"Someone dares to attack disciples of the ’Shenxiao Dao Sect’?"
The faces of the two Outer Disciples changed drastically at these words, some even showing disbelief.
Li Yunjing wiped his tears and choked out, "If it weren’t for the Top Grade Magical Artifact ’Gale Boots,’ I would probably have lost my life as well."
As he spoke, Li Yunjing was almost in tears.
"Damn it! This is a big deal! Quickly, follow me to see Steward Wang!"
The previously cold-faced Outer Disciple was now furious. Without waiting for an explanation, he dragged Li Yunjing towards the valley.
The other person saw Li Yunjing still dazed and shouted in a low voice, "Catch up quickly!"
"Yes, senior brother!"
Li Yunjing sighed and followed the senior brother towards the valley.
The valley was hot, noticeably hotter than outside, like two different worlds.
It was barren here, nothing but rocks.
Of course, in the distance, Li Yunjing saw clusters of houses made of piled stones.
He guessed those were miners’ dwellings.
On the other side, some houses were built quite well.
These should be the residences of the Outer Disciples of the ’Shenxiao Dao Sect.’
In addition, there seemed to be many caves dug into the cliff walls of the valley.
These caves’ interiors were unclear, but they did not look like the positions of mining pits.
Because Li Yunjing could see a huge cave opening deep within, black as ink, impossible to see into.
At the cave entrance, some ragged mortals were going in and out.
These people carried baskets and loads, transporting something.
Li Yunjing couldn’t see clearly because of the distance, but as it was a Spirit Stone Mine, it wasn’t hard to guess what was in the baskets.
The road underfoot was uneven as they walked.
Li Yunjing felt countless eyes scanning him.
He didn’t know how many were hidden, this tight defense made Li Yunjing nervous.
After walking three miles with the senior brother, they arrived at a stone cave attached to the cliff.
Here, the senior brother stopped.
Under Li Yunjing’s watch, the senior brother muttered a mantra, raised his hand, and a green light flew from his hand into the bottomless cave.
A while later, there seemed to be a response inside.
At the cave entrance, there was a ripple, then the air glimmered with a red light, which twisted and finally disappeared, returning to its calm state.
Two Inner Sect Disciples in green robes emerged from the cave.
"There’s a restriction here! The defense is so tight."
Li Yunjing was slightly shocked, not expecting such formidable defenses here at the cave entrance. Stepping wrongly could be fatal if unaware of the environment.
With that in mind, Li Yunjing was even more cautious.
He had to keep up with the senior brother, a single careless step could spell his doom.
"Chen Zongfu, why are you here?"
One Inner Sect Disciple asked coldly.
"Reporting to Senior Brother Ma, this is a fellow disciple escorting supplies, something went wrong on the way."
Outer Disciple Chen Zongfu tightened his heart, pointed at Li Yunjing, and quickly explained.
"Hm? Speak in detail!"
Senior Brother Ma was stunned for a moment, then asked softly.
Chen Zongfu quickly repeated Li Yunjing’s story.
"Heh heh! Interesting! Someone dares to target our ’Shenxiao Dao Sect’? Truly courting death!"
The two Inner Sect Disciples sneered repeatedly.
As for the death of the four Outer Disciples, they showed no emotion, angered only by the affront to their ’Shenxiao Dao Sect.’
In the ’Shenxiao Dao Sect,’ Servant Disciples and Outer Disciples were not considered "one of us".
Only after advancing to the Inner Sect were they acknowledged as sect members.
Despite seeming close in realm, the battle capability gap between Inner and Outer Disciples was immense.
Inner Disciples could learn true inheritance techniques and divine techniques, possessing all kinds of Top Grade Magical Artifacts, and some even had Spiritual Artifacts for protection.
Above Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, and Top Grade Magical Artifacts were Spiritual Artifacts.
Spiritual Artifacts also came in four grades.
Generally, Foundation Establishment Realm disciples used Spiritual Artifacts, with such protective treasures, these Inner Disciples were exceedingly proud.
Of course, they had the qualifications to be so.
In the ’Shenxiao Dao Sect,’ it was common for Inner Disciples to encounter Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators while training outside.
Escaping pursuit was common, making comebacks were not unusual, and there were even cases of defeating Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
These tales were passed down within ’Shenxiao Dao Sect,’ fascinating each generation of Qi Cultivation Realm disciples.
Each one fantasized about such achievements.
The inheritance of ’Shenxiao Dao Sect’ was far superior to that of ordinary Loose Cultivators, small clans, or small sects; the battle prowess gap was clear, and they couldn’t be seen as just any cultivators of the same level!
Therefore, these Inner Disciples naturally looked down on Outer Disciples, indifferent to their deaths.
"Since that’s the case, you two follow me inside!"
Senior Brother Ma nodded and, with another disciple, turned and headed into the cave.
Chen Zongfu and Li Yunjing followed them one after the other into the cave.
Inside the cave, it wasn’t hot, it even felt cool, similar in temperature to outside the ’Red Sun Valley.’
On the cave walls were fist-sized Luminous Beads.
They lit the cave path clearly.
Li Yunjing followed the three of them smoothly, the cave being three zhang high and one zhang wide. The path wound through the darkness, with unknown black gravel everywhere, devoid of any life, not even moss.
As they went deeper, Li Yunjing felt they were going downward!
They had already gone deeper underground.
After walking another two miles, they reached a huge cavern filled with light, indistinguishable from outside.
Soon, all four were inside this stone chamber.
The space was square, ten zhang’s area, three zhang high, with glass lamps hanging on the black walls.
The floor was stone slabs, resembling a study, clean and tidy.
Behind the desk were bookshelves lined with various books, other shelves nearby holding some items.