Chapter 24: The Efficacy of the Demon Core

Bi Luochun stood still as a statue, her delicate brows tightly knitted. The anxiety she felt was written all over her face, impossible to conceal. Gui Xiangling held her hands clasped tightly against her chest, silently praying for Su Hao’s safe return. Her focused expression suggested she was pouring all her heartfelt wishes into his well-being.

Just as everyone was burning with impatience, Su Hao’s figure gradually emerged from the dense forest in the distance. Seeing the four of them anxiously scanning the horizon from afar, a warm current surged through his heart—a sensation as comforting and cozy as basking in the sunlight on a cold winter day.

He smiled and waved vigorously at them. The moment his familiar silhouette appeared, the heavy stones that had been weighing on their hearts were lifted, and the anxiety on their faces dissipated significantly.

"I told you, Senior Brother Qingming would be fine." Wen Xiaochuan let out a long sigh of relief, his taut nerves finally relaxing. He then curiously eyed the three bear cubs following behind Su Hao and asked, full of confusion, "Hey? Why did you bring back three little ones?"

"Senior Brother Qingming is truly full of surprises. To capture bear cubs so effortlessly and retreat unscathed—it’s truly admirable." Although Yi Binglan spoke with a hint of teasing, her eyes were filled with genuine admiration and heartfelt praise for him.

"Senior Brother Qingming, you’re finally back! We were worried sick." Yi Binglan was the first to lose patience, rushing forward to greet him warmly before bending down to pick up a bear cub. Her face instantly radiated a maternal glow, looking exceptionally gentle.

Seeing this, Bi Luochun and Gui Xiangling quickly followed suit. After greeting Su Hao, they each picked up a cub. The three of them looked at the little creatures in their arms, their affection clear to see. Their joy was so great that it seemed as if all their previous worries had been cast to the winds.

"Senior Brother Qingming, we were really worried about you," Wen Xiaochuan added, his tone sincere and his concerned gaze conveying his true feelings.

"It’s fine, I’ve returned safely, haven’t I?" Su Hao smiled and shook his head, then shifted the topic, his tone turning mysterious. "Bring them along; we’ll go back to gather the others and head to that cave together. We had quite a harvest today—the beasts I hunted are enough to feed a hundred people for over a month."

Hearing this, a playful smile tugged at the corner of Yi Binglan’s mouth. She teased, "Senior Brother Qingming, you’re really exaggerating now. These three bear cubs alone aren't even enough to fill the gaps between our teeth."

Su Hao, seemingly reading her thoughts, smiled and explained, "These three little ones aren't meant for the pot; I was just joking. Honestly, the meat from these beasts alone might be a struggle for a hundred people to eat for a month, but if we pair it with other ingredients, lasting eight to ten days should be no problem."

Wen Xiaochuan muttered to himself, "Just these three bear cubs? Eight to ten days? Wouldn't we all starve?" However, he didn't dare say it aloud, simply chuckling in response to Su Hao’s words.

Su Hao chose not to reveal the full extent of his discoveries from the expedition, keeping the true nature of his harvest hidden in his heart. He first led everyone to the living quarters of the Biluo Sect disciples. Upon seeing his safe return, the female disciples were overjoyed, swarming him with a barrage of questions in a scene full of lively, happy energy.

After greeting them one by one, Su Hao led them to meet the dozen disciples of the Righteous Sect where Gui Xiangling was staying. The group set off in a grand procession, laughter echoing along the way. Everyone wore beaming smiles as they trekked back toward the cave, the atmosphere filled with the warmth and anticipation of returning home.

On the journey back, Su Hao pondered the idea of forming an alliance, though he did not rush to propose it. He knew well that building an alliance was no simple feat; it could not be achieved overnight. It required time, the gradual building of mutual trust, and continuous cooperation to come to fruition.

There was plenty of time ahead. He planned to deepen his understanding of everyone first and wait for the right moment to suggest the concept. After all, when everyone gathers firewood, the flame rises high; uniting the various sects would undoubtedly provide them with greater security and improve their survival chances in this dangerous land.

He looked toward the distance, his eyes filled with hope for the future, as if he could already see everyone united against the evil forces. At the same time, he checked the progress of his main quest, but to his dismay, the progress bar remained completely stagnant, as if it were asleep. Su Hao guessed that the system might only provide a notification once the task was truly and thoroughly completed.

Shaking off these thoughts, he looked at the vibrant, energetic disciples around him. Seeing their youthful faces and their longing for the future, a warmth filled his heart. He knew these young disciples would be indispensable partners and comrades, and only by working together could they travel further.

As the group approached the cave, the familiar, somewhat crude dwelling came into view once more. Su Hao sighed inwardly; although it looked humble, it held their shared memories and dreams—a unique kind of warmth and sentiment.

In that ancient land, thick with mysterious aura, the senior brother of the Righteous Sect returned, travel-worn and weary. Accompanied by two fellow disciples, they hauled a staggering giant python. Its body was as thick as a barrel, and wherever it passed, vegetation withered and turned yellow, as if the terrifying power it once possessed had drained the life from the earth. Just looking at the trail it had left behind was enough to imagine how awe-inspiring and chilling it must have been in life.

Beside the massive carcass of the python lay four other beasts that Su Hao had bravely slain. The amount of meat was truly astonishing, rivaling even the python, making the scene look like the aftermath of a grand feast.

Seeing this, the crowd cheered and jumped for joy, eagerly setting to work cleaning the remains of these behemoths, their faces lit with the happiness of a bountiful harvest.

Su Hao’s gaze, sharp as an eagle soaring in the sky, fell upon the gruesome head of the giant bear. To his surprise, he discovered a beast core. It shimmered with a brilliant light, like the brightest star in the night sky, radiating an irresistible, alluring glow. It seemed to contain boundless mysterious power, making it impossible to look away.

Su Hao carefully reached out and delicately extracted the core from the bear’s skull. With a solemn expression, he handed it to a Righteous Sect disciple standing nearby, sternly instructing them to deliver it to their master immediately. A beast core of this caliber was effectively a miracle cure for a Golden Core stage expert—a priceless, rare treasure.

Yuchi Yuanhang initially declined, feeling it was too precious, but faced with Su Hao’s unwavering and resolute gaze, he eventually compromised. Under Su Hao’s persistent insistence, Yuchi Yuanhang had no choice but to agree, promising to fulfill one favor for Su Hao in exchange for accepting the heavy gift.

Night descended like a black silk shroud, and silence fell upon the earth as if the world had drifted into a deep slumber. Yuchi Yuanhang found a quiet spot, closed his eyes, and concentrated, beginning to slowly absorb the essence within the beast core. The power within flowed like a soft spring drizzle, gently nourishing his long-parched body, filling him with a warm, comfortable sensation.

By the next morning, miraculously, his previous injuries had completely healed, and his cultivation had leapt forward, reaching the Great Perfection of the Golden Core realm. He felt as if he had been reborn, exuding a refreshed and vibrant spirit that left everyone both shocked and overjoyed.

Meanwhile, Su Hao spent the quiet night meticulously organizing his loot. He opened his storage bag to find a chaotic mountain of clothing, including many soiled items of women's undergarments. These garments lay there silently, telling the tale of the evil cultivators' twisted desires and their many sins, leaving Su Hao feeling a sense of disgust and lament.

With a sigh, he patiently bundled these clothes together and stowed them in a separate bag, out of sight, to keep the rest of his belongings tidy.

As he continued searching, Su Hao hoped to find some decent weapons, as they were crucial for practitioners. However, aside from the large broadsword he had grown accustomed to through many battles, he found nothing else that suited his taste, which left him with a hint of regret.

More surprisingly, he discovered a variety of strangely shaped pills. They were colorful and dazzling, emitting an alluring fragrance the moment they were brought out, as if inviting one to consume them. Su Hao, however, knew well that behind these tempting pills lay potential danger, so he did not dare take them rashly. He tucked them away, intending to study their true effects later.

Additionally, Su Hao had an unexpected windfall: he found several hundred jade stones emitting a faint spiritual aura. These stones were crystal clear, each appearing to hold the secrets of heaven and earth—they were the spiritual stones that practitioners dreamed of.

Su Hao understood their value; they could accelerate cultivation and, in special circumstances, could even be absorbed directly to increase one’s strength. However, a major question arose in his mind: could these spiritual stones cross the boundaries of space and time to be brought to the Universal Environmental Protection Agency or even the real world?

With this question in mind, he tried to store them into his storage space, and he watched as the stones vanished before his eyes.