Several days later.
The fierce war in the Southern Region finally came to an end, and the Orthodox Coalition Army, which had rushed in from every quarter, began breaking camp and dispersing.
On the open ground beneath Black Mountain, the temporary camps slowly took down their tents. The cultivators of the Mountain-Shaking Sect formed ranks and set off first after bidding farewell. Before the women of the Azure Water Pavilion departed, two of its most senior elders sought out Cheng Heng and bowed solemnly to him.
"Court Master Cheng, you avenged the blood debt of the Azure Water Pavilion and saved the Southern Region from destruction. None of us will ever forget this kindness. Whenever the Cloudpiercing Sect calls, the disciples of the Azure Water Pavilion will travel any distance and come bearing arms." The elder's voice was deeply earnest.
After the attack on the Azure Water Pavilion and the slaughter of its disciples, they knew all too well what would have happened if Cheng Heng had not entered the Ninefold Demon-Concealing Maze Formation alone and utterly destroyed the Mother-Child Demon Embryos. Within a few years, once the Demon Embryos had fully matured and emerged, every orthodox sect in Qingchuan Prefecture would have faced annihilation.
Cheng Heng hurriedly stepped aside, unwilling to accept so formal a bow, and helped the two elders up. "Elders, there's no need for this. Exterminating demons is the duty of martial cultivators like us. If disaster had struck your pavilion, your fellow cultivators would have stepped forward just the same. Unfortunately, the Mahayana Evil Cult's foundations remain. We've destroyed only one Southern Region Sub-Altar today. We're still far from being able to rest easy."
Several alchemy elders leading the Heavenly Treasure Sect's contingent also came forward to exchange farewells with Cheng Heng. The Heavenly Treasure