The two of them quickly burst out of the Death Crystal Field and arrived outside. As soon as they emerged, they immediately began to battle fiercely.
Thunderous booms echoed—the battle attracted a crowd. Originally, those people were just nearby rogue cultivators or scouts hiding in the area.
When this scene was reported to the Salvation Alliance, everyone was stunned.
“He’s finally appeared.” Connor Hawke stood up and said. The Blue Clan members grew excited—they knew their peerless genius had finally returned and was now fighting the Strange Fiend.
“Now is a great opportunity. I propose a full-scale counterattack against the insects—what do you all think?” Seeing everyone so excited, the Blue Clan Patriarch seized the moment and pressed the advantage.
This proposal instantly brought hope to everyone who’d been under months of gloom. They all agreed enthusiastically, and the plan was quickly put into action.
Connor Hawke led the group, slaughtering insects from the first place they appeared onward.
They continued slaughtering for several days. When the Blue Clan members received a message from Lance Blue, their top genius, they abruptly halted the offensive.
“What’s going on?” Everyone asked Benson Blue, who was accompanying them.
Benson Blue frowned and said, “It seems that the Strange Fiend is extremely powerful.”
“What exactly happened!?” Seeing Benson Blue’s expression, everyone grew anxious—especially those at the front lines.
“Retreat!” Benson Blue said deeply, just one word.
Retreat? Why retreat? Everything was going well—why stop now? Immediately, voices of opposition rang out.
“If you want to die, stay here.” Benson Blue was in a foul mood, especially after hearing the news; he seemed off.
After speaking, he left the crowd behind and led the Blue Clan members back toward Baina.
With the leaders gone, everyone had no reason to stay, but they were disgruntled. Why was the Blue Clan so irresponsible? They returned to Baina, intent on questioning the Blue Clan.
The main hall was in chaos.
Lance Blue was heavily poisoned, suppressing it while transmitting his voice to Connor Hawke: “It’s true. He’s already surpassed the Spirit-Wandering Realm, and I barely managed to enter it myself. But I was no match for him, fell into his trap, and was poisoned by something unknown. Now the poison is attacking my heart.”
“How could this happen! Such a huge thing, and you’re only telling me now?” Connor Hawke was anxious. He knew Lance Blue had likely broken through, but hearing it firsthand—especially this situation—made him deeply worried. If even someone above the Spirit-Wandering Realm couldn’t resist the Strange Fiend, who could?
“Don’t panic. He’s not in great shape either. At the last moment, I used a treasure to seriously injure him. I doubt he’ll reappear for at least ten years. But even wounded, none of you can defeat him,” Lance Blue quickly reassured Connor Hawke, seeing his anxiety.
“Ten years? What about after ten years?” Connor Hawke asked. Delaying for ten years was possible, but what then? Who could oppose him at that point?
“If I can purge the poison within ten years, I’ll have a chance to fight him again,” Lance Blue replied.
That’s just a chance—it doesn’t guarantee he can kill him. Connor Hawke was now pessimistic; the situation had shattered his confidence.
“Go find the two from the Free Alliance. If they join forces, maybe they can finish off the wounded Strange Fiend. If not, we’ll have to wait until I recover, and the three of us can try together.” Lance Blue knew this was just a gamble—if they couldn’t destroy him, all humanity on the continent would face disaster.
“Them? I’ll go check.” Hearing Lance Blue, Connor Hawke calmed down and nodded.
Before Connor Hawke left, Lance Blue transmitted, “Right now, only you know about this. Don’t spread it, or things will get even messier. At least for now, everyone can still resist the insects together.”
“I know. I may not be as strong as you, but I’m not stupid,” Connor Hawke sighed, then left the room.
Lance Blue remained seated, sighing, “I never thought our continent would come to this day after all.”
When Connor Hawke appeared in the main hall, all eyes locked onto him, demanding answers.
Unexpectedly, Connor Hawke said, “Here’s what happened: the Strange Fiend fought him for days and nights, and was injured by him.”
Hearing the Strange Fiend was seriously injured, everyone rejoiced, but they didn’t understand—if he was wounded, why not press the attack?
Connor Hawke had to explain, “Even though he’s badly hurt, he’s gone into hiding. His strength is terrifying—even wounded, I have no confidence. That’s why I called everyone back: I don’t want us to clash head-on.”
That’s just a chance—it doesn’t guarantee he can kill him. Huang Chongtian was now pessimistic; the situation had shattered his confidence.
“He’s chasing after him, so until the Strange Fiend is definitely killed, everyone should stay here. As for the insects, just hunt them occasionally.” Connor Hawke replied, then went straight to find Vice Alliance Master Grant, calling him to a private spot.
“Them? I’ll go check.” Hearing Lan Xuan, Huang Chongtian calmed down and nodded.
“I called you here to ask about the whereabouts of your two experts.” Although Connor Hawke was the continent’s number two, he’d never sparred with the Free Alliance’s two hidden experts and couldn’t be sure he could beat them. That’s why he never claimed to be number two outright.
Lan Xuan remained seated, sighing, “I never thought our continent would come to this day after all.”
“Seclusion? At a time like this? Hurry up and tell me where they are!” Connor Hawke snorted.
Unexpectedly, Huang Chongtian said, “Here’s what happened: the fiend fought him for days and nights, and was injured by him.”
“If you don’t want the continent destroyed, hurry and tell me where they are!” Connor Hawke threatened.
Huang Chongtian had to explain, “Even though he’s badly hurt, he’s gone into hiding. His strength is terrifying—even wounded, I have no confidence. That’s why I called everyone back: I don’t want us to clash head-on.”
After learning their location, Connor Hawke immediately left Baina without delay.
“He’s chasing after him, so until the fiend is definitely killed, everyone should stay here. As for the insects, just hunt them occasionally.” Huang Chongtian replied, then went straight to find Vice Alliance Master Grant, calling him to a private spot.
In the blood cave of the Death Crystal Field, Warren Wong stood before the Strange Fiend and asked, “Master, are you alright?”
“Damn it, that guy is truly hateful. His last strike seriously injured me. If I hadn’t used my poison, I wouldn’t have made it back,” the Strange Fiend said angrily.
“He’s that strong?” Warren Wong hadn’t expected the Strange Fiend, who he thought was the strongest, to lose to the Blue Clan genius.
“Him? If my body were fully fused, he wouldn’t be my match.” The Strange Fiend wasn’t intimidated by Lance Blue; he sneered instead.
Warren Wong was secretly pleased to hear the Strange Fiend wasn’t at full strength—for once, he’d found a truly reliable powerhouse. He then asked, “How long will it take for you to recover, Master?”
“I’m not sure. If things go well, five or six years; if not, maybe over ten. So in the meantime, you must lead the insect army and avoid direct confrontation. But don’t let them find out—right now, they’re searching everywhere for me,” the Strange Fiend instructed.
“Understood. I’ll definitely divert them,” Warren Wong replied.
“Go now,” the Strange Fiend nodded, and Warren Wong withdrew.
“Once I recover to my peak, it’ll be your doomsday,” the Strange Fiend snorted coldly.
Lance Blue had no idea the Strange Fiend hadn’t used his full strength—and that his true peak was even more terrifying. For now, Lance Blue focused on healing, ignoring everything else.
Connor Hawke arrived at the Free Alliance base and found the two experts.
“Damn it, that guy is truly hateful. His last strike seriously injured me. If I hadn’t used my poison, I wouldn’t have made it back,” the fiend said angrily.
“Damn it, at a time like this, they’re still cultivating!” Connor Hawke muttered, frustrated.
“Him? If my body were fully fused, he wouldn’t be my match.” The fiend wasn’t intimidated by Lan Xuan; he sneered instead.
Now, all he could do was wait for them to emerge—or force his way in, which risked disturbing their breakthrough and causing qi deviation.
So Connor Hawke just sat outside the space, waiting for them to appear.
“Understood. I’ll definitely divert them,” Wang Hong replied.
Outside, the fighting suddenly quieted down. No one knew what to do, and the insect army also stopped attacking for some reason.
“Once I recover to my peak, it’ll be your doomsday,” the fiend snorted coldly.
Lan Xuan had no idea the fiend hadn’t used his full strength—and that his true peak was even more terrifying. For now, Lan Xuan focused on healing, ignoring everything else.
Fear was impossible. The Blue Clan Patriarch knew Lance Blue was poisoned, but not the specifics. After Connor Hawke met Lance Blue, he vanished. The Patriarch dared not act rashly, fearing the Strange Fiend might appear suddenly and no one could stop him.
At that moment, the two were in seclusion, and no one could enter the space they’d created.
Thus, the insect army occupied parts of the Eastern Continent, while the alliance dared not move. Occasionally, a few people went out to kill some insects, then returned.
Now, all he could do was wait for them to emerge—or force his way in, which risked disturbing their breakthrough and causing qi deviation.
So Huang Chongtian just sat outside the space, waiting for them to appear.
“If this keeps up, everyone will leave,” the Blue Clan Patriarch paced anxiously, frustrated.
“What can we do? He won’t let us act, and Connor Hawke has disappeared. If we make a move and the Strange Fiend appears, what then?” Benson Blue sighed, thinking of the Strange Fiend who wounded the Blue Clan genius.
“Why? Are the insects afraid?” someone asked in surprise.
Fear was impossible. The Blue Clan Patriarch knew Lan Xuan was poisoned, but not the specifics. After Huang Chongtian met Lan Xuan, he vanished. The Patriarch dared not act rashly, fearing the fiend might appear suddenly and no one could stop him.
Thus, the insect army occupied parts of the Eastern Continent, while the alliance dared not move. Occasionally, a few people went out to kill some insects, then returned.
Two years passed, and things remained the same. Many people’s enthusiasm faded—they began to forget the lesson, and the alliance slowly lost members.
“If this keeps up, everyone will leave,” the Blue Clan Patriarch paced anxiously, frustrated.
“What can we do? He won’t let us act, and Huang Chongtian has disappeared. If we make a move and the fiend appears, what then?” Lan Zhongzi sighed, thinking of the fiend who wounded the Blue Clan genius.