Feng Yan and the others still couldn't fully believe just how powerful Tian Shen had become.
But what they did believe in… was the Beast Taming Sect's greatest treasure—the Beast Spirit Sword—and the immense heritage it offered.
They believed it was enough for Tian Shen to turn the tide and resolve the sect's crisis!
The 3-star monster was getting closer and closer to the Beast Taming Sect.
The terrifying aura it emitted wasn't just felt by Feng Yan and the elders.
Even the disciples within the sect trembled under the pressure.
Compared to the sect's upper echelon, most Beast Taming Sect disciples were still in the Body Refining realm. While they could barely resist the pressure of a 2-star monster, a 3-star monster was something else entirely.
Even the core disciples went pale with fright.
Some of the weaker and less resolute disciples immediately turned to flee the Beast Taming Sect in panic.
They didn't believe the sect had the strength to resist a 3-star beast.
And for a moment, chaos reigned.
Fortunately…
Among the core disciples, most had strong characters.
They didn't flee.
Instead, they quickly united to protect their junior brothers and sisters.
And leading them all—Feng Yin, the Young Sect Master, alongside Qi Lianghui and several core figures—swiftly brought order.
With Feng Yin's calm leadership, the chaos quickly quieted.
She led the remaining disciples to a massive underground chamber hidden deep within the sect's mountain.
This chamber had been carved out long ago by several powerful ancestors of the Beast Taming Sect as an emergency refuge in times of disaster—just like this one.
Even so, once inside, many of the core disciples' expressions remained grim.
Originally, the Beast Taming Sect had over 100,000 disciples.
Now, only about 80,000 made it into the chamber.
Roughly 20,000 to 30,000 had fled during the earlier chaos.
"Young Sect Master, it's not the outer disciples who abandoned the sect," came a voice.
Gu Wei, a top core disciple, walked to Feng Yin's side, her expression dark.
"Among the twenty thousand who fled, eighty percent were inner disciples. At this point, we have fewer than five thousand inner disciples left."
Gu Wei's tone was heavy.
Her reputation was well-known—an elite disciple, nearly equal in cultivation to Feng Yin herself. Sharp-eyed, short-haired, and brimming with a commanding presence, she had a heroic air that made her stand out among the sect's women.
She was close to Feng Yin—someone who, once Feng Yin succeeded as Sect Master, would likely become her most trusted ally.
Now, Gu Wei leaned close, whispering into Feng Yin's ear with a chilling glint in her eyes:
"Feng Yin, I just discovered something else. That bastard Su Gu was killed and found out by elder Su's followers. They ran off retorting they were going to find Elder Su."
"Find Elder Su?"
Feng Yin sneered.
"Elder Su left six months ago on a journey and hasn't sent back a single message. No one knows where he is! Using that as an excuse to run? How pathetic."
Feng Yin shook her head, her expression composed again.
"All inner and outer disciples—go to Passage One and continue excavation work. Core disciples are to stand guard and ensure the monster doesn't find us."
She turned to Gu Wei.
"Gu Wei, come with me. We'll go scout the situation outside."
"Yes, Young Sect Master!"
Everyone moved at once.
Passage One—an escape tunnel leading 100 kilometers beyond the sect.
The underground chamber they now hid in had not yet been fully fortified. Against a 3-star beast, it wouldn't last long.
If the monster broke through, the chamber would become a death trap.
Passage One was their only hope.
It wasn't finished—but if tens of thousands worked at once, it could be completed within hours.
And if they could reach the nearby city… the teleportation array would carry them to safety.
Victory—or survival—depended on that tunnel.
Feng Yin took Gu Wei, left the secret chamber, and returned to the surface once more.
In truth, Feng Yin's decision to leave the chamber with Gu Wei had a hint of selfishness behind it.
When she was gathering the disciples and guiding them into the underground refuge, she had taken a detour to Tian Shen's residence to check on him—but there was no trace of him.
Even after arriving in the chamber, he was still nowhere to be found.
But she refused to believe Tian Shen was the kind of person who would run away at the first sign of danger.
She was worried.
Had Tian Shen run into danger?
She wanted to go out and look for him.
The terrifying aura of the 3-star beast still blanketed the heavens and earth like a suffocating fog.
Feng Yin and Gu Wei both turned pale on the spot, and blood welled up from their throats, spilling from their lips.
They had sustained internal injuries.
After all, both of them were only at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm.
To be blunt, they hadn't even stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm, which is known as the base for future cultivation.
How could they possibly withstand the spiritual pressure of a 3-star beast?
"Over there!"
Feng Yin gritted her teeth, ignoring the pain, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and pointed ahead where she spotted Feng Yan and several elders in the distance.
"Got it!"
Gu Wei immediately nodded in understanding.
"Father!"
Feng Yin rushed toward Feng Yan's group, calling out.
Gu Wei also saluted to them.
"I greet the Sect Master, I greet the elders!"
Everyone quickly bowed and moved to stand beside Feng Yin in silence.
"Why are you here? What's the situation with the disciples?"
Feng Yan asked, his brows slightly furrowed.
"There are currently about 20,000 to 30,000 disciples who fled. The rest have been moved to the underground refuge and are now excavating Passage One."
Feng Yin reported crisply, still clenching her teeth against the pain as she spoke.