The Deliverance Sect, Dharma Transmission Plaza.
A spectral glow flowed over the Darkworld Grotto-Scenery Banner. Gray light flashed across its surface at frequent intervals, each flash marking another soul entering the banner after being eliminated from the Savage Realm.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators on the raised platform had long since grown accustomed to it. Only their physical bodies had been destroyed; their souls had not been scattered to the winds. They could still contribute to the sect after switching to soul cultivation.
After a moment, High Person Xuanji, who sat at their head, spoke calmly. "Yuan Bai, how are things in the Savage Realm?"
The Foundation Establishment cultivator seated second from last immediately answered, "Senior brother, all the remaining disciples have entered Hidden Mist Valley."
Spiritual light sparked at his fingertip, and a luminous map of the Savage Realm appeared in midair. The green dots representing the disciples' positions had gathered in one place: Hidden Mist Valley.
"Good. This realm has reached the final cleanup stage." Xuanji nodded in satisfaction. "The savage remnants are stirring, hunting our disciples in secret.
"Since these rats think they can pull their little tricks by hiding away, we shall give them the opportunity."
His tone grew slightly more solemn as he continued, "The sect has issued a decree placing full responsibility for the final cleanup in our Hezhen Society's hands. You must seize this opportunity."
His gaze settled on Yuan Bai. "Especially you, Junior Brother Yuan Bai. Your cultivation is already sufficient. If you can obtain a suitable Dao Mansion Treasure-Receiving Object this time, you can break through the middle-stage bottleneck in one stroke."
Joy flashed in High Person Yuanbai's eyes. He solemnly cupped his hands. "Thank you for your guidance, senior brother."
The Savage Realm, Hidden Mist Valley.
Whoosh-whoosh-
[You killed a Level 2 Python Tribe remnant (red name)] ×2
Chu Mo put away the Blazing Fire Bow, feeling thoroughly pleased. Gently stroking the runes on its body, he could not help praising it. "You really are a fine treasure. Luckily, I learned a little archery down the mountain, or your talents would have gone to waste."
With this treasured bow at his side, he was like a tiger granted wings in Hidden Mist Valley, slaughtering foes in every direction. In just two days, he had already accumulated fifty-three contribution points.
Its long range and immense power made using it against the Savage Natives practically an attack from a higher dimension. Aside from consuming a little too much true qi, it had no drawbacks whatsoever.
But even that remained acceptable to Chu Mo. His primary cultivation method, the Dawncloud One-Qi Profound Cavern Scripture, was itself renowned for its abundant, unceasing true qi.
With Qi-Restoring Powder and Qi-Restoring Pills replenishing his reserves, he now felt confident enough to take on a small tribe alone.
He raised his head toward the central region, where the mist was noticeably thinner. Perhaps more "contribution points" lay hidden there.
"An opportunity like this is rare. Keep up the effort!" Brimming with motivation, Chu Mo decided to seize this chance to farm monsters and keep working until he had saved enough for a private cave abode.
He had truly had enough of a courtyard that anyone could wander in and out of like a public toilet.
Taking a deep breath, Chu Mo suppressed his slightly surging excitement. His figure moved, slipping back into the thick mist like a phantom.
While Chu Mo brimmed with drive, the other Duwe disciples were also taking action.
Some traveled together in groups of three or five, while others hunted alone, striking and retreating.
Almost everyone was immersed in the joy of watching their contribution points rise, not to mention the other valuable spoils.
Even when fellow disciples occasionally fell, no one backed down. With the [Darkworld Grotto-Scenery Banner] there, they could switch to cultivating the Soul Path even if their bodies died. It was merely another way of living.
If they missed this golden chance to repay their spiritual debt and achieve financial freedom in spell coins, they would probably spend the next hundred years regretting it.
Both sides fought until their eyes blazed red. Though the natives threw themselves into battle heedless of their lives for revenge, the Duwe disciples' conviction was equally unshakable.
"Woooo~"
A vengeful spirit with a green face and protruding fangs pounced on a Totem Warrior, forcibly dragging out his soul before tearing it apart and devouring it.
It licked the corner of its mouth, then contentedly turned into spectral light and sank back into the Black Umbrella in Ying Le's hand.
"This truly is a treasure trove." Ying Le stroked the Umbrella Ribs appreciatively. He looked toward the center of the Forbidden Land, as though he could see walking spell coins through the layer upon layer of mist.
Whoosh-!
A flaming arrow sliced through the air, picking off its target with precision. Like a seasoned hunter, Chu Mo carefully avoided large tribes and struck decisively whenever he encountered small groups of isolated natives. Almost every twang of the bowstring was accompanied by a health bar disappearing.
Unfortunately, the closer he drew to the central region, the more densely the natives gathered. Their strength in numbers made it difficult to strike, severely slowing the growth of his contribution points.
At the same time, signs of battle grew increasingly dense: collapsed shacks, scorched earth, lingering frost, and corpses everywhere.
Some belonged to the savages, while no small number belonged to Duwe disciples. Everything spoke of the fighting's brutality.
Just as Chu Mo put away the corpse he had dealt with and prepared to continue searching for isolated natives, a sudden clamor came from the mist ahead.
His gaze sharpened, and he quietly approached the source of the noise.
More than ten Totem Warriors were escorting two Duo'e Sect disciples, dragging several cultivators' corpses behind them.
The two disciples wore tattered clothes and bore injuries, evidently having been captured after exhausting themselves in a fight. Among their escorts was a Level 7 native with blood staining his chest.
[Level 7 Black Ape Tribe remnant] [Health: 53%]
"A perfect opportunity." Chu Mo narrowed his eyes. Faced with a wounded wild monster delivered right to his doorstep, he did not hesitate, instantly drawing his bow to the full.
Whoosh!
A charred hole instantly appeared in the throat of a low-level warrior carrying a bow on his back, and he collapsed to the ground.
[You killed a Level 2 Feathered Eagle Tribe remnant (red name)]
"Enemy attack!" The natives' ranks immediately fell into turmoil.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Two more arrows flew in rapid succession, precisely picking off another two low-level warriors. Chu Mo's ambush was swift and deadly, cutting their numbers by three in an instant.
Hope immediately flared in the two captive disciples' eyes. They desperately looked toward the direction the arrows had come from, making muffled "mmph" sounds.
"Stop!" Shocked and furious, the Level 7 warrior abruptly pressed his Bone Saber against one captive disciple's neck and threatened harshly in stilted Fuli Language, "Cultivator! If you dare attack us again, I'll kill your companion!"
Someone beside him immediately seized the other disciple as well, using him as a human shield.
The thick mist churned, but Chu Mo did not reveal himself. Only a flaming arrow shot out, taking another native's life, accompanied by a mocking snort.
"They're the ones you captured. Why should I stop?"
Before his words had faded, arrows flew in rapid succession. The natives' screams rang out one after another as their health bars swiftly emptied.
The Level 7 warrior was overcome with shock and rage. He had never expected his opponent to disregard his fellow disciples' lives entirely.
He wanted to threaten the disciples' lives again, but Chu Mo had already seized the brief hesitation caused by his shock. He nocked the [Flowing Flame Arrow Talisman] on the Blazing Fire Bow, condensing a crimson-gold flaming arrow that tore through the mist in an instant.
"Lord Bone Vulture will never let you get away with this!"
The Level 7 warrior only had time to utter that bitter curse before his head exploded into a cloud of bloody mist.