Chapter 7: The Meticulous Craftsman

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Ripples stirred within the heart of the dark cultivator, hesitation quietly enveloping his soul like the twilight, giving rise to a faint urge to retreat. The seemingly ordinary invincible shield appeared to possess a divine power that could peer into the depths of one’s heart. In an instant, it soared into the air and transformed into a towering boulder. This colossal stone carried the might of thunder and unstoppable force, descending with an almost divine retribution, fiercely striking toward the dark cultivator’s crown.

A flicker of disdain crossed the dark cultivator’s eyes as he prepared to unleash his profound cultivation, intending to withstand the rapidly approaching boulder. To him, such a mundane rock was but a trifling annoyance, akin to an ant shaking a tree.

Just as he summoned his power to execute his technique, the staff in Gu Yu’s hand swung abruptly, like a scepter commanding heaven and earth, directly pointing at the dark cultivator. A dazzling beam of white light erupted from the tip of the staff, moving with breathtaking speed, instantly enveloping the entire body of the dark cultivator.

The magical power contained within that white light was like the melting snow of spring—swiftly and thoroughly dissolving the dark cultivator’s cultivation power. At the same time, it swept away his meticulously laid defenses as effortlessly as autumn winds scatter fallen leaves. The cultivator’s power seemed to be abruptly torn away by an invisible giant hand; he could only watch helplessly as his strength vanished into thin air, dissolving into nothingness.

Then, like divine punishment descending from the heavens, the boulder accelerated its fall, bearing the force capable of annihilating heaven and earth, ruthlessly smashing down upon the now powerless dark cultivator.

“Bang!” A deafening explosion echoed through the silent space, as if even the heavens and earth trembled in response. Under the violent impact of the boulder, the dark cultivator’s body exploded instantly, turning into a grotesque mass of blood and flesh, scattering in all directions. The air thickened with a nauseating stench of blood, chilling even the bravest soul.

Within that bloodied ruin, strange black mists, like long-imprisoned demons, suddenly broke free from their bonds and dispersed. The lingering restless souls in this region, as if sensing the scent of vengeance and finding an outlet for their fury, pounced upon the shattered flesh like ravenous wolves.

They seemed to open invisible fangs, tearing and devouring the black mists, relishing this long-awaited retribution, each movement filled with hatred for evil and a yearning for justice.

As the black mists dissipated, the restless souls appeared to have fulfilled their mission; the resentment and darkness enveloping them gradually faded. One by one, they transformed into pure white vapors, like the first light of dawn, slowly ascending and ultimately merging into the vast expanse of the starry sky.

Su Hao observed the scene thoughtfully, nodding in contemplation. Could eradicating the dark cultivator truly purify this environment?

“Brother Qingming, you are truly brave!” Gu Yu’s face was pale as if she had exhausted all her magical power. Her eyes gleamed with admiration and affection as she looked at Su Hao, her expression radiant and sincere like a flower blooming in spring—bright and captivating.

“Little sister Gu Yu, without your cooperation, I might not have managed it alone,” Su Hao replied, his face also pale, with barely any magical power left. He waved his hand gently, his tone sincere and humble, without any pretense or falsehood. He understood well that his victory in this battle against the dark cultivator owed much to Gu Yu’s seamless coordination and timely assistance.

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He knew the dark cultivator’s strength was formidable; had he withstood that strike, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Su Hao glanced at his Cleaner’s Mark and found his magical energy nearly depleted, with only sixty points remaining. He shook his head in resignation.

This mission was indeed an unprecedented challenge for him, a severe test of both his strength and willpower.

Gu Yu lowered her eyes, examining the staff in her hands, the faint glow upon it still warm from the recent battle. Her powerful spell not only dispelled the dark cultivator Trumpheus’s shadow but almost completely drained the vast majority of her magical energy.

Thinking of the more than forty hours still remaining to complete the task, a heavy shadow cloaked her heart—a weight so dense that even the brightest sunlight could scarcely penetrate it.

[Alternate Cleaner Su Hao, having eliminated the dark cultivator Trumpheus, hereby grants you three Cosmic Cleaning Stones and one Trumpheus Treasure Chest, quality: White.]

Simultaneously, a melodious notification echoed in Gu Yu’s mind. A Cleaning Stone, faintly shimmering, rested quietly in her consciousness space as a reward for her bravery and perseverance.

“Brother Qingming, look! I actually received a Cleaning Stone!” Gu Yu suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling like roses blooming in spring—brilliant and passionate. Her words were filled with disbelief and joy.

“In the last mission, I barely managed to collect five fragments of Cleaning Stones; this is truly an unexpected gain!” Su Hao was about to share his own substantial haul—three Cleaning Stones along with an unknown Trumpheus Treasure Chest—but Gu Yu’s sudden cheer interrupted him.

“Thank you so much, Brother Qingming!” Her words brimmed with genuine admiration and happiness, as if Su Hao’s achievements were her greatest joy.

Su Hao smiled and shook his head, the urge to boast quietly fading away. Gazing at Gu Yu’s flushed face, glowing with excitement, he felt he possessed something far more precious than any material reward.

He decided to keep this little secret locked in his heart as a surprise for some future moment.

“You did very well too,” Su Hao gently patted Gu Yu’s shoulder, his gaze filled with encouragement and tenderness.

“Now, the most important thing is to find a safe place where we can both recover. After all, the road ahead is long, and we cannot let momentary exhaustion become an obstacle.”

Gu Yu nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with renewed determination. “I understand, Brother Qingming!”

Taking a deep breath, Su Hao felt the exhaustion of his depleted magical energy. He knew he had to make a choice. To conserve his power, he decisively released the suppression he had placed on his body. Immediately, his magical energy began to recover at a rate of two points per second.

Freed from the body’s restraint, vitality surged through him. His limbs regained strength and his senses returned to normal. Clad in the full uniform of the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency, he was armed to the teeth.

In an instant, his constitution rose from a negative state to five points.

At last, he could stand firmly on solid ground.

Gu Yu looked at the revitalized Su Hao with a flash of awe and reverence, a surge of indescribable pride and honor swelling in her heart.

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“Let’s set off!” Su Hao’s voice was resolute and strong as he extended his hand to Gu Yu.

It was a hand brimming with strength and warmth, silently assuring Gu Yu that no matter how arduous the journey ahead, he would be her most steadfast support.

Without hesitation, Gu Yu grasped his hand. Their figures gradually receded into the sunset’s fading glow.

In the wilderness gently caressed by the evening light, two silhouettes walked side by side toward a towering hillside. At the foot of the hill, a deep cave quietly awaited their exploration.

The cave’s entrance, weathered by time and frost, bore a solemn, ancient appearance, yet showed no trace of human or beast. It seemed a hidden realm forgotten by the world.

Su Hao and Gu Yu stepped into this unknown domain. Scattered boulders were arranged naturally at the entrance like a barrier, lending an air of mystery and tranquility to this secret place.

A flicker of delight crossed Su Hao’s eyes. This place was undoubtedly the sanctuary they desperately needed—a perfect refuge for rest and recovery.

He carefully stepped outside the cave, like a meticulous craftsman beginning to erase their traces.

Each step was cautious. He picked up broken twigs inadvertently crushed underfoot and gently replaced them, as if soothing the wounds of the earth. Bent blades of grass were straightened one by one, standing tall again in the breeze, displaying the resilience of life.

Then, he meticulously swept away their footprints and rearranged scattered stones until everything looked as it had before.

Finally, he took a deep breath and summoned a gentle wind. Like invisible fingers, it brushed across the ground, erasing the last traces without a trace.

Having completed this, Su Hao returned to the cave entrance and together with Gu Yu moved the boulders to seal it tightly, as if weaving a protective cocoon to shield them from the world’s turmoil.

Inside the cave, the two sat cross-legged, eyes closed, focusing on meditation and recovery. Gu Yu’s gaze occasionally fell on Su Hao, full of surprise and admiration.

She had never seen such professional behavior before. His composure and attention to detail almost made her doubt whether this was truly his first mission of this kind.

“Brother Qingming, where did you learn all this? It’s amazing!” Gu Yu finally spoke, her tone filled with envy and curiosity.

Su Hao smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. “It’s just a little knowledge from books. Let’s hurry and recover so we can face the challenges ahead.”

Time slipped away like sand through fingers.

An hour of meditation greatly replenished their magical energies and restored their confidence.

Especially Su Hao, who not only freed himself from the previous suppression of his body by his magic but also sharpened his senses and invigorated his limbs, now brimming with unprecedented strength and determination.

At that moment, a sudden, intense sound of combat, mixed with faint cries for help, shattered the quiet outside the cave.

Su Hao and Gu Yu opened their eyes simultaneously, carefully listening to the sounds beyond.