Chapter 359: Su Yan Becomes a Master

The newcomers were several lone exorcists. Their strength was far inferior to the exorcists of the four great families, but these individuals were currently lively and well, standing in stark contrast to the injured Kong Nian, Gan Hua, and Kong Yue Ling.

"Miss Kong, we finally found you!"

Kong Nian sized them up briefly, then put on an imposing air and said, "We just encountered a large group of puppets and had to fight through a fierce battle. It is truly good to see you all are safe and sound."

Although she looked quite disheveled now, she had truly been through a battle, and she wanted to make sure these people understood that point clearly.

"We also encountered puppets in the forest. Those puppets are far too cunning; they actually transformed into our likenesses to deceive others!" the lead exorcist cursed indignantly.

Kong Nian's expression shifted slightly, and she couldn't help but confirm with them, "You encountered puppets as well?"

However, looking at their intact clothing, they didn't seem to have sustained even a single scratch.

"Yes, it wasn't just us; it seems everyone who entered the forest encountered puppets. But we were quite lucky; we were found by the Ma family while we were fighting them. Master Su discovered the puppets' weakness—it turns out as long as we don't attack them, they won't attack us—and then we resolved the situation quite easily."

By the end of his sentence, the man's voice carried an irrepressible excitement.

Kong Nian and Kong Xiang exchanged a glance, momentarily unable to process the information.

So that was how it happened?

"Wait, who did you just say Master Su was?"

Kong Nian was extremely puzzled; she didn't remember there being a Master Su in the group.

"Master Su is Master Su Yan! Master Su Yan saved everyone's lives this time. Everyone is now calling Miss Su 'Master Su'."

"What did you say? Say that again. Su Yan saw through the puppets' weakness?!" Kong Nian's breathing suddenly quickened, as if she had received a massive shock.

The man nodded hurriedly. "That's how it was. The people we rescued were divided into several small teams to search for those who were separated and fighting puppets outside, and we happened to run into you. However, the mist has since dissipated, and those puppets seem to have vanished as well. I don't know what else has happened."

Even as Kong Nian took deep breaths, she felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

She never imagined that after entering this place, the first person to steal the spotlight would actually be Su Yan!

A flicker of light also flashed deep within Kong Xiang's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it without leaving a trace.

As for Gan Hua, hearing that Su Yan was safe and had gained so much respect from others, he felt happy for her from the bottom of his heart.

"Miss Kong, can you still move? Captain Du's intention is for everyone to gather together once everyone is found. Master Su has already gone to look for Young Master Zhou."

These exorcists naturally knew that the Kong family and Su Yan were not on very friendly terms, so they did not continue the previous topic.

In the next second, Kong Nian endured her pain and straightened her back. "Of course we have no problem. Let's go."

It didn't matter if they were at a disadvantage this time. There were still two more stages; she would let Su Yan enjoy the glory for a little while longer. Once they reached the end, she would grind Su Yan to dust!

Half an hour later, everyone converged with Ma Chulong's group.

The moment everyone saw Zhou Li and Zhou Chong, they all felt a sense of relief.

After all, this was the Zhou family's ancestral land; without them leading the way, things would only become more troublesome later on.

Zhou Li gave a brief explanation to everyone regarding why he and Zhou Chong had gone missing, though he did not mention a single word about the Mysterious Spirit Tree.

Su Yan and Ma Chulan sat to the side to recuperate, the two of them sharing a silent understanding.

"So, the first stage has been passed. We will rest here briefly, and then we can enter the second stage," Zhou Li concluded.

Upon hearing that the first stage had passed so easily, the previously low morale instantly surged.

Although they had encountered puppets, they hadn't suffered any substantial harm, and many had even passed the stage without doing much at all. To them, this was like a shot of adrenaline.

Some even began to look forward to the next two stages being just as "easy," thinking that if things went this way, they would all become honored guests of the Zhou family.

In contrast to the excitement of these people, Zhou Li and Zhou Chong led the Zhou family members to maintain some distance from the crowd, the atmosphere heavy.

After all, the whereabouts of the Mysterious Spirit Tree were unknown, and the way the stage had been passed was indeed inexplicable.

Zhou Xiongfeng had once said that even if one gained the recognition of the Mysterious Spirit Tree in the first stage, someone would eventually need to be sacrificed for it to possibly open the entrance to the second stage.

But now that everyone was here, the sacrifice step had been completely bypassed.

Thinking of this, Zhou Li's gaze swept over the crowd, and he finally noticed an anomaly.

"Senior Sister Kong, why don't I see Senior Sister Kong Yueqing? Where did she go?"

Zhou Li's inquiry immediately made the Kong family the center of attention.

Kong Yueqing's previous arrogance and tyranny had already made her known to everyone, and she was indeed not in the Kong family's ranks.

Kong Nian did not expect Zhou Li to actually be concerned about Kong Yueqing, so she said unhurriedly, "We got separated from her while we were in the mist."

"Then I will send people to look for her now." Zhou Li wasn't truly worried about Kong Yueqing's life or death; rather, he was wondering if the conditions for the Mysterious Spirit Tree to open the stage remained unchanged, then was Kong Yueqing that sacrifice?

Regardless of how Kong Yueqing died, if all her spiritual power had been absorbed by the Mysterious Spirit Tree, then everything would make sense.

"There is no need." Kong Nian actually blocked his decision.

The others all showed expressions of doubt. Although Kong Yueqing was unpopular, she was still a member of the Kong family; there was no reason for her to be abandoned by her family under such circumstances, right?

Sensing the scrutinizing gazes, Kong Nian's face burned with embarrassment.

"My young lady is unwilling to delay everyone's time for the sake of Kong Yueqing alone. Furthermore, our family members have special methods of communication; Kong Yueqing is fine," Kong Xiang immediately added as an explanation.

Although he was currently using Ruan Tao's body, his aura remained unchanged, carrying its own inherent majesty.

After hesitating for two seconds, Zhou Li revealed a faint smile. "Since that is the case, then we have no need to worry. However, Senior Sister Kong, is the wound on your face alright?"

Kong Nian was, after all, a young woman. Such a deep wound on her face would affect her appearance even if it didn't disfigure her, so how could she truly not care?

It was just that, given her current identity, she could not afford to be sentimental about such things.

"It is just a minor wound. If we exorcists cannot even endure a small injury like this, then we are not worthy of being true exorcists."

Her words were powerful and resonant, leaving people with no choice but to admire her!

(End of Chapter)