While the Heavenly Dao Sect was tensely preparing for battle, the Medicine Venerable of Spring Returning sat upright in the cabin hall of the Treasure Ship Market, propping up his chin as he listened to Alchemy Spirit Child's report. Apart from those two, Elder Hai was also present.
"...After counting everyone, only seventeen Nascent Soul Realm elders and disciples escaped. There are three hundred and forty-one Golden Core Stage disciples, four hundred and ninety-three Core Condensation Stage disciples, and five hundred and seventy-one True Cultivation Stage disciples," Alchemy Spirit Child said gravely. He paused, then continued when the Medicine Venerable of Spring Returning said nothing. "Because the attack came without warning, we couldn't retrieve most of the church's belongings. We have no reserves of elixirs or spirit stones. Everyone can only rely on their own supplies, so our most urgent task is to find a way to replenish them." He paused again, then hurriedly added as though something had suddenly occurred to him, "There are five hundred and seventy-four True Cultivation Stage disciples. Three more escaped and returned not long ago."
"Whew." The Medicine Venerable of Spring Returning let out a long breath, then suddenly asked, "How did those three True Cultivation Stage disciples escape?"
"Oh, I asked them. Li Xiaoya of the Heavenly Dao Sect rescued them along the way and brought them here," Elder Hai hurriedly replied.
"Oh. That was thoughtful of them," the Medicine Venerable of Spring Returning said mildly. After a pause, he suddenly sighed. "Our losses among the Core Condensation Stage and True Cultivation Stage disciples were far too great."
"There was nothing we could do. So many low-level disciples only escaped because the Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Realm cultivators did everything they could to save them," Alchemy Spirit Child hurriedly explained. He