"Ugh!!!"
The True Sun energy instantly burned away half of the evil beingâs 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 Yuâs suppression technique shattered instantly.
A shadow flickered before Gao Huiâs eyes â 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 talismanâs 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 Huiâs fists, each collision scattering flames that his spiritual power rapidly replenished. He stood wreathed in fire like an avenging deity, blocking the creatureâs advance.
"Nggh!âJust⊠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!"
Theyâd already stalled the monster for nearly an hour. If they lasted another quarter-hour, Yang Lingruiâs 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 â 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 couldnât sustain itself anymore, and the evil beingâs strikes broke through his defensive technique, cutting several bloody gashes across his body.
Within moments, Gao Huiâs 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 beingâs head.
He had been holding back this whole time to avoid the creatureâs notice. Now he finally released the forestâs large boulder heâd 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 cultivatorâs 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 Qingheâs common folk.
If only pursuing his Path of Cultivation, Gao Hui couldâve simply harassed the evil being from behind without risking his life.
A seventh-level evil being versus a Sixth Level cultivator â even if Qinghe Town fell, the dynasty wouldnât have held Gao Hui responsible.
Now Old Yu understood â Gao Huiâs drive for breakthrough wasnât about personal gain.
"HkâŠhkâŠ"
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 Lingruiâs group will reach town in time!"
"Good⊠thatâsâŠ"
Hearing this, the tension finally left Gao Huiâs strained spirit.
Heâd never shared this memory with anyone:
Twenty years past, in Qiulu Cityâs Luofeng Town.
Evil cultivators attacked. Walls crumbled. Flakes rained.
Had the mayor not sacrificed himself to delay until dynasty reinforcements arrived, every soul wouldâve perished.
Gao Hui survived â 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 cultivatorâs pride, but from needing greater strength to protect more people under the dynastyâs rule.
Though unaware of this history, Old Yu felt deeply moved by Gao Huiâs resolve.
ThudâŠ
ThudâŠ
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 shouldâve 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 Yuâs position as it lunged forward with powerful legs.
Having abandoned its human flesh disguise, it now solely pursued the human cultivator whoâd dared oppose it.
Old Yuâs face tightened. Hidden in his sleeve, his fingers clutched a mountain-opening talisman.
These rare talismans were beyond Zhao Qiâs means â only the Yang Familyâs Three Spirits and Old Yu himself had received one from Chen Yang.
Heâd resolved to unleash it if the divine movement talisman failed to shake their pursuer.
Whooshâ
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 Huiâs 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 whipâs arrival.
Relief washed over Old Yu â imperial reinforcements had come. But the familiar voice surprised him.
He Shenglai, the same official whoâd collected monster corpses from the Yang Family years prior, now descended bearing the dynastyâs 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 â Iâll note it."
Old Yu thrust forward his unconscious burden. "Credit matters not! Save Mayor Gao!"
He Shenglaiâs 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 Huiâs lips. The late-stage Gathering Qi healing pill shouldâve roused anyone â yet only stabilized the mayorâs 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 creatureâs remains glistened a crimson pearl from its shattered dantian.
Both men inhaled sharply.
Blood elixir!
"So thatâs the secret!" He Shenglai kicked the oozing remnants. "Fed on a blood elixir â no wonder it wouldnât die!"