The impatient-looking Lotus Formation was even smaller than Core Disciple Xuan. In total, it contained a little over two thousand Immortal Boats.

As Fang Chen and Core Disciple Xuan approached, the Lotus Formation immediately began to slow down. A hurried voice came through, "Senior Sister Xuan, what's the situation on Lone Light Star right now!? Tenth Senior Brother said they were ambushed on the way, and it'll take at least fifty years for them to arrive!"

"Fifty years?" Core Disciple Xuan was slightly taken aback. "The situation on Lone Light Star is fine. We've already received reinforcements from the Enlightenment God Palace."

"So it's the Black Dragon Formation from Enlightenment God Palace. No wonder it looked so familiar," muttered a figure as he flew out and glanced at Fang Chen.

He then looked at Core Disciple Xuan. "Senior Sister Xuan, since we have friends from Enlightenment God Palace helping, the three of us can work together to take Lone Light Star. I heard the possessed cultivator here was Wang Zhanqi from Grand Wei Study? That guy isn't easy to deal with. If you managed to hold out until I arrived, that's impressive."

Core Disciple Xuan looked a little embarrassed. "Wang Zhanqi has already been eliminated. The possessed cultivators on Lone Light Star have mostly been cleared. The area is now under our control."

"What!?" exclaimed the newcomer, visibly surprised.

"Core Disciple Wang, let me introduce you. This is Chen Dongdong, one of the core disciples of Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Sect. He only became a core six hundred years ago, so he's not very experienced."

After introducing the newcomer to Fang Chen, Core Disciple Xuan explained what had happened on Lone Light Star.

Chen Dongdong was visibly astonished. By the end, he gasped and quickly bowed to Fang Chen. "I, your humble junior, pay my respects to Core Disciple Wang."

"No need for formalities," said Fang Chen. "So our reinforcements will take around fifty years to reach Lone Light Star?"

Chen Dongdong nodded immediately. "About that, yes. Tenth Senior Brother said so. As long as we can hold out until he arrives, Lone Light Star won't fall. It will become our logistic base for counterattacking the possessed."

Counterattack...

Fang Chen internally let out a sigh. The situation in the Taicang Realm was dire. No wonder they had requested support from the Fangcun and Shenwang Realms.

"Fifty years... not too long, not too short. Let's just hope the Blood Demon Hall behind Wang Zhanqi doesn't arrive too early," Core Disciple Xuan muttered. "If they arrive first, we'll still have to give up Lone Light Star."

Chen Dongdong's eyes narrowed. He was both surprised and uneasy.

"Blood Demon Hall? That's who we're facing?" he wondered. "I think we should prepare to retreat at any moment. The people in Blood Demon Hall are formidable. Wang Zhanqi himself isn't even among the top."

"Core Disciple Wang, what do you think? Should we speed things up and try to take as many supplies as possible? Even if Blood Demon Hall shows up, we can temporarily yield this place and buy ourselves time," asked Core Disciple Xuan as she looked at Fang Chen for guidance.

Fang Chen considered for a moment and then said, "Yes, regarding supplies, we do need to speed up. Collect immortal crystals faster. If the Blood Demon Hall arrives and we can't resist, we can retreat first. But as of now, there's no sign of them, so no need to move hastily."

He was also still searching for the person Xie Aman had asked him to find. This task couldn't be handed over to Ji Gang or even Core Disciple Xuan. Over the decades, Fang Chen's divine soul had often been in an astral form. It travelled across the realms to track this individual. But one person alone had limits. There would always be gaps, coincidences, or obstacles that delayed finding the target.

"All right, then. Let's follow Core Disciple Wang's advice. The enemy hasn't arrived yet, so we stay put and extract as many supplies as possible." Core Disciple Xuan nodded. She turned to Chen Dongdong. "You'll need to take some responsibility. Lead your expedition team to patrol around Lone Light Star. Report immediately if you detect any enemy activity."

Chen Dongdong responded without hesitation, "You can count on me for this."

***

Baisheng Mines, rich in spirit stones and various fire-attributed materials, sprawled over thousands of miles. Miners dominated the populace, countless, and all at the Qi Refining Realm.

With the approach of war, these miners worked day and night, and every year countless workers died from overexertion. Yet no one dared to complain. If they had any, it could only remain in their hearts.

They didn't know exactly what was happening, but they had heard that a terrifying war was raging in the world. If they lost, they might all die.

The scorching sunlight beat down on Zhang Shaoming, the blazing heat mingling with the stench of sweat and the odor of ore, making him feel dizzy.

"My body is overworked... " muttered Zhang Shaoming, haggard.

Letting out a sigh, he picked a shaded spot to sit down and rest for a while.

Having spent years digging spirit stones underground, his body constantly rubbed against the rocky, jagged walls, turning his once fair and tender skin into rough, darkened flesh.

At that moment, a group of cultivators approached. They were also miners, dressed just like Zhang Shaoming. However, they looked a little more tidy, each wearing a decent robe.

"Yo, isn't this the eldest young master of our Zhang family? How did you get so miserable now?"

Zhang Shaoming glanced at them and his expression changed. He instinctively wanted to rise and leave but several of them blocked his path.

"Where are you going? We're not some wild beasts, what's there to fear?" jeered one of them, pressing a hand to Zhang Shaoming's shoulder to force him back down.

He then chuckled and pulled out a piece of dried meat, handing it to Zhang Shaoming. "Eat it, this is good stuff."

Zhang Shaoming furrowed his brows. "What's the meaning of this, Chen Shan?"

Zhang Shaoming didn't take meat, but the unconscious swallow he made had already revealed how badly he wanted it.

"What do I mean? You think it's still like the old days?" Chen Shan frowned. "You are still holding onto those tiny grudges from before? The people you know and the people I know are mostly all dead, right? I remember that year... a massive fireball fell from the sky."

He gestured upwards with his hand, then laughed self-mockingly. "Just one strike, and the city was destroyed. People perished. No one even knew how it happened."

Zhang Shaoming's expression shifted slightly. "Stop talking about it."

"What happened has already happened. Are you still going to run away? You were the most talented cultivator in our city back then, so why haven't you improved your cultivation all these years?"

Chen Shan's expression twisted into something fierce, and he grabbed Zhang Shaoming by the neck. "You should train properly! Strive to become a great power one day, so you can avenge the relatives and friends who died! Understand? You have to train properly!"

By the end, his voice was almost a roar.

Zhang Shaoming froze. He had never seen Chen Shan like this.

At that moment, Fang Chen's divine soul descended from the sky.

"Finally... found you."

After examining Zhang Shaoming for a few moments, they confirmed that this was indeed the person Xie Aman had asked him to find.