Chapter 317: Dark Annihilation Squad

"Shu, we meet again."

Elder Fu Yan smiled warmly, scooping the rushing you into her arms, "Shu, you've gotten stronger again."

You replied, "Sister, you too."

"It is said that the Infant Deity's heart possesses unparalleled perception; it seems true, Fu Yan concealed her aura, yet you, kid, detected it."

The one speaking was a hulking man three meters tall.

You asked directly, "Who are you?"

The hulker replied, "My name is Tie Chui, and like your sister Fu Yan, we are both Fa Zhi Zhang Lao of the Central Region."

"Nice to meet you, Elder Tie Chui, your name is truly plain."

You bowed and added a sharp remark.

"You kid are indeed straightforward, I like that," Elder Tie Chui said, offering praise rather than quibbling.

"The Infant Deity's heart may truly be born of the times."

An elder beside Elder Tie Chui sighed.

You were just about to ask him.

He introduced himself, "My name is Yan Jin, also a Fa Zhi Zhang Lao."

You had no idea what the gathering of three Fa Zhi Zhang Lao, the Si Da Zhi Shi, and the dean of the Jing Tu Academy signified.

Under Shifu Zhu Yao's scolding, you obediently stood at attention.

"Fu Yan, you speak."

Elder Yan Jin, the oldest and most respected, had the strongest aura, slightly stronger than the now even more formidable Fu Yan.

Fu Yan said, "Zhu Yao, you should know the Jing Tu regulations."

Zhu Yao nodded, "According to the rules, all cultivators who have reached the Fifth Realm of Mortal Dust must take part in the Dark Annihilation Squad assessment."

"But…"

"Is Shu's age too young? Could an exception be made?"

Their conversation did not avoid you.

You, completely clueless, asked blankly, "Elder, Shifu, what is the Dark Annihilation Squad?"

Zhu Yao thought for a moment and said, "The Dark Annihilation Squad is an organization; I, Elder Fu Yan, and countless powerful cultivators are members of it."

You exclaimed excitedly, "Then I want to join too."

Fu Yan asked you, "Shu, do you know why our world is called the Jing Tu World?"

You shook your head, puzzled, "Why?"

Fu Yan said, "Because this is the last soil where living beings can survive, the final Jing Tu; originally there was a broader world, but it was polluted."

You mused, "It was An Wu that polluted that world, so we must eradicate all An, right?!"

You could feel Elder Fu Yan's heavy heart.

Fu Yan and Zhu Yao exchanged a glance.

Fu Yan spoke again, "Shu, you are still a child; some history you should only learn after at least twelve years old."

"Your growth is astonishing, you are a bit stubborn, yet you are far wiser than peers; now sister will tell you everything."

"Do you want to hear the story about the An?"

"I do!" My heart brimmed with curiosity.

You thought that Elder Fu Yan's suffering must stem from the An.

"Then sister will tell you."

Fu Yan patted your head, "Prepare yourself mentally, and don't get scared to tears."

"Never."

You lifted your head and chest proudly.

Fu Yan began to speak gently and slowly.

"Long ago, there was a world thousands of times larger than the Jing Tu World, where countless races lived; it was a world as splendid as an epic."

"Many powerful races were legends from birth, with heavenly materials, earthly treasures, pills, divine artifacts, spirit stones and talismans; the resources of heaven and earth were inexhaustible."

"Even those who ascended to the Immortal Realm stood at the pinnacle, a single thought eternal, Ao You of the Chaos Universe."

"But with the arrival of the An Ying Zhu, all that vanished."

"Countless powerful ancestors fought to the death to protect, battling the An Ying Zhu, sacrificing too much, blood flowing like rivers, yet they could not save that world."

"Only to leave us later generations nine shattered special pocket worlds, which are the nine Jiu Da Jing Tu we now inhabit."

"The An Ying Zhu seized that brilliant epic world, turning all beings unable to escape into An Ying Life."

"We constantly strive to reclaim our land, eradicate the An Ying, and avenge our ancestors."

"The Dark Annihilation Squad was born from this."

You felt Elder Fu Yan's inner anger, murderous intent, hatred toward the An Ying, and a deep sense of helplessness.

You wondered, even such a mighty world was destroyed by the An Ying Zhu; how far can we, barely surviving, go?

You quickly dispelled that gloomy thought.

The Infant Deity's heart made you witness worldly suffering, seeing the countless hidden wounds beneath every powerful cultivator's forced smile.

You said, "Fu Yan, I am willing to join the Dark Annihilation Squad; I will protect you, protect everyone, and eliminate the An Ying Zhu."

Your aura surged like a rainbow, full of vigor.

"Hahaha!"

Elder Tie Chui laughed heartily, "Little kid, your vigor gives this old man a glimpse of hopeful dawn!"

"However…"

Now daring to say this isn't anything; if you've participated in the Dark Annihilation Squad's missions, then daring to utter it again is truly impressive.

You can sense Elder Tie Chui's fear of An Ying Zhu, a fear that originates from within and spreads to the deepest parts of the soul.

Not only him, but everyone present is like that.

Sister Fu Yan smiled and looked at your Shifu, "Zhu Yao, you saw it—Zhu Xin is destined to join the Dark Annihilation Squad."

"Allowing him to witness the truth of the world earlier might be more beneficial to his growth, after all he has always been different from ordinary people."

"But…" your Shifu Zhu Yao said, worry etched on his face.

He said, "I have heard that in the First Pure Land and the Second Pure Land, many children who were gifted from childhood have had their Dao heart shattered, even driven mad, because they encountered the shadows too early."

"A newborn calf fears no tiger, but when it truly perceives the tiger's ferocity, the inner fear will become uncontrollable."

"Can we give him some more time?"

You can sense your Shifu's reluctance, yet you yearn even more to reach that greater world.

Perhaps every step you take will reduce this world's suffering by a little.

You firmly say, "Shifu, I'm fine; my heart is like an Immortal, unbreakable."

"You see, this child is destined to embark on this road early."

Fu Yan smiled at your Shifu Zhu Yao and said, "Next, hand Zhu Xin over to me; after three months of special training, I will have him undergo training and go to the Shadow Realm."