Chapter 374: Sixteen Slaughter Missions (I)
“What?” The Saint Knight Head Han Qian looked unable to take it anymore, his face filled with shock. In front of him stood a tall knight, who was respectfully bowing down before him.
Han Qian’s composure became obviously somewhat cracked, “These foolish kids, what are they doing?! And originally, I thought they were mature, training steadily for such a long time. Whatever they do, they are becoming overnight celebrities. When did they leave?”
The tall knight replied, “About half an hour ago.”
Han Qian instructed, “Go and bring them back to me, tell them that it is my order.”
The tall knight had an embarrassed expression, “Sir Saint Knight Head, this is no good. It’s going against the rules. Demon Hunt Squads are supposed to be independent, and even the Alliance cannot dispatch them as they please. And everything they did was according to the rules.”
Han Qian shouted in fury, “What bullshit! If something happens to these little guys, the whole Alliance will be in a total crisis.”
“Yes.” The tall knight didn’t dare violate the order of Han Qian for a second time, and turned back to the outside. Right when he arrived at the exit, Han Qian suddenly stopped him, “Come back!”
Startled, the knight stopped his steps and returned back to Han Qian.
Han Qian advanced towards him from behind his desk, pacing back and forth in his broad office, his brows gathered together.
After making that round trip for more than a dozen turns, his eyebrows finally smoothed. Letting out a sigh, he talked to himself, “This boy and that girl are already sixteen. Since they could stay in seclusion for so long, they should have advanced quite a lot. Little birds cannot forever stay under the protection of their parents, or they won’t become true supreme powerhouses. Let’s just let them tamper themselves. Long Haochen, you have to come back alive to me no matter what, little brat.”
Indeed, right before, this knight standing in front of him brought astonishing news. The members of the secluded 64th commander grade Demon Hunt Squad had suddenly shown themselves at the Demon Hunt Squads’ Mission Tower, accepting sixteen Slaughter Missions at once before immediately setting off, and leaving Holy City to go straight to the demon territory.
Those were sixteen Slaughter Missions, and all of them needed one to reach the commander grade to take them on! The simplest one required to kill a demon powerhouse of the seventh step and seize the crystal. And among the missions they took, three were directed against powerhouses of the eighth step, and the toughest one demanded to kill the last ranked of the seventy-two demon gods, the Devil Snake Andromalius. Despite being the seventy-second ranked, that was still a demon god! A powerhouse at the peak of the eighth step, and furthermore, in the range of his demon god pillar, his strength would match several powerhouses of the eighth step.
The mission to kill Andromalius was the hardest among all those at the commander grade. This mission was also directed to the King and Emperor Grade Demon Hunt Squads, and in fact, Andromalius wouldn’t stay alone in one place and let himself be killed. As a demon god, he was also in control of a large army of demons.
For Long Haochen’s group to actually dare accept such a mission was simply courting death! In fact, at the peak of the eighth step, one’s spiritual energy would get close to 100,000 units.
Because the Demon Hunt Squads’ Mission Tower was in Holy City, a long journey was necessary for them to return from their missions. Thus, the rules of the Demon Hunt Squads permitted them to accept several missions at once. But it was the first time a situation like this occurred, where one squad accepted sixteen missions at once. In fact, all missions had an allotted time, and if they couldn’t be cleared before the time limit, a penalty in the form of contribution points would be administered.
Of course, when taking more missions at once, the allotted time would extend to some extent. Long Haochen’s group was given a total of two years to complete all those missions, but given their current strength, would they really be able to defeat the seventy-second demon god 安度马里? Even with all the confidence Han Qian had in Long Haochen, he still believed this to be no more than nonsense.
However, since these little guys already left, could they really be chased back? This would be no more than a strike against them. Thinking of Long Haochen’s report of the truth behind what really happened in the Illusory Paradise, Han Qian gradually started to relax from his anxious state.
That’s right, Han Qian already knew about the true fortune Long Haochen’s team had gained in the Illusory Paradise, though he didn’t know how Long Haochen brought everyone in. All Long Haochen had said was that it was a secret that couldn’t be leaked.
With everyone possessing a spiritual stove, they should have no problem defending themselves. And furthermore, Long Haochen was young, but not reckless. It should be okay to just let them temper themselves. And furthermore, that person will make certain to protect them. Right, I should make haste to report this to him.
Reaching this point of thinking, Han Qian temporarily suppressed the anxiety in him, and had that tall knight withdraw first, before hastily leaving his office.
Right at that time, those youngsters who gave the Saint Knight Head such worries were seated cozily in a carriage, looking at the scenery on both sides, enjoying a rare time of relaxation.
Carriages were a special privilege for Demon Hunt Squads. In the past, Long Haochen’s group had shared one, but that was only once, during the compulsory mission.
But this time, they were moving as a commander grade Demon Hunt Squad, with the right to have a carriage of their own, naturally making long journeys a lot more convenient.
At least, now they would get ample rest during their journey.
At that time, none of the seven members of the 64th commander grade Demon Hunt Squad were actually cultivating. On both sides, window curtains were extended high and with the addition of a layer of wood, the carriage didn’t shake.
Instead of cultivating, Long Haochen passed out orders. Since they were on the verge of going on a very long and difficult trip, and had just been staying in seclusion for so long, everyone needed to have some time of relaxation. After this time of repose, there would be some fierce battles against demons.
It had been a whole year since they exited the Illusory Paradise, and everyone was a year older. The youngest ones, Long Haochen and Cai’er were now both reached sixteen years of age. Compared to the year before, now everyone in the 64th commander grade Demon Hunt Squad looked more introverted and less scatterbrained, they also were a lot steadier.
As for the level their fighting strength reached, even they didn’t know about that themselves. After all, it had been a year since they last fought any demons.
Their first stop was Starseeker City. Just like when they headed for the Desolate Hissing Cavern, they were once again heading to the Nareiks Province from the southeast, before penetrating deeper into the demon territory.
The carriage sped along on this trip, and soon, the group smoothly reached Starseeker City.
Over the past year, battles occurred frequently. Every human fort would be subjected one after another to the powerful demon attacks. The most desperate one was of course the Southern Mountain Pass’ City, which the demons had almost destroyed. If not for the prompt arrival of the reinforcements, the aftermath would have been too horrible to contemplate.
The Southeastern Fort belonging to the Warrior Temple was on the contrary the most peaceful one. Perhaps, it was because the Nareiks Province met with great re-assignations, but although the demons frequently launched some harassing attacks, they never launched a large scale battle since then.
Under these circumstances, the Starseeker City known as the garden behind the Southeastern Fort appeared tranquil. Business was boosted effectively, and the ordinary people lived in peace and worked happily. Actually, human ambition would generally be far from that of the demons’: as long they had a peaceful and steady life, they would be very easily satisfied.
Long Haochen’s group of seven didn’t alarm the Office Hall and the military from the Starseeker City. They quietly headed to a medium sized hotel, and arranged for the two carriage drivers to return to Holy City after two days of rest. After all, they wouldn’t be able to return for the duration of these missions, how could they be asked to wait here.
Permitting everyone to return to their rooms to get some rest, Long Haochen took Cai’er’s hand and led her out of the hotel. To avoid attracting everyone’s attention, the two of them were clad in sheltering veils. After all, astonishingly good looks would often attract people’s attention.
Strolling on the main street of the Starseeker City, Long Haochen pulled Cai’er’s hand, gently chuckling, “I’m suddenly recalling the time when we just met each other in Holy City. Actually, the tournament we should have given the top priority only served as a prop for our encounters, and instead of those matches, what I awaited the most was the time I could accompany you back home every day.”
Cai’er laughed back, “How is it that I can only remember your foolish sides of that time?”
Unconcerned, Long Haochen remarked with a smile, “Who wanted me to be your idiot? As long as you like it, I’ll be as idiotic as you want.”
Cai’er’s look immediately became softer, drawing closer to Long Haochen. The two of them were surrounded by a very warm atmosphere, while slowly advancing.
On their stroll, the two of them seemed extremely comfortable and at ease, advancing in a straight line until reaching a building. On this two floored building was written in large letters: Yue Ye Caravan.
Entering the demon territory implied that one had to take great risks, as the scouting on the frontier of the demon territory would be very tight. However, it wouldn’t be the same if they sneaked inside with the Yue Ye Caravan. The demon race and the Temple Alliance were the same in one aspect, which was their tight surveillance on the outside and their lax inspections on the inside. As long as they went in, and disguised themselves as demons from the Moon Demon Clan, carrying out their missions wouldn’t be so challenging. And furthermore, if they could get Yue Ye’s cooperation, their missions would naturally be a lot more convenient.
Approximately five months ago, Long Haochen and Cai’er secretly went once to Starseeker City, meeting Yue Ye in secret at this place.
This was to relieve her from the restriction, and to schedule the operations of this time.
When walking into the Yue Ye Chamber of Commerce, there were immediately some workers coming up to inquire about the reason for their presence. Long Haochen handed them a baby-hand-sized emblem, demanding them to look for the person in charge, and waited with Cai’er in the hall of the Yue Ye Caravan.
The caravan was bustling, with people going in and out constantly. This place was only the facade of the Yue Ye Merchant Group, and the goods were not gathered here. But even so, it was very active.
Long Haochen was even more confident in Yue Ye than in the past, the main reason being naturally her performance in the Illusory Paradise. Her cooperation at that time was of great use, and permitted Long Haochen to see her utility for the team in a new light.
While Long Haochen reflected about the sixteen missions of this time, some clumsy steps suddenly sounded from the outside, and then, a group of soldiers entered.