"Miss Bai, the mission has been completed. Here is our report to the Exalted One. Please pass it along for us."
Outside the Central Preservation Palace on the Heavencrystal Snowfield, Wang Ran and the others had come to report on their mission when they happened to see Bai Aoxue passing by. They hurriedly called out to her and handed her a brief account of the mission.
Bai Aoxue took it without a word and casually leafed through it before saying with a hint of surprise, "The Five Elements Guard was wiped out? You even deployed 'Cicada'?"
Wang Ran's expression was solemn. "Fortunately, we divined our prospects beforehand and foresaw that the Five Elements Guard would be unable to complete the mission smoothly. We urgently dispatched reinforcements, and in the end, we fulfilled our charge and successfully completed the mission."
"That was quick thinking on your part," Bai Aoxue said.
Wang Ran hurriedly explained, "It was all thanks to the Exalted One's guidance. He had a sudden premonition and issued a direct decree, which led to these arrangements."
"All right. I wasn't responsible for this matter, so there's no need to explain it all to me," Bai Aoxue said. "I just came out from inside. Now that this mission has concluded, there may be a new assignment. I'll go back in with you."
As she spoke, she turned and headed back toward the Central Preservation Palace.
With her leading the way, there was naturally no need to have their arrival announced. Wang Ran and the others soon filed in behind her and entered the spacious hall.
Fang Qianyuan sat high above them on the Cloud Terrace at the front. Seeing them enter, he asked, "Has the matter been settled?"
"Exalted One, we have fulfilled our charge and brought back the vile