Chapter 320: Reading the Mind

"Captain, go or not?"

The team members all looked at Captain Gu Yan, waiting for his order.

The rules of the Dark Extinction operation are deeply ingrained, and during external actions only one voice may be heard within the team.

"Go!"

Gu Yan said, "To enter the Library, we must make contact with the dark shadow life; each of us take our positions, swift battle, swift resolution."

When a dark shadow life is startled, it emits a signal that quickly awakens other dark shadow lives within a certain range.

One purpose of the squad's operation lies in this.

The team members cooperate to kill the awakened dark shadow lives at once, preventing the affected area from spreading a second time.

Such an action is fraught with danger; a slight misstep can lead to a dead end.

"Shu, you'll have to act alone from now on, you can do it, right?"

As deputy captain, Xia Tao must help Gu Yan quickly clear the dark shadow lives at the action's center, while the other four members are responsible for clearing the dark shadow lives in the southeast, west, north, and south directions.

Your strength is the weakest; you are tasked with guarding the 'team flag'.

The team flag is a type of pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel, capable of suppressing battle fluctuations to some extent and also attracting dark shadow lives to gather.

Thus, within a short time the battle fluctuations can be kept within a certain range.

The consequence of this is that the pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel's power will be rapidly consumed; if the operation fails, you may be trapped here forever.

Either die, or be assimilated by the black sun on the Heavenly Dome, becoming a member of the dark shadow life..

Fu Yan sister has always taken great care of you.

The Flame Squad's strength is already quite good; other newly joined members of the Dark Extinction squad likely do not enjoy such treatment.

"Action!"

With Captain Gu Yan's single command, the operation began.

Gu Yan and Xia Tao rushed toward the Library, while the other four members held the southeast, west, north, and south positions.

In this area the dark shadow lives' former realms are relatively weak, mostly Mortal Dust Fourth Realm or below.

Only a few reach Mortal Dust Fifth Realm.

Given the members' strength, they can easily and swiftly eradicate them; even if the Library hides stronger dark shadow lives, they won't be too powerful.

After all, from earlier intelligence, the strongest head of the Great Hammer Sect was only at the early Mortal Dust Seventh Realm in life.

With the captain and deputy captain's strength, there is no need to worry.

You stand guard near the battle flag, fully alert.

Your gaze is fixed on the nearby Library; if you can slip into it without triggering combat, that would be ideal.

Alas, things go contrary to wishes!

On the way into the Library, the captain and deputy captain still triggered the Forbidden line.

"Shu! Activate the battle flag!"

Before Xia Tao's shout echoed, you had already activated the battle flag.

Buzz!

You see a gray circle centered on the Library expand suddenly.

All dark shadow lives affected by the gray circle stir.

"Kill!"

Gu Yan displayed terrifying power; his pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel is a fiery red war hammer, and a single strike crushes a dark shadow life into powder.

Xia Tao wields twin swords, her swordplay like a dance, graceful in posture.

The hidden dark shadow life inside the Library appears, an elder at the early Mortal Dust Seventh Realm.

Gu Yan and Xia Tao coordinated cleverly, their assault fierce, and they eliminated the Library's strongest dark shadow life at the fastest speed.

At the same time, some stragglers rushed toward you.

You take a deep breath, draw out your pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel, a sword personally selected by Elder Fu Yan.

Your Sword Intent is fierce and unwavering.

When the blade slices their necks, no blood spills; they turn into black powder and dissipate across the land.

A portion of their power is absorbed by your pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel.

You inexplicably begin to cry.

Unconsciously, tears flow down.

At the instant your pure world Tribe of the Spirits vessel absorbs them, you seem to see a scene, warm and beautiful.

"This is..."

You understand; it is the dark shadow life's lingering obsession from life, or its most treasured happy memory, hidden deep within the soul.

When they are slain by you, they seem to have a brief moment of clarity.

You feel a certain emotion.

It is liberation.

They long to be killed by you, thanking you; thus your sword shows no mercy, the best farewell for them.

It is also the greatest respect.

"Rest in peace."

You silently pray for them in your heart.

This operation went smoothly; all dark shadow lives near the Library have been cleared.

The team members regroup, smiles on their faces.

But you cannot smile at all.

"Little Shu, what's wrong?"

"Xia Tao crouched, her big eyes blinking as she looked at you, 'Your first killing, aren't you accustomed to it?'"

"Gu Yan laughed, 'Just now I saw you wield the sword—no tremor at all, clean and decisive, a natural seed for battle.'"

"Xia Tao comforted you, 'It's fine, Shu, you needn't feel guilty; the Dark Shadow life is already dead, no longer our kin.'"

"'I have no guilt, I just feel sad.'"

"You felt for the first time that the innocent Deity heart wasn't so wonderful."

"In Jing Tu, you saw the Darkness in others' hearts and thought it's just that—human nature."

"Regardless of deeds or heart, they only occasionally have bad thoughts, never truly commit evil."

"Now, amid the endless Darkness, in a sea of despair, you glimpse that fleeting, ungraspable dawn of hope, see the beauty of smoke clearing, and feel powerless."

"All sentient beings suffer."

"The suffering of all beings affects you, making you loathe the source of suffering even more."

"No one can understand your sorrow."

"The members of the Flame Squad paid no heed to your words, laughing it off; your sigh was merely ordinary in their eyes."

"'Let's tally the spoils.'"

"Gu Yan ordered, and the team began, loading all the ancient books and treasures from the Library into the Space Ring."

"Unfortunately, most Tribe of the Spirits artifacts were damaged, and only a small amount of usable material could be refined back."

"After several hours, you completed the battlefield cleanup."

"Xia Tao flipped through the books, sighing, 'What a pity, we didn't find any clue to the Great Hammer Sect Treasure Vault's location.'"

"You pondered; within the memory of the Dark Shadow life you slew, there is a clue about the Great Hammer Sect Treasure Vault's location."

"You blurted out, 'Sister Xia Tao, I know the Treasure Vault's location.'"