Chapter 210 The Squad Loses Contact

Lu Dachuan nodded. "The words are rough but the logic is sound. At least our Demon Hunting Division has an office, colleagues, and logistics. When we encounter tough opponents, we can call for reinforcements and set up formations to surround and annihilate them. But the Bell Guards are different."

He paused, his tone filled with a hint of sighing. "They sleep in the open and travel alone, which is common. At most, they have two or three companions. They often track demons that have erratic movements, pose immense danger, or simply cannot be found by ordinary means. Every time they make a move, they are putting their heads on their belts, engaging in close-quarters combat with demons."

"Sigh, any Bell Guards who can survive for three years are the toughest of the tough, one in a hundred. If one can wear a golden bell..."

Ling Xiaoning blinked and tilted his head. "Wear a golden bell? Do they really have a bell in their hands?"

Lu Dachuan chuckled at his childish remark and raised his hand to ruffle Ling Xiaoning's hair. "Of course. The golden bell is not just a symbol of their identity; it is also their life-bound Magical Artifact. One person, one bell. Once it recognizes its master, no one else can use it. Most importantly, that thing has two critical functions."

"First is tracking Demonic Qi, with terrifyingly high precision. It is said that even if a Demon King deliberately conceals its aura, the golden bell can still sniff it out. Second... is calling for help. After all, they are flesh and blood and might encounter life-and-death crises they cannot handle. At such times, they can activate the golden bell to send a distress signal to the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division within a hundred miles or to other Bell Guards."

Ling Xiaoning clicked his tongue repeatedly as he listened. "That powerful? Then why don't they join the Demon Hunting Division? Wouldn't having an official position be more secure?"

Feng Qing shook his head. "Hawks do not stay in cages."

Lu Dachuan also scoffed. "Secure? Kid, those who can become Bell Guards, especially the Golden Bell Guards, which one of them isn't arrogant and exceptionally talented? They value freedom, challenges, and the thrill of breaking through their limits with their own true ability. They wouldn't care for the red tape and bureaucratic infighting of our Demon Suppression Division."

Ling Xiaoning curled his lips in disdain, feeling unconvinced. "If they are so high and mighty, why seek our help? And to act so aloof, as if they don't eat human food. What's even more outrageous is that we actually have to obey them obediently? Sending our top teams—we're giving them too much face!"

Chen Mu had been listening quietly, contemplating these top-tier hunters who existed outside the system and specialized in tracking the most troublesome demons. These Bell Guards made the fire of desire for hunting and plundering in his heart stir slightly.

"It's not about obeying obediently. If there is a demon that even the Golden Bell Guards cannot handle, the demonic infestation must be extraordinary. The Demon Suppression Division exists to protect the peace of the region. If we leave it unchecked, the consequences will be endless."

Feng Qing nodded, frowning in thought for a moment. "When the golden bell calls for help, the strength of the signal is linked to the life force of the holder. If the person is dying, the signal will weaken or even disappear. Chief Banner Officer Zhang taking Team Heaven and Earth means the golden bell signal is still strong, but the situation is already critical enough to require immediate rescue. This Black Rock Mountain... I fear the snake demon in Shi Town is just an appetizer."

Lu Dachuan's expression also darkened. "Yes, the depths of Black Rock Mountain have always been sinister. Now even the Golden Bell Guards are trapped... Damn it! This world."

The barracks fell silent. Ling Xiaoning shrank his neck, not daring to ask any more questions. Chen Mu gazed at the faint, rolling mountain shadows to the southwest.

The waiting time was particularly agonizing. No news returned on the first day. Huo Chao went to the main hall several times to inquire, and his face grew gloomier each time he returned. Flag-bearer Cheng also seemed to be under immense pressure, and envoys from the Prefecture office came to ask questions from time to time.

Drills continued on the training ground, but the atmosphere was clearly different. The usual shouting during sparring was gone; there was more silent sharpening of weapons, checking of equipment, and consuming Medicinal Pills to regulate Qi. Even the most restless Ling Xiaoning was honestly practicing the basic footwork of the "Wind Chasing Steps" over and over again.

Zhuifeng also seemed to sense this oppression. It no longer ran wild in the courtyard, spending most of its time curled up at Chen Mu's feet, vigilantly scanning everyone entering and leaving the barracks.

On the evening of the second day, the setting sun was like blood. A fast horse rushed into the Demon Hunting Division courtyard like mad. The rider was covered in blood and nearly rolled off the saddle. Supported by the guards on duty, he stumbled into the main hall of the Demon Hunting Division.

Not long after, the heavy bell tolled again. It was not for assembly, but three short, sharp rings representing urgent intelligence. All the guards in the division stopped what they were doing and pricked up their ears.

Huo Chao soon returned from the main hall with a terrifyingly ashen face. He gathered the leaders of the remaining squads for instructions. Not long after, Bai Junyi gathered everyone from Team C in front of the barracks, his voice hoarse. "Team Heaven and Earth, as well as Chief Banner Officer Zhang... have lost contact."

Everyone was stunned, as if doused with a basin of ice water. "Only one of the scouts sent out returned, severely injured. He said that Team Heaven and Earth followed the guidance of the golden bell signal, penetrated more than eighty miles into Black Rock Mountain, and lost trace on the outskirts of a canyon known as Youxu Valley."

"The Demonic Qi there is thick and inseparable, the terrain is complex, and it is full of poisonous miasma and fog. They attempted to search, encountered attacks from unknown demons, and lost several brothers. Chief Banner Officer Zhang ordered a retreat and sent the intelligence. He only managed to fight his way out by risking his life."

He finished speaking at a very fast speed, then took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Flag-bearer Cheng has already reported to the Prefecture office, but Thousand-Household Liao took away most of the elite forces in the division to deal with the Heaven Burning Demon King in the south. The number of experts that can be drawn from the Prefecture's various guard offices is limited. The Prefecture's intention is to dispatch another elite team from the Demon Hunting Division, carrying more powerful barrier-breaking Magical Artifacts to provide support and investigate, at least to figure out the exact situation."

His gaze swept over everyone, lingering for a moment on the bandaged Zhao Si and the two newcomers, before finally sighing. "Our Team C has just gone through a fierce battle, with wounded not yet recovered and incomplete staffing. This mission won't fall to us for now. Captain Ding and Team E each have their own tasks. Flag-bearer Cheng's intention is to let Team Xuan go."

Team Xuan was the elite force under Zhang Ye, second only to Team Heaven and Earth, and the captain was also an experienced Squad Leader. Everyone nodded silently, but their hearts were heavy. Team Heaven and Earth were powerful, and even they had lost contact; Team Xuan's prospects were likely grim.

Sure enough, on the third day, Team Xuan set off, carrying several precious barrier-breaking jade talismans and communication Magical Artifact disks from the division's inventory. Under the complicated gazes of everyone, they rushed towards Black Rock Mountain in the southwest again.

The waiting began again. Time passed bit by bit, from early morning to noon, from noon to dusk. The atmosphere within the Demon Hunting Division was suppressed to the extreme. Officials coming and going walked in a hurry with solemn faces, and there was less conversation among them.

Chen Mu spent most of his time in the barracks regulating his Qi, consolidating the second layer of the "Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body" he had just broken through. The Hunyuan Calamity Astral Qi in his body flowed ceaselessly, more refined and heavier than before, and his perception of his surroundings was several times sharper. He could even faintly feel a lingering, ferocious aura from the southwest. It was mixed, massive, and full of ominousness.