Seeing Duke of White Tiger Dai Hao's attitude, Lin Ciyan's lips curled up slightly.
He waved his hand dismissively, as if nothing had happened. "You're too kind. I just couldn't stand hypocrites and was just making a casual remark. Your Grace, please don't take it to heart."
Dai Hao gave a wry smile.
How could he not take it to heart?
But circumstances are beyond our control.
The power behind this young man is terrifying; he cannot afford to offend either Shrek Academy or the Star Luo Imperial Family.
Moreover... what the other party said doesn't seem to be entirely unreasonable.
Dai Hao gave Lin Ciyan a deep look, his gaze complex and unreadable.
Then he turned to Zhang Lexuan: "Everyone has come from afar, please rest first. Du Leisi..."
"Here!" The old man who had spoken earlier quickly stepped forward.
"Take our distinguished guests to rest and provide them with everything they need."
"Yes!"
The storm has temporarily subsided.
The group followed Du Leisi out of the main tent area.
After walking a long way, Ma Xiaotao approached Lin Ciyan and whispered, "Are you crazy? Saying that about the Duke..."
"Just telling the truth." Lin Ciyan shrugged. "I hate people who spout platitudes about morality but are utterly disgraceful in private."
Ling Luochеn said softly, "But it felt very satisfying."
A barely perceptible hint of admiration flashed in her icy blue eyes as she looked at Lin Ciyan.
Zhang Lexuan gripped Lin Ciyan's hand tightly, a helpless smile on her gentle face, "You... you're always so impulsive."
" Sister Lexuan doesn't like it?" Lin Ciyan raised an eyebrow.
"I like it," Zhang Lexuan said frankly, "But next time let me know in advance so I can prepare."
"Okay."
The two exchanged a smile, their unspoken understanding drawing envy from onlookers.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao followed behind, exchanging whispers.
"Master is so cool!" Wang Dong's eyes lit up. "He went straight for the Duke!"
Xiao Xiao nodded. "And even the Duke didn't dare to talk back..."
Huo Yuhao walked at the back, head down, his thoughts churning.
Lin Ciyan's words were like a knife stabbing into the most painful part of his heart.
But strangely... he didn't harbor resentment.
Instead, I felt a strange sense of relief.
It turns out there are still people in this world who understand a mother's grievances.
It turns out that the man wasn't without fault.
He looked up at Lin Ciyan's retreating figure, his expression complex.
After resting for three hours, Du Leisi delivered intelligence.
Inside the large tent, everyone sat in a circle.
" The Death's Hand Bandit Gang has about three hundred members, with Soul Master making up about ten percent. The leader is suspected to be Evil Soul Master of Soul King level or above, but his specific abilities are unknown," Wang Yan read aloud the intelligence report.
"Their area of activity is in the central region of the Mingdou Mountain Range, and there have been recent records of raids."
Zhang Lexuan took the map and examined it. After a moment, she looked up and asked, "Mission objective: Annihilate the entire enemy force. Any problems?"
"No!" everyone shouted in unison.
"Okay." Zhang Lexuan looked at Lin Ciyan, " Ci Yan, you lead the team."
"Me?" Lin Ciyan raised an eyebrow.
"You're the official captain, you're more suited for actual combat command," Zhang Lexuan smiled. "I'll hold the line."
This is an opportunity for him to establish his authority.
Lin Ciyan didn't refuse and stood up. "Let's keep it simple. Seven from the Inner Court will lead the attack, with the reserve team providing support. Huo Yuhao..."
Huo Yuhao quickly looked up.
"You keep your Spiritual Detection active the whole time; I need real-time 3D imaging."
"... yes!"
"The rest of you, follow my orders." Lin Ciyan's gaze swept over the crowd. "Remember, this isn't a friendly sparring match, it's bandit suppression. Be ruthless and swift."
"Clear!"
Fifteen minutes later, the team set off.
The White Tiger Guards led them to the entrance of the mountain range, where they unloaded their Flying Soul Tool, and the group then hiked into the mountain.
Lin Ciyan walked in front, with Zhang Lexuan beside him.
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng protected the two flanks, while Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing covered the entire team.
The mountains and forests are dense and the terrain is complex.
But with the three-dimensional images from the Spiritual Detection, the group moved as if walking on flat ground.
Lin Ciyan even had time to comment on the terrain.
"This place is easy to defend and difficult to attack, suitable for an ambush... Oh, there's a trap ahead, go around it."
"There's Soul Beast 300 meters to the left, ignore it."
He spoke as casually as if he were on a picnic.
Behind them, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao followed closely.
"Master is amazing, he knows everything," Wang Dong whispered.
Xiao Xiao nodded. "And she was so steady, not nervous at all."
Hearing the two whispering, Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips, but had to admit that Lin Ciyan's command was indeed experienced.
As evening approached, the team reached the edge of the area marked by intelligence.
Lin Ciyan raised his hand, and everyone stopped.
Ahead lay a valley, with wisps of smoke rising faintly from chimneys.
"This is it." Lin Ciyan squinted. " Sister Lexuan?"
Zhang Lexuan stepped forward and stood beside him, her silver outfit gleaming warmly in the setting sun.
She surveyed the valley, and after a moment spoke, "The terrain is complex, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Ci Yan, what are your plans?"
Lin Ciyan smiled.
"First, observe and ascertain the defenses. Then..."
He turned to look at the crowd, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"To capture them all in one fell swoop."
Night slowly fell.
The Mingdou Mountain Range under the cover of night were silent yet exuded a chilling atmosphere.
The group, disguised as Inspector, stealthily made their way to the cave entrance at the foot of the hill, their dark green cloaks swaying slightly in the night breeze.
"The smell of blood." Zhang Lexuan frowned and looked towards the cave entrance.
Five or six bandits lay dead outside the cave, their throats all cleanly and swiftly severed by sharp blades.
She stood beside Lin Ciyan, her eyes calm beneath the silver mask. "As planned, the reserve team will follow closely behind Ci Yan, while the Inner Court will lead the attack."
"Yes!" the crowd responded in hushed tones.
Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing was fully launched, and the three-dimensional images inside the cave were transmitted into everyone's minds.
Then, everyone's expression changed.
"This..." Xiao Xiao covered her mouth, her body trembling slightly.
On both sides of the cave, dozens of dried human skins hung, looking grotesque and terrifying in the dim light.
Deeper inside, the corpse of an infant was impaled on a stalagmite, its blood already congealed into a dark brown color.
"You're worse than a beast!" Bei Bei gritted his teeth and growled, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul appearing uncontrollably, crackling with lightning in his palm.
Wang Yan said in a deep voice, "Calm down! Remember, killing these scumbags is saving countless innocent people!"
Lin Ciyan patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Maintain Spiritual Detection, especially underground and behind walls, where Evil Soul Master love to hide things."
"Yes, yes!" Huo Yuhao suppressed his nausea and expanded the detection range to its maximum.
The team continued deeper into the territory.
The sounds of fighting came from ahead, accompanied by the light of bursting Soul Skill and the screams of bandits.
Turning a corner, a battle scene came into view.
Lin Ciyan raised his hand and added a layer of sanctity buff to everyone.
Everyone immediately felt their discomfort subside, and their Soul Power flowed smoothly again.
Ma Xiaotao unfurled her fiery wings, becoming even more powerful, turning bandits into charred corpses wherever she went.
Ling Luochеn tapped the ground with his ice staff, and the ice spread rapidly, freezing the bandits one by one.
Dai Yueheng his White Tiger Vajra Transformation state, tore his enemies apart, blood splattering everywhere...
The seven members of the main team worked together seamlessly, easily handling the siege of dozens of bandits.
"Go!" Wang Yan waved his hand.
Reserve troops join the battle.
Bei Bei took the lead, swatting away a second-ring bandit with her dragon claw; Xu Sanshi's Xuanwu Shield stood at the forefront, covering the flanks; He Caitou lit a cigar and fired an amplifying beam; Jiang Nannan teleported behind the enemy and activated her Waist Bow.
Wang Dong unfurled the Goddess of Light Butterfly, unleashing a torrent of divine light that sent the bandits sprawling in disarray.
Xiao Xiao used the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron to protect Huo Yuhao and herself, her face still pale.
Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and unleashed Soul Shock at a one-eyed bandit.
"Puff!"
The skull exploded.
"Ugh..." Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao bent over and vomited at the same time.
Lin Ciyan didn't make a move. He stood at the edge of the battlefield with his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping across the entire area.
Although these bandits were fierce, their strength varied greatly, and he didn't need to take action against any of them.
The three strongest Soul King were completely overwhelmed by Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochеn.
He was waiting for that person to appear...