Douluo Continent: Starting with a Heavenly Fire Judgment

Chapter 117 Evil

Wang Yan said in a deep voice, "We should be in the right direction. There are a lot of messy footprints ahead, which means it's been frequently used. The enemy shouldn't be far away. Everyone, adjust your mindset and prepare for battle."

"Teacher Wang, you're amazing," Ma Xiaotao whispered in praise, and the other inner court students also showed more respect in their eyes.

Wang Yan smiled wryly and said, "These are just some miscellaneous skills, nothing special. If you want to learn them, you can come find me when you return to the academy."

Soon, led by Wang Yan, the group discovered a cave at the foot of a hillside. There were many footprints at the entrance of the cave, indicating that people frequently entered and exited it.

Wang Yan raised his hand and said, "If I'm not mistaken, that cave is their lair. When we make our move later, we need to confirm their identities first. Once we've confirmed they're the Hand of Death, I don't need to tell you what to do. The reserve team will stay with me and be responsible for reinforcements. Xiao Tao, the main attack is up to you."

"No problem, leave it to us." A wild flame seemed to be burning in Ma Xiaotao's pink eyes. Having found the target, all that was left was to take action.

Wang Yan said, "Everyone, change your clothes. Shrek Inspectors, prepare for action."

Just then, Ji Lin took out seven level-five invincible shields from his storage soul tool and came to Ma Xiaotao, saying, "Sister Xiaotao, you should take these with you. The opponent is an evil soul master, and we don't know what strange moves he might have. Take these with you just in case. Of course, these are not free. If you don't need them, give them back to me. If you do need them, you'll have to pay me."

Ma Xiaotao looked at the soul tool in Ji Lin's hand and hesitated. She didn't like using soul tools.

Just then, Ling Luochen stepped forward and took an invincible shield from Ji Lin's hand, saying to Ji Lin, "I will not refuse your kindness."

Seeing Ling Luochen snatch the invincible shield given to her by Ji Lin first, Ma Xiaotao did not hesitate and also took one and wore it. Although she thought she didn't need it, it was still a gift from Ji Lin.

Yao Haoxuan also came forward with a grin and took an invincible shield. He smiled at Ji Lin and said, "Thank you for your concern, junior. If you ever have any trouble in the future, you can always come to me for help."

Xixi also stepped forward and took one, leaving only the words "thank you," which was very much in line with her style.

The others also stepped forward and each took an invincible shield. They all remembered Ji Lin's kindness and their goodwill towards him increased greatly.

Seeing that all seven members of the inner courtyard had accepted the invincible shield, Ji Lin breathed a sigh of relief. He had wanted to invite these senior students to join the Free Sect. They were all outstanding genius soul masters, each with the potential to be granted a title. It would be a pity if they were defeated by a Soul King-level evil soul master.

Although this evil soul master is jokingly referred to as the strongest soul king in history.

Moreover, after exchanging glances, he couldn't bear to see them either die or be crippled, ultimately leading to a sorrowful end.

As for revealing the evil spirit master's skills and information in advance, haha! Putting aside where you got your information and why you know so much about an evil spirit master, that alone is enough to make people suspicious.

How did Ji Lin know this information, which even his subordinates and Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger, who had dealt with the Hand of Death many times, did not know?

Ji Lin didn't want to cause trouble for himself.

That's why he took out the invincible shield, which would at least give the inner disciples three seconds to react, enough for them to protect themselves and avoid either death or serious injury, or a near-total annihilation.

The group changed into their observer gear, gathered together, and were ready to depart at any moment.

Wang Yan said in a low voice, "Prepare to depart. Ma Xiaotao, you will continue to command the battle. I will be in charge of the reserves."

"Okay," Ma Xiaotao immediately agreed.

Led by Ma Xiaotao, the inner court disciples followed behind her in a disciplined formation, quietly sneaking into the cave.

A few seconds after the inner disciples entered, Wang Yan led Ji Lin and the reserve team into the cave.

Ma Xiaotao and her group were extremely fast; by the time Wang Yan led them in, they were already out of sight.

Wang Yan whispered, "Let's follow and prepare for battle."

Without hesitation, everyone followed.

Inside the cave, five or six bandits lay dead, their bodies scattered about. The identity of the Dead Hand had undoubtedly been confirmed. Ma Xiaotao and her group began their attack.

Just then, a muffled explosion rang out from inside the cave, followed by a cacophony of curses and thuds, along with intense fluctuations of soul power.

Wang Yan quickly led everyone towards the direction from which the sound came.

The cave entrance was small, but the interior was quite spacious. Apart from the corpse at the entrance, another corpse appeared after walking nearly fifty meters further in.

A strong smell of blood wafted over. Apart from Ji Lin and a few other boys, only Wang Qiu'er remained unfazed, while Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, and even Jiang Nannan all turned pale.

"Ah!" Jiang Nannan screamed suddenly, her body trembling violently.

Everyone followed his gaze.

On the cave walls on both sides, there were more than a dozen human skins hanging, and even the corpse of an infant, pierced through and hanging from a stalagmite. Jiang Nannan had noticed the blood dripping from the corpse and that's why she looked up.

"Bastards!" The usually refined Bei Bei roared angrily. This was the atrocity committed by the Death Hand bandits! At this moment, even Ji Lin's face was gloomy and filled with extreme rage. These bandits didn't even spare a tiny baby; they were worse than beasts.

For Ji Lin, who came from a peaceful era in his previous life, this horrific scene was something he had never seen or even heard of before. Douluo Continent once again showed Ji Lin its cruel side. Whose children, whose parents, whose wives and husbands were hanging on the wall?

As they continued forward, the number of corpses increased, and the sounds of fighting within grew more intense. The bandits inside the cave died in all sorts of bizarre ways, yet they evoked not a shred of sympathy from the onlookers. This was because human skin had been hanging from the cave walls all along the way; since they entered, they had seen no fewer than a hundred bodies, some of which were already dried out.

The terrain ahead suddenly opened up, and they finally saw the battle in progress. The spirit rings shone brightly, almost dazzlingly. Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix spirit was the most prominent, its blazing flames erupting wildly, making it virtually invincible.

The area was littered with the corpses of bandits.

Gongyang Mo stood in the center, beams of colorful light shooting from his body and landing on his companions, who subtly surrounded him. Yao Haoxuan had transformed back into his massive form, pounding his chest with his fists. He stood guard behind Gongyang Mo. Ling Luochen was on the other side. The three of them did not directly participate in the attack.

(End of this chapter)