Chapter 29

The Cloud-Piercing Ship was extremely fast, and in just half a day, the lush, boundless Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range below was clearly visible. In the mountain range, various roars of exotic beasts were vaguely heard, and a faint aura of wildness and blood was filled in the air.

The flying ship did not go deep, but slowly landed over a relatively flat temporary camp on the outskirts of the mountain range that had been cleared by the advance troops.

Banners were fluttering in the camp, and many imperial soldiers were already stationed, filled with a murderous aura.

"Third squad, assemble!" Captain Zhao Lie's voice was cold and hard.

Lin Xuan and others quickly lined up in front of him.

Zhao Lie's gaze swept over everyone, and he said in a deep voice: "Our third squad's mission is to clear the 'Black Wind Ridge' area within fifty miles northwest of the camp, wipe out the 'Iron-Backed Gray Wolf' pack entrenched there, and investigate whether there are abnormal energy fluctuations. Iron-Backed Gray Wolves are mostly second-rank exotic beasts, equivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage, but the wolf king may reach the third rank (Golden Core stage), and the wolf pack is large in number and good at cooperation, so don't be careless!"

"Now, check your equipment, set off in one stick of incense!"

Everyone checked their magic tools and elixirs one after another. Lin Xuan also patted his green robe in a pretentious manner, but in fact, his spiritual sense had already swept through the Dust Ring and dantian, confirming that everything was ready.

After one stick of incense, the twelve members of the third squad, led by Zhao Lie, left the camp and shot into the vast forest like sharp arrows.

Once entering the mountain range, the environment instantly became complex. Ancient trees towered to block the sky, vines entangled, the ground was covered with a thick layer of humus, and the air was filled with the smell of dampness and decay. Various poisonous insects and exotic herbs lurked in the dark. If they were not all Golden Core cultivators, this harsh environment alone would be enough to make people unable to move an inch.

Zhao Lie was experienced, moving silently, while constantly making various gestures, commanding the team to cover each other and be vigilant about the surroundings.

Lin Xuan followed in the middle of the team, looking as vigilant as others, but in fact, he was quite relaxed inwardly. His spiritual sense, under the assistance of "Turtle Breathing Technique" and the system, covered a range far exceeding his peers, and he had already included the movements within several miles around into his perception.

He even had the leisure to secretly comment:

"There is a 'Green-Scaled Python' hiding in the tree crown three hundred meters to the left front, second-rank peak, its aura is hidden well, but unfortunately it can't escape my scan."

"That swamp area to the right rear is a bit strange, it seems there are traces of a natural maze, it's right to go around it."

"Tsk tsk, the route this Captain Zhao chose is indeed tricky, avoiding several exotic beast nests that might exist."

He perfectly played the role of an "ordinary" Golden Core Stage 1 cultivator, neither advancing rashly nor holding back, solving the low-rank exotic beasts that occasionally jumped out with a wisp of spiritual power when he should, and silently observing when he shouldn't, familiarizing himself with the mountain range's environment and teammates' styles.

【Ding! Detected that the host skillfully used the "workplace slacking method," keeping a low profile in a dangerous environment, in line with the essence of slacking off, gained 1000 slack-off points!】

Lin Xuan: "..."

System, is there something wrong with your judgment standard?

After marching for about an hour, the scout exploring the way ahead (a cultivator in the team who was good at speed) quickly returned, his face grave: "Captain, five miles ahead, traces of Iron-Backed Gray Wolf pack activity were found, the number is not small, estimated to be no less than a hundred! The wolf king's aura is vaguely reaching the mid-third rank!"

Mid-third rank! Equivalent to Golden Core Stage 4 to 6!

Everyone's expression tightened. Although they had twelve Golden Core cultivators, the wolf pack occupied an absolute advantage in numbers, and the wolf king was powerful, so this hard battle was not easy to fight.

Zhao Lie pondered for a moment and decisively ordered: "Deploy the 'Small Three Talents Array'! Body cultivators in front, magic cultivators in the middle, those good at speed roam to support! Mu Xuan, you and I stay in the middle to support, support all parties at any time!"

"Yes!" Everyone responded and quickly changed formation.

Lin Xuan was assigned to stay in the middle with Zhao Lie. This position was relatively safe and could overlook the overall situation, which was exactly what he wanted. He stood silently by Zhao Lie's side, looking like he was listening to orders at any time.

Soon, the wolf howling came from far to near, surging like a tide! I saw in the dense forest ahead, pairs of ghostly green eyes lit up, and more than a hundred Iron-Backed Gray Wolves, as strong as cows, with fur like iron and sharp fangs, rushed out, surrounding the third squad! The fishy wind hit their faces!

The leading wolf king was exceptionally huge, with a shoulder height of over two meters, muscles knotted all over, steel claws shimmering with cold light, and scarlet eyes staring dead at Zhao Lie, exuding a powerful pressure of the mid-third rank!

"Roar!" The wolf king let out a roar of attack!

In an instant, more than a hundred Iron-Backed Gray Wolves rushed toward the Small Three Talents Array like a black tide from all directions!

"Steady! Attack!" Zhao Lie shook his spear and took the lead to meet the wolf king! The spear came out like a dragon, carrying the sound of breaking the air!

Other team members also used their means, sword light, blade energy, magic formulas, and talismans exploded in the wolf pack like fireworks! The battle instantly entered a white-hot stage!

Lin Xuan was in the array, looking nervous and paying attention to the battle, but in fact, he was at ease.

A body cultivator team member was attacked by three gray wolves at the same time, and his protective spiritual light was crumbling. Lin Xuan shot out a condensed spiritual power finger wind casually, precisely piercing the eye socket of one of the gray wolves, helping him out of the siege.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Mu!" The body cultivator shouted gratefully.

On the other side, a fireball technique released by a magic cultivator was extinguished by the fishy wind raised by the wolf king, falling into danger. Lin Xuan popped out a low-rank "Wild Wind Talisman" calmly, helping the fire, and at the same time, a hidden spiritual power hit the wolf king's forelimb joint quietly, making its movements slightly sluggish.

The magic cultivator took the opportunity to retreat, breaking out in a cold sweat, and looked at Lin Xuan with gratitude.

Lin Xuan was like this, like a battlefield support master, always at the critical moment, using the most inconspicuous way to resolve the crisis for his teammates just right, or causing a little trouble for the wolf pack. His shots were precise, his consumption was minimal, but the effect was surprisingly good.

【Ding! Detected the gratitude and recognition of teammate A/B, emotion points +666!】

【Ding! Detected the confusion and irritability of the wolf king, emotion points +333!】

Zhao Lie was fighting fiercely with the wolf king. Although his cultivation was slightly inferior, his spear technique was exquisite and his experience was old, fighting the wolf king to a standstill for a time. But he also keenly sensed that the whole battle situation seemed to be smoother than expected, the pressure on the team members was not that great, and the occasional dangers could always be resolved at critical moments.

His gaze swept inadvertently over Lin Xuan (Mu Xuan), who had been standing behind his side and hadn't made any big moves, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. This Mu Xuan didn't seem as simple as he looked on the surface.

The battle lasted for about a stick of incense. Under the tacit cooperation of the third squad (and Lin Xuan's invisible support), the wolf pack suffered heavy casualties, leaving only the wolf king and a dozen elite gray wolves struggling to resist.

The wolf king also added a few wounds to its body, and a trace of retreat flashed in its scarlet eyes.

Just as it feigned a claw, preparing to force Zhao Lie back and lead the remnants to retreat—

A sudden change occurred!

"Hum—!"

An extremely obscure, yet soul-shuddering cold death aura, like an invisible ripple, suddenly spread from the depths of the dense forest on the side of the battlefield!

This death aura was not aimed at anyone, but its pure "death" realm made all living beings on the scene, whether human cultivators or Iron-Backed Gray Wolves, feel a burst of instinctive fear and discomfort! Their movements couldn't help but stagnate!

"Youming Death Aura?!" Zhao Lie's face changed drastically!

Lin Xuan's heart also tightened! He was too familiar with this aura! It was definitely the Youming Sect! And their cultivation was not weak! They really came! And lurking nearby?

At the moment when the death aura permeated and everyone was distracted!

The wolf king, who originally wanted to retreat, saw its scarlet light soar, seemingly stimulated by this death aura to be more manic! It disregarded Zhao Lie's stabbing spear, suddenly turned its direction, and with a kind of crazy madness like dying together, lunged at Lin Xuan (Golden Core Stage 1), who looked like the "weakest" and was closest to it!

Its bloody mouth opened, the fishy saliva mixed with the smell of blood, carrying a full-strength strike of the mid-third rank, swearing to tear this human to pieces!

"Mu Xuan, be careful!" Zhao Lie was shocked and angry, wanting to rescue but it was too late!

Other team members were also stunned by this sudden change!

Facing this sudden fatal attack, Lin Xuan appropriately showed a look of "terror" and "caught off guard" on his face, as if he had been scared silly.

However, in his Dust Ring, the Profound Turtle Shield was already ready to go.

In his calculation, using the Profound Turtle Shield to hard-resist this strike, although it would expose part of his strength, it was also within a reasonable range, just enough to be "forced" to show some value, which was convenient for his subsequent actions in the team.

Just as he was about to "helplessly" sacrifice the Profound Turtle Shield—

"Amitabha!"

A clear Buddha name, like spring breeze turning into rain, dispelled the permeating cold death aura.

A soft yet tough golden Buddha light, arriving later but first, like an inverted golden bowl, instantly shrouded in front of Lin Xuan!

"Bang!!"

The wolf king's full-strength strike slammed into the golden Buddha light, making a dull loud noise! The Buddha light rippled violently, but steadily blocked it!

Liaochen's figure appeared at the edge of the battlefield at some point. He stood with one hand on his chest, his face peaceful, and his whole body exuded pure Buddha power.

"Evil beast, still not waking up?"

Liaochen looked at the manic wolf king calmly, his voice carrying a power that washed the soul.

The wolf king was shone by the Buddha light, and the madness in its eyes actually faded a bit, revealing a trace of confusion.

Zhao Lie seized the opportunity, his spear like a poisonous dragon coming out of a hole, instantly piercing the wolf king's heart!

The wolf king let out a roar of unwillingness and fell to the ground with a bang.

The remaining gray wolves saw their leader killed and fled in all directions.

The crisis was resolved.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Liaochen with complex eyes, and then at Lin Xuan, who had a look of "lingering fear."

Lin Xuan patted his chest, bowed his hands toward Liaochen, his tone carrying the joy of "surviving a disaster": "Thank you, Master Liaochen, for saving my life!"

Liaochen nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Lin Xuan for a moment, those clear eyes seemingly able to see through vanity, making Lin Xuan's heart tighten slightly.

"A small effort, it is good that Fellow Daoist Mu is safe." Liaochen's voice was still peaceful, with no emotion heard.

Zhao Lie also stepped forward and hugged his fist toward Liaochen: "Thank you, Master, for your help!"

Liaochen returned the salute, then looked at the direction where the death aura came from deep in the dense forest, his brows slightly frowned: "The Netherworld Death Aura just now... this place should not be stayed for long, Captain Zhao should clean up the battlefield as soon as possible and retreat."

Zhao Lie nodded with a grave expression.

Lin Xuan looked at Liaochen, and then glanced at the direction where the death aura came from, his thoughts flying.

Why did Liaochen happen to appear here? And even saved himself?

Was that Youming Death Aura emitted by accident, or on purpose?

The waters of this Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range were getting muddier...

He touched the Dust Ring on his index finger, feeling the Phoenix Wood remains placed inside, vaguely feeling that this mission was far from just clearing exotic beasts.

(Chapter 29 End)