Chapter 523: A Necessary Reflection
The moment they saw this man...
Bang!
No words were exchanged.
No unnecessary talk either.
The Demon Arrival remnants didn't even think to resist; instead, they immediately threw down a device on the floor!
As the device shattered, a poisonous smoke quickly filled the City Lord's basement!
In novels and movies, villains often miss their chance to escape because they waste time talking to the hero, only to end up captured, unable to run.
These Demon Arrival remnants weren't that stupid!
The instant they saw this man's face, their first reaction was: run!!
Run as far as possible!
It didn't matter that they were a group of level-80 tier-three powerhouses!
They weren't the lowest ranks of Demon Arrival, the ones who had been brainwashed.
They didn't need brainwashing to willingly join Demon Arrival, and the organization wouldn't put brainwashed idiots in charge of Hakata City.
So, as the backbone of the organization, they were not only exceptionally smart but also extremely afraid of death.
Ling Zhan, who had finally found this place, was momentarily stunned by the scene.
But he quickly regained his composure.
This group must be the core figures responsible for this area.
Otherwise, they'd act like those brainwashed lunatics, shouting "sacrifice for the Holy Church" and launching suicide attacks on Ling Zhan.
Now they were fleeing fast, proving they valued their lives.
That's more like it.
Because only in this way was it worth killing them!
"It's time to act."
Ling Zhan said calmly into his nano communicator.
"Yes!"
A crisp voice responded from the other side, belonging to Zhou Xue'er.
Then...
In the next second...
"Aah!!"
A scream echoed from the basement!
Ling Zhan ignored it, strolling down the escape routes they used.
Admittedly...
They were well-prepared; even the basement's passages were a network of exits.
Perfectly suited for making a quick getaway when things went south.
But for Ling Zhan, no matter how they ran, it was useless.
As long as they didn't exceed a certain distance, he could track their locations easily.
Ultimately, these ten Demon Arrival remnants were surrounded and killed by the reserve team members.
"Killing these Demon Arrival scumbags is the best! They're easy to kill! And their strength is mostly fluff!"
"Yeah! And the merit rewards are high!"
"I estimate I'll get at least five thousand merit points from this operation. Feels great!"
"All thanks to Team Leader Ling's guidance; it wouldn't have happened under anyone else."
"That's right..."
"Speaking of merit points, Team Leader Ling's total must be insanely high!"
"Top hundred for sure, maybe even top fifty!"
"I think so too! Two consecutive major battles, and he was the key turning point in both—no way that kind of merit could be small!"
"The higher-ups have probably already nominated him. Just wait for the updated Sky List tomorrow when he'll be among the top hundred!"
"..."
Everyone chatted excitedly, celebrating Ling Zhan's rapid climb up the rankings.
Comparison truly can be disheartening.
These senior members had trained on the front lines for so long, yet were outdone by someone here for barely half a month.
He achieved great merit repeatedly!
"Alright, you can go back and rest now. There might still be some stragglers in Hakata City, but we'll leave those to the City Guard."
Seeing that the purge operation was nearly complete, Ling Zhan also announced that everyone could disperse and return.
Zhou Xue'er obediently stood by his side, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ling Zhan.
She finally understood why so many remarkable women couldn't help but be attracted to this man.
This man was truly...
The ideal type for many women!
Tall and handsome, exceptionally strong, and his cold personality easily stirred a desire for conquest in women.
Plus, his decisiveness and unmatched dominance provided an undeniable sense of security.
Such a perfect man...
Even Zhou Xue'er found herself deeply attracted.
Rumor has it that he doesn't have a partner yet...
She wondered if she might have a chance.
Ling Zhan, however, paid no attention to the woman's thoughts beside him, as he continued to tally the casualties and gains from the battlefield.
In reality, there were indeed casualties on their side.
While fighting against those Demon Arrival remnants who loved to self-destruct, quite a few members sustained severe injuries, and some even died.
Fortunately, the clerics used timely measures to revive them, so no one remained permanently dead, though they did lose a few levels.
With the tally completed,
Ling Zhan decided to return to the Hundred Ghost Fortress.
Before dismissing the various Kingdom teams, the foreign beauties from different nations gathered around, either subtly or openly inviting Ling Zhan on dates.
Late-night dates clearly carried an unspoken implication.
It was nothing more than a desire to spend a romantic night with Ling Zhan.
This made many of the male team members grit their teeth in envy.
"The internet wasn't lying! When you become outstanding, you have no idea how proactive girls can be!"
"Exactly. I've seen a few usually reserved, pure-hearted girls boldly inviting Team Leader Ling."
"They're in it for love, but it's true; if you don't go for someone as great as Ling, you could miss out."
"Alright, then, who's up for a visit to the Fusang-style club?"
"OK, payday just came in—let's enjoy!"
"..."
Ling Zhan returned to the Hundred Ghost Fortress, arriving around three in the morning.
Even with his physical resilience, he was feeling exhausted.
He hadn't even engaged in any major battle, but tonight was especially draining.
It seemed that keeping the bloodline of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons active for extended periods took a toll on his body.
After a shower,
Ling Zhan went to his room to sleep, quickly drifting off on the soft bed.
The next morning.
Bright and early.
Ling Zhan, having only rested for three or four hours, was already fully recharged, his energy and vitality completely restored.
With no emergencies,
he followed his disciplined routine and went to the training ground.
It was worth noting...
The training ground, usually sparse in the early morning, was now quite crowded.
Most of those present were graceful figures.
And the moment Ling Zhan appeared in the training ground...
Swoosh!!
Countless bright and admiring gazes instantly focused on him.
Some outgoing foreign girls walked directly up to Ling Zhan, shyly hoping to train with him.
This gave Ling Zhan a bit of a headache.
It seemed he needed to reflect on himself.
It looked like he had forgotten his principle of staying low-key.