Zhao Xu seemed not to mind Xiao Mu's request for leave and politely asked, "Xiao Xiao, if it's convenient, could you tell me what you plan to do?"

Xiao Mu fell into hesitation. After pondering, he firmly declined, "Grand Elder Zhao, it involves personal privacy, so please forgive me for not being able to tell you where I'm going. However, please trust that I would never do anything harmful to the Alliance."

Zhao Xu laughed, "Xiao Xiao, of course, I believe you won't do anything harmful to the Alliance, but requesting a week's leave during the Great War, you must give some explanation, don't you think?"

"How about this, Xiao Xiao, you quietly tell me, is your departure this time to look for fragments of Divine Treasures and resources like Divine Spirits' treasures?"

Looking for resources?

Xiao Mu's eyes widened. This Grand Elder really dared to assume – he was merely exploring the 'Netherworld'; what did that have to do with searching for resources?

He immediately shook his head, "I dare not deceive Grand Elder Zhao, my departure is not to search for resources, but merely for personal affairs."

"Tsk!"

Zhao Xu smacked his lips and sighed, "Leaving for personal affairs is somewhat unacceptable."

He glanced at Xiao Mu, seemingly worried that he might take it to heart, and said in a serious tone, "Xiao Xiao, I can take responsibility for you and grant your leave. But when you come back, you must bring back some resources. These resources are not for me, but for others to see; otherwise, I really don't have a way to justify it."

Xiao Mu paused.

Thinking about Zhao Xu's words, they made some sense.

Allowing him to take leave suddenly at this critical juncture when a great battle was imminent was akin to desertion. No matter how strong the reason, it would still invite criticism.

But if Xiao Mu's departure was for the elders' sake – for 'searching for resources' – then that was a different story altogether.

In the standoff with the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings, Azure Sky City was clearly at a disadvantage. If Xiao Mu could bring back some resources to enhance the elders' strength at this point, the nature of the act would immediately change.

Xiao Mu's departure would not be an act of desertion but instead a great contribution.

"Xiao Xiao, what, you can't do it?"

Seeing Xiao Mu's hesitation, Zhao Xu's brow furrowed slightly.

He wasn't afraid of taking responsibility for Xiao Mu, but letting Xiao Mu leave without a proper reason afterwards would mean he had to bear the responsibility for letting him go.

If Azure Sky City were to ultimately fail, allowing the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings to exploit the weakness and destroy the Human Emperor's Daoist Temple, his sin would be great, and he might end up with an everlasting curse.

"Grand Elder Zhao, I'll do my best. When I come back, I will bring some resources," said Xiao Mu, clenching his teeth in a promise.

"It's not about doing your best, but about certainty," Zhao Xu corrected Xiao Mu, his expression earnest, "Xiao Xiao, the responsibility I bear for letting you leave before the battle is too great. If we ultimately win, all is well, but if we lose, I will become a sinner through the ages!"

"A sinner through the ages!"

"Everyone will say that this defeat was because I let you, Xiao Mu, go before the battle. They will also say that you, Xiao Mu, out of cowardice, became a deserter before the battle."

With a sigh, Zhao Xu shook his head, his face full of emotion but his tone firm, "Actually, I don't care so much about reputation – it's defeat I cannot tolerate."

"The Human Emperor's Daoist Temple is tied to the resurrection of the Human Emperor, and his resurrection is linked to the fate of the entire human world. It is more important than my life, more important than anyone's life."

"If you have personal affairs and want to take leave, I can let you go. But when you come back, you must bring resources back with you."

"Only then can I justify it to the others and to the entire Alliance."

After considering, Xiao Mu resolutely responded, "Alright, Grand Elder Zhao, I promise you. I assure you that when I return, I will come back with resources."

"As long as you can say that, I can let you leave with peace of mind."

Zhao Xu was pleased and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He then reminded Xiao Mu, "Xiao Xiao, it doesn't matter if you really can't get any resources; you can just take out some past resources to make the numbers. You're doing this just as a formality for others; it doesn't matter whether there are more or fewer resources."

"Yes, thank you, Grand Elder!"

Xiao Mu was grateful and thanked Zhao Xu.

The fact that he bothered to say so much showed that this Grand Elder Zhao Xu still cared about him.

Although he was well aware that Grand Elder Zhao's concern might simply be because of his potential, because of his ability to provide fragments of Divine Treasures and resources like Divine Spirits' treasures.

But that's how the world works; if you're useless to others, how can you expect them to value you?

There is no love without reason; what others value in you is simply the benefits you can bring to them, nothing more.

"Let's go, Xiao Xiao, I'll escort you out of the city!"

With a nod, Zhao Xu, the Grand Elder, signaled his intent to see Xiao Mu out.

Xiao Mu replied apprehensively, "I wouldn't dare trouble Grand Elder Zhao to escort me, please just write me an order, and I can leave on my own."

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "During an emergency, unless carrying out a specific task, even with my written order, the guards wouldn't let you out without seeing me in person. Stop worrying, let's move quickly, I will escort you out."

Xiao Mu realized there was such a rule and earnestly thanked Zhao Xu before following him towards the City Gate.

With their escape speed, they soon reached the great gates of Azure Sky City.

"Isn't that Grand Elder Zhao? And Xiao Mu, what brings you two here?"

At the gate, Xiao Mu and Zhao Xu happened to run into Grand Elder Zhu Yun, who looked at them both in surprise.

"Greetings, Grand Elder Zhu!"

Xiao Mu bowed respectfully to Zhu Yun.

"Xiao Mu, you are well, too!"

Zhu Yun nodded amiably to Xiao Mu.

"Ah, it's Brother Zhu."

Zhao Xu gave Zhu Yun a bow, "I was actually planning to tell Brother Zhu afterward. As the Great War approaches, the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings are too powerful, and we in the Human world are too weak, only able to defend passively."

"Xiao Mu feels strongly about this and intends to go out and gather some resources to bring back, to help us enhance our strength. It won't take long, just a week, so I'm escorting him out."

"What?"

Zhu Yun was taken aback, his eyes shining with a mix of shock and joy as he looked towards Xiao Mu, "Xiao Mu, you're truly planning to go out and bring back a batch of resources for us?"

With things having reached this head, Xiao Mu could not admit the truth and thus braced himself to say, "That's right, Grand Elder Zhu. Compared to the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings, our human strength lags far behind. Not to mention the existence of fearsome beings like the Netherworld's City Lords among the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings, while all our Grand Elders and Divine Spirits realm powerhouses are injured, with their Spirit Tablets damaged."

"Given the situation, the battle ahead is very unfavourable for us."

"Therefore, I plan to go out and bring back some fragments of Divine Treasures, and also see if I can find Divine Spirits' treasures to help our Divine Spirits realm powerhouses repair their Spirit Tablets and enhance our strength to face the Extraterrestrial Evil Beings."

"Xiao Mu!"

Zhu Yun, moved, stepped forward to grasp Xiao Mu's hand excitedly, "For thinking of the Alliance, willing to go out to gather resources for everyone in these perilous times, I, on behalf of everyone in Azure Sky City, am grateful to you, and on behalf of the entire Alliance, I am grateful to you! Ha ha! Ha ha!"

The elder was overly excited and burst into hearty laughter.

Xiao Mu, feeling he was in too deep to backtrack, could only respond stiffly, "Grand Elder Zhu, you're too kind. I, Xiao Mu, am also a member of the Alliance. It's my duty to serve the Alliance, and it is what I should do."

"Haha!"

Zhu Yun, greatly pleased, patted Xiao Mu's shoulder approvingly, "Xiao Xiao, well done! Come, I will personally escort you out of the city!"

Having said that, he led Xiao Mu towards the city gate.

Seeing this turn of events, Zhao Xu shook his head helplessly and followed behind.

He had only given Xiao Mu a suggestion, and hadn't expected to encounter Zhu Yun at the city gate. Now, it seemed that things had escalated.

"Greetings, Grand Elder Zhu!"

"Good to see you, Grand Elder Zhu!"

Seeing Zhu Yun, the city gate Guards immediately bowed and greeted him.

"No need for formalities!"

Zhu Yun waved for the guards to rise and then, pulling Xiao Mu along, declared excitedly, "Let me introduce someone to you, this is Xiao Mu. Remember him, everyone."

The guards were all curious as they stared at Xiao Mu, with some recognizing him: Isn't that the man from before?

Zhu Yun continued to introduce Xiao Mu excitedly, "This is the hero from the Great Tang Ruins, and a hero of our entire Alliance! Now, as the Great War is upon us, Xiao Mu selflessly goes forth from the city for the Alliance, for the entire Human world. Open the city gate, let him out!"

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