Chapter 25: A Chance Encounter with Xuanjizi

Su Hao searched his storage space frantically for a long time, but the result left him bitterly disappointed. No matter how hard he looked, he could not find a trace of those spirit stones.

He couldn't help but scratch his head, muttering in confusion:

"This is truly bizarre; it’s completely beyond my understanding. I figured if the spirit stones could be placed into the storage space, it meant they should be transportable to the Universal Environmental Protection Agency. But now, the stones have vanished without a trace. I have no idea where they went. It’s like something out of a ghost story; it’s absolutely ridiculous."

Unwilling to give up, he attempted to contact the Universal Environmental Protection Agency, but there was no response, as if his call had sunk into the vast ocean, leaving not a single ripple.

Su Hao couldn't help but complain: "You can't play like this. Can this storage space actually embezzle my spirit stones?"

At that moment, a voice suddenly echoed:

[Candidate Cleaner, those spirit stones are in your storage space; you simply lack the clearance to see them.]

Upon hearing this, Su Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief:

"Lack the clearance? I put them in the storage space with my own hands. This is so inexplicable; there is no logic to this."

The night slowly faded, and the eastern horizon turned a pale, fish-belly white as a new day prepared to unfold.

Su Hao’s heart was filled with anticipation. He knew that each new day would bring new discoveries and challenges, and he was fully prepared to meet whatever lay ahead.

The next morning, as the first rays of warm sunlight pierced the thin mist like golden threads, spilling over the ruins of the Justice Gate, Su Hao proposed a bold and constructive plan.

He suggested that everyone divide into three teams, agile and swift like leopards, to search the lands ravaged by evil cultivators and find their scattered fellow disciples.

Alternatively, they could take in the lone, wandering rogue cultivators, uniting everyone to resist the surging dark forces and protect the land they loved.

Su Hao knew well that he hadn't explicitly mentioned plans to gather disciples from other sects.

After all, in this land heavily shrouded in malevolence, the relationships between sects were like autumn leaves—scattered and drifting, filled with deep alienation and estrangement. It was difficult to coalesce them into a force powerful enough to confront the evil cultivators.

It was precisely this alienation that had given the evil cultivators their opportunity to run rampant, turning this once peaceful, vibrant land into the desolate, scarred ruin it had become.

Su Hao understood that the time was not yet ripe. Even if he proposed an alliance now, he doubted he would receive a positive response.

Thus, he chose to remain silent for the moment, deciding to let time prove everything. When the opportunity was truly right, he would find the proper occasion to discuss this matter, which concerned everyone's fate.

The remaining disciples happily threw themselves into their tasks.

They worked together to carefully carve the meat of the demonic beasts into strips, hanging them to dry into jerky so it could be used when needed, ensuring a sufficient food supply for future emergencies.

Su Hao’s team remained composed of Yi Binglan, Wen Xiaochuan, and Gui Xiangling. Like partners with perfect tacit understanding, they embarked once more on a journey of unknown exploration.

However, unlike yesterday, the state of mind of those around him seemed to have undergone a subtle change.

With Su Hao by their side, they were no longer as anxious and frightened as birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring. Instead, they felt a sense of composure and firmness from the bottom of their hearts, as if having Su Hao there provided them with a backbone, making them fearless in the face of any danger.

Su Hao keenly sensed this shift in their mood, feeling both comforted and slightly worried.

He knew well that on this journey fraught with peril and hidden dangers, the slightest relaxation could lead to fatal consequences; there was no room for carelessness.

He reminded them earnestly:

"We are currently walking a path filled with unknowns. Danger is like our shadow, following us at every turn. Therefore, maintaining vigilance at all times is the key to our survival in this hostile environment. Everyone must not take this lightly."

Hearing Su Hao’s words, the smiles on the three vanished instantly. Their expressions became somber, the ease in their eyes fading and being replaced by seriousness and caution.

Although they could not fully shed the fear deep within—for the dangers around them were real—after Su Hao’s reminder, they at least learned how to hide this vulnerability and strive to appear stronger to cope with the dangers that might arise at any moment.

Su Hao’s spiritual sense acted like an invisible, omnipresent web, quietly covering every movement around them. Not a single rustle of wind could escape his keen perception.

In truth, he offered this reminder not because he genuinely feared they would encounter immediate danger from a moment of relaxation, but because he hoped they would continue to grow in such adverse conditions, learning to find courage within fear and becoming more resilient and strong.

The four of them were like a tightly linked, unbreakable chain. Su Hao led the way, acting as a bright lighthouse illuminating the path forward.

The other three disciples followed closely behind him, their steps firm and powerful. With every step, they seemed to imprint their unwavering determination and courage upon the barren land.

Their figures left clear and steady footprints across the desolate, melancholic earth, as if declaring to the world:

No matter how difficult the road ahead, or how many thorns and obstacles lay in their path, they would not retreat, but march forward until they reached the dawn of victory, regardless of the price they had to pay.

Suddenly, Su Hao’s expression became exceptionally solemn. He seemed to hear a faint yet urgent sound of battle echoing from the distance.

The sound was like a candle flickering in the wind, making its final struggle. Although faint, it possessed an undeniable tenacity, signaling that a fierce fight was underway.

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharp as a torch, as if attempting to pierce through the layers of mist. He focused intently on the distant, blurry fluctuations of combat, trying to discern exactly what was happening.

Yi Binglan, Wen Xiaochuan, and Gui Xiangling, who were following him, did not initially notice anything amiss and wondered why Su Hao had suddenly halted.

It wasn't until Su Hao resumed his stride, heading toward the sound of the fighting, that they faintly felt an unusual aura. It was as if the air began to fill with a heavy scent of blood and slaughter, making their hearts tighten.

As they drew closer, Su Hao’s gaze sharpened further. He finally saw the situation clearly:

In an open clearing, seven or eight figures were locked in combat. The flash of blades and swords flickered incessantly, blood splattered in all directions, and the scene was incredibly intense.

One side clearly held the numerical advantage, with six or seven people surrounding three others.

The aggressors were the dreaded and wicked evil cultivators.

The three being besieged wore different attire; they clearly did not belong to the Justice Gate, nor were they from the all-female Biluo Gate. They appeared to be cultivators from other sects.

All three were men, yet despite the fierce assault by the evil cultivators, their expressions remained resolute, showing no signs of retreat. Their eyes held a determination to face death without fear, which was truly admirable.

The evil cultivators, meanwhile, wore vicious expressions, their methods cruel to the extreme. It was as if their goal was not merely to defeat their opponents, but to destroy them completely and consume their flesh and blood to satisfy their twisted, evil desires—a truly insane display.

Seeing this, a intense sense of justice surged in Su Hao’s heart, burning like a raging fire in his chest and making it impossible for him to stand by idly.

Without a word, he tightened his grip on his long sword with his right hand and held his blood-blade firmly in his left. His body moved like an arrow released from a string, charging into the fray with extreme speed, leaving only a blur behind.

His target was clear: the leader of the evil cultivators, a sturdy middle-aged man.

The man wore grey robes and a red hat, exuding an arrogant and menacing aura. He was clearly the commander of the attacking group.

Unlike other evil cultivator leaders, this one was not directing his subordinates from the sidelines but was personally engaged in the slaughter. His combat power was astonishing and not to be underestimated.

At that moment, he was dueling the most powerful of the three besieged cultivators. The two were locked in a stalemate, exchanging blows where every move was imbued with immense power, as if their fight were shaking the very heavens.

The other six evil cultivators were launching fierce attacks on the remaining two practitioners.

Though their cultivation was slightly inferior to their opponents, their courage was commendable. Facing enemies three times their number, they fought for their lives without a trace of fear.

Relying on their stubborn fighting spirit and exquisite techniques, they had managed to reach a stalemate with the evil cultivators, preventing them from gaining the upper hand.

However, with the arrival of Su Hao and the Justice Gate disciples, the balance of this intense battle was instantly shattered.

Su Hao charged at the leader like a tiger descending from the mountain. His long sword thrust directly toward the man’s heart, the sharp sword aura seemingly tearing the surrounding space apart with terrifying force.

Though the leader was brave, he had to dodge this sudden, powerful intervention, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike. Once he regained his footing, he made a split-second decision and roared for a retreat:

"They have reinforcements! We are no match—retreat at once!"

With that, he turned and fled without looking back, his speed like that of a ghost, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Su Hao, unwilling to let him go so easily, gave chase. The two moved one after the other like a leopard pursuing its prey, engaged in a contest of speed across the land.

The high-level cultivator among the three besieged felt the pressure on his side instantly lighten as Su Hao and the others joined the fray.

Seizing the opportunity, he flew toward the evil cultivators attacking his teammates. His sword flashed like a dragon, majestic and imposing, instantly slaying one of them.

The remaining five evil cultivators, despite hearing their leader’s order to retreat, were a beat too slow to react.

The high-level cultivator took advantage of the opening, wielding his sword with fierce intensity. Two more evil cultivators were decapitated in an instant—a bloody and shocking sight.

The remaining three evil cultivators, now facing the combined assault of the Justice Gate disciples, were left with no ability to fight back. Under their joint attack, they soon fell one by one, ending their sinful lives.

After the battle, Su Hao walked over, carrying a storage bag—the spoils of war he had snatched upon killing the evil cultivator leader.

Just then, a system notification rang out in Su Hao’s mind:

[Side quest: Completion increased by 1 point, Universal Cleaning Stones increased by 3. Total completion: 9 points.]

Hearing this, Su Hao smiled lightly, a triumphant gleam in his eyes, as if to say:

"Justice may be late, but it will never be absent."

However, what the others did not yet know was that, in addition to this, Su Hao had also unexpectedly acquired a green treasure chest—another not-insignificant surprise.