Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Stranded in Bao Hua

Wei Yun Xi instinctively put Seven-Star Doom Staff away in her storage ring. Then she opened the room formation and rushed outside, wanting to see how much damage she had caused and estimate whether the spirit stones she had just mined were enough to pay for it.

When Yun Xi appeared in the courtyard, the other fellow disciples temporarily staying there also came out of their rooms. Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

“Senior Brother Sheng, what’s going on?” someone asked.

Everyone tried their best to steady themselves and looked at Sheng Yu Hong.

Sheng Yu Hong said with a serious expression, “It seems something happened in the Bao Hua Mountain range. Martial Uncle Feng and I will go take a look. Don’t act rashly.”

With that, his figure flashed, and he vanished.

Yun Xi quietly looked around. She saw the earlier tremor had already ended, and no cracks appeared in the small courtyard’s ground. Only then did she settle her heart. Thankfully, the shaking had not been caused by her swing.

Then she walked over to Qin Tong Shuang and Mu Ning Zhu and asked with a frown, “Senior Sister Mu, is there something wrong with that secret realm?”

Mu Ning Zhu shook her head. “I’m not sure. We’ll know once Senior Brother Sheng comes back, but it must be related to that secret realm that hasn’t emerged yet.”

Qin Tong Shuang frowned as if deep in thought and did not speak at first. After Mu Ning Zhu finished, Qin Tong Shuang whispered, “Senior Sister Mu, Yun Xi, I think the secret realm appearing startled the demon beasts in the Bao Hua Mountain range. Maybe they rioted…”

“You mean there’s a beast tide?” Mu Ning Zhu reacted quickly.

“I’m guessing,” Qin Tong Shuang said, not denying it.

Long Dao Yu, who had been listening with his ears pricked up, sucked in a sharp breath. He rushed over and said, “Martial Uncles, if that’s true, we should leave Bao Hua City first. Little shrimps like us in the Qi Refining Stage would be walking into death if we run into a beast tide.”

This time, Qin Tong Shuang did not respond. Yun Xi, however, nodded in agreement.

Mu Ning Zhu suddenly looked up at the sky, then took a deep breath. “Too late!”

“Ah? Why?” Long Dao Yu cried out.

Yun Xi seemed to sense something too. She looked up and saw formations closing in the air. After golden formation patterns flashed, it showed the formation had already taken shape.

“The city-protecting grand formation is already activated. For now, we can’t leave unless the formation is shut down,” Mu Ning Zhu said, lowering her gaze to the people beside her.

Long Dao Yu’s mouth hung open for a long time before he finally managed to speak. “Then we have to stay and fight the beast tide?”

“Probably,” Mu Ning Zhu said.

The courtyard fell into a brief, heavy silence. A beast tide was not easy to deal with.

[It felt like she had flapped her butterfly wings too hard and even dragged a beast tide into this,] Yun Xi thought, [but she didn’t know if they could survive this hurdle.]

At that moment, Sheng Yu Hong returned. “Bao Hua City’s city-protecting grand formation has been activated. The cultivators who entered the Bao Hua Mountain range are withdrawing into the city, and behind them is a beast tide the demon beasts launched on short notice.”

“The City Lord’s mansion doesn’t have enough guards to handle this beast tide. The cultivators in the city need to act together. Soon, tasks to block the beast tide will be issued. I will accept this city defense task in the name of the Hao Ran Sect.”

“All of you should prepare. Don’t miss this chance to train. While a large wave of cultivators hasn’t poured in yet, it’s best to replenish supplies now. If you don’t have enough spirit stones, buy from our own shop.”

“Yes, Senior Brother Sheng,” everyone answered.

With Sheng Yu Hong’s reminder, everyone started moving.

The Qi Refining Stage disciples at the outpost all surged toward the front yard. The Foundation Establishment Stage disciples left the outpost in groups, heading to shops in the city to stock up.

Yun Xi did not dare to be careless either. She pulled Qin Tong Shuang and ran to Lin Tai Pavilion again. The one who received her was still the same Qi Refining Stage attendant from before, but this time there was no smile on his face.

“You two Daoist friends, what do you need?” he asked.

Yun Xi did not want to waste time. “I want a defensive treasure, and I also want a flying treasure. I want two thousand sheets each of first- and second-grade blank talisman paper, and beast blood for drawing talismans. Bring those first. If I think of anything else, I’ll tell you.”

Qin Tong Shuang also listed what she needed. She chose a defensive treasure as well, and she also wanted an attack array plate.

“Alright. Please wait, you two Daoist friends. I’ll go fetch the items now,” the attendant said.

Yun Xi and Qin Tong Shuang exchanged a look and went into a private room.

“Do you think we can return to the sect safely?” Yun Xi asked.

“We definitely can,” Qin Tong Shuang said. “A beast tide happened here, so the sect will definitely send disciples to support us. We just need to hold off the first wave.”

“I understand. If we go outside the city to hunt demon beasts, it’s better to form a party,” Qin Tong Shuang said, voicing her thoughts.

“Mm, but I’m at the Foundation Establishment Stage now, so I’ll probably have trouble being assigned with you.” Yun Xi looked at her. “When the time comes, you have to be careful.”

“I know,” Qin Tong Shuang replied.

They were both shaken and also facing this kind of situation for the first time, so they lost the mood to keep talking. When the attendant brought the items they needed, they quickly chose what they wanted. This time, neither of them bargained. After paying, they waved their hands and put everything into their storage pouches.

Yun Xi could tell Qin Tong Shuang was not short on spirit stones. Qin Tong Shuang bought that Fourth Rank array plate without blinking, and she also bought a bell-shaped defensive treasure that could withstand a Nascent Soul strike. It was a truly fine treasure.

While Yun Xi was silently thinking about Qin Tong Shuang, Qin Tong Shuang was thinking the same thing about Yun Xi.

Yun Xi chose a plain, unadorned white jade magnolia hairpin. It was a high-grade defensive treasure that could block three full-power Nascent Soul Stage attacks. She also bought the Yun Xia flying boat. Even though the space was small and could only fit two people, it could be controlled by spiritual energy or spirit stones. Its speed could reach the escape speed of an early Nascent Soul cultivator, making it a must-have for running away.

After leaving Lin Tai Pavilion, the two of them rushed to “Hundred Pills Hall.” Pills were also a must. They bought some healing pills, pills that replenished spiritual energy, and antidote pills, then hurried back to the outpost.

Cultivators in the city all moved in a hurry. Shops selling pills, talismans, treasures, and arrays were almost packed with cultivators. Clearly, others had also realized how serious the situation was and were stocking up first.

After returning to the rear courtyard, Yun Xi split up with Qin Tong Shuang. They needed to refine their treasures. Otherwise, going to the battlefield with zero protection was no different from seeking death.

Yun Xi entered the room where she had cracked the floor, opened the isolation formation, and dropped onto the meditation cushion. She rubbed her temple.

Just then, Dian Dian cautiously poked his little head out from Yun Xi’s collar and transmitted, “Master, did something bad happen?”

Yun Xi had long sensed Dian Dian’s movement. Earlier outside, Dian Dian had not shown his head, but after they returned to the outpost, he popped out.

Yun Xi lifted Dian Dian out and said, “The anomaly in the Bao Hua Mountain range triggered a beast tide. My fellow disciples and I are trapped in Bao Hua City for now. Later, we’ll probably have to fight the beast tide coming out of the mountain range.”

Dian Dian’s ears twitched. He did not expect his master to be this unlucky.

“I forgot to buy a spirit beast pouch,” Yun Xi said. “Stay in the room and cultivate for now. I might have to go to battle at any time.”

“Master, Dian Dian wants to follow you,” Dian Dian said, not missing the chance to show loyalty.

“Fine. Decide for yourself,” Yun Xi said.

Then Yun Xi set Dian Dian aside and began refining the newly bought defensive treasure.