Inside Jing Hongchen's office at Mingde Hall, the atmosphere was so grave it seemed ready to drip with water.
(The preceding events remained the same until Jing Hongchen assigned the mission...)
"This time, the five of you will go together." Jing Hongchen spoke unhurriedly, yet his voice carried an undeniable force. "Ji Juechen, you are the sword—the core. Xiao Hongchen, long-range firepower and area lockdown. Huo Yuhao, overall control and mental interference. Jing Ziyan, battlefield control and purification. Nana, infiltration and assassination. For this operation, Ji Juechen will make on-the-spot decisions, while Huo Yuhao coordinates the whole situation. Any questions?"
Outside Mingdu, in an abandoned mine pit. The night was deep.
The five of them lay hidden amid piles of rubble. A faint golden light flickered in Huo Yuhao's eyes as Mental Probe Sharing had already spread soundlessly.
"The stronghold is deep inside the third main mine tunnel underground. Seven people: five Soul King-level, two early-stage Soul Emperors. Their energy attributes are cold and sinister." Huo Yuhao's voice came through the mental link.
"The surveillance Soul Tools have been marked." An energy sand table swirled before Xiao Hongchen.
Nana's figure rippled like water, merging into the shadows as she silently infiltrated.
"According to plan." Ji Juechen opened his eyes and placed a hand on his sword hilt.
The operation began!
Xiao Hongchen was the first to leap out. Metallic clanging rang repeatedly beneath his feet as five Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, the optimal configuration—shone brilliantly! His third Soul Ring lit up. With a sweep of both hands, several streams of metallic light shot forth, spreading into a massive honeycomb-shaped Soul Tool array the instant they struck the ground—Third Soul Skill: Metal Control: Myriad Machines Domain! An invisible force field instantly sealed off the entire mining area!
Almost