Lu Yuehua frowned slightly upon seeing this, her left hand reaching for the communication jade talisman to read it.
A moment later, Lu Yuehua's lips parted slightly as she announced something terrifying: "A thousand miles beyond Tongguan City, in the Chuan Yue Plains, Blood Clan members have appeared. The City Lord has ordered us to go and eliminate the Blood Clan members in the Chuan Yue Plains!"
"What, this order? Are you joking? Are the people above crazy?"
Yu Mo exclaimed upon hearing the order, and Yang Fan's expression also changed drastically.
"What's wrong? Is there an issue with this order?"
Wu Tao, as the newcomer, frowned and asked slowly.
"More than an issue, this is one of the most dangerous missions. Such missions are rare, occurring perhaps once in decades. I can't believe we're so unlucky to encounter one today."
Yu Mo said with a face as gloomy as dark water.
...
"Are we, our small team, really going on a mission like this?" Hearing this, Wu Tao also frowned, his eyes flashing as he immediately retorted.
...
"That's for sure. No need to even think about it. Tongguan City is so vast, and its coverage is even wider. As an elite A-grade team, we already have many things to handle."
"Besides, after completing the mission, the team has a long period of leave. We're already short-handed. Unless there's a major situation, multiple A-grade teams won't be assigned to the same mission."
Yang Fan also said in a deep voice.
...
"Alright, the tasks issued by the City Lord are random. There's no point in complaining. Just be extra careful when you act."
Lu Yuehua waved her hand gently, seeing the crestfallen looks of Yu Mo and Yang Fan, and said faintly.
...
Seeing their captain say this, Yu Mo and Yang Fan exchanged glances before sighing helplessly, adjusting their moods, and waiting for arrangements.
Just then, the door in the palace opened, followed by the sound of orderly footsteps as several people emerged.
Five men and two women.
Three elderly individuals, a middle-aged couple, a young girl who looked about eleven or twelve in appearance and height, and a burly man covered in muscles.
These were clearly the other team members who had been meditating and cultivating in the secret chamber, coming out when the appointed time arrived.
Upon seeing Wu Tao, these individuals were naturally surprised. However, after introductions from Yu Mo and Yang Fan, they all began to introduce themselves.
Wu Tao, with a pleasant demeanor, also shared his basic information with his teammates.
However, when these people also learned that the mission was to eliminate the Blood Clan in the Chuan Yue Plains, their faces simultaneously turned extremely grim.
...
"Alright, we cannot change the City Lord's Mansion's order. Fortunately, after completing this mission, we will have several years of rest. We depart in three days. Make your preparations."
Lu Yuehua, seeing that all ten teammates had arrived, offered a few brief words of comfort and then walked into the secret chamber without saying more.
...
Lu Yuehua's actions caused a look of consternation to spread across everyone's faces, but they were not particularly surprised.
After all, having worked together for so many years, they were quite familiar with their captain's personality and temper.
After Lu Yuehua left, the gaze of the other nine people fell upon the newcomer, Wu Tao.
"Is this the prodigious teammate who defeated a Core Formation cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage?"
The girl named Ye Hong, who looked about eleven or twelve in appearance and height, asked.
...
"Naturally. It's fortunate that we have this prodigy, who defeated a Core Formation cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, joining us. It gives us some confidence for the mission to eliminate the Blood Clan in the Chuan Yue Plains. This can be considered a silver lining in our misfortune."
Yu Mo first looked around at the others, sighed, and then began to explain on Wu Tao's behalf.
Ma Fan, the burly man covered in muscles, replied helplessly, "Even with someone possessing a combat strength comparable to the Core Formation stage, this mission is still a matter of nine deaths out of ten. Alas, we are truly unlucky."
"No matter how difficult the mission is, we can only execute it. If we flee, we'll die even faster. Besides, everyone's residences are here, how can we run?"
The middle-aged couple, who looked like a married couple, continued.
The names of this middle-aged couple were Cong Shujie and Shi Zhenxiang.
...
"We can't run, but we don't have to resign ourselves to fate either. In the next three days, everyone should buy more talismans and one-time magical artifacts."
One of the three elderly individuals, stroking his long beard with his right hand, also appeared extremely worried.
Hearing this, the others had no better solutions and could only disperse in disappointment.
Meanwhile, Yu Mo intended to return and prepare early. However, before he left, Wu Tao stopped him and inquired in detail about the basic situation of the Blood Clan.
Facing this prodigy who had defeated a Core Formation cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, Yu Mo naturally dared not offend him.
...
"Brother Wu, you might not know, but the horrors of the Blood Clan cannot be explained in a few words."
As Yu Mo spoke of the Blood Clan, a trace of fear appeared in his eyes.
"Since you can't explain it clearly, then take your time. I have plenty of time! Is that so!"
Hearing this, Wu Tao directly brought a stool for Yu Mo.
Then, he sat beside Yu Mo and listened to him speak.
...
Yu Mo touched his forehead helplessly. In his life, he had never encountered someone so brazen.
However, no matter what, Yu Mo dutifully explained the stories and origins of the Blood Clan to Wu Tao.
The Blood Clan, in ancient times, was one of the powerful races that fled underground to escape the constant conflict among the myriad races.
With their formidable and peculiar bodies, capable of regenerating severed limbs as long as they had enough blood, the Blood Clan tenaciously survived in the underground cultivation world, occupying a vast territory.
Furthermore, by seizing the blood of other races, especially humans, they continuously enhanced their own strength.
Through millions of years of alliances and stratagems, they had developed into one of the ten great powerful races in the underground cultivation world.
The relationship between the Blood Clan and the human race was often fraught with conflict, as the Blood Clan liked to keep human mortals as blood slaves.
The slogan ingrained in the mind of every human cultivator was: "Step on the Blood Clan's ancestral land, exterminate the Blood Clan."
Many human cultivators, after gaining consciousness in their childhood, were instilled with the belief that "Humans can perish, but the Blood Clan must die."
However, despite the efforts of generations of human cultivators, they had not managed to annihilate the Blood Clan.
The so-called Blood Clan, in the eyes of human cultivators, were anomalies, unrecognized by heaven and earth. They inverted yin and yang attributes, did not enter the cycle of reincarnation after death, and were not accepted by the five elements—utter monsters.
Their innate abilities were closely linked to blood. They fed on blood, and by absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth through blood, they became increasingly powerful!
All the strength of the Blood Clan originated from their blood. They lived by blood, and their power was hidden within their blood.
The most terrifying and miraculous power of the Blood Clan was their despair-inducing regenerative ability, provided they had sufficient blood.
Even if their heads or limbs were severed during combat, as long as they had access to a large amount of blood, their injuries would heal quickly.
Apart from attacking their vital organ, the heart, the only way to destroy them was to burn them to ashes with true fire.
The realm divisions within the Blood Clan were entirely different from those of the human race.
Baron corresponded to human Qi Condensation cultivators, while Viscount corresponded to human Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Following this pattern, Count corresponded to human Core Formation cultivators, Duke corresponded to human Nascent Soul cultivators, Blood King corresponded to human Violet Palace cultivators, and Blood Ancestor corresponded to human Spirit Transformation cultivators.
...
That night, Wu Tao, having returned to his own cave dwelling, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the secret chamber. His hands formed seals and were directed upwards, emitting streams of sword energy from his body, making him appear exceptionally mysterious.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When Wu Tao opened his eyes, emerged from the secret chamber, and returned to the main hall, he saw Yu Mo, Ye Hong, and others already waiting there. Wu Tao was the second to last to arrive, after Lu Yuehua.
As a newcomer, Wu Tao awkwardly rubbed his nose and stood among the crowd, waiting for his captain.
While waiting for Captain Lu Yuehua, through the conversations of the others, Wu Tao finally learned everyone's names.
Yu Mo, Yang Fan, Ye Hong, Ma Fan, Cong Shujie, and Shi Zhenxiang have already been mentioned. The three elderly men were named Zuo Zong, Li Zhang, and Zhang Dong, respectively.
Among the ten people, Wu Tao, possessing combat strength comparable to a Core Formation cultivator, naturally received accolades from the others during their conversation.
Facing these praises, Wu Tao remained composed, not showing too much emotion.
Except when facing Lu Yuehua and Xu Sheng, Wu Tao's mind had remained sufficiently clear over the years.
This was because he had witnessed the tragic fates of too many prodigies who died due to their excessive pride.
Therefore, Wu Tao was not swayed by such "praise."
Standing still, Wu Tao did not realize that a faint luminescence was emanating from his entire body, making him exceptionally striking.
In the eyes of the other nine, it seemed as if an ethereal, otherworldly aura, akin to a celestial transformation, was subtly manifesting...
Ye Hong, the girl who looked about eleven or twelve in appearance and height, with skin as white as jade and eyes that sparkled like stars, uttered in a voice as clear as a spring.
"The physical body has achieved the Vajra body, the soul has attained the immortal soul form, and spiritual energy has been cast into a liquid-solid state. When these three merge, the Core Formation is achieved...
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