62: Chapter 62 The Hero Who Slayed Through the Beast Tide

The Azure-Feathered War Bird did not stop at the city gate, flying straight toward a sprawling, luxurious mansion inside the city.

This was the exclusive stronghold of the Qingxuan Sect in Tianyao City.

As soon as the war bird landed, several Elders and Disciples who had stayed behind came forward to greet them.

"Elder Xiong, you're finally back! How is the situation?" Elder Huang, who was in charge of receiving them, asked anxiously.

Elder Xiong's expression was grim as he shook his head. "Not good. We only brought back this group. A large number of Disciples are still trapped in the mountain range, their fates unknown."

Hearing this news, everyone's heart sank.

"All Disciples, return to your rooms immediately to rest. No one is allowed to run around without my order!" Elder Xiong commanded.

Having survived a bloody battle of life and death, and having been on edge in the mountain range for so long, these Disciples had long reached their limits. They were all dispirited and exhausted.

Hearing that they could rest, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Elder."

Just then, a clear voice rang out.

Zhao Ruoan stepped forward.

"I'm not tired. I want to go back into the mountains to search for and rescue our other sect members."

As soon as he said this, everyone was shocked.

"Nonsense!" an impatient Elder Li immediately scolded. "Zhao Ruoan, I know you care about your fellow Disciples, but the situation in the mountains is unclear right now. You are a once-in-a-ten-thousand-years genius of our sect, and you absolutely must not put yourself in danger again!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao, it's too dangerous."

"You've already saved us. That's enough, don't go back in!"

The rescued Disciples also spoke up to dissuade him, having personally experienced the horrors there.

Zhao Ruoan did not argue, but simply looked at the Elders calmly.

On his System quest panel, the number of rescued sect members was still short of the target. He didn't want to miss out on those generous rewards.

"Old Li, don't be so hasty."

Elder Huang, who had received them earlier, stepped forward. He patted Zhao Ruoan on the shoulder and said to Elder Li, "You haven't seen it with your own eyes, so you don't know what this kid is capable of. It's no exaggeration to say that he alone is more useful than our entire search and rescue team."

Elder Huang looked at Zhao Ruoan and asked solemnly, "Are you sure you still want to go?"

Zhao Ruoan nodded firmly.

"Alright!" Elder Huang slapped his thigh. "I'll go with you!"

"With Martial Nephew Zhao's combat power and my support, our search and rescue efficiency will definitely double!"

Elder Li wanted to say more, but Elder Xiong raised his hand to stop him.

Elder Xiong recalled Yun Qinghan's world-shattering sword strike, then looked at her equally unfathomable Disciple, and could only let out a long sigh in the end.

"Very well, be extremely careful. Remember, saving people is secondary; keeping your own lives is what's most important."

"Thank you for granting my request, Elder," Zhao Ruoan said, bowing with cupped hands.

The previous Azure-Feathered War Bird had overdrawn its spiritual energy and suffered significant injuries, rendering it unable to fight again.

Elder Huang summoned a slightly smaller but faster Wind Falcon. Carrying him and Zhao Ruoan, it soared into the sky once more, plunging resolutely into the vast Tianyao Mountain Range.

This time, their goal was clear.

To clear out any stray Yao Beasts along the way and search with all their might for the lost Disciples.

"Martial Nephew Zhao, let's split up. It'll be more efficient that way. Keep within ten li of each other. If there's danger, send a signal immediately!" Elder Huang shouted.

"Understood!"

The two turned into two streaks of light, searching in different directions.

The next few hours became Zhao Ruoan's personal show.

"Roar!" An Armored Rhinoceros at the seventh level of the Spirit Gathering Realm charged at him, only to be easily decapitated by a strand of his Sword Qi.

"Hiss! Hiss!" Three Green-Eyed Demon Pythons at the Pulse Condensation Realm darted out from the forest. Before they could even get close, they were shredded into a mist of blood by the invisible Sword Intent.

Like a tireless god of slaughter, he moved at high speed through the mountain forest.

Whenever he encountered fellow Disciples besieged by Yao Beasts, he would strike without hesitation.

Sword light flashed, Yao Beasts were decapitated, and after saving the people, he didn't even say a word before his figure vanished, continuing to search for the next target.

"We're saved! It's Senior Brother Zhao!"

"Senior Brother Zhao saved me! Waaaah..."

"So strong... Is he really our Junior Brother?"

One lost Disciple after another was pulled back from the brink of despair.

In just a few short hours, Zhao Ruoan and Elder Huang had teamed up to rescue over a hundred scattered Disciples.

However, the situation in the mountain range was deteriorating at an eerie pace.

For some reason, the scattered, fleeing Yao Beasts had become several times more frenzied than before. Even in the outer areas, traces of high-stage Spirit Pill Realm Yao Beasts had begun to appear.

"Boom!"

Zhao Ruoan sent a second-level Spirit Pill Realm Frenzied Giant Ape flying with a single punch, his brow furrowed.

Something was wrong.

This was no longer an ordinary beast tide; it was more like an out-of-control massacre.

Just then, Elder Huang's signal arrived.

It was the signal to retreat.

Zhao Ruoan did not hesitate, immediately leading the group of Disciples he had just rescued to meet up at the signal's location.

Once all the survivors had gathered and the headcount was completed, Elder Huang made a difficult decision.

"All Disciples, evacuate the Tianyao Mountain Range immediately and return to the stronghold!"

There was a hint of grief in his voice.

"Elder, there are still so many senior and Junior Brothers we haven't found!" someone cried out unwillingly.

"We can't look for them anymore," Elder Huang shook his head. "The beast tide has completely spiraled out of control. Going deeper is just suicide. The remaining people... are likely already dead."

Everyone fell silent, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

They all knew that Elder Huang was speaking the truth.

In the face of an overwhelming, frenzied beast tide, individual power was simply too minuscule.

To have survived was already an immense stroke of luck.

The crowd returned once more to the Tianyao City stronghold. Every Disciple who had escaped with their lives still wore lingering terror on their faces.

The first thing they did was walk over to Zhao Ruoan as a group.

"Thud!"

Over a hundred Disciples knelt down in unison.

"Senior Brother Zhao, we will never forget your life-saving grace!"

"From this day forth, our lives belong to you, Senior Brother! Should you have any commands, we will not hesitate to go through fire and water!"

The unified voices echoed in the courtyard, filled with heartfelt gratitude and awe.

Zhao Ruoan was a bit dazed by this grand display.

He just wanted to grind a quest, so how did things escalate to this point?

"Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, please rise quickly. It's only right for fellow Disciples to help one another."

He scrambled to help them up.

But just then...

A delicate-looking female Disciple, after being helped up, blushed furiously. Summoning her courage, she whispered, "Senior Brother Zhao... this humble girl has no other way to repay you, except... except by offering myself to you in marriage to repay your life-saving grace."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire courtyard erupted.

"You... you're too cunning! I want to offer myself in marriage too!"

"Me too! Senior Brother Zhao, look at me! I'm prettier than her!"

"Move aside, all of you! I was first! Senior Brother Zhao, I'm willing to serve you like an ox or horse—no, to be your Dao Companion!"

Good grief, it had turned directly into a massive confession scene.

The group of female Disciples who had just escaped the jaws of death showed no signs of distress now; they scrambled over one another, terrified of falling behind.