Chapter 353: Establishing Prestige

“Brother, let me out! I can fight alongside you!”

On the other side of the mist, Ma Chulan was being tightly protected by Ma Chulong and the other members of the Ma family. Every one of them was injured, and they could not sustain their weakened state for much longer.

Ma Chulan knew that in order to let her live, her eldest brother wanted to sacrifice himself, but she also wanted to live and die together with everyone else.

By now, Ma Chulong’s eyes were already bloodshot from killing; how could he possibly agree to Ma Chulan's pleas?

If they were destined to be wiped out here, his little sister absolutely could not die!

“Little sister, I will open a gap in the east. When that happens, you charge out and keep running forward. Do not, under any circumstances, look back!”

He screamed at the top of his lungs, terrified that Ma Chulan would not listen to him.

“Brother, I won't run away! Just hold on a little longer! I've already sent a distress signal to Su Yan. Su Yan will be here to save us any moment!” Ma Chulan said with a choked voice.

Facing these endless, inexhaustible puppets, there was no way to survive other than fighting to the death.

Ma Chulong naturally believed in Su Yan, which was why he had told all the Ma family disciples to hold on.

However, he also didn't truly want Su Yan to rush over; he didn't want to drag her into such a dangerous situation.

In his moment of distraction, he was struck hard by an opponent. His blood surged, and he could no longer hold back a mouthful of blood that sprayed out.

Seeing Ma Chulong vomit blood, all of Ma Chulan's rationality vanished instantly.

“I'll fight you to the end!”

She gripped her weapon, intending to charge into the midst of the puppets.

Every single time, it had been her eldest brother protecting her. This time, it was her turn to protect him, even if it meant death!

Ma Chulong's pupils contracted violently; his only thought left was to stop Ma Chulan.

At this critical moment, Su Yan's figure appeared not far away.

“Stop! Everyone, stop!”

She shouted with all the strength in her body to ensure that everyone could hear her.

The moment Ma Chulan saw her, she could no longer control the fear in her heart, and tears streamed down her face. Almost subconsciously, she reacted to Su Yan's words and halted all her movements.

The very instant she stopped attacking the puppets, the ferocious-looking puppets also came to a standstill.

This sudden change was something neither Ma Chulong nor Ma Chulan had anticipated.

Some people had not stopped their attacks, so Du Jinsong and Zhang Ximing immediately rushed toward the crowd, dodging the surrounding illusory puppets, and commanded everyone, “Don't move! Nobody move!”

The intervention of the two men finally caused the situation to reverse. Whether they were members of the Ma family or the exorcists traveling with them, everyone stopped, panting heavily.

Once they stopped, the puppets indeed ceased all attacks.

“Wh-what is going on?”

Someone in the crowd spoke up tremulously; they had all thought they were certain to die this time.

Du Jinsong had no time to answer and continued to command, “Everyone, follow my instructions. Do not launch any attacks against these puppets. Slowly retreat out of their attack range.”

Naturally, everyone obeyed his words without question.

Su Yan walked straight to Ma Chulong and his sister. Looking at Ma Chulong's disheveled state, she sighed.

“Are you injured?”

Ma Chulong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Just superficial wounds. It's nothing.”

Ma Chulan, however, could no longer hold back and began to sob. “Su Yan, you finally came. Big brother almost... he almost died.”

She wasn't afraid of death, but she was terrified of watching her brother die.

Looking at her tear-streaked, snotty face, there wasn't a trace of an exorcist's dignity left.

“Stop crying. Your brother is fine.”

“That's right, little sister, don't cry,” Ma Chulong added, comforting her.

With the support of Su Yan and Ma Chulan, the three of them left the puppets' attack range.

Although the crisis had been temporarily resolved, seeing those terrifying puppets kept everyone's nerves taut; they did not dare to relax their guard in the slightest.

Du Jinsong began to explain what had happened, repeating exactly what Su Yan had just told them.

When everyone heard that these puppets were actually illusions, they were all shocked into silence.

Seeing their reactions, Zhang Ximing found them even more exaggerated than his and Du Jinsong's, which instantly made him feel better about himself.

Knowing this would be hard to believe, Du Jinsong immediately produced talismans to dispel the illusions.

Watching the puppets vanish into thin air, everyone had to believe it, even if they were skeptical.

Someone suddenly looked at Du Jinsong and Su Yan with an excited expression. “I have a question. Since those people just now were all illusions, does that mean the people we were separated from are all still alive and well?”

The surroundings fell into instant silence.

Everyone, of course, hoped that was the case.

Du Jinsong could not answer, so he looked toward Su Yan.

Su Yan had already confirmed that Ma Chulong's injuries were not life-threatening. Facing the tense and expectant gazes, she said, “There is a high probability that they have encountered the same situation as us, and the people they encountered are likely illusory versions of us. Therefore, we need everyone to hurry and find the others so we can save them.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Since it had been confirmed that there was no danger as long as they did not actively attack the puppets, there was nothing left to fear.

However, to be safe, Du Jinsong divided everyone into small teams to move. As for those who were more seriously injured, they stayed behind with Ma Chulong and Su Yan.

Those who remained found places to sit down to rest and recover.

After all, having just escaped death, they were completely exhausted both physically and mentally.

But they all instinctively looked toward Su Yan, their eyes completely different from before.

Du Jinsong had made it very clear: it was Su Yan who realized the puppets were illusions and found the way to break the spell. It was no exaggeration to call her their savior.

Ma Chulong sensed this strange shift in atmosphere and felt happy for Su Yan from the bottom of his heart.

After this, Su Yan's name would likely be known to everyone in the entire circle, wouldn't it?

“Su Yan, have you found a way to break through this checkpoint?”

Du Jinsong and the others were going to rescue people, but as long as this side broke the checkpoint, everyone would naturally be safe.

“Not yet,” Su Yan said truthfully.

Although her vision was not hindered by the mist, the surroundings were actually an endless forest. Trying to find the key or any anomalies among so many trees was no simple task.

Ma Chulong and Ma Chulan exchanged a glance. If even Su Yan had no way, then the others would likely be even more helpless.

“But we don't need to be too anxious. Since the Zhou family has been to the ancestral lands many times, there must be a way to break the checkpoint. Perhaps Young Master Zhou is already taking action.”

(End of Chapter)