Shen Qian Si and his group, after attacking Mo Qi for a while, found it futile, unable to harm Mo Qi and the other two in the slightest.
So Shen Qian Si shouted again, "Eliminate the others first!"
He set an example, launching his divine ability at another captive bound in a cell.
The others followed suit, unleashing their divine abilities on the remaining captives.
Most of the others' spiritual power had recovered, but they were bound by iron chains and couldn't move away from the pillars. They were essentially at the mercy of their attackers, with only slight movements possible to evade attacks.
To retaliate, they could only use one hand, while the other had to remain on the pillar.
The spiritual power in all the pillars was transmitted by Mo Qi.
Concurrently, the entire space was absorbing their spiritual power, feeding it back into the mountain range. Mo Qi drew spiritual power from the mountain range, transmitting it to them through the pillars, forming a cycle.
At this moment, for Mo Qi to break the cycle, he had to absorb the entire spiritual脉 (ling mai - spiritual脉).
However, absorbing the spiritual脉 was extremely difficult, and he was momentarily at a disadvantage.
Flashes of light, vibrant and colorful, erupted, accompanied by explosions and rising dust.
The deafening sounds of booming explosions were incessant.
Although the entire cave shook as if during an earthquake, it did not collapse, nor did any rocks fall.
This was the ingenious design of the space; through the cycle, it formed a powerful combined force capable of resisting all attacks, preventing collapse and destruction.
If it were easily destroyed, the enemy might have broken the cave, thus rendering the space useless.
At this point, those bound to the pillars cried out, retaliating with one hand.
It was said that even the strongest fighter could not fend off multiple attackers, especially when unable to move, forcing them to rely on brute strength.
The residents of "Bie You Dong Tian" (Another Haven), each possessed strength far exceeding that of the "Jie Ti" (Stairway) ruffians. Moreover, "Bie You Dong Tian" had a numerical advantage, with most engagements being multi-against-one.
Fortunately, the outer space of the cave was not very large, limiting the number of people who could fight. Otherwise, it would have been a massacre.
Furthermore, within this space, any spiritual energy that traversed it was partially siphoned off, significantly weakening the divine abilities and spells cast from a distance.
Yet, even so, it couldn't alter the fate of the "Jie Ti" ruffians, who were being slaughtered.
Screams echoed continuously, like a dull knife cutting flesh, each person enduring unbearable torment. Many, unable to bear the agony, gave up resistance and were killed.
Elder Wei was one of them.
Many others were still stubbornly resisting, fighting desperately, refusing to yield even when covered in wounds.
At this moment, Mo Qi, while absorbing the spiritual脉, endured the chaos in his meridians and said, "Brothers, hold on a little longer, I will lead you out."
This cry was like lost lambs in the darkness hearing a voice from their hearts, like drowning people seeing a lifeline.
Even enduring torture akin to being sliced by a thousand knives or boiled in oil, the others remained clear-headed. They also understood the pressure and pain Mo Qi was enduring, which was likely no less than their own.
"Hold on a little longer, and we'll fight our way out together!" Thus, a resounding voice echoed through the heavens.
From this moment on, no one voluntarily surrendered!
Even when battered and on the verge of collapse, they gritted their teeth and persevered.
Even as blood stained the ground, as the stench of blood permeated the space, as pain dominated their souls, and as their will to survive waned, they persisted!
Only for someone to lend a hand in their helplessness!
Only for someone to watch over them in their despair!
They seemed to have forgotten the meaning of life, yet they vaguely remembered the companionship of those around them.
Though their future seemed destined to be arduous, their calls for help continued!
Though all things seemed on the verge of decay, their souls remained unyielding!
Persistence was not due to hope!
But because of companions!
To live was simply because like-minded individuals lived, and because someone hoped they would live.
Even if living in humiliation, even if living in pain, they remained strong because they were not alone!
The battle was fierce, with light and dust swirling, making it almost impossible to see figures.
Only the earth-shattering screams and shocking splashes of blood could be heard.
Shen Qian Si fought like a madman, unleashing his divine abilities and unknowingly stepping forward, entering the space. Only when his spiritual power began to drain did he realize his mistake and quickly retreat.
At this moment, Mo Qi had absorbed the entire spiritual脉. The space lost its efficacy, and under the relentless bombardment of everyone's divine abilities, the entire cave began to shake, with rocks falling.
A surge of thick black energy suddenly erupted from the cave, like a mountain flood, vast and powerful, advancing with overwhelming force. In an instant, it shattered and swallowed all the divine abilities from outside with destructive power. Without pause, it surged forward again, sweeping those people out of the cave.
Some struggled in the torrent for a while, only to be swallowed after a few surges.
Others fled with all their might, knocked down only to scramble up, swimming and pushing their way forward, a sorry sight.
The black energy churned for a long distance before its surge ceased. The ground was a mess; some were dead, some were still struggling in pain, and some, having run fast, stood far away, gasping for breath. Shen Qian Si was one of them.
Shen Qian Si, usually unsteady on his feet, ran with surprising agility and miraculously emerged unharmed!
At this point, the entire cave shook violently, and the rumbling sounds grew louder, as if the entire mountain were about to collapse.
The continuous sound of axe strikes echoed, accompanied by flashing lights that spilled from the cave, casting a cold gleam on the outside.
Some people were accidentally struck by the light, cut in half. The rest were terrified and scattered to avoid it.
"Pangu's Divine Power, Heaven Splitting!"
With a long, drawn-out tearing sound, like the sky being ripped apart, it echoed.
Immediately after, with a crash, the entire mountain split in half along the mountain range, diverging to both sides.
Another series of crashing sounds followed as the mountain collapsed like two colossal beasts, falling to the ground with a deafening roar, kicking up billowing dust that spread upwards and outwards.
Amidst the swirling dust, countless figures emerged one after another, piercing through the layers of dust and landing on the ground near and far.
First was Mo Qi, with a beauty in each arm, emerging from the dust. Not a speck of dirt clung to him as he stood gracefully in the wind, landing on the ground amidst the gazes of all.
Lu Xiao Yue still had some iron chains haphazardly hanging from her.
Those who followed also had chains on them.
Once they landed, they eagerly shed the iron chains, tossing them onto the ground.
Thus, the ground was instantly covered with iron chains, resembling a blacksmith's forge.
It turned out that the sounds of axe strikes within the cave earlier were Mo Qi cutting through everyone's chains with the Heaven Splitting Axe.
Afterward, he used the Heaven Splitting Axe to cleave the mountain, allowing everyone to escape.
Everyone was overjoyed!
But there was no time for celebration. As their emotions settled, all their injuries flared up simultaneously, and they collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
Mo Qi immediately distributed healing pills to Murong Yan Ran and Lu Xiao Yue, instructing them to distribute them to everyone.
He himself moved to face Shen Qian Si.
His eyes blazed with sharp light as he stared at Shen Qian Si, his killing intent silently spreading in all directions.
Shen Qian Si retreated repeatedly, his eyes filled with bewilderment and fear.