Chapter 38: Chasing the Five Sisters

Su Hao’s eyes widened, his face a mask of bewilderment. Beaded sweat rolled down his forehead, and the clothes on his back were already soaked through.

Only now did he realize with a start that the entity he had been battling with all his might was merely a clone of the evil cultivator leader!

At the thought, his heart constricted, and a chill surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. If the leader himself were to appear, how terrifying would his power be? Just imagining such a scene made his scalp tingle; it was beyond comprehension.

Regaining his composure, Su Hao hurriedly checked his status. Seeing that his health had dropped to 80%, his hands trembled slightly as he reached into his storage pouch. After a moment, he pulled out a "Life Bread" that emitted a faint glow. This was a precious restorative item he had purchased at the free trade zone in the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency plaza.

He had expected it to be a lifesaver, but as he brought it to his lips, a pungent, rotting stench assaulted his senses. His stomach churned, and he nearly gagged. This was no sweet aroma of bread; it was the nauseating stink of decaying meat.

"Can this ghost-thing even be eaten?" Su Hao frowned in deep disgust, but the situation was dire, and there was no time to dwell on it. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed his eyes shut and took a massive bite. The texture was soft, mushy, and sticky, with a hint of sourness that almost made him vomit. He forced himself to swallow it in a few gulps.

Ten minutes felt as long as a century. Su Hao stared at his status window. As time ticked by, his health points climbed bit by bit until the number finally stabilized at 100%. He let out a long breath, his tense body finally relaxing. A warm current flooded his limbs, sweeping away his exhaustion and replacing it with renewed vigor. He clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within.

He then checked his mana. Originally at 2,100 points, it was now down to a pathetic 210—exactly one-tenth of its capacity. Panic flared in his chest, and veins bulged on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and rummaged frantically through his storage pouch. Moments later, he withdrew a "Mana Bun" that pulsed with a faint blue light.

He had haggled hard to acquire this rare restorative item at the trade plaza. He had intended to save it for a critical moment, but now that he was at such a life-or-death juncture, he hesitated. After a long moment, he brought the bun to his lips. As it drew near, a rich, mellow chocolate aroma wafted out. This familiar sweetness helped him relax slightly in the midst of the intense pressure.

Delighted, Su Hao didn't hesitate further; he opened his mouth and took a large bite. The bun was soft, sweet, and had just the right amount of chewiness. The wonderful taste made his eyes light up, and his furrowed brow smoothed out instantly.

"Hey, who would’ve thought this stuff would actually taste good!" he muttered in surprise, swallowing the bun in a few mouthfuls. Still feeling unsatisfied, he glanced back at his storage pouch, remembering there was another one inside.

He reached in again and pulled out the remaining bun, stuffing it into his mouth without a second thought, enjoying it thoroughly. As the bun went down, he could clearly feel a gentle power flowing through him. He kept his eyes locked on his mana total, watching it steadily rise, and his heart finally settled back into place. After a long sigh, he clenched his fists, feeling the returning strength, and a flicker of determination crossed his eyes.

"Evil cultivator, I’ve marked this grudge today. Once I grow stronger, I will surely tear your lair to the ground!"

He stood up, forcing his tired body to remain alert as he surveyed the battlefield. Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye—the body of Ji Yuchen, lying there intact. Su Hao’s heart skipped a beat. He dragged his heavy feet over, frowned, and nudged it with his foot.

"Damn it!" Su Hao cursed in astonishment. "So hard. What kind of specific material was this clone cast from? Could it be some kind of rare, priceless treasure?"

A glint of greed flashed in his eyes. He crouched down, frantically searching the surface of the clone with his hands, then stood up and tried to channel his spiritual energy, hoping to store this "treasure" in his own storage space.

A moment later, however, he sighed in frustration and shook his head. "It’s no use! It seems most items from this planet cannot be taken away."

Though disappointed, his eyes darted around, and an idea formed: he would hide this precious material and report it to Elder Wei Chi Yuanhang of the Justice Sect upon his return—it might prove vital in the fight against the evil cultivators.

He acted immediately. He looked at the clone again, gritted his teeth, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and walked for dozens of miles. Along the way, he remained vigilant, terrified of being followed. Finally, he stopped at a secluded hillside. After confirming he was alone, he moved his hands rapidly, digging a hole in the slope in no time. He labored to move the clone into the hole, buried it carefully with soil, and added camouflage, leaving a mark only he would recognize.

Once finished, Su Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead and set off, moving swiftly in the direction the fifth disciple of the Biluo Sect had fled.

On the winding mountain path, Biluo Chun and her four junior sisters were running wildly. After covering nearly a hundred miles, they finally slowed their pace, breathless. Their hair was slightly disheveled, their brows beaded with sweat that shimmered in the setting sun, and their robes fluttered in the breeze, still carrying the frantic energy of their recent flight.

Biluo Chun frowned, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. She sighed and said, "Junior sisters, we failed to complete the mission today. Although we gained some insights, Brother Qingming is still in danger. I don't know his current condition; it’s truly heart-wrenching." She tightened her fist as she spoke, her knuckles turning white.

A junior sister standing nearby blinked her bright eyes and suggested worriedly, "Senior Sister, why don't we... go back and check? That place is dangerous, but we can't just wait here. What if Brother is in desperate need of our help?" The others nodded in agreement, their faces filled with anxiety.

Biluo Chun bit her lip and shook her head, her expression one of helpless conflict. "We cannot, sisters. If we continue on slowly, we might still be able to wait for Brother Qingming along the way. The situation in that perilous place is unknown; if we return rashly, we might not only fail to help but also become a burden to him, and we could end up trapped ourselves. That would be disastrous."

With that, the five continued forward, though their steps were heavy and slow, as if every stride carried the weight of their concern. Along the way, mountain birds occasionally flew overhead, their clear calls—usually pleasant—now only adding to their agitation. A cool breeze brushed their cheeks, but their hearts remained heavy, unable to find ease.

Biluo Chun led the way, her brow never smoothing. Her worry was far greater than that of her sisters. She looked back toward the path they had come from time and again, her eyes burning with anxiety, whispering to herself, "I hope Brother Qingming is alright, please let him be safe..." Her voice drifted into the wind, carrying her deepest concerns toward the place where Brother Qingming remained.

Su Hao moved like lightning, his feet swift as the wind, racing in the direction the five sisters had fled. His gaze was sharp, like a hawk searching for prey, missing no detail. Before long, he began to spot the traces they had left behind. The messy, hurried footprints on the ground and the crushed blades of grass along the path told the silent story of the sisters' passage.

Su Hao followed these marks, pressing forward without rest, staying vigilant for any signs of the evil cultivators. As he traveled, his keen perception gradually confirmed that the five sisters were currently safe. His tight nerves finally relaxed a little, and the corner of his mouth curled up as he muttered, "That’s good. They haven't been intercepted by the evil cultivators—a stroke of luck in a bad situation."

With that, he strode forward with even more confidence. Su Hao’s cultivation was formidable, and his speed was far greater than that of the five sisters. Like a sudden gust of wind, he swept through the forests and crossed the valleys, feeling the distance between him and the sisters closing. He could even imagine the surprised and joyful expressions that would appear on their faces when he caught up to them.

The wind whistled in his ears, but Su Hao’s mind was entirely focused on reuniting with the five sisters, his pace quickening as he hoped to reach them as soon as possible.