A Night of Desperation

Chapter 329: The 327 situation, Three

More than ten minutes later.

Yu Hong returned alone from the beachside.

There was no sign of combat on his body, not only because the previous fight ended too quickly, but also because, afterwards, there was no need to fight anymore.

A thin booklet was pinched in his hands, with the words "Heavy Image Skill" written on the cover.

This was the special technique given by the old Taoist Qing Huang, a skill that supposedly could only be activated with his unique Daoist skills.

But Yu Hong didn’t care and took it anyway.

He planned to use the Black Mark to strengthen and modify it, perhaps turning it into a type he could use.

Shortly after Yu Hong left.

A figure donning a phoenix mask also quickly emerged on the beach, swiftly moving toward another direction and soon got into a passing sedan, disappearing on the highway.

Qing Huang exhaled deeply, trying his best to relax from the recent oppressive feelings.

"Head back to headquarters now, no more staying in Taizhou," he instructed.

The driver’s hand trembled slightly.

"Teacher, haven’t the arrangements in Taizhou been completed yet?" The driver was a man in his thirties with a buzz cut, dull features, and ordinary looks, obviously in disguise.

"No need, let the headquarters send someone else. There’s too much trouble here and I’m overtaxed," Qing Huang recalled Yu Hong’s exaggerated physique and the two layers of mysterious spiritual protection on him, and couldn’t help feeling a chill in his heart.

His formidable multi-layered Hypnosis Technique had been seen through, and even his full-force Spirit Spear couldn’t penetrate the other’s defense.

That was a bit too exaggerated.

How old was he? To have such formidable spiritual protective Passive Technique?

The so-called Passive Technique was a special Technique that remained active 24 hours, automatically initiating protection.

It was one of the main categories of High-level Techniques that only notable figures from various places would master.

Such Techniques were generally extremely complex and difficult to maintain, requiring a lot of resources and Dao Breath.

In his alliance, only those of the Seven Fierce Level mastered it, but Yu Hong... could it be, he’s actually not some young man, but appears young and is in fact an old fellow of seventy or eighty?

Qing Huang’s mind stirred.

"That’s right... This would explain the current situation."

He carefully sensed the changes in his body; the Spirit Light he had just obtained was like countless roots evenly spreading through every muscle and membrane.

He tried moving his fingers, finding that his body, which was originally aging and weak, was now as vigorous and strong as during his youthful prime, full of energy and with extremely agile reactions.

’No... this state is even more exaggerated than when I was young...’

Qing Huang stretched out his hand, gently pinching the edge of a pair of Dark Gold Armor placed inside the car.

Applying force.

Silently, the edge of the armor actually began to twist slowly...

His pupils slightly contracted. He was astonished by his own strength at that moment.

’With such power, speed, and burst, now I... can use techniques I couldn’t before and won’t be as cautious in close combat as before...’

After testing his body’s changes, his wariness of Yu Hong rose to a new level.

Recalling that scene, the sea fish that had been imbued with Spirit Light and died after being drained.

He sighed in his heart, not wanting to think further.

Whether it’s the Mutual Assistance Alliance or the Seven Evil Alliance, where isn’t life just life?

The victor becomes king, the defeated an outlaw, that’s all.

Of course, now the most important thing was his greatest weakness had been compensated for, and next... some accounts needed to be settled properly!

Thinking this, a hint of ferocity flashed in Qing Huang’s eyes.

*

*

*

After the battle at Five Star Town.

The Mud Doll Sect’s greatest force was utterly crushed, all the followers in Taizhou were completely scattered, losing their leader.

In the days that followed, multiple raiding and arresting operations were organized by the officials, quickly eliminating the hidden threats from the cultists in the urban area.

As for Yu Hong, because of the renown gained from the battle, his fame quickly spread among the circles of Magicians.

Visitors to Qingchen Temple broke through the previous years of coldness, becoming more and more frequent.

Every day brought Magicians from different places coming to visit.

On the surface, these Magicians were just coming to see what kind of talent Qingchen Temple’s true gentle nature was that could become the strongest of a sect at such a young age.

But in reality, nearly all of them were there because of the Mutual Assistance Alliance.

Magicians covertly joining the Mutual Assistance Alliance in just over ten days broke through into the hundreds.

A large amount of Spirit Light was separated out and bestowed upon these new Magicians.

Similarly, the intensity of the Spirit Light also began to grow stronger and more exaggerated.

At night, in a desolate factory on the outskirts.

Many Magicians of the Mutual Assistance Alliance were holding their first official meeting at this moment to exchange Spirit Light.

The door was left open, with people clothed in black cloths, wearing hats and black masks constantly entering.

Occasionally, someone with a distinctive physique who couldn’t hide would simply walk in openly, stand against the wall, and wait for the start.

Some were not so quiet, recognizing an enemy among them, and verbal confrontations began, with conflict likely to break out at any moment.

But no one dared to actually start a fight.

"At the beginning, when there were not many people here, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed, but now..."

In a corner, Red Snake, Headless Sword, and Cheng Shu, all dressed in black robes in a Halloween ghost-like fashion, wore pale ghostly plastic masks on their faces, observing the surroundings.

"There are too many people..." Cheng Shu said softly, "I didn’t expect that in such a short time, so many people would gather!"

Her eyes were solemn, and her mood was somewhat heavy.

"What exactly does Zheng Rou want to do? Even if it’s called the Mutual Assistance Alliance, being able to gather so many Magicians with just a word, that’s already a considerable force."

"Do you think all these people are convinced by him?" Headless Sword said, "Just because so many people have gathered doesn’t mean everyone will listen to him. The power of Spirit Light has been felt by everyone recently. It enhances speed, physique, strength, recovery, defense - a tailor-made, comprehensive enhancement to the body."

He paused, looking around.

"If I’m not wrong, there are definitely people here aiming to get the spell for fusing with Spirit Light from Zheng Rou. No one wants to be controlled by others, and if one can obtain the Fusion Technique, they could raise an army just as large. Once the greed of humans arises, it won’t easily subside..."

"Old Xia is right," Red Snake nodded. "Although we are wearing masks, I’ve already seen several familiar faces, and it seems like they’ve brought weapons, ready to strike unexpectedly."

"Guns?!" Cheng Shu exclaimed in shock. "We must notify Zheng Rou at once!"

"Do you really think that someone daring enough to create such an event like Zheng Rou, the Taoist, wouldn’t have already considered this?" Headless Sword retorted.

"That’s indeed no ordinary person..." Red Snake nodded, about to say more, but she was interrupted by the sudden silence around them.

She quickly looked up towards the entrance.

In the warehouse lit by bright yellow light.

Hundreds of Magicians turned to look at the entrance all at the same time.

At that moment, at the threshold, a tall and robust male figure slowly stepped over and entered.

The man looked up, revealing a calm and mild young face, not particularly handsome, but not unsightly either. Neither sharp nor timid, he faced the hundreds of Magicians as if facing hundreds of wildflowers swaying in the breeze, relaxed and carefree.

This man was none other than Zheng Rou, the Taoist Yu Hong, who had just arrived from his residence.

After entering, Yu Hong closed the door behind him with a click, and locked it.

"It seems everyone has arrived," he said with a smile. "No one is missing, which I find comforting. Everyone’s focus on Spirit Light shows that each of you has tasted its sweetness and experienced its power."

"Zheng Rou, the Taoist, none of us are simple folks. Let’s be forthright - you spreading Spirit Light to so many people must have a purpose. Since everyone’s here today, why not make it clear?" said a middle-aged man with a fierce face and only one ear, standing up.

He was one of the few Magicians who hadn’t concealed himself.

"May I ask who you are?" Yu Hong looked at him.

"Xue He, Zhao Zhinian!" the man said, bowing his hands slightly and replying loudly.

"Xue He? That’s an interesting name," Yu Hong smiled. "As for the purpose, I’ve already mentioned it: to create an alliance that can enhance Spirit Light rapidly and benefit everyone who joins, myself included, of course."

"Since it’s a Mutual Assistance Alliance, why are you the only one who can master the Magic Skill of fusing with Spirit Light? Why not share it for everyone to evaluate, see who’s more qualified to master it, and also help the alliance develop faster? What do you think about this, Brother Zheng Rou?" Xue He raised his eyebrows and said.

"That’s an excellent idea," Yu Hong clapped his hands and laughed. "I wonder, who else here would like to master this Magic Skill? Please, come forward."

The warehouse went quiet for a moment.

The crowd dispersed, leaving an open space.

"I will!"

A woman with long braids flipped over from a discarded shipping container and entered the open space.

"I am Mao Rong, the Wind Seeker!" Her eyes were fierce as she looked at Yu Hong.

A stir went through the crowd at the sound of her name.

"An A-level fugitive! There’s trouble!" Cheng Shu didn’t recognize the person, but the name she had heard of: this Mao Rong had previously murdered three families to seize a thousand-year-old Secret Medicine, exterminating over twenty people.

After fleeing for over a year under official reward, she had surfaced here.

She had anticipated that Spirit Light might attract danger and trouble, but had not expected it to happen so soon!

Not only her, all the Magicians who weren’t too preoccupied with deep thoughts, ambition, or greed, now all turned their attention to Yu Hong.

Watching how he would handle this danger.

Though his victory over the Mud Doll Sect had established Yu Hong’s reputation as the top expert in Taizhou,

Taizhou was only one city, and in the context of hundreds of cities nationwide, it was too insignificant.

Now with Mao Rong stepping forward, if Yu Hong couldn’t handle it, the entire Mutual Assistance Alliance would fall into chaos.

At that moment, everyone’s gaze was fixed on Yu Hong.

"Anyone else?" Yu Hong said softly, looking around.

No one responded, clearly all wanting to see Mao Rong as the test case and what the consequences would be.

"Then let me deal with you first."

He smiled slightly and stretched out his hand, gesturing toward Mao Rong.

"Are you going to make a move?" Mao Rong’s expression darkened as she too prepared her Seal.

Hiss!

In an instant, before she could even activate her Seal, her body convulsed violently.

Strands of white Spirit Light with silver threads shot out from her mouth and nostrils, swiftly turning into a beam, bypassing the crowd, and landing in the palm of Yu Hong.

During the slight hissing sound, the expelled Spirit Light continued for more than ten seconds before it finally stopped.

After it ceased, Mao Rong’s body, which had been full of life and vigor, now turned into a blackened, dried-up mummy.