Chapter 355

On the second day after accepting the mission, before dawn, Wang Ping appeared in the core area of the Ninth Dao Institute, in the "Hall of Heavenly Secrets".

This hall was not a place for teaching or cultivation, but rather the hub where the Dao Institute coordinated internal and external affairs, issued major missions, and deployed elite forces.

The hall was built entirely of "Suppressing Demon Rock" in a dark green-black hue, with a stern and solemn style; at the upturned eaves, stone carvings of various apotropaic divine beasts crouched, their gazes stern, as if constantly monitoring all directions.

The hall was perpetually shrouded in a thin layer of "Mystic Fog" that could block divine sense probing; only those holding a specific token or granted permission could enter.

Wang Ping held the Chaos Starry Sky Token, passed between two squads of Golden Armored Dao Soldiers with沉凝 auras and unwavering gazes, and entered the main hall of the Hall of Heavenly Secrets. The hall was vast and lofty, its walls inlaid with countless slowly flowing starlight points, forming a miniature star chart covering the known star fields of the entire Spirit Realm.

At the center of the floor stood a huge sand table constantly projecting illusory landscapes of mountains, rivers, and terrains. At this moment, the sand table highlighted the celestial topography at the junction of the "Dark Star Belt" and the "Withered Spirit Star Domain", with several dim red dots marking the locations of the incident planets, shocking to behold.

Beside the sand table stood an old man with white hair and beard, a stern face, hands clasped behind his back—none other than the overseer of the Hall of Heavenly Secrets, Daoist title "Tian Heng", a Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator renowned for fairness, strictness, and talent appraisal.

"Instructor Wang Ping, by order of the Dean, the Dao Institute's internal roster of elites available for your mission selection is all here." Tian Heng Zhenren spoke in a flat tone, without any pleasantries, directly handing over a silver-gray jade tablet. The tablet felt slightly heavy in hand, its surface shimmering with flowing light, clearly containing a large amount of information. "The Dean's order: member selection is based on your preference; the hall only provides suggestions and coordination. Selections must be finalized by noon today to allow for necessary equipment distribution and permission activation."

Wang Ping took the jade tablet and immersed his divine sense into it. Inside, information was categorized, listing over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators from the Nine Great Dao Institutes who met the conditions, covering cultivation level, primary techniques, specialties, past mission records, personality briefs, etc., extremely detailed. Evidently, this was a preliminary screening from the Hall of Heavenly Secrets' vast cultivator archive, based on this mission's requirements (countering the Netherworld, spatial reconnaissance, team cooperation, survival ability, etc.).

Time was pressing, so Wang Ping directly skipped those whose specialties were not closely related to the mission requirements, focusing his gaze on several key areas:

Formation Arts and Reconnaissance: This was the top priority of this mission. The Netherworld Clan's movements were secretive, accompanied by spatial anomalies, so someone must be able to give early warnings, set up trapping or isolating formations, and analyze spatial fluctuation data. Among the list, the highest-rated candidate meeting these requirements was a female cultivator with the Daoist title "Xuanji Zi".

Mid Nascent Soul cultivation, specializing in ancient star formation arts and heavenly mechanism deduction, her natal treasure "Zhou Tian Star Disk" was said to have the ability to discern fortune and misfortune, position tracking, and setting up the "Small Zhou Tian Star Formation" to trap enemies. Mission records showed she had participated multiple times in investigations and relic explorations of hidden forces, rich in experience, meticulous as a hair. Personality assessment: calm, rational, somewhat reclusive, but extremely reliable.

Healing and Auxiliary Control: Facing Netherworld death qi, strong healing and purification abilities were crucial, while battlefield control could greatly enhance squad survival. In the list, a cultivator practicing the "Yi Wood Qing Emperor Technique" named "Qing Lin" caught Wang Ping's attention. Mid Nascent Soul cultivation, the Yi Wood Qing Emperor Technique was a branch of the ancient Qing Emperor's transmission, brimming with vitality, naturally restraining and purifying negative energies like death qi and demonic qi. This technique could not only heal wounds and sustain life, but also generate the "Yi Wood Spirit Domain", greatly enhancing allies' vitality within range, slowing enemy movements, and even purifying negative energies in the environment. Mission records showed Qing Lin had repeatedly succeeded in rescuing companions in peril and dispelling poisonous miasma and demonic qi. Personality assessment: gentle and benevolent, resilient in adversity, with extremely strong team cooperation awareness.

Direct Assault and Defense: The investigation squad would likely need to engage Netherworld forces head-on, so a powerful assault specialist was indispensable. In the list, a body cultivator named "Lei Shuo" stood out. Late Nascent Soul cultivation, specializing in ancient thunder techniques and body refinement, his flesh was tyrannically strong, able to directly clash with same-level treasures. His thunder technique was not ordinary five-element thunder, but carried a hint of "Destroy Evil", "Slay Demon" intent in the form of "Zixiao Divine Thunder" embryonic form, extremely effective against yin evil ghosts and Netherworld death qi. Mission records were formidable, repeatedly executing strong assault missions to purge heretical cultivators and suppress demon lairs, with brilliant achievements. Personality assessment: silent and few words, upright character, fond of combat but obedient to command, an extremely reliable assault shield.

"Xuanji Zi, Qing Lin, Lei Shuo." Wang Ping softly spoke these three names, quickly weighing them in his mind. Formation reconnaissance, healing purification, direct assault—this trio covered the mission's most critical needs, and their cultivation levels were reasonably matched (two mid, one late), their personalities seemed not difficult to get along with. As for deeper spatial countermeasures, perhaps reliance on alliance-provided artifacts and his own attempts combining chaos power would be needed.

"Senior Tian Heng, junior proposes to select fellow cultivators Xuanji Zi, Qing Lin, and Lei Shuo." Wang Ping raised his head, returning the jade tablet.

Tian Heng Zhenren took it, his gaze lingering slightly on the three names Wang Ping had chosen, his stern face showing no expression, only a slight nod: "These three are indeed the current best choices. Xuanji Zi is currently deducing recent celestial anomalies at the 'Observation Platform', Qing Lin is tending spiritual plants at the 'Herbal Garden', Lei Shuo is tempering his body at the 'Thunder Prison Peak'. I will immediately send word, ordering them to gather at the 'Jia Three' Tactical Preparation Room before noon. Instructor Wang Ping, you may go ahead and wait, and review the additional support list provided by the Dao Institute for this mission."

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior." Wang Ping bowed and took his leave.

The Jia Three Tactical Preparation Room was located on the third underground level of the Hall of Heavenly Secrets, with extremely high secrecy. The room's furnishings were simple: a central metal long table capable of projecting three-dimensional star charts, surrounded by several chairs with soundproof serenity prohibitions. The walls were light-absorbing dark gray, with a few pots of "Serenity Orchids" emitting calming qi placed in the corners.

Wang Ping entered first and took the main seat. On the table lay a new jade slip, containing the Dao Institute's material list for this mission: including ten sets of "Xuan Yin Apotropaic Armor" capable of resisting erosion by Nascent Soul-level Netherworld death qi (requiring ritual refinement), thirty "Purify Soul Talismans", five sets of "Small Void Displacement Talismans" (short-distance random teleportation, for emergency use), three bottles of "Nine Turns Return Spirit Pills" for rapid spirit power recovery and healing soul injuries, and most importantly—a simplified version of the Patrol Heaven Bureau's "Stabilize Space Compass", the "Stabilize Star Instrument", and two fairly powerful "Break Boundary Cones" single-use talisman treasures.

Below the list was also a detailed star chart of the known mission area (ten times more precise than the public version), specific environmental analysis reports for the nine incident locations (including residual energy spectra, geological changes, etc.), and partial data analysis shared by the alliance on abnormal spatial folds.

Wang Ping immediately immersed himself, combining information he had consulted from the Buddhist Canon Pavilion, quickly digesting this precious intelligence. Especially the analysis of the energy spectrum of residual Netherworld death qi, which gave him a more scientific understanding of this force—its energy structure was extremely inward and highly erosive, frequency biased toward "extinction" and "annihilation", producing an effect similar to "neutralization and obliteration" on living beings' souls and heavenly earthly spiritual qi.

About half an hour later, the door of the tactical room was silently pushed open.

First to enter was a woman wearing deep blue star-patterned Dao robes. She appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with delicate features, slightly pale complexion, as if she seldom saw sunlight. A pair of eyes clear as a cold pool swept over the room, carrying a calm that perceived minutiae. Her steps were light, her aura well-contained; were it not seen with one's own eyes, her presence would hardly be noticed. Most striking was the non-metal, non-jade hairpin askew in her hair bun, inlaid with seven tiny star fragments, and in her hand she held a palm-sized, pale gold compass that seemed to bear the illusion of the entire starry sky—exactly the common manifestation of her natal treasure, the "Zhou Tian Star Disk". This was Xuanji Zi.

Seeing Wang Ping in the main seat, her eyes flickered slightly, she stepped forward and performed a standard peer Dao salute, voice calm and unperturbed: "Xuanji Zi, pays respects to Team Leader Wang Ping." The salute was complete, yet carried a natural sense of detachment.

"No need for excessive courtesy, Fellow Cultivator Xuanji Zi, please sit." Wang Ping rose to return the salute, his attitude peaceful. He could sense the pure star formation and heavenly mechanism aura on her body, resonating faintly with the star chart above, indeed extraordinary.

Xuanji Zi sat as instructed in the left primary seat, placing the Zhou Tian Star Disk gently on her knees, hands overlapped, eyelids slightly lowered, as if entering a state of silent mental conservation, yet seeming able to perceive all changes around her at any moment.

Soon, the second team member arrived. This was a young man wearing greenish-blue robes, appearing about twenty-five or twenty-six, handsome, with gentle brows and eyes, the corners of his mouth naturally bearing a faint, reassuring smile. His entire body exuded a fresh, vigorous vitality of plants and trees, as if he had just walked out of a rain-soaked forest, with faint illusions of spiritual plants flowing in his sleeves. This was Qing Lin.

Upon entering, his gaze first met Wang Ping's, a flash of curiosity and respect in his eyes, then he also noticed Xuanji Zi sitting silently to the side and nodded in greeting. Then he quickly stepped forward to Wang Ping and performed the same solemn salute: "Qing Lin, pays respects to Senior Brother Wang Ping!" His tone was sincere, carrying the respect of a junior for a strong one. He had evidently heard of Wang Ping's deeds, possibly even knowing his "Daozi" identity.

"Junior Brother Qing Lin, no need for courtesy, please sit." Wang Ping gestured with a smile. Qing Lin's pure, vigorous wood vitality made him feel very comfortable, as if even the stagnant air of the tactical room had become a little fresher. Qing Lin sat as instructed in the seat to Xuanji Zi's lower right, posture relaxed yet naturally upright.

Lastly, the person had not yet arrived, but a沉凝 like a mountain pressure, faintly carrying the rumble of thunder, had already transmitted from outside the door.

The door was pushed open, and a tall, burly figure almost filled the doorway's light. The visitor stood nearly nine feet tall, wearing simple, crude sleeveless leather armor, revealing ancient bronze skin, knotted muscles like forged refined steel, his face rugged, thick eyebrows like blades, nose bridge high, jawline hard, short hair standing upright, with faint purple electric snakes wriggling. Most intimidating were his eyes, opening and closing with sharp light, commanding presence, as if containing thunder that could erupt at any moment. This was Lei Shuo.

He stepped into the room, his steps heavy yet soundless, demonstrating exquisite control over his physical strength. His gaze first fell on Wang Ping in the main seat, that gaze like a substantive searchlight, carrying scrutiny and a hint of hard-to-detect fighting spirit. He did not immediately salute, but simply stood there, locking eyes with Wang Ping for a full three breaths.

Wang Ping's expression remained unchanged, calmly receiving the other's gaze, his aura still沉凝 inward, yet like an unfathomable chaos abyss, silently absorbing and dissolving the other's aggressive momentum.

A flicker of strange color passed through Lei Shuo's eyes, that fighting intent swiftly收斂, turning into a沉凝 acknowledgment. He clasped his fists, voice deep and resonant, like rolling distant thunder: "Lei Shuo, pays respects to Team Leader." Simple and brief, yet weighty.

"Please sit, Fellow Cultivator Lei Shuo." Wang Ping nodded. This body cultivator gave him the feeling of an unmatched deadly weapon still sheathed—silent as a mountain, stable; when unleashed, surely earth-shattering.

Lei Shuo strode to the right primary seat and sat down, posture straight as a spear, hands flat on his knees, eyes closed in rest, yet the faintly emitted thunder aura and strong blood qi still lent the tactical room an intangible pressure.

Thus, the three team members had all arrived.

Wang Ping's gaze swept over the three teammates, whose styles differed greatly yet all bore formidable auras, his heart slightly settled. He cleared his throat and spoke: "Fellow cultivators, time is pressing, so let's skip the pleasantries. I am Wang Ping, entrusted by the Dean and the Alliance to lead this squad to investigate Netherworld anomalies at the junction of the 'Dark Star Belt' and the 'Withered Spirit Star Domain'. The danger of this mission, I imagine you three already understood upon receiving the transfer order."

His tone was level, yet carried undeniable solemnity: "Our opponent is likely a force from the 'Netherworld'. They master unknown spatial projection techniques, act secretly, employ cruel means, able to drain a planet's spiritual qi and vitality in a short time, leaving behind 'Netherworld death qi' that has extremely strong erosive and obliterating effects on living beings' souls and spiritual power. Our primary task is investigation, information gathering, and threat assessment; only then comes elimination and pursuit after encounter. But we must prepare for the possibility of falling into fierce combat at any moment, even being besieged by the Netherworld army."

Xuanji Zi lifted her eyelids, her gaze falling on Wang Ping's face, voice still calm: "Team Leader, regarding the Netherworld Clan's possible spatial techniques, and the specific energy spectrum and response thresholds of 'death qi', does the Dao Institute or Alliance have more detailed data? My 'Zhou Tian Star Disk' is sensitive to abnormal spatial fluctuations, perhaps able to give early warnings, but needs more precise parameter calibration."

"Well asked." Wang Ping pushed over the jade slip containing the data analysis on the table, "This is the Alliance-shared partial spatial fold data and death qi energy spectrum analysis; though incomplete, it should help you calibrate the star disk. Additionally, the Dao Institute has provided the 'Stabilize Star Instrument' and 'Break Boundary Cones', specifically for dealing with spatial anomalies."

Qing Lin then asked concernedly: "Senior Brother Wang Ping, Netherworld death qi's erosion of vitality is so terrible; although my Yi Wood Qing Emperor Technique has restraining effects, if we encounter an environment with extremely high death qi concentration, I fear the healing and purification effects will be greatly diminished. Do we have corresponding protective artifacts or medicinal support?"

"Yes." Wang Ping pointed to the list, "The 'Xuan Yin Apotropaic Armor' can resist erosion by Nascent Soul-level death qi, the 'Purify Soul Talismans' can cleanse death qi invading the soul, and the 'Nine Turns Return Spirit Pills' can rapidly restore spirit power and heal soul injuries. But as you said, if the environment is extreme, external aid has its limits; then we must rely on your Qing Emperor Technique's source power."

Lei Shuo opened his eyes at this moment, voice like rolling distant thunder: "Team Leader, if we encounter Netherworld entities, what are their weaknesses? Is thunder effective?"

"Based on my prior contact experience," Wang Ping mused, "Netherworld creations or forces seem to incline toward 'death', 'annihilation', 'chaos'. Utmost yang and utmost rigid power, containing 'Destroy Evil', 'Slay Demon' intent, like your thunder technique, should have significant restraining effect. But their form may not be pure ghost entities; they may also possess both material and energetic properties, requiring flexible response. As for weaknesses, high concentration, high purity vital force, or conversely, higher-level 'order', 'creation', 'chaos source' power, may all inflict effective damage upon them."

He held nothing back, combining his understanding of Netherworld forces with information analysis, telling the team members as clearly as possible. This made Xuanji Zi's calm eyes gain a hint of focus, Qing Lin nodded thoughtfully, Lei Shuo's eyes flashed with fighting intent, evidently considering how to exert his thunder technique to the utmost.

"We are a team, sharing honor and disgrace together." Wang Ping finally concluded, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three, "I demand: during operations, absolute obedience to orders; upon discovering anomalies, immediate information sharing; upon encountering danger, mutual aid and assistance, no abandoning companions. Also, please each frankly state your specialties' characteristics, limits, and how teammates should cooperate. Only through mutual understanding can we respond in unison."

Next, Wang Ping had each person detail their own ability characteristics, artifact effects, combat habits, and some shortcomings to watch for.

Xuanji Zi explained how her "Zhou Tian Star Disk" sensed stellar influences to warn of spatial anomalies, set up the "Small Zhou Tian Star Formation" with its range and intensity limits, and her accuracy and limits in deducing heavenly mechanism fortune and misfortune (requiring massive mental expenditure and time, and accuracy drops for events involving high-level beings or strong interference).

Qing Lin then demonstrated the effect of the "Yi Wood Spirit Domain" aroused by his Yi Wood Qing Emperor Technique: vibrant vitality, able to slowly heal injuries, dispel fatigue, purify light negative energies, but purification of high-concentration death qi requires time and large spirit power support. He also displayed several unique vine-controlling and boundary-setting techniques.

Lei Shuo was the most concise, stating only three points: his flesh could withstand ordinary mid Nascent Soul technique attacks; his Zixiao Divine Thunder at full power could heavily injure or even slay same-level evil demons; his sustained combat ability was strong, but he lacked effective means for long-range and group attacks.

Wang Ping listened attentively, silently noting each person's traits, his mind already simulating various possible sudden situations and countermeasures. He also briefly explained his own expertise in chaos power (focused on defense, suppression, neutralization of erosion), possessing a powerful natal treasure (the Heaven-Overturning Seal mainly for suppression and sealing, the Chaos Tribulation Sword mainly for attack and breaking methods), and having some resistance and understanding of Netherworld death qi.

The initial exchange lasted nearly an hour. Though not yet perfectly默契, at least the initial unfamiliarity and barriers were eliminated, basic cognition of each other's abilities was established, and a preliminary trust framework was built—this was more based on obedience to the Dao Institute's transfer order, consensus on the mission's severity, and Wang Ping's performance as team leader showing stability, sincerity, and clear thinking.

Noon approached, and Tian Heng Zhenren personally delivered the already-prepared equipment and supplies, as well as the permission token for using the Dao Institute's ultra-long-distance transmission array.

"The transmission destination is the Alliance's forward outpost established near the edge of the Withered Spirit Star Domain—'Zhenyuan Star'. There, another squad executing a similar mission has already arrived; you will meet there, share information, and obtain the latest star domain dynamics chart and abnormal energy fluctuation coordinates." Tian Heng Zhenren instructed, "The transmission process will involve intense spatial fluctuations; you must focus and guard the center. After arrival, all actions shall follow Team Leader Wang Ping's decisions. Wishing you all, mission success and safe return."

"Many thanks, Zhenren!" The four responded in unison.

Shortly after, Wang Ping led Xuanji Zi, Qing Lin, and Lei Shuo to a heavily guarded secret chamber deep in the Hall of Heavenly Secrets. At the chamber's center stood a transmission array diagram over ten zhang in diameter, composed of countless silver runes. Along its edge were inlaid ninety-nine eighty-one high-quality "Void Dark Stones", now emitting strong spatial fluctuations.

The cultivator maintaining the array confirmed the token was correct, then activated the array.

Blinding silver light flared, engulfing the four figures. A tremendous spatial tearing force transmitted, far exceeding ordinary transmission arrays. Xuanji Zi's star disk in hand flowed with faint light, counteracting some discomfort; Qing Lin's body surfaced with a gentle green glow, stabilizing his form; Lei Shuo's skin crackled with electric arcs, standing firm; Wang Ping's chaos immortal elements naturally circulated, like a reef in the sea, unmoved despite the spatial torrents.

It felt as if they had endured a long fall, yet also as if only an instant had passed.

The silver light faded, and solid ground met their feet. A spiritual aura utterly unlike that within the Dao Academy surged toward them—wild, desolate, yet with a faint undercurrent of restless agitation.

They now stood within a vast, hemispherical metal hall. The hall bore the same intricate array patterns, but in a rougher, more practical style. Through a transparent, crystal-like viewport on one side of the hall, they could see outside: a bleak, dark-red landscape scarred with ringed craters and rifts, under an eternal purple sky dotted with sparse yet unusually bright alien stars—this was the outpost, Zhenyuan Star.

Inside the hall, several people were already waiting. The leader was a middle-aged cultivator wearing a dark-gold brocade robe, his countenance stern, three long whiskers framing his face; his aura was unmistakably that of late Nascent Soul. Behind him followed two men and one woman, their cultivations ranging from early to mid Nascent Soul, dressed uniformly, their cuffs embroidered with a peculiar clan insignia resembling intertwined tortoise shell and flame.

Seeing Wang Ping and his three companions appear, the brocade-robed middle-aged cultivator's eyes flashed with sharp light. He stepped forward a few paces, clasped his hands, and said: "Are you Wang Ping, team leader of the Ninth Dao Academy? I am Yan Hao, elder of the Xuan Yan Ancient Clan of Beiming Continent. By order of the Alliance, I have brought my family's small team to await here, to assist in carrying out this reconnaissance mission."

His gaze swept quickly over the three behind Wang Ping, lingering briefly on Xuanji Zi's star disk, Qinglin's vitality, and Leishuo's formidable physique, before returning to Wang Ping. Though he maintained decorum, deep in his eyes lay a barely perceptible scrutiny and comparison.

Wang Ping remained composed, returning the salute with clasped hands: "Exactly. Wang Ping of the Ninth Dao Academy. I have the honor of meeting Elder Yan Hao. Thank you for your patience."

The two teams formally united at this remote outpost, far from the prosperous starfields of the Spirit Realm, a place brimming with unknowns and danger. And the true starry expedition, the journey into the Netherworld Mist, had only just begun to unfold.