I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

"In Huangfeng Valley, I Have an Equipment Slot!": A phenomenal success, receiving rave reviews!

"Everyone, assemble immediately in the plaza in front of the main hall!"

In the darkness of night, Zhou Yuan's calm yet clear voice, amplified by his magical power, spread like ripples on water, instantly reaching every corner of Tiantai Valley and clearly reaching the ears of every resident cultivator.

The cultivators in the valley, whether they were on guard, healing, or resting, all felt a chill upon hearing the sound and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

A moment later, the relatively open bluestone plaza in the valley was densely packed with people.

Led by Bu Yunhe, the group included five Core Formation cultivators and over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Zhao Feng's subordinates.

Everyone turned their attention to Zhou Yuan, who was hovering in mid-air with a calm expression.

Awaiting his instructions.

They wondered whether the next step was to set up a tighter defense, or... whether there was another mission.

However, Zhou Yuan's next words stunned everyone.

"From this moment forward, everyone, pack your belongings, seal off any secondary restrictions, and assemble here in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, to prepare for... an overnight evacuation from Tiantai Valley."

Evacuation?! Evacuation overnight?!

A suppressed commotion and low gasps immediately arose below.

We just achieved a brilliant victory today, killing countless enemies, and our morale is high. Why do we suddenly want to abandon our position and retreat?

Wouldn't this be tantamount to handing over the position that we fought so hard to defend to the Mulan people?

Bu Yunhe also looked surprised, but quickly regained his composure. He believed that Zhou Yuan's move must have a deeper meaning.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd below, taking in their confusion and doubts. He spoke slowly, his voice clear and resonant: "I know you are all puzzled. Today's battle was valiant, and the results were brilliant, greatly boosting the morale of the cultivators of Tiannan. However, our fundamental purpose in guarding Tiantai Valley is not to fight the Mulan people to the death, but to slow down their army's advance, buying precious time for reinforcements to gather and fortify our defenses!"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "The alliance of the four major powers in Tiannan is about to be held, and fellow Daoists from the Righteous Path Alliance, the Six Demonic Sects, and the Heavenly Path Alliance are arriving one after another to provide assistance."

"But reinforcements will take time to arrive. Meanwhile, our Tiantai Valley has successfully ambushed and annihilated a vanguard force of Mulan, killing a Nascent Soul Grandmaster and severely damaging their morale. We have already exceeded our mission of 'delaying and blocking'! Such achievements are evident to all, and no one can accuse us of 'fleeing without a fight'!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd below relaxed their expressions and seemed to be deep in thought.

"However, after this battle, Tiantai Valley has become a thorn in the side of the Mulan people, and will surely suffer their fierce revenge!"

Zhou Yuan's tone turned cold, his gaze sharp. "Next, what we will face is likely not just an ordinary vanguard, but the main force of Mulan, or even... a late-stage Nascent Soul Divine Master! At that time, with the current strength of our valley, it will be extremely difficult to resist. To hold out to the death is tantamount to throwing eggs against rocks, only increasing casualties and doing nothing to benefit the overall situation."

"Rather than sitting here and waiting to be annihilated, it is better to preserve our strength, retreat to a more fortified defensive line in the rear, join forces with reinforcements, and then plan a counterattack! This is a matter of assessing the situation, not cowardice or fear of the enemy. You are all the backbone of our Tiannan cultivators, and we will still need your efforts on the future battlefield. Unnecessary sacrifices are worthless."

Zhou Yuan analyzed the stakes clearly and thoroughly.

He had merits but no faults, and the situation forced him to act, so it was not a fault of the war.

More importantly, he pointed out the consequences of holding out to the death—it could very well result in the annihilation of the entire army, a completely avoidable and pointless loss for them who had just completed their sniping mission and achieved a great victory.

Bu Yunhe stepped forward first, cupping his hands and saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou's foresight is truly remarkable! I completely agree. Rather than waiting here for the Mulan people's revenge and falling into a dead end, it's better to preserve our strength and plan for the future. We will follow Fellow Daoist Zhou's arrangements!"

With Bu Yunhe taking the lead, the five Core Formation cultivators also expressed their support.

They were not foolish people, and naturally understood the reasoning behind it.

Zhou Yuan's terrifying strength and calm decisiveness displayed today have won them over.

Seeing that the higher-level cultivators had no objections, the Foundation Establishment cultivators dared not say anything more and quickly took action.

Without hesitation, everyone returned to their respective residences and quickly gathered their essential belongings.

Zhou Yuan and Bu Yunhe arrived at the central barrier and began to selectively shut down some non-core barrier arrays, while retaining the outer warning and illusion arrays to create the illusion that there were still cultivators active in the valley. At the same time, they quietly opened another backup secret evacuation passage.

After an incense stick had burned, everyone gathered again in the square, and no one fell behind.

"Walk!"

At Zhou Yuan's command, he and Bu Yunhe took the lead, and more than a hundred cultivators transformed into streaks of light, silently following the hidden passage and quickly leaving the now empty Tiantai Valley, disappearing into the vast night and mountains.

Half an hour later, the entire Tiantai Valley was deserted, as silent as a ghost town, except for the warning illusion arrays that were still slowly circulating and emitting a faint spiritual light, and the faint smell of blood and smoke that had not yet completely dissipated in the air.

……

The next day, just past noon.

"Boom—!!"

The muffled, thunderous sounds of escape and the tremors of the ground came from afar outside Tiantai Valley, growing louder and louder until they finally turned into a heart-pounding cacophony.

A massive, dark army of Mulan mages, like a swarm of locusts blotting out the sky, appeared several miles outside Tiantai Valley.

The number of people far exceeds that of yesterday's vanguard force, numbering in the thousands!

Various strange flying magical artifacts blotted out the sky, the ground battle formations were filled with murderous intent, and powerful spiritual pressures mixed together to form a terrifying and suffocating aura.

At the very front of this army, seven or eight figures hovered in the air, each emanating a spiritual pressure that had reached the Nascent Soul stage!

Three of them, still dressed in wide black robes and shrouded in a sinister aura, were cultivators from the Yinluo Sect.

The black-robed man in the center was not tall, but his aura was as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, and the spiritual pressure he faintly emitted actually reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul stage!

It was none other than Sect Master Fang, one of the leaders of the Yinluo Sect who had come to Tiannan this time!

Beside Master Fang stood a middle-aged scholar with a refined and shrewd appearance, dressed in a blue scholar's robe and wearing a square cap.

This person had a calm expression, but a divine light flickered between his eyes. He was none other than the Divine Master Zhong, who had failed to track Zhou Yuan in the Mulan Grassland a few days ago!

His cultivation level was also at the late Nascent Soul stage!

Two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators arrived together!

In addition, there were five other Nascent Soul Grandmasters from Mulan, and two black-robed cultivators from the Yinluo Sect who were at the early Nascent Soul stage.

Such a lineup is truly luxurious.

It was enough to wipe out any sect in Tiannan, let alone a small border stronghold like Tiantai Valley.

"Sect Master Fang, if we can wipe out Tiantai Valley in one fell swoop and capture the Tiannan cultivator stationed there, his magical treasures, especially the flying sword that is suspected to be made of Golden Thunder Bamboo, should be handed over to your sect for disposal, as agreed." Master Zhong glanced indifferently at the valley shrouded in clouds and mist ahead and said to Sect Master Fang beside him.

"Master Zhong Shen".

Sect Master Fang's voice was hoarse, with a metallic quality to it. "That Golden Thunder Bamboo magic treasure comes with its own exorcising divine thunder, making it a natural nemesis for those of us who cultivate ghostly supernatural powers. This item must not be allowed to remain in the wild any longer; it must be retrieved and suppressed or destroyed by my Yinluo Sect. This matter concerns the very foundation of our sect, so I implore Master Zhong to help me."

"According to the description of the fellow Daoist who escaped, that person's flying sword was dazzling with golden light, incomparably sharp, easily shattering magical treasures, and also faintly had the aura of thunder that restrained evil spirits... It is indeed highly likely that it was Golden Thunder Bamboo."

Master Zhong nodded, his tone calm, "Sect Leader Fang, rest assured, since we have already cooperated, such a request is not excessive. Moreover, in the subsequent decisive battle with Tiannan, we will need to rely heavily on your sect's supernatural abilities. A mere magic weapon is nothing to worry about."

The two chatted and laughed, their tone relaxed, as if Tiantai Valley was already theirs for the taking, and the cultivators within were like lambs to the slaughter, easily annihilated.

With the force they mobilized—two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and nearly ten early- to mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—this lineup was more than enough to wipe out the cultivators of Tiantai Valley ten times over, let alone just one.

They were determined to succeed on this trip. They wanted to avenge their grievances, regain their honor, seize the Golden Thunder Bamboo magic weapon that they feared, and... Zhong Shenshi's even more important goal was the Yuanming Lamp, the treasure of the Mulan inheritance that Zhou Yuan had taken away!

Without the Yuanming Lantern, the Mulan people will lose the means to summon the incarnation of the "Sacred Bird" in the final battle. This item must be retrieved!

The army quickly approached and stopped a thousand feet away from the valley entrance.

"Surround the valley and block all possible escape routes!" Master Zhong calmly ordered.

Thousands of sorcerers immediately sprang into action, like a well-trained swarm of ants, quickly dispersing to completely surround the outer perimeter of Tiantai Valley. Beams of restrictive light lit up to prevent anyone from escaping underground or fleeing in other directions.

"Break the formation!"

With a command from Sect Master Fang, several Master Mulan, who were skilled in formations, and cultivators from the Yinluo Sect attacked simultaneously. Various magical treasures and spiritual techniques, like a storm, bombarded the cloud and mist restrictions that shrouded the valley!

Although Zhou Yuan and the others did not completely shut down all the restrictions when they left, and even left some to confuse the group, without the control of the main array person and the continuous supply of spirit stones, the power of these restrictions had already been reduced to less than one-tenth.

Under the combined attack of nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators, it only lasted for less than half an incense stick's time—

"BOOM!!!"

With a loud bang, the cloud and mist barrier at the valley entrance was forcibly torn open, revealing the valley scene behind it.

"Go in!" Master Zhong and Sect Leader Fang transformed into two streaks of light and shot into the valley.

The other Nascent Soul cultivators followed closely behind.

However, as they passed through the barrier and entered the valley, their divine senses instantly swept over every corner, and everyone's expressions suddenly turned extremely ugly.

Empty! Utterly empty!

Apart from the remaining spiritual light of the restrictive spells that are still in operation, and some traces and bloodstains left over from yesterday's battle, there is not a single human figure or even the aura of a living being in the entire valley!

The cultivators who were stationed there had long since vanished, leaving no trace.

"Damn it!!"

Master Zhong's usually composed face instantly turned ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. With a sudden flick of his sleeve, a violent hurricane of spiritual energy swept out, blasting several stone houses nearby to smithereens! "How dare you toy with this master! Escape? Let's see where you can run! Expand the search area; we must find their trail!"

He was both shocked and furious.

What was astonishing was the opponent's decisiveness. After achieving a great victory, he showed no hesitation and immediately fled. This ability to anticipate danger and make decisions far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.

What angered him was that he had mobilized so many people, bringing two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and so many experts, only to find that they had come up empty-handed. It was like throwing a punch into empty air, leaving him extremely frustrated.

More importantly, the Yuanming Lantern... is probably unlikely to be recovered for the time being, given that person's escape!

The eerie green eyes beneath the hood of the sect leader flickered uncertainly, and his hoarse voice carried a chill:

"It seems we underestimated the Tiannan cultivators. However, they can't hide forever. Since they've appeared on this border, they must be under the command of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance."

"Intensify the offensive, conquer the Yu Kingdom, and march on Tiancheng. I don't believe we can't force them out!"

……

While Master Zhong and his group were furiously searching for clues in the empty valley, Zhou Yuan and his party, after a long march through most of the night and a morning, had already left Tiantai Valley and arrived at another important stronghold in the second line of defense of the Yu Kingdom's border—near Huanglong Mountain.

Huanglong Mountain is not a single peak, but a continuous range of steep mountains.

It is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the defensive formations are much more sophisticated than those of Tiantai Valley.

From a distance, a thin, ever-swirling layer of green poisonous mist shrouded the mountains, clearly a powerful formation that combined illusion, poison, and confinement effects.

Zhou Yuan signaled to the team to rest temporarily in a secluded mountain valley, while he and Bu Yunhe went outside the Huanglong Mountain formation.

Bu Yunhe took out a specially made communication talisman, whispered a few words, and waved his hand to send it into the green poisonous fog in front of him.

The sound transmission talisman was like a pebble thrown into water, creating ripples before disappearing into the water.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the green poisonous fog in front of them churned and slowly parted to the sides, revealing a passage that could accommodate several people walking side by side.

Three figures flew out and landed in front of Zhou Yuan and Bu Yunhe.

The person in the center was a short, bald old man with sparse eyebrows and a somewhat sorrowful face. His cultivation level was at the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage.

On the left is a middle-aged cultivator dressed in white, with a square face and a calm demeanor; he is also at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

On the right was a young man dressed in a green robe, with an ordinary appearance, who could be easily lost in a crowd, but whose cultivation had already reached the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage!

This young man was none other than Han Li!

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

We parted hastily in Tiancheng before the New Year, but I never expected that Han Li would also be involved in this border war, and even appear at the Huanglong Mountain position.

Based on his understanding of this junior brother Han, he was cautious and even somewhat "stubborn." Unless there were enough benefits to entice him or he was forced to, he would not easily get involved in such a large-scale, high-risk sect war.

It seems that the Nine Kingdoms Alliance has offered him considerable terms in order to win over this newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, Fellow Daoist Bu, what brings you two here? Is it from Tiantai Valley...?"

The bald-browed old man was the one in charge of Huanglong Mountain. When he saw Zhou Yuan and Bu Yunhe, as well as the team behind them that looked almost intact and had high morale, he showed obvious surprise.

Logically speaking, Tiantai Valley is on the front line and under the greatest pressure. Even if they were asking for help, they shouldn't have been transferred here "completely intact". It's more like... a deliberate evacuation?

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lu." Bu Yunhe cupped his hands and said, "Tiantai Valley was attacked by the vanguard of Mulan yesterday. Fortunately, thanks to Fellow Daoist Zhou's divine might, we fought hard and annihilated the invading enemy, including two Mulan Nascent Soul Masters."

"Completely annihilated? And even killed two Nascent Soul Masters?" The bald-browed old man called Fellow Daoist Lu, and the middle-aged man in white next to him, both gasped in shock, their eyes filled with astonishment and awe as they looked at Zhou Yuan.

Although they had heard some rumors about Zhou Yuan, they still found it hard to believe that he had achieved such a feat with their own ears.

Han Li's gaze also sharpened slightly as he gave Zhou Yuan a deep look.

"However, after this battle, Tiantai Valley has become the target of everyone's criticism."

Zhou Yuan continued calmly, "To prevent retaliation from the Mulan army and to preserve our strength, we abandoned Tiantai Valley and came to join Fellow Daoist Lu, intending to defend Huanglong Mountain together. However..."

He then changed the subject, "Judging from the situation here, and the distant spiritual energy fluctuations we sensed when we withdrew, I fear that the retaliatory army will arrive at Huanglong Mountain soon. This place is probably not a safe haven to stay for long."

His words were direct, even somewhat "inauspicious," but they were stating a highly probable fact.

Given the strength and fury of the Mulan people this time, it is highly likely that after failing to capture Tiantai Valley, they will advance along the defensive line and sweep away Huanglong Mountain and other surrounding strongholds.

Upon hearing this, the bald-browed old man, Fellow Daoist Lu, frowned and his expression changed.

Bu Yunhe added from the side, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zhou is quite right. We have exceeded our sniping mission in Tiantai Valley and achieved considerable success. This strategic retreat is a matter of careful consideration and no one can criticize us for it. Continuing to hold out will only increase casualties and will not benefit the overall situation. It would be better to preserve our strength and retreat to a more solid defensive line in the rear to join up with the main reinforcements."

"This..." Fellow Daoist Lu was still hesitating.

Zhou Yuan said no more, but cupped his hands in greeting to him and the middle-aged man in white: "We still need to return to Tiantian City to report back to the alliance and report the battle situation. We will not disturb you by entering Huanglong Mountain. Fellow Daoist Lu, take care. Junior Brother Han, it's been a long time, take care."

Having said that, he didn't linger. He gestured to Bu Yunhe, then turned around and led his team, riding on their escape lights, to continue their retreat towards Tiantian City.

Bu Yunhe smiled apologetically at Fellow Daoist Lu and the others, and quickly followed.

Watching Zhou Yuan and the others quickly disappear into the distance, Fellow Daoist Lu and the middle-aged man in white exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim.

Zhou Yuan's attitude clearly indicated that he was certain Huanglong Mountain could not be defended, and he had no interest in going in to "discuss the defense" and left directly!

Han Li, who had remained silent all along, was now experiencing a turbulent surge of thoughts in his mind.

Even someone as strong as Senior Brother Zhou, after achieving a great victory, did not hesitate to immediately flee, even stating that Huanglong Mountain could not be defended...

How terrifying will the retaliatory army of Mulan be when it is about to arrive?

This is probably no ordinary force; it is highly likely that a Nascent Soul stage Divine Master will personally lead the team!

Although he was somewhat tempted by the promise from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance that he would receive a piece of Geng Essence as a reward if he could kill a black-robed cultivator from the Yinluo Sect, he agreed to come and help.

Geng Jing was crucial to his cultivation of the Great Geng Sword Formation.

But even the most precious treasures can only be enjoyed if one is alive!

Senior Brother Zhou's judgment and choice undoubtedly served as a resounding wake-up call for him!

"Friend Lu, Taoist Gu,"

Han Li suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "I suddenly remembered that I have urgent matters to attend to upon my return to Tiantian City. I'm afraid I can no longer assist with the defense of Huanglong Mountain. I apologize."

Without waiting for their response, he cupped his hands in greeting, and with a flicker of his body, he transformed into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, quickly chasing after the direction Zhou Yuan and the others had gone.

Given the strength and fury of the Mulan people this time, it is highly likely that after failing to capture Tiantai Valley, they will advance along the defensive line and sweep away Huanglong Mountain and other surrounding strongholds.

Upon hearing this, the bald-browed old man, Fellow Daoist Lu, frowned and his expression changed.

Bu Yunhe added from the side, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zhou is quite right. We have exceeded our sniping mission in Tiantai Valley and achieved considerable success. This strategic retreat is a matter of careful consideration and no one can criticize us for it. Continuing to hold out will only increase casualties and will not benefit the overall situation. It would be better to preserve our strength and retreat to a more solid defensive line in the rear to join up with the main reinforcements."

"This..." Fellow Daoist Lu was still hesitating.

Zhou Yuan said no more, but cupped his hands in greeting to him and the middle-aged man in white: "We still need to return to Tiantian City to report back to the alliance and report the battle situation. We will not disturb you by entering Huanglong Mountain. Fellow Daoist Lu, take care. Junior Brother Han, it's been a long time, take care."

Having said that, he didn't linger. He gestured to Bu Yunhe, then turned around and led his team, riding on their escape lights, to continue their retreat towards Tiantian City.

Bu Yunhe smiled apologetically at Fellow Daoist Lu and the others, and quickly followed.

Watching Zhou Yuan and the others quickly disappear into the distance, Fellow Daoist Lu and the middle-aged man in white exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim.

Zhou Yuan's attitude clearly indicated that he was certain Huanglong Mountain could not be defended, and he had no interest in going in to "discuss the defense" and left directly!

Han Li, who had remained silent all along, was now experiencing a turbulent surge of thoughts in his mind.

Even someone as strong as Senior Brother Zhou, after achieving a great victory, did not hesitate to immediately flee, even stating that Huanglong Mountain could not be defended...

How terrifying will the retaliatory army of Mulan be when it is about to arrive?

This is probably no ordinary force; it is highly likely that a Nascent Soul stage Divine Master will personally lead the team!

Although he was somewhat tempted by the promise from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance that he would receive a piece of Geng Essence as a reward if he could kill a black-robed cultivator from the Yinluo Sect, he agreed to come and help.

Geng Jing was crucial to his cultivation of the Great Geng Sword Formation.

But even the most precious treasures can only be enjoyed if one is alive!

Senior Brother Zhou's judgment and choice undoubtedly served as a resounding wake-up call for him!

"Friend Lu, Taoist Gu,"

Han Li suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "I suddenly remembered that I have urgent matters to attend to upon my return to Tiantian City. I'm afraid I can no longer assist with the defense of Huanglong Mountain. I apologize."

Without waiting for their response, he cupped his hands in greeting, and with a flicker of his body, he transformed into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, quickly chasing after the direction Zhou Yuan and the others had gone.

Given the strength and fury of the Mulan people this time, it is highly likely that after failing to capture Tiantai Valley, they will advance along the defensive line and sweep away Huanglong Mountain and other surrounding strongholds.

Upon hearing this, the bald-browed old man, Fellow Daoist Lu, frowned and his expression changed.

Bu Yunhe added from the side, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zhou is quite right. We have exceeded our sniping mission in Tiantai Valley and achieved considerable success. This strategic retreat is a matter of careful consideration and no one can criticize us for it. Continuing to hold out will only increase casualties and will not benefit the overall situation. It would be better to preserve our strength and retreat to a more solid defensive line in the rear to join up with the main reinforcements."

"This..." Fellow Daoist Lu was still hesitating.

Zhou Yuan said no more, but cupped his hands in greeting to him and the middle-aged man in white: "We still need to return to Tiantian City to report back to the alliance and report the battle situation. We will not disturb you by entering Huanglong Mountain. Fellow Daoist Lu, take care. Junior Brother Han, it's been a long time, take care."

Having said that, he didn't linger. He gestured to Bu Yunhe, then turned around and led his team, riding on their escape lights, to continue their retreat towards Tiantian City.

Bu Yunhe smiled apologetically at Fellow Daoist Lu and the others, and quickly followed.

Watching Zhou Yuan and the others quickly disappear into the distance, Fellow Daoist Lu and the middle-aged man in white exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim.

Zhou Yuan's attitude clearly indicated that he was certain Huanglong Mountain could not be defended, and he had no interest in going in to "discuss the defense" and left directly!

Han Li, who had remained silent all along, was now experiencing a turbulent surge of thoughts in his mind.

Even someone as strong as Senior Brother Zhou, after achieving a great victory, did not hesitate to immediately flee, even stating that Huanglong Mountain could not be defended...

How terrifying will the retaliatory army of Mulan be when it is about to arrive?

This is probably no ordinary force; it is highly likely that a Nascent Soul stage Divine Master will personally lead the team!

Although he was somewhat tempted by the promise from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance that he would receive a piece of Geng Essence as a reward if he could kill a black-robed cultivator from the Yinluo Sect, he agreed to come and help.

Geng Jing was crucial to his cultivation of the Great Geng Sword Formation.

But even the most precious treasures can only be enjoyed if one is alive!

Senior Brother Zhou's judgment and choice undoubtedly served as a resounding wake-up call for him!

"Friend Lu, Taoist Gu,"

Han Li suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "I suddenly remembered that I have urgent matters to attend to upon my return to Tiantian City. I'm afraid I can no longer assist with the defense of Huanglong Mountain. I apologize."

Without waiting for their response, he cupped his hands in greeting, and with a flicker of his body, he transformed into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, quickly chasing after the direction Zhou Yuan and the others had gone.

Given the strength and fury of the Mulan people this time, it is highly likely that after failing to capture Tiantai Valley, they will advance along the defensive line and sweep away Huanglong Mountain and other surrounding strongholds.

Upon hearing this, the bald-browed old man, Fellow Daoist Lu, frowned and his expression changed.

Bu Yunhe added from the side, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Zhou is quite right. We have exceeded our sniping mission in Tiantai Valley and achieved considerable success. This strategic retreat is a matter of careful consideration and no one can criticize us for it. Continuing to hold out will only increase casualties and will not benefit the overall situation. It would be better to preserve our strength and retreat to a more solid defensive line in the rear to join up with the main reinforcements."

"This..." Fellow Daoist Lu was still hesitating.

Zhou Yuan said no more, but cupped his hands in greeting to him and the middle-aged man in white: "We still need to return to Tiantian City to report back to the alliance and report the battle situation. We will not disturb you by entering Huanglong Mountain. Fellow Daoist Lu, take care. Junior Brother Han, it's been a long time, take care."

Having said that, he didn't linger. He gestured to Bu Yunhe, then turned around and led his team, riding on their escape lights, to continue their retreat towards Tiantian City.

Bu Yunhe smiled apologetically at Fellow Daoist Lu and the others, and quickly followed.

Watching Zhou Yuan and the others quickly disappear into the distance, Fellow Daoist Lu and the middle-aged man in white exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat grim.

Zhou Yuan's attitude clearly indicated that he was certain Huanglong Mountain could not be defended, and he had no interest in going in to "discuss the defense" and left directly!

Han Li, who had remained silent all along, was now experiencing a turbulent surge of thoughts in his mind.

Even someone as strong as Senior Brother Zhou, after achieving a great victory, did not hesitate to immediately flee, even stating that Huanglong Mountain could not be defended...

How terrifying will the retaliatory army of Mulan be when it is about to arrive?

This is probably no ordinary force; it is highly likely that a Nascent Soul stage Divine Master will personally lead the team!

Although he was somewhat tempted by the promise from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance that he would receive a piece of Geng Essence as a reward if he could kill a black-robed cultivator from the Yinluo Sect, he agreed to come and help.

Geng Jing was crucial to his cultivation of the Great Geng Sword Formation.

But even the most precious treasures can only be enjoyed if one is alive!

Senior Brother Zhou's judgment and choice undoubtedly served as a resounding wake-up call for him!

"Friend Lu, Taoist Gu,"

Han Li suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "I suddenly remembered that I have urgent matters to attend to upon my return to Tiantian City. I'm afraid I can no longer assist with the defense of Huanglong Mountain. I apologize."

Without waiting for their response, he cupped his hands in greeting, and with a flicker of his body, he transformed into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, quickly chasing after the direction Zhou Yuan and the others had gone.