In the fourth month after Lin Qin returned from Black Stone Wasteland, the order from elder Morris arrived.
This time it was not a summons, but a blood-red emergency summons jade talisman, the highest-level transfer order in the family, and only the core elders had the authority to issue it.
When Lin Qin arrived at the intelligence department, there were already more than a dozen people standing in the side hall. Shi Yan, Feng Ying were all there, as well as Tyron, Azure Luan, and a few unfamiliar faces. Everyone looked solemn.
Morris stood in the center of the hall, covered in black robes, and his deep eyes scanned everyone present.
"The Seventh Investigation Team lost contact at Misty Swamp." He got straight to the point, "The last summons was seven days ago, saying that the secret supply line of the Barbary Clan was discovered. Since then, there has been no news."
He raised his hand and waved, and a curtain of light unfolded.
On the light screen is the topographic map of Misty Swamp - a swamp area with a radius of thousands of miles, shrouded in thick fog all year round, and countless monsters lurking in the depths of the swamp. There are more than a dozen red dots marked on the map, which are the coordinates reported by the investigation team before the last summons.
"The location of the last transmission is here." Morris pointed at one of the red dots, "Misty Swamp's core area is eight thousand miles away from our nearest stronghold."
"They lost contact seven days ago." Lin Qin said, "If they are still alive, how long can they last?"
"Three days at most." Morris said, "Misty Swamp contains Seven-Star Fiend level monsters, as well as Eight Great Clans's patrol team. They only have enough supplies for ten days."
Lin Qin nodded. "How many people?"
"You choose." Morris said, "But the maximum is six. If there are too many people, the target will be too big."
Lin Qin turned around and looked at the people present.
"Shi Yan."
"Here!" The bald man took a step forward.
"Feng Ying."
The cold-faced swordsman stood up silently.
"Tyron."
The stocky bald man clenched his fists and stepped forward.
"Azure Luan."
The cold and charming woman nodded.
Lin Qin clicked on two more Five-Star Fiend--both veterans who survived the last escort mission, one named "Iron Ox" and the other named "Lone Peak".
"Just these six." He said, "When will we set off?"
"Now." Morris took out six blue jade talismans from his arms, "These are the mother-child induction talismans," one for each of you. You can sense each other's position within a range of three hundred miles. If a companion is in danger, crush the jade talisman, and the others will know the location immediately."
Lin Qin took the jade talisman and distributed it to everyone.
"Misty Swamp's topographic map and known information are all here." Morris handed over another jade slip, "Look at it on the way. Remember, your mission is to save people, not to kill the enemy. Save if you can, and retreat if you can't.
There are five people in the seventh team, and every one we can bring back is one."
"Understood."
Lin Qin put away the jade slips, turned around and left.
The six people left the side hall and flew directly to the northeast.
Misty Swamp is thirteen thousand miles northeast of the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, flying at the speed of six people at full speed, which will take a day and a night.
On the way, Lin Qin used the jade slip to check the information.
Misty Swamp is surrounded by thousands of miles, and is shrouded in gray-white thick fog all year round. The fog is poisonous, and although it has little effect on God-level, it will interfere with the detection of spiritual consciousness, and the furthest can only be detected within a few miles. Swamp There are countless monsters lurking in the ze, and in the deepest part there is a Seven-Star Fiend-level existence - a Highgod hydra that practices Life Law and has lived for millions of years.
The mission of the Seventh Reconnaissance Team is to sneak into the core area of the swamp and confirm whether Barbary Clan's secret supply line exists. Their last transmission said that they discovered the people of the Barbary Clan and were setting up a transfer station deep in the swamp.
After that, contact was lost.
"There is a mole." Feng Ying said suddenly.
Lin Qin looked at him.
"The fewer people who know about this kind of mission, the better." Feng Ying said with a cold face, "The location of the seventh team is so precise. If Eight Great Clans wants to set up an ambush, it will be easy."
Lin Qin said nothing.
He was thinking about this issue too.
But right now, saving people is more important.
One day and one night later, six people arrived at the edge of Misty Swamp.
The gray mist is like a wall, stretching across the eyes. The mist rolls slowly, and occasionally you can see a huge shadow flashing past inside - that is the monster in the swamp.
"After entering, form a group of three." Lin Qin ordered, "A group of Shi Yan, Tyron, and Iron Ox follow three hundred feet behind me. A group of Feng Ying, Azure Luan, and Lone Peak are responsible for the left and right flanks. I am in the center and can support at any time."
"Understood."
Six people entered the swamp.
The fog was thicker than expected. No one could be seen clearly from ten feet away, and his consciousness could only be detected seven or eight miles away. The swamp under his feet was soft and slippery, with bubbles emerging from time to time, emitting a putrid smell.
Lin Qin walked in the front, Laws of the Earth's Pulsation Mysticism was fully activated. Invisible waves penetrated the swamp and spread in all directions. He could sense the movement underground - the lair of monsters, undercurrents, and even bones buried in the mud.
But no human traces were found.
On the first day, they penetrated two thousand miles into the swamp.
We encountered three waves of monster attacks on the road, the strongest of which was a Lowgod-level swamp monitor lizard. Lin Qin didn't make a move, but Shi Yan solved it with just one axe.
At night, the six of them found a relatively dry small mound to camp.
"We'll walk another thousand miles tomorrow and we'll enter the core area." Feng Ying said, "The monsters over there are stronger and detection is more difficult."
Lin Qin nodded and looked at the two Five-Star Fiend: "Iron Ox, Lone Peak, you guys will stay up until half the night. Shi Yan and Tyron will stay up until the middle of the night."
"Yes."
The night is getting darker and the fog is getting thicker.
Lin Qin is sitting cross-legged on the highest point of the mound, with his consciousness spread five miles around. He doesn't need to sleep, it's enough for the middle god to stay alive by his divine power.
Late at night, Iron Ox suddenly issued a warning.
"Someone!"
Lin Qin stood up instantly, Dragonblood Warrior's bloodline was activated and entered a semi-transformed state.
Five figures rushed out of the fog at extremely fast speeds.
But Lin Qin didn't take action.
Because he saw clearly the opponent's attire - cyan armor, Azure Dragon emblem.
"Squad 7!" Feng Ying exclaimed.
Five people rushed to the mound. The leader was a middle-aged man, whose face was covered in blood. His left arm was broken at shoulder level, and the wound was still bleeding. The four people behind him were also injured. The most serious one had a hole in his chest, and his ribs could be seen inside.
"You----" the middle-aged man saw Lin Qin and others, he was stunned for a moment, and then showed ecstasy, "Reinforcements!
It's reinforcements!"
"I am Lin Qin." Lin Qin stepped forward, "Where is your captain?"
"That's me." The middle-aged man staggered and was supported by Shi Yan, "My name is Iron Eagle", the captain of the seventh team. We----we fell into a trap!"
"Speak clearly."
"The supply line is fake." Iron Eagle gritted his teeth, "It's a trap set by Eight Great Clans. They deliberately released the news to lead us to investigate. As soon as we arrived at the core area, we were surrounded. Three Seven-Star Fiend! Deen Clan's Ghost Eye"Hogan", "Soul Eater" Kasa, and Barbary Clan's Earth Split "Gru."
Three Seven-Star Fiend!
Shi Yan and others' expressions changed.
"They surrounded us for five days but refused to kill us." Iron Eagle continued, "It seemed like they were waiting for something—waiting for a bigger fish."
Lin Qin was silent for two seconds. "Wait for us."
"Yes." Iron Eagle struggled to stand upright, "You guys hurry up! They must have discovered you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold laughter came from the mist.
"Go? Where to go?"
The gray-white mist suddenly surged violently, and ten figures slowly emerged from all directions.
The atmosphere of the first three people is as deep as the ocean.
In the middle is a skinny old man, wearing a black robe and holding a white bone staff. His eyes are strange gray-white, like the eyes of a dead person - Deen Clan Seven-Star Fiend, "Ghost Eye" Hogan. He is good at soul attacks and is famous for killing people with his eyes.
On the left is a middle-aged man with a gloomy face and a pair of pitch-black gloves on his hands - the same Deen Clan, "Soul Eater" Kasa, who is good at close-range soul erosion. If he is hit by his fist, the soul will be damaged.
On the right is a bald giant man, two meters eight tall, with a naked upper body with muscles. He holds a pitch-black battle ax Barbary Clan in each hand. The Earth Split "Earth Split" Gru is a pure strength warrior. It is said that one ax can split a mountain.
Behind the three people, there were seven Six-Star Fiend.
Twenty people versus seven.
And the other party has three Seven-Star Fiend.
"Azure Dragon Clan is really impatient." Hogan grinned, showing his sparse teeth, "Set a small trap and catch a big fish. Elder Lin Qin, right? I heard that you killed Rock King? That idiot deserves to die."
Lin Qin looked at him and said nothing.
"Today, you too have to die." Hogan raised the bone staff, "And your death will be worse than Rock King. I will extract your soul and slowly torture you until you——"
He didn't finish what he said.
Because Lin Qin took action.
Not towards Hogan, but towards that bald man - Gru.
Gravity Domain exploded with all his strength, covering a hundred feet in radius. Gru stagnated for a moment, but quickly broke free - he is a powerful warrior with strong resistance to gravity.
But all Lin Qin wants is that lag.
Dragon Roar Divine Ability starts!
The low Dragon Roar echoed through the swamp, and the flow of time stagnated slightly. Gru's movement was half a beat slower, and Lin Qin's knife had already arrived.
A sword that perfectly combines four mysteries.
The blade slashed towards Gru's neck.
"Clang!"
Gru crossed his axes to block the blow. Sparks flew everywhere, and the shock wave dispersed the surrounding fog.
Gru's feet sank into the ground, up to his calves. His face turned red and his arms trembled.
"Good sword skills!" he roared, "But you can't kill me!"
Lin Qin ignored him.
The second knife, the third knife, the fourth knife-
Seven cuts in a row, each cut faster than the last, and each cut heavier than the last. Each cut was struck at the same position - the gap where a pair of axes crossed.
The seventh sword fell, and Gru's double ax finally came out.
The blade passed by, and the bald man's head flew up.
From taking action to beheading, it takes less than three breaths.
Three Seven-Star Fiend, one died.
Everyone else was stunned.
Hogan's eyes widened, his gray-white eyes almost bulging out. Kasa took half a step back, fear flashing across his face.
Seven swords. Seven swords killed a Seven-Star Fiend.
What kind of monster is this?
Lin Qin didn't give them time to react.
He turned around and rushed towards Kasa.
"Stop him!" Hogan roared, and with a wave of the bone staff, the invisible soul attack turned into a gray-white spear, piercing Lin Qin's eyebrows.
Hidden Dragon Pendant glowed, blocking the soul attack. But Hogan's attack was too strong, and Hidden Dragon Pendant's light flickered violently, almost shattering Point-Break.
Lin Qin's figure paused, Dragon Roar rose again.
Dragon Roar's sound interfered with Hogan's soul fluctuation, and the second wave of attacks was half a beat slow. Lin Qin seized the opportunity and rushed to Kasa.
Kasa clenched his fists with both hands, and countless strange runes appeared on the dark gloves. He thrust out both fists, and wherever the wind of the fists passed, the air emitted a shrill scream.
Lin Qin does not dodge or avoid.
The blade and the glove clashed.
"Chi Yi"
The blade cut open the glove, cut Kasa's palm, cut his arm, and finally - all opened his head.
The second one, Seven-Star Fiend, died.
Hogan is completely scared.
He turned around and ran away, waving the bone staff wildly, and soul attacks shot at Lin Qin like a torrential rain. But that was just to stop the pursuit, not to kill the enemy.
Seven Six-Star Fiend also fled.
"Kill!" Lin Qin ordered.
Four people, Shi Yan, Feng Ying, Tyron, and Azure Luan, rushed forward to hunt down those Six-Star Fiend. Iron Ox and Lone Peak protected the wounded of the seventh team and were alert to the surroundings.
Lin Qin didn't chase.
He stood there and watched Hogan escape into the depths of the mist.
It's not that I don't want to chase, it's that I can't chase.
The two battles just now were short, but they consumed a lot of money. After using Dragon Roar Divine Ability continuously, the soul was already a little tired. Moreover, the direction Hogan escaped was deeper into the swamp, where there were Hydras of Seven-Star Fiend level. If they pursued them rashly, they might be wiped out.
"Elder!" Shi Yan ran back, holding two Godhead in his hand, "Killed two Six-Star Fiend and ran away five."
"That's enough." Lin Qin put away the knife, "Withdraw."
Everyone evacuated quickly.
Along the way, Lin Qin walked at the end, with his consciousness always vigilant behind him. Fortunately, Hogan was really frightened and did not chase after him.
One day later, six people left Misty Swamp with five wounded members of the seventh team.
Iron Eagle broke one arm, but survived. The other four people were also able to recover. The most serious one had a hole in his chest, but as long as the soul is immortal, the body can be reshaped.
Back to the Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range, it is already the seventh day.
Elder Morris came to pick him up in person.
When he saw the five wounded people behind Lin Qin, he was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Well done."
Lin Qin briefly reported the mission. When he heard that three Seven-Star Fiend set up an ambush and Lin Qin killed two of them on the spot, a trace of emotion flashed across Morris's gray face.
"How long did you use it?"
"Three breaths kill Gru, two breaths kill Kasa."
Morris remains silent for longer.
"Seven-Star Fiend, in your hands, can't survive five breaths?" he asked.
Lin Qin thought for a while, "If it's someone like Hogan who is good at soul attacks, it will take longer. He has Hidden Dragon Pendant's restraint, but Soul Defense Divine Artifact also has limits."
Morris nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
He turned around and looked at the five Iron Eagle people. "You go to heal your injuries first, and the mission report will be submitted within three days."
"Yes."
Iron Eagle walked up to Lin Qin and bowed deeply. "Elder Lin Qin, Iron Eagle has recorded the life-saving grace. In the future, if I am useful, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Lin Qin helped him up. "They are all members of the tribe."
Iron Eagle raised his head, his eyes red. He nodded vigorously and left with his team members.
News spread quickly.
The next day, the entire Heaven Sacrifice Mountain Range was talking about the rescue operation.
Three Seven-Star Fiend set up an ambush, led by the Deen Clan, "Ghost Eye" and Hogan, who ranked among the top five. What was the result?
Elder Lin Qin led the team in, rescued five people, killed two Seven-Star Fiend, and only injured two on his side.
"Have you heard? Elder Lin Qin killed Seven-Star Fiend in only three breaths!"
"Not just! Earth Split of the Barbary Clan" Gru, that is the veteran Seven-Star Fiend who has been famous for hundreds of thousands of years, and he was hacked by him seven times!"
"Seven swords? I heard it was three swords.
"No, the news I got is that one knife struck Gru, and one knife struck Kasa."
The rumors are getting more and more outrageous as they spread, but there is one consensus - Lin Qin is very strong, ridiculously strong.
At the door of Azure Rock Valley, people come to visit every day. Some of them want to thank him for saving their children, some want to become his disciples, and some just want to see with their own eyes what this legendary elder looks like.
Lin Qin is missing.
He retreated in the cave to recover his soul consumption. Using Dragon Roar Divine Ability continuously, the soul load was too heavy and it needed time to warm up.
On the seventh day, Lei Luo came.
"The patriarch wants to see you." he said.
Lin Qin Get up and follow him Azure Dragon Hall.
This time is not a meeting, but a separate meeting. There are only Gaiseresen and Gaia in the hall.
"Sit." Gaiseresen motioned.
Lin Qin Sit down.
"Morris has reported in detail about Misty Swamp." Gaiseresen looked at him with admiration in his eyes.
Lin Qin Not sure.
"Did you kill Gru?" Gaiseresen asked.
"Yes."
"Gru is the seventh-ranked elder of the Barbary Clan. He practices Laws of the Earth, integrates four mysteries, and has extremely strong physical defense."
Lin Qin said nothing.
"You only use seven moves." Gaiseresen said slowly, "Although you have Seven-Star Fiend combat power now, your realm is only a mid-level god after all. When you break through Highgod, what level will your strength reach?"
Lin Qin has also thought about this problem.
But he doesn't know the answer.
"Very good." Gaiseresen stood up, "No matter what, you are a member of the family, the stronger the better. This rescue operation has outstanding achievements. What reward do you want?"
Lin Qin thought for a while, "Sovereign’s Might, can you give me another drop?"
Gaiseresen smiled, "The drop last time didn't work?"
"I used it." Lin Qin said, "But I want to keep it ready."
Gaiseresen nodded and took out a cyan crystal from his arms. There was a drop of golden liquid sealed inside the crystal. "This is Sovereign’s Might. It is more concentrated than the drop last time. Save it. There is not much in the family inventory."
Lin Qin took it and put it in Space Ring.
"There's one more thing." Gaiseresen looked at him, "Fulhan came to see me yesterday."
Lin Qin raised his eyes.
"He said he wanted to apologize to you."
Lin Qin Silence.
"I didn't ask him to come." Gaiseresen continued, "The apology must be sincere. It's not me who has the final say, it's him who has figured it out. But since he has spoken, it means he is convinced."
Gaia added next to it, "Emmanuel has also kept a low profile recently. Mission Hall will prioritize the most appropriate tasks for you in the future. This is his attitude."
Lin Qin nodded. "I understand."
"Okay, go ahead." Gaiseresen waved his hand, "Practice hard and break through soon Highgod. The family needs you."
Lin Qin stood up and left Azure Dragon Hall.
When walking out of the palace gate, Fulhan was standing at the foot of the steps.
The two looked at each other.
Fulhan had a complex expression and opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But Lin Qin just glanced at him and walked past.
Return to Azure Rock Valley, Lin Qin and continue retreat.
His understanding of the fifth mystery "Vitality" took another big step forward after the battle of Misty Swamp. The pressure between life and death made his understanding of Laws of the Earth more profound.
He took out the drop of Sovereign’s Might and held it in his hand.
The golden liquid flows slowly inside the crystal, which is a treasure that can only be given by Chief Sovereign.