A Night of Desperation

Chapter 360: outbreak 6

The division of combat power has ended, and the Mutual Aid Alliance has established a points-based incentive system that distributes Spirit Light in varying amounts based on merit at fixed intervals.

Thus, in just over an hour, the true foundation of the Mutual Aid Alliance was established, right here in this small Taoist temple room.

"To have leaders charge and lead the team at critical moments, the alliance needs to set up exemplary generals. These are battle leaders, not administrative positions like the Vice Alliance Hierarch," Qing Huang stated again.

"That makes sense," Yu Hong nodded, "Then do you have any suitable candidates?"

"Not at the moment," Qing Huang smiled, "The Alliance Hierarch can take a look at the list. Taoist Sect Jinxiao Temple’s Temple Master... is currently severely injured, what do you think about leveraging the efficacy of Spirit Light to have him join us..."

"Is that... feasible?" Yu Hong’s eyes lit up, what a thought—specifically seeking out elderly individuals who were once incredibly powerful but are currently incapacitated, and enhancing them with Spirit Light.

The advantage of this is that Spirit Light gives them a second spring, a second chance and hope. Such people would highly appreciate the Mutual Aid Alliance.

"Of course it’s feasible. Internal strife within Jinxiao Temple over the Temple Master position has already started becoming visible," Qing Huang said with a smile.

Yu Hong nodded.

Looking down at the list, the names Qing Huang provided clearly recorded Taoist Magicians of his level or even higher—just those remembered and known of, totaling thirteen.

There were only three from the Buddhist Sect.

Eight from the Seven Evil Alliance.

One from the officials.

Two from the public.

In total, these top experts from Yasong, clear at a glance.

Including those Qing Huang didn’t know about, the total was probably only twenty or thirty people.

"This matter, I’ll leave it to you to handle, how about that?" Yu Hong looked towards Qing Huang.

"I’m not in a convenient position to contact the Taoist Sect, they are very cautious," Qing Huang shook his head, "But other places are possible."

"Then I will take care of the Taoist Sect," Yu Hen, an elder, decisively spoke out.

He had been listening on the side and now took the initiative.

Qingchen Temple is now almost fully integrated with the Mutual Aid Alliance.

The stronger the Mutual Aid Alliance, the stronger everyone’s Spirit Light will be, and the more experts there will be—it’s a snowballing momentum.

He couldn’t help but want to contribute.

"Master Uncle, speaking of which, are you able to reach out to the old masters in the Taoist Sect, the ones who retired due to injuries?" Yu Hong pondered and asked.

"Heh heh, do you think your Master Uncle has spent these years just indulging in pleasures?" Yu Hen pinched his beard and laughed confidently.

"I can’t guarantee other things, but regarding buddies to hang out with... heh heh, have you heard of the Yasong Senior Activities Association?"

He lowered his voice.

"Despite my humble role, I am one of the directors of the Association. The peak masters definitely wouldn’t think much of me, but among old friends who play together, many were once high-class powerhouses, now suffering from illnesses and can only enjoy life."

Suddenly, his expression became serious.

"However, Zheng Ying, are you really sure that the Spirit Light Secret Technique can restore their health? Don’t give them hope only to plunge them into despair. That... might turn them into enemies! Think it through clearly!"

"I’m certain!" Yu Hong nodded.

No one knew better than him the effect of Spirit Light; even broken limbs could be forcibly reconnected if the time gap wasn’t too long, just like the original.

"You’re sure!?" Yu Hen asked again.

"I absolutely guarantee it!" Yu Hong affirmed earnestly.

"Good! I can contact those top experts who might need Spirit Light. Just the retired Nine Sects’ Sect Masters from the previous generation, there are three!"

Sss...!!

Once this statement was made, everyone present felt a chill in their scalp, and their views on Elder Yu Hen changed.

These connections, no wonder he was able to protect those two from Zihe Palace back then. Looking at it now, it definitely wasn’t just luck...

"Heh, although I am just a runner in their eyes, I can still pass on messages. Besides that, if the effect of Spirit Light is strong enough, the one who needs it most is actually Supreme Taoist Temple Master Quan He from Dayunluo Temple!" Yu Hen’s expression turned solemn, his tone naturally carrying a hint of respect when mentioning this name.

"Wait!" Others might not have reacted much, but Qing Huang, along with Yu Mo and the other elders, suddenly looked shocked.

Qing Huang licked his lips, his gaze intensely fixed on Elder Yu Hen.

"Elder Yu Hen, the Quan He you’re talking about, is it the former Temple Master of Dayunluo Temple among the Nine Sects, Monarch Quan He!?"

Even as a high-level expert himself, the mention of this name made his voice tremble slightly, as if suppressing his excitement.

"Indeed, it is Monarch Quan He from ninety years ago." Yu Hen nodded solemnly. "This venerable lady is currently one hundred and forty-two years old, and might pass away at any moment. Outsiders believe she has long since departed this world, but only us old folks know that Elder Quan He was severely injured during that past turmoil. She practiced the Sleep River Technique and combined it with technological methods to maintain her life over twenty years ago."

"....." Once he revealed this, everyone present felt a chill.

"Judging by the name, she must be very strong, but given her age... even if Spirit Light restores her physical state, how much strength can remain?" Zheng Ying said in a deep voice.

"You guys simply don’t understand the renown of Monarch Quan He; I grew up hearing her name. Let me put it this way," Qing Huang smiled, "Currently, two Heavenly Masters from both Heavenly Master Mansions are the strongest in the Taoist Sect, but even they can’t dominate an entire era by themselves. They are opposed by Long Qingzi and the Seven Evils."

He paused, then continued.

"In Monarch Quan He’s era, the Heavenly Masters from both Heavenly Master Mansions were suppressed by her. Of course, because the two Heavenly Masters from that time weren’t compared with the current two contemporary Heavenly Masters, I can’t assure that Monarch Quan He is definitely stronger than the left Heavenly Master. However, regardless, they are all top-tier powerhouses of the same level!"

"How is it? Can Spirit Light heal her!?" Yu Hen looked intensely at Yu Hong at this moment.

"Shall we try?" Yu Hong could not guarantee either, given her advanced age, even if Spirit Light could prolong life, the specific effect was still untested by him.

"I will arrange it! Now that Quan He Monarch has fallen out of favor, she often falls unconscious and has lost her value. Dayunluo Temple only occasionally sends someone to check on her, all out of old loyalty. Thus, the maintenance of the life-sustaining system and caretaking, it’s all handled by our Association."

Yu Hen spoke out.

"And many things of the Association are handled by me."

As he said this, Yu Mo and the other old Daoists simultaneously gave him a thumbs up, their faces full of admiration.

This network is simply sky-high...

Seeing this, the three old men from Yu Shan were truly convinced.

With such connections, no wonder they couldn’t outdo Yu Hen back then...

If Yu Hen had been a bit more ruthless back then, they wouldn’t have been able to leave Taizhou.

***

***

***

Three days later.

The situation in Taizhou stabilized relatively, with Spirit Station’s suppression quickly restoring normal order across the city.

Similar unrest appeared in the surrounding cities due to the absence of suppressing forces like Spirit Station and Qingchen Temple, leading to a gradual normalization of chaos.

The government continuously issued notices, urging the public to reduce nighttime outings and deploying more police forces to maintain broad social order.

However, despite the government’s best efforts, order was still slowly but steadily slipping toward the abyss...

As the values of Spiritual Fluctuation in the air increased, more and more resentful mark cases were occurring around the city.

Meanwhile.

Yu Hong and his group, led by Yu Hen, had left Taizhou and reached the Qian’an Nursing Home where Quan He Monarch was recuperating via highway.

Hiss.

Inside the nursing home, Yu Hen led Yu Hong, following nurse Xiaofang, moving forward along the clean white hallway.

The hallway felt warm and comfortable, with temperature and humidity sensors installed at intervals around the walls which were also made of sound-absorbing materials to prevent noise.

The trio passed through layers of thermal doors and came to a separate round hall on the second basement level.

The hall was overall gray and white, with banners of red characters on the walls. Corners were filled with stacks of empty gift boxes.

"This is it. Besides Elder Quan He, there are also two others here relying on life-sustaining systems, all former personages. Sadly..."

Yu Hen sighed and continued.

"Sadly, their inheritances have been mostly divided, and it’s likely they are also forgotten here."

Yu Hong didn’t speak, just frowned slightly.

From the moment he entered, he faintly felt an invisible oppressive force, similar to what he experienced before the Spirit Disaster struck, pervading every corner of this place.

He and Yu Hen followed the nurse and quickly arrived in front of the furthest right iron door.

"This is it; it’s not yet Ms. Quan He’s waking time, so you can look through the observation window but can’t go in," the nurse cautioned responsibly.

"Okay, you may go now; I’ll ring the bell when we need you again. Thanks, Xiaofang." Yu Hen gave the nurse’s hand a gentle squeeze, signaling with his eyes.

The nurse licked her lips ambiguously and left alone.

Beside him, Yu Hong: "....."

Regaining his composure, he walked up to the iron door and slid open the observation window above. Looking inside.

Inside was a white coffin-like rectangular box where a white-haired, emaciated old person lay.

The old person’s face was covered with a breathing valve, with various monitoring devices beside her continuously displaying fluctuating graphs.

"I can feel it... an intangible, spiritual fluctuation..." Yu Hong whispered.

"Why can’t I feel it?" Yu Hen frowned and looked around, making sure he really couldn’t feel anything.

"Master... people only react to what they can see," Yu Hong tactfully explained.

This sentence had a somewhat cryptic dual significance.

"Hehe..." Yu Hen glared at him for a moment. He then went forward and knocked on the iron door.

Dang, dang, dang.

"Elder, it’s Yu Hen, I’ve come to see you!" he shouted loudly.

"Is it little Hen...?" Suddenly a gentle voice naturally resonated inside both their heads.

"!?" Yu Hong widened his eyes suddenly and looked up at the patient room where Quan He was.

Just now still with eyes closed, Quan He Monarch had now surprisingly opened them.

A pair of deep, pitch-black pupils were watching their side.