Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Setting Things Right
The two people from Celestial Toad Sect left in a hurry, and the rest couldn’t stay here much longer either. There was still more excitement to come, and with this place full of opportunities, as Shen Hao had just explained to Cloud Sword, these people were already getting restless.
So they each went their own way, or gathered in twos and threes to help guard each other.
The three Golden Sword Cultivators were preparing to go deeper, but Shen Hao had left a good impression on them. He had also just shared a lot of information, saving them from letting Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute people snatch all the glory, so they meant to bring Shen Hao along.
"Hundred Households of Shen, will you keep waiting here or will you join us?"
"You three adults are free to do as you please. I think it’s safer for me to stay here. If I go inside, I’ll just be a burden to you. Besides, there are many of my colleagues trapped in the Illusion Realm around here. If I stay, I can at least feed them something."
"Rescue them? This..."
Perhaps it was only when Shen Hao said this that the three Golden Sword Cultivators remembered—the place that was full of opportunities for them was a nightmare cradle for the over a thousand garrison soldiers and hundreds of Xuanqing Guard Soldiers trapped here, suffering hunger and thirst, their lives hanging by a thread.
"Can you actually save them?"
Shen Hao smiled. "Even if I can’t, I have to try. They’re all my brothers-in-arms. I can’t just watch them die, can I? If I can save even one, it’s worth it."
Save one at a time?
Such a simple thought, yet it made the three Golden Sword Cultivators feel the heat flush across their cheeks.
"Lord Shen, I admire you," the three of them cupped their hands to Shen Hao. But they knew very well their orders from above—they must gain something here. Saving people wasn’t required.
Still, it wasn’t that the three of them were entirely unmoved. Perhaps they were earlier, but now a pang of pity came over them. So each took out two jade bottles from their storage bags and placed them in Shen Hao’s hand.
"Inside are ’Elixir Food’ we prepared for closed-door cultivation. For ordinary people or low-tier cultivators, one pill is enough for their food and water needs for five days. It can be divided up, so with this, you’ll get a better result than just feeding them regular food and save more people."
Shen Hao was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude. Anything that could save lives was a treasure; he didn’t refuse. He had mentioned the matter just to ensure his good deeds didn’t go unnoticed by those above, never expecting to be rewarded like this.
After leaving the jade bottles, the three Golden Sword Cultivators felt at ease—they, too, had aided those in distress around them. They then said their goodbye to Shen Hao and hurried toward Caiyuan Village.
Once everyone had left, Shen Hao let out a long sigh of relief. What he’d done seemed to be bearing fruit.
Because he couldn’t let the death of Yu Shengjue remain "undecided." The uncertainty was too great.
Originally, Shen Hao had planned for Yu Shengjue’s death to come to light, since he was indeed killed by Cloud Sword—there was the sword wound on his body to prove it.
But things changed suddenly, taking Shen Hao off guard.
To play dumb and try to get away with it, as Xiao Hai and Wind Bell suggested, was pure naivety. This place was sealed off, and not very big. The Sect knew their whereabouts, and if they examined things closely, they’d find the truth. In the end, those two would probably drag Shen Hao to his death, too.
So, Shen Hao simply adjusted the play accordingly—he added a few more roles, with the culprits being Wind Bell and Xiao Hai.
He wasn’t worried at all about Wind Bell and Xiao Hai telling the whole story. Who’d believe them?
The Celestial Toad Sect had always been arrogant and overbearing, as could be seen from Yu Shengjue. Plus, the Celestial Toad Sect was strong enough to fit the profile—a hammer-wielder who sees everything as a nail, smashing first and asking questions later.
Shen Hao didn’t even need to guess. He knew for certain that as soon as the Celestial Toad Sect found Wind Bell and Xiao Hai, the first thing they’d do would be to search them. Anyone who resisted would look guilty.
A fight? Shen Hao didn’t believe Xiao Hai and Wind Bell could win against the two from Celestial Toad Sect, Zhang Lin and his companion. And if they did fight, regardless of victory or loss, the fact that Wind Bell and Xiao Hai killed Yu Shengjue would become indisputable.
No fight? Would they cooperate? The pouch with Yu Shengjue’s belongings was still on one of them, and there’d definitely be traces proving it belonged to him. There’d be no way for them to talk their way out of it.
And, interestingly, Wind Bell and Xiao Hai had no idea that it was actually Shen Hao who took care of Yu Shengjue. They just didn’t believe he could be the culprit. When arguing with the Celestial Toad Sect, they’d completely miss the point, and look all the more defensive.
Thinking it over, Shen Hao felt at ease. No one would have anything to hold against him—no evidence, no loose ends. Even the one hundred mid-grade spirit stones he was forced to take would end up as an unexpected windfall.
Having collected his thoughts, Shen Hao began to work. He cut each Elixir Food pill into four, each piece supporting someone for at least a day and a half. With six bottles, that made a total of one hundred and eighty pills. It was still far from enough for all those in need.
After that, more cultivators trickled in, but they were all from second and third-tier sects. Seven died in the Illusion Realm of Cloud Sword Domain, and the rest headed for Caiyuan Village.
Some wanted to cause trouble for Shen Hao. But with three Golden Sword Cultivators inside Caiyuan Village and the Xuanqing Guard outside keeping detailed records of all entering cultivators, they quickly reconsidered.
Of course, Shen Hao’s little notebook was busy—he noted down their appearances and sect emblems, and once he got out, it would be easy to match them with the Xuanqing Guard’s registry.
There’s plenty of time ahead—every dog has its day eventually.
October 22, the fourth day since being dragged into the Cloud Sword Domain.
Besides dealing with latecomer cultivators and rescuing the trapped soldiers at set intervals, Shen Hao had collected two more head-sized cloudswords today.
But these two gave him only materials he didn’t recognize: a dry twig, as long as a pinky finger and fragrant like fruit, and a hexagonal leaf with black flower patterns on it.
Compared to the most coveted Cloud Swords measuring between five and ten feet, the smaller Cloud Swords that Shen Hao could handle, and the ultra-large ones that no one could, were actually more numerous.
Ever since he found Cloud Sword’s weakness, Shen Hao’s energy expenditure to capture them became negligible. When he encountered a soul-slaughter type Cloud Sword, he didn’t even have to lift a finger—one deep inhale could finish it off.
Counting those captured earlier, Shen Hao had absorbed six golden Souls from Cloud Swords. He didn’t feel much at first; the Black Beast Tattoo only stored that energy temporarily, which would then flow into his veins during cultivation, refining both his soul and Sea of Consciousness.
But since last night, every time he meditated, Shen Hao experienced a strange sensation he’d never felt before, as if countless intentions were probing him all the time. But however many times he checked, he found he was entirely alone—no one was spying on him.
What’s going on?
