In the end, they still caught up

Su Luo had originally planned to take it easy, but trouble always seemed to find him.

Du Mu Zhou of the Extreme Ascension Tower arrived.

He was considered a major figure.

Su Luo greeted him, "To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

Du Mu Zhou didn’t mince words. "The Heavenly Demon Sect is at war with the Allied Sects, yet here you are, idle. Is this appropriate?"

Su Luo sighed. "That’s a misunderstanding. I’ve just returned from Ancient Flame City—where I handled the mess there—and now I’m severely injured, forced to recuperate. Life hasn’t been kind to me."

"Is that so?" Du Mu Zhou’s gaze shifted to Little Yu, who was meditating nearby. "Then what’s her excuse?"

He’d heard of Su Luo’s deeds—nothing outstanding, but his loyalty to the Heavenly Demon Sect was undeniable.

Little Yu, however, was different. Since defecting to the sect, she’d contributed nothing.

Du Mu Zhou pressed on, "She’s reached the Nascent Soul stage, yet she’s done nothing for the sect—not even earned a title. Why is that?"

"Ah, yes… why indeed?" Su Luo scratched the back of his head.

The truth was obvious—Little Yu rarely fought for the sect.

But Du Mu Zhou wasn’t here for excuses. "Without a proper explanation, I’d suspect her allegiance is false. That’s no small matter."

"I vouch for her."

"Then prove it," Du Mu Zhou said pointedly. "Now’s the perfect opportunity."

The Heavenly Demon Sect was under heavy pressure. They needed a decisive victory to reclaim their dignity.

Du Mu Zhou wanted every capable fighter mobilized—to show the Allied Sects the might of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

"She’s still young—"

Su Luo’s words were cut off.

"I’ll go." Little Yu stepped forward.

"Little Yu?"

She met his gaze. "I can do this."

She didn’t want Su Luo to shoulder her burdens.

After a long pause, Su Luo nodded. "Fine."

Du Mu Zhou smiled. "Then I’ll await your good news."

With that, he left.

His visit wasn’t meant to provoke—just to rally forces against the Allied Sects.

Even he didn’t know the Left Envoy was targeting Su Luo.

Su Luo turned to Little Yu. "Go. Do as you see fit. I’ll handle the consequences."

"Mm."

"But I won’t accompany you. Solve things on your own."

He believed she needed this trial alone—without his presence to soften the pressure.

"I understand."

With a quick pack-up, Little Yu departed.

Faster than expected.

Yun sidled up to Su Luo. "Not following her?"

"She needs to stand on her own. And given her strength, she’ll manage—unless she meets someone truly monstrous."

"Aren’t you being overly optimistic? The world’s in chaos right now—what if she does?"

Su Luo chuckled. "Relax. I trust her. Besides, Little Yu’s always been lucky, hasn’t she?"

Little Yu wandered northward, directionless. She knew little of the terrain and had no intel—just pure spontaneity.

Yun sighed. "And yet, here you are, tailing her."

Su Luo coughed. "Just… taking a stroll."

Yun stared.

"Fine, fine. I wanted to see how she’d fare."

Part worry, part curiosity.

In his memory, Little Yu had spent most of her time cultivating—a sheltered flower, untested by storms.

Her progress was slow, occasionally pausing to fret over tactics.

Then she recalled a story Su Luo once told: Defeat the small fry, and the bigger fish come. Defeat them, and the old monsters arrive.

Miraculously, it worked. She trounced Allied Sect disciples, let them flee, and lured stronger foes.

Finally, an Emperor Heaven Sect elder—a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—appeared.

Little Yu fought fiercely.

Her relentless training had pushed her to mid-stage Nascent Soul.

And Su Luo’s brutal guidance left no room for inexperience.

With a move he’d taught her—Shadow Piercing Sword—she won.

No killing blow. That wasn’t her way.

She had her own rules for taking lives.

Then, feigning defeat, she fled.

Yun smirked. "Su Luo, her running style? Totally borrowed from you."

"Nothing wrong with that." Su Luo approved—she wasn’t a villain; no need for slaughter.

But Emperor Heaven Sect reinforcements gave chase.

Little Yu switched to full escape mode.

And just like that—she was gone, retreating to the Bone-Shattering Abyss.

Su Luo blinked. "That’s it? One fight and she’s done?"

No encore?

Yun laughed. "Seems she’s mastered your slacking-off techniques too."

"Don’t pin that on me! Given how hard she trains, I thought she’d take things seriously."

Still, one battle sufficed. Du Mu Zhou couldn’t complain now.

Su Luo had only observed, never intervening.

Little Yu’s flight was perilous—close calls, near-fatal wounds.

Yet her skill saw her through.

At last, she shook her pursuers and continued toward the abyss.

Her efforts hadn’t betrayed her.

Watching her stand alone, Su Luo smiled—proud.

Though I should probably teach her better escape tricks.

He returned before her. This time, it was Su Luo who greeted:

"Welcome back."

"Mm."

Her outing had caused a stir—defeating a late-stage Nascent Soul, wounding others—decent, but not dazzling.

Yet in the Heavenly Demon Sect, where failures piled high, it was enough. Even Du Mu Zhou held his tongue.

The Left Envoy, however, fumed. Every scheme he launched crumbled; every report brought worse news. His face darkened daily.

Finally, he summoned all sect members for an all-out assault.

Victory would bring dominance.

Defeat meant retreat—regrouping in the south, biding their time.

Now, the three Demon Lords and both Envoys strategized, plotting their path to triumph.