Chapter 6: First Defense

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Immediately, a flood of information about this world surged into their minds:
[This is a planet teeming with cultivators, yet it is filled with darkness and evil.
Some malevolent cultivators, in pursuit of greater power, mercilessly devour the lives and souls of others.
Their actions have severely polluted the environment, making cultivation here extremely harsh, almost impossible.
The Universal Environmental Protection Agency has secretly monitored this place for years and has now decided to dispatch Cleaners to purge these evil cultivators and restore clarity to this world.]
At that moment, Su Hao heard a startling update:
[Mission difficulty has changed from Extreme to Moderate.]
Su Hao frowned slightly, then retracted his limbs with his mind and quickly sealed his five senses.
His limbs gradually became transparent, as if merging into the void, and his sensory perception weakened rapidly, making the entire world seem distant and blurred.
He noticed his mana had suddenly dropped by 100 points and was rapidly depleting at a rate of 3 points per second, though he recovered 2 points per second thanks to the invincible shield’s regeneration effect.
Judging by the situation, he had been suppressing his constitution and could hold out for over half an hour, which was enough time.
Currently, his constitution was at -18 points, still missing five flesh limbs.
“I didn’t hear the mission difficulty clearly, please recheck,” Su Hao’s voice echoed in the void, tinged with dissatisfaction and skepticism.
[There seems to be an error here. Mission difficulty: Extreme, the highest level.] The deep male voice sounded again, with a hint of apology.
“That’s more like it. Difficulty doesn’t just change on a whim,” Su Hao snorted coldly, a trace of mockery in his tone.
[After multiple verifications, the backup Cleaner Su Hao’s mission difficulty is indeed the highest, and the rewards will be calculated accordingly.]
The voice sounded once more—cold, resolute, like a celestial melody yet carrying undeniable authority.
Su Hao smiled.
Just then, a small puzzled voice rang in his ear:
“Why did you come down by yourself? Your pants, boots, and arm guards are scattered everywhere. Did you just grow limbs?”
Only then did Su Hao realize he was leaning against the invincible shield, and indeed his clothes were scattered around.
But as the small voice spoke, those scattered clothes and boots seemed drawn by an invisible force, vanishing instantly into Su Hao’s personal storage.
“My mission difficulty is moderate; what about yours?” the small voice asked curiously, eyes sparkling with interest.
“Highest difficulty,” Su Hao replied calmly, his voice steady.
“Sure enough, your mission rewards must be exceptionally high. What kind of mana do you have? I thought I saw you with limbs and fully armored just now—how did you revert so suddenly?”
The small voice smiled brightly, revealing gleaming white teeth in the sunlight, voicing her curiosity.
She felt joy for her teammate, knowing that once the mission was complete, Su Hao could return to a healthy state.
“You haven’t told me your name yet,” the small voice said suddenly, her tone tinged with a playful sweetness.
“Call me Qingming.” Su Hao smiled in response.

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Yet a strange emotion welled up in his heart, as if this name carried a special meaning at this moment.
“My name is Guyu,” the small voice replied with a clear, melodious tone, like a mountain spring’s song.
“Guyu,” Su Hao repeated softly, savoring the resonance of the name.
Two adjacent solar terms—seemingly a twist of fate.
Su Hao looked at Guyu as if to say, “You’ve infringed on my naming rights.”
Guyu glanced at Su Hao’s eyes and thought, “He’s just naturally named Qingming.”
Su Hao laughed, his smile warm and sincere, capable of dispelling all surrounding shadows.
Guyu smiled too, pure and sweet, as if capable of melting all the world’s coldness.
[Mission start.] With the cold, merciless voice, the mission planet became clear before Su Hao’s eyes.
His gaze was sharp as a torch, piercing through the hidden gloom of this planet.
Invisible dark energy wove through the air like a dense net; malevolent intent clung like a shadow, twisting every inch of space, as if endless tormented souls whispered and lingered.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded in his heart. He turned sharply toward a direction, feeling an inexplicable chill that pierced his soul and shook his spirit.
Nearby, a cultivator was rapidly approaching, wrapped in dense evil aura, like a demon breaking free from the abyss, charging straight at Su Hao and Guyu.
The speed was ghostlike—starting three hundred zhang away, then swiftly closing to within a hundred.
In the blink of an eye, only thirty zhang remained, and the speed continued to climb like a sharp arrow in a gale.
Guyu sensed the ominous aura and quickly adjusted her stance, a faint defensive glow radiating around her as she prepared to confront the enemy.
Su Hao did not hesitate to unleash his invincible shield; it instantly expanded, nearly enveloping both of them, like a mobile fortress, impregnable.
“Huh? This is a rare treasure!” a sinister voice abruptly rang out. The evil cultivator reached out to seize the shield.
He shouted, “Such a treasure belongs to me! Ah—”
But before he could finish, a piercing scream shattered the night.
Su Hao had quietly activated the shield’s countershock. An invisible ripple radiated from its surface like crashing waves, instantly shredding the evil cultivator’s right hand into a bloody mess.
The cultivator clutched his agonizing hand, eyes flashing with terror:
“This... this shield not only defends but can harm? Is it armor or a weapon?”
Little did he know, the shield was Su Hao’s sole protection and the only weapon he could wield in his current frail state—a power to rely on.
Guyu watched this with a spark in her eyes, silently grateful for choosing such a teammate.
Though Su Hao appeared unremarkable, even burdensome, his shield displayed unimaginable defense and offense far surpassing her own strength.
Without Su Hao, she would have long since fallen into the evil cultivator’s grasp.
Now the cultivator finally noticed the two behind the shield.
His gaze hardened as he looked at Guyu with contempt; but when his eyes fell on Su Hao, he was stunned.
Su Hao’s body was frail, with only a solitary column of flesh below his neck—no limbs, just a lone head suspended eerily above, a most bizarre sight.

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Su Hao and Guyu stood side by side, their gazes fixed on the evil cultivator, whose surrounding aura churned like a tangible force, radiating a terrifying weight.
The evil energy was so immense and potent it seemed to shake heaven and earth itself, let alone these two relatively inexperienced travelers.
Facing this nearly insurmountable obstacle, bitterness welled up in their hearts.
They knew this survival mission was far more difficult than expected.
Having just set foot on this perilous land, they had already encountered such a formidable foe, casting a heavy shadow over their journey.
Su Hao glanced at Guyu, who furrowed her brows, her clear eyes flickering with unease and confusion.
He gently patted her shoulder with his mind, his look steady and tender as if silently saying, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Guyu felt his encouragement, calming her inner turmoil somewhat.
She looked up at Su Hao, gratitude and trust shining in her eyes.
Though Su Hao appeared unimpressive, she knew he would stand firm when it mattered most, their strongest support.
Facing the overwhelming evil aura, both felt unprecedented pressure.
They knew it was a fool’s dream to confront this evil cultivator head-on with their current strength.
Yet, neither entertained even the slightest thought of retreat.
Su Hao took a deep breath, his gaze growing ever more resolute.
He spoke slowly, his voice low but powerful:
“Guyu, no matter how hard the path ahead, we cannot give up. As long as we unite, we will find a way through this.”
Guyu’s heart warmed at his words.
She gripped her staff tight, her eyes rekindling with determination.
In this moment, they were no longer alone; they were each other’s strongest shield.
They exchanged a glance, understanding without words.
They began carefully observing the evil cultivator’s movements, seeking a weakness.
However, the cultivator seemed to sense their intent; the evil aura surged even more fiercely, as though ready to consume them whole.
Faced with this growing threat, Su Hao and Guyu gritted their teeth, bracing for battle.
“You two are obviously not locals,” the cultivator sneered with a threatening tone. “How dare you show off your skills before me? I am a genius in the Soul Cultivation Realm, with foundational power at the Foundation Establishment Stage. How could pests like you possibly shake me? Hand over the shield, and I might consider leaving you intact.”
Su Hao’s voice suddenly boomed, seeming to come from all directions at once, making it impossible to pinpoint its origin:
“The shield is mine. If you want it, come and take it.”
The cultivator’s doubt grew as he looked around, searching for the source of the voice.
A chill ran through him—could there be a third person here? But he quickly dismissed the thought, focusing his suspicious gaze back on the two in front of him.