"Soul power exhausted?"
Li Zhan and Qu Yao's expressions changed. The last time Zhang Ergou's soul power was exhausted was not long ago.
And now, he had exhausted his soul power again.
He really didn't care about his own body.
"You don't need to look at him like that. He had no choice."
Li Xun, for some reason, defended Zhang Ergou, which greatly surprised Li Zhan and Qu Yao.
What had they gone through? They had descended into the abyss, and then...
It was quite intriguing.
Seeing the increasingly strange looks from Li Zhan and Qu Yao, Li Xun could no longer remain calm and recounted their experience at the bottom of the abyss.
The two listened to their encounter and were filled with awe.
"You mean, to repair the rift, Zhang Ergou coughed up blood several times?"
Qu Yao looked at the sharp-featured young man in disbelief. What kind of conviction supported him, causing him to repeatedly put his life at risk?
Soul power exhaustion was no joke. In severe cases, one could become completely foolish, forgetting everything and knowing nothing.
Qu Yao and Li Zhan didn't believe Zhang Ergou was unaware of the severity.
But according to Li Xun's account, to completely seal the rift, Zhang Ergou ignored his own injuries and used the last bit of his strength.
Fortunately, the outcome was good. Hard work paid off, and the rift was finally sealed.
However, Zhang Ergou collapsed, and there was no telling when he would wake up.
The scene of Zhang Ergou's soul power exhaustion last time was still fresh in their minds.
Gently wiping away the bloodstains from Zhang Ergou's eyes, nose, and ears, Qu Yao's hands trembled.
The pill to repair the soul had already been administered, but Zhang Ergou remained motionless.
"What do we do next?"
Li Zhan and Qu Yao looked at Li Xun. Zhang Ergou was unconscious, and Li Xun had the highest cultivation among them, so they naturally had to listen to him.
"Before Zhang Ergou fainted, he said that the gap he sealed was only a temporary measure. He meant for us to go back and find Senior Bai and the others to reinforce the formation here again."
"Otherwise, the gap here will surely reopen before long."
The two nodded, having no objection.
Staying here any longer would be of no use to them and would only delay them. The best course of action was to have the alliance's formation masters come over.
As for the demon lord Bei Ming, who had escaped, it was unlikely he would return in the short term.
Fortunately, the people in this small town had already evacuated, which allowed them to leave with some peace of mind.
...
"What happened to Zhang Ergou?"
As soon as they reached the alliance headquarters, Hua Xu and Dan Feng were already waiting for them. Upon seeing Zhang Ergou's unconscious state, Hua Xu immediately asked.
"It's nothing serious. His soul power is a bit exhausted; he'll be fine after a period of rest."
Dan Feng, who was nearby, reached out to examine him, and Li Zhan and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They had been a little uneasy when Li Xun said that earlier, but with Dan Feng's words, they were completely at ease.
"What is going on with this kid? Does he have to get himself into this state every time?"
Dan Feng was both pained and helpless. It had only been a short while, and this was the second time he had seen Zhang Ergou's soul power exhausted.
Fortunately, after careful examination, he found that although Zhang Ergou's consciousness was severely overdrawn, he had not suffered any fatal injuries or irreversible damage.
After settling Zhang Ergou down, Dan Feng specifically took out his collection of pills and gave them to Zhang Ergou.
Although he didn't wake up immediately, Zhang Ergou's furrowed brow soon relaxed.
The efficacy of the pills was evident.
Once everything was arranged, Dan Feng and Hua Xu began to ask Li Xun and the others what had happened.
...
"Alliance Leader, according to the reports from Li Xun and the other young ones, the traces of demons have reappeared in a small town in the eastern part of the continent, and signs of a barrier rupture have also been discovered."
"Oh~"
The old man's expression was indifferent, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
"Continue."
Dan Feng nodded slightly and continued to relay the descriptions of Li Xun and the others to the old man.
"What are your plans regarding this?"
After listening to Dan Feng's account, the old man did not make a conclusion or offer a solution. Instead, he asked Dan Feng and Hua Xu for their opinions.
This was the first time the old man had sought their opinions, and Hua Xu and Dan Feng were taken aback.
"This?"
The two exchanged puzzled glances, seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
"What, you haven't been asked for your opinions in years, and you've lost the ability to think?"
The old man's face showed displeasure.
"Alliance Leader, please calm down. We are just not used to it."
"For so many years, you have relied solely on me, an old man. How long do you intend to rely on me? It's time for you to stand up and shoulder responsibility."
Dan Feng and Hua Xu were shocked again. Had the old man changed? This was an attitude they had never seen before.
For years, the old man had always dictated the strategy, and they had merely executed it.
Indeed, as the old man said, they had become too reliant on him over the years.
But that was because you never gave us a chance to think, they grumbled inwardly. However, they dared not show any outward reaction.
"As for the current situation, I believe we can follow Zhang Ergou's plan, organize manpower, and completely seal the rift with formations to eliminate future troubles."
After a pause, Hua Xu was the first to voice his opinion. Su Dan Novels.
"Dan Feng, what are your thoughts?"
"This subordinate believes Elder Hua's words are feasible."
Dan Feng immediately agreed.
"Have you ever considered why the number of people who can ascend from this continent is decreasing, to the point where in the past thousand years, we've barely heard of anyone ascending to the Upper Realm?"
The old man did not comment on their answers. Instead, he asked a question that seemed unrelated to the current demon crisis.
The two racked their brains but could not guess the old man's intention, shaking their heads.
"Too comfortable. This continent is too comfortable."
The old man suddenly stood up, his back to the two.
"Only by facing true crises can one achieve unimaginable growth. For years, I have been contemplating why the number of ascendants from this continent is decreasing."
"Even beyond the Nascent Soul stage, the number of people who can break through has decreased significantly compared to a thousand years ago."
"Is it because this continent is too safe? We have protected the people of this continent too well, making them forget about the real dangers."
"Over the past thousand years, as the continent has become more peaceful and crises fewer, the price we've paid is that the opportunities for ascension from this continent have diminished."
The old man rarely spoke so much at once, but these words further bewildered Hua Xu and Dan Feng.
However, what the old man said next made their eyes widen in disbelief.