Chapter 288: Infighting

The many bandits who were drinking and celebrating wildly in Eagle Nest Ridge did not yet know that they had been surrounded by others outside.

After fleeing Qinghe Market that day, seeing that no one from Qinghe Market was pursuing, Cheng Yilong and the others slowly slowed their pace. Coupled with the fact that Song Qingming and the others, in order to catch them off guard, had been rushing at full speed for these ten-plus days, they arrived here only two days later than them, who had set out in advance.

Plus, the traitor in Qinghe Market was unearthed in time and did not have a chance to send them a message. Thus, Song Qingming and the others caught the bandit cultivators of Eagle Nest Ridge by surprise and surrounded them on the mountain.

Cheng Yilong and the other two, who were still in the cave dwelling discussing the specific distribution of the plundered spiritual items, suddenly heard a burst of wind-breaking shouts and killing sounds outside. They hurriedly activated the mountain-protecting formation on the mountain to guard this spiritual mountain.

The group that had charged to the foot of the mountain saw that the enemy had already activated the mountain-protecting formation, but they were not surprised and directly began to attack the formation with all their might.

Knowing that there was also a mountain-protecting formation on the enemy's spiritual mountain, Song Qingming and the others were not in a hurry. Rushing into it without destroying the formation could lead to being trapped inside by the enemy's activated array. No one wanted to take such a risky action.

Eagle Nest Ridge's mountain-protecting formation was only a low-grade second-tier, far inferior to the Qinghe Market formation. Their plan was to first surround Eagle Nest Ridge and then take turns attacking the formation every day, slowly consuming the formation's defensive power.

With eight Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces and taking turns leading the attack, they could break the formation in at most a month. Although it would consume quite a bit of time, it was the most secure way to attack. As long as they could hold out for about a month, Eagle Nest Ridge would surely be breached.

In order to successfully resolve this tumor that had harmed Qinghe County for decades, each family had spent a fortune this time. Before setting out, they had already made a plan and brought plenty of spirit stones, spirit rice, and other strategic materials here.

Wu Xiang looked at the temporary camp that had been surrounded like an iron bucket at the foot of the mountain, and his heart couldn't help but panic. Come to think of it, he was unlucky enough. He should have returned to his own territory directly after the spiritual items were distributed, but because the things they snatched this time were too many and messy, with everything mixed together.

On the way, Cheng Yilong, in order to rush, did not agree to waste time counting the spiritual items and distributing them on the spot. As a result, he was delayed and arrived at Eagle Nest Ridge with his brothers. Just as they were about to distribute the spiritual items, the enemy had already charged to their door. Seeing them setting up camp, it was clear they didn't intend to give up easily and were aiming for their lives.

Now that the outside was already surrounded tightly, and the enemy had eight Foundation Establishment cultivators taking turns attacking the formation, he lost the courage to break out. Unless Cheng Yilong and the other were willing to risk their lives to cooperate with him, he would have no chance to escape Eagle Nest Ridge head-on.

As for Cheng Yilong and the other, seeing the great enemy outside, they were naturally unwilling to lose Wu Xiang and the cultivators he brought. With them there, they could at least hold out for a while longer. They could certainly calculate this account clearly.

"Brother Wu, don't be so gloomy. I have already sent a message to the Zhou brothers nearby and Mount Dalong, asking them to come and help. Once their people arrive, the enemy will surely retreat. Brother, rest assured."

After being surrounded for only a few days, Cheng Yilong saw Wu Xiang becoming increasingly panicked, so he hurriedly set up a banquet in the cave dwelling to invite him to drink and relax.

Hearing Cheng Yilong say he had invited helpers, Wu Xiang sighed and said, "They are all people who have been mixing in the Zheng Guo area for years. I'm afraid they won't dare to come and offend the Xiaoyao Sect. I'm just afraid you are working in vain, brother."

"Sigh! Brother Wu, don't say that. In order to invite them to help, I have also paid a considerable price. This time I think they should be willing to wade into these muddy waters. Furthermore, my Eagle Nest Ridge can be considered as solid as a rock. The enemy won't be able to break the formation for two or three months. Hehe, they have the heart to wipe us out, but I'm afraid they can't afford to wear us down."

"Exactly. Over the years, our Eagle Nest Ridge has been surrounded and suppressed I don't know how many times. Look, aren't we all still fine? Why fear them?"

Ever since Chen Zicong defected to Eagle Nest Ridge, he had been smooth sailing following Cheng Yilong for the past few years. On the surface, he was still relatively calm, but in his heart, he knew very well that if no one came to rescue them this time, Eagle Nest Ridge's mountain-protecting formation could only hold out for at most a month.

Days passed, and soon half a month had gone by. The foot of the mountain was still tightly surrounded by many cultivators. Seeing that Eagle Nest Ridge's mountain-protecting formation was about to collapse from the consumption, and still not seeing the reinforcements Cheng Yilong had mentioned, Wu Xiang completely lost patience and was already preparing to plot his own way out.

Bandit cultivators were different from demonic cultivators. These people all acted based on interests. The mastermind behind breaching Qinghe Market this time was Cheng Yilong and the others. He was just here to help out. Although he also received a few thousand spirit stones, Wu Xiang didn't want to stay in Eagle Nest Ridge and be free cannon fodder for Cheng Yilong and the others for the sake of these spiritual items.

Thus, taking advantage of a rotation of guarding the formation, Wu Xiang made contact with Lu Yuanfeng at the foot of the mountain, indicating that they were willing to turn against their own side from within to help them open Eagle Nest Ridge's formation, only asking that they not be pursued afterward.

Unexpectedly, before they could reply to him, Chen Zicong on the mountain had already discovered Wu Xiang's abnormality. Not long after he sent out the message, Chen Zicong already knew and informed Cheng Yilong.

"Brother Wu, now you and I are in the same boat. Even if you want to jump ship, you can't capsize our whole boat, right? At least leave a way for the brothers on the boat to survive."

Just after Wu Xiang finished sending the surrender letter and returned to his residence, he found that Cheng Yilong had long been waiting there, and he immediately knew that his recent actions had been exposed.

Wu Xiang sighed softly and said, "Brother, you misunderstood me. I just wanted to leave and seek a way to survive, with no intention of harming you, brother. I hope Brother Yilong will not be provoked by others to wrong me."

"Is that so! It seems I really wronged you. I understand that you want to seek a way to survive, and I am willing to help you. However, we also want to seek a way to survive. I wonder if you are willing to do us a favor, brother?" Cheng Yilong asked with a smile, his expression unchanged.

Wu Xiang looked wary and said, "What way to survive? Might as well tell me!"

After Lu Yuanfeng received Wu Xiang's surrender letter, he discussed it with everyone. Most people felt that they could agree to Wu Xiang's conditions. After all, constantly attacking the mountain formation every day required consuming a large amount of spirit stone resources. Having this opportunity to break the formation early, letting go of Wu Xiang's wave of people was something that could be considered. After all, the main target of revenge this time was the bandit cultivators of Eagle Nest Ridge.