Chapter 463 - 429: Aura Pursuit
’The array point lost contact?’
Su Ye’s heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on him.
’The balance has been shattered!’
The Luotian Array point in the Storm Sea was no less important than Yu Lan Island—perhaps even more so. It was an absolutely critical defensive stronghold.
Its fall alone would have caused the Flame Alliance’s strategic position to deteriorate drastically.
What was more, with the fall of the Storm Sea array point, Zuo Hongtu and Yunchong River—two of the Flame Alliance’s Late-stage Golden Core grand cultivators—were now one dead and one missing. The blow to the Flame Alliance was like a bolt from the blue.
Almost instantly, the Flame Alliance’s strategic position had fallen to an absolute disadvantage.
The situation was even more dire than after the disastrous defeat in the first major battle, when they had lost two Golden Core cultivators.
Therefore.
He had to put himself in their shoes.
Having achieved such a massive victory, the Candle Python Cave was bound to push forward and expand, devouring territory like a hungry tiger.
Thoughts flashed through Su Ye’s mind. He nodded. "I understand. Let’s proceed with an orderly retreat, just as Lin Yinxiu instructed."
In her message, Lin Yinxiu had relayed the retreat order, announcing that all personnel defending the Luotian Array points along the Yu Lan Island front were to evacuate in an orderly fashion.
It was a move born of desperation.
They had to preserve their remaining forces.
With the loss of the Storm Sea array point, the power of the great Luotian Illusion Array had diminished significantly.
It was no longer enough to bridge the gap in Golden Core combat strength between the Flame Alliance and the Candle Python Cave. What’s more, the reason for the Storm Sea’s fall remained unknown, which was even more terrifying.
After weighing their options, retreating was the only choice.
"Yes."
"We’re already prepared."
"The lower-level cultivators within the array fortress have already been evacuated to the rear on spirit boats."
"Only the three of us Crystal Realm cultivators and a few dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators remain, holding our position at the array point to stand guard for you."
The Crystal Realm cultivator said, trying to curry favor.
Su Ye glanced at him. ’This kid really knows what to say.’
Su Ye had been in seclusion at the array point. If the cultivator had abandoned his post and Su Ye emerged to find everyone gone, he might well have held a grudge.
At the same time, this was also a smart choice.
"This junior is only speaking the truth. In the entire Day Flame Sea Region, what ship could possibly be faster than the *Ghostly Flood Dragon*?"
"Even if we leave a few days late, with the *Ghostly Flood Dragon*’s incredible speed, we can still overtake those who left earlier!"
"Besides, traveling on your ship, Senior, and staying by your side with your level of cultivation... that’s far safer than evacuating a few days ahead of time..."
The Crystal Realm cultivator scratched his head, speaking with a disarmingly honest expression.
’Interesting.’
Su Ye found the man rather agreeable and couldn’t help but chuckle. "What’s your name?"
"Zhao Shao!"
"My name is Zhao Shao. I share the Zhao surname, but I’m from a branch family that split off from the Jiuchen Zhao Family over a dozen generations ago. I only recently advanced to the Crystal Realm by accumulating merits in the war."
"That’s good."
"If you’re interested, you can come take a position at the Nanyaoguang Corporation." Su Ye handed him a talisman. It was a common Grade-2 talisman paper, but it bore his signature.
And an imprint of his Magical Power, serving as a sort of business card.
"Thank you for this opportunity, Senior!" Zhao Shao accepted the talisman, his face alight with excitement.
For him, this was a life-changing opportunity. After all, his aptitude was merely a high-grade Spiritual Root.
With his aptitude and background, reaching the Crystal Realm was more or less his limit. Even if he returned to the main family to be formally recognized, the treatment he would receive would be average at best.
After all, he had already reached the limits of his aptitude.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t be cultivated further.
But the investment would no longer be proportional to the return.
The main family had plenty of young talents, some with Heaven or Earth Spiritual Roots. Why would they invest in a cultivator with a mere high-grade Spiritual Root who had just barely scraped his way into the Crystal Realm?
If Zhao Shao were to return to the main family, he would be nothing more than a disposable tool.
But Su Ye was different. His rise had been recent, and he had few capable subordinates. Now was the perfect time to pledge allegiance.
Su Ye looked at Zhao Shao and chuckled, inwardly pleased. His satisfaction wasn’t just about recruiting Zhao Shao; it was also connected to the broader situation.
With Zuo dead and Yun missing...
’Does that mean I’m now the cultivator with the highest realm and combat power in the entire Flame Alliance?’
’The spirit incense and the grand elixir are as good as mine...’
’And while I’m at it, I can poach some talent and screen for a group of truly loyal Crystal Realm cultivators... to station permanently in the Far South Continent?’
The colony in the Far South Continent was difficult to expand precisely because it lacked the personnel to hold the territory.
The wilds of the Far South Continent were anything but peaceful, teeming with venomous insects, ferocious beasts, native tribes, and resentful spirits. Without a Crystal Realm expert stationed there long-term, any attempt to expand was simply serving up a free meal.
Phantom Zhenren was already stretched thin and could only protect the region between Hope Port and Aino City.
After a moment’s thought, Su Ye looked up.
"Alright."
"Time is of the essence. Let’s get on board."
"Yes."
...
A few dozen breaths later, the *Ghostly Flood Dragon* streaked through the sky, its tail flame flickering as it sped toward Cloud Sea Immortal City.
There were only a few dozen cultivators at this Luotian Array point, all at the Foundation Establishment realm or higher. They were already fully prepared and could evacuate the moment the order was given.
The process was therefore very quick.
The *Ghostly Flood Dragon* departed, leaving behind a nearly empty fortress, its array cut off from its power source.
Two hours later, a vessel appeared on the distant horizon over the sea. It was a Cold Iron Boat, shaped like a canoe.
Three figures stood aboard the Flying Boat. They wore masks and loose, hooded black robes that completely obscured their features.
"We’re late."
The cultivator wearing an eagle mask spoke, his voice as dry and hoarse as an old man’s. He swept his Divine Sense over the area, taking in the completely empty array fortress.
During the evacuation, they would have naturally taken the Spirit Stones and destroyed the array.
Without the array to interfere, a Late-stage Golden Core’s Divine Sense could scan this entire Luotian Array point without obstruction.
"They made a clean getaway. Nothing’s left."
"They were fast, but it’s a pity..." another cultivator shook his head. He wore a snake mask, and his voice sounded younger, like that of a middle-aged man.
"It’s no pity at all."
A young woman standing between ’Eagle’ and ’Snake’ spoke, her voice cool and detached. Her metal mask was unadorned, just a sheet of cold iron that looked like pure silver.
She pinched her fingers together, plucking a faint wisp of an energy signature from the void.
"Based on this energy signature, they only left a few hours ago. At the speed of the *Shooting Star*—ahem, the *Cold Iron Boat*—we can definitely catch them!"
HUMMM.
The wisp of energy on her fingertip rose like a venomous snake and pointed in a specific direction.
"Continue the pursuit."
"This time, we must kill every Golden Core cultivator in the Flame Alliance and eliminate all obstacles."
"This is also an opportunity for you two to earn merit. Under normal circumstances, killing a single Early-stage Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t award this many contribution points."
"You should know that there are murmurs within the sect about accepting sea bandits like you. If you don’t accumulate enough merit, becoming official members won’t be so simple."
The silver-masked woman’s tone was icy, her posture superior, as if she were pointing things out as a great act of charity.
"Yes."
The two Late-stage Golden Core cultivators answered in unison, as deferential as retainers.
They were all Late-stage Golden Core cultivators, but the silver-masked woman held a position of absolute authority.
FWOOSH!
The Cold Iron Boat was incredibly fast. Carrying the three Golden Core grand cultivators, it shot off in hot pursuit.