Chapter 147 Casualties

Seven days later, all the defenses they had set up had fallen, and they could only defend at the foot of Wuliang Mountain. At this time, the great formation was fully operational, and the shimmering barrier covered the entire Wuliang Mountain.

"How have things been lately?"

In the makeshift operations room set up at the foot of the mountain, several important members of the Xu family gathered together, the atmosphere incredibly oppressive and heavy.

"Yuan Zhen, you go first!"

Xu Yuanzhen quickly stood up and said in a heavy voice.

"The situation is very bad. Not counting the affiliated families, twelve members of our Xu family's Zhen generation have died, three members of the Yuan generation have died, and there are hundreds of injured people, including some who have been injured more than ten times."

The Red Maple Forest spiritual vein, as well as all the first-tier spiritual veins in the east and west, have been lost. Fortunately, everyone has successfully retreated, but all the spiritual items on them have been lost.

In addition, all communication between the clan and the various markets has been cut off, and we don't know if our clansmen in the markets are safe. Our Wuliang Mountain is now almost like an isolated island.

The family has already used more than 30% of the pills they prepared to restore their spiritual energy. If we calculate based on the timing of the beast tide outbreak, we'll have to hold out for at least three months. The real hardship is yet to come.

The Xu family suffered enormous losses in these seven days. Even though they were a Foundation Establishment family, the deaths of fifteen family members were still a huge loss. And this was only seven days. Based on past experience, the beast tide would last at least one hundred and eighty days.

"Fifteen people! How long has it been since our Xu family suffered such a loss!"

The clan chief looked at everyone with a pained expression, and even with his composure, his heart pounded wildly for a moment.

"That's not all."

The elder sighed and then spoke.

"I've seen it. After seven days of high-intensity continuous operation, the second-grade mid-level mountain protection array on our Wuliang Mountain looks okay on the surface, but in reality, it has hidden damage inside."

Although the formation can slowly recover through spiritual energy, I estimate it will be difficult to maintain for a full three months. Therefore, I suggest that we not operate the formation at full power from now on; choose only one: defense or offense.

The veins on the foreheads of the people present throbbed involuntarily. The formation had played a crucial role in their ability to kill so many demonic beasts in the past seven days.

"This is the only way!"

The clan chief made up his mind and nodded.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. When I lured that storm wolf away from Wuliang Mountain, I took a look at a few other spiritual lands and found that there were far fewer demonic beasts around the spiritual veins of the Dian and Ma families than around our Wuliang Mountain."

"Clan leader, this is a bit strange. Logically speaking, our spiritual veins and those of the Ma and Dian families are both mid-grade second-tier, so shouldn't we attract the same types of demonic beasts?"

Xu Yuanlang asked, somewhat puzzled. The clan leader thought for a moment and then slowly replied:

"Some quantity differences are normal, but the fact that you said there are far fewer is a problem. It's very likely that the two companies used some tricks."

Unfortunately, the situation is dangerous right now, and we simply don't have the manpower to investigate.

Hearing the clan chief's regretful tone, Xu Yuanlang had an idea.

"Clan leader, we can try spreading this message to the Li family, making them suspicious of each other. If it causes them to fight amongst themselves, that would be best."

Upon hearing Xu Yuanlang's plan, the clan chief slammed his fist heavily into his palm without saying a word.

"Okay, let's do it!"

After making his decision, he looked sadly towards the mountaintop. Everyone followed his gaze, but the sky remained clear and cloudless. In the end, it was the Grand Elder who guessed his thoughts.

Are you worried about Yuan Jing?

The clan chief nodded, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly, while the eldest elder comforted him from the side.

"You're too impatient. Yuan Jing has just gone into seclusion. It will take him a long time to adjust his condition. If all goes well, he might be able to catch the tail end of the beast tide."

"I hope everything goes well for this kid."

Inside the secret chamber, Xu Yuanjing seemed to sense everyone's worry. He slowly opened his eyes, his aura already adjusted to its peak.

"Danyang Spiritual Liquid, oh Danyang Spiritual Liquid, please bless me so that I may succeed in my breakthrough."

Xu Yuanjing held the jade bottle and gently shook it, his face showing hesitation, as if he were somewhat afraid.

He knew very well that even with the addition of Danyang Spirit Liquid, his chances of successfully breaking through would not exceed 20% with his three spiritual roots. The thought of that probability made him tremble.

"I can't think about it anymore. We cultivators rely on our very life force; thinking about it any more is useless."

Thinking of this, he immediately uncorked the bottle and swallowed a bottle of Danyang Spirit Liquid without saying a word.

The moment he entered, he felt a water dragon enter his body, then quickly flow through his limbs and bones, turning into trickles of water, before finally gathering again and falling back into his dantian.

"Ahem!"

The next moment, a sudden, sharp pain, like thousands of ants gnawing at his body, struck him. He coughed instinctively, but fortunately, the Danyang Spirit Liquid resumed its flow through his meridians and flesh, and the pain quickly subsided.

"Even after being weakened by the Foundation Establishment spiritual item, the excruciating pain is still terrifying. If I don't use it, I'm afraid..."

He instinctively shivered, shook his head involuntarily, and muttered to himself.

"No comparison, no comparison!"

While taking a break in the secluded room, Xu Yuanlang felt a sudden thought; it seemed someone was thinking of him.

"There are downsides to being in the Foundation Establishment stage too. Your senses are too sharp, which can be distracting."

Fortunately, he calmed his mind, put those distracting thoughts aside, and focused his attention back on his body.

The moment I entered, the seven-colored flower that was entwined around my spiritual root swayed, as if welcoming me.

However, his target was not the seven-colored flower, but the jade bowl entwined by roots.

This jade bowl was a relic left behind by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but it was sealed by an external force. Fortunately, there was a small gap through which he was able to secretly use some of it through the roots of the Seven-Colored Flower. This was enough for him at the time when he was only at the Qi Refining Realm.

The problem now is that I have already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. If I continue as before, it will be too slow. I need to find a way to widen the gap.

Without hesitation, he manipulated his spiritual energy to rush into the jade bowl. The transparent membrane looked extremely thin, but when his spiritual energy rushed onto it, it was like a drop of water, leaving not even the slightest ripple.

"Indeed, this is no ordinary matter."

He had some idea of ​​the jade bowl's defensive capabilities, so he was not discouraged after dispersing his spiritual energy, and instead went to the small crack.

With a thought, a large amount of spiritual energy surged into the roots, and the roots of the seven-colored flower suddenly grew wildly.

The gaps in the jade bowl's defenses were its weakest points; after dozens of impacts, the gaps more than doubled in size.