Chapter 651: 651 Task
Tan Shaoting was struggling to hold on outside; there was no other way. Only by both of them continuing like this would it work.
Two hours later, Wang Congshan came out and tossed Tan Shaoting an Array Key. As long as he kept it on his person, he could go inside the array to rest.
It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that all the demon beasts were vanquished.
Tan Shaoting didn’t even glance at them; he really had too many in his hands.
Wang Congshan’s evaluation of Tan Shaoting grew even higher. One’s character becomes evident in such situations.
The two rested for one night without changing locations, right there on the blood-drenched ground.
After a night, they both finally recovered. "Thank you so much, Junior Brother Tan, for earlier."
"Senior Brother Wang, although I am a Loose Cultivator, I still have basic principles as a person. Besides, I’m now a Cultivator of the Shushan Sect; I can’t just ignore when a fellow member needs help."
It was daytime now, and the two hurriedly left.
By the afternoon, they returned to the garrison. In front of everyone, Wang Congshan sent a message to the Sect Leader.
The other eight people were ashen-faced. It was truly terrifying. What could they possibly do in such a situation?
"Senior Brother Wang, are the ten of us just going to hold this position?"
"Wait for the Sect Leader’s message. Reinforcements will definitely be sent. But we’ll still need to hold on here for a while."
The other eight looked at the two without speaking, all waiting for the Sect Leader’s message.
In the anxious wait, a Sound Transmission Talisman finally arrived.
Wang Congshan directly released it so everyone in the room could hear.
"You all have done very well. Reinforcements are already on the way, and other sects have been notified as well.
You need to hold out a while longer over there. Do not go into the mountains. Provide some protection for the people.
Once Master Wen Xian arrives, you can return if you wish."
Everyone understood—they had to stay. But knowing Master Wen Xian was leading the team, they all felt somewhat relieved.
In the Shushan Sect, Master Wen Xian was the most powerful. It showed how much importance the Sect Leader was placing on this.
"Okay, let’s divide into two teams, one I’ll lead, and the other will be led by Junior Brother Tan."
The remaining eight had no objections. Being able to help Senior Brother Wang out of so many demon beasts from the mountains showed high combat power. No matter the era, people revered the strong.
Master Wen Xian led a hundred people onto the Flying Boat. Among them were thirty in Foundation Establishment and seventy in Qi Cultivation, all volunteering with no compulsion from the sect.
This time Luo Yinghui and Xing Chongshan, along with their group of five, also joined.
Jiang Xueyan was quite anxious, worrying about Tan Shaoting. She initially planned to look for him after settling in the sect. However, due to this secret realm expedition, her gains were significant, advancing from the Qi Refining Eighth Layer to the Ninth Level.
After coming out of the cave abode, she learned Tan Shaoting had gone on a mission. But all three of the children were there.
So she visited the three children, gave them some Spirit Fruit, and informed the stewards of both places to take care of them.
Just after she got everything arranged, the issue with the Barrier to the Demon Realm emerged.
She hurried to enlist because she knew that to meet Tan Shaoting, she had to go herself.
It wasn’t that she didn’t know how cold he was toward people—he probably didn’t even remember her—but she liked him and had to at least try. Besides, she was genuinely worried about his safety. Although she might not be of much help, being by his side still made a difference.
Luo Yinghui was also somewhat worried about Tan Shaoting. But she wasn’t capable of taking care of his three children—not because she didn’t like them, but she couldn’t express it too openly. She had her dignity to consider. Having the eldest sister of the Shushan Sect chasing after a man would be quite embarrassing.
Yet she reckoned Tan Shaoting coming to find her was unlikely.
Luo Yinghui was more aware than anyone else that there was no possibility between her and Tan Shaoting, but secretly she still hoped he would notice her good qualities.
As for Cheng Yuanfang and Li Wenjun, they simply wanted more resources. When the three of them emerged from the secret realm, they had already sold all the gains they made there, exchanging for a large sum of Spirit Stones—the most they had ever seen.
This would provide many resources for future cultivation, and the two of them had also advanced from the Qi Refining Eighth Layer to the Ninth Level.
Given another opportunity to hunt demon beasts, they wouldn’t miss it, so they signed up again to slay demon beasts.
As for Xing Chongshan, he was there for Luo Yinghui. Qin Weichuan was simply looking to hone himself by hunting demon beasts.
Tan Shaoting’s team once again slew many demon beasts. The two teams were separated but took turns naturally.
One team faced Dashan, conducting a slaughter of the surfacing demon beasts, while the secondary team dealt with any that slipped by. They alternated daily, allowing time for rest.
Wang Congshan and Tan Shaoting were responsible for looking after the others, stepping in whenever anyone was in danger. This earned them even greater respect from their peers.
Any initial hesitance toward Tan Shaoting had completely vanished. Many there had been saved by him.
Everyone had progressed now. The general air carried a sense of gravitas.
On the tenth day of their perseverance, the demon beasts suddenly increased in number. This was far beyond what their group of ten could fend off.
Seeing this, Tan Shaoting calculated the time—their sect’s reinforcements should arrive soon.
"Hang in there, everyone. Ancestor Wenxian should be here soon." Wang Congshan had no other options—why were the beasts so endless?
"Senior Brother Wang, there are too many!"
"Let’s go; we have no other choice."
The ten lined up in a row; there was no retreat.
Step by step, they were forced back. Ultimately, nothing is more important than life. Just when they couldn’t hold any longer, the reinforcements from the sect arrived.
At last, the situation reversed. Although the demon beasts had increased significantly, so had the Cultivators—now a hundred strong, including thirty Foundation Establishment levels.
The ten were cycled out to meditate and recover.
Ye Wenxian had already set his sights on a disciple’s father.
Indeed, a tiger father begets no dog son—truly impressive. Such a person surely won’t remain obscure.
Once the ten had recovered, they were summoned to see Master Wen Xian.
As the leader, Wang Congshan explained the situation there.
"Alright, I understand. Soon other sects will arrive,
you ten can return to the sect if you wish, or stay here if you prefer."
Tan Shaoting was the first to step forward, "Master Wen Xian, I want to return."
There are still three children in the sect; it’s been almost three months since he’s seen them. Even if he rushed back now, he wouldn’t make it for their birthdays.
But leaving the three children alone in the sect for so long was unacceptable—he absolutely had to return to see them.