Chapter 46: Return to the Alliance Base

Su Hao, like a vigilant cheetah, lowered his body and hid behind a concealed mountain rock. Wild grass swayed in the wind between the cracks of the rock, offering him slight cover.

With sharp eyes, he peered through the grass to lock onto a squadron of evil cultivators not far away. The dense mass of evil cultivators looked like a heavy, dark night, sending a chill through anyone who saw them.

Su Hao noticed that the operational style of the evil cultivators had drastically changed. Previously, they searched wildly and scattered like wild wolves, leaving a scene of utter devastation wherever they went, flagrantly arrogant.

Now, however, at least five squads had gathered into a squadron before moving out. Cloaked in black robes, their faces either ferocious like fierce ghosts or sinister like venomous snakes, they exerted an overwhelming sense of oppression when gathered together, pressing down like an invisible mountain.

Su Hao knew well that he still had a sliver of chance against a single squad of evil cultivators, but facing this squadron—vast in number—would be like throwing eggs at a rock if he rushed in recklessly.

At this thought, he instinctively tightened his grip on his sword. His knuckles turned white, prominent veins bulged, and the texture of the hilt bit painfully into his palm, making him all the more acutely aware of the grim situation.

His gaze swept eagerly across the evil cultivators' ranks, searching for a flaw, but he found none. Sighing inwardly in frustration, he understood he had to find another way and could not act rashly.

Soon, Su Hao moved decisively. Turning his body to change direction, he likened the evil cultivators' formation to demonic shadows from the netherworld, resolving never to become their target. He lowered his body and, using the cover of vegetation and rocks, wove through lightly and swiftly. Placing his feet with utmost care, he concentrated on bypassing danger.

An hour later, Su Hao shook off the evil cultivators and hurried toward the Supreme Elder's resting place. It was a secluded spot surrounded by lush foliage acting like a barrier, guarded by towering trees, resembling a utopia isolated from the world.

Bi Luochun stood guard beside a tree hollow, her face etched with worry as she occasionally craned her neck, looking out for Su Hao's return.

At this moment, Bi Luochun was keeping watch by the tree hollow. Her delicate face was full of anxiety, and her lovely eyes brimmed with deep concern. From time to time, she gazed into the direction Su Hao had departed, her look full of longing, praying for the early sight of his safe return.

Her heart fluttered like a trapped fawn, beating erratically as various uneasy thoughts flashed continuously through her mind.

Every single minute and second of waiting was a torment to her. She feared that Su Hao might have met with some misfortune; at the very thought of this, her heart clenched tightly as if gripped by an invisible, massive hand, aching intensely.

Her demeanor resembled a small beast watching for the return of its master, instantly evoking pity in anyone who beheld her.

The moment she caught sight of Su Hao, her eyes instantly brightened with immense joy. She hurriedly rose to her feet, paying no heed to the folds of her skirt, and rushed eagerly to meet him, kicking up a flurry of falling leaves. Her voice trembled, on the verge of tears as she cried out:

"Qingming Senior Brother, you're finally back! You had me so worried!"

Her eye rims turned red, making her look utterly pitiful.

A warm current surged through Su Hao's heart, and he smiled to comfort her. Then, he drew five glowing demonic beast cores from his robe. Their strange radiance seemed to pulse with vital energy.

Saying that he hoped this would aid the Supreme Elder's injuries, he strode quickly toward the tree hollow, with Bi Luochun following closely behind.

Arriving beside the Supreme Elder, Su Hao squatted down and reverently placed the demonic beast cores on the ground. Forming hand seals, his fingers shifted like butterflies while he chanted a mysterious incantation. The glow of the cores intensified, streaming like threads into the Supreme Elder's body as if infusing her with renewed vitality and life.

After two hours of tense and expectant watching by everyone, the previously pale and frail Supreme Elder's face flushed with color, blooming like spring peach blossoms. Her chaotic aura subsided and stabilized, just like a sleeping powerhouse awakening.

At last, the Supreme Elder slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze regained its former sharp radiance, carrying an overwhelming deterrent force with a single sweep. She appeared to have fully recovered her past strength; this crisis had finally been safely weathered, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated along with it.

[Alternate Cleaner, your trigger mission is complete. Reward: 20 Cosmic Cleansing Stones.]

Hearing this reward, Su Hao shook his head, feeling he had been exploited by the system:

"This reward is a bit too little."

He pondered inwardly.

"Bi Luochun, didn't you mention before that the Anti-Evil Cultivator Alliance is not far from our location? Take me to check it out now."

Supreme Elder Xu Wanyi raised her gaze slightly. Her eyes were like two profound, deep springs, revealing a hint of solemnity and expectation, as if carrying significant weight within those simple words.

She naturally possessed an air of majesty, and at this moment, her expression carried a hint of unquestionable authority, as though nothing she requested could be easily refused, naturally inspiring awe in others.

Upon hearing this, Bi Luochun hurriedly and respectfully straightened her posture, crossing her hands in front of her, and replied obediently:

"Understood, Supreme Elder."

As she spoke, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly like willow branches caressed by a spring breeze, the curve brimming with irrepressible joy.

Her gaze fixed firmly on Xu Wanyi. Seeing that the previously heavily injured Supreme Elder had now fully recovered—her complexion ruddy like spring peach blossoms, radiating vitality, and her spirit as vigorous as a veteran general still brimming with heroism, without a trace of her former weakness and languor—

Bi Luochun felt as though a cheerful little bird was singing in her heart. Words could hardly describe her happiness. The feeling was akin to a heavy boulder that had long weighed upon her mind dropping to the ground with a loud thud, leaving her feeling utterly grounded and relaxed. A sense of relief spread through the depths of her heart, making her footsteps seem lighter.

Then, Bi Luochun's bright eyes rolled, and she cast a subtle glance at the other fellow disciples beside her. Through that silent exchange of glances, a tacit understanding was passed.

Immediately afterward, the group marched briskly in a grand procession toward the direction of the Alliance's encampment.

Their figures shuttled through the mountain paths, kicking up a gust of faint wind.

Su Hao naturally followed closely behind them. His posture was as straight as a pine, and his hawk-like eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly. Wherever his gaze fell, not the slightest rustle or movement escaped his notice, as if he wanted to take in everything around him, constantly keeping watch for hidden disturbances.

His footsteps were swift and steady, each landing firm and powerful, kicking up a bit of dust yet devoid of any sluggishness. It was as if his entire being had merged with the rhythm of the march, focused solely on reaching the destination as quickly as possible.

The group traveled at top speed with the mountain wind howling past their ears, and before long, they arrived in the vicinity of the Alliance encampment.

Looking far ahead, Supreme Elder Xu Wanyi's gaze had barely touched the scene of the encampment when her brow instantly furrowed tightly. Her two pretty eyebrows twisted together like tireless caterpillars, silently expressing her current inner anxiety.

In her profound eyes, a look of solemnity quietly emerged like dark clouds, and her lips parted slightly as if suppressing something. Yet she said nothing, merely slowing her pace unconsciously. Every step she took was exceedingly slow, as if she had fallen into deep contemplation, and the surrounding air seemed to grow somewhat oppressive due to her solemnity.

A moment later, Su Hao sensed danger like a sensitive hound. His handsome eyebrows twitched slightly, and a sharp glint instantly flashed across his eyes—a cold and intimidating radiance akin to a sudden flash of frost in the dead of night.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, hidden depths swirling within their elongated shape, and gazed intently ahead. His focused expression was so profound that everything else around him seemed to vanish, leaving only the scene before his very eyes.

Soon, he too discovered the abnormality ahead. His previously steady pace instantly grew even more cautious; each step fell as if testing whether hidden traps lay beneath, landing so lightly that almost no sound could be heard. He resembled a silently prowling cheetah, ready at a moment's notice to deal with any potential danger.

Without stopping because of this anomaly, the group continued walking closer. As the distance gradually shortened, the scene of the Alliance encampment presented itself clearly before everyone, unfurling like a chaotic and tragic picture scroll.

It was a scene of utter chaos and noise. Battle cries and the clashing of magical treasures intertwined into a deafening roar, sounding like countless drummers beating their battle drums furiously, or like an unordered concert playing a chaotic and noisy movement that drilled straight into one's ears and left one feeling irritated and upset.

Looking closer—goodness gracious—that spectacle was truly enough to make one gasp in shock!

Over a hundred evil cultivators had gathered there! Clad in uniform black robes that whipped fiercely in the wind, they looked like a demonstration of dark forces.

On their faces were expressions of terrifying ferocity; their distorted facial features resembled vicious ghosts crawling out from the depths of hell, enough to make one's hair stand on end at a single glance.

Others wore sinister and venomous expressions, their eyes flashing with the icy gleam of poisonous snakes, as if anyone targeted by them would be instantly dragged down into an endless dark abyss.

Chanting incantations, these evil cultivators continuously launched attacks with their magical treasures against the protective barrier of the Alliance encampment. Bizarre rays of light shot from their hands, converging together to smash fiercely against the defense array. Under this violent onslaught, the protective array of the Alliance encampment was currently battered and teetering on the verge of collapse.

The light that was once bright and stable now flickered unsteadily like a candle in the wind, dimming and brightening alternately as it fought desperately and bitterly to hold on, on the verge of shattering completely at any moment.

That fragile appearance made the hearts of all who saw it leap straight into their throats. The situation could only be described as extremely critical, as if an apocalyptic disaster were about to descend.

Seeing this shocking scene, the expressions of everyone changed drastically. Their previously calm faces instantly turned pale, filled with shock and worry.

A strong sense of unease surged into their hearts, rolling like violent waves that battered their chests one after another, causing their breathing to grow rapid.

Yet, a fierce drive welled up within them—a sense of justice and mission ingrained in their bones. They felt they must find a way to help this Alliance encampment, especially since the evil cultivators were so rampant and wantonly trampling upon the peace of this region. As practitioners of the righteous path, how could they stand idly by? Even if the path ahead was a mountain of daggers and a sea of flames, they would not retreat half a step.