Slaying demons and eliminating evil, a martial saint among mortals.

After hearing Qin Lie's words, Lu Chen did not speak immediately.

He glanced at the empty array core, then at the direction of the main hall.

As the captain of this squad, he led his men into Duanfeng Pass to find out the reason for the disappearance of the two Silver Token Demon Hunters.

It was also to find out what exactly went wrong inside Duanfeng Pass.

People have already reached the entrance of the main hall.

If we simply retreat like this, the mission cannot be considered complete.

But Qin Lie spoke with too much certainty.

He personally inserted a nail, the Wind-Severing Formation, Pei Jinghan...

Lu Chen was caught in a dilemma.

If they keep going in, they might run into something they can't handle at all.

Going back now would be like leaving clues right in front of us without investigating them.

Just as Lu Chen remained silent, Xu Qinghe suddenly spoke up.

She looked at Lu Chen, a hint of a smile in her red eyes, but her tone was anything but joking.

"From now on, listen to Qin Lie, we'll go back and report together."

"This matter will be left to the higher-ups to decide how to handle."

Upon hearing this, Li Hu immediately frowned.

"Qinghe, you'd better not make a decision yet. We have to listen to the boss."

As soon as he said this, Lu Chen's expression changed slightly.

The next moment, Lu Chen raised his hand and covered Li Hu's mouth.

Li Hu's eyes widened, and he was about to mutter something, but Lu Chen silenced him.

Lu Chen ignored him and instead bowed respectfully to Xu Qinghe.

"Yes."

"I see."

This scene completely stunned Li Hu, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

For a moment, she even forgot that Lu Chen was still covering her mouth.

Isn't Boss Lu the captain?

Why are you being so respectful to Qinghe now?

I've been in this team for more than half a year now, but I've never seen Lu Chen show this kind of attitude before.

Lu Chen was usually polite to Xu Qinghe, but that politeness was more out of respect between teammates.

Things are different now; everyone can hear the respect in Lu Chen's tone.

Li Hu's mind was in turmoil. Just who was Xu Qinghe?

How come I never noticed this before?

However, now that Lu Chen has spoken, the matter is naturally settled.

Li Hu is just a bit reckless, not stupid!

Lu Chen released his grip.

Li Hu rubbed his mouth and muttered to himself:

"Damn it, what kind of team have I joined..."

Lu Chen glanced at him, and Li Hu immediately shut his mouth.

The group was preparing to turn around and leave Duanfeng Pass.

But just then, a deep voice suddenly came from inside the main hall.

"It hurts...it hurts so much..."

Upon hearing that voice, Qin Lie's body stiffened abruptly.

He knew that voice all too well.

Pei Jinghan.

That's Pei Jinghan's voice.

Li Hu and Lu Chen placed their hands directly on the hilts of the knives.

Xu Qinghe's smile faded slightly, and her red eyes narrowed a little.

All four of them stopped in their tracks.

For a moment, no one went any further.

Qin Lie stared intently at the direction of the main hall, the unease in his heart growing stronger and stronger.

But he also knew that he couldn't let everyone in, but he couldn't fail to report the matter to his superiors.

"Boss Lu, you and Brother Li go back to report to the department and ask the city lord to come over as soon as possible."

"Xu the clerk and I will stay here and observe for a while longer."

Upon hearing this, Li Hu's eyes widened immediately.

"What? You want to stay?"

Qin Lie didn't look at him, but stared at the direction of the main hall.

He had his own reasons for making these arrangements.

Xu Qinghe is very strong.

But he didn't know exactly how strong he was.

However, Qin Lie had clearly seen the scene of Lu Chen bowing to Xu Qinghe just now.

In this world, strength and status are often intertwined.

The fact that Lu Chen listened to Xu Qinghe shows that Xu Qinghe was definitely not just an ordinary clerk.

Xu Qinghe is now in a red-eyed state, which is obviously more dangerous than normal.

The safest course of action right now is to have her stay and observe with me.

As for Lu Chen and Li Hu, someone has to go out and deliver the message.

After hearing Qin Lie's words, Lu Chen did not immediately agree.

He glanced at Qin Lie first, then turned his gaze to Xu Qinghe.

Xu Qinghe stood to the side, her hands behind her back, looking relaxed.

She didn't say much, just nodded slightly.

Lu Chen then spoke.

"Okay, Li Hu and I will go out and deliver the message first."

Li Hu was still a little anxious.

"Boss, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"What if Qin Lie and Qing He break free from inside if we leave them here?"

Lu Chen waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking.

"Qin Lie, I'll say it again, you can only stay here to observe, don't make any other moves."

"No matter what sounds come from the main hall, do not go in or touch anything. Just wait for Li Hu and me to return with the city lord."

Qin Lie nodded to indicate that he understood.

Lu Chen was still worried.

"You just said it yourself, this matter is beyond our scope of handling, so please, please, please don't act impulsively."

"Li Hu and I will definitely go and come back quickly. Once we are outside the Zhenyao Pass area, we will send a message immediately."

"Given the city lord's speed, he'll arrive here soon."

Qin Lie looked at Lu Chen and said seriously, "I know, you can go without worry."

Lu Chen stared at Qin Lie for a moment.

Only after confirming that he didn't seem to be just giving a perfunctory answer did he turn to look at Li Hu.

"Walk."

Li Hu wanted to say something, but seeing Lu Chen's gaze, he swallowed his words.

He shouldered the knife and glanced at Qin Lie.

"Don't mess around, we'll be right back."

Qin Lie nodded.

"it is good."

Lu Chen didn't delay any longer and led Li Hu towards the outside of Duanfeng Pass.

Soon, the two figures disappeared behind the ruined city wall.

After Lu Chen and Li Hu left, the area around the drum platform quickly quieted down.

All that remained was the sound of the wind blowing through the broken walls.

Qin Lie stood there, watching the direction the two had left in, until their figures completely disappeared from sight before slowly turning his gaze away.

Then he looked at Xu Qinghe.

To be precise, it was looking at Xu Qinghe, who was currently in a state of red-eyed disbelief.

"If Pei Jinghan really wakes up, how confident are you that you can protect me and get me out of here?"

Xu Qinghe was taken aback when she heard this.

Then, as if she had heard something amusing, she suddenly giggled.

The next moment, she walked to Qin Lie's side, reached out and put her arm around his, hanging her whole body on him.

"Don't worry, if that really happens, I'll risk my life to protect you and get you out of here."

"You're my precious darling, how could I bear to see you get hurt!"

She spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

His facial expression was also very serious.

But no matter how Qin Lie looked at her, he felt that she didn't seem to be making a promise, but rather that she was teasing him.

"I was quite reassured at first, but after hearing what you said, I'm not so reassured anymore."

"Let me tell you, Pei Jinghan's current strength should be above the first rank. Are you confident?"

Pei Jinghan already possessed the strength of a first-rank cultivator, and with the added enhancement of the formation, he was definitely above the first-rank level.

Qin Lie had assumed that Xu Qinghe would stop joking.

Unexpectedly, the smile in her eyes not only did not diminish, but actually deepened.

She raised her head and looked at Qin Lie, her red eyes filled with an indescribable arrogance.

"Isn't it just above the first rank? Who isn't?"

"Perhaps I'm even a level above him."

Qin Lie's heart skipped a beat.

What?

Above the highest rank!

Who isn't?

Xu Qinghe actually possesses strength above the first rank?

Does this mean that the first rank is not the end point of this martial arts world?

Beyond the highest level, are there even new realms?

Qin Lie had always thought that becoming a first-rank martial artist was the pinnacle of martial arts.

After all, whether it's the Demon Suppression Bureau or the martial artists outside, they all speak of the First Rank with reverence.

But Xu Qinghe's words now seemed to tear open a hole in Qin Lie's original understanding.

Above the highest rank lies the path to heaven.

Moreover, Xu Qinghe, who is currently in a state of red-eyed confusion, is very likely standing on that road.

After the initial shock, Qin Lie felt somewhat calmer.

Regardless of whether Xu Qinghe was deliberately teasing him, at least one thing is certain.

Since she dared to say that, it means that even if danger were to occur, she should still be able to save her own life.

Just then, another voice came from inside the main hall.

"Who's outside?"

"Are they brothers from the Broken Wind Camp?"

His voice was deep and hoarse.

Qin Lie's expression changed slightly upon hearing the voice.

It was indeed Pei Jinghan's voice.

For some reason, Qin Lie felt a little awkward when Pei Jinghan said the words "brothers of the Broken Wind Camp".

wrong.

Qin Lie suddenly remembered that Pei Jinghan had told him before that he remembered everyone in the Duanfeng Camp.

For a first-rank martial artist, this memory should include not only a face, but also a voice.

Qin Lie had witnessed firsthand how much Pei Jinghan valued the three thousand men of the Broken Wind Camp; it couldn't be summed up with just the word "brother."

Judging from the voices, Pei Jinghan inside should have already regained consciousness, so it's impossible for him to forget the voices of everyone in the Duanfeng Camp.

Xu Qinghe stood to the side, glanced at Qin Lie, and lowered her voice.

"Are you going to answer his question? Are you from the Broken Wind Camp?"

Qin Lie raised his hand and waved it at her, signaling her not to speak.

Xu Qinghe blinked and nodded when she saw his action.

Qin Lie just breathed a sigh of relief.

The next moment, Xu Qinghe shouted directly into the main hall:

"We're not from the Broken Wind Camp. Who are you?"

Qin Lie's expression froze instantly.

He looked at Xu Qinghe speechlessly.

No.

His waving gesture just now wasn't meant for her to tell the person inside that she wasn't from the Broken Wind Camp; it was meant for her to be quiet!

But Qin Lie only dared to say those words in his heart.

I dare not say it out loud.

He's now counting on Xu Qinghe to protect him.

If I anger her and she stops protecting me, then I'm truly doomed.

Besides, the words have already been spoken.

It's no use saying anything now.

There was a moment of silence inside the main hall.

Then, that deep voice sounded again.

"Not from the Broken Wind Camp?"

"Then why are you at Broken Wind Pass?"

"I am Pei Jinghan, the commander of Duanfeng Pass."

"They were framed by villains and are now trapped in the main hall."

"Come closer."

"Once you enter the main hall, you can help me escape this formation."

"At that time, the human race will gain another mighty general."

"It can also continue to hinder the advance of the demon race."