Volume One: The Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 81: Thirty Seconds Until the Enemy Reaches the Battlefield!

“Everyone has come a long way, and the journey has not been easy.” Shadowdancer snapped his fingers, and wooden chairs appeared behind each of them. “Sit down and let’s talk at ease.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Mo Xing turned around and carefully sat down on the chair.

“Yes.” Shi Yan also took a seat. “After all, Headmaster Shadowdancer is proficient in eight elements.”

“Pro... proficient in eight elements?” Mo Xing whispered in astonishment. “My goodness, that’s beyond anything the textbooks ever mention!”

“Indeed.” Shi Yan nodded. “That’s one of the reasons he’s been named the current Archmage.”

“Archmage? The strongest elemental master!” Mo Xing exclaimed. “To surpass him, you’d have to master all the elements! Does such a person even exist?”

“There is.” A familiar voice spoke from behind.

Mo Xing and Shi Yan turned simultaneously, only to see that the speaker was Xia Ningxin. Somehow, she had taken the seat behind them without their noticing, the same cold expression on her face.

“Who is it?” Mo Xing asked curiously.

But Xia Ningxin paid him no mind, and an awkward silence fell over the group.

Nothing is more dreadful than a sudden hush...

“Let’s pay attention to the lecture for now,” Shi Yan pulled Mo Xing back.

“All right, all right.” Mo Xing turned back around.

“...” Xia Ningxin’s lashes lowered ever so slightly.

For the next hour or so, the discussion revolved around pre-battle mobilization and important reminders. Mainly, representatives from various academies were deliberating strategy, with the occasional student raising a hand to ask a question.

The purpose of this operation was to reclaim the Dragon Clan’s forbidden ground, eliminate the lawless Draconic Mutants, and resolve the lingering issues from the war a decade ago.

The Draconic Alliance, composed mainly of corrupted dragons and other races, was second only to the Kalandis Sect—a perennial runner-up among the forces of evil!

Unlike the Kalandis Sect, whose doctrine was the pursuit of power, the Draconic Alliance delighted in pillage and slaughter, and would offer their spoils upon the altar as sacrifices, paying their highest reverence to their progenitor—“Weeping Ghost.”

Such anti-racial and society-threatening acts were appalling! They could not be allowed to continue ravaging the living on Dragonfang Isle. It was time to unite—

Strike with all their might!

...

“Mo Xing! Mo Xing!”

Hearing someone call his name, Mo Xing snapped back to himself to find Wu Dancai waving his hand before him.

“Huh? What’s the matter?” Mo Xing asked. He and Wu Dancai were standing atop a sturdy, ancient tree.

“You’re always drifting off!” Wu Dancai sighed. “We’re on a mission now, you have to stay focused.”

“Okay, okay!” Mo Xing nodded.

It was the third day since their arrival on Dragonfang Isle, and the campaign to reclaim the Dragon Clan’s forbidden ground had begun two days prior. Their current task was to lie in wait in the southernmost forest of Dragon’s Roar Gorge, intercepting the Draconic Mutants’ supply line.

According to reliable information, this woodland path was the only route the Mutants used to transport goods into the forbidden ground, and they passed by every afternoon. If they succeeded, they’d complete the first step of their battle plan—

Cutting off supplies!

“Attention, attention!”

“Enemy forces will reach the battlefield in thirty seconds!”

Shi Yan’s voice came through the Titan Ring. Mo Xing and Wu Dancai exchanged a nod and readied their weapons.

“Crush them!”

On the ground below.

A group of creatures with pale bluish-gray skin, each sporting a white rhinoceros horn atop their heads and large, bulging bellies, escorted dozens of carts laden with goods.

As they marched, they snatched food from the carts—more accurately, raw animal flesh and organs—devouring them as they went.

“Xiao Manzi, tell the brothers not to eat too much, or I won’t be able to explain myself to Lord Lu!” one of the creatures said.

“Ma Feifei! What are you worried about!” Xiao Manzi took a bite of fresh meat, his eyes swollen and bruised as if recently punched. “We’re working for Lord Lu. Even if we’re not rewarded for merit, we’re owed for effort. Don’t shortchange yourself—snatch what you can!”

“Exactly! What’s to fear!” the others echoed. “Live for today, drink for today!”

“Well said, brothers!”

Xiao Manzi was basking in the camaraderie when, all of a sudden, several curved blades of ice flew through the air, wounding the unsuspecting group.

“We’re under attack!”

Ma Feifei shouted in alarm, immediately drawing a bone from his back that transformed into a massive club. The others quickly followed suit.

Mo Xing leapt from the tree, unleashing [Frigid Water: Spiral Storm], gliding gently in midair.

“It’s him! Get him, brothers!” At Xiao Manzi’s command, the monsters charged forward.

“Frigid Water: Returning Strike! Recover!”

Mo Xing flicked his fingers, and the curved ice blades spun in a spiral, arcing back to inflict a second wave of wounds upon the bulky monsters.

“Ah—”

Cries of anguish rose as the monsters in the rear collapsed.

No sooner had Mo Xing landed than two monsters rushed at him, swinging their bone clubs at his head.

“Bang—”

Mo Xing raised the [Frostless Divine] to block, then twisted his body and slashed at their waists, sending a spray of red and blue mingled blood.

“Icy Pillars!”

A ring of ice pillars crashed down around Mo Xing, shielding him from the foul blood and freezing the two monsters in place.

“Take this!”

Xiao Manzi vaulted onto the frozen shoulders of his comrades and swung his bone club at Mo Xing.

Mo Xing kicked up sand and hastily retreated, raising a cloud of dust that set the attackers coughing.

“Ice Blades!”

He swept his weapon downward, and the water elements on the ground converged into sharp spikes of ice, thrusting toward Xiao Manzi.

“Damn it!”

Xiao Manzi grabbed a nearby “brother” and flung him into the path of the ice blades, then turned and fled.

“Betraying your own comrade?” Mo Xing frowned, then shouted upward:

“Wu Dancai! Open fire!”

“You got it!”

Wu Dancai responded from the branches above.

No sooner had he spoken than several missiles rained down, striking Xiao Manzi’s group with deadly precision and blasting the creatures into the air.

Devastating blow!

Gunslinger’s AOE skill unleashed a chain of explosions within the attack area. In this narrow woodland path, surrounded by enemies, there was no better choice.

“Total wipeout!” Wu Dancai shouted excitedly at the fallen monsters.

“Hey, I said to leave a couple alive to question—why’d you kill them all?” Mo Xing scratched his head.

“I didn’t expect it either. These monsters had such poor defense that a single ultimate wiped them out…” Wu Dancai sighed. “At least the supply carts are intact.”

“Let’s see if any survived.” Mo Xing put away the [Frostless Divine] and walked toward the carts.

“Or check what supplies they’re carrying…”

“Sure!” Wu Dancai activated his [Aerial Device] and descended from the branches. As he was landing, he noticed a thick shadow appear behind Mo Xing and shouted,

“Watch out!”

Mo Xing turned. Ma Feifei, club raised, was struck by something and sent flying aside.

“Bang—”

The gunshot sounded half a second late.

“Enemies are cunning—never let your guard down~” Shi Yan’s voice came through the Titan Ring.

“Thank you, Shi Yan~” Mo Xing replied with a smile.

At that moment, Shi Yan was hidden elsewhere in the forest, scouting the area and reporting back in real time. If anything happened, she’d respond promptly—just as she had now.

“Mo Xing, are you all right?” Wu Dancai ran over after landing.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Mo Xing waved dismissively.

“You sneaky bastard, trying to ambush us!” Wu Dancai glared at Ma Feifei, who lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

“I, Ma Fei, am in agony!” Ma Fei clutched his wound and wailed. He’d hoped for a last-ditch exchange but was knocked aside by an unexpected bullet.

“Agony, is it, Ma Fei?” Wu Dancai glared. “Should’ve finished you off with the others.”

“It’s all right—we needed one left alive.” Mo Xing smiled. “Makes it easier to gather information.”

“That’s true…” Wu Dancai hesitated. “But will he really talk? If he clams up, torture might not even work…”

“No, no, don’t torture me!” Ma Feifei panicked. “I’ll tell you everything! I, Ma Fei, will confess it all! I’ll be completely honest!”

“Remember what you said!” Wu Dancai nodded. “Who ordered you to transport the supplies?”

“Lord Lu!” Ma Feifei replied.

“And where is this Lord Lu now?” Wu Dancai pressed.

“Twin Moons Dragon City!” Ma Feifei answered.

“How do we get there?” Wu Dancai asked.

“Follow this forest path all the way to Crimson Lotus Shore. Just follow those dogs and you’ll reach the city gates!” Ma Feifei said.

“Is that really true?” Wu Dancai was skeptical.

“It’s true! I swear! I’m just a porter—staying alive is what matters! I’d never cross you, boss!”

“All right, then.” Wu Dancai turned to Mo Xing. “Mission accomplished for today. Let’s return to Han Chuan Academy and report.”

“Wait.” Mo Xing shook his head. “There’s still one thing that doesn’t add up.”

“Boss! Ask away!” Ma Fei cried, tears streaming. “I’ll say anything, just don’t kill me!”

“What’s in the carts?” Mo Xing gestured to the vehicles, all shrouded in black tarps.

“Oh… just some lumber, stone, building materials, animal bones, meat, organs…” Ma Feifei hesitated. “And…”

“People!”

At that word, Mo Xing and Wu Dancai exchanged a look, then rushed to pull back the tarps.

Just as Ma Feifei had said, the carts held basic supplies, and… human corpses.

“No wonder it stank so badly!” Wu Dancai pinched his nose. “What disgusting things are these!”

“These bodies… they look like our senior brothers…” Mo Xing’s heart pounded, nausea rising. “The ones who chased after the Draconic Mutants that night!”

“Heavens…” Wu Dancai was speechless. Should he blame the Mutants for their cruelty, or the brothers for recklessly getting themselves killed?

“Beep—”

The Titan Ring on Mo Xing’s hand flashed. He tapped it, and Shi Yan’s voice came through:

“Mo Xing, you and Wu Dancai mustn’t return yet!”

“What’s happened?” Mo Xing frowned, a chill creeping into his heart.

“Our route back has been cut off by Draconic Mutants!”

———Idle Chat at the Cliff———
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