The single word "Approved" from Xuanxian True Immortal was like releasing the tension on a drawn bowstring. Instantly, the entire war machine of the Thorn Great Wall Alliance shifted from defensive mode to serving a highly dangerous decapitation operation. Resource allocation, intelligence analysis, route planning, equipment preparation—countless processes began operating with unprecedented efficiency.
At the heart of all this was the "Dawn" Special Task Force, about to venture deep into the Demon Lair. The selection of team members became the top priority—not only affecting the mission's success or failure, but also concerning the final hopes of the allied forces.
The side hall beside the command center was temporarily cleared, with soundproofing and anti-spying formations laid out. Tang Xiaoqi, Xuanxian True Immortal, Mu Qingfeng, and several core elders sat around a table, the atmosphere grave. The mist from spiritual tea lingered in the air, but could not dispel the heavy weight of difficult decisions.
"Xiaoqi, your proposed preliminary roster is generally feasible in my view, but requires further deliberation," the human elder in charge of intelligence and assassination operations spoke first. His finger traced across a jade slip displaying Xiaoqi's initial candidates. "Junior Nephew Liu Yun possesses a sharp, decisive sword path—excellent as a blade. Crown Prince Ao Qin has a true dragon physique with high resistance to demonic energy, his divine powers immense. Zhao Tiezhu's physique is unmatched, his qi-blood yang and resolute—an excellent shield. Although Junior Nephew Luo Feng is now merely a soul body, his ingenuity and understanding of formations and energy structures are unmatched—truly a surprise weapon. With you as captain, the core five each have their own strengths."
He paused, then shifted his tone: "However, this journey is extremely perilous. The Demonic Lord is cunning and treacherous; his core territory will surely be a dragon's den and tiger's lair, bristling with traps and demon creatures everywhere. We not only need strength to overcome obstacles, but also the ability to handle complex environments, evade dangers, and create opportunities in desperate situations. The current team has sufficient assault capability, but lacks somewhat in agility and support."
Mu Qingfeng nodded in agreement: "Exactly. We need someone who can control the battlefield at critical moments, broadly clear or hinder low-level demons, and provide powerful auxiliary support. Additionally, the Demonic Lord's core area may contain extremely sophisticated concealment formations or spatial traps. We need eyes that can pierce through illusion and seek truth."
The requirements were specified—a person skilled in large-scale control and support, and another adept at tracking and breaking through obstacles. These became the two missing puzzle pieces for the team.
A brief silence fell over the hall as everyone rapidly filtered through their minds for qualified candidates. Such individuals needed to be powerful enough (at least Nascent Soul level), possess special abilities, and be absolutely trustworthy.
Just then, the door of the side hall was gently knocked upon.
"Enter," Xuanxian True Immortal said.
The door opened, and a wave of cold aura carrying a faint scent of ice and snow rushed in. A woman in moon-white robes, her posture graceful, her features stunningly beautiful yet carrying an aloof bearing, walked in. It was the Saintess of Xuanji Holy Land—Mu Xue.
She first slightly nodded in greeting to Xuanxian True Immortal and the elders. Her cold gaze then fell upon Xiaoqi, her voice like ice-cold spring water striking jade: "Brother Tang, I have sensed the Demonic Lord's will descending and the words of the feeding bottle experiment. This journey is dangerous—count me in."
Her tone was calm, yet carried an unshakable resolve.
Everyone's eyes lit up!
Mu Xue! The most outstanding successor of Xuanji Holy Land in this generation, her ice-type divine powers refined to perfection, already at mid-Nascent Soul stage. Her "Ten Thousand Li Ice Binding" could freeze and slow enemies over vast areas, and her unique "Ice Heart Clarity" state could see through many illusions and concealments, also having remarkable effects on stabilizing the team's morale. Moreover, she and Xiaoqi had long established tacit understanding through multiple battles side by side, and she was one of the few who knew the secret of the lotus seed.
She was undoubtedly the perfect candidate to fill the "control and support" gap!
Xiaoqi looked at Mu Xue. Their gazes met, no words necessary, everything understood between them. He nodded heavily: "Excellent! With Sister Mu Xue joining, our chances of success increase greatly!"
Mu Xue's addition lifted everyone's spirits. But the candidate for "tracking and obstacle-breaking" remained unresolved. Cultivators skilled in this area were inherently rare, and those at Nascent Soul level who could be completely trusted were rarer still.
Just as everyone frowned in contemplation, Xiaoqi suddenly felt a sensation and lowered his gaze to his waist. There hung a seemingly ordinary spirit beast pouch.
The spirit beast pouch bulged slightly, then a streak of white light flashed, and a fluffy figure with long ears hopped out, landing precisely in the center of the conference table—the mysterious rabbit spirit that had been following Xiaoqi all along!
The rabbit spirit stood on its hind legs, its two front paws clasped together, its ruby-red eyes scanning the major powers present without a trace of timidity. It first pointed a paw at Mu Xue, then at Xiaoqi, then patted its fluffy chest and raised its little head, clearly conveying a "what about me?" attitude.
Everyone was stunned.
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng's soul body reacted first, his phantom flickering with excitement: "Right! How could we forget this little one! Setting everything else aside, its perception of heavenly treasures and energy anomalies is absolutely extraordinary! How many times in dangerous explorations did it lead Xiaoqi to survival or key discoveries! Its kind of intuition simply cannot be measured by common sense. Perhaps it can even sniff out traces of the Demonic Lord's concealment methods!"
The rabbit spirit seemed to understand the praise, proudly waving its long ears, nose sniffing the air vigorously, as if saying "even demonic energy cannot escape this rabbit's nose."
Xiaoqi gazed at the rabbit spirit, his eyes revealing sudden realization and affirmation. Indeed, the rabbit spirit's treasure-finding and obstacle-breaking abilities had played unexpected roles at critical moments time and again. It seemed weak, but that nearly primal perception ability might be exactly what was needed to penetrate the Demonic Lord's heavy veils of fog.
Xuanxian True Immortal stroked his beard in contemplation, his sharp gaze fixed on the rabbit spirit: "Little one, do you understand how dangerous this journey is? Nine deaths, perhaps ten deaths with no return."
The rabbit spirit nodded vigorously, using its little paw to make a throat-cutting gesture, then patted its chest again, its gaze exceptionally determined, conveying a thought of "this rabbit isn't afraid, this rabbit is following Xiaoqi no matter what!"
Its spiritual intelligence was clearly far beyond that of ordinary spirits.
"Very well!" Xuanxian True Immortal stopped hesitating. "In that case, the 'Dawn' Special Task Force, final roster is confirmed!"
His voice boomed as he crisply confirmed the final lineup:
"Captain: Tang Xiaoqi! Core combat power, operation leader, lotus seed vitality bearer."
"Member: Liu Yun! Supreme sword path, assault and breakthrough, close-combat killing core."
"Member: Ao Qin! Dragon tribe crown prince, water system offense and defense, demonic energy resistance bearer, true dragon physique for emergencies."
"Member: Zhao Tiezhu! Body refinement peak, front-line tank, qi-blood furnace against erosion, strength bearer."
"Member: Luo Feng! Ingenuity, formation and energy studies master, technical support and artifact operation, surprise weapon."
"Member: Mu Xue! Xuanji Saintess, ice magic control, area obstruction, auxiliary support, piercing illusions."
"Member: Rabbit Spirit! Tracking and obstacle-breaking, anomaly perception, early warning and scouting, special support."
Seven members, each with their own specialty, complementary abilities, forming a near-perfect elite special operations squad!
With the roster confirmed, an intangible aura of killing intent and soaring battle morale coalesced in the side hall.
Xiaoqi stood up. His gaze swept across every companion who would share life and death with him (including the rabbit spirit standing proudly on the table). He spoke solemnly: "Everyone, the road ahead is treacherous, the Demon Lair unpredictable. But our purpose for this journey is not for personal revenge, not for fame or fortune—only to break destiny and save our fathers and the world!"
"The name 'Dawn' means to tear apart the darkness shrouding this demonic barrier, reclaiming a glimmer of dawn for the mortal realm!"
"We shall surely return triumphant!"
No grand slogans, only heavy responsibility and the determination to fight side by side unto death. Seven figures, about to carry the hopes of the entire alliance, selflessly thrust toward the deepest depths of that ultimate abyss of evil!