Wei Yunqing sucked in a cold breath and spoke without thinking. "Yunxi, are you serious? We have to kill every single sealed evil spirit in here before we can leave! Do you know how many of them there are?
And there's no spiritual energy here. After every battle, we'll have to rely on spirit stones or pills to replenish our power. We might last a year, two years, even eight or ten, but what about fifty? A hundred? What do we do when our supplies run out?
If an evil spirit with Divine Transformation-level power appears, who can handle it? Even if we tied all the cultivators here together, we wouldn't stand a chance. Isn't this the same as sending us to our deaths?"
Though Wei Yunqing's words were unpleasant, they voiced part of the truth and struck the very fear in everyone's hearts.
Yunxi shot Wei Yunqing a glare. Her tone was sharp.
"Wei Yunqing, if you can't speak properly, then keep your mouth shut. All you do is dampen our spirits while inflating the enemy's. If a Divine Transformation-level evil spirit really does appear, I'll be the first to toss you out, detonate your Nascent Soul, and see if that's enough to take it down."
Wei Yunqing instinctively clutched her dantian. She realized she had let her tongue run away with her again.
After scolding Wei Yunqing, Yunxi continued, "We have one hundred and fifty-eight Yuányīng Zhēnjūn here, many already at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, with the potential to break through to Divine Transformation. Even without summoning heavenly tribulation, such power is enough to fight a Divine Transformation evil spirit.
As for the consumption of spirit stones, that depends on each person's ability. By this stage, who doesn't have some hidden treasures? Cultivators of our path should at least excel in one of the Four Cultivation Arts. If pills run out, refine your own. If talismans are spent, draw new ones. If formation disks are gone, carve more. We'll find a way. Sitting around waiting for death is not our style. I will not allow the evil cultivators to get their way.
I hold the inheritance of Yixian Gate and have studied pill refinement. I can concoct medicines for recovery, healing, breakthroughs, and more. As long as the appropriate spiritual herbs are provided, I can help refine them. Take stock of your resources first, then we'll plan accordingly."
With that, Yunxi fell silent.
A Nascent Soul cultivator who had entered later asked, "Can't we open a gap in these seals to get out?"
This time, Xian Feng Zhēnjūn replied, "When we fought the evil spirits earlier, spells flew everywhere, striking the floor and walls countless times. Do these sealing talismans look loose to you?"
Someone observant responded quickly, "They don't seem loose at all."
"Not only that, it looks like these runes absorbed the power of our attacks."
"Ran Xi Daoyou speculated that this place seals evil cultivators from the higher realms. Even if you broke a seal, do you think you could slip out without alerting the spirits?
Besides, this is my first time seeing these talismans. Does anyone here recognize them?"
The Nascent Soul cultivator who had asked fell silent immediately. No one stepped forward to claim they recognized the seals. Without understanding them, how could they be broken? Yunxi, the only one who understood, had no intention of revealing it.
Yunxi had identified the runes carved across the surrounding walls. They were almost identical to the ancient inscriptions recorded in the beast hide manual given to her by the Wu tribe's last Ancestor. These symbols were designed purely for sealing, refining, and suppressing.
From this, she could confirm that the evil spirits sealed within the Shanhe Scroll had been imprisoned for so long they were nearly forgotten. If not for their intrusion, given another thousand years, these spirits would have weakened until they vanished entirely. But now, the evil cultivators had found this place.
Yunxi sorted through every detail she had in her mind, searching for a better solution. If there wasn't one, they would have no choice but to fight the evil spirits to the bitter end.
At that moment, Shi Jun flicked his robe, sat cross-legged beside her, and cupped his hands.
"Huaxian Gate has asked each region to send two representatives to discuss a matter. Ran Xi Daoyou, would you accompany me?"
Yunxi guessed it was about organizing a joint effort to slaughter the spirits. As the highest-ranked cultivator from Haoran Sect, she was naturally invited by Shi Jun. She didn't refuse.
The ten Yuányīng Zhēnjūn from the five regions gathered together. Xian Qi of Huaxian Gate presided over the small meeting. He proposed dividing the cultivators into shifts to battle the spirits, minimizing resource consumption and giving those close to breaking through a chance to advance. The stronger they became, the more spirits they could kill.
The plan was unanimously approved. They even assigned each region a sector to guard for better coordination.
Han Lian suggested forming a reserve team of one cultivator from each region to reinforce any area under pressure, preventing the demon cultivators from breaking through. Everyone agreed.
After some thought, Yunxi decided to contribute her Hong Energy Shield. Staying long-term in a place crawling with evil spirits not only risked contamination but was not ideal for cultivators preparing for breakthroughs.
The other regions' Zhēnjūn were deeply grateful. They even voted to give the Western Region cultivators a round off from battle in appreciation.
After the discussion, Yunxi retrieved her Hong Energy Shield from her spatial storage, placed a Hong energy core inside, set the orb in the center of the hall, and activated it. Once the dome expanded, she led the way inside.
Because of the large group, Yunxi had to widen the shield's range to accommodate all one hundred and fifty-eight cultivators sitting cross-legged inside.
Moments after the shield rose, gray mist once again filled the grand hall, and the cries of evil spirits echoed around them. The first squad flashed out of the shield, defensive barriers flaring, and engaged the spirits.
Yunxi extended her divine sense and observed. This time, the evil spirits were at the Golden Core mid-stage. The Yuányīng Zhēnjūn handled them with ease.
She glanced at Wei Yunqing. "You, go help too."
Wei Yunqing's face soured. "Didn't you say the Western Region cultivators are exempt from this first round?"
Yunxi's gaze was sharp. "I provided this shield, giving everyone a safe zone. You did nothing. What makes you think you get to enjoy my protection?"
"They… they didn't do anything either!" Wei Yunqing argued.
"They can kill more spirits. You, on the other hand, aren't strong enough. Take advantage of this round to kill weaker Golden Core spirits and prove your worth. Otherwise, when Nascent Soul spirits appear, you'll only be a liability. Don't blame me if I kick you out of the shield then."
Wei Yunqing took a deep breath and bit her tongue to stay calm. She was certain Yunxi was trying to get her killed, forcing her to fight evil spirits in hopes she would lose control.
"Are you going or not?" Yunxi's voice turned icy.
"I'll go!"
Wei Yunqing gripped her sword and charged out, clashing with the spirits. With the Nine Luminaries Woodfire supporting her, she held her ground.
Half an hour later, another wave of evil spirits surged in from every direction. These ones all had late-stage Golden Core strength, their faces now clearly visible.