CHAPTER 112 (1): FANG CHE'S PROMOTION

Yu Zhongge and Jing Shuanggao had pulled off the Yin Yang Shock just in the nick of time, sending everyone flying back to sever their connection to the Amethyst Soul.

Both of them had come from super clans, with Yu Zhongge from a second-tier clan and Jing Shuanggao a third-tier one, and both of them had been taught the Yin Yang Shock technique.

In doing this, they had sustained some internal injuries, but they were able to fully retain all of the benefits that they had reaped from the Amethyst Soul, and once they were fully healed, there would be rapid progress to made in their cultivation, even if they did nothing but sit around all day!

The only downside was that these injuries could only be healed naturally, and no pills would be able to aid them in their recovery, but it was a small price to pay for the immense benefits to be reaped.

Yu Zhongge had already decided that the four of them would stay here to cultivate once they regained consciousness. No one would be able to find them so deep underground, and they could sustain themselves with bodies of underground water and the water-dwelling creatures residing within.

Even with their internal injuries, their cultivation bases would ensure that they wouldn't starve here.

Yu Zhongge could hardly wait for the day when they would re-emerge onto the surface and shock the entire world!

The first thing that the four of them would do would be to take turns pummeling Fang Che in retaliation for all of the beatings that he had handed down to them!

***

After an indeterminate period of time, a torrent of water abruptly flowed into the cave through an opening before forming a humanoid figure, who was instantly rooted to the spot in astonishment at the spectacular sight laid out before him.

It was none other than Xiao Tianshui.

So this is it... Given the size of this ore vein, it's no wonder the Church of the Self-Righteous made such a big move. Hold on, what's going on with this Amethyst Soul? Why is it so feeble? Has it only just taken shape or... Holy shit! Why are there people here?! How did these four get down here? Are they are on our side or are they from the Church of the Self-Righteous? QWEHTQIWEHTWOIEHTWEHTOWETQTE

Xiao Tianshui quickly searched the bodies of the four unconscious young men to ascertain their identities, and he was shocked to discover that they were all from extremely prominent clans.

It seems like they've already been in here for a very long time and even absorbed the Amethyst Soul. In that case, this Amethyst Soul clearly hasn't only recently taken shape. QWEHTQOIWEHTOWEHTWEQHTOHWQT

Xiao Tianshui picked up the four young men before setting them down in a corner of the cave with a concerned expression.

I can make it out of here myself just fine, but how am I going to get these four out of here with me, especially that big one? He's built like a bear, and what is that headband he's wearing? Is this supposed to be a new fashion statement from the Mo Clan? QEWHTOQIWEHTQWETHOIWHTQ

He grabbed a handful of amythests and began recovering his spirit qi, but it wasn't long before his eyes sprang open with a wary expression.

He could sense two more people approaching.

He hurriedly concealed the four young men a little better, placing Mo Ganyun around a bend at the bottom before stacking the other three on top of him.

Shortly thereafter, another torrent of water flowed into the cave through the same opening, following which a surprised yell of elation rang out.

"This is an Amethyst Ore vein! I'm rich!"

Xiao Tianshui rolled his eyes in disdain.

"It's a shame that this Amethyst Soul has only just taken shape."

Xiao Tianshui rolled his eyes once again.

Right at this moment, the sound of flowing water rang out once again from outside, and hte new arrival's brows furrowed slightly as he murmured to himself, "There's someone else coming... I wonder if it's Xiao Tianshui or perhaps someone else."

***

After looking around briefly, he adhered himself to the cave wall above the opening that he had just come through like a sheet of paper.

The sound of flowing water could still be heard, but whoever was outside seemed to be having some doubts, and they continued to linger outside the cave without coming in.

"There's an Amethyst Soul inside, but it's so feeble that it must've only just taken shape," the person outside murmured to themselves.

Immediately thereafter, a volley of water arrows shot into the cave, seemingly in a haphazard fashion, but in reality, it was a very meticulous and well-directed attack.

After several hundred water arrows were fired, a massive wave finally rose up outside before crashing its way into the cave, following which countless more water arrows were fired off in all directions.

It was clear that the new arrival was extremely cautious, and sure enough, their caution paid off.

One of the water arrows was sent hurtling directly toward the face of the man who had entered the cave earlier, and as a result, he was forced to reveal himself.

"Shit! You could've killed me, Water Wraith!"

A battle immediately ensued.

"You're one to talk when you were clearly intending to ambush me, Water Ghost!"

Both combatants used water-attribute cultivation arts, and as soon as their battle began, underground water instantly came gushing in from outside, forming a pair of giant waves that clashed and intertwined over and over again.

It seemed that the two were quite evenly matched.

"Is Xiao Tianshui not here?" Water Wraith asked.

"You think you'd still be alive now if Xiao Tianshui were here?"

"Don't talk to me like Xiao Tianshui is an ally of yours! Your Yin Water Palace is hardly known for its scruples. Just the fact that you took advantage of our battle against the Guardians to sneak into this place for your own personal gain is clear evidence of that!"

"Even so, we're nowhere near as bad as your Church of the Self-Righteous! If Xiao Tianshui were here, we would join forces to take you down, and in return, our Yin Water Palace would only ask for a third of this ore vein as compensation!"

"You're sayin that for Xiao Tianshui to hear, aren't you? It's just a pity that Xiao Tianshui isn't here, so this is where you die, Water Ghost!"

Water Wraith's attacks were becoming more and more fearsome, and Water Ghost was gradually being forced onto the back foot.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tianshui remained in hiding.

Finally, Water Ghost was struck by a palm to the shoulder form Water Wraith, and he was snet flying back as a line of blood trickled down from the corner of his lips.

However, there was a cold sneer on his face as he scoffed, "So what if I'm no match for you in battle? We're on the Guardians' territory right now, I'm sure Xiao Tianshui will find this place eventually! All I need to is hold you off until he arrives, and that'll be the end of you!"

"You think you can hold on for that long? It'll only take me a few minutes to crush you!"

This was clearly also a concern on Water Wraith's mind, and his attacks were quickly becoming more and more fearsome as he sought to end the battle as soon as possible.

Unable to get away, Water Ghost began yelling in desperation.

"Xiao Tianshui! Xiao Tianshui!"

His voice sent violent tremors running through the earth, but Xiao Tianshui remained unmoved.

"Shut up!" Water Wraith snarled, but Water Ghost was certainly not going to oblige.

He would be dead if Xiao Tianshui didn't arrive soon.

"Xiao Tianshui, my Yin Water Palace will only a fifth of the ore vein!"

"A tenth!"

"5% is enough! Just don't make me go back emptyhanded!"

Water Ghost continued to sustain more and more injuries as he yelled out frantically, but his savior still didn't arrive.

Right as he was about to be completely overwhelmed, he yelled, "Fine! I won't take any of this ore vein! I know you're here, Xiao Tianshui!"

Xiao Tianshui immediately swooped onto the scene, sending Water Wraith flying forward with a forceful palm strike to the back.

"Did I hear that right, Water Ghost? You're surrendering all claim to this ore vein?"

"Yes," Water Ghost replied in a feeble voice, barely hanging onto life by a thread. "Just don't kill me."

On the other side, Water Wraith let loose a cry of pain as he was struck again.

"Just you wait, Xiao Tianshui!" he yelled in a furious voice as a huge wave abruptly rose up to inundate the entire cave.

Xiao Tianshui immediately sealed the cave entrance to prevent Water Wraith's escape, but the latter split his body up into countless tiny streams of water that flowed through the various cracks littered throughout the cave, allowing him to escape, but not before he suffered a few more hits from Xiao Tianshui.

"If you had come out sooner before I ended up like this, we could've worked together to put an end to him," Water Ghost groaned. "He'd already be dead by now if you were just willing to give up a bit of this ore vein!"

Xiao Tianshui tossed a pill at Water Ghost as he sighed, "This is a precious resource for all of the Protectionists and Guardians across the entire continent, so I can't afford to let you have any of it. Your Yin Water Palace has always held a neutral stance in our conflict against the Church of the Self-Righteous, so it would be a waste to let you have any of this!"

Water Ghost swallowed the pill with a forlorn sigh, then asked, "How are you going to transport everything up to the surface on your own? Surely you're going to need help."