The time came for the following day.
The group gathered at the academy gates. Unlike the previous life, where the leading teachers were Wang Yan and Elder Xuan, this time they were joined by Zhang Lexuan.
The Master of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda couldn't move around freely, but the Vice Master enjoyed a great deal of liberty. Zhang Lexuan was taking advantage of this Soul Master Competition to head to Star Net City and negotiate various subsequent trade deals with the Star Net Empire.
Normally, such matters would be handled by Ning Guan, the Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. However, the Heaven Soul Empire had been acting up lately—specifically, the Body Sect was causing trouble. Ning Guan was busy dealing with them and couldn't get away, so the trade matters fell to Zhang Lexuan.
Having already ascended to the rank of Titled Douluo and transitioned to the "Magic Cultivation" system, Zhang Lexuan's combat power was comparable to a Super Douluo, with endurance that far exceeded one.
Of course, her inclusion in the team of teachers had received Mu En's approval. Since Elder Xuan had a prior record of negligence and hadn't shown much improvement, Mu En arranged for Zhang Lexuan to keep a watchful eye and prevent any disasters.
Seeing everyone assembled, Elder Xuan stepped forward. He practiced his routine of first pressuring the students, then giving them a motivational pep talk, and finally explaining the mission.
Standing to the side to see them off, Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised. He truly hadn't expected the Death God Envoy to still be alive!
Typically, once Titled Douluo-level materials lost their vital signs and experimental value, Huo Yuhao would convert them into high-level undead and send them out to hunt Evil Soul Masters. Currently, Huo Yuhao had a squad of twenty-one "Titled Undead" distributed across the Douluo Continent. They worked tirelessly, hunting Evil Soul Masters 24/7—the ultimate employees!
They possessed a sophisticated detection mechanism designed by Huo Yuhao to judge if an Evil Soul Master was "savable." Those who weren't fully corrupted were packed up and sent to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda for reform, while the unsavable ones were sealed and tossed into the Spectral Demiplane as "materials." It was a highly efficient system.
Yet, under the purge of twenty-one Titled Douluo-level undead, this Death God Envoy had somehow avoided capture and happened to become the target of this mission...
Huo Yuhao silently looked up at the sky.
Alright, I get it. The Planar Will is looking to play with Tang San again... It seems the Planar Will holds quite a grudge against him.
However, since this team was so powerful, if the Planar Will wanted to "play," the Death God Envoy would likely receive a massive buff.
I'm looking forward to it.
As these thoughts flashed by, Elder Xuan finished the briefing. The group accepted the mission. Ling Luochen leaned in to whisper a goodbye, followed by Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya. Wang Dong'er stood with her arms crossed, her gaze slightly icy, while Ning Tian watched the scene thoughtfully.
It was truly a picture of harmony!
...
A few days later, the Mingdou Mountain Range.
As a natural gateway to the west of the Star Net Empire, this location's importance went without saying. After firing the Shrek Guardians signal flare and waiting a moment, they were led into the military camp by designated personnel.
The White Tiger Duke received them personally. After a brief and friendly exchange, the soldiers led the group away to rest, leaving only Dai Yueheng behind.
"Are you certain?"
"I am certain, Father. That Tang San... is the one who sold me the prescription that day."
At this moment, the sunny smile Dai Yueheng usually wore was gone, replaced by an expressionless mask and eyes filled with darkness.
Dai Hao fell silent, his ruggedly handsome face showing deep thought.
After a long while, he spoke emotionlessly: "Do not act rashly for now. I will make arrangements. You simply need to follow orders, understand?"
Dai Yueheng's lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but seeing his father's unquestionable expression, he nodded silently and exited the military tent.
...
The group rested for a day and began their move under the cover of night.
Following Elder Xuan's arrangement, the students led the way under Wang Yan's guidance. Zhang Lexuan wanted to follow closely, but was stopped by Elder Xuan, who argued that this was a trial and hovering too close would make it useless.
Zhang Lexuan fell silent and instead gave every person a Class 6 auto-triggering shield.
Notably, because Ling Luochen had already completed her mission requirements and her strength far exceeded the others, Elder Xuan ordered her not to participate. Thus, she stayed by Zhang Lexuan's side, silently absorbing the Ultimate Ice energy provided by a certain someone to increase her cultivation.
"Elder Xuan, are you sure there won't be a problem?" Zhang Lexuan looked at him calmly, a hint of distrust in her voice.
Elder Xuan, already feeling guilty, pulled back the chicken leg he was about to bite into and coughed:
"How could there be a problem? I've sensed them. There are only three Soul Kings inside. Though there are many people, most are ordinary folk without soul power. They are not worth—"
BOOM!
A sudden mutation occurred!
Elder Xuan's words were cut short. He saw that Zhang Lexuan's figure had already vanished. Reacting instantly, he turned into a streak of light and flew toward the site, leaving Ling Luochen behind in confusion.
Ling Luochen: "???"
As the deafening explosion died down, the entire cavern began to collapse under its own weight. Dust filled the air, mixed with foul, poisonous gas. Dark red blood-poison from the "Corpse Explosion" was splattered everywhere.
Just like the previous life, even though Zhang Lexuan had given them Class 6 shields, the students—overconfident because the opponents were only three Soul Kings—had simply tucked the shields into their storage soul tools. This resulted in them taking the full brunt of the first wave of explosions.
Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan had been watching closely. The moment she sensed something wrong, she acted, blocking the subsequent explosions and preventing more casualties.
When Elder Xuan arrived, he saw Zhang Lexuan directing Jiang Nannan and the others to use portable medical devices to perform emergency first aid on the heavily injured Chen Zifeng and others.
"What happened?!" Elder Xuan's eyes nearly split with rage.
Zhang Lexuan had no time for explanations and barked:
"The three opponents can all use Corpse Explosion! I've killed one, but the remaining two have kidnapped Tang San and Dai Yueheng!"
A certain someone had previously used Zhang Lexuan's Moon martial soul and Xu Tianzhen's Sun martial soul for research, developing several derivative uses for both. For example, healing effects derived from moonlight power.
Ma Xiaotao, Yao Haoxuan, Chen Zifeng, Xixi, and Gongyang Mo were all severely injured. While they weren't missing limbs, the mixture of three different corpse toxins in their bodies had formed a much more troublesome hybrid poison.
Currently, only Zhang Lexuan, using her Titled Douluo cultivation and the healing properties of moonlight, could forcibly suppress it. If it flared up, they would lose their cultivation at best—and die at worst!