Chapter 865: Two Thousand—Expendable? The Turning Tide of Public Opinion!
They were terrified the female reporter might have left behind some demonic seed on them.
Moreover…
If the authorities started investigating—
The reporters who had accepted bribes would have no way to prove their innocence.
After all, their words alone held no weight as testimony.
But the benefits they received? Those were very real.
Thinking of this—
All the reporters started to panic.
The fierce and fearless expressions they'd had when questioning Ling Zhan were now replaced by fear and dread.
The contrast couldn't have been sharper.
Ling Zhan looked at the terrified group and said flatly, "Someone, take these reporters away for interrogation. Release the footage publicly. I have every reason to suspect they're colluding with the Demon Arrival Organization."
"Yes, Instructor!"
The Demon-Slaying Legion members leapt at the chance.
They stormed in, kicking and dragging the reporters away.
The generals on the VIP platform exchanged glances, admiration clear in their eyes.
Hmm…
This young chief instructor wasn't just powerful—he was also calm and experienced.
Earlier, many Demon-Slaying Legion members of similar age to Ling Zhan had been shaking with rage, itching to beat the reporters.
But violence wasn't the best solution—and it would leave them vulnerable to criticism.
In contrast, Ling Zhan…
Had remained calm and composed, turning the tables with a sharp counter-question.
The generals were even more relieved—
Grateful they hadn't missed out on this talent.
Thinking back on their previous objections to his appointment, they now felt deep regret.
Fortunately, things were moving in a better direction.
With this, a potential public opinion crisis had been averted.
But it confirmed one thing—
The Demon Arrival Organization had started meddling in this operation.
No one had expected Ling Zhan to identify a Demon Arrival spy on sight.
Not even the generals on the platform—each over level 190—had noticed anything.
Not because they were weak.
But because this wasn't a xianxia world.
In xianxia, high-level cultivators could see through someone's past with a glance—even how many times they wet the bed as a child.
But this was a game-based world.
No one could identify everything about a person with a single glance.
Just like how adventurers needed teammates to lift information barriers and reveal stats, level, and gear before a dungeon run to weed out slackers.
Ling Zhan being able to identify a spy instantly—that level of discernment was remarkable.
With the troublesome reporters gone, the deployment ceremony continued.
The ceremony itself was not overly complicated.
No one here was the type to indulge in excessive formalities.
After a few rousing words from the generals—
The departure began.
Two thousand people…
Hmm, hardly a grand procession.
Compared to legions numbering in the tens or hundreds of millions, this was nothing.
"Honestly, those old men at the Holy Council are pinning their hopes on Ling Zhan alone."
"These two thousand people? Expendable."
A general sighed as he watched the two thousand board the teleportation array and vanish.
His colleagues chuckled dryly.
It was true—
But it would hurt the Demon-Slaying Legion's morale to say so aloud.
The Holy Council had likely been pleased when Ling Zhan allowed unconditional resignations.
Many of the prodigies in the legion were descendants of those old men.
Of course they wanted to protect their own.
They preferred their children to mature until their 30s or 40s before sending them to the battlefield.
"Even if online media loves to stir controversy, everyone knows this SSS-grade mission has little chance of success."
"Two thousand set out. Other than Ling Zhan, who knows how many will return…"
Another general shook his head.
"If they don't get wiped out entirely, that alone would be a miracle. I get why the Holy Council made this call, but I'm still conflicted…"
Even knowing that the planet's core energy was near collapse,
Few believed two thousand people could succeed in a mission meant for billions.
Still, the generals agreed on one thing—
Ling Zhan would survive.
Though he hadn't yet clashed with the world-title peak powerhouses,
Everyone predicted that if he did, he wouldn't lose.
Whether the other 2,000 would survive… that was uncertain.
It would depend on whether Ling Zhan could protect them.
"Enough, old friends. No use worrying."
"The decision's been made—we can't change it."
"Let's just hope they complete their mission and return safely."
...…
...…
The mission had begun!
The news instantly set the already-feverish internet ablaze.
But this time, things didn't spiral out of control.
The authorities immediately released the video of Ling Zhan exposing the Demon Arrival spy.
The moment it dropped—
Boom!!
The internet erupted.
Major media outlets that had been condemning Ling Zhan deleted their reports within thirty minutes.
Influencers scrambled to post clarification videos, claiming they were just following the trend and didn't actually mean harm.
They insisted they weren't spies.
They had no choice…
No one wanted even the slightest association with the Demon Arrival Organization.
It was widely known: any group found linked to them—be it media or corporation—would be obliterated.
Even global giants wouldn't survive it.
The severity with which nations cracked down on the Demon Arrival Organization could not be underestimated.
And in that moment, countless netizens had a revelation—
Damn!!
They'd been used—turned into pawns!
And they'd spent days trashing the Holy Council and Ling Zhan online!
This reversal… was simply jaw-dropping.