“I’m certainly glad you asked that,” Li Zongu replied with a pointed look at Shi Ma, who merely snorted in response. “Our first target is the White Blade Sect and its Sect Master, Hao Linhua.”

With a wave of his hand, Li Zongu conjured an image in front of the group. The picture depicted a woman with hair streaked with white, her face still in the prime of beauty despite the telltale signs of age. Her eyes were strikingly white.

“She is among the strongest of the Sect Masters,” Li Zongu continued, his voice grave. “Only the Thousand Masks Sect Master and the Divine Sun Sect Master surpass her. Her skills with the blade are at the absolute pinnacle, and when you add in the White Blade Sect’s Mythical Beast, even Shi Ma here might find himself in trouble dealing with her.”

“Hmph! What do you expect happens when I’m stuck in the capital for so many years without anyone to fight?” Shi Ma snorted, frustration lacing his words.

Li Zongu ignored Shi Ma’s outburst and pressed on. “Lei Tei and Ling Xuan, you are to go to the White Blade Sect and execute Hao Linhua.” As he spoke, the image of Hao Linhua dissipated into thin air.

Ling Feng, who had remained silent until now, raised an eyebrow. “And what about me?”

“You are to stay close to them in case of any ambush by the other Sect Masters,” Li Zongu instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Shi Ma, however, couldn’t resist a jab. “Look who got turned into a guard dog!” He burst out laughing, his deep voice echoing through the chamber.

“Shut up, Shi Ma,” Ling Feng retorted with a shrug. “You can’t even force me to use my Draconic Transformation.”

“Shut up! I was drunk then!” Shi Ma barked back, his face flushing with anger.

“Yeah, like a Dragon General can even get drunk,” Li Zongu added dryly, his eyes narrowing in mild amusement.

“Alright! Calm down, you fogies!” Lei Tei Sighed, shaking his head at their bickering.

“Anyways, you and Ling Xuan are to leave in a few hours and attack by sunrise. You'll receive all the necessary instructions for the task in an hour,” Li Zongu said, his voice firm and clear.

“Understood,” Ling Xuan nodded, his mind already shifting to the upcoming mission.

“Very well then, this meeting is dismissed!” Li Zongu waved his hand, and in an instant, the scenery before Ling Xuan changed. He found himself standing in a massive dome filled with training dummies, their lifelike forms poised for combat.

“This is the Training Hall that was built for you,” Lei Tei revealed as he approached Ling Xuan from the side, a faint smile on his lips.

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“Huh? When was it made?” Ling Xuan asked, surprised by the sudden change.

“About a few seconds ago, I think. You can do these things quite easily with the required mastery of Qi,” Lei Tei said casually, as if such feats were commonplace.

“Is that so?” Ling Xuan mumbled, lost in thought. He hadn’t trained in the traditional sense for a long time. His life had been a constant cycle of fighting, fighting, and more fighting.

“Well, if all of it is made of Qi, it should be durable, right?” Ling Xuan shrugged, preparing to start his training. But before he could throw his first punch, a question popped into his head.

“Sect Master, I have a question. What is your Dragon General title?” It was a random thought, but Ling Xuan was genuinely curious.

“Oh, that? It’s quite a predictable name. The Lightning Dragon General,” Lei Tei answered with a shrug, his tone as nonchalant as ever.

“I see,” Ling Xuan nodded, absorbing the information.

“You’ll probably get your title after this mission is over,” Lei Tei revealed, a hint of encouragement in his voice.

With that, Ling Xuan turned to one of the dummies and unleashed a powerful punch. The impact was solid, yet the dummy remained in place, unscathed and unmoved.

“This can definitely help improve the damage extent of my attack techniques,” Ling Xuan nodded to himself, satisfied with the result. He immediately began a short training session, each strike precise and calculated, his mind constantly analysing and refining his techniques.

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The night gradually gave way to the first light of dawn, casting a faint glow over the horizon. Ling Xuan and Lei Tei stood before Li Zongu, the early morning air carrying a sense of impending action.

“You will serve as the focal distraction. I assume that at your current level, you are able to match Master Ranks?” Li Zongu asked.

“I think I can,” Ling Xuan replied, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty. He hadn’t fully tested his newfound strength, but based on his previous battles and his recent powerup, he could make an educated guess that he might be able to hold his own against Master Ranks.

“Very well,” Li Zongu nodded, satisfied with the response. “You are to battle the four Master Ranks of the White Blade Sect. And you, Lei Tei, will execute Hao Linhua. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” Lei Tei and Ling Xuan replied in unison, their expressions resolute.

“Good. You’ll have only half an hour to complete this mission,” Li Zongu said as he waved his hand, his form vanishing from the Training Hall in a flash of light.

Ling Xuan and Lei Tei exchanged a brief glance. “Let’s get going then,” Lei Tei said, placing a firm hand on Ling Xuan’s shoulder.

In an instant, the world around them blurred, and with a faint feeling of a pull, the two teleported to their destination, the White Blade Sect.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The White Blade Sect was situated in an unexpected location—an expansive farm that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. Before Ling Xuan and Lei Tei stood a single, massive set of manors, isolated in the middle of this vast land. As the first rays of the rising sun touched the fields, the entire scene took on a surreal and almost serene quality.

But Ling Xuan knew better. The tranquillity of the morning was a mere illusion, one that would soon be shattered by the violence to come. This place, which appeared so peaceful in the dawn light, would soon be reduced to ruins.

“Let’s get going then,” Lei Tei said, his voice cutting through the stillness.

With that, the two of them dashed toward the White Blade Sect manor, their movements swift and silent.

A massacre was about to begin.