After all seven had decided to join, Xuan Zi had Wang Yan distribute the Inspection Corps' equipment to them.
Once Wang Yan had finished handing out the equipment, Ma Xiaotao said, "We have an inspection mission next. A band of bandits is operating in the Mingdou Mountain Range, on the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire. They're killing, looting, and committing every kind of atrocity. Our mission is to complete this assignment before the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament begins."
"The two countries have been facing off along the border for a long time, so they can't join forces to wipe out the bandits. That's why we need to do it. Their leader calls himself the Death Messenger, and he's an Evil Soul Master. Since the seven of you are inexperienced, the seven of us will handle the fighting this time. You'll mainly assist us and broaden your horizons."
"We'll first head to the Star Luo Empire's garrison in the Mingdou Mountain Range. They'll provide us with a map and intelligence. If there are no objections, we'll set out now."
Once everyone had finished getting ready, Ma Xiaotao continued, "The three junior sisters have lower cultivation, so we won't waste time. Huo Yu'er, come with me. Wang Dong'er, go with Ling Luochеn. Xiao Xiao, go with Xi Xi. Let's move."
With that, Ma Xiaotao leapt into the air with Huo Yu'er and set off at once.
After a full day of travel, with Xuan Zi carrying everyone through the air for part of the journey, the Shrek students finally reached the western border of the Star Luo Empire.
In the distance, a streak of white light shot past and plunged straight toward the ground.
One by one, figures appeared on the platform formed by the white light.
"Ugh—"
Except for the few people Lin Shuo had shielded with his Soul Power, even Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng looked terribly pale.
"Look at you lot. What a sorry state. Take Lin Shuo, for example. His cultivation is lower than yours, yet he managed to protect several people and hasn't even broken a sweat."
Xuan Zi addressed the inner court disciples in a lazy drawl.
"You can handle things from here. This old man's going to get some rest." Sensing the auras in the distance, Xuan Zi gave his instructions and left.
As soon as Xuan Zi was gone, figures began descending toward them from all directions.
The moment they landed, the newcomers surrounded the Shrek group. At their head stood a stern-faced old man, with seven Soul Rings—three yellow, two purple, and two black—circling beneath his feet. He was a Seven-Ring Soul Sage.
Every one of them wore a white tiger-head emblem on their chest. They were the White Tiger Guards.
Dai Yueheng stepped forward. "Elder Du, it's me."
The old man's face lit up with delight when he recognized Dai Yueheng. "Young Master! What brings you here?"
After Dai Yueheng explained the situation to Du Leisi, he had the other soldiers put away their Martial Souls. "I see. The marshal is still at the camp. I'll take you and your classmates there at once, Young Master."
Huo Yu'er's expression stiffened for a moment at that. But when she felt Lin Shuo's hand, her tense shoulders slowly relaxed. The warmth of his palm reached her, pulling her steadily back from the surging tide of emotions about to overwhelm her.
Seeing the concern in Lin Shuo's eyes, Huo Yu'er said softly, "I'm fine, Big Brother Lin."
After resting for a while, the group set out again, following Du Leisi as they flew toward the military camp in the Mingdou Mountain Range.
The outline of the Mingdou Mountain Range grew clearer and clearer, and vast stretches of military camps came into view, built against the mountainsides.
About half an hour later, they landed in front of a large oxhide tent.
On the open ground before the tent, a burly, blond man was throwing punches. Sensing their arrival, he stopped and stood at attention.
Du Leisi hurried up to him and bowed slightly. "Marshal, Young Master and the people from Shrek Academy have arrived."
Dai Yueheng also stepped forward quickly and dropped to one knee. "Father."
There was no doubt about it: the man before them was Dai Hao, Duke White Tiger, second only to the emperor and revered by all in the Star Luo Empire.
Lin Shuo glanced sideways. Huo Yu'er had stiffened for an instant, but she quickly regained her composure. He turned back around.
Dai Yueheng leaned in and said a few words to Dai Hao. The Duke strode forward with a smile. "Welcome, Teacher Wang Yan, and all the talented students of Shrek Academy."
Lin Shuo raised an eyebrow. He could clearly feel Dai Hao's gaze on him and Huo Yu'er.
After exchanging pleasantries with Wang Yan, Dai Hao had Du Leisi see to their rest and provide the intelligence the Shrek group needed.
After eating, everyone began meditating and resting. The inner court students were used to going on missions, but the members of the preliminary team had never experienced anything like this. Lin Shuo, Huo Yu'er, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao in particular were only twelve or thirteen years old. This kind of mission was a little too much for them, too soon.
So even though Lin Shuo was the strongest person on the team and its captain, Xuan Zi still didn't intend to send him straight to the front.
Wang Yan knew exactly what Xuan Zi was doing: he wanted to speed up the children's growth. Nothing tempered their character like real combat.
Xuan Zi stayed out of the military camp to avoid getting entangled with the Star Luo Empire, since he was the most powerful person Shrek Academy openly had. But with his Level 98 cultivation, he would never lose track of the students. That was why he was confident enough to take these youngsters out for experience.
Once they had finished meditating and received the intelligence and map, the group set out immediately. Time was short, after all, and they still had the Soul Fighting Tournament to attend afterward. On the way, Huo Yu'er used Spirit Detection Sharing to scout ahead for everyone.
After scouting for a while, they eventually found the Death Messenger's hideout.
"Evil Soul Masters have strange methods, and this cave is so narrow. Watch out for traps once we go inside," Lin Shuo warned them after they had changed.
"Don't worry. According to the Star Luo army's intelligence, the Death Messenger is only a Soul King. And with Elder Xuan here, there's nothing to worry about," Ma Xiaotao said with confidence.
Lin Shuo opened his mouth slightly. Having Xuan Zi there was precisely what worried him.
After changing, the main team hurried into the cave without waiting for the reserve team.
Lin Shuo took the lead among the reserve team. Everyone summoned their Martial Souls and prepared for battle.
Many bandits already lay fallen inside the cave. Ma Xiaotao and the others had begun fighting.
Waves of Soul Power surged through the cave.
Huo Yu'er extended her Spiritual Detection to its limit and shared it with everyone.
As they entered, a thick stench of blood hit them. Apart from Lin Shuo, Xu Sanshi, and Bei Bei, the other four turned pale.
"Ah—" Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao screamed. The others looked up and saw the people the Death Messenger had killed. The stench of blood filling the cave came from them.
All eight of them changed expressions. These bandits had slaughtered the innocent—they were worse than beasts.
Lin Shuo summoned the Silver Dragon Spear and activated his Second Soul Ring.
As the Seven-Colored Dragon Armor appeared, Lin Shuo gripped the Silver Dragon Spear and charged ahead at the front.
Up ahead, Ma Xiaotao and the other six were fighting the bandits. More bandits kept emerging from the depths of the cave. A few of them were Soul Kings, but they were no match for Ma Xiaotao's group and were steadily being killed.