Jiang Zuo frowned as he looked at Xiao Xiaomo’s reply. These people were clearly trying to muddy the waters. Figuring out their objective was obviously not going to be that simple.

The video from yesterday was only a reference.

But all these objectives had one thing in common: they were only related to the Holy Land.

Only the objective from yesterday—placing a mark during the ritual—had anything to do with outsiders like them.

So, as far as they were concerned, they just had to stay vigilant about getting marked.

Chen Yi: "Don’t you guys think the Ghost Cultivators are going too far? Or maybe the Holy Land is just too cowardly? They’re causing trouble right on their doorstep, so why isn’t the Holy Land doing anything to find them?"

Demon Cultivator Mo Yan sent a thinking emoji: "You have a point. Could it be that the Ghost Cultivators are hidden too well?"

Blade Master Hai Bian: "Now that you mention it, I’ve noticed it too. The Holy Land’s attitude is very strange. They don’t seem too concerned about the Ghost Cultivators’ raids."

Xiao Xiaomo: "That’s not it. They’re taking the video from yesterday very seriously."

Liu Yiyi: "So you’re saying they only care about the ritual, and not so much about anything else? But yesterday’s objective was truly terrifying. It got me so worried that I almost told the fellow disciples from my sect who are going with me."

Chi Xue Child sent a reassuring emoji: "Don’t worry. Stick with me when the time comes, and nothing will happen. Besides, we still have Fellow Daoist Po Xiao, right?"

Po Xiao’s existence was indeed a surprise to them. It was as if he was an omnipotent being.

As long as he was still on their side, they would basically get all their information firsthand.

As expected, a big shot had infiltrated their group of newbies.

Demon Cultivator Mo Yan: "Boss Po Xiao, what are you planning to do now? Care to give us a hint?"

Jiang Zuo didn’t have any particular plan. They themselves had said the Holy Land wasn’t very concerned.

In that case, there was naturally no need for him to be concerned either. Right now, there was only one thing he needed to do.

Po Xiao: "Level up."

Everyone: "..."

’Level up,’ huh? Easy to say, but a killer to actually do.

Their Cultivation speed was considered fast, but it wasn’t like they could just level up whenever they wanted.

As expected, a big shot was on another level. He could level up just by deciding to.

Jiang Zuo, of course, paid them no mind. He really did need to level up. The potions were ready, so reaching 1.5 wouldn’t be a problem at all. He could even try for 1.6.

But there might not be enough time.

Jiang Zuo took out an Array Stone and then activated the Trapping Array.

The Trapping Array had a built-in shielding function, which could effectively hide fluctuations in Spiritual Qi.

It could even block the aura from Jiang Zuo’s body. This was an Array Stone Jiang Zuo had specifically created for Concealment.

But since it was just a single Array Stone, it wouldn’t last long. Moreover, for the sake of Concealment, it couldn’t efficiently absorb Spiritual Qi, or else the concealing effect would be lost.

After activating the Array, Jiang Zuo began to inscribe a Support Array, and then he took out a pot and started performing Alchemy.

The potions Jiang Zuo was using were considered precious. Using them for a Tier One advancement was actually a bit of a waste.

Fortunately, Jiang Zuo didn’t care at all. Leveling up was already difficult for him; he was lucky that using potions even worked.

After all, it was impossible for him to level up by relying on Cultivation alone.

At that rate, it would take forever to far surpass Su Qi.

Jiang Zuo used two portions of the potion. These two portions were enough for him to advance to 1.5.

Then, Jiang Zuo began to absorb the Spiritual Liquid.

The Array began to glow as the Innate Two Qi continuously circulated through Jiang Zuo’s body. Meanwhile, the Spiritual Qi from the Spiritual Liquid was constantly being channeled into him.

The aura emanating from Jiang Zuo’s body also began to climb steadily.

A long time passed.

From the moment the sun had just risen until noon, Jiang Zuo hadn’t moved an inch.

More than half of the Spiritual Liquid had been absorbed, and Jiang Zuo’s aura had reached the brink of 1.5, as if he could step into that realm at any moment.

And just as Jiang Zuo was about to break through to 1.5, a scorching aura suddenly flared up around him.

The Fire Elemental Army had launched a surprise attack on Jiang Zuo at this critical moment.

The Fire Elements remembered Jiang Zuo well. They ignored him normally, but critical moments like this were the perfect time to make their presence known.

Elements are highly sensitive to certain things. For instance, they could sense that Jiang Zuo was in a crucial phase, and their instincts told them this was the perfect opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

’So, charge, brothers!’

Chaotic Elements flooded the area around Jiang Zuo. If he let the Fire Elements invade, he would inevitably be affected.

At that point, failing to level up would be a minor issue; suffering a backlash from the Array would be the major one.

One must know that when he had activated the Innate Two Qi, any mistake would have meant complete annihilation of both body and soul.

While absorbing the Spiritual Liquid wasn’t quite that extreme, the attack was so sudden that injury was inevitable.

The Fire Elemental Army attacked, but Jiang Zuo’s minion Fire Elements instantly leaped out. A slightly larger Fire Element led a group of smaller ones, launching a defensive battle.

The Fire Element waved its greatsword. ’Brothers, defend the boss to the death!’

WHOOSH...

Then, the small squad of Fire Elements clashed with the Fire Elemental Army.

Although they were steadily pushed back, they at least mitigated the crisis.

Jiang Zuo, sensing all of this, didn’t panic. The Fire Elements had actually launched an attack on him. That truly was unexpected.

However, faced with this crisis of middling severity, Jiang Zuo was unfazed.

’Panic?’

’Absolutely not.’

His only thought was to find a way to resolve the crisis.

Fear, terror, despair—such emotions hardly existed for Jiang Zuo anymore.

He had experienced too much. Even death itself didn’t move him greatly.

Otherwise, knowing that he had gotten himself killed in the past, why had he never felt a shred of remorse or regret?

Then, Jiang Zuo’s consciousness appeared on the elemental battlefield. His Cultivation was mostly being handled by the Innate Two Qi. Although it would be faster with his guidance, he had no time to guide it now. A slower pace didn’t matter, as long as it remained stable.

’First, I’ll deal with these troublemakers.’

Jiang Zuo’s appearance made the Elemental Minions cheer instantly.

’Charge, brothers! The boss is here!’

The Elemental Minions fought with increasing valor, but of course, against the enemy army, defeat was unavoidable.

Then, a jumbo-sized Fire Element appeared on the enemy’s side, one that could crush an entire group by itself.

It was like a giant red bean appearing among a crowd of small ones.

This big red—no, this jumbo-sized Fire Element leaped over the defensive circle and charged directly at Jiang Zuo. To catch the bandits, of course, you catch the king first.

Jiang Zuo watched the jumbo-sized Fire Element fly toward him, then reached out and swatted it, sending it flying off to one side.

The jumbo-sized Fire Element was stunned. ’I lost?’

’How is that possible? It must’ve been that stomachache I had just now. That has to be it.’

Then the jumbo-sized Fire Element got up and beat its chest at Jiang Zuo, like a gorilla about to go berserk.

Just as Jiang Zuo thought it was about to attack, the jumbo-sized Fire Element instantly turned and fled back to its army, much faster than it had arrived.

After that, the Fire Elemental Army made a strategic retreat.

"..."

Jiang Zuo sensed his surroundings carefully and realized what had happened. He had already reached 1.5 and was no longer in the critical phase, so they didn’t want to attack anymore.

’Does that mean they might come back next time?’ 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Looking at his Elemental Minions, which had grown a size larger, Jiang Zuo didn’t know whether to consider this a good thing or a bad thing.

However, his consciousness seemed to have grown stronger unexpectedly.