On the left, a hidden sentry suddenly snapped out of his drowsy state.
“Hey, did you hear something?”
“Hahaha, don’t spook yourself. What could it be besides rats? Look at this place, no one’s broken in for years,” another one laughed.
“No, I swear I heard something,” the first one shook his head, “I’ll check it out.”
He rubbed his eyes, grabbed his weapon, and stepped outside.
But after one step, a chilling breeze hit him, his body feeling as if gripped by a malevolent spirit.
The next moment, he saw his chest pierced by a delicate, gloved hand.
His heart withered instantly, as if struck by deadly poison.
“Who’s there?” the other sentry finally sensed trouble and stood to fight.
“No point struggling, just close your eyes and die quietly—Bone-Melting Yin Wind, perish!” Yin Ran, true to his name, had ample combat experience. Dealing with two Pulse Realm Fifth Layer martial artists was child’s play for him, dispatched with ease.
Ling Xiao nodded approvingly.
A solid teammate indeed.
On the other side, Leng Mei’s fight was equally impressive.
Her combat experience seemed to outshine even Yin Ran’s, like someone forged in life-and-death arenas.
She killed without hesitation, decisive and ruthless.
Two plum blossoms fluttered, and two heads rolled.
“I was sent to a deathmatch arena as a slave, fighting other slaves and beasts,” Leng Mei explained unprompted as she approached, “Killing’s nothing to me.”
Ling Xiao nodded, not intending to ask.
Everyone had their secrets.
For Leng Mei, those arena days were likely something she’d rather forget.
“Enough talk, let’s move,” Ling Xiao said, unwilling to linger. Killing these few hadn’t drained them much.
This first skirmish was a test of their real strength.
Surface power and actual combat ability often differed.
Some Pulse Realm Sixth Layer peak martial artists might falter against a fierce Fifth Layer Dream Elixir trader.
This time, they’d taken down seven: six Fifth Layers for 18 merit points, one Sixth Layer for 4, totaling 22.
Merit distribution was up to the team leader—Ling Xiao.
Ling Yixue and Leng Mei had no objections.
Yin Ran wouldn’t either, or he wouldn’t have joined.
As for how Hidden Dragon Camp and the Border General’s Mansion tracked merits, it was simple.
Each disciple carried an unmarked mundane treasure upon leaving, its sole purpose to record kills—number and strength—and destroyed Dream Elixir amounts.
Cheating was near impossible, and miscalculations weren’t a worry.
Fairness at its core.
Something Tianfeng City’s clans could never achieve.
Next, Ling Xiao led his three teammates onward, encountering nine more enemies.
All were Pulse Realm Fifth Layer, easy prey.
Ling Yixue held back, while Leng Mei and Yin Ran took the lead.
Ling Xiao stepped in at key moments—not when they were in danger, but to ensure secrecy, preventing any distress calls.
Nine more kills, another 27 merit points, bringing the total to 49.
But that wasn’t the focus. In combat, they’d tested some teamwork, growing noticeably more coordinated.
Soon, they reached the factory’s heart—the traders’ hub.
“Next, we hunker down here and wait. Night’s the best time to strike,” Ling Xiao said, finding a secluded spot for them to eat, rest, and recover stamina and Gang Qi.
“But we just killed a bunch. What if they’re found?” Yin Ran frowned.
“This spot’s a choke point to the outside. I picked it to stop word of the deaths from reaching inside. It’s almost dark anyway. Anyone passing through, we take out. If the news leaks, we’ll adjust,” Ling Xiao replied.
He’d chosen this spot to buy time, delaying the interior from learning of the outer casualties.
It was a short-term tactic. If it weren’t nearly dusk, it wouldn’t work—they’d have to charge in.
Yin Ran saw the logic and dropped it.
Luck was on their side. Until nightfall, only three came by.
Likely replacements for the earlier patrol, right on schedule.
This time, Ling Xiao didn’t delegate. He handled them himself to save time.
“Let’s go. A dark, windy night’s perfect for killing. Tonight, this Dream Elixir factory ends,” he said after finishing the three, waving them forward and creeping toward the factory.
His speed was swift yet silent, a phantom in the dark.
The three behind didn’t lag, their strength keeping them close.
“See that? This factory runs day and night, but guards slack off at night. Apart from the forced slave workers, every Dream Elixir trader here deserves death!” Ling Xiao pointed at the factory’s flickering lights, whispering.
“Brother Ling, can you estimate how many are inside?” Yin Ran asked.
“Excluding slaves, not many—only twenty. But there’s a snag,” Ling Xiao said, frowning.
“What’s that?” Yin Ran pressed.
“The snag is two Martial Masters, both early Pulse Realm Seventh Layer. Plus ten Sixth Layer martial artists—four at peak—and eight Fifth Layers.”
Martial Masters! Two of them!
Yin Ran’s frown deepened.
He could handle twenty Sixth Layer peak foes without fear, escaping if he couldn’t win.
But two early Seventh Layer Martial Masters? How could they fight that?
Regret crept in—why’d he follow this madman Ling Xiao?
“Brother Ling, this is beyond us. We should link up with another team,” Yin Ran suggested.
Ling Yixue’s expression stayed calm, silent.
Leng Mei showed no emotion, as if life or death meant little to her.
“What, scared, Brother Yin?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
Yin Ran nodded, refreshingly honest.
“If those two Martial Masters were gone, would you dare proceed?” Ling Xiao pressed.
“Without them, the rest don’t faze me,” Yin Ran said. He’d faced plenty of life-or-death missions—anything short of a Martial Master, he didn’t fear.
