The band of bandits is extremely ruthless and cunning. They specialize in ambushing and killing merchants traveling between the two nations, leaving no survivors. One could say they are guilty of every conceivable atrocity—burning, looting, killing, and plundering. They hide in a mountainous region with complex, steep terrain filled with caves, making it difficult for armies to launch an effective attack.
Even more frustrating is that this area straddles the border between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire. The relationship between these two empires has never been good. Under such circumstances, joint operations between the two nations are almost impossible. Whenever one side sends an army to suppress the bandits, those cunning bastards escape to the other side. Once, their actions even sparked a small-scale conflict between the two nations.
Despite all this, the bandits have continued to thrive. Their numbers are small—fewer than 300—but they are well-versed in the terrain and adept at evasion and trickery.
"Therefore, a small team like the Shrek team is better suited for dealing with them. This band of bandits calls themselves the Messengers of Death. It's said that their leader is a powerful dark spirit master, so they must not underestimate them."
"I know most of you have never killed anyone before. This mission may be a completely new experience for you. I must emphasize that our mission this time is to leave no one alive—complete extermination. This is because there are no old, weak, or innocent individuals among these bandits, not a single decent soul."
Ma Xiaotao passionately briefed the team on the mission, while Yan Shaozhe stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant scenery. At this moment, Shrek Academy was facing a crisis, but he firmly believed that the academy would overcome this challenge. Bathed in the glory of the Sea God, all obstacles would surely be vanquished in honor of the thousand-year legacy of Shrek Academy. Clenching his fists, Yan Shaozhe silently encouraged himself.
Turning back, he saw Ma Xiaotao still explaining the mission details. Nodding, Yan Shaozhe took out a water bottle from his soul tool and took a drink. Since early morning, he had dealt with Elder Xuan, handled various matters, and led the team's departure. He hadn't had a moment's rest and was now taking advantage of the brief lull to relax a bit. Just as he took a few sips of water, he suddenly choked, coughing violently.
Backing up a few steps and patting his chest, he finally managed to spit out the water and felt a bit better. But then, an unpleasant smell hit him. Looking down, he realized he had stepped into a pile of dung left by some unknown soul beast. Yan Shaozhe's face darkened. How had he not noticed this earlier? Quickly, he slipped away to a secluded spot to deal with it.
Under a large tree, he leaned against the trunk, removed the sullied shoe, and began cleaning it. As if by some cosmic joke, a beehive fell from the tree just then, landing squarely on his head. A swarm of bees buzzed angrily, swarming toward Yan Shaozhe.
"Boom!"
An invisible aura exploded, shaking the entire mountain range. The commotion startled Ma Xiaotao and the others, who turned to see a very annoyed Yan Shaozhe emerging from the forest, his expression dark.
"Teacher, what happened?"
Ma Xiaotao stepped forward and asked, "Did we encounter enemies?"
Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and said, "It's nothing, just an accident."
"Have you finished explaining the mission?"
"Yes, everything's clear," Ma Xiaotao replied.
"Good. Let's move out. We've already informed the Star Luo Empire's garrison near the Mingdou Mountain Range. They'll provide detailed maps and accurate intelligence."
Yan Shaozhe's tone was calm, but it was clear he was in a sour mood. It felt like nothing had gone right for him all day. From being smacked around by Elder Xuan that morning, choking on water, stepping in dung, and now the beehive incident—misfortunes had piled up. Was this his unlucky day, or had he offended some celestial being?
"Yes, Teacher."
Sensing Yan Shaozhe's frustration, Ma Xiaotao wisely refrained from saying more. The reserve team, led by the official team, set off swiftly. After a tiring journey, they reached a Star Luo Empire garrison near the border and borrowed over a dozen military flying soul tools. This sped up their advance toward the Mingdou Mountain Range.
Flying soul tools proved invaluable since walking would have been too slow. However, the journey was not without mishaps—mechanical failures, soul power disruptions, and other issues plagued them. After much stumbling along, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the Mingdou Mountain Range by late night. The students were utterly exhausted; even Ma Xiaotao looked pale.
Yan Shaozhe, unimpressed by their condition, announced, "We'll rest tonight and begin the mission tomorrow. Anyone who can cook, step up and show us your skills."
The students exchanged glances in awkward silence. Almost all of them were privileged elites, unaccustomed to basic chores like cooking. Eventually, Jiang Nannan volunteered to handle it. Even cooking turned out to be chaotic—Ma Xiaotao nearly set the forest ablaze while trying to start a fire. Thanks to Ling Luochen's timely intervention, a disaster was averted.
After dinner, the group rested for the night.
The next day, they proceeded to the Star Luo Empire's western border garrison, where General Dai Hao provided them with maps and intelligence. Yan Shaozhe maintained his aloof demeanor, leaving everything to Ma Xiaotao to command. This mission was meant to test and hone their teamwork and leadership skills.
From the intelligence provided, Yan Shaozhe wasn't overly concerned. The strongest individual in the Messengers of Death was merely a Soul King, albeit possibly an evil soul master. But Shrek Academy's students were no pushovers—two Soul Emperors leading five Soul Kings made success almost certain. Yan Shaozhe followed along merely out of concern for the reserve team. In his mind, he thought this mission posed little danger.
"Everyone, come here for a moment," Wang Yan called out, snapping Yan Shaozhe out of his daze. He gestured for Ma Xiaotao and the others to gather around him. The students from the outer courtyard immediately responded, but the seven from the inner courtyard appeared somewhat impatient. While Wang Yan was a Soul King, his cultivation level was similar to theirs. Moreover, he was just a teacher from the outer courtyard, and inner courtyard students typically respected strength above all else.
While they didn't hold much reverence for someone not stronger than them, they still begrudgingly gave him face as their teacher. In a low voice, Wang Yan began, "I've just examined the surrounding area and observed some things along the way. Here's what I've discovered so far. Nearby, there are Wenlan Trees. These are relatively rare trees whose cores can be used medicinally, while their trunks are as hard as iron and excellent for crafting furniture. Wenlan Trees require highly pure air to grow and can only survive in areas with exceptionally lush vegetation. According to an ancient text I read, they are typically found at least fifty miles deep within dense forests."
"Additionally, Wenlan Trees thrive in cold, shadowy conditions, and their cores are highly beneficial to soul masters cultivating ice or shadow-based martial souls."
Ma Xiaotao furrowed her brows.
"Teacher Wang, just get to the point. Don't beat around the bush."
Wang Yan didn't take offense at her tone. Calmly, he continued, "The presence of Wenlan Trees indicates that we've entered the core area of the Mingdou Mountain Range—or at least its outskirts. According to our intel, the leader of the Death God's Hand bandit group might be an evil soul master. Just now, I found this."
He retrieved a section of tree trunk from his storage soul tool. The trunk had been partially clawed out, revealing a cylindrical hollow within.
"This is a Wenlan Tree. Its core, which should be a deep blue color, is gone—removed by someone. Based on our mission objectives, we can hypothesize that this was the work of the bandit leader or his subordinates, likely to nourish the bandit leader. If that's true," he concluded, "then the probability of encountering an evil soul master is high. Moreover, we're likely close to their location."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes narrowed.
"Teacher Wang, are you certain?"
"I am," Wang Yan confirmed with a nod.
"Good. Then let's follow this trail and locate the Death God's Hand." Ma Xiaotao, as a capable team leader, quickly understood the implications of Wang Yan's deduction. She knew the bandits would have left traces—broken branches, footprints, or faint bloodstains. By piecing together these clues, they could locate the bandits' hideout.
Without hesitation, the Shrek official and the reserve team began searching methodically. They scanned for broken branches, tracks, and other subtle signs as they delved deeper into the Mingdou Mountain Range, gradually moving beyond the forested area.
Roughly half an hour later, Ma Xiaotao abruptly stopped in her tracks. Wang Yan halted as well, saying, "The footprints here are chaotic and numerous. This path is frequently used. It seems we're heading in the right direction. Judging by the quantity of footprints, the bandits' base should be just ahead. Everyone, adjust your state and prepare for battle."
At his words, the Shrek Academy members began steadying their breathing. About 15 minutes later, Ma Xiaotao exchanged a glance with Dai Yueheng before the two stealthily advanced. Carefully climbing up a slope, they spotted a vine-covered cave below, with figures moving in and out. The two quickly retreated and returned to the group.
"It's confirmed," Dai Yueheng said in a low voice.
"The bandits' base is beneath that slope."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes flashed as she added, "We saw plenty of bandits around. It's their hideout."
Wang Yan nodded.
"In that case, let's proceed. The reserve team and I will handle support, while you take charge of the assault."
"No problem. Leave it to us," Ma Xiaotao replied, her pink eyes blazing with wild, fiery determination.
"Everyone, gear up. The Shrek Inspection Team is about to move out."
With Wang Yan's command, the team began changing into their equipment. Each person donned an inner armor that covered their entire body, including the head, leaving only the eyes exposed. The armor seemed to be made of a special leather with fine scales, providing considerable defense. Over the inner armor, they wore dark green combat uniforms, masks, and cloaks, along with the Shrek Inspection's signature signal flares.
Men and women changed separately for modesty, and soon, the entire group reconvened. Masked and cloaked, they were uniformly shrouded in green, exuding an air of mystery and intimidation. Once everyone was ready, Wang Yan spoke softly, "Let's move. Xiaotao, you'll command the assault team, while I coordinate with the reserve team for support."