83: Chapter 83 I, Zhao Ruoan, am asking for money!

While waiting for Li Gui to arrive, Zhao Ruoan did not idle.

"Elder Qian, regardless of whether Li Gui is a mole or not, we must prepare for the worst," Zhao Ruoan's thoughts were very clear. "Assuming the enemy really launches a full-scale attack, the mining area's current defenses probably won't hold up."

Qian Kun nodded with a grave expression. "The mining area's grand defensive Formation can only withstand the siege of one or two Cultivators in the Early Stage of the Divine Soul Realm. If the enemy is numerous, or if a stronger Cultivator makes a move, the grand Formation won't hold for long."

"Therefore, we need to strengthen our defenses," Zhao Ruoan said. "I need to requisition a batch of resources to set up some small defensive and offensive Formations at key locations as a supplement to the grand defensive Formation. An extra layer of defense gives us an extra chance of survival."

"Setting up Formations?" Qian Kun looked at him with some surprise. "Junior Martial Nephew, you are also proficient in Formations?"

"I know a thing or two," Zhao Ruoan said modestly.

What a joke. The Great Dao Scripture given by the System was all-encompassing, and Formations were just one of its branches. Although he hadn't studied it deeply, setting up some basic Five Elements Formations was still effortless for him.

"Great! Whatever you need, just ask!" Qian Kun was now putting all his bets on Zhao Ruoan, so he naturally granted every request. "I will give you a hand order right now. You can go to the mining area's treasury and withdraw whatever you need yourself!"

As he spoke, he took out a token from his storage ring and handed it to Zhao Ruoan.

"Thank you, Elder!" Zhao Ruoan was not polite either. He took the token, turned to Qiuyin and Xiamo, and said, "You two, follow me."

"Yes, Young Lord!"

Holding the hand order, the three of them headed straight for the treasury in the back mountain of the mining area.

The mining area's treasury was a place where all kinds of Materials were stored, including mined raw Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills and Talismans distributed by the Sect, and some Formation Materials.

At the entrance of the treasury, two deacons of the Spirit Sea Realm stood guard.

Seeing Zhao Ruoan and the other two approaching, one of the square-faced deacons stopped them, his tone somewhat stiff. "The treasury is a restricted area. No unauthorized entry!"

Zhao Ruoan directly showed Qian Kun's hand order.

"By order of the Guarding Elder, I have come to withdraw a batch of Formation Materials."

The square-faced deacon took the token, glanced at it, and then peeked at Zhao Ruoan, saying with a fake smile, "So it is Uncle-Master Zhao. The Elder's hand order is indeed genuine, but... according to the rules, to withdraw treasury Materials, one needs a personally signed slip from the Elder, detailing the type and quantity of the required items. Just having the token probably doesn't comply with the rules."

This was deliberate harassment.

Zhao Ruoan's eyes turned cold, and he directly cast an Appraisal on this square-faced deacon.

"[Name: Wu Yong]"

"[Identity: Qingxuan Sect Outer Sect Deacon, Mining Area Treasury Manager]"

"[Cultivation: Late Stage of the Spirit Sea Realm]"

"[Status: Corroded by the Nether Cult's secret technique 'Soul Planting', Divine Soul has been assimilated]"

As expected, another mole!

And he was actually the manager guarding the treasury; this position was simply too critical.

Zhao Ruoan understood that this guy wanted to delay for time.

"Rules?" Zhao Ruoan sneered. "The situation is urgent right now, and a powerful enemy could attack at any moment, yet you are talking to me about rules?"

He took a step forward, pressing a sharp Aura over.

"I suspect you are deliberately delaying with malicious intent! Are you waiting for the evil cultists of the Nether Cult to break in so you can open the gates for them?"

"You... you are slandering me!" Forced back by Zhao Ruoan's Aura, Wu Yong's face instantly changed, but he still said stubbornly, "Without the Elder's signed slip, no one can take a single thread from the treasury! This is the Sect's iron law!"

"Iron law?" With a flick of his wrist, the Yun-Character Token representing his status as a Personal Disciple appeared in Zhao Ruoan's hand. "To see this token is to see the Peak Master in person! My word is the iron law! Do you understand?"

The Personal Disciple's token held an extraordinary status.

The other round-faced deacon, who hadn't spoken all this time, was so terrified upon seeing this token that his legs went soft. He hurriedly tugged Wu Yong's sleeve and advised in a low voice, "Senior Brother Wu, forget it, forget it. If the Personal Disciple Uncle wants something, let's just give it to him. Let's not cause trouble..."

"Get lost!" Wu Yong pushed him away and roared with blustering anger, "No means no!"

He knew very well that once Zhao Ruoan took the Formation Materials and strengthened the mining area's defenses, it would be a huge obstacle to the Nether Cult's plan. He had to stop him here.

"Good, very good." Zhao Ruoan nodded.

He no longer had the patience to talk nonsense with this mole.

The next second, the Fifth-Order Sword Intent erupted violently!

An invisible sword pressure, heavy as a mountain, slammed fiercely onto Wu Yong.

"Pfft!"

Wu Yong didn't even have time to react. He felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his knees buckling as he knelt directly onto the ground.

He looked at Zhao Ruoan with a face full of horror, as if he had seen a ghost.

This... what kind of power was this? A Disciple of the Pulse Condensation Realm could crush him, someone in the Late Stage of the Spirit Sea Realm, purely with his Aura?

"I will say it one last time," Zhao Ruoan's voice was as cold as ice. "Open the door, or die."

"I... I will open it..." Wu Yong was completely terrified. He had no doubt that if he dared to say another "no", the other's Sword Intent would instantly shred his Divine Soul.

In the face of the threat of death, whatever mission or plan became utter nonsense.

The round-faced deacon had long been scared out of his wits. Trembling, he took out a key and opened the treasury gates.

"At least you know what's good for you."

Zhao Ruoan withdrew his Sword Intent, not even sparing another glance at the kneeling Wu Yong as he led Qiuyin and Xiamo into the treasury.

Inside the treasury, various Materials were categorized and piled up like mountains.

Zhao Ruoan was not polite either. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, he directly swept a large number of Formation Flags, Formation Plates, and Spirit Stones and jade stones of various attributes into his sumeru ring.

He took a huge amount, almost emptying a third of the inventory.

In any case, leaving these things here would only benefit the enemy in the end, so he might as well use them to save his own life.

Having finished plundering, Zhao Ruoan led the two girls out of the treasury.

At the entrance, Wu Yong was still kneeling on the ground, his face pale and his whole body trembling.

Zhao Ruoan walked up to him, crouched down, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Go back and tell your master that I, Zhao Ruoan, am waiting for them."

Having said that, he ignored the mole who was already scared out of his wits and headed straight back to his small courtyard.

"Young Lord, do we start setting up the Formations now?" Xiamo asked.

"Yes, start immediately!" Zhao Ruoan took out a large number of Formation Flags and Materials from his sumeru ring. "Time is pressing. I will be in charge of the main Formation eye, and you two will assist. I will teach you what to do."

He quickly taught Qiuyin and Xiamo how to arrange some simple Formation nodes.

Although it was the first time the two girls had encountered Formations, after Cultivating the Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, their Comprehension Ability had also improved quite a bit, and they quickly grasped the essentials.

For a moment, the entire small courtyard became busy.

With the small courtyard as the center, Zhao Ruoan began to set up layer upon layer.

The first layer was the Lost Track Formation, used to confuse the enemy and interfere with their vision.

The second layer was the Five Elements Strangling Formation, mainly for offense; once an enemy intruded, it would trigger the Five Elements spiritual power to strangle them.

The third layer was the Vajra Guardian Formation, mainly for defense, which could form a sturdy protective shield.

The three layers of Formations were closely interlinked, forming a small defensive System.

With the title of "Spiritual Power Cornucopia," his total spiritual power had skyrocketed fivefold, which was enough to support the consumption of these Formations.

Just as they were intensely setting things up, over at Qian Kun's pavilion, Li Gui had already arrived.