Wind swept across the clouds. Battle flags snapped in the wind.
This was the western border of the Star Luo Empire, and also the frontline bordering the Sun Moon Empire.
A murderous aura, almost tangible, shrouded this vast, rolling military camp.
When the group from Shrek Academy, led by Xuan Zi, slowly landed outside the main gate, it immediately caused high alert among the garrison soldiers.
But soon, this vigilance turned into awe.
Because of the man who strode out from the main tent.
He was the Soul of this army, the Grand Marshal of the Star Luo Empire—Marshal Dai Hao!
"That is... Father?"
In the crowd, Dai Yueheng looked at the man clad in silver armor, his physique as burly as a mountain, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
There was admiration, longing, and a hint of deeply hidden fear.
Although he was the eldest son of the Duke's Mansion and the future heir, in a place like a military camp, there were no fathers and sons, only marshals and soldiers.
Dai Hao's gaze swept across the crowd, lingered on Dai Yueheng for a moment, nodded slightly, and then landed directly on Xuan Zi, who was holding a chicken leg and eating until his mouth was covered in oil.
This iron-blooded Duke, who commanded ten thousand troops, now stepped forward quickly and respectfully performed a Junior's salute.
"Elder Xuan, I didn't expect you to lead the team in person."
"Dai Hao failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me."
Xuan Zi waved his hand and said indistinctly:
"Alright, alright, no need for these empty formalities."
"I am just a guide, bringing this bunch of brats out to see the world."
"Tell them about the mission situation."
"Yes."
Dai Hao replied, then turned around, a dignified smile appearing on his stern face, and made a 'please' gesture toward Ma Xiaotao and the others.
"Distinguished students of Shrek, please come in."
Inside the commander's tent.
A huge sand table was placed in the center, detailing the surrounding terrain and topography.
Dai Hao didn't waste words, picking up a command baton and pointing to a perilous mountain range on the sand table.
There, a large skull was drawn with red cinnabar.
"This is the target location for your mission—the Ming Dou Mountain Range."
Dai Hao's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the tent.
"The target we are to eliminate is a bandit group."
"This bandit group has about thirty people, entrenched in the Ming Dou Mountain Range, with treacherous terrain that is easy to defend and hard to attack."
"They are extremely cruel, often going down the mountain to raid surrounding villages, burning, killing, and looting, committing all kinds of evil."
Speaking of this, a cold glint flashed in Dai Hao's eyes.
"The most critical thing is that their leader is a powerful Evil Soul Master Spirit King."
"According to our intelligence, this person calls himself 'Reaper's Envoy', possesses the ability to manipulate corpses and vengeful spirits, and his methods are extremely bizarre."
Hearing the three words "Evil Soul Master".
The faces of everyone present tightened slightly.
At this moment.
Xu Sanshi, who hadn't spoken yet, suddenly raised his hand and asked with a puzzled face:
"Lord Duke, I have a question."
"Please speak." Dai Hao looked at him.
Xu Sanshi scratched his head and pointed, somewhat confused, at the endless military camp outside the tent.
"Look, you have countless elite soldiers in this camp."
"Why don't you just send a large army to flatten this mountain?"
"Or send a few Spirit Master squads to encircle and suppress them?"
"Why bother having us Shrek Supervisory Group make a move from so far away?"
This question was actually the doubt of many people present.
Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?
Is it a bit of an overkill to have them, the proud geniuses of Shrek, deal with a group of bandits?
Hearing this question.
Dai Hao gave a bitter smile and put down the command baton.
"Little brother, you don't know."
"This Ming Dou Mountain Range has extremely complex terrain, with gullies crisscrossing and caves densely packed."
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