Chapter 862: Ling Zhan Alone Is a Legion!
As it turned out, Ling Zhan's decision was the right one.
The very night he made that decision, the Demon-Slaying Legion's headquarters received a batch of resignation requests.
The Demon-Slaying Legion had a total of 7,200 members.
Now, as many as 4,000 had submitted withdrawal applications.
And all were submitted directly by their families.
Clearly, it was their parents and loved ones who didn't want their children taking on such a dangerous mission.
Which was completely understandable.
This was perhaps the highest-difficulty SSS-grade mission to date.
Eliminate thirty super fortresses each guarded by a Demon Lord.
With no supply lines, no backup from other legions—completing this mission would be a one-in-a-million chance.
Some families even raged at the Sacred Court Council's decision—
Calling it insane, a decision only the brainless could have made.
Well…
It had to be said, their anger wasn't unjustified.
They simply didn't know the full picture.
As previously mentioned—
The deepest part of the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss lies closest to the planet's core, constantly siphoning magical energy.
Recent measurements by leading arcane-tech scientists showed that the planet's core energy was nearing depletion.
If the abyssal monsters kept draining it, within two years, the entire planet's resources would be exhausted.
When that happens—
The earth will crack.
Water will dry up.
Plants will rot.
Living beings will perish.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disasters will flood in.
The whole world will become a wasteland.
By then—
With depleted resources, the nations and races will gradually fall behind in the war and eventually be massacred by the Ten Thousand Demons.
This was slow death.
Many people had been blinded by superficial victories.
Over the centuries—
Humans had reclaimed city after city, regaining pride and taking back resources and land.
Recently, national legions had been performing brilliantly at the front lines.
Hardly any losses.
This gave Professionals across the continent a sense of confidence, believing their nations and races now held absolute advantage.
That they could slowly corner the abyssal monsters.
Drive them to the brink step by step.
But what they didn't realize was…
The ones in danger were actually themselves.
They'd been fooled by surface-level victories.
In two more years, their side would start losing ground.
That's why the Sacred Court Council had to push the final campaign ahead of schedule.
They didn't make this core intel public because it would only spark mass panic, achieving nothing.
All top-tier global combatants were already being mobilized.
Publicizing the truth would only plunge the population into fear and internal chaos.
And give the Demon Arrival Organization an opening.
The Demon Arrival Organization still blended in among the masses.
If panic and disorder spread, they'd use the opportunity to lure people in—
Promising that by joining, they too could become noble demonkind and rule the mortal world.
Therefore—
The Sacred Court Council kept this intel within the highest levels only.
And Ling Zhan…
Had now rightfully become one of the highest-ranking officials among the world's legions.
Put simply—
The Sacred Court Council now had to reserve a seat at the table for Ling Zhan.
In his early twenties, he had become one of them.
Sitting alongside beings hundreds or even thousands of years old—he stood out, but everyone there knew he belonged.
Yeah…
It was simply too outrageous.
No one would've believed a twenty-something could match them.
But Ling Zhan's arrival gave them hope.
The early deployment of the final campaign hinged on him.
So, after unanimous agreement among the Council's top brass, they decided to let Ling Zhan lead the only available force—the Demon-Slaying Legion—to recapture the thirty super fortresses.
Within the entire Sacred Court Council, only Ling Zhan could pull this off.
Not even the Four Grand Mages, Four War Gods, or Three Sword Saints—each a world-class powerhouse—could replace him.
Not because those veterans were weak—
But because Ling Zhan's non-specialist nature was simply too invincible.
He had no class, yet was fully versatile!
Many had believed that the non-specialist class only had early-game advantages.
Since early dungeons and monsters were weak, even basic skills could deal solid damage.
Without class restrictions, you could use any skill, making you flexible.
Back during the college entrance exam, Ling Zhan was mocked and dismissed as just a "small-town test taker."
Meaning they thought he stayed unclassed just to game the exam—and would be exposed after level 20.
To most, non-specialists had no late-game potential.
But Ling Zhan forced a new path for the non-specialist class!
Who said non-specialists had no late-game!?
Ling Zhan was the strongest late-game non-specialist!
And his identity would only become stronger as he leveled up!
He could tank.
He could DPS.
He could support.
Or all three at once!
Ling Zhan alone was a whole army!
All the old-timers had no choice but to admit their age before him.
They no longer believed they could defeat the current Ling Zhan.
Thus, Ling Zhan had become the Sacred Court Council's—no, the world's—timely rain!!
His arrival lifted the gloom from the Sacred Court Council's faces.
Of course…
The only reason they opposed making him chief instructor before was because they hadn't seen his terrifying strength.
But now that they had, they had no choice but to acknowledge him.
And there simply wasn't a better candidate to lead.
At this moment—
Facing the 4,000 resignation letters, Ling Zhan approved every one.
With his current authority, the Sacred Court Council had entrusted the entire legion to his management.
Even if Ling Zhan disbanded the Demon-Slaying Legion outright, they wouldn't object.
His adjutant watched Ling Zhan sign off and stamp without even glancing at the documents—
And couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his eyes.