Chapter 62: Robbing My Credit?

The reward this time was truly remarkable. It was clear from this that the higher-ups of Seven Blood Eyes held a deep aversion to the Night Dove.

Xu Qing wasn't the only one whose heart stirred; the entire Sixth Squad, every single person's eyes lit up at this moment. Some let out snickering laughs, others licked their lips, and many more showed a look of longing in their eyes. For disciples of Seven Blood Eyes, acquiring cultivation resources determined everything about their lives. Normally, everyone used various methods to capture wanted criminals to earn extra income. Opportunities for large-scale operations like this were rare, and at this moment, everyone realized that if they handled this mission well, they wouldn't lack resources for a while. Their breathing gradually quickened, and they all looked towards the captain.

"Captain, when do we leave?"

"Yeah, let's do this!"

Listening to the urgency in his team members' voices, the captain smiled. He bit into the apple he was holding, then took out a handful of jade slips and distributed them to everyone.

"Our target isn't too big," he said. "Two enemy chieftains at the perfected Qi Condensation realm must be ours! Once we reach the destination, we'll infiltrate and decapitate. During the operation, I'll go after one first. As soon as you see the other, surround him immediately. Kill him if you can; if not, hold him until I arrive. I hope all of you make it back alive after this mission."

"Now, move out!"

The entire Demon Suppression Division moved out instantly. From a distance, figures whistled out from within the Demon Suppression Division's headquarters under the moonlight, advancing rapidly in various directions within the city. Their speed was immense, and their killing intent was strong, making each figure like a thorny tentacle of the Demon Suppression Division. As they continuously spread out, the entire Demon Suppression Division resembled an ancient beast awakening and stretching its body, its overwhelming pressure erupting instantly.

This caused all the wicked beings and hidden forces throughout the city to be struck with terror.

"The squad that slays an enemy chieftain will receive ten spirit stones per person. There are two chieftains... if both are slain by Sixth Squad, then each person will receive at least twenty spirit stones as a base reward."

Among the members of the Sixth Squad, Xu Qing advanced at full speed, muttering to himself inwardly, his eyes showing anticipation. He had also quickly scanned the jade slip issued by the captain. It contained comprehensive information about everyone at the targeted stronghold. Their appearances and proficiency in cultivation techniques were all marked, evident that during this period, the Division had thoroughly investigated the Night Dove within the main city.

As they moved forward at this moment, everyone fell silent. Following the captain in front, their speed increased, their killing intent boiling and growing stronger. In the dark night, murderous aura surged. The Demon Suppression Division's deployment had no prior leaked information, making it so that on this night, all those active in the night who saw their appearance had their minds thunder, eyes show terror, and instantly hid. The brothels and gambling dens also quickly quieted down from their bustling activity. The people inside were dumbfounded, trembling with fear as they immediately closed their doors. All the wicked beings and hidden forces were extremely clear in their hearts that with the Demon Suppression Division deploying like this, it meant that tonight...

The entire main city would bleed! Countless people would die because of this, like lightning streaking across the sky, intending to disperse all evil! Even many inns that operated at night chose to close today. The same was true for Banquan Road...

At this moment, the Sixth Squad passed Banquan Road. Xu Qing watched the old innkeeper swiftly close his establishment, their gazes meeting for a fleeting moment.

"He's scared..." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, noticing the flicker of fear in the old man's eyes. He then lowered his head to look at the badge on his clothes. At least, tonight, the badge on his gray Daoist robe represented the might of Seven Blood Eyes. Any force, be it snake or dragon, had to bow their heads and shrink back tonight! At this time, even the slightest interference would undoubtedly be instantly crushed.

"Everywhere has light and dark, and this place is no different," the captain in front spoke indifferently. "While the sect practices Gu cultivation and allows dark prosperity within the main city, first, they cannot harm ordinary citizens. Second, external Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot kill our sect's Qi Condensation cultivators. These are two red lines. Cross them... and there will be a price." He then assigned tasks as they left.

Waves stirred in Xu Qing's heart. Although he had realized this point before, being in the midst of the operation and experiencing it firsthand now, he understood the domineering nature of Seven Blood Eyes more deeply. At this moment, he followed among the team members. The group had a clear objective, and half an hour later, they saw their destination in the distance.

It was a manor. A bright moon hung high in the sky, and the earth was shrouded in darkness. Although there were lights within the manor, in the deep night, these spark-like lights flickered precariously, as if about to extinguish. Outside the manor, with the arrival of Sixth Squad, several Demon Suppression Division disciples, hidden in the shadows, immediately emerged. They were arranged by the Division to conduct surveillance. After cupping their fists to the captain, they quickly departed.

"According to the mission distribution, infiltration begins!" A cold glint flashed in the captain's eyes. His body swayed, and he darted into the manor. As for the members of Sixth Squad, eight separated to surround the manor, forming a blockade, while the remaining dozen or so spread out, infiltrating the manor from various positions.

Xu Qing was among them. He crouched low, moving with extreme speed. From a distance, the members of Sixth Squad seemed like a giant hand reaching out to grab the lights.

At the same time, a squad of Demon Suppression Division disciples appeared in the distance. The leader was the Merman youth. They were Earth Squad Three, tasked with cooperating with Sixth Squad tonight. Upon their arrival, and seeing that Sixth Squad had already deployed and rushed in, the Merman youth's eyes showed contempt, and he sneered as he waved his hand. Immediately, a black spherical object flew out, landed within the manor, suddenly exploded, and let out a thunderous roar. His subordinate squad members also sneered, each throwing similar objects. Immediately, roars echoed.

In the dark night, these sudden sounds instantly awakened the Night Dove members within the manor. Their expressions changed, and they rapidly scattered, causing Sixth Squad's plan for a stealthy beheading strike to fail. Xu Qing's brows furrowed. Squad Three's actions were obvious: they intended to use this method to interfere with Sixth Squad's mission.

One of the self-detonating objects landed not far from him. Amidst the strong booming sounds, the Night Dove cultivators within the manor scattered in all directions. Some even set fires and activated formations, causing the entire manor to instantly be filled with firelight, and large amounts of smoke to spread in all directions. The smoke and fire obscured vision. Within this mist, sounds of fighting, low growls, and explosions instantly erupted. A perfectly good decapitation plan was utterly messed up, adding casualties.

A cold glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. Ignoring Squad Three, he swayed his body amidst the spreading mist, killing intent suddenly appearing. He raised his right hand and swiftly grabbed someone beside him. Immediately, a scream was heard: a Night Dove cultivator had his throat slit by the dagger in Xu Qing's hand. This person was a middle-aged man whose cultivation seemed to be at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. His neck was severed, blood spreading, and terror lingered in his eyes.

After taking the leather pouch from this person's body and tossing his corpse aside without a second thought, Xu Qing crouched and moved swiftly. He darted through the mist, his dagger gleaming with dark light. He approached another Night Dove cultivator, and with a sudden slash, cut open their neck. Throughout the entire process, Xu Qing's expression remained normal. He let the cultivator, clutching their neck and gasping for breath, convulse on the ground. He collected the opponent's leather pouch, then quickly strode away to find a third.

Time swiftly passed in this manner. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, as the roars and screams around them grew more intense, Xu Qing, who was moving forward, suddenly dodged. A wind blade whistled past him. The wind ruffled Xu Qing's hair, revealing his wolf-like eyes. His speed instantly surged, and he shot straight towards the source of the wind blade. There were two Demon Suppression Division disciples there, one from Sixth Squad and one from Squad Three. They were fighting against one person. The Squad Three disciple's expression changed upon seeing Xu Qing, while the Sixth Squad disciple's eyes showed pleasant surprise. This surprise was genuinely rare and sincere, because tonight, they were operating as a team.

There were also two bloodied and mangled corpses on the ground. The Night Dove cultivator fighting the two, seeing Xu Qing arrive at this moment, quickly retreated, wanting to escape. But it was too late. Xu Qing's body lunged forward, his speed instantly creating a sonic boom. To the horror of the Squad Three and Sixth Squad disciples, he was already in front of the Night Dove cultivator. He slammed into him violently, and his dagger instantly sliced across the cultivator's neck. Blood spurted out. When it landed, the Night Dove cultivator was already decapitated, a corpse.

The Squad Three disciple nearby turned pale. A strong sense of dread appeared in his eyes. He had seen powerful cultivators, but those who could slay an eighth-level Qi Condensation cultivator with a single strike were rare. Not daring to linger, he rapidly retreated and left. As for the Sixth Squad teammate, he also took a deep breath. His gaze towards Xu Qing also held shock, and after bowing deeply, he disappeared into the mist.

Xu Qing lowered his head and scanned the three corpses on the ground. He calmly bent down, slowly taking out the leather pouches one by one. Throughout the entire process, his expression didn't change in the slightest. At times, he would even open the found pouches and place them in his own pockets. Just as he picked up the pouch from the third bloodied and mangled corpse, Xu Qing rubbed his hands and turned as if to leave. But the dagger in his hand, with lightning speed, stabbed towards the forehead of the corpse on the ground.

The speed was immense, the movement sudden. There was no prior sign whatsoever. The next instant, the corpse actually moved. It seemed to slide away, suddenly swaying backward, causing Xu Qing's dagger to miss. The corpse floated up with the momentum. Its eyes suddenly opened, revealing a cold glint, and it stared intently at Xu Qing.

"How did you find out?"

"I've seen many corpses that died a miserable death. You didn't fake it well," Xu Qing said indifferently, looking at the 'corpse' in front of him.

"Is that so? Then you're out of luck." The 'corpse' wiped its face, revealing a middle-aged appearance. Its body swayed and exploded forward, heading straight for Xu Qing. Its perfected Qi Condensation cultivation realm spread out at this moment. This person was one of the enemy chieftains of this stronghold. He was cautious by nature, originally planning to pretend to be a corpse and quietly leave, but he hadn't expected to be discovered here. However, he was also a ruthless person, knowing he couldn't delay, he simply attacked with full force.

At this moment, his entire body pulsed with spiritual energy. Fiery snakes materialized around his body, hissing menacingly as they lunged at Xu Qing. There were nine of these fiery snakes in total. Each one could instantly tear apart the body of a ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivator. With nine surrounding him now, their power was the peak Xu Qing had witnessed among Qi Condensation cultivators.

However, Xu Qing's expression remained largely unchanged. With a wave of his hand, countless water droplets instantly appeared around his body. As the forbidden sea aura directly spread out, each of these water droplets twisted, and in the blink of an eye, they converged to form the shape of a crocodile. This crocodile was covered in scales, extremely ferocious. Its wide-open mouth revealed sharp teeth, flashing with cold light. It also seemed to possess sentience, and after appearing, it let out a roar, charging towards the incoming nine fiery snakes. They instantly collided. Amidst the roar, Xu Qing's Divine Sea Transformation Scripture's power was fully displayed. It actually swallowed five of the fiery snakes directly. Although the rest were entangled, it was clear that the Divine Sea Transformation Scripture could contend with them.

What astonished the perfected Qi Condensation cultivator even more was Xu Qing suddenly stomping his foot. Behind him, a bloody figure materialized, forming a malevolent ghost. Roaring, it accompanied Xu Qing's body, charging out like an arrow, heading straight for him.

"You're no ordinary Seven Blood Eyes disciple!!" The Night Dove chieftain's eyes suddenly narrowed. He felt a strong sense of danger from Xu Qing. At this moment, his body abruptly retreated, and with a wave of his hand, a talismans treasure, shining with blue light, was thrown out. Without even looking at the result, he retreated even faster.

This blue talismans treasure seemed to have been used too many times. Its color was quite dim, and its power had significantly decreased. Although it instantly erupted, manifesting a blue ghostly hand with a faint hint of Foundation Establishment aura, and fiercely grabbed towards Xu Qing, its power was far from that of a true Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although Xu Qing perceived this talismans treasure to be ordinary, he still rapidly dodged it. However, this large hand continuously pursued him, preventing him from continuing to chase the chieftain. But Xu Qing wasn't anxious. He calmly watched the fleeing chieftain while dodging the large hand.

"The poison you're infected with, isn't it taking effect yet?"

The moment Xu Qing's words were uttered, the perfected Qi Condensation Night Dove chieftain's expression drastically changed. His mind fluctuated, accelerating the poison's onset. He spat out a mouthful of black blood, and his face immediately turned purplish-black.

"Poison!"

In his horror, his body staggered. He felt the raging rampage of the poison within him, as if his internal organs were melting. His eyes instantly revealed madness. He didn't know what secret technique he activated, but slamming his hands violently against his own chest, the next instant, flames directly ignited on his body, as if all his potential was ignited at this moment. The poison within his body was actually suppressed, and the purplish-black on his face rapidly faded. However, the cost was clearly immense. At this moment, his consciousness was somewhat blurred, and it seemed he only had one thought in his mind: to escape. So, with a flash, he was about to flee further away at an even faster speed.

But with this delay, Xu Qing had also dodged the attacks from the talismans treasure's large hand. His body erupted with full speed, like a lightning bolt, directly charging out. His speed was so immense that in an instant he was close to the Night Dove chieftain of this stronghold. He raised his right hand, just about to grab him. But at this moment, a strong sense of life-or-death crisis made Xu Qing's expression change. His pupils contracted. He forcefully changed his body's trajectory and sharply retreated. Almost at the instant he retreated, a sharp, flying blade disc whistled past where he had been. It sliced through the air, emitting a piercing sound. If he had dodged even slightly slower, his body would surely have been split open.

As he retreated, a person charged from the direction the flying blade disc came from. Ignoring Xu Qing, they headed straight for the Night Dove chieftain. The newcomer... was the captain of Squad Three, the cold Merman youth.

"Stealing my credit?" Xu Qing's eyes instantly turned sharp.