231: First mission: Eradicate the astral parasites.

Xinghai University, Mission Hall.

This was a massive domed building occupying several square kilometers in the core area of the campus. Its internal space had been processed with precise dimensional folding technology, making it appear incredibly spacious. Countless flowing streams of brilliant information cascaded from the dome like waterfalls, weaving into giant holographic light screens in the air that constantly refreshed with mission information. In front of the screens, crowds jostled as students from various grades and colleges shuttled back and forth, either scrutinizing the screens alone or discussing in low voices in small groups. The air was filled with a unique atmosphere—a mix of excitement, tension, and pragmatism.

This was an important window for Xinghai University students to gain combat experience, earn credits and resources, and even make early contact with the military or major factions. Mission Ranks ranged from the lowest F-Rank (such as clearing energy congestion in specific campus areas or assisting professors with low-risk experiments) to the highest S-Rank (involving deep reconnaissance in hostile astral planes or purging high-risk alien strongholds), corresponding to different levels of difficulty, risk, and reward.

Lin Zhou, Zhao Hao, and Wang Meng were currently standing before a light screen marked "Team Missions (Recommended for Freshmen - Sophomores)." Li Mo had not come along; he was immersed in a critical phase of research and development for Griffon Taming Equipment and a new type of Mechanical Crossbow at the Research Hall. Furthermore, for this kind of Early Stage combat mission, his Mechanical Goblin divine domain was better suited for logistics and technical support rather than frontal purging.

After the tempering of the Freshman Cup and half a month of rest and consolidation, Lin Zhou's godhead status had stabilized at LV150 (Faint Divinity Peak), his Divine Power reserves were full, and his application of the Hundred Schools of Thought had become increasingly proficient. Zhao Hao's dragon divine domain had seen further improvement in combat power under Wang Meng's "sparring," and Wang Meng's Behemoth Legion had added several powerful individuals. All three had a strong desire to apply the skills they had learned to a real astral battlefield to test their mettle and acquire precious practical resources.

Their gazes finally locked onto a newly refreshed C+ Rank Team Purge Mission.

[Mission Number]: XT-7342-JQ

[Mission Name]: Purging Pollution—The Parasite Crisis of the Miniature Astral Plane "Green Vine Forest"

[Mission Type]: Purge/Purification/Preliminary Exploration

[Recommended Rank]: True God Stage (Faint - Weak), 3-5 person squad.

[Mission Location]: Miniature Astral Plane XT-7342 (Green Vine Forest), located at the edge of the Xinghai University controlled area; a preliminary teleportation beacon has been established.

[Mission Background]:

The Green Vine Forest was originally a resource-poor but ecologically stable small plant-type miniature astral plane (approximately 2,000 square kilometers in area), primarily producing low-tier timber and medicinal moss. Three weeks ago, routine patrol detection picked up abnormal energy fluctuations and disordered life signals in this astral plane.

Preliminary reconnaissance (remote observation) confirmed that a colony of an unknown species, the Astral Parasitic Beast, has appeared within the astral plane. It has caused large-scale infection and control of the native organisms (mainly various forest Essence Spirits, plant-based elemental life, and a small number of native beasts). The Parasitic Beasts exhibit strong stealth, aggression, and pollution-spreading capabilities.

Mission Objectives: Enter the Green Vine Forest, purge the confirmed major Parasitic Beast colonies, assess the extent of pollution spread, attempt to locate and destroy any possible broodmother or source, and collect relevant samples and data. Preliminarily restore basic Order to the astral plane to create conditions for subsequent resource development or ecological restoration.

[Enemy Intelligence (Preliminary)]:

Primary Enemy: Astral Parasitic Beast (provisional name). Form is indefinite, usually appearing as translucent, soft-bodied tissue with nerve-like tentacles. They can attach to and invade the host's central nervous System to seize control.

Characteristics:

Host Control: Upon successful parasitism, they can fully or partially control the host's behavior. The host retains some original abilities (even enhanced due to parasitic stimulation), but their behavior patterns become extremely aggressive and chaotic, and they will actively attack all non-parasitized units.

Stealth: The parasitic state is difficult to distinguish directly through conventional energy scans; it requires close observation or specific detection methods.

Pollution: When the Parasitic Beast itself or a deeply controlled host dies, there is a high probability of a biomass and negative energy hybrid explosion. This causes persistent life pollution and mental erosion to the surrounding environment and may spread pollution spores over a wider range.

Suspected Hive Mind: Observations indicate some inefficient but unified behavioral coordination among parasitized units, suggesting the existence of a higher-level command node (Broodmother).

Observed Host Types: Berserk Forest Wolves (LV25-30), Vine Monsters (LV28-33), Fluorescent Mushroom Men (LV26-31), and a small number of corrupted Treants (LV35+).

[Mission Rewards]:

Base Reward: 800 Credits/person, 5,000 General Resource Points.

Extra Rewards (Based on completion):

Assessment rewards based on the quantity and quality of Parasitic Beasts purged.

Reward for locating and destroying the Broodmother/Source (if it exists).

Reward for collecting valuable samples or data.

Reward for environmental purification milestones.

Special Note: Squads that successfully execute a C-Rank or higher team mission for the first time will receive the "Combat Rising Star" title, granting priority for subsequent mission acceptance and discounts on certain resource exchanges.

"C+ Rank, a three-person squad is just right, the rewards are good, and there's the 'Combat Rising Star' title." Zhao Hao stroked his chin, his eyes shining. "Old Lin, this mission looks like it was prepared for newcomers like us who just gained some fame and need real combat to prove ourselves! Purging parasites is better than going head-to-head with those organized alien armies."

Wang Meng also said in his booming voice, "Parasitic Beasts? Sounds disgusting. But my Behemoths are thick-skinned and tough; they aren't afraid of these Evil Paths! It's a perfect chance to see if my newly trained 'Berserk Shockwave' can shake them right out of their hosts' bodies!"

Lin Zhou did not decide immediately. He carefully read the mission intelligence, especially the descriptions of the Parasitic Beasts' characteristics. "Host control... death explosion pollution... suspected hive mind..." He repeated the keywords in a low voice, his brain working rapidly.

"The key to this mission probably isn't how strong the individual enemies are, but their special attack methods and post-battle processing," Lin Zhou analyzed. "Rashly killing parasitized units might trigger chain-reaction explosion pollution or even alert the enemy, making the Broodmother (if it exists) wary or cause it to relocate. We need targeted tactics."

He thought of some possible applications from the Hundred Schools of Thought. Could the Mohist 'Logic Bomb' interfere with that inefficient hive mind network? Could the Legalist 'Net of Law' define 'parasitic control' as an illegal state, thereby weakening its control or even allowing the host to briefly regain consciousness? Could the Military's 'Waiting at Ease' and 'Luring the Enemy Deep' avoid frontal attrition against large numbers of parasitic units in a polluted environment?

"Moreover, this is the first time we are truly entering a polluted astral plane that requires 'Boundary Erosion' to gradually take control." Lin Zhou looked at his two comrades. "The mission requires 'preliminary restoration of Order,' which means while fighting, we need to try extending our own divine domain rules into it to begin the most basic 'erosion' process. This in itself is a form of practical learning."

Hearing this, Zhao Hao and Wang Meng's expressions turned serious. Boundary Erosion technology was one of the core courses for sophomores; although they had learned the basics in theory class, they had not yet put it into practice. This mission was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to practice.

"Let's do it! Old Lin! You've got the brains; however you say we fight, that's how we'll fight!" Zhao Hao decided.

"That's right, it's the perfect time to see if your 'Hundred Schools Tactics' actually work in a real astral plane!" Wang Meng was also eager to try.

"Good." Lin Zhou nodded and, without further hesitation, accepted the mission through his personal terminal. The System prompted that the mission was locked and they needed to gather at the designated teleportation hall within one hour.

The three quickly returned to their respective divine domains to conduct final pre-battle preparations and mobilize their followers.

One hour later, Xinghai University's Seventh Teleportation Hall.

The hall was bustling, with dozens of teleportation arrays leading to different mission locations flashing with various colored lights. Lin Zhou and his friends passed several other squads also preparing for missions, nodding to each other in greeting. The air was thick with the solemnity and anticipation of imminent battle.

Their teleportation array was numbered "7342-G." Stepping into the array, the power of spatial rules enveloped their bodies. After a brief moment of weightlessness and distorted light and shadow, the sensation of solid ground returned.

The scene before them was starkly different from the highly ordered, energy-filled environment of Xinghai University.

They stood on a recently established metal platform emitting a faint, steady light. The platform was about fifty meters in diameter, with its edges inscribed with defensive and purification runes—this was the Xinghai University Outpost Teleportation Point on the edge of the Green Vine Forest. Beyond the platform lay their mission objective—the Green Vine Forest.

The first thing they felt was a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. The air wasn't exactly foul, but it carried a strange scent—a mix of rotting vegetation and a sickly sweet, fishy odor. The light was dim, not because it was night, but because the branches and leaves of the tall, twisted trees were so dense they blocked out most of the sky. The forms of those trees were highly abnormal; their trunks were covered in bulges and nodules, and in some places, they oozed a thick, faintly glowing dark green sap. Vines were like a monster's tentacles, gnarled and intertwined, many covered in a slimy, translucent membrane that pulsed slightly.

From deep within the forest, occasional twisted screeches or whimpers that sounded like no normal creature would drift out, followed by a deathly silence. Looking around, there were almost no signs of normal animal activity, only some eerie-looking fungi emitting a faint phosphorescence growing among the decaying leaves.

The entire astral plane gave off the feeling of being gravely ill.

"Holy crap, this place... is really creepy." Zhao Hao frowned; his dragon-kin sensitivity to the environment made him feel very uncomfortable.

"Energy activity is very low, but it's filled with a... chaotic inertia." Wang Meng also sensed the surroundings. "Even the power of the earth has been polluted; my Behemoths might not be able to replenish themselves well here."

Lin Zhou silently spread his Divine Thought to perceive the area, while simultaneously activating the Temple of Civilization's faint scanning function (consuming Divine Power). He could "see" extremely fine grey spores, invisible to the naked eye, floating in the air, with similar traces of pollution clinging to the ground and plant surfaces. Deeper inside, a chaotic and hostile collective consciousness pulsed within the forest—faint and dispersed, yet omnipresent.

"The mission intelligence is basically accurate; the pollution has already gone quite deep," Lin Zhou said solemnly. "The teleportation platform is protected by a purification field, so it's safe for now. But once we leave the platform, we'll be exposed to the polluted environment. All followers, including ourselves, need to activate basic energy shields or take protective measures to avoid prolonged direct contact with the pollution sources."

He looked at Zhao Hao and Wang Meng. "According to the plan, we'll first use the teleportation platform as a temporary base to construct a preliminary defensive line and reconnaissance points. Zhao Hao, send two or three nimble flying dragons (Green Dragons or Wind Dragon variants) for low-altitude scouting. Keep the range within fifty kilometers, focusing on abnormal biological gathering points, areas with unusual energy fluctuations, and... any 'nest' structures that are clearly different from the forest terrain. Remember, if you encounter suspected parasitic units, do not attack rashly; focus on observation and withdrawal."

"Got it!" Zhao Hao nodded, communicating with his divine domain via Divine Thought. Soon, three small, agile Wind Dragons (LV32-34) flew out from his divine domain portal, silently gliding into the dim sky above the forest to begin their reconnaissance mission.

"Wang Meng, have your Behemoths clear a relatively clean area within a three-hundred-meter radius of the platform to establish simple circular defensive fortifications, focusing on preventing ground assaults. The Tiangong Dwarves I've assigned will assist in setting up some early-warning mechanisms and purification runes," Lin Zhou continued to deploy.

"Leave it to me!" Wang Meng growled, and twenty Behemoth Giant Beasts (average LV34) landed with a thud, beginning to clear the twisted plants and suspicious fungal clumps with brute force and sharp claws. A team of Tiangong Dwarf Engineers from Lin Zhou's divine domain also quickly appeared, starting to survey the terrain and set up simple 'Exorcism Formation Plates' (a combination of Daoist and Mohist products) and 'Trigger-type Flash Grenades' (for warning).

"As for myself," Lin Zhou said finally, "I will attempt to deploy a small-scale Net of Law (basic version) to define the teleportation platform and the outer defensive perimeter as a 'Temporary Purification Order Zone,' suppressing pollution activity and the stealth of Parasitic Beasts within range. Meanwhile, several 'Bio-Psionic Detectors' (targeting abnormal mental fluctuations) provided by Li Mo are in place to assist in reconnaissance."

With clear divisions of labor and swift action, the first team combat mission for the core members of the Hundred Schools Society began on the edge of this eerie and dangerous Green Vine Forest.

However, they did not know that in the darkness deeper within the forest, those twisted creatures controlled by parasites had already sensed these "foreign objects" emitting strong auras of Order and life through a primitive "sensory network" that spanned the polluted environment.

Rustling sounds began to echo in the more distant dense forest, surging toward the teleportation platform from all directions like a tide—slowly but resolutely.

First mission, first arrival in an astral plane, and crisis had already quietly approached. The true test was not whether they could defeat the enemy, but whether they could survive and achieve their goals in this strange, filthy environment filled with unknown rules.