Chapter 23 Unimpeded Thoughts
Facing the elder's furious accusation, Chu Xingchen responded with an even more devastating divine ability.
A waterfall-like sword intent surged toward the elder like a tsunami.
His second disciple's condition appeared dire—his appearance suggested nothing but trouble. From any perspective, time wasn't on their side.
After all, his disciple was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even with a life-saving transmission talisman, it wasn't foolproof.
Swift resolution was now the correct strategy.
Mo Chen was horrified, feeling his entire energy locked down. Facing that overwhelming sword strike, death omens flashed violently before his eyes.
"Master, wait! Spare his life!"
Li Xingtian suddenly shouted from the mine entrance.
After a brief hesitation, Chu Xingchen pulled back his strength at the critical moment.
The sword energy slightly deflected, sparing the elder's terror-stricken head.
Seeing his master show mercy, Li Xingtian sighed in relief before lunging forward.
He charged straight at the elder, blood-red spiritual energy erupting from his hand as he pressed it firmly against the elder's skull.
Though Chu Xingchen's sword hadn't killed the elder, he'd borne its full force. Not dead, but severely wounded. Facing Li Xingtian's rapid approach, Elder Mo Chen couldn't even lift a hand.
He could only let Li Xingtian's hand clamp onto his head.
Then, the elder was horrified to discover the blood essence within his body being violently drained by this Foundation Establishment brat.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator draining a Golden Core? Unheard of! Though his injuries were a factor, Mo Chen clearly sensed it was suppression from a cultivation technique!
This kid's evil cultivation method was more sinister than his own!
This was demonic sorcery that even consumed other evil cultivators!
Chu Xingchen watched his disciple truly acting like an evil cultivator, draining the elder's blood essence. Both shrouded in dark crimson blood energy, he frowned and asked:
"What's going on?!"
Li Xingtian could only turn slightly toward his master and explain:
"There's an evil ritual formation here! They've been absorbing the miners' spiritual roots and blood essence to practice demonic arts!"
Chu Xingchen gripped his sword tightly, glaring at Li Xingtian as he demanded irritably:
"I'm asking about you! What's your condition?!"
"Me?!" Li Xingtian froze, then noticed his own blood-soaked spiritual energy and suddenly understood.
"I'm fine. It's just... Master, your cultivation technique seems to interact with those blood pools..."
As he spoke, Li Xingtian's expression turned uneasy. After all, he'd never heard of any orthodox cultivation method interacting with evil ritual formations.
Moreover, his current technique now took precedence over the evil cultivators'.
Would he unleash mountains of corpses and seas of blood every time he fought?
But with time pressing, this wasn't the moment for deep questions. Chu Xingchen quickly interjected:
"As long as you're alright. Reinforcements are likely coming. What's the situation?"
Li Xingtian swiftly sensed his spiritual energy replenishing, his cultivation rising rapidly as the technique circulated.
He immediately replied: "I saw Senior Sister enter the mine earlier. I've killed all the Foundation Establishment cultivators inside. She should be safe. Master, get the warehouse items and withdraw immediately. I'll handle this one!"
Chu Xingchen nodded slightly before dashing toward the warehouse.
The other Qingfeng Sect Foundation Establishment disciples had already fled when their elder was struck down.
No one obstructed Chu Xingchen now. He kicked open the warehouse door.
The sight before him made Chu Xingchen pause.
The warehouse held a decent quantity of spirit stones, but a formation inside used blood energy from the mine to nourish them.
The spirit stones before him were no longer their usual pale blue, glowing with spiritual light.
They were now light red, exuding a bloody stench.
Wait... wouldn't using these spirit stones to buy things get me beaten as an evil cultivator on the spot?!
These people had to desecrate something, and they chose spirit stones.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Following the principle of "since I'm already here..."
Chu Xingchen still stuffed all the spirit stones before him into his spatial ring.
The ring space quickly filled to capacity, leaving only a few scattered stones behind.
After casually pocketing two more spirit stones, Chu Xingchen resisted further greed.
Outside, Li Xingtian had already eliminated Elder Mo Chen.
The elder now resembled a desiccated corpse—nothing but skin stretched over bones.
Chu Xingchen observed that Li Xingtian's cultivation had reached mid-Foundation Establishment.
He had caught up to Li Yingling's progress.
Li Xingtian now initiated his primary plan: preparing the simplest possible teleportation array—so simple that neither destination nor distance could be guaranteed.
Chu Xingchen tossed several blood-red spirit stones from his spatial ring to Li Xingtian to power the array.
Just then, Li Yingling emerged from the mine shaft, dragging someone along.
Li Yingling also wore a ghost mask, holding Ning Qiongqiong's father—Ning Kun.
As she stepped out, numerous miners followed closely behind, rushing out of the mine.
"You've all seen it. Staying here means certain death—only a matter of when." Li Xingtian kept working as he spoke. "I've drawn a teleportation array."
"This array might send you far or near—destination is uncertain! You might even be recaptured by Qingfeng Sect disciples."
"You can choose to stay. I won't force you. But this is your only chance! Consider carefully. Those willing, step into the circle."
Li Xingtian projected his voice with spiritual energy, ensuring every miner heard clearly.
The miners stared blankly at the scene before them.
But some were quick-witted. Li Xingtian's battle inside the mine had shattered parts of the illusion formation with its sweeping spiritual energy.
As the illusion faded, the miners saw the bloody pools and the life force being extracted from their own bodies.
How could they not understand now? Beyond being worked like beasts, they would ultimately have their very marrow sucked dry by the Qingfeng Sect members.
One miner spoke excitedly: "Thank you for saving us, Benefactor! We have nothing to repay you with!"
Li Xingtian didn't respond, keeping his head down as he finished the final array markings.
He inserted the spirit stones into their designated slots.
The array flared with brilliant light.
Li Xingtian took a deep breath: "Don't thank me. Just remember: when you have the chance, don't be a bystander."
For some reason, seeing these people reminded Li Xingtian of his childhood friend from the same village—the one who had died here.
He gave a self-deprecating smile. Why did he want to save them?
But cultivation was all about achieving unimpeded thoughts, wasn't it?
Whether for inner peace or for the memory of his friend...
Ultimately, it was what his heart desired.
He then glanced at his master.
His master simply gave him a slight nod.
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