Chapter 111 The Enemy's Retreat

At this moment, the female ghost in her bright red wedding dress, her skirt and veil flying, returned to Yuanshi Tianzun's side. Zhao Chenghuang, surrounded by black mist like a ferocious ghost, led Sun Miaomiao, Yuan Ting, Guo Hezu, and several other experts, charging into the stone temple.

Intense fighting sounds, mixed with gunfire, came from the temple entrance.

The Shangui (Mountain Spirit) camp and the orderly members outside the temple were engaged in a fierce confrontation.

Originally wanting to fight to the death to seize the staff, the Shangui camp hesitated when they heard Bai Wu Jinji's call to retreat. Gritting their teeth in unwillingness, they retreated towards the temple gate while confronting Zhao Chenghuang and the others who had charged into the temple.

Although they were closer to the staff than Zhao Chenghuang's group, the distance was negligible and didn't give them an advantage.

Moreover, after being tormented by the boots and robe, they were wary of the black jade doll in Yuanshi Tianzun's hand.

This was the reason for Bai Wu Jinji's retreat. The Shangui camp's will wavered, and they lost their courage and resolve.

Zhao Chenghuang glanced at Yuanshi Tianzun not far away and the mountain god statue behind him. Seeing the staff in the statue's hand, his expression relaxed slightly. Without Zhang Yuanqing needing to remind him, Zhao Chenghuang tacitly allowed the enemies from the Shangui camp to retreat.

Sun Miaomiao, Yuan Ting, and the others also breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions visibly relaxing as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their hearts.

On the way here, their only prayer was that Yuanshi Tianzun could hold on a little longer. They didn't expect that he actually managed to hold out, single-handedly stopping twenty-two experts. As for Guan Ya, the Taiyi Sect members automatically ignored her.

After all, this woman was unheard of, and her performance in the arena was mediocre.

Sun Miaomiao and the others suppressed their complicated emotions and focused on confronting the Shangui camp.

Finally, Bai Wu Jinji and the others successfully left the stone temple, and the fighting outside ceased.

The enemies from the Shangui camp retreated into the maze forest.

Outside the temple, Zhao Chenghuang's team swarmed into the stone temple. Including the eight Night Watchers inside the temple, there were a total of eighteen people: three rogue cultivators, eight Night Watchers, and five official members of the Five Elements Alliance.

Seeing the enemy retreat and the staff intact, joy appeared on their faces.

"That was close. I almost thought we were done for."

"If the staff had been seized by the Shangui camp, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Thanks to Yuanshi Tianzun. How did he do it? It's incredible!"

After waiting a few more minutes, Tianxia Guihuo led Mudan Xianzi, Asano Ryo, and the others back in a hurry.

The official Xingzhe (Star Travellers) of the Five Elements Alliance had been constantly monitoring the map. After Yuanshi Tianzun teleported away with Guan Ya, they rushed along the route they had just taken like madmen.

During the process, they had to look at the map every two or three seconds, fearing that the positioning cursor representing Guan Ya and Yuanshi Tianzun would go out, fearing that the Shangui camp would obtain the staff and put the mountain god camp in an irreversible disadvantage.

But as time passed, Mudan Xianzi and the others' mood underwent a huge change, from initial despairing prayer to surprise and bewilderment, and finally to: he actually managed to hold them back.

When they returned to the mountaintop, in addition to the joy of "escaping death," there was also a strong sense of security.

This kind of security was usually only something they could experience from their deacon-level leaders.

But now, Yuanshi Tianzun of the same level had done it.

Then, the teams led by Guanzhong Kui Bao and the Death Knight finally arrived at the mountaintop.

This team, composed entirely of rogue cultivators, suffered heavy losses. The original team of 12 people was reduced to seven.

But there was no sign of failure or discouragement on their faces. On the contrary, they looked excited and high-spirited.

While looking around in the crowd, Guanzhong Kui Bao said loudly:

"Yuanshi Tianzun, you're really something. How did you hold back that group of beasts from the Shangui camp? Hmm, which one is Yuanshi Tianzun? I haven't met him yet." After saying that, his gaze fell on the young man being guarded by the members of the Five Elements Alliance, and he immediately understood.

Facing Guanzhong Kui Bao's question, under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Yuanqing explained seriously:

"I first used the reward item from the arena, the Houtu Boots..."

He babbled on and on, telling everyone about his plan, his items, and the various details he had considered.

Those who didn't understand Yuanshi Tianzun listened with rapt attention, feeling the gap between them in certain aspects, thinking that Yuanshi Tianzun was indeed a famous genius, and that they couldn't hope to match his calm and thoughtful mind and strategy.

But those who were familiar with him suddenly looked strange.

With Yuanshi Tianzun's personality, he would either be pretending or bragging at this time. How could he be so honest?

After he finished speaking, Zhao Chenghuang said in a deep voice:

"Except for me, Sun Miaomiao, Guan Ya, Yuanshi Tianzun, Yuan Ting, the Maoshan Shaman, Tianxia Guihuo, the rest of you, withdraw from the mountain god temple and guard the open space. Wood Elementals, patrol the nearby forest to prevent the Shangui camp from sneaking back."

"Everyone, work together to protect the staff. Once the temple gate closes in 60 minutes, we'll have completed the mission."

He made his deployments in an orderly manner, deliberately placing Guanzhong Kui Bao and the Death Knight at the entrance so that he could see them at any time.

These two were outstanding among the rogue cultivators, especially the Death Knight, who was a wild Night Watcher.

And as the Night Watcher-led secret organization, Dark Night Rose, any wild Night Watcher was highly likely to be related to that organization.

So, he needed to be on guard.

After everyone followed his instructions and took their positions, Zhao Chenghuang looked at the people inside the hall, whom he considered to be the core of the camp, and said:

"The Shangui camp retreated so decisively. I have a feeling that they have something else to rely on."

Tianxia Guihuo immediately said:

"The next level should be entering the Lost City. The missions in the forest are mainly related to the mountain god, so the missions in the Lost City will be related to the heretics. The Shangui camp is the protagonist, so I think they want to use the Lost City to reverse their disadvantage."

"So, they retreated decisively, not wanting to perish with us." Sun Miaomiao nodded slightly.

Tianxia Guihuo pointed to the murals in the temple and said:

"These murals are very interesting. They are related to the Lost City and should be the hints the dungeon is giving us."

The four Night Watchers from the Taiyi Sect walked to the murals and carefully observed them.

Zhao Chenghuang frowned and said:

"The heretics are using the essence and blood of a large number of ordinary people to sacrifice to something, or trying to summon something?"

Yuan Ting thought for a while and said:

"Sacrifice... I only know that our sect master seems to be able to accept the sacrifices of the disciples in the sect. Can other professions do that too?"

The Taiyi Sect's sect master can accept the sacrifices of the disciples? Tianxia Guihuo, Guan Ya, and Zhang Yuanqing were stunned when they heard this.

This was information they had never heard before.

Sun Miaomiao coughed lightly:

"That's not important. What's important is that the beings that can accept sacrifices are all supreme. We shouldn't encounter a boss of that level in this dungeon, right?

"Perhaps it's just a backdrop. Well, we'll only be able to explore the truth once we enter the Lost City."

Then, Sun Miaomiao pursed her lips and looked at Zhang Yuanqing with anticipation:

"Yuanshi Tianzun, can you lend me that child to hold for a while?"

"Oh, of course!" Zhang Yuanqing spat out a mouthful of Taiyin power, and bird-like yin energy fell on the ground, turning into a round and cute infant with sparse fuzz.

Sun Miaomiao was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling as she stepped forward and picked up the little rascal, giving it a series of "smooches".

At the same time, she felt a little surprised. Yuanshi Tianzun was particularly easy to talk to today. After leaving the mountain god temple, the people from the Shangui camp re-entered the maze forest, but they didn't go deep. They chose a fork in the road and rested in place.

Bai Wu Jinji looked at his silent companions and said loudly:

"We should discuss our next actions. But before that, do you need a few minutes to lick the wounds of your bruised egos?"

Hearing this, everyone glared at him.

Bai Wu Jinji sneered:

"Learn from A-Yi. He never gets frustrated, never gets scared. Even in the most difficult battles, he will fight to the end without changing his expression. That's why he's the top of the list.

"Look at you guys. You're like stray dogs after encountering some setbacks."

Jiu Lou Yu, who had the temperament of an ancient swordsman, said indifferently:

"Stop talking nonsense. Get straight to the point."

Bai Wu Jinji nodded slightly:

"The staff isn't something we must seize. It's not worth risking a team wipe for it. Even if we had stayed just now, everyone, think about it. This dungeon has two major camps. The primeval forest belongs to the mountain god camp, and the Lost City belongs to us.

"From the time we entered the dungeon until now, it's been less than 24 hours, and the main quest is to survive for three days. In terms of time alone, the dungeon is only one-third complete. The real deciding factor isn't in the mountain god temple.

"The Lost City is the key point for us to reverse the situation. In addition, we have two secret weapons, one from an item and one from the dungeon. Heh, I'll keep you in suspense for now. You'll find out when the time comes."

Hearing this, the dejection on everyone's faces disappeared, and they eagerly asked what the secret weapon from the dungeon was.

But Bai Wu Jinji smiled and didn't say a word.

This guy is really amazing. He managed to restore these guys' confidence in just a few words. A secret weapon from the dungeon? I need to find a way to notify Yuanshi Tianzun... Kou Beiyue thought to himself.

Inside the stone temple, Guan Ya said in a low voice:

"What was that all about just now, saying so much?"

She was referring to the act of telling everyone how to delay the Shangui camp. Zhang Yuanqing's expression froze for a moment, and he said helplessly:

"The price of the Houtu Boots is that it makes people honest. Honest people don't lie."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Guan Ya's eyes light up.

Yuanshi Tianzun becoming an honest person made Sun Miaomiao, Zhao Chenghuang, and the others' expressions turn somewhat strange.

The experienced driver's eyes turned, revealing a rare slyness. Just as she was about to speak, she heard footsteps approaching. Yuan Ting walked over with fiery eyes and said:

"Yuanshi Tianzun, it's time for you to pay me my reward."

"What reward?" Zhang Yuanqing asked blankly.

"You really forgot." Yuan Ting's ordinary face revealed resentment:

"In order to help you, I betrayed the organization and was thrown into the training camp to be tortured until now. But you forgot your promise to me."

After he said that, Zhang Yuanqing remembered: "You mean those gossips... Sorry, I was lying to you at the time. I can't reveal those secrets."

He honestly spoke his mind.

Yuan Ting widened his eyes and said angrily: "Damn it, are you trying to force me to join the Shangui camp? I'm telling you, I'm capable of anything."

His expression was like that of a fiancé whose bride had run off with the old Wang next door, full of anger and despair, which was touching.

Sun Miaomiao's eyes rolled, and she said with a serious expression:

"Yuanshi Tianzun, you're wrong to do that. You can't go back on your word once you've promised someone."

Tianxia Guihuo, Zhao Chenghuang, and the others couldn't help but glance at Sun Miaomiao.

The next second, Tianxia Guihuo chimed in:

"Sun Miaomiao is right. A person cannot stand without integrity. As the leader of the team, you need to demonstrate corresponding prestige, and the first step in establishing prestige is honesty."

Zhao Chenghuang's expression was stern, but he nodded seriously: "Indeed!"

These guys are all mixed with personal grudges to some extent... Guan Ya criticized their unscrupulous behavior in her heart and said:

"I also think that people should be honest."

Zhang Yuanqing looked troubled, and after some hesitation, he said:

"Then, then fine, I can say some secrets. But you have to promise not to reveal them."

Everyone in the hall nodded together.