Wei Zhongran said "not bad" twice, first praising Li Yan and his team for their recent performance.
Li Yan now understood, of course, that this master of his had his own selfish motives. When he had him join the Ninth Squad of the Heavy Peak Battalion, he must have already known that Bai Rou's team was strong overall. By having him join, his own safety would be more guaranteed.
"Junior Brother Wei is absolutely right. This disciple of mine is a rare genius in the art of mechanisms. With the protection of the puppets she refined, her squad's performance has always been among the best in Windy Cool Mountain, let alone just in the Heavy Peak Battalion. No wonder you had this boy join Bai Rou's squad as soon as he arrived. But looking at him, his cultivation is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. He doesn't seem as formidable as Bai Rou often says he is..."
Before Elder Chigong could finish his words, Bai Rou, standing below, was already blushing crimson. She quickly said, "Master, I... When did I ever tell you how formidable Junior Brother Li is? Oh, no, Junior... Junior Brother Li, I didn't mean it like that... I..."
Hearing Elder Chigong actually repeat their private conversations, and even adding the words "often says," Bai Rou felt both shy and anxious.
She hurriedly tried to explain, but after the words left her mouth, she realized that her explanation clearly sounded like she was looking down on Li Yan. She quickly bowed slightly to Li Yan beside her to explain.
Li Yan just gave Bai Rou a wry smile. "Senior Sister Bai, you're overthinking it. Reporting to Martial Uncle Chigong, I just have a better flying magical treasure, so I'm a bit faster at escaping."
Hearing this, Elder Chigong thought for a moment. It seemed Bai Rou had mentioned that this boy had led them to escape the enemy's encirclement several times.
He actually meant no harm. It was just that recently, whenever he saw Bai Rou and asked about her situation, she would always mention Li Yan. Later, he recalled that Li Yan was Wei Zhongran's disciple. Although he hadn't been involved in the matter of Li Yan joining the sect, he had heard about it afterward.
Based on Elder Chigong's understanding of Bai Rou, he had never seen her repeatedly mention another male cultivator. He couldn't help but become suspicious.
However, Elder Chigong did not know about the relationship between Li Yan and Zhao Min. Seeing Li Yan today, he couldn't help but feel a sense of scrutiny.
Hearing this and seeing Bai Rou's expression below, Wei Zhongran frowned slightly. But when his gaze swept over Li Yan's clear-as-water eyes, he relaxed again, thinking he must have been overthinking things.
So Wei Zhongran cleared his throat lightly. "The reason you two were summoned is that a few days ago, I, Elder Chigong, and several other elders discussed a matter that we need you to handle.
"For this trip, the number of people can be at most five. We have reviewed all the recent missions in the Hall of Deacons and believe that if you undertake this mission, the chances of success will be much higher.
"However, the most crucial point here is that this mission requires absolutely trustworthy people. Hence, we have chosen the two of you.
"After the mission is explained, you will select the other three members from the Ninth Squad yourselves. The condition is that these three must be people you absolutely trust."
Hearing Wei Zhongran directly state the purpose for summoning them, Li Yan and Bai Rou understood. Although his tone was still gentle, it was clear there was no room for discussion.
Li Yan had long known that although his master was extremely protective of his disciples, he was very clear when it came to the interests of the sect. Li Yan immediately responded respectfully. Bai Rou also nodded her head lightly, waiting for what was to come.
Elder Chigong, who had been about to ask more questions, saw that Wei Zhongran had already gotten to the point, and his smile faded as well.
"Once you have selected your personnel, immediately head to a small town called 'Zhouyang Town' and bring back two cultivators from there.
"These two cultivators are from the South Sea, nominally disciples of the South Sea cultivation sect, the 'Clear Spirit Sect.' They were recently requisitioned by the Demon Clan army along with the rest of the Clear Spirit Sect.
"But in reality, these two are direct disciples of the first-rate South Sea cultivation family, the 'Luoshu Lake.'
"This 'Luoshu Lake' cultivation family has a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert, and they are extremely powerful with extensive influence in the South Sea.
"During this demon invasion, this mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator happened to be traveling far from the South Sea before the invasion and came to the Malevolent Spirit Sect, thus avoiding the terrifying fate of being captured by a Demon Marshal and having a restriction placed upon him.
"The 'Luoshu Lake' family has always been a reclusive family, so not many people know of them. For the time being, their family should not have been discovered by the Demon Clan.
"And 'Luoshu Lake' and the 'Clear Spirit Sect' have some historical ties in their lineage.
"These two 'Clear Spirit Sect' disciples are the most outstanding disciples of their family's younger generation. They were temporarily stationed with the 'Clear Spirit Sect' as part of a prodigy exchange between 'Luoshu Lake' and the 'Clear Spirit Sect' to learn each other's immortal arts, but they were unexpectedly swept onto the battlefield.
"The two young cultivators from 'Luoshu Lake' continuously sent out distress signals through the life-saving jade pendants they had been given. A few days ago, their signals were finally sensed by this 'Luoshu Lake' Nascent Soul expert, and only then did he learn that his own family's direct disciples had come here.
"Ultimately, this 'Luoshu Lake' Nascent Soul expert discussed with the higher-ups of our four sects. If we can send people to bring these two back, then he is willing to risk returning to the South Sea.
"Then he can secretly contact a group of friends, and when the great battle here begins, they will attack the demon cultivators from the rear. That is why you have been summoned. Do you understand the importance of this?"
Elder Chigong explained the gist of the mission in one breath.
Li Yan and Bai Rou naturally understood, and they were shocked.
Li Yan's thoughts ran even deeper. He pondered, 'It seems those two disciples are extremely important in the "Luoshu Lake" cultivation family. It's possible they're not just the prodigies of the younger generation, but very likely the direct descendants of this "Luoshu Lake" Nascent Soul expert.'
For a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert to be willing to risk his life and sneak back to repay the favor of the four sects, even knowing that the enemy had four Spirit Transformation level top experts, there was a lot more to the story.
But then again, the Four Great Sects definitely placed great importance on this matter. A Nascent Soul expert's friends couldn't be weak.
The key to this great battle was the Spirit Transformation cultivators, but the main fighting force was the Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators. If, at a critical moment in the battle, a group of such experts could launch a surprise attack from behind the Demon Clan's lines, the damage they could inflict would be immeasurable, and could even turn the tide of the entire war.
Bai Rou frowned slightly and asked softly, "What are the cultivation levels of those two 'Luoshu Lake' disciples? And why doesn't that 'Luoshu Lake' Nascent Soul expert go to retrieve them himself?"
Li Yan had also thought of this just now and nodded lightly.
"Of the two 'Luoshu Lake' disciples, one is at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and the other is at the late-stage. Their cultivation is quite decent.
"As for the location of 'Zhouyang Town'? It is already near the edge of the Demon Clan's army. 'Zhouyang Town' is also an occasional rest stop for the Demon Clan's scouts. You could say it's one of their strongholds.
"The mission of the 'Clear Spirit Sect,' where the two 'Luoshu Lake' disciples are, is to scout for information, so they also make temporary stops in 'Zhouyang Town' from time to time.
"That area is already within the divine sense control range of the Demon Clan's experts. Demonic Generals' divine senses often crisscross and probe the area. Even if that 'Luoshu Lake' mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator were to appear there, there's no guarantee he could evade all detection.
"As for him suppressing his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment stage, if one of the enemy Demonic Generals has cultivated a great divine ability similar to the 'Heaven-Piercing Dharma Eye,' their scans would be even more sensitive to hidden auras, and he might expose himself even faster. Therefore, suppressing his cultivation to go and retrieve them is not the best strategy, but a last resort. A fake is still a fake.
"Actually, a Golden Core cultivator could go, because the other side also has some Golden Core cultivators out scouting for information. There are Golden Core cultivators active in 'Zhouyang Town.'
"However, for both sides, although the number of Golden Core cultivators is much greater than Nascent Soul, they are still very conspicuous compared to the ubiquitous Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Therefore, after receiving this mission, I discussed it with the other elders and we still decided to have you go. Mixed in with the Foundation Establishment cultivators in a remote area, you are the most likely to be overlooked."
Wei Zhongran's words came out slowly, answering the questions Bai Rou had raised.
"Then why don't these two 'Luoshu Lake' disciples take the opportunity when they are out scouting to get close to our controlled territory and then secretly escape? Wouldn't that be better?" Li Yan asked after a moment of thought, proposing a feasible escape plan.
"That's because they have long had restrictions placed on them. The Demon Clan doesn't trust them completely. All cultivators requisitioned from the South Sea are led by two members of the Demon Clan when they go out. These two demon cultivators hold tokens that control their life and death. If they don't receive news from the scouts who have been sent out by the appointed time, regardless of whether those cultivators truly couldn't return because they were gathering information or for other reasons, they will activate the restriction tokens without hesitation and take their lives.
"There is another important reason. The ones who can truly get close to our territory are the elite demon cultivators and those mysterious human cultivators. As for sects like the 'Clear Spirit Sect,' the tasks they often perform are just to search for our scouts and then capture or kill them. This method is, in fact, forcing them to submit a 'Pledge of Allegiance.' Once they have killed enough of our cultivators, they will never be able to gain our approval in the future."
Wei Zhongran explained in detail.
Elder Chigong snorted lightly. "It's possible these two have already killed many of our cultivators. But... if it can be exchanged for the action of a Nascent Soul expert, all of this can naturally be overlooked."
"So that means, after we go over, we must first kill the two leading demon cultivators. Then we pretend to be a squad that has come to scout, and finally, we return."
Li Yan already understood the plan from the higher-ups, and perhaps they had even figured out how they would return.
As expected, Elder Chigong was the first to nod. "Your idea and the plan are basically the same. In any case, there are the most Foundation Establishment cultivators on the front lines of both sides. If you mix in with them, it will be truly difficult to attract special attention. This method is quite comprehensive."
Li Yan and Bai Rou looked at each other and saw the worry in each other's eyes. Although the plan conceived by the higher-ups was feasible, the path was interwoven with enemy and friendly personnel. How could they easily travel thousands of miles back and forth without revealing any flaws?
Along the way, they would also have to guard against being "accidentally" assassinated by their own people. These were problems that existed at all times.
Furthermore, how could they silently kill the two leading demon cultivators? That "Zhouyang Town" was the enemy's stronghold. And at times, it was within the divine sense control area of the enemy's Demonic Generals. Although these Demonic Generals couldn't possibly be watching every inch of the area at all times, who could guarantee that when they made their move, a Demonic General's divine sense wouldn't happen to sweep over them?
Although Elder Chigong spoke of it lightly, he, Wei Zhongran, and the others had discussed it for a long time and were very worried about both Bai Rou and Li Yan. As for the other three, they were directly ignored by Wei Zhongran and Elder Chigong.
But for a matter of such importance that it could affect the decisive battle, they could only send their most trusted disciples to complete it. So, hardening their hearts, they still decided to have Bai Rou and Li Yan carry it out.
This was not to say that only the two of them were trustworthy, but that this was the result of their discussions after comprehensively reviewing the mission completion rates of all the squads in the Hall of Deacons. It just so happened that Bai Rou's squad had performed exceptionally well. The other Malevolent Spirit Sect disciples in the Ninth Squad simply didn't have masters who were elders like Li Yan and Bai Rou, so for this mission, they could only obey orders and had no right to know more.