After entering the Ming Dou Mountains, the group advanced on foot—following military intelligence to track the bandits. But by nightfall, they'd found nothing.
They camped in a dense forest.
Then—
Tap Tap Tap!
Chen Junting stopped before a massive tree, pounding its trunk.
Ning Tian approached first. "Junting? What are you doing?"
He kept his eyes locked on the iron-hard bark. "Xiao Tian—check if this is Wenlan Tree. I think it is."
Wang Yan stepped forward—then nodded sharply. "It is Wenlan. Junting, split it open."
Chen Junting raised his sword finger.
A single blade of sword qi cleaved the already-fractured tree cleanly down the middle.
"Exactly!" Wang Yan's face lit up. "The core's gone!"
Ma Xiaotao frowned. "Teacher Wang—what does that mean?"
Before he could answer, Ning Tian recited like a scholar:
"Wenlan Trees thrive in cold, dark places. Their cores are medicinal—and enhance cultivation for those with yin-cold martial souls. But Wenlan is rare. This many trees… unusual."
She stuck out her tongue playfully. "Mom studies plants."
Chen Junting added, "Evil soul masters favor yin-cold energy."
The group understood instantly.
Wang Yan called Huo Yuhao over. "Use Spirit Detection—sweep the area."
"Your couple act is flawless," Xu Sanshi teased, sidling up to Chen Junting and Ning Tian. "Almost as good as me and Nannan!"
When Bei Bei arrived, he immediately shot him down. "You wish."
Chen Junting and Ning Tian exchanged glances. Poor Sister Nannan.
---
Soon, Huo Yuhao detected traces: snapped branches, footprints, torn cloth on thorns, blood on brambles. They were closing in.
At a hillside cave veiled by vines, they donned Inspection Corps uniforms. The seven Inner Court students surged ahead—leaving Chen Junting no time to speak.
"Sigh…" He watched them vanish into darkness. I hope those Invincible Barriers hold.
At least let Chen Zifeng's trio survive.
"Xiao Feng—come here."
"Sword-face! What?" Wu Feng was already in martial soul manifestation, dragon claws wreathed in flame—ready to fight.
"Burn these bodies."
"Huh!? No way!" She scowled. First smelt metal, now burn corpses? Does she have no dignity?!
But when Ning Tian said, "Feng, listen to Brother Junting," she huffed—and obeyed.
Halfway through, Chen Junting called out: "No fooling around. This is serious."
Her anger vanished. She burned all six bodies to ash.
"Chen Junting, why destroy evidence?" Wang Yan asked, puzzled.
"To prevent corpse manipulation," Chen Junting explained. "We encountered an evil soul master during the holiday. My master taught me: their methods are treacherous. Destroy anything suspicious—or you'll drown in a ditch."
Wang Yan nodded. "Still… these corpses?"
"Better safe than sorry."
Just then—
a muffled explosion echoed from the cave. Shouts, clashes, and intense soul power fluctuations followed.
"We're moving in," Wang Yan ordered. "Yuhao—full Spirit Detection. Stay sharp."
A 3D mental map unfolded. As they advanced, horrors greeted them:
- Bodies strewn everywhere.
- Human skins hung on walls.
- An infant impaled on a stalagmite.
Horror gripped them—then burned away in fury.
"Xiao Feng—burn them. Let them rest in peace," Chen Junting said coldly.
Wu Feng unleashed crimson flames. Ashes swirled—then onward.
Deeper inside, more corpses piled high. Inside, chaos raged.
Yet no one pitied the bandits. The walls told their story—crimes beyond counting.
When the reserves reached the Inner Court team, fire still roared behind them.
"Finish it," Wang Yan roared. "Cut off the head and roots—end this forever!"
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read an exclusive novel – 'Douluo: Rebuilding Hao Tian Sect'
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)