However, whether he could leave alive or not, he no longer cared.
Li Mu, Yanyue, and the young Wen Jiu had already escaped safely, and old acquaintances were properly placed under Han Liâs care.
If he could establish a Foundation and still be alive, it was already a blessing. As long as he could salute Bai Jianxin, his only direct disciple, even death would be without regret.
"Martial Uncle, please let me go with you. With me around, there would at least be someone to take care of you." Wang Xianzhi shook his head, refusing.
Ye Chen reprimanded coldly, "This old man is a respectable Foundation Establishment cultivator, why would I need a young Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer brat like you to take care of me?"
Wang Xianzhi remained silent.
He silently picked up the cup on the table.
"Have some Spirit Tea."
"Help me up... get out, get out, this old man needs no help. Staying here, you will only be a burden and do nothing else."
Ye Chen was furious.
This kid, why so sentimental at a time like this?
When itâs time to go, go.
When itâs time to let go, let go.
Clingy like a woman.
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside. Li Yan tiptoed to the front of the room, quickly entered, and set up a Sound Insulation Barrier, whispering, "Fellow Daoist Ye, has your injury improved?"
"Whatâs going on?"
Ye Chen noticed something was wrong with Li Yan.
Li Yan quietly explained, "The frontline is already in disarray. Theyâve decided to abandon the Far West, Far North, and Far South territories, so we will be retreating soon. We have to leave tonight."
"So urgent?"
"Leaving in the first batch is the safest, with others covering the rear. If we leave later, wonât the people from the Three Life Gates let us go easily? By then, blocking us wonât just be Hidden Kill Sect cultivators."
"But I..."
Ye Chen tried to get up but couldnât move at all.
The Spirit Body was too severely injured. Even with Tier Two Lower Grade Healing Elixirs, it would take one or two months to walk normally. Leaving now, his fate would be uncertain, and taking Wang Xianzhi along might also suffer the same fate.
Li Yan scanned Ye Chenâs injuries with his Divine Sense, and his heart sank. The injuries were too heavy, he couldnât even use his Qi. In such a situation, injuries this severe would only lead to certain death.
However, thinking that Han Li was on the way, Li Yan felt a sense of relief. "Fellow Daoist Ye, donât worry. Iâve already sent a message to Elder Han. Elder Han is on the way here. With Elder Hanâs abilities, combined with us distracting the Hidden Kill Sect cultivators, leaving the Far West safely shouldnât be a problem."
Upon hearing Li Yanâs words, Ye Chen was stunned, "Fellow Daoist Li, my commitment to Fellow Daoist Han and Deadman Peak is already too much... Also, in my current condition, I would only drag him down. You shouldnât have sent a message to Fellow Daoist Han!"
Hearing this, Li Yan immediately became anxious.
"Fellow Daoist Ye has reached Foundation Establishment, so as long as you live, repaying the favor shouldnât be an issue in the future. If you feel you owe too much to Elder Han and donât want to trouble him, then Iâm afraid you only have this path to take.
If you come with me and stay in the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks, your end will be just like Eastern Celestial City and Celestial Official Bai. No matter how many merits you achieve, youâll always be an outsider in the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks."
Li Yan quickly persuaded, fearing Ye Chenâs stubbornness to stay.
This fear mirrored when Ye Chen was severely injured. He could see that the relationship between Han Li and Ye Chen was extraordinary, but Ye Chen didnât know. If Ye Chen died, could he survive?
Fortunately, Ye Chen survived.
Finally able to send Ye Chen away, one less deadly worry, yet Ye Chen refused to go.
"This..."
After Li Yanâs words, Ye Chen fell into silence.
Seeing the situation easing, Li Yan continued, "Moreover, if you come with me tonight, when Hidden Kill Sect cultivators attack, you will most likely die at their hands, failing to avenge Deadman Peakâs blood feud and leading this young boy to a pointless death. Itâs truly not worth it."
Saying so, Flame glanced at the silent Wang Xianzhi, "Let alone anything happening tonight. But this Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, still from the mundane world without any background, hopes for a way out, only if Elder Han speaks mightily, otherwise, in the vast Central Shen Yun Mountain Range, he really has no place to settle. In this situation, who is willing to spend time and resources training an outsider? Not using an outsider as cannon fodder would already be generous."
"This..."
Ye Chen fell into silence again, looking at Wang Xianzhi.
He couldnât help but sigh inwardly, yet this sigh brought joy to Li Yanâs heart.
Hesitation was good.
He feared Ye Chenâs stubbornness.
Little did he know, at that moment, Ye Chen never thought of leaving with Han Li.
His hesitation was only because of Wang Xianzhi.
Because in Ye Chenâs view, considering Deadman Peakâs current situation and his own, if the debt couldnât be repaid, it would instead burden Han Li.
After all, if he managed to leave alive and was discovered by Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks cultivators, he would be seen as a defecting disciple.
Han Li would surely be implicated.
If causing harm to Han Li, a benefactor whose kindness to Deadman Peak was as weighty as a mountain, it would be better for him to die.
...
At nightfall.
Wen Jiu arrived beyond Lihe Market.
Using Divine Sense, he confirmed the positions of Li Yan and Ye Chen.
But upon seeing Wang Xianzhi, Wen Jiu was somewhat surprised.
Du Feng and many geniuses of Deadman Peak had perished; even those in the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation werenât spared. Under Foundation Establishment, the outcome in this Golden Core Influence battle was as insignificant as dust; death was inevitable, surviving was a miracle.