Shao Hong felt the hostility emanating from Fang Qi, but he still refused to budge an inch.

Beside him, Bai Ran witnessed this scene and could not help but feel slightly surprised.

It was well known that Shao Hong was renowned for his caution. No one expected that he would choose this exact moment to cover Ning Fan's retreat.

In reality, Shao Hong's decision to block Fang Qi was made after careful deliberation.

Given the current situation, even if he backed down, he would never be accepted into Ji Wuxi and Lin Yao's faction, meaning he wouldn't even be qualified to enter the Spirit Vein.

The greatest Fated Chance in the Clear White Land was that Spirit Vein. Being unable to enter it was no different from coming here for nothing.

But if he chose to bet on Ning Fan...

Indeed, Ning Fan was no match for Fang Qi or He Min right now, and he could not even be compared to Ji Wuxi and Lin Yao. However, Ning Fan's rate of improvement was terrifying.

Previously, Ning Fan was completely helpless against Nan Li, yet after just one night of dual cultivation, he gained the strength to instantly kill him.

Betting on Ning Fan might yield far greater rewards.

Moreover, last night, Fang Qi and He Min had unleashed their Flame Wave Destroying Heaven Blast directly at the tent, fully aware that he might be at the campsite.

They had shown absolutely no regard for the lives of Shao Hong and Bai Ran.

A man fights for his pride, just as a Buddha fights for incense.

Shao Hong also harbored a deep anger in his heart.

Fang Qi looked toward Ning Fan's retreating figure. Having been delayed by Shao Hong for just a few breaths, Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao had already fled several hundred meters away.

Chasing them now would be exceedingly difficult.

"Let's go,"

"We will find Senior Brother Ji. This matter requires an explanation after all."

"Shao Hong, do I need to move you myself?"

Fang Qi stared coldly at him.

"No need."

Shao Hong nodded.

He knew that by blocking Fang Qi to let Ning Fan escape, he would certainly not be able to walk away cleanly. But it did not matter-would Ji Wuxi actually kill him? After all, they were fellow disciples of the same Sect. At worst, he would face a beating and some punishment.

Fang Qi and He Min turned around and walked toward the path leading to the mountaintop. As soon as they left, Jiang Zheng and Zou Ling'er, who were guarding the trail, immediately grew anxious.

"Wait, Senior Brother Fang! That Ning Fan escaped! Shouldn't we go after him quickly?"

"Leave it to Liu Yu and his partner. Ning Fan should be severely injured, so the two of them are more than enough to handle it. I still need to reach the Spirit Vein and cannot delay here any longer."

Fang Qi's voice was utterly indifferent.

Jiang Zheng and Zou Ling'er's expressions instantly turned ugly. Fang Qi and He Min could go to the Spirit Vein, but as long as Ning Fan remained at large, the two of them would be stuck guarding this trail, wasting their time completely.

Yet, they had no choice.

In this world, the strong were revered-even within the Sect. Ji Wuxi and Lin Yao were the most powerful, and Fang Qi and He Min also far surpassed Jiang Zheng and Zou Ling'er in strength.

At the very least, Jiang Zheng and Zou Ling'er only had to guard the trail. Liu Yu and his Dao companion had to hunt Ning Fan across the entire area, which was far more exhausting.

"Let's go."

Fang Qi and He Min walked at the front, while Shao Hong and Bai Ran followed closely behind.

Shortly after, the group arrived at the mountainside. From this point onward, all vegetation vanished, leaving nothing but bare, jagged rocks.

Everyone stood before a massive cave entrance, where dense waves of rich Spiritual Qi were visibly billowing out.

Inside that cave lay the Spirit Vein.

"Where are they?"

Ji Wuxi stood at the cave entrance, frowning deeply as he looked at the arriving group.

"They escaped."

Fang Qi shrugged, a look of complete indifference on his face.

"That Ning Fan is no ordinary character. Despite his lower cultivation realm, he managed to overpower me in a direct clash of strength. It seems the rumors are true-both he and Yun Qingyao possess special dual cultivation body constitutions."

"However, he took a direct hit from my Flame Wave Destroying Heaven Blast and should be severely injured by now."

"I would have caught them, but he blocked me."

Fang Qi gestured toward Shao Hong and Bai Ran.

Ji Wuxi's frown deepened as he locked his gaze onto the two.

Shao Hong and Bai Ran felt an immense spiritual pressure wash over them, causing their bodies to tremble.

Even though they knew they wouldn't be killed, facing Ji Wuxi still filled them with overwhelming dread.

"You dare oppose me?"

"N-no, I wouldn't dare."

Shao Hong's temples were drenched in sweat as he lowered his head deeply.

"Heh. Do you truly think I, Ji, would not dare kill you?"

Ji Wuxi's killing intent surged explosively around him. Yet, just as it reached its absolute peak, it vanished completely. He tilted his head back, looking down at them disdainfully.

"The two of you shall serve as the vanguard inside the Spirit Vein."

Ji Wuxi's voice was icy cold.

In truth, Shao Hong had underestimated how infuriated Ji Wuxi would be by Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao's escape. Their dual cultivation body constitutions were an immense attraction to both Ji Wuxi and Lin Yao. If Shao Hong and Bai Ran weren't still of some use, Ji Wuxi might have actually struck them down.

The Spirit Vein was a nexus where Spiritual Qi converged. Not only was the vein itself a heavenly treasure, but the cavern it occupied was filled with rampant spiritual energy. A vast number of Demon Beasts were entrenched within, making its exploration treacherous-especially for the vanguard.

Shao Hong and Bai Ran's expressions darkened, but things having come to this, they could only accept their fate.

"Ning Fan, oh Ning Fan! I, Shao, am betting my entire future on you. You absolutely, under no circumstances, must fail me!"

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the mountain.

Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao had not fled far into the distance. Instead, they had circled around, navigating from one face of the mountain to the other.

Indeed, Ning Fan refused to give up on the Spirit Vein. Only by dual cultivating within the Spirit Vein could they truly turn the tables.

The fated chance of the Spirit Vein was simply too significant to abandon.

Strictly speaking, a Spirit Vein was a subterranean vein of Spirit Stones hidden within the mountain. At its very core ran a 'river' formed entirely from condensed Spiritual Qi. That river was the ultimate sanctuary for cultivation, possessing the miraculous property of tempering the human body.

Since it was a massive subterranean vein, climbing the mountain from any alternative route could eventually lead to its location. All roads led to the Spirit Vein.

Ning Fan looked up at the mountain ahead. This was completely uncharted territory, entirely devoid of any established paths. The terrain was overgrown with dense trees and thorny thickets, with sheer cliffs and jagged precipices cutting across the way.

It was exceptionally perilous.

"No matter how treacherous the path ahead, we must forge our own way through!"

A brilliant light blazed in Ning Fan's eyes.

The next moment, he took Yun Qingyao's arm and resolutely plunged into the dense thicket before them.

As they advanced, Ning Fan encountered quite a few heavenly treasures, but unless they were directly within arm's reach, he did not waste time pursuing them. He had only one single objective-the Spirit Vein.

It was not until nightfall that Ning Fan barely managed to reach the halfway point of the mountain. Seeing the sky grow dark, he and Yun Qingyao had no choice but to stop and rest.

After setting up a tent in a small clearing, Ning Fan took Yun Qingyao's hands.

"Wife, let us dual cultivate."

"Mm!"

Even though a massive battle was looming on the horizon, Ning Fan had to maximize his strength by any means necessary. Dual cultivation was absolutely vital.

At the exact same time, within the Tianxuan Holy Land.

Ye Honglian sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her eyes closed as she quietly regulated her breath. Spiritual Qi swirled naturally around her body, creating a picture of serene harmony.

Yet, a faint trace of worry wrinkled her brow.

"Gengjin..." Ye Honglian murmured to herself.