The sound of a crowd of people running from behind was loud even though everyone was a cultivator and had lightened their steps. It couldn’t be helped. There simply were too many of them and save for a few sects, none of these paid special attention to the sounds of their movements.

For Shen Lei and Luo Lin, as well as the group from the righteous side waiting in the hall, this was a good thing though. Each of them got ready: The disciples and Elders retreated toward the array, with the first two groups already transferring out of the room while the others quickly changed positions to make their disappearance less obvious. Shen Lei and Luo Lin ran down the corridor and started to yell a warning as if to alert everyone to the presence of the demonic faction.

Elder Gong behind widened his eyes. He hadn’t noticed these two but then, in his opinion, it didn’t matter much. He waved for the disciples behind him to keep up, speeding up his own steps. “Charge!” Since the other side was aware of them now at the very latest, they should fight as soon as possible.

They rushed into the hall but when they did, what they saw was a young couple rushing toward a spot further in the back. As for the big group of people … they merely saw them vanish in place.

“There’s an array!” Elder Gong threw out an attack before the words were even finished. Those cowards are fleeing! That was all that went through his mind.

On the other side, Shen Lei glanced over his shoulder and pulled Luo Lin closer to protect him. At the same time, he grabbed the straw doll from his spatial bag, holding it out to his lover.

Luo Lin had already taken out the powder and hastily shook the vial above the doll, making it cover the front. He didn’t know if this would be enough but they hardly had enough time to do this more thoroughly.

Shen Lei didn’t hesitate, grabbed the crystal ball from his spatial bag next, and stuffed the doll inside. He also added the vial just to make sure before throwing the whole contraption behind them, even adding a spiritual attack right behind.

As soon as the spiritual energy flew out, Luo Lin pulled him into the dreamscape, tightly hugging his waist. From Yan Hong Min’s words, there should be less than a few seconds as soon as this thing hit and the result … it was tough to say. He actually closed his eyes, unable to look at what was happening.

Shen Lei hugged him back, leaning down to hold him and envelop him in his arms as well as he could. Even though they should be safe here in the dreamscape, he’d rather not take any chances. If anything went wrong, he had to deflect the attack for Luo Lin. Between the two of them, he’d have the better chances of dealing with it if he sustained injuries.

Outside, the spiritual attacks rushed toward each other but before they could even get close, the crystal with the doll and the powder hit the ground. For a heartbeat, nothing seemed to happen. Then, flames burst forth and a shockwave swept in all directions. The explosive stones from the Zhen Yan Sect that they had scattered were blown aside by the wind, hitting the walls riddled with holes. Not that it was necessary.

The strength of the explosion swept the group of demonic practitioners off their feet and slammed into the wall. The stone didn’t look as if it cracked but instead seemed to explode itself. Parts of the columns were flung aside, crashing into the opposite walls that had started to crumble.

With the lower parts gone, the ceiling protested loudly, and then, boulders fell one after the other, hitting the ground far below with a rumble.

The demonic practitioners hadn’t even had time to get back up but they were still elites of their sects. They naturally wouldn’t just watch in horror as the building around them collapsed. Each of them mobilized their spiritual energy, condensing it into the strongest shield they could.

The stone hit the energy shields with a notable thud, making the people beneath flinch and groan. These weren’t small stones but heavy blocks that had once formed a majestic building. The weight of even one would be difficult to carry for a person who was prepared and now, they fell all at once, the speed adding to the pressure they gave to the cultivators trying to protect themselves.

Elder Gong cursed under his breath. “Those bastards!” But no matter how he yelled, it couldn’t change a thing. He opened his spiritual bag and took out the few defensive tools he had, setting them up around himself and the disciples of his sect. There wasn’t enough to go around for everyone and he wouldn’t care about those disciples who had nothing to do with him. The other Elders of the Pi Shi Sect should thank him that he was taking care of their disciples.

“If you have defensive tools, take them out now!” He still yelled a command toward everyone else. It likely wouldn’t change much but maybe he and their sects people could take advantage of everything falling more slowly. They just needed one spot that was less dangerous, one place where they could get through.

The disciples of the Pi Shi Sect exchanged glances and then mobilized more energy, inching closer to him. Reaching the inner ring of the items he had set up, they also took out what their Masters had given them. It couldn’t compare to what the Elder himself had but with all of them together, the pressure on them lessened a lot. They could take back some energy and had the chance to look around.

What they saw … well, it certainly didn’t make them feel hopeful.