"Time is up, the secret realm is about to open, quickly go and meet them."
"Whoosh!"
"Someone's out."
The peak masters looked intently and saw someone had already been teleported out.
"It seems it was a false alarm, the secret realm is fine."
The peak masters and elders also calmed down, their emotions easing considerably.
If someone was teleported out of the secret realm, it meant the entire secret realm was still operating normally.
More and more figures were teleported out, but the peak masters did not see the figures they wanted to see.
"Where are Zhang Ergou and Li Xun?"
The numbers on the积分排行榜 (jīfēn pái háng bǎng - points leaderboard) had long since stopped moving, and everyone had lost interest in it.
"It's moving, it's moving, it's moving..."
Someone exclaimed, and Jian Ying and Dan Feng's gazes were instantly drawn.
They saw Zhang Ergou's points instantly increase by ten thousand, widening the gap between him and everyone else.
"Ten thousand points..."
The person who had exclaimed moments ago was dumbfounded. Ten thousand points, what kind of existence had been killed to earn that.
"Bang!"
While everyone was still in shock, a figure suddenly fell before them.
"Li Xun?"
Jian Ying hurriedly stepped forward and helped Li Xun up.
"What happened to you?"
Li Xun's pathetic state was almost unbearable for even the peak masters to look at.
"Quick, quick, save Zhang Ergou."
After saying this, Li Xun closed his eyes again.
The peak masters were baffled. What was going on? Hadn't Zhang Ergou's points just surged?
What did Li Xun mean?
However, before they could ask further, Li Xun had already lost consciousness.
Dan Feng and the others' relieved mood tensed up once more.
Gradually, all the disciples participating in the secret realm assessment were teleported out, but Zhang Ergou's figure was nowhere to be seen for a long time.
...
"Zhang Ergou, Li Xun, Li Zhan, Qu Yao..."
Five days later, after Zhang Ergou and Li Xun had recovered, they were organized together.
And the one speaking to them was none other than Hua Xu, who had brought Zhang Ergou and the others to the alliance.
"The Alliance Leader is very pleased with your performance in the secret realm this time."
"But you must continue to strive for excellence. However, I am not here to present awards today, but to assign you a task."
Zhang Ergou and the others frowned. What could the few of them do together?
Moreover, this combination seemed rather strange.
"Senior Hua, what is the task?"
"The alliance's scouting team has sent word of strange occurrences in the Eastern Continent. The alliance has specifically sent you to investigate. If you can resolve it, please do so."
Hua Xu did not beat around the bush and directly stated the purpose of gathering them.
"But, we..."
Zhang Ergou gestured to the group, the implication clear.
Their cultivation levels were uneven, and Qu Yao was an alchemist.
Why would these powerful figures send an alchemist on a mission?
"You don't need to worry about these things. The alliance has already considered it. You will understand why this arrangement has been made when you get there."
Zhang Ergou and the others wanted to ask more, but Hua Xu stopped them with a look.
"Being powerful is impressive, isn't it?"
Zhang Ergou muttered to himself.
"What did you say? Boy, do you want to spar?"
Hua Xu looked at Zhang Ergou with a teasing expression. His words had been heard clearly.
"Heh heh, Senior Hua, I mean you are powerful and impressive, a role model for us juniors to learn from."
Flattery always works.
"You little rascal, this matter is no small feat, do not be careless."
Hua Xu chuckled and then distributed the gathered information to them.
"Read these on your way. Perhaps they will be of some help for your journey."
"When do we depart?"
"Now."
"Ah!"
Zhang Ergou, Li Xun, and the others' mouths gaped open.
They weren't even given time to prepare, and they were sent off immediately. Didn't they realize their new injuries had just healed?
"What 'ah' for? The alliance's arrangements are the alliance's arrangements. Other disciples have already received their missions and left. Only the four of you waited until today, which is also special consideration from the alliance."
Hua Xu said impatiently.
Only then did Zhang Ergou and the others notice that the once noisy interior of the alliance was rather quiet.
It turned out that the young disciples who had come with them for the assessment had all been dispatched.
This made the mood of the few of them much more balanced.
"Look at your meager aspirations."
Zhang Ergou and the others chuckled, covering their embarrassment.
"When you go to the Eastern Continent, you must unite. Choose a captain among yourselves."
Li Zhan and Qu Yao, without a word, turned their gazes to Zhang Ergou.
"Li Xun, do you have any objections?"
Seeing that Li Xun hadn't moved, Hua Xu inquired.
"I choose Zhang Ergou."
Li Xun said coolly, his face still expressionless, as cold as an ice cellar.
"Since that is the case, then your actions will be entirely under Zhang Ergou's command. Do not act rashly."
"Zhang Ergou."
"Here."
"This mission is of great importance. You will not only be responsible for taking care of your teammates but also for leading the entire team to complete the mission."
"Do you understand the implications?"
Hua Xu's expression turned serious.
"Senior Hua, I will not let the alliance down and will certainly complete the mission successfully."
Zhang Ergou said solemnly.
"Not only must you complete the mission, but I do not wish to see any casualties."
"Yes."
Words were the weakest guarantee. Zhang Ergou felt that no matter how much he said, it was not as practical as taking action.
Li Xun, Li Zhan, and Qu Yao were also moved by the seriousness of Hua Xu and Zhang Ergou.
They also realized that this mission might not be as simple as they had imagined.
...
"We are approaching the Eastern Continent. Let's descend first."
After emerging from the teleportation array, the group flew on their swords. However, as they had reached the Eastern Continent region, they decided to act with more discretion to gather information.
"What happened here?"
As Zhang Ergou and the others landed, they saw figures hurrying past them.
"Brother, where are you going?"
Zhang Ergou blocked a man's path.
"Get out of the way quickly, the demons are coming, escaping is the priority."
Seeing his path blocked, the man's face changed drastically in his haste.
"Demons?"
Zhang Ergou wanted to ask more, but in a moment of carelessness, the man had already slipped from his grasp and fled into the distance.
And the direction he fled was clearly the direction from which Zhang Ergou and the others had come.
"This situation seems more serious than what was in the data."
Along the way, Zhang Ergou and the others saw all sorts of fleeing figures.
Each of them was in a hurry, and Zhang Ergou and the others noticed that these people were all cultivators with cultivation.