out for each other later."

Qin Huaian silently nodded. He and the chubby fellow 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, "In a moment, the three stewards will detonate the defensive formation. Everyone must follow the three stewards and break out. If we hold fast inside the mine tunnel, we have no chance of victory. We'll be worn to death here."

Outside, wave after wave of Silver Moon Demon Wolves fearlessly slammed against the defensive formation. Qin Huaian saw three snow-white demon wolves standing atop a small hill in the distance, each far larger than an ordinary Silver Moon Demon Wolf. They must have been the Silver Moon Wolf Kings.

"Everyone, prepare to break out!" a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator at the front shouted.

At the same time, the barrier of light formed by the formation suddenly blazed with dazzling radiance.

Boom! Boom! Boom! With several deafening explosions, the formation barrier exploded outward toward the wolf pack. Swathes of Silver Moon Demon Wolves were turned into bloody mist, leaving an open stretch of ground ahead.

At that moment, the three Silver Moon Wolf Kings instantly leaped into the air and charged toward them. The three Foundation Establishment cultivators also flew up on their swords to meet them.

"Everyone, follow me!" Wei Junyu roared. He drew his flying sword and charged toward the weaker side of the demon wolf pack.

Qin Huaian did not rush out after him immediately. Seeing this, Wang Baole also did not charge at the very front. After a slight delay, the two fell toward the middle of the crowd. Only then did Qin Huaian say in a low voice, "Go!"

The instant the crowd came into contact with the wolf pack, several cultivators at the front were torn apart by the demon wolves' claws. They did not even have time to throw out the talismans in their hands.

Seeing the severed limbs strewn across the ground, 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.

The chubby fellow beside him had gone slightly pale, yet there was a trace of excitement in his eyes.

Several demon wolves charged toward them. Qin Huaian threw out a Fireball Talisman. The fireball exploded and shot 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 attack 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. The chubby fellow hurriedly slapped on a Divine Movement Talisman as well and followed Qin Huaian.

Wei Junyu and the others possessed formidable combat strength. Every flash of sword light claimed the lives of several demon wolves. But the more they killed, the more demon wolves converged around them.

"This way!" After Qin Huaian slashed down an early first-stage demon wolf with one strike, he called for Wang Baole, who had been fighting back-to-back with him, to follow.

Relying on the Spirit Eye Technique, Qin Huaian avoided the middle and late first-stage Silver Moon Demon Wolves as much as possible and rapidly fought his way outward.

Though they were both picking the soft persimmons to squeeze, the demon wolves were too numerous. Soon, the two had used up all their offensive talismans. Relying on Vajra Talismans for protection, they began hacking away with their swords.

It had to be said that the Yellow Mountain Sword Sect's flying swords were of excellent quality. Though neither knew swordsmanship, they poured spiritual energy into the flying swords and wielded them like sabers. They cut their way through the wolves, leaving countless demon wolf corpses behind. Both of them were already drenched in blood.

Led by Wei Junyu and the other Yellow Mountain Sword Sect cultivators, the group had drawn close to the outer edge of the wolf pack. By now, fewer than half the miners were still standing and fighting their way out.

Qin Huaian glanced into the distance. The three Silver Moon Wolf Kings and the three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators were still locked in one-on-one combat, the battle intensely fierce. The three cultivators were deliberately drawing the wolf kings farther and farther away from the pack.

Escape was in sight. Wang Baole had also noticed something unusual about Qin Huaian—he always managed to avoid the higher-realm demon wolves. Though the two had fought bathed in blood, they had not suffered any substantial injuries.

Just then, two middle first-stage demon wolves suddenly pounced at Qin Huaian and Wang Baole.

"Middle first-stage demon wolves! Watch out!" Qin Huaian hurriedly swung his sword to block one of the lunging wolves, then slapped a Vajra Talisman onto himself. He saw the other demon wolf already pouncing toward Wang Baole.

Wang Baole would certainly be unable to withstand a middle first-stage demon wolf. Without Wang Baole supporting him from behind, Qin Huaian's situation would become even more difficult.

As spiritual energy circulated, a fireball condensed from five percent of his spiritual energy shot toward the demon wolf pouncing on Wang Baole.