Lin Xue looked up, her amber cat-like pupils constricting slightly under the light, much like a startled cat. She instinctively shrank back a little, but quickly relaxed again, revealing a faint smile. "It's because the Strategist commanded well. I just... did what I was supposed to do."
"No." Su Chen sat down opposite her, his tone very serious. "If you hadn't suppressed the soul shock of those two sealing guardians at the very last moment, every single one of us would have been done for. Your Shadow Cat Martial Soul has an innate counter to soul-type attacks; you might be the only one in the entire academy capable of that."
Lin Xue lowered her head, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her cup, remaining silent. She wasn't very used to being praised. Growing up, she had always been the shadow hiding in the corner, unnoticed by others. During the Martial Soul awakening ceremony, when the testing crystal displayed the words "Shadow Cat," what she saw were the disappointed looks in the eyes of those around her. Shadow Cat—an auxiliary-type Martial Soul with no offensive power whatsoever, only capable of invisibility, stealth, and aura perception. In a world that revered strength, such a Martial Soul meant mediocrity, meant forever standing behind others.
But Su Chen didn't see it that way.
"Lin Xue, have you ever considered that your Martial Soul might be more than just support?" Su Chen set down his wine glass, leaning forward slightly. "In legends, the Shadow Cat is the emissary of the Netherworld Lord, capable of traversing the boundary between life and death. Its abilities are far more than just simple invisibility."
Lin Xue's eyes lit up for a moment, but quickly dimmed again. "But... my soul power is only at Level 37. I'm not even a Soul Ancestor yet..."
"Levels don't matter," Su Chen interrupted her. "What matters is how deeply you understand your Martial Soul. Chen Hao's Solar Will was an epiphany he reached on the brink of life and death. Your Shadow Cat Martial Soul might similarly possess a deeper power waiting for you to unearth it."
Lin Xue fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently. "I will work hard, Strategist."
Su Chen smiled, stood up, and patted her shoulder. "Get some good rest. The days ahead won't be any easier than the mission."
He turned and walked back to the main table. Qian Renxue was saying something to Ares, and seeing Su Chen return, she raised her chin slightly, signaling him to sit.
"Su Chen, I was just discussing our next arrangements with Ares." Qian Renxue's fingers traced lightly across the tabletop, as if sketching a map. "After the destruction of the Void Cult's base in the Extreme North, they will definitely pull back their defense lines and fortify their other bases. What we need to do next is strike again while they haven't fully recovered."
"Where is the next target?" Su Chen asked.
"Sunset Forest." Qian Renxue said, "Intelligence indicates there's a branch base of the Void Cult deep within the Sunset Forest. It's smaller in scale than the one in the Extreme North, but the projects they are researching are far more dangerous. They are conducting live experiments there, attempting to inject the power of the Void into soul beasts to create 'Void Soul Beasts' under their control."
Su Chen frowned. "What's the success rate?"
"Extremely low. Most soul beasts die immediately upon being injected with the power of the Void. Only a minuscule number survive, but those that do become incredibly berserk, highly aggressive, and their combat prowess surges significantly. According to intel, they've successfully created at least three Void Soul Beasts, and one of them might have reached the level of a ten-thousand-year soul beast."
"A ten-thousand-year-level Void Soul Beast..." Su Chen drew a sharp breath. "That's no longer something ordinary Soul Masters can handle."
"That is precisely why I will personally lead this mission," Qian Renxue said.
The entire grand hall fell instantly silent. All the students had heard her words. Wine glasses froze in mid-air, and the laughter ceased abruptly.
"My Lord, you're going personally?" Ares was the first to react, his face turning grim. "That's too dangerous! You are the Dean of the Heroic Spirits Academy, the core figure of the Tian Dou Empire in the fight against the Void Cult. If something happens to you..."
"Exactly because I cannot afford a mishap, I must go myself." Qian Renxue's voice was not loud, but every word drove into everyone's ears like a nail. "The threat of the Void Soul Beasts is too great. If they are allowed to leave the Sunset Forest and enter human settlements, the consequences will be unimaginable. I must confirm their situation with my own eyes, and if necessary, destroy them with my own hands."
Su Chen looked into Qian Renxue's eyes. From those eyes, he saw an unquestionable determination. He had known Qian Renxue for a long time, and he knew that once she made a decision, she would never change it.
"I will accompany you," Su Chen said.
"I'm going too," Ares chimed in immediately.
"No." Qian Renxue shook her head. "Ares, your arm hasn't healed yet. You will stay at the Academy for this mission. Su Chen coming with me is enough. We'll also bring a small squad; the numbers can't be too large, otherwise we risk exposing our position."
Ares wanted to say more, but a single look from Qian Renxue silenced him. He sat back down sullenly, grabbed his wine glass, and took a massive gulp.
"Dean, I want to go too." Chen Hao stood up. His face was still a bit pale, but his gaze was firm. "My Solar Will has just awakened, and I need actual combat to consolidate it. Besides... I owe the Strategist my life from the Extreme North. I want to repay that debt."
Qian Renxue glanced at him, the corners of her lips curling up slightly. "Your injuries haven't fully healed. This mission is highly dangerous; you could die."
"I'm not afraid of death," Chen Hao said.
"I know you aren't," Qian Renxue replied. "But what I want are people who can come back alive, not people looking to die. Are you certain you can return alive?"
Chen Hao froze for a moment, then seriously considered it before saying, "I'm certain."
"Good, then you're in." Qian Renxue turned her gaze to the others. "For this mission, I need five people. Besides Su Chen and Chen Hao, there are three more spots. Who else is willing to go?"
The grand hall fell silent for a few seconds before a hand was raised. It was Lin Xue. She was still sitting in the corner, but her raised hand was exceptionally resolute.
"I'll go," she said.
Immediately after, two more hands shot up. One was Li Yang—his injuries were mostly healed, and his face once again bore that devil-may-care smile. The other was Zhang Wan; her expression was calm, but her eyes revealed an unquestionable fortitude.
"Li Yang, Zhang Wan, Lin Xue." Qian Renxue nodded. "Plus Su Chen and Chen Hao, that makes five people. Very well. Start preparing tomorrow; we depart in three days."
The banquet continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. A trace of solemnity now lingered in the students' smiles. They knew that this mission was even more dangerous than the one in the Extreme North. The fact that the Dean was personally leading it meant the difficulty of the mission far exceeded what ordinary students could handle.
Su Chen didn't continue drinking. He quietly left the grand hall and walked out to the training grounds. The night was deep, and the lights of Tian Dou City flickered in the distance, looking like a fallen river of stars. He took a deep breath, the icy air rushing into his lungs and clearing his mind significantly.
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