46: Proton (8)

The moonlight was hazy, and the night breeze blew.

This time, without the confusion of the spring awakening grass, Chi Yun's mind was clear.

He clearly felt the Pure Yin power within Yun Xi's body surging into his own through a mysterious method.

The Nine Hells Heavenly Scripture circulated on its own, like a greedy vortex, crazily absorbing this extremely pure energy.

His cultivation began to advance slowly once again.

At the same time, Yun Xi also felt the change.

A similarly powerful and pure masculine power fed back from Chi Yun's Dao Body, merging into her limbs and bones.

Her heart shook violently, and she gained a deeper understanding of Chi Yun's Physique.

This was definitely no ordinary spiritual body; the dominance and purity of this feedback power far exceeded her imagination... The morning light pierced through the gaps in the forest, dispelling the last of the night.

Yun Xi quickly tidied her messy clothes, returning to her usual coldness.

She looked at Chi Yun, her gaze incredibly complex.

"Chi Yun, I will remember you."

Her voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

"I will pretend I didn't see you killing the Yun Family disciples last night. But the matter between us is not over."

Chi Yun understood that she was providing cover for his killings.

He nodded calmly as a response.

A strange understanding formed between the two; without another word, they turned and left in different directions.

The Grand Exam soon ended.

When the results were announced, Yun Xi's name caused quite a stir.

Due to the two "accidents," her cultivation had soared in a short time, and her ranking in the Grand Exam jumped significantly, making her a dark horse in the Outer Academy Hall.

Meanwhile, Chi Yun's ranking was low, as unremarkable as ever, attracting no attention.

As soon as the Grand Exam ended, he immediately initiated his long-planned departure plan.

Outer Academy Hall, Duty Office.

Chi Yun went directly to the Deacon in charge of assignments.

His reasons were sound; his talent was "ordinary," and he likely wouldn't be promoted to the Inner Academy Hall, so instead of continuing to waste time, it was better to find work early.

He hoped to apply for a long-term mission to a remote Vassal State as a Xuanjin Guard.

The academy always had preferential policies for those who took the initiative to go to such harsh regions.

The Deacon handling the paperwork looked at Chi Yun with a gaze filled with pity and contempt.

In his eyes, this was undoubtedly being exiled to the border, ruining his own future.

An Outer Academy Hall student who didn't think about how to enter the Inner Academy Hall, but instead wanted to go to a Vassal State to be a Xuanjin Guard, was either stupid or a fool.

Chi Yun didn't care about such looks at all.

He successfully obtained the transfer order and left Xuan Yuan City directly without staying for a moment.

Great Yan Empire, Qingyun City.

This place was an Empire under the Xuan Yuan Dynasty, far from the center of the Imperial Dynasty, and the Spiritual Qi was relatively thin.

Chi Yun took the transfer order to report for duty.

The one who received him was the squad leader, Xuanjin High Guard Tiger, a Spirit King Realm second tier strongman.

Tiger glanced at the transfer order, then at Chi Yun, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.

He led Chi Yun into the meeting hall, where several veteran members were already sitting.

"Let me introduce you, this is our new brother, Chi Yun."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man built like an iron tower stood up.

He was Wu Gang, with a cultivation at the half-step Spirit King Realm, the second-in-command of the team.

"Captain, this kid is so young, what's his cultivation?" Wu Gang sized up Chi Yun, his gaze full of hostility.

Tiger was a bit embarrassed but still said, "Spirit Transformation Realm fourth tier."

"What?" Wu Gang exploded on the spot, "Spirit Transformation Realm fourth tier? Captain, you've got to be kidding! The higher-ups sent us a pampered soldier?"

"We Xuanjin Guards carry out life-and-death missions. Taking along a connected deadweight like this, do they think we aren't dying fast enough?" He pointed at Chi Yun and roared at Tiger without restraint.

The other veteran members didn't speak, but the distrust and rejection in their eyes said it all.

"Alright, Wu Gang," Tiger stepped in to mediate, "This is a transfer order directly assigned by the academy; we do things by the book."

His words also revealed his lack of confidence in Chi Yun's strength.

Chi Yun remained silent from beginning to end, calmly observing everyone.

Only a few days after he settled in, the assembly whistle for an emergency mission sounded.

Inside the station's meeting hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

Tiger stood before a large map, his expression serious.

"Emergency briefing. A newly ascended Spirit King Realm Yao Beast, the 'Red-Eyed Wind Wolf,' has appeared in the Black Wind Mountains. It is gathering a pack, and there's a risk of a small-scale beast tide forming. Once the beast tide breaks out, several cities downstream will suffer."

He pointed heavily at a mountain range on the map.

"Our mission is to go deep into the mountains and kill the alpha wolf!"

Hearing this, the faces of Wu Gang and the others immediately turned very ugly.

A Spirit King Realm Yao Beast leading a pack; the difficulty and danger of this mission far exceeded previous ones.

"Everyone Move out, prepare immediately!" Tiger ordered.

Wu Gang's gaze turned viciously toward Chi Yun again, muttering, "Taking a burden along, how unlucky."

The morale of the entire team instantly plummeted.

The squad soon entered the Black Wind Mountains.

The atmosphere was oppressive; Wu Gang and the others deliberately marginalized Chi Yun at the end of the line, having no communication with him.

Chi Yun was happy to have the peace, following behind, his sharp perception already spread out.

As they went deeper, the wolf howls became more frequent.

They eventually encountered the wolf pack head-on in a valley.

The leading Red-Eyed Wind Wolf was massive, radiating a terrifying Spirit King Realm pressure.

"Kill!"

Tiger roared and was the first to charge.

The battle broke out instantly.

Just as Wu Gang and the others were about to be overwhelmed by several elite demon wolves in a critical moment.

A sudden change occurred!

Three black shadows, like ghosts, shot out silently from the dense forest.

They wore uniform black tight-fitting clothes and silver masks with no patterns on their faces.

The target of the black shadows wasn't the Xuanjin Guard squad at all, but the Red-Eyed Wind Wolf!

They coordinated perfectly, their Moves being ruthless and efficient.

One of them actually managed to easily tie down the Spirit King Realm Red-Eyed Wind Wolf.

The other two were like harvesting wheat, quickly killing the surrounding demon wolves.

The battle situation reversed in an instant.

The leading black shadow seized an opening and, with overwhelming power, pierced the head of the Red-Eyed Wind Wolf in a single blow.

But he didn't take the priceless Monster Core.

Instead, he reached into the wolf's corpse and pulled out a heart surrounded by black Qi that was still slightly throbbing.

After getting the heart, the three black shadows had no communication, not even glancing at the Xuanjin Guard squad, before quickly turning and disappearing into the depths of the forest.

As if they had never appeared.

In the chaos, a Poisoned Wind Blade spat out by a dying demon wolf shot silently toward the dazed Wu Gang.

Chi Yun seemingly rushed over in a panic and pushed him aside.

"Watch out!"

The wind blade grazed Wu Gang's cheek and left a small, pitch-black hole in the ground.

Wu Gang was stunned, and for the first time, his gaze toward Chi Yun changed.

In the wolf valley, only a ground full of wolf corpses and the shaken Xuanjin Guard squad remained.

The mission was "completed," but everyone felt a bone-chilling cold.

Who were those people?

Why did they only take the heart? What was their purpose?

Captain Tiger looked in the direction where the black shadows had disappeared, his expression grave to the extreme, as he murmured to himself, "Those people... are definitely not from the Righteous Path forces of the Xuan Yuan Dynasty."

He seemed to remember something and said in a heavy voice, "I've heard that in recent years, several surrounding Imperial Dynasties have experienced turmoil, and it seems a group of mysterious forces wearing masks is behind it, fueling the flames."

Hearing this news, Chi Yun fell into deep thought.