Chapter 140: Chapter 139 Blood Man_1
"Next!"
"Next!"
The two consecutive candidates did not meet Ling Chen’s standards, which left him somewhat disappointed. Were his requirements too high, perhaps?
"Myriad Dao Sect, Mu Feng."
At this, a young man in white stepped out of the line, cupping his fist at Ling Chen.
"Ten-Form Swordsmanship!"
The young man’s sword sprang out like a rainbow. His sword draw was exceedingly elegant, causing Ling Chen’s eyes to light up slightly. In the next instant, ten rays of sword light exploded outward, radiating a ferocious power. The seemingly illusory sword qi was incredibly sharp.
Ling Chen used his palm in place of a sword, continually blocking Mu Feng’s sharp long sword.
"Three-Form Return!"
Seeing Ling Chen simply using his palm to block his swordsmanship, the white-robed youth’s expression darkened slightly. He increased his strength, and the long sword, carrying specks of starlight, separated into three and thrust towards Ling Chen’s face.
Ling Chen preemptively extended his fingers, tapping three times in rapid succession to flick the white-robed youth’s sword away.
CLANG!
Ling Chen raised his sword scabbard, revealing half of the blade, blocking Mu Feng’s sword edge.
"You’ve passed."
The sword retreated into its scabbard, Ling Chen said calmly.
"Thank you, Captain."
Mu Feng’s face showed a hint of joy.
"This guy is getting happy too soon; he doesn’t know whether it’s a blessing or a curse yet," one of those previously eliminated sneered.
The white-robed youth’s strength didn’t seem better than theirs, yet Ling Chen had singled him out. They truly didn’t know what standards Ling Chen used for choosing people.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Ling Chen had selected four team members.
Besides Mu Feng, there were two other men and one woman. One of them, Mo Yu from Chiyu Mountain Manor, was proficient in long-range attacks, such as archery and using hidden weapons. Another, Bai Qianxing, possessed remarkable Light Skill and exceptionally keen senses. The woman, Yan Ling, was knowledgeable about various wild medicinal herbs and possessed outstanding medical skills.
The team members Ling Chen selected were either strong in a way that caught his eye or possessed unique skills that could offer complementary advantages to the team.
The others who had been eliminated had already left.
"Rest for a quarter of an hour, after which we will depart for our target location: Shaochuan Pass."
Ling Chen left these words behind and sat down to rest by the edge of the training ground.
With these people, the mission should go a lot smoother.
A quarter of an hour later, the team set off on time.
Shaochuan Pass was located in the far north of Shaochuan County. It was a strategically vital location, easy to defend but difficult to attack. At present, it was held by the Fire Country’s genius general, Yue Chaoqun, who commanded a fifty-thousand-strong army to defend it resolutely.
However, several days prior, the Earth Country’s army had swept through the area. Since then, no battle reports had been received.
This was why Ling Chen and his team had received this mission.
The Fire Country’s army at Shaochuan Pass was most likely besieged.
As they neared the outskirts of Shaochuan Pass, the terrain grew increasingly treacherous. Their path was blocked by a vast expanse of barren mountains and perilous rivers, where Exotic Beasts were known to roam.
Walking on the steep mountain path, the five of them dismounted and proceeded on foot, using their Light Skill to ascend the mountain.
"Boss Ling Chen, our team is so strong! We’re definitely going to make a name for ourselves on this battlefield. How about we give ourselves a domineering name first?" Mo Yu suddenly spoke up from behind Ling Chen.
"Good idea! How about we call it Qianxing Squad?" Bai Qianxing’s eyes lit up as he chimed in eagerly.
"Get lost," Mo Yu looked at him disdainfully, then smiled at Ling Chen. "I’ve already thought of a name. Since we’re naming it after you, Boss, let’s add Mu Feng’s name and call it Dust Wind Team. What do you think?"
"Dust Wind Team?"
Ling Chen had not initially intended to pay them any mind, but upon hearing this name, his eyes lit up. Indeed, he was quite fond of the five individuals he had chosen. Even if he accepted more missions later, he probably wouldn’t change his team members. At most, he might consider adding more people. There was no harm in naming the team first.
"Alright, let’s call it the Dust Wind Team."
Ling Chen nodded, accepting the name.
"Alright then! We’re about to make a big splash! Under the leadership of Boss Ling Chen, the number one genius of the Martial World, we’ll make our mark on the world, starting right here on the battlefield of the Fire Country!" Mo Yu declared with immense enthusiasm.
"Enough, let’s not aim too high. Let’s focus on completing the current task successfully," Yan Ling, the only woman in the team, interjected. She was far more level-headed than Mo Yu and the others. This mission isn’t something that can be completed so easily.
"Yan Ling is correct. We must stay grounded to accomplish things. Perhaps a fierce battle awaits us," Ling Chen said, not daring to be complacent. The Fire Country’s garrison has been trapped for days. They certainly won’t let us break through easily. The Demonic Sect might have already set up an impenetrable defense.
Suddenly, Ling Chen’s ears twitched. His gaze fixed on the nearby bushes as he said solemnly, "Who’s there?"
SWISH!
The five of them drew their weapons, each assuming a defensive stance.
From the bushes, a bloodied figure crawled out, swaying before collapsing in front of them. He managed to utter, "Save... the general..." before falling unconscious.
Eyeing the blood-soaked man warily, Mu Feng cautioned, "Boss, be careful. This could be a trap."
Ling Chen approached the blood-drenched figure. Seeing the extent of the man’s injuries, a chill went through him.
The man bore at least thirty wounds, and one of his arms had been severed. The most grievous injury was to his head; his skull had been shattered by a sharp weapon, exposing fragments of bone. His entire head was nearly cloven in two.
This man must have made it this far on sheer willpower alone. If it were an ordinary person, they would have succumbed to such severe injuries long ago.
"He has a waist tag."
Bai Qianxing found a waist tag on the man. It bore the emblem of the Fire Country’s army, along with the man’s rank and name.
The tag read: "General’s personal guard, Wang Chao."
"He’s one of ours," Bai Qianxing said, his eyes lighting up.
Sensing the man still clung to a faint breath, Ling Chen ordered, "Revive him."
"Yes."
Yan Ling opened her bag and took out silver needles and bandages. She inserted the needles into several of the man’s vital acupoints, then channeled a current of True Qi into his body.
Sure enough, the man slowly regained consciousness.
"Please... save my general... You must ensure he lives..." As soon as the man awoke, he grabbed Ling Chen’s sleeve, his expression exceedingly agitated. However, after finishing his sentence, he collapsed once again.
"Which general? Hey, can you tell us the situation at Shaochuan Pass?"
Mo Yu caught the man as he slumped. However, Mo Yu’s expression froze a moment later. He looked at Ling Chen and said, "Boss, he’s... stopped breathing."
"I’m sorry, his injuries were too severe," Yan Ling said apologetically.
Ling Chen waved his hand. He knew the man couldn’t have been saved; waking him even for that short time was already a remarkable feat.
Staring at the mutilated corpse, Ling Chen felt a growing sense of unease. "I fear a great upheaval has occurred at Shaochuan Pass," he said gravely.
BOOM!
Just then, the thunderous pounding of hooves echoed from the mountain path ahead.
From afar, they could sense a potent killing intent. Flocks of birds in the forest took flight, scattering into the distance and disappearing among the mountain hollows.