Chapter 22: Count Me In, Make That Four

Amidst dense weeds, the four of them moved swiftly.

Finally, around eight o’clock, they reached their destination.

Along the way, he had killed several more Star Demons, and his Essence had reached: 10,083.

The four crouched in the grass, holding their breath and focusing intently as they cautiously watched ahead.

In a pile of massive rocks, over twenty bizarrely shaped Star Demons surrounded the stone formation.

“Changkong, are you sure we’re here to rescue someone?”

Liu Feng whispered softly.

Among those twenty-plus Star Demons, even the weakest were at the late-stage stellar qi level, with many at peak stellar qi.

They also spotted several at the Star Cloud Level.

Two of them, even from a distance, exuded a fierce and intimidating aura.

Is this really a rescue mission?

Are we sure we’re not just delivering ourselves as prey?

If it weren’t for Jiang Changkong being here and his formidable strength, they would have probably turned and left by now.

“Of course, we’re here to rescue someone. Let me send a message first to reassure them.”

Jiang Changkong took out his phone, crouched lower, and hid behind the other three.

His phone had long been set to silent mode. He sent a message to Zhou Wen: “Brother Wen, we’ll be there soon. Try not to act impulsively.”

Zhou Wen replied with a surprised emoji: “We? You came too?”

Jiang Changkong replied: “Yeah, I came ahead. Ji Ziling is behind me.”

Zhou Wen sent an angry emoji: “What are you doing here? With your small frame, aren’t you afraid of being eaten by Star Demons?”

Jiang Changkong felt a warm glow in his heart—his trip wasn’t in vain.

Just as he was about to reply, Zhou Wen added: “If you could make it here, it must not be just you alone. Did the soldiers at the city gate bring you?”

“Right.”

Zhou Wen grew excited: “How big is the team? Which leader is in charge?”

“Counting me, there are four in total.”

Zhou Wen: “…”

Are you kidding me?

You brought three people to rescue me?

With a hint of reluctance, Zhou Wen continued: “What are their strengths?”

“Peak stellar qi.”

“Brother, just go back…”

Jiang Changkong felt a bit awkward: “Ji Ziling is almost here too. Have you contacted her?”

Zhou Wen: “I have. She’s on her way, but it’ll take her another half hour to arrive.”

Jiang Changkong breathed a sigh of relief: “Then there’s no problem. If we join forces, taking down these Star Demons shouldn’t be an issue.”

Zhou Wen: “She came alone. Although Senior Sister is at Star Cloud Peak, there are two late-stage Star Demons and one at Star Cloud Peak here.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Well, this is awkward.

What was Ji Ziling thinking, coming alone?

At least I brought three people.

“You guys should leave quickly. Don’t get involved in this mess. Tell Senior Sister Ziling to leave too.”

Jiang Changkong: “No need. The Star Demons haven’t launched an attack yet, so there’s still time. It should be enough to hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

“Before this, the Star Demons already attacked. Senior Sister Yan Xue is injured.”

“Then she can hold off the two late-stage Star Cloud Demons. You guys stall the other Star Cloud Demons. I’ll take care of most of the stellar qi Star Demons. I’m confident we can retreat safely,” Jiang Changkong said.

“You’re confident you can handle most of the stellar qi Star Demons?” Zhou Wen asked in surprise.

“I’m absolutely sure, Brother Wen. Don’t worry, I won’t risk my life recklessly,” Jiang Changkong assured.

“Alright, then let’s do it. Wait for Senior Sister Ziling to arrive, and we’ll act together. For now, stay hidden and quiet.”

After saying this, Zhou Wen didn’t reply further.

Jiang Changkong, however, was inwardly frustrated. How could Ji Ziling be so unreliable?

Didn’t they need a team of four to leave the city?

How did she manage to come out alone?

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on these thoughts.

His gaze fell on Liu Feng and the other two. If Ji Ziling had brought reinforcements, their help would have sped up the killing of the Star Demons.

But now, Ji Ziling had come alone, fighting her way out with all her strength. With these three only at peak stellar qi, they might actually become a burden.

Besides, they had already agreed earlier—if no reinforcements came, they could leave. He couldn’t drag them into this.

Patting Liu Feng’s shoulder, Jiang Changkong whispered, “Head back. The situation has changed.”

“What’s wrong?” The three looked at him in confusion.

“Senior Sister ran out alone. She didn’t bring any rescue.”

Jiang Changkong’s expression darkened. “You’ve completed your mission by coming this far. Go back.”

“This…”

The three exchanged glances, never expecting things to turn out this way.

Earlier, Jiang Changkong had confidently claimed that reinforcements were right behind them.

And now, the reinforcements were just one person?

Ji Ziling, at Star Cloud Peak.

Should they still hold on?

If they did, they might lose their lives. If not, they could return with the gains they’d made along the way.

And those gains were already substantial.

They had no obligation to follow Jiang Changkong to their deaths.

“The soldiers from the city have come to rescue us! Fight your way out and regroup with them!”

A panicked shout rang out from the pile of boulders, piercing the sky.

Roar!

The Star Demons immediately grew restless, roaring as they charged toward the boulders.

“Damn it.”

Jiang Changkong cursed under his breath. Where the hell did this idiot come from?

The three were dumbfounded. This was just asking for death.

Boom!

A loud crash echoed as the two sides clashed.

Jiang Changkong didn’t dare delay. His body shot forward like a hunting leopard. “Go back.”

Zhang Mo and Xiao Hu looked at Liu Feng. “What do we do?”

“What else can we do? Leave. Are we supposed to die here?” Liu Feng turned and walked away.

“What a shame for young brother Changkong.” The two sighed and followed.

Roar!

Over twenty Star Demons roared in unison, their Star Power surging. A powerful shockwave tore through the surrounding weeds.

Shattered grass drifted, mud splattered everywhere, obscuring their vision.

From the pile of rubble, seven or eight figures rushed out, meeting the Star Demons head-on.

At the forefront was a figure in bloodstained white robes, her face pale, an icy aura radiating from her body.

Her sword gleamed like snow, her dark shoulder-length hair slightly disheveled as she held off two Star Demons at the late Star Cloud stage.

The others dealt with the remaining Nebula-level Star Demons.

Swords trembled, Blade Qi swept out, forcing back the Star Demons below the Star Cloud level.

Jiang Changkong sprinted over, his gaze fixed on the bloodstained figure in white—likely Ying Yanxue.

Zhou Wen was among them too, fighting a mid-Star Cloud level Star Demon.

Jiang Changkong wasn’t far from the Star Demons. Running at full speed, he reached them in moments.

Arriving before a Peak Star Qi Star Demon, he threw a punch.

Boom!

His fist pierced straight through its skull, killing it instantly.

With one decisive strike, he moved to the next Star Demon.

“Changkong.”

Zhou Wen spotted him, first shocked, then furious. “Who told you to come? Get out of here, now!”

“Brother Wen, I may not be much, but I can handle the Star Qi Star Demons without a problem.”

Jiang Changkong replied, “Focus on killing the Star Demons.”

Zhou Wen was about to speak when another Star Demon lunged at him, forcing him to engage.

Various lights intertwined, Star Power collided, and terrifying forces surged around them.

Jiang Changkong’s skin took on a bronze sheen as several Star Demons charged at him simultaneously, all at peak stellar qi.

“Changkong, be careful!” Zhou Wen cried out urgently.

Though he had seen Jiang Changkong kill a Star Demon with one punch,

facing several at once, even an early Star Cloud cultivator would need to be cautious.

“Don’t worry about me. I can handle these Star Qi Star Demons.”

Jiang Changkong responded, neither dodging nor evading. Taiji manifested, embodying both ultimate softness and hardness.

Clang! Clang!

Several Star Demons attacked simultaneously, but their strikes only produced resounding metallic clashes.

Jiang Changkong’s body swayed, the ground beneath his feet cracked, and he found himself surrounded by multiple Star Demons.

Foul, stinking breath and sharp fangs lunged toward him, ready to tear into his flesh.

Instantly besieged by several Star Demons, even with Taiji dispersing the force and his copper skin and iron bones, he couldn’t withstand the onslaught completely.

Though he showed no visible injuries on the surface, the impact of these forces had already shaken his internal organs.

A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Jiang Changkong’s face paled slightly, but his response was an even fiercer fist.

With a burst of fierce strength, his punch pierced straight through a demon’s skull.

Roar!

Around the Star Demons, over twenty massive bodies nearly trapped the group completely.

Fortunately, Zhou Wen and the others were no weaklings—two at peak stellar qi and six nebula martial artists.

They could hold their ground for now.

Boom!

Jiang Changkong stomped the ground, cracking it and sending dust flying, then drove his fist straight toward the fangs in a Star Demon’s gaping maw.

Crack!

His fist landed, shattering the fang and plunging into the demon’s mouth, punching straight through and out the other side.

But immediately after, more attacks rained down. The immense force sent him hurtling backward, tumbling repeatedly across the ground.