Chapter 83

Chapter 83: How Did It Come to This

"Ugh!!!"

The True Sun energy instantly burned away half of the evil being’s dark energy. Old Yu seized the moment of weakening dark energy to cast his technique again, suppressing it further.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"

Thwarted repeatedly, the evil being finally erupted in full fury. It abandoned its pursuit of the townsfolk and turned its murderous intent toward the two individuals.

The first target became Gao Hui, who had damaged its dark energy.

"Mayor Gao, watch out!"

Sensing the terrifying power bursting from the evil being, Old Yu shouted as his technique began crumbling.

"Hah!!"

The creature shrieked sharply, its body abruptly swelling to twice its size. Old Yu’s suppression technique shattered instantly.

A shadow flickered before Gao Hui’s eyes – in the next heartbeat, the evil being closed the distance between them!

Crash!

Razor-sharp claws cratered the ground where Gao Hui had stood moments before.

The divine movement talisman’s power let him narrowly escape, but the True Sun energy shielding him tore away in large patches.

"Rise!"

Gao Hui immediately channeled fresh spiritual power, reigniting blazing True Sun flames around himself. Warm blood rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down.

"This level… manageable!"

His eyes turned flinty as he lunged forward, slamming a palm strike against the creature.

Boom!

Boom-boom-boom!

The evil being countered with raw body strength, shifting the battle from technique clashes to brutal close combat.

True Sun energy crackled around Gao Hui’s fists, each collision scattering flames that his spiritual power rapidly replenished. He stood wreathed in fire like an avenging deity, blocking the creature’s advance.

"Nggh!—Just… a bit longer!"

His dantian trembled, qi channels swelling painfully. Every punch now sent heartache radiating through his chest. Blood trickled freely from his mouth.

"Hold! Fifteen more minutes!"

They’d already stalled the monster for nearly an hour. If they lasted another quarter-hour, Yang Lingrui’s group with their divine movement talismans would reach Qinghe Town. Evacuations could then minimize casualties.

Gritting his teeth, Gao Hui pushed onward through sheer will – but his battered body neared its breaking point.

Facing the attacks from the evil being, Gao Hui retreated step by step.

The True Sun energy couldn’t sustain itself anymore, and the evil being’s strikes broke through his defensive technique, cutting several bloody gashes across his body.

Within moments, Gao Hui’s clothes became completely soaked with blood.

"Kaff!"

With such severe injuries and massive spiritual power depletion, Gao Hui finally lost control of his churning organs, vomiting a great spray of crimson blood.

His consciousness flickered for an instant. Seizing this chance, the evil being intensified its assault, swiping him airborne with a claw strike.

Having gained advantage, the creature opened its maw wide to devour Gao Hui.

"You dare?!"

Old Yu suddenly emerged from the shadows, accompanied by a massive shape appearing above the evil being’s head.

He had been holding back this whole time to avoid the creature’s notice. Now he finally released the forest’s large boulder he’d been maneuvering, dropping it from midair with crushing force!

CRASH!

The evil being raised its arms against the falling stone but got pinned beneath its weight regardless.

Old Yu rushed to catch the falling Gao Hui. Seeing the cultivator’s injuries, he clicked his tongue. "Friend! Why push yourself so far?"

Neither Tian Yu nor even Old Yu himself had anticipated Gao Hui would fight this desperately to protect Qinghe’s common folk.

If only pursuing his Path of Cultivation, Gao Hui could’ve simply harassed the evil being from behind without risking his life.

A seventh-level evil being versus a Sixth Level cultivator – even if Qinghe Town fell, the dynasty wouldn’t have held Gao Hui responsible.

Now Old Yu understood – Gao Hui’s drive for breakthrough wasn’t about personal gain.

"Hk…hk…"

Gao Hui coughed up viscous black blood, offering no explanations. His weak voice asked, "Old Yu… bought enough time?"

"More than enough! Combined delays ensure Lingrui’s group will reach town in time!"

"Good… that’s…"

Hearing this, the tension finally left Gao Hui’s strained spirit.

He’d never shared this memory with anyone:

Twenty years past, in Qiulu City’s Luofeng Town.

Evil cultivators attacked. Walls crumbled. Flakes rained.

Had the mayor not sacrificed himself to delay until dynasty reinforcements arrived, every soul would’ve perished.

Gao Hui survived – but lost his entire family that night.

This became why he joined the dynasty cultivators.

Not for safety. Not for status. Simply to prevent such tragedies.

His pursuit of breakthrough came not from cultivator’s pride, but from needing greater strength to protect more people under the dynasty’s rule.

Though unaware of this history, Old Yu felt deeply moved by Gao Hui’s resolve.

Thud…

Thud…

Tremors rumbled from beneath the large boulder.

Old Yu immediately hoisted Gao Hui onto his back and fled in the opposite direction upon hearing the noise.

"How does this evil being possess such monstrous vitality?"

Old Yu muttered to himself while running.

Gao Hui had already used the life-risking burning spirit technique alongside his blazing sunlight cultivation. By all reasoning, the creature should’ve sustained injuries.

Yet the damned thing showed no signs of weakening.

Crash!

The evil being shattered the boulder overhead. Its crimson eyes locked onto Old Yu’s position as it lunged forward with powerful legs.

Having abandoned its human flesh disguise, it now solely pursued the human cultivator who’d dared oppose it.

Old Yu’s face tightened. Hidden in his sleeve, his fingers clutched a mountain-opening talisman.

These rare talismans were beyond Zhao Qi’s means – only the Yang Family’s Three Spirits and Old Yu himself had received one from Chen Yang.

He’d resolved to unleash it if the divine movement talisman failed to shake their pursuer.

Whoosh—

Crack!

Just as the creature closed in and Old Yu prepared to activate his talisman, a piercing sonic boom echoed from afar.

A translucent explosive magic ball streaked through the air toward their attacker.

Thwack!

"Arrgh!!"

The creature that had shrugged off Gao Hui’s strongest attacks now gaped with a fist-sized hole through its torso.

"Damned pests still skulking about these days?!"

The curse preceded a brown steel whip’s arrival.

Relief washed over Old Yu – imperial reinforcements had come. But the familiar voice surprised him.

He Shenglai, the same official who’d collected monster corpses from the Yang Family years prior, now descended bearing the dynasty’s authority.

Swish!

The steel whip coiled around the creature before He Shenglai yanked it earthward. As dust settled, Old Yu hurried to bow.

"Lord He."

"Still kicking, old man?" He Shenglai nodded, his cultivation now at the eighth level of Gathering Qi. The pinned creature struggled uselessly against his enhanced steel whip. "Saw your Yang juniors evacuating Qinghe Town. Decent work – I’ll note it."

Old Yu thrust forward his unconscious burden. "Credit matters not! Save Mayor Gao!"

He Shenglai’s eyes widened. "You idiot!" He barked at the unconscious man. "Tian Yu fled like sensible folk, yet you mayor-types always play hero!"

Despite his scolding, he shoved a low-grade rejuvenating elixir between Gao Hui’s lips. The late-stage Gathering Qi healing pill should’ve roused anyone – yet only stabilized the mayor’s faint pulse.

"Stubborn fool." He Shenglai glared at the immobilized creature. With furious cracks of his whip, he launched a dozen explosive magic balls until the target resembled rotten cheese.

Amidst the creature’s remains glistened a crimson pearl from its shattered dantian.

Both men inhaled sharply.

Blood elixir!

"So that’s the secret!" He Shenglai kicked the oozing remnants. "Fed on a blood elixir – no wonder it wouldn’t die!"