"Congratulations, Qin Feng."
"You’ve made the team."
-----------------
After Qin Feng successfully joined, Long Yu didn’t lead them out right away.
They were still short one team member.
Qin Feng and Wen Muyun, standing to the side, didn’t ask any questions.
They all knew that for a Hell-level mission, the preparations had to be meticulous.
There could be no room for error at any stage.
Before long.
The primary teleportation ring A-1, which had been dormant, erupted in a brilliant, blinding golden light!
The light was so intense that it bathed the entire dark-gold teleportation hall in a sacred, golden hue.
Then, a magnificent figure, taller and more powerfully built than anyone who had come before, strode out.
He was a mountain of a man with brilliant golden hair, as majestic and imposing as a lion.
He was clad in a suit of golden heavy power armor covered in ornate reliefs. Draped over his pauldrons was a magnificent cape made from the fur of some unknown Exotic Beast, a symbol of supreme glory.
The moment he appeared, a terrifying aura, as hot as the sun and filled with a sense of explosive power, instantly swept through the entire hall!
Qin Feng could clearly feel that the terrifying aura of the golden-haired giant before him was in no way inferior to his captain, Long Yu’s!
He was another top-tier Fifth-level Martial Artist who had cultivated his life force index to the 7,200-point "minor limit"!
"Nissan."
Long Yu looked at the newcomer, a relieved smile finally breaking across his calm, refined features.
"You’re finally done."
"If you took any longer, I honestly don’t know where I’d find another qualified team member. It would’ve taken forever."
As Long Yu spoke, he gestured toward Qin Feng and Wen Muyun beside him.
"I just had to turn one away for not being strong enough. But these two remaining members are excellent. Their strength is formidable."
He first pointed to Qin Feng, introducing, "This is Qin Feng."
Then he pointed to the stunningly-figured Female Martial Artist. "And this is Wen Muyun."
Finally, he turned to Qin Feng and Wen Muyun and introduced the newcomer. "This is Nissan, the last member of our team for this mission. His strength is the same as mine, having reached the ’minor limit’ of a 7,200-point life force index."
After the introductions, the lion-like, golden-haired giant, Nissan, swept his gaze over Qin Feng and Wen Muyun.
When he saw Qin Feng, he paused for a moment, then his face broke into a hearty, overly familiar laugh.
"Hahahaha! So it’s you two!"
He bellowed with laughter, his voice echoing through the hall like a great Bell.
"’Qin Beast’ and ’Muyun Saber’! You’re both big shots here at Canaan!"
"Oh?"
Hearing this, a trace of doubt appeared on Long Yu’s face. "You know them?"
Nissan immediately rolled his eyes and shot back at Long Yu with a look of utter disdain. "You blockhead, you probably haven’t looked at the forums in a century. Don’t talk to me. It’s like talking to a brick wall."
"Fair enough."
A helpless expression appeared on Long Yu’s face.
"I can’t help it. I spend all my time training, and I still feel like it’s not enough."
"You know how it is for Martial Artists like us who cultivate Top-grade Acupoint Opening Techniques and Top-grade Meridian Techniques. This path is nigh-on impossible. Every single step forward costs us several, even dozens of times the time and resources compared to others."
"I have to keep pushing myself relentlessly. Where would I find the time to browse the forums?"
Long Yu said this nonchalantly.
But his words struck a chord with Qin Feng, Wen Muyun, and even Nissan. They all felt a deep sense of empathy.
It was true.
To achieve progress far beyond the ordinary, one had to put in an effort far beyond the ordinary.
There were never any shortcuts on this path.
However, Nissan glanced at Qin Feng, then looked at his profile, and spoke in an even more exasperated tone, as if looking at a monster.
"Alright, alright. The rest of us can feel that way, but you, Qin Feng, don’t get to lump yourself in with us."
He pointed at Qin Feng.
"Forty years to reach Puncture Perfection! Now, another twenty-two years later, you’ve completed nearly two hundred Meridian Fusions!"
"Man, comparing people just makes you sick!"
His tone was filled with undisguised jealousy and envy.
Meanwhile, Long Yu smiled, patted Nissan’s sturdy shoulder, and teased,
"Nissan, you’re only seeing the surface-level data. You can’t see the blood, sweat, and tears he’s poured in behind the scenes."
"Alright, alright, you know best."
Nissan waved a dismissive hand. "I’m done bickering with you. Let’s get down to business. What’s the deal with this mission?"
The joking expression on his face vanished, and he became serious.
Long Yu nodded and began to explain the intelligence for this Hell-level mission to everyone.
"According to the latest intel from the Judicial Court, the ’Blood Saber’ group of Believers of Khorne we’re being sent to purify was most likely founded by a traitor from our very own Canaan—Shi Dang."
When the name "Shi Dang" came from Long Yu’s lips,
A trace of icy, bone-chilling cold flashed in the depths of Qin Feng’s eyes.
Long Yu continued, "Within this cult, several powerful Sixth-level Martial Artists have emerged. The strongest among them have even begun to master the bizarre Fourth-level Killing Technique that Shi Dang passed down."
"So,"
His gaze swept across the three of them, his tone becoming exceptionally grave. "For this mission, we won’t just be facing physical attacks. The greater danger will come from assaults on the mental plane."
"I demand that every one of you wear the highest-level Spiritual Power Protection Device you can afford! Do not, under any circumstances, be stingy with your Contribution Points on this!"
"Because if you are eroded by that chaotic Mental Power in battle, the consequences will be unimaginable."
After explaining these basic precautions, Long Yu dropped a deeper piece of intelligence that came as a surprise even to Qin Feng.
"There’s one more thing you all need to know."
"Our squad’s mission this time, besides purifying those Believers of Khorne, actually has another, more important, hidden purpose."
"We are, in fact, bait."
"Bait?"
Wen Muyun’s fine brows furrowed slightly.
"That’s right."
Long Yu nodded and explained, "Intel suggests that Shi Dang himself is likely operating in the vicinity of planet K-13. The whole reason we accepted this Hell-level mission against his cult so publicly was to draw him out."
"A senior from our Warband, one who has reached the ’Planet-rank,’ is already tailing us in secret."
"If Shi Dang truly appears, that senior will strike immediately, annihilating him with the force of a thunderbolt!"
"We will give him absolutely no chance to escape again!"