The forest returned to a calm!
It was as if nothing had happened before.
Everyone squatted on the ground in a sorry state, looking at the quiet forest hundreds of meters away, all feeling as if they had narrowly escaped a disaster.
Ye Cangtian took a sip of water and looked around.
Before entering the forest, there were nineteen people. Now, including himself, only eight remained.
This meant that eleven people had been lost inside, including one Xuan-level expert.
Among the remaining eight, except for Zi Long, who was a Di-level expert, everyone else had sustained not-so-light injuries.
Especially another Xuan-level expert, while helping two Huang-level members, was accidentally ambushed by branches behind him. A branch pierced his entire abdomen, and it was a miracle he survived.
Huang Wu was also injured, but not too severely. Ye Cangtian had to admire this fellow; he was still fine despite this, his life was truly resilient!
"Everyone, take a break and let's go back!" Zi Long said.
The remaining people couldn't help but feel relieved.
Only Ye Cangtian asked, "Sir, aren't we going to explore the ruins further?"
Zi Long shook his head, "To enter the central area of the ruins, we must pass through this forest. With your current condition, it's impossible to get through!"
This ruin was extremely dangerous. Even if he could pass through the forest, he would likely face other dangers in the center of the ruins.
Therefore, this ruin exploration needed to be planned carefully. It would be best to wait for the higher-ups to discuss and formulate a strategy, otherwise, no matter how many people came, it wouldn't be enough!
Ye Cangtian felt a slight disappointment that they weren't continuing the exploration.
However, it was good to retreat now. Otherwise, if they encountered any more dangers, his strength might be exposed, and Zi Long would become suspicious.
...
When everyone emerged from the ruins, they all felt a sense of having survived a catastrophe!
The ruins were too terrifying!
Ye Cangtian also let out a soft breath, calculating the time. They entered the ruins around seven in the evening, and it was exactly twelve o'clock now!
Five hours!
Out of a team of twenty-eight, only eight people returned, and three were seriously injured.
The Xuan-level deacons waiting outside the ruins, at this moment, all had changed expressions. So few people returned?
Each Xuan-level deacon had sent out two subordinates.
Now, some had not returned at all, and some had only returned one!
The others were taken away by their respective superiors, clearly to inquire about the situation inside the ruins. Only Ye Cangtian and Huang Wu headed towards the dormitories.
There was still one more person, a thin Huang-level member. This person seemed to be a lone soldier as well.
He hurried to catch up, actively greeting them, "Big brothers, Lord Zi Long said he would reward us with spirit stones after we came out. Are we just leaving like this?"
"What's the rush? The adults are busy now. They won't forget us once they're done!" Ye Cangtian said casually.
"Brother, why are you alone too? Where is your adult?" Huang Wu asked curiously from the side.
"My adult is dead. Not long ago, my Lord Xuan Sixteen received an assassination mission and was ambushed in the capital. It's said that everyone who carried out the mission together at that time died!" the person explained helplessly.
Ye Cangtian paused. Xuan Sixteen?
Last time in the capital, the Dark Association had two Xuan-level experts and over twenty Huang-level members who intended to assassinate Princess Shibeiya of Saudi Arabia, but they were all captured.
Xuan Sixteen seemed to have died the fastest, being killed by a sword from the man in green from the Hidden Organization while trying to escape.
This guy was Xuan Sixteen's subordinate?
"I heard about that mission. Weren't you there?" Ye Cangtian looked at the guy, who was small and thin, looking like a monkey with his bronze mask on.
The other party awkwardly said, "I went back to my hometown that time. When I received the mission, I couldn't make it in time, so I was lucky to escape!"
Such good luck!
Ye Cangtian said no more and casually remarked, "Alright, everyone is injured. Let's go back and heal first!"
...
It was already past one in the morning.
Ye Cangtian pretended to apply some medicinal ointment to himself. After all, everyone was injured, and it would be suspicious if he was completely fine!
Huang Wu was also applying medicine. Although this brat had saved his life, he had wounds all over his body. Fortunately, he had tough skin and a robust physique, otherwise, these injuries could have cost him his life.
Using the excuse of going to the restroom, Ye Cangtian slipped out of the dormitory and found a secluded corner, taking out a small telegraph machine.
Although this small telegraph machine was only the size of a finger, it could not only send telegrams but also receive information.
It had to be said that the small gadgets invented by Scorpion were simple and practical.
At this moment, the green light on the telegraph machine was flashing. This was the secret code of the Death Mercenary Squad, and the content of the message was determined by the flashing frequency.
"They have indeed arrived! It seems the action can take place tonight!"
Ye Cangtian took a deep breath, put the finger-sized telegraph machine into his pocket, and just as he walked out of the corner, he saw the chubby Xuan Jiu hurrying over from a distance.
"Huang Jiu, I was looking for you. You weren't in the dormitory!"
"Lord Xuan Jiu, I just..."
"Enough, no time for your explanation. Lord Zi Long is looking for you!" Xuan Jiu waved his hand and said anxiously.
Ye Cangtian was stunned. Why was Lord Zi Long looking for him?
Just as Xuan Jiu continued, "Zi Long has also summoned the others. It seems he wants to reward those of you who came out of the ruins. I heard each of you will be rewarded with a spirit stone. Tsk tsk, truly enviable!"
Spirit stones were good things. Although as Xuan-level experts, the Dark Association issued some spirit stones to them every year.
But who could ever have too many of these things?
Ye Cangtian understood what was going on. He smiled and said, "What's there to be envious of? If Lord Xuan Jiu wants spirit stones, you can volunteer to Lord Zi Long and personally scout the ruins!"
"Let's forget about that!"
Xuan Jiu rolled his eyes. He wasn't that foolish!
Who didn't know how dangerous this ruin was? Even Lord Zi Long had no choice but to retreat from it.
Now, anyone who dared to enter would be seeking death!
A moment later!
Ye Cangtian arrived at the conference room, but there was only Zi Long in the entire room.
He couldn't figure out why this Di-level expert had summoned him alone. Had he been exposed? It shouldn't be. If the other party suspected his identity, he would likely face a lightning-fast strike.
"Sir!"
"You're here?"
Zi Long turned around and then said, "Do you know why I summoned you alone?"
Ye Cangtian shook his head, "I'm not sure, but if you have any instructions, your subordinate will certainly not refuse, even at the cost of his life!"
Zi Long chuckled, "It's not that serious! I called you here to give you the promised reward for coming out of the ruins!"
After that, he threw some items onto the conference table.
It was actually spirit stones, and five of them!
Ye Cangtian was stunned, "Sir, this..."
Zi Long said indifferently, "Do you know why others only got one spirit stone as a reward, while you got five?"
Seeing his confusion, he explained, "Under normal circumstances, for the same mission, the reward for a Xuan-level deacon is five times that of a Huang-level member!"
Ye Cangtian was taken aback and began to understand.
Then, Zi Long placed another item on the table. It was a silver mask.
"From today onwards, you are officially one of the Xuan-level deacons. Since you were a subordinate of Xuan Seven, you will inherit his codename from now on!"
"From now on, you are Xuan Seven!"