278: outdated

Zhao Jingchen smiled and cupped his hands, saying concisely, "The Demon Suppressing Tower's grand array was destroyed by Daoist Yunche, and tens of thousands of Yao Race have escaped. My Junior Sister and I were ordered to come and assist Revered Master in settling this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Hao's brows raised slightly, and a flash of surprise quickly crossed his eyes.

Although he had long guessed that Daoist Yunche had significant schemes, he hadn't expected the other party to be so insane.

Not only did he collude with the Yao Race, but he also boldly released tens of thousands of Yao.

This behavior was completely different from that of the Mount Zhenyue Tower Master. The ones Daoist Yunche released were all genuine, ferocious members of the Yao Race.

Zhao Jingchen's gaze swept over the two figures, blood-stained yet still as upright as pines, and the amazement in his eyes was hard to hide:

"The ten thousand demon blood quenching pool is extremely dangerous, yet you two actually managed to last for two full days in it. Such one-in-ten-thousand talent truly makes me admire you!"

"I didn't expect that the limit set by the Xuanxu Tower Master years ago would be reached by someone so soon."

Hearing the words 'two days,' Ye Hao's tense heartstrings loosened slightly; fortunately, it hadn't exceeded the time limit agreed upon with Miss Yun.

Yu Qingyan, who was beside them, stepped forward half a step, her gaze falling on Li Pingan, her tone solemn:

"Fellow Daoist, could you tell me the ins and outs of the previous matter in detail?"

Li Pingan raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, concentrating on organizing his words, and then slowly recounted Daoist Yunche's series of schemes.

After hearing this, Yu Qingyan nodded and pondered.

A flash of lingering fear crossed her eyes as she secretly warned herself that she must never again be so reckless and careless because of her small personal quirk.

But... from the corner of her eye, she glanced at the now-silent blood pool, and the bone-eroding and body-burning yet exhilarating feeling she felt while immersed in the pool echoed in her mind.

A faint sigh of regret that the trip was worthwhile actually arose in her heart.

Yu Qingyan raised her hand to casually brush back the stray hair by her temple, suppressed the agitation surging in her heart, and cupped her hands solemnly:

"Thank you for saving me, Fellow Daoist."

She paused slightly and added:

"While you two were focusing on tempering in the blood pool, several waves of deserting Yao Race tried to approach, but I intercepted them all. This favor can be considered settled now."

Li Pingan didn't care about this at all and laughed heartily, "Miss, there's no need to be so concerned."

"By the way,"

Li Pingan suddenly remembered Yu Qingyan's strange state while they were soaking in the blood pool and couldn't help but ask,

"Miss, what kind of Martial Dao path do you practice?"

Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, he had never met a Body Refining Cultivator who shared his path, and at this moment, his heart was full of eagerness to discuss tempering insights.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingyan's pretty cheeks suddenly flushed with a light red, and she actually felt an urge to turn and flee.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke softly, "I am not a Martial Dao Cultivator."

She hurriedly changed the subject, saying, "If you two Young Masters have time in the future, you might as well visit my Tiangong Pavilion."

Lin Xiuqin finally couldn't suppress the doubt in her heart and asked, "Young Master Ye, why didn't you two stay in the blood pool for a bit longer? Looking at you, it's clear you still had strength left."

"You should know that every extra quarter-hour spent in the blood pool provides immeasurable benefits to a Cultivator's physique."

As soon as she said this, Zhao Jingchen also turned his gaze toward the two, waiting for them to explain.

Even Yu Qingyan, who was about to turn and leave, paused her steps.

She listened intently!

Ye Hao smiled faintly and explained, "It's true that we could have lasted another half day, but... I had an agreement with a friend to leave within two days for other urgent matters. That's why I timed it and left the blood pool early."

"So that's how it is!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingchen's gaze toward the two became even more respectful. To give up such a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity for a promise, this Heart-Nature was truly admirable.

Yu Qingyan pondered for a moment and suddenly spoke to remind them, "Are you two Fellow Daoists sure it was a two-day agreement?"

Ye Hao frowned slightly, somewhat confused by the meaning of her words.

Yu Qingyan explained softly, "Actually, you two stayed in the blood pool for a full three days, not two."

"What?"

Zhao Jingchen and Lin Xiuqin exclaimed in unison, their faces full of shock, frozen in place as if struck by lightning, their heads buzzing.

Three days?

The two had actually lasted for three days in the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool.

And they still had strength left?

This couldn't even be described by talent anymore; it was simply a Prodigy.

"It's absolutely true,"

Yu Qingyan confirmed, "I lasted for a day and a half in the blood pool, and after coming out, I have been meditating by the pool; the time is definitely not wrong."

"If you two have an agreement with someone, you'd better set off quickly."

After saying this, Yu Qingyan cupped her hands in farewell, turned, and drifted away.

Ye Hao looked at her back and curled his lips helplessly, revealing a bitter smile.

Li Pingan scratched his head, "I didn't realize time passed so quickly."

At that time, he was fully immersed in the pain of resisting the violent aura of the blood pool, and his perception of the outside world was almost cut off. He only remembered that the Xuanxu Tower Master's limit was two days, so he thought he could surely do the same.

He didn't expect that he would far exceed it; he had underestimated himself.

Ye Hao turned to look at Zhao Jingchen and Lin Xiuqin, who hadn't yet come to their senses, and said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, there's no time to lose; we shall meet again another day."

"Wait!"

Lin Xiuqin hurriedly called out to the two, her tone urgent, "Now that the Yao Race army has attacked, if you two Young Masters don't have extremely urgent matters, it's better to leave the Rain God Continent as soon as possible!"

Ye Hao's eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded, "Thank you for the warning, Miss."

...After leaving the Demon Suppressing Tower, Ye Hao and Li Pingan immediately rushed to the valley where Yun Xuanxuan and the others were hiding, accompanied by Zhao Xu.

Since they were going to ruin the Chusheng Sect Ancestor's Great Dao dream, it would naturally be much more convenient to have a Chusheng Sect Disciple lead the way.

"How is it, Senior Brother?"

Ye Hao asked in a low voice as he watched Li Pingan quickly walk out from a side cave in the valley.

"The people are gone and the valley is empty; they've all left already."

Li Pingan said, slowly shaking his head.

Ye Hao sighed softly, a hint of melancholy in his tone:

"One step too late after all."

Zhao Xu didn't know the specific details; he had only vaguely heard that the two Seniors were going to sabotage the Sect Old Ancestor's grand plan of refining demon transformation pills.

Regardless of whether he knew before, the fact remained that he had helped the Sect capture villagers.

He had ultimately implicated many innocent people.

After learning the truth from the Demon Suppressing Tower, Zhao Xu's heart was filled with guilt and unease. Therefore, when Ye Hao found him to lead the way, Zhao Xu agreed without any hesitation.

"Two Seniors, are we... still going to the Chusheng Sect?" Zhao Xu asked tentatively.

Ye Hao looked up in the direction of the Chusheng Sect, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

"Given Miss Yun's character, she certainly won't give up on this plan easily."

Li Pingan hummed in deep agreement.

The three said no more; their figures flashed simultaneously, turning into three streaks of light, riding the wind as they sped toward the Chusheng Sect.