The disciples of the Rolling Tide Sect were not weak. They were the cream of the crop of those in the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, when they were forced to confront an existence as powerful as their Violet Core elders, even if it was only a fragment of one, their survival came into question.

The cultivator world was cruel. Those with power could take the lives of anyone weaker than them if they wanted. Humans tried to remedy that by instilling a sense of honor among their ranks, but it wouldn't help against other lifeforms.

All the powerful sects and organizations knew this truth, which was why they each tried their best to prepare their members for these situations. There was strength in numbers. They just needed to utilize it correctly.

Several long seconds passed as the heavenly earth engulfed several human cultivators. It momentarily threw the front lines out of balance, but before Li Lang's group could get worried, a wave of water came crashing down on them. Within a split second, they found themselves underwater.

By the time Li Lang regained his bearings, he noticed the Rolling Tide Sect disciples had come together to move as one, forming a large bubble around them as they dashed around, dodging the sludge impeding them wherever they went. Their tight-knit formation allowed them to protect those who looked deathly pale, having been touched by the sludge.

They were no longer in imminent threat of total collapse, but their situation was still dire. Not only were they struggling against the heavenly earth, but there were also the Qi beasts lurking in the background. Once they got accustomed to their new environment, things would only get worse.

Understanding their position, Chen Kan gritted his teeth and turned to his guests. He was able to project his voice across the water with no problem whatsoever.

"We need to retreat. The others will be able to hold them back for some time."

Jun Ziyan didn't protest and grabbed Li Lang's shoulder, urging him to get a move on it, while Da Feng shook his head as he reluctantly turned away from the fight.

"We should be helping them," he mouthed.

Somehow, Chen Kan was able to hear his words. He snapped toward Da Feng with a scowl.

"The best way we can do that is by going to find help as quickly as we can. Let us go," the only Rolling Tide disciple not in the fight said.

The group then wordlessly began retreating, with the disciples from Sword Saint Isle dragging Li Lang along. They thought he was disoriented by the sudden change of environment, but in reality, he was deep in thought, mulling over his options within his lab.

He was sitting by his desk with a fist supporting his chin.

"Master, are you sure we should just leave like this? Isn't that the heavenly earth that you aimed for? I can easily teach it a lesson, and its meagre powers would be yours, Master."

"I understand that, but my decision is final. You need to make sure not to expose your existence too, Ruby. Do you understand?"

"I—understand, Master."

It was safe to say Li Lang was ecstatic when the heavenly earth appeared before his eyes a moment ago, but his lust for its powers was quickly doused when he thought things through. Sure, he could subdue it with ease if he had the help of Ruby. However, doing so would risk exposing Ruby's existence.

Li Lang, or Star Gem Academy, had many secrets. The Cleansing Pills, Weave Presses, and, more recently, the Neuraflux drug that seemed to have a temporary effect on restoring a deviator's cognitive functions. None of these trump cards would benefit him if he haphazardly revealed them. It would cause many to seek him out, scheme, and plot against him.

Still, if they were to be revealed at an inopportune time, it wouldn't be the end for him and Star Gem Academy. They would just have to give up the benefits at worst.

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However, when it came to the secret around Ruby, that was an entirely different matter. This was the basis of Li Lang's accomplishments. It was a multiplier that accelerated all his progress. It wasn't that he couldn't operate without Ruby, but if others were to learn of its existence, he doubted the powerful figures in the world would even bother to engage in intrigue. They would undoubtedly just use their brute force to obtain this priceless treasure.

If it came to that, the chances of Li Lang's survival would plummet into the abyss. Why leave a witness, a loose end, that could smear their reputation by calling them a thief?

For this reason, the secret regarding Ruby was on a completely different level compared to anything else. It was something he would have to guard with his life. Hence, he could only watch the heavenly earth slip away from his grasp as he was brought to safety.

Their progress was slow, as the water enveloping them seemed to go on forever. Just as they were about to turn the corner away from the battlefield, the sound and tremors of fighting abruptly ceased. The group turned back, fearing for the worst, only to find the three parties in the battle silently watching each other.

"What's going on?" Chen Kan muttered the words everyone was thinking.

***

In the other section of the tunnels, Long Yi was down on one knee, breathing heavily. Around him was the aftermath of his struggle against the treant that had blocked their path. Wooden splinters and large chunks of tree roots were scattered about.

Behind him, his companion, Han Zemei, was busy keeping the oncoming Qi beasts at bay.

"I don't think I'll be able to hold on much longer without resorting to flooding this place again," she cried as her knife-hand scattered blood around her.

"No need. I'm ready to go," Long Yi replied as he leaned into his broadsword to get up.

While his companion noticed his condition, there wasn't much she could do about it. They gritted their teeth before each sending out a sword light at the ceiling, causing a section of it to collapse, blocking their pursuers' way.

They rushed for the exit while they still had the leeway, only to come to a halt when they noticed yet another obstacle in their path.

"Why is the heavenly earth here? I thought it didn't leave the chamber," Long Yi said in disbelief.

"This—probably isn't good," Han Zemei replied. "Watch out!"

The sludge before them suddenly lunged their way. The Rolling Tide disciple pushed Long Yi to the side, barely saving them as it zipped through between them. Han Zemei then immediately got in front of her charge, narrowing her eyes at their opponent's movements.

"It's slow! It should only be a small part of it."

"That's a relief. Can you keep it in place so I can land a good hit on it?"

"We shouldn't try to fight it, even if it's only a fragment of it. We need to run the first chance we get."

As if it understood their words, the sludge fanned out menacingly in the path of their exit, stating its intent to keep them here.

"Whatever you do, make sure you don't come into contact with it," Han Zemei muttered. "Its powers should be to drain the energy out of whatever it touches."

"I'll do my best, no promises."

The two then split further apart, trying to break through on different edges of the tunnel. Instead of swarming them as one cohesive blob as it had done before, the heavenly earth split into two parts before they each transformed into the shape of a human.

Suddenly, two human-shaped mud monsters blocked their path. They charged forth like expert martial artists, engaging the two in melee combat.

Long Yi barely managed to jump over a sweeping kick before he was forced to hold up his sword to block a punch. He then leaped back, only to narrowly dodge a kick aimed at his temple.

Despite the mud golem having less reach, as it was unarmed, the fact that the humans had to avoid contact at all costs put them on their back feet.

Thankfully, Long Yi had ample experience in brawls like these. Despite only having early-stage cultivation, he kept up even better than Han Zemei, who was in the late stage. It was partly due to the fact that the Rolling Tide disciple had equally short reach as the golems, and she was fighting on dry land instead of water.

With the earth element countering the water, she didn't even dare to flood the tunnel, as she doubted it would slow it down. It would only hinder her ally, so she tried her best to endure the onslaught. Unfortunately, that turned out badly.

Just as Long Yi was getting used to his opponent's movements and was plotting to counterattack, a yelp cried out beside him, drawing his attention. He then locked eyes with his companion, whose expression was mixed with both fear and determination.

"Long Yi, run! I'll hold them back!"

Before his brain even processed those words, he began sprinting. However, he didn't sprint for the exit, but instead sprinted for his ally. The world around him became deathly quiet as he was completely focused on the task at hand. To save his companion.

That's why he completely ignored her pleas as he grabbed onto the woman and threw her out of the sludge's grasp. Immediately after, he was engulfed in exchange.

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