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Chapter 171: Flight
Chapter 171: Flight
Before the Qian family could break through the cave entrance, all the spirit stones in the spirit mine had been dug up.
Not a single one was left behind.
Elder Yu inspected the mine twice himself and scanned it twice with his spiritual sense, even asking Mo Hua to do the same, before he was satisfied that there were no remaining spirit stones.
"Elder, are we running away now?" Mo Hua asked eagerly.
He had been in the spirit mine for a long time and had not returned home in ages. The meat in his storage bag had been eaten, and even the precious brewed wine that he tried to ration had been drunk to the last drop.
Elder Yu surveyed the spirit mine one last time and then decisively waved his hand. "Let's go!"
Nearly a thousand demon hunters, their storage bags hanging full at their sides and carrying storage chests in pairs, began to leave through another passage that had been dug in advance.
These storage bags and chests were all prepared by Elder Yu beforehand.
The storage bags used by Qi refiners were the crudest in craftsmanship. While convenient to carry, they had very limited space inside.
The storage chests, on the other hand, were rectangular and offered much more space but were not as easy to carry, so they were usually only used when transporting bulky items.
Although the spirit mine was small, the amount of spirit stones dug out was not insignificant. It was only because Elder Yu had gathered all the storage bags and chests he could get his hands on that they were able to transport all the spirit stones away.
Mo Hua followed behind his father, Mo Shan, keeping pace with the rest of the demon hunters as they made their way out of the mine.
The exit of the mine was well-hidden; it was only with the help of Mo Hua's map that Elder Yu had been able to select this particular location.
After all, among all the demon hunters, no one had a map as detailed as Mo Hua's.
In fact, without Mo Hua's map, Elder Yu wouldn't have been able to find this location at all.
As they exited the mine, they found themselves on the outer reaches of Great Dark Mountain.
A sense of familiarity washed over Mo Hua.
The familiar peaks, dense forests, mist shrouded in a thin miasma, the soft earth and rocks underfoot, the faint yet fresh scent of soil, the mountain breeze brushing against his cheeks, and the constant calls of demon beasts echoing through the mountains—all of these lifted Mo Hua's spirits, dispelling the dullness of being cooped up in the mine.
Elder Yu, however, was not yet at ease. As soon as they exited the mine, he urged, "Quick, let's go! The sooner we get back, the better. If the Qian family catches up, we'll be in trouble!"
The demon hunters began to quicken their pace, hoping to get out of Great Dark Mountain and return to Tongxian City before the Qian family could catch up with them.
Once they reached Tongxian City, the Qian family wouldn't dare to make a move so easily.
And the demon hunters would have a decade's worth of food and clothing secured!
On the other hand, Qian Hong also sensed that something was amiss.
For several days now, Elder Yu hadn't scolded him.
Qian Hong leaped to the waist of the mountain where Elder Yu had appeared before and walked a few steps forward, only to discover that this cave entrance had also been sealed.
A chill ran through Qian Hong's heart.
Why was this entrance sealed?
Because they had finished digging out the spirit mine and had already fled!
There was no need for that old fool, Elder Lin Yu, to waste his breath here anymore!
Qian Hong couldn't remain calm any longer. He shouted urgently, "Hurry! Start digging! Those demon hunters have escaped!"
It was already impossible to find the passage that Elder Yu had dug out within Great Dark Mountain. Compared to the demon hunters, who made their living off the mountain, the Qian family had far less knowledge of its intricacies.
The only option now was to break through this entrance and find the escape route the demon hunters had used.
The Qian family cultivators toiled as they chiseled away at the stone wall, again and again.
Each time they broke through a bit, the formation would repair itself.
Qian Hong grew more anxious and furious by the moment, his anger directed at the formation master who had set up such a formation.
How dare you set up three layers of formations, inside and out! How thick-skinned!
Finally, Qian Hong couldn't take it anymore. He called for Qian Zhongxuan, and the two Foundation Establishment cultivators worked together. Their spiritual power surged like a tangible substance, forcefully breaking through the formation and demolishing the stone wall at the entrance.
Not only were the demon hunters gone, but not a single spirit stone could be found.
This was a spirit mine, yet it had been dug clean!
Not a single spirit stone remained!
Qian Hong cursed Elder Lin Yu in his heart.
Just how stingy must one be to dig a spirit mine dry like a dog chewing on a bone, leaving not a scrap behind?
A Qian clan disciple came to report: "Clan Head, we've found a tunnel!"
Qian Hong immediately rushed over and indeed found a newly dug tunnel, different from the one they had been tricked with. This one was deeper and wider.
The entrance of the tunnel was blocked by rubble, but there was no formation.
They must have been in a hurry and didn't have time to set one up.
Qian Hong waved his hand, and with a surge of spiritual power, the rubble blocking the entrance was sent flying.
Qian Hong sternly ordered, "All disciples, give chase immediately! If you see any demon hunters, show no mercy!"
Upon hearing this, the Qian clan cultivators turned solemn and, without hesitation, leaped into the tunnel to pursue the demon hunters.
As the demon hunters made their way, Elder Yu suddenly sensed something and quickly climbed up to a hilltop, turning back to look. His brows furrowed.
When Elder Yu climbed back down, Mo Hua asked, "Has the Qian clan caught up?"
Elder Yu nodded gravely.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and asked, "Didn't the Court of the Dao restrict the battle only to Nameless Peak? Now that we're out of Nameless Peak, won't they be overstepping their bounds if they make a move?"
Elder Yu replied, "The Qian clan has suffered tremendous losses, and now they're like cornered beasts, desperate and reckless. If they catch us, they can take all the spirit stones for themselves. If they don't, they won't just miss out on the spirit stones, but they'll also be at a huge loss."
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as well. "Then the Qian clan won't let this go."
Elder Yu nodded. "They're like starving wolves now, driven by the scent of blood. They want to devour us, and if they catch up, it will likely be a fight to the death."
"So, will fleeing to Tongxian City help?"
"Once we reach Tongxian City, they won't dare to make a move. Even if they suffer a huge loss, they'll have to swallow it."
Seeing that Mo Hua still didn't quite understand, Elder Yu further explained, "Great Dark Mountain is a chaotic place, and it's hard for the Court of the Dao to manage everything that happens here. But Tongxian City is different. It's under the direct jurisdiction of the Court of the Dao, and they govern it strictly. They can't afford any unrest..."
"If the Qian clan dares to make a move in Tongxian City, it would not only mean that they don't respect the Court of the Dao, but it would also be a direct insult to the Dao Court and a defiance of the Dao Laws! That would be a grave crime!"
Mo Hua still had a lingering doubt. "But the Court of the Dao in Tongxian City doesn't have many cultivators, and their influence isn't as strong as the Qian clan's. What can they do if the Qian clan defies them?"
"That's where you're wrong," Elder Yu said, raising an eyebrow. "The Court of the Dao is under the direct control of the Dao Court, and they wield the authority of the Dao Court. They represent the face of the Dao Court. If the Qian clan goes too far, the Court of the Dao can petition the Dao Court to send Dao soldiers to exterminate the entire Qian clan!"
Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua and slowly said, "At that time, the entire Qian clan will be stripped of their titles and ranks. The clan head will be executed for his crimes, their property confiscated, their cultivation techniques confiscated, and their clan members will be killed, exiled, or banished. They will be forced to change their surname and will never be allowed to use the surname Qian again. The Qian clan in Tongxian City will cease to exist!"
Mo Hua was shocked by what he heard.
(End of Chapter)
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