Demon Village Invasion
"Master, if the inner city is so powerful, why don't they send their own experts to explore the demon village? Why must we take on this dangerous task?" Sixth Senior Brother Bai Dongdong asked, his voice laced with frustration.
Xu He sighed, his expression grim. "The elites of the inner city don't want to risk their lives. They're also wary of traps that could endanger their own ranks. To them, the lives of Martial Artists in the outer city are expendable—far less valuable than even a single inner-city master."
His words hung heavy in the air. Xu He continued, "This decision is final. No one can change it. Each force in the outer city must contribute manpower. As one of the sixteen martial arts schools here, Qinggang Martial Arts School is obligated to send thirty Martial Artists."
The announcement left everyone uneasy. With only a little over sixty Martial Artists in the school, sending half the force seemed a dire prospect.
Xu He reassured his disciples, "No one below the Great Accomplishment of the Stone Skin Realm will be sent. It would only mean certain death for them."
Relief swept through the lower-ranked disciples, who felt grateful for once for their limited cultivation. Meanwhile, Xu He began assigning roles. "Ling'er, you will stay behind to oversee the martial arts school. We cannot afford to leave it unguarded."
Senior Sister Xiao Ling nodded. "Yes, Master."
Xu He continued selecting who would remain. His choices clearly favored the young, promising disciples who had reached the Copper Skin Realm, sparing them from the deadly mission. However, Ye Chen wasn't so fortunate. His status as a disciple with modest qualifications and limited prospects meant he had no choice but to participate. Refusing the mission would mean defection, marking him as a traitor to the Qinggang Martial Arts School and ensuring he would be hunted down.
Recognizing the mood, Xu He sought to inspire his disciples. "Do not fear. I will accompany you on this mission. Additionally, all spoils you claim in the demon stronghold—martial arts manuals, elixirs, secret medicines, monster blood, or demon corpses—are yours to keep. These riches will be a great reward for those who return alive."
The promise of wealth and valuable resources stirred a spark of hope and determination among the disciples. Fear began to give way to anticipation as they imagined the rewards waiting on the other side of this perilous journey.
With the mission set to begin the next day, the disciples returned home to make their final arrangements. Ye Chen, ever pragmatic, headed to the Demon Suppression Department to craft additional Demon-Breaking Arrows. Though time was limited, he managed to create three arrows before returning to his small courtyard, armed with his bow and clad in Eighth Grade armor.
He mused to himself, "The priority tomorrow is survival. As long as I stay alive, I can continue to grow stronger and accumulate resources. There's no need to take unnecessary risks."
The next morning, Ye Chen arrived at the martial arts school, equipped with a weapon rack embedded in his armor, holding a long sword and his bow. However, the absence of one disciple enraged Xu He.
"Ling'er, put out a bounty for the traitor Yang Ze," he ordered, his tone icy.
"Yes, Master," Xiao Ling responded without hesitation.
Xu He swiftly reassigned a direct disciple from the Copper Skin Realm to fill the gap before leading the group to the city gates. They joined Martial Artists from various other forces and 300 elite city guards, each equipped with formidable Eighth Grade weapons and armor.
Commanded by Xiao Long, the city guards maintained strict order. The sight of their powerful presence provided some reassurance to the Martial Artists, though the arrangement left much to be desired.
"You enter Qingfeng Demon Village first," Xiao Long commanded, pointing toward the gates of the demon stronghold.
The order sparked silent resentment. Many had hoped the city guards would lead the charge. Yet, with their bows aimed at the Martial Artists, disobedience wasn't an option.
Xu He gave a rallying cry. "Kill!" He led the Qinggang Martial Arts School disciples forward.
The initial wave of opposition wasn't demons but the former bandits of Qingfeng Village, now controlled by the demons. Though they were strong, they were no match for the combined forces of the Martial Artists.
Ye Chen found himself locked in combat with a bandit of the Basic Accomplishment Stone Skin Realm. The fight dragged on as he deliberately avoided drawing attention, steering himself away from the main battlefield. When the opportunity arose, he unleashed his true strength, crushing his opponent's neck with his bare hands using his Qinggang hand technique.
Hidden in the shadows, Ye Chen remained vigilant, waiting for the right moment to strike—or escape.