But Liu Jizhan was different. Of the remaining disciples, there weren't many strong ones to begin with, and he went and picked out all the stronger ones.
Now only cannon fodder disciples, sent by the sects to die, remained.
Although Yu Daochen was displeased, he could only agree helplessly, as he was the last to choose.
Everyone packed their things and prepared to set off.
Yu Daochen looked at these young people, all around his age, with vibrant energy in their eyes.
These were the discarded children of the sects. Who knew how many would come out alive after entering, or perhaps none at all.
Yu Daochen coughed dryly, his face solemn. "Listen, you should all be aware of how dangerous this mission is. Once inside, conserve your strength. If you encounter danger, escape rather than fight head-on. I don't want more than thirty people going in and only three coming out."
After speaking, Yu Daochen shouted, "Do you understand!"
The young people before him nodded in agreement.
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
"…!"
Yu Daochen nodded, then turned to look at the dim sky ahead. The scenery was like a human hell. He took a deep breath through his nostrils, then slowly exhaled, his voice muffled, "Move out!!"
Everyone climbed into the prepared off-road jeeps.
Four full jeeps passed through the barrier and rumbled towards the county town.
Along the way, most of the plants and flowers on both sides of the road had withered, and even the trees had begun to dry up.
The vehicles drove along the road leading to the town. Not long after, they saw several cars parked on the side of the road ahead.
A scent of blood wafted from the side of the cars. The jeeps stopped, and a young man next to Yu Daochen frowned. "There's a smell of blood!"
As soon as the young man spoke, Yu Daochen became immediately tense.
"Perhaps someone is still alive. I'll go take a look." A female disciple behind him spoke, preparing to get out of the car to investigate, but Yu Daochen stopped her with a shout. "Stay put!"
The others in the car looked at Yu Daochen without speaking.
Yu Daochen offered no explanation, merely saying indifferently, "Drive on!"
The people around them lowered their heads upon hearing this. The young man who had spoken earlier said, "Listen to Master Yu. Compared to all living beings, saving one or two people is less important."
The female disciple who had spoken earlier had no choice but to comply.
The vehicles started again and drove towards the town. Their destination was to pass through the town and reach the suburbs on the other side.
As the vehicles got closer to the town, the ghostly aura grew stronger. Not far ahead, they saw several figures squatting on the ground, gnawing on something.
Seeing this, everyone's nerves tensed. Some disciples had already drawn their weapons, ready to fight.
A few evil spirits ahead, smelling them, turned their heads towards the approaching jeeps.
Some of these evil spirits were poised to pounce on the jeeps as they approached, intending to devour everyone inside.
As the jeeps neared the evil spirits, some of them stomped their feet on the ground and leaped towards the people in the vehicles.
Suddenly, a golden light erupted from the yellow talismans attached to the car bodies, sending the leaping evil spirits flying back.
Yu Daochen saw the disciples nervously gripping their weapons and shouted, "Don't panic, everyone. These talismans can resist ordinary spiritual ghosts. Don't be nervous."
The evil spirits were also sensible. Having tasted pain, they did not intend to continue their attack and returned to their original spots to gnaw on bones.
Everyone looked at the scene on the ground with expressions of shock. Some female disciples even began to vomit.
On the ground, some evil spirits were gnawing on bones, almost devoid of meat, with only a trace of bloodstain.
Beside them was a skeletal frame, picked clean, with a bloody and mangled head. It could still be vaguely recognized as a man.
Yu Daochen also felt a sense of revulsion at the scene before him.
Fortunately, the evil spirits had eaten their fill and were not as desperate to pounce on people as they were when they first appeared.
The young disciple beside him, unable to bear it, covered his mouth.
Yu Daochen saw this and asked, "What, is this your first time seeing such a scene?"
The young disciple nodded without speaking. Yu Daochen continued to ask, "What is your name?"
The young disciple introduced himself, "My name is Zhou Xian, a disciple of the Yin Walking Sect."
Yu Daochen nodded, patted his shoulder, and looked towards the town not far ahead. He said earnestly, "You'd better adapt quickly. This is just the beginning. The real bloody scenes haven't even arrived yet."
The vehicles successfully entered the town. The moment they entered, the scene that greeted them made everyone nauseous.
The strong smell of blood made everyone uncomfortable, and the ground was stained red with fresh blood.
"Careful!"
Suddenly, a disciple shouted.
Everyone turned to look and saw a fierce ghost, over two meters tall, lifting an old-fashioned electric scooter and throwing it towards them.
Yu Daochen, with quick reflexes, drew the Kanglong mace from his waist. His finger traced a line, igniting a blazing fire, which he then flung forward.
The flames transformed into a sword energy that slashed at the oncoming electric scooter.
Bang!
The electric scooter was sent flying by the flame slash. Yu Daochen shouted to the three jeeps behind him, "Don't engage, everyone speed forward!"
As soon as Yu Daochen finished speaking, all four jeeps accelerated.