Loyalty Mission

Chen Li's lips quivered as she uttered out, "Br-brother...is-is this?! An actual cultivation pill?! These things run for sky-high prices! I heard that not even geniuses from the Big Three sects can so causally get just one cultivation pill!"

Smiling gently, Chao shoved the Spirit Nourishing pill into Chen Li's hands. He then went on to explain, "Indeed, this is. Its specific name is the Spirit Nourishing pill. With this, your dantian will strengthen, your Spiritual Sea will advance and your body will become more adaptable to intake energies. Now, remember, when taking pills, you must be at your utmost focus. Use your soul sense to perceive every little sensation the pill has when enhancing your being. By the time the pill absorption process is done, you should have more gains than what's initially given."

"Mn! I won't disappoint you, big brother!" Chen Li smiled with as much joy as she could possibly muster up.

Before leaving, she jumped up to tightly hug Chao's neck. She sweetly giggled like a little angel and gave Chao's cheek an innocent peck.

"Just wait, big brother. I'll be a grand cultivator, just like you!"

Chao simply chuckled and gave Chen Li an encouraging pat on her soft hair.

After this, Chen Li quickly rushed to her room with a great amount of excitement.

Chao's honest smile lingered on his lips for a full a few seconds. His chest was full of warmth.

But a second later, his expression returned to his usual calculating calm. He quickly went into his pocket to pull out Luo's contact ring.

Interjecting his soul energy within it, the ring pulsated for a few moments. When several seconds passed, the ring glimmered a faint purple glow.

A familiar voice suddenly entered Chao's mind.

'Ah! Chao! So nice of you to call. Is there something you need?' Luo's tone was of genuine excitement. It was as if he was awaiting this call for a long time now.

Chao didn't spare small talk and promptly went into his plan. 'Indeed, there is. Is Shi and Dui with you?'

'Yes, they are. We actually met up not too long ago,' Luo replied.

'Excellent. Because you see, I actually want to team up today. Yesterday, I believe I found a route that can lead to some great finds. The beasts aren't too strong, so it would be valuable training for all of you. Plus, at any great sign of danger, I'll be sure to protect everyone and I won't be stingy about what we gained from the beast.'

There was a mysterious amount of persuasive confidence in Chao's tone. He put forth his honest intentions without mincing words or trying any double meaning.

It wouldn't be hard to feel convinced by Chao. Especially when considering his previous showcase of power.

The line on Luo's end was silent for only a few seconds until his eager reply came. 'This...we would be an honor to go with you! With your rank already equal to Captain Pao Dai, there should be no complications going forward.'

'Perfect. We'll meet when everything has been properly set up. And oh, you don't have to stress about calling me, Captain. I have never been one to be fussy about titles.'

'We'll take your word then, Chao. This shouldn't take long at all.' With that, Lui quickly cut off the connection.

When everything turned into a serene quiet, Chao eagerly gripped his fist. Today will be his first among many to his great Asura Conquest!

...

The morning quickly passed.

It was around 8:30 am that Chao finally met up with Luo's group.

The transferring process was a simple one. Mainly because of Chao's own words, Captain Lee had approved of Luo's group going under Chao for the day.

There wasn't any sort of complication involved. Nor did Pao Dai raise any objections.

Chao was almost tempted to say everything transitioned almost too smoothly. But then again, he also recalls his own prowess is far more valuable than anything that Pao Dai can provide.

After this smooth transition, Chao seemingly led Luo's group into Creek's wilderness.

The trio merely believed they were on the path to great resources.

While Chao was actually following along the mission energy trail provided by his system.

In a few minutes, they reached a couple of miles deep within the wilderness. Their path involved many twists and turns. It was a route that would easy to seclude oneself from others.

Along this path, neither Luo, Dui, nor Shi had much worry or fear. The young man in front of them seemed like a great beacon of light.

But after only a few more minutes of traveling, everyone in Chao's group suddenly stopped. They all felt alarm bells go off within their soul sense.

Several powerful auras had suddenly appeared and completely surrounded them!

Luo, Dui, and Shi tensed up, but none of them truly felt like their lives were in immediate death danger.

Whereas Chao silently clenched something within his pockets.

At this time, a chilling, cold voice cut into the atmosphere.

"Another Ming patrol squad coming out here. How intriguing considering last events."

Several figures quickly flashed out of bushes and behind large trees.

Chao's group was immediately reminded of the last ambush.

Once again, it was a mix of men and a woman. This time being three men and only one woman. All of them were wearing the Fang Family crest symbols upon their luxurious cultivator robes.

The difference in this ambush squad came from their Origin Auras.

Three were strong 3rd layer experts while their leader was a genuine 4th-layer Tilted Origin expert!

This kind of squad would even turn heads while in Sky Bless City. It was a force that can cause considerable damage while in Creek's wilderness.

Luo, Dui, and Shi briefly felt their hearts lurch when all of their Origin Auras washed over the area. However, when they took one look at Chao's incomparably confident face, they regained their calm.

Chao merely raised a brow at this ambush squad. "Really now? After having one ambush squad killed, the best decision now is to send another?"

"Oh my! Do you honestly believe it's that simple?" The 4th layer leader loudly chuckled along with his squadron members.

Another one of them proudly proclaims, "We can admit last time was entirely unexpected. But now...well, isn't it better to show it ourselves? This time, nothing will interfere. All of you, open your dog eyes to witness the power of a Tilted Origin expert."

At this prompt, the 4th layer leader coldly smiled, his eyes flashing in terrifying killing intent. His palm opened, and energy erupted out of his body, causing his Origin Aura to surge.

Intense airwaves whirled all around at a frantic rate. The temperature started to dramatically rise.

A gleaming blue light flickered from the 4th layer leader's palm. The blue light converged within a second, forming into a light blue ball of pure Origin Qi!

"Ah! Origin Qi manifestation! This is a sign of an expert who's been in the 4th layer for a long time!" Luo blurted out.

He and his partners couldn't help the chaotic waves storming their hearts. Even with Chao's seemingly unfathomable prowess, against an experienced 4th layer expert may be huge trouble.

From what they can recall, Origin Qi manifestation showcases one is close to perfect control of 40% Origin Qi power. This puts a cultivator into a special state superior to other 4th layer Origins.

Origin Qi manifestations allow one's striking power to increase by several degrees! They more clearly comprehended the principles of 40% Origin Qi, allowing them to draw out great abilities such as this one.

Realistically, even an ordinary 4th layer warrior would lose out to an Origin Qi manifestation stage cultivator.

This wasn't even the end of the demonstration.

The 4th layer leader burst out a wave of Fire Law essence, smoothly controlling it to wrap around the Origin Qi blue as a protective layer.

A greater surge of power discharged from the leader's body. His combination of Qi and Law energies was potent. It could even be counted on genius level!

When faced with ultimate power, it wouldn't be strange for the weaker party to completely submit. At least the Fang Family squadron was expecting to see Chao's group crumble to their knees.

However, none of what they expected occurred. What irked them was the fact that Chao even had the gall to wear a disdaining smirk!

The 4th layer leader dispersed his fire energy orb and narrowed an intent gaze. He wanted to speak, to destroy Chao's odd confidence, but that opportunity would never come.

Not when Chao made his move.

"Heh. That's it?"

With only this said, Chao's power instantly erupted!

His Origin Aura broke through all limits. It surpassed the 2nd layer and transitioned into a full 3rd layer! At the same time, the Ausra Aura erupted in full force!

An ear-shattering bang rattled everyone's mind. The explosion of power from Chao blasted the ground beneath him, carving out a 5-feet deep hole and causing grass, dirt, and pebbles to frantically shoot up into the air.

His Origin Aura suppressed everything and everyone. It washed over the leader's ambush squad like a hurricane.