Monarch Night

Ningxue Sword answered.

Dongfang Sansan asked again: "Is there anything unusual on the mountain, or anything strange existing?"

Ningxue Sword chuckled and said, "Ninth Brother, why don't you just directly ask if I've seen the Purple Crystal Bee?"

Dongfang Sansan quickly realized: "There's a Purple Crystal Bee? How big is it?"

"As big as a human head."

"That's it then."

Dongfang Sansan immediately understood and said, "Then you and Xiao Tianshui should stay put there. Gu Changhan of the Hanjian Mountain Sect seems to be heading there... Xue Fuxiao and the others should go immediately. This time, there might be a supreme battle!"

"Understood!"

"No matter who the Wei Wo Zheng Sect sends, we must spare no effort to kill the Fire Demon!"

"Yes! Ninth Brother, this issue with the Purple Crystal Bee and the Purple Crystal Soul was brought to my attention by Fang Che. This kid's not bad; give him some credit." Ningxue Sword said.

"That's not for you to consider." Dongfang Sansan replied.

"Alright." Ningxue Sword touched his nose.

He didn't dare say: I'm also a major figure; why can't I consider these things?

Xue Fuxiao can think about it, does he even have the brains for it?

Of course, these words Ningxue Sword only said in his heart or perhaps to Xue Fuxiao; when speaking to Dongfang Sansan, even with extra courage, he wouldn't dare.

...

After ending the communication, Dongfang Sansan immediately started making arrangements.

There was a hint of worry in his expression.

"So, the Wei Wo Zheng Sect over there was planning for this, no wonder they sent so many people to the Southeast at once."

"If they obtain the Purple Crystal Soul this time, they might have to make concessions regarding the number of people returning to Yan Nan."

Dongfang Sansan then sighed.

His expression was heavy.

The Purple Crystal Spirit Mine is right there... but our Guardian side has found nothing at all.

Yet the Wei Wo Zheng Sect found it with such precision.

This... is the difference indeed.

And Fang Che... He's achieved significant feats again this time, but there's no way to reward him. If rewarded, it's basically sending this guy to death.

So far, Fang Che has accomplished several major feats, but nothing has been acknowledged.

Dongfang Sansan's gaze reflected some worry.

It was somewhat unfair...

So he picked up the Communication Jade, intending to contact Ningxue Sword, but after some thought, he put it down again.

"No way, this guy's mouth is too loose, easily leak secrets."

"Wait till Little Xue returns to talk about this. It's always most reassuring when Little Xue handles things, although... not very sharp-minded."

...

Fang Che and others were drenched in sweat amidst the torrential rain.

The lava solidified into a massive block, and Ningxue Sword sliced it, making it easier to clear. Dozens of people lifted a whole block, revealing the hot, steaming land beneath.

With a shout, the huge piece of lava was thrown into the canyon.

The group kept throwing it out, and the pathway here was several zhang lower than usual.

This needed addressing because regular people would have to climb here, and in the rain, pooling water could drown people.

Once the lava blocks were removed, the slope was adjusted, and the other side was opened, allowing water to flow away immediately.

The road suddenly became incredibly wide.

The original mountain path only allowed two or three people to walk side by side, and in narrow spots, just one person. Now, after moving the lava blocks, it could accommodate dozens of carriages to drive abreast.

This continued for sixty li.

Suddenly, the group realized: Lord Jian's few strikes had actually sliced through over a hundred li of lava!

And he had chopped it into several sections!

"Impressive!"

People gasped in amazement.

They swallowed rainwater mixed with volcanic ash.

After toiling hard and finally clearing the road, everyone rushed forward.

The locals in this area... we don't know if there are any left...

As they moved forward, they saw another group of people rushing over, covered in dust and dirt.

Both sides were taken aback as they came face to face.

The leader of the other group shouted, "Is it Master Yuan from Baiyun State?"

"Master Cao from Baixiang Continent?"

Yuan Jingjiang was equally delighted.

He didn't expect that just when he cleared a path, the other side also did, meaning they didn't have to work further ahead.

On the other side, Master Cao had just taken a few steps forward and then stopped abruptly.

Because he saw behind Yuan Jingjiang were actually three to four hundred people.

Although exhausted and some injured, their combat power was mostly intact.

Unable to help himself, he looked back at his own side, seeing forty to fifty people, covered in wounds.

His face wore a bitter expression, more painful than crying: "Brother Yuan, how many of your people made it?"

"Around four hundred, all here. What about yours?"

"We... also had around four hundred." Master Cao's eyes almost filled with tears: "And they're all here."

Immediately, the atmosphere was quite heavy.

The torrential rain was pouring, leaving everyone's heart icy cold.

"Lost... over three hundred?"

Master Cao's face showed an expression more painful than crying, twisting, convulsing, he said: "Gone... all gone."

He asked full of hope: "How did you manage it?"

"We..." Yuan Jingjiang couldn't help but glance at Fang Che, who slightly shook his head. Yuan Jingjiang coughed, "This journey was relatively peaceful..."

Hearing this, everyone's faces turned somewhat red.

Peaceful... Ten or so brushes with death still being called peaceful. If not for Fang Che, perhaps not one of our four hundred would have made it.

It wouldn't even be as good as on the other side.

...

Next.

Everyone from both sides kept a silent understanding.

And they very tacitly joined forces, starting the rescue search forward.

The bodies along the way were directly burned.

As they crossed this mountain, they came to a plain surrounded by mountains, dotted not only with villages but even a small town.