The evil cultivator choked on his words but obediently shut his mouth.
After all, his meridians were crippled and his spiritual energy was completely gone. He could do nothing. Rather than being tortured by this little girl whose way of thinking seemed a bit abnormal, it was better to keep his mouth shut and lower his presence. Perhaps there was still a chance for survival.
Moreover... a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his downcast eyes. Although he didn't know how these people had gotten in, such a huge commotion, combined with the arrays outside, meant the others would surely notice something was wrong. They would send reinforcements soon, and by then, these people would only serve as fodder!
At this moment, no one cared what the evil cultivator was thinking.
Feng Qingping was the first to react, a light flashing in her eyes. "Good idea!"
She immediately abandoned her useless hacking and slashing, also gathering massive spiritual energy into a giant blue palm print, slamming it hard against the junction where the chain met the wall!
Boom!
Another loud bang echoed as more stones shattered and flew, and the second chain broke loose from the wall! As the chain sagged, Feng Weilan's body also slumped, hanging precariously in mid-air.
"Weilan!" Feng Qingping rushed forward.
"Fifth Senior Sister, don't worry." Li Nanzhu calmly steadied Feng Weilan. "Hanging like this actually saves effort."
Beside them, Suisui curiously gave Feng Weilan a push, causing him to swing like a kite. The result was Suisui being lifted by the spine by Li Nanzhu.
"Be naughty again, and I'll use you as a hammer."
By now, Feng Weilan's spirit had improved quite a bit. "I'm fine. Get the chains off first."
Hearing this, Li Nanzhu and Feng Qingping let go at the same time to attack the other two chains. Caught off guard, Feng Weilan tumbled face-first into the dirt, the chains still draped over him.
Li Nanzhu: "..."
Feng Qingping: "..."
Feng Weilan struggled to lift his head, his face covered in dust. "...Could you two give me a heads-up next time?"
Feng Qingping turned her head and coughed lightly, pretending it had nothing to do with her.
"Oh, we were just in a hurry~" Li Nanzhu giggled as she helped Feng Weilan up. "See? Aren't they undone now?"
Feng Weilan looked down at the chains hanging from his body, then at the wall shattered into pieces, and found himself speechless.
Feng Qingping suddenly reached out and pinched Feng Weilan's face, checking left and right. "At least you're not disfigured."
"Fifth Senior Sister!" Feng Weilan's ears turned slightly red. "I'm fine..."
"Who cares if you're fine?" Feng Qingping said solemnly. "I'm worried that if you're disfigured, it'll affect the image of our Five Elements Dao Sect."
Li Nanzhu snickered on the side. Feng Weilan sighed helplessly. "You two..."
However, Li Nanzhu was more interested in the chains at the moment. She picked one up and gave it a light shake. "Not bad, quite handy." She suddenly turned to the evil cultivator. "Want to try it? How does it feel to be bound by your own chains?"
The evil cultivator's expression changed drastically. "You witch! You wouldn't dare..."
"Why wouldn't I?" Li Nanzhu sneered. "Compared to your lot using living people to refine pills, my little hobby is nothing. Besides..." She glanced at him. "It would be such a waste to use this on you. Better to keep them and see what good things I can forge back home."
On the other side, the members of the Hehuan Sect weren't idle either. When Li Nanzhu broke the stone wall, Rong Yuying also commanded the others to attack the walls.
"Those with insufficient spiritual energy, use your weapons to pry! Loosen the stones around the anchor points! Fast!"
The once tense and desperate rescue scene underwent a sudden change in atmosphere.
The beautiful female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect no longer cared about their image. Yu'er mimicked Li Nanzhu, using every ounce of her strength to condense spiritual energy and strike the stone wall, sending debris flying. Qinghe couldn't find an anchor point, so she simply pulled out her sword and daggers, prying and gouging at the stone wall with a rhythmic clatter. Rong Yuying, having the highest cultivation, was the fastest; a few palm strikes to a spot, and the chains would fall. Even Li Nanzhu and Feng Qingping quickly joined the ranks of the rescuers.
For a time, the stone room was filled with dust and flying stones. The scene looked like a massive violent demolition site.
"Wait." Li Nanzhu suddenly stopped, pointing to an intact anchor point on the wall. "Leave this one."
"Why?" everyone asked in confusion.
"Load-bearing wall," she said seriously. "We have to follow the basic laws of physics."
The Golden Core stage evil cultivator suddenly had a breakdown. "Are you here to save people or to do renovations?!"
Li Nanzhu thought for a moment. "A bit of both."
Soon, the stones holding the restrictions or chains of several more Hehuan Sect disciples were violently dismantled.
Although they still dragged heavy 'tails' behind them, they were at least free from the walls and could move!
"Can you still walk?" Rong Yuying asked softly.
Ling Suxin and several other female cultivators nodded through gritted teeth. "We can!"
However, when they reached the last two sisters, their movements froze.
The two female cultivators were already breathing their last, their pupils dilated, and black blood constantly seeping from the corners of their mouths. A-Yue struggled to raise her hand, clutching Jingyi's sleeve, her voice faint. "Senior Sister... don't... waste your strength..."
The other person also shook her head gently, her eyes showing no fear, only relief. "Take... take the others away... We... won't make it... But... can you... take us... home..."
Ling Suxin nodded heavily, tears finally falling. "Don't worry, we're taking you home."
Rong Yuying fell silent for a moment, then took out two pills from her storage bag. "These are soul-soothing pills. After taking them... there will be no pain."
Just then, A-Yue suddenly gripped Qinghe's sleeve tightly, making raspy, wheezing sounds in her throat.
"Hairpin..." Her blood-stained fingertips pointed to the ornaments in Jingyi's hair. "...looks like the sect's... flower..." Jingyi froze for a second, then frantically pulled out all her hair ornaments and stuffed them into A-Yue's hands.
A-Yue's curled fingers finally relaxed, the jewelry clattering as they rolled into the pool of blood. At that moment, Rong Yuying's soul-soothing pill slipped into her lips.
A moment later, their auras gradually faded, but their expressions became peaceful.
Ling Suxin closed her eyes, fighting back tears. "Store their bodies carefully... Bring them back to the sect for burial."
Qinghe immediately took out a specially made, larger storage bag and carefully placed the remains of her two sisters inside. This was the only dignity and homecoming they could provide.
Rong Yuying watched all of this, a flash of pain in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even deeper coldness.
On the other side, Li Nanzhu and Feng Qingping had already returned to support Feng Weilan as they walked out. Although he had taken medicine, the effect of the chains suppressing his spiritual energy made Feng Weilan no different from a mortal, and the heavy chains made it difficult for him to move.
As the group passed other cells, Li Nanzhu's gaze swept over the dying rogue cultivators, and her heart sank. These people were beyond saving. Even if they were taken out, they wouldn't survive more than a few hours.
Similarly, the others had clearly noticed this as well. Before Li Nanzhu could say anything, Rong Yuying flicked her wrist, and several streaks of pink spiritual light, carrying a deadly killing intent, shot out like venomous snakes!
Puff! Puff!
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