Warning! A hidden dragon has emerged!

"A large tomb?"

Qin Quan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings, trying to discern something amiss.

"That's right."

Lin Wanrou nodded emphatically and said firmly:

"Look closely, the vegetation here is overgrown, the miasma lingers year-round, and the soil carries a persistent, foul odor. And look at the scattered fragments of bones everywhere, the answer is obvious."

"The reason why the vegetation in this woodland grows so lushly is not because of the superior soil and water, but because of the countless corpses underground that have nourished the soil over the years, creating this ominous place."

Using corpses to nourish trees, and using evil spirits to gather miasma.

It sounds unbelievable, but it's not surprising in the mysterious Ten Thousand Mountains.

According to Lin Wanrou's analysis, the number of corpses buried beneath the mountain forest must be extremely terrifying to have formed such a bizarre pattern.

A glint flashed in Qin Quan's eyes, and he had already seen the key clue.

"This place is indeed unusual."

He quickly unfolded the map in his hand and gestured for Jiang Yao and the others to take a closer look.

"Look at the seven mountains around us, arranged in a staggered pattern, with their positions corresponding to the stars. This is a rare feng shui pattern of seven stars surrounding the moon, as described in ancient books."

"Huh? It really is! It looks exactly like the Big Dipper!"

Jiang Yao took a closer look. She didn't understand feng shui, but she knew the order of the Big Dipper.

"Then that's it."

Qin Quan quickly rolled up the map, not delving into the matter in public, and whispered instructions to Lin Wanrou and Jiang Yao.

"This ancient tomb is shrouded in mystery and is definitely not simple. Let's put it aside for now and investigate it again after we have completely eradicated the Gu Poison Cult."

Lin Wanrou nodded in agreement.

She and Qin Quan knew that the miasma and fog in this ghost forest were not naturally formed, but were caused by humans.

The fact that such a large array could be set up to protect the tomb means that what lies beneath it is definitely not simple.

Just as everyone was putting aside their thoughts and preparing to continue their journey.

A disheveled figure staggered towards them.

Xie Bi'an clutched his aching body, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his breathing disordered, and his face full of guilt.

"Team Leader Qin, Team Leader Jiang, I've dragged everyone down."

If Qin Quan hadn't intervened in time, he probably would have been killed by the Kumanthong long ago.

After a series of mistakes, he knew better than anyone that he was already deeply suspected by everyone.

Before he could say another word, a cold glint suddenly appeared.

Jiang Yao flashed forward, and the Dragon Sparrow Blade in her hand was already against Xie Bi'an's neck.

"Team Leader Xie, I didn't mean to target you."

Jiang Yao's eyes were icy cold, filled with murderous intent.

"Next, we will venture deep into the heart of the Gu Poison Cult, a perilous journey at every turn. I will not allow any hidden dangers within the Hidden Dragon's team."

A blade at the throat, life or death hangs in the balance.

Xie Bi'an's breath hitched, but he dared not make the slightest move. He could only forcefully suppress the bitterness in his heart and plead:

"Team Leader Jiang, please calm down."

He looked up at Qin Quan again, thinking that as long as Qin Quan believed in him, there was still a chance to salvage the situation.

"Captain Qin, I admit it was my misjudgment and poor command that nearly led to the annihilation of the entire army. But I, Xie Bi'an, am utterly loyal to Hidden Dragon and have never harbored the slightest thought of betrayal! I swear to heaven, if I utter even a single lie, may I be struck by lightning and my soul be utterly destroyed!"

"Alright, I believe you."

Qin Quan spoke in a deep voice.

"Sister Yao, put away your knife. He's not a traitor."

"Qin Quan is highly suspicious; his behavior throughout the entire incident is abnormal. We cannot draw conclusions based solely on intuition!"

Jiang Yao immediately retorted, full of resentment, still staring intently at Xie Bi'an.

"I've seen it all."

Qin Quan remained calm and composed, his thoughts clear and logical.

"When we entered the Misty Ghost Forest, it was his suggestion to take the shortcut, and you nodded in agreement, didn't you? It's true that he proposed all the decisions, but everyone agreed. What does that mean?"

"Everyone agrees with Team Leader Xie's proposal."

With just one simple sentence, Jiang Yao was left speechless.

She did agree with Xie Bi'an's suggestion; it wasn't that he was acting on his own initiative.

"Don't let your teammates laugh at you, put the knife away right now."

Jiang Yao pursed her red lips and finally slowly withdrew the Dragon Sparrow Blade.

But the wariness in her eyes had not diminished at all.

From this moment on, she will keep a close watch on Xie Bi'an, and if he shows any abnormality, she will take immediate action to silence everyone with the facts.

The old ghost was brought to justice, and all evil spirits were annihilated.

The greatest danger in the Misty Ghost Forest has been completely eliminated.

The remaining dense fog and miasma were only a deterrent, no longer capable of causing harm.

Led by Qin Quan and Zhang Qingshun, the team quickly traversed the mountains and forests.

Two o'clock in the morning.

The group arrived at the outer perimeter of the Gu Poison Sect on time, a full two hours ahead of schedule.

"Captain Qin, look ahead!"

One of the team members lowered his voice to remind him.

Deep in the valley shrouded in night, the headquarters of the Gu Poison Sect was brightly lit.

Torches flickered and candlelight shone brightly, illuminating the entire mountaintop.

Qin Quan seemed to have thought of something, and his expression darkened as he thought to himself:

"Damn it, our operation has been exposed."

"The ambush by Old Ghost and the snake blocking our way were just appetizers arranged by the Gu Poison Cult. The real battle is just beginning."

At this moment, in the dead of night, all the members of the Gu Poison Sect should be fast asleep.

The church was brightly lit, yet not a single person could be seen. The deathly silence concealed extreme danger, clearly indicating that a trap had been laid and they were waiting for the intruders to fall into it.

Qin Quan immediately took the thermal imaging night vision binoculars and scanned ahead to investigate.

Beneath the lens, nothing can be hidden.

The mountain path leading to the Gu Poison Sect was densely covered with Gu worms;

Countless sentries were hidden and lying in ambush in the bushes, ravines, and dark corners.

Layer upon layer of defense, leaving no room for leakage.

"See for yourselves."

Qin Quan handed out the binoculars one by one.

Jiang Yao and all the team members took turns checking, and after they finished, they all felt a chill down their spines and a wave of fear washed over them.

"Luckily, we had a thermal imaging telescope; otherwise, if we had recklessly barged in, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

"We've been exposed. Our operation has definitely been exposed."

Qin Quan secretly rejoiced.

With his, Jiang Yao, and Lin Wanrou's strength, they could escape unscathed even if they were surrounded. However, the Hidden Dragon team members had limited cultivation, and if they fell into an ambush, they would suffer heavy casualties.

"Captain Qin, what's the next move?"

Everyone turned to look at Qin Quan, awaiting instructions.

Qin Quan didn't mince words and immediately assigned tactics.

"Sister Yao, Team Leader Xie, you two lead a feint attack from the front to tie down all their forces. The boss lady and I will circle around to the back mountain and strike straight at the core of the Gu Poison Cult, catching them off guard and attacking from both sides."

The back mountain is full of cliffs and dangerous places, which would be an insurmountable barrier for ordinary people, but for him and Lin Wanrou, it was as easy as walking on flat ground, making it the perfect place for a sneak attack.

"In addition, if necessary, firepower can be used to provide cover."

"Yes, sir!"

Xie Bi'an answered loudly, "I will never let Captain Qin down."

In order not to alert the enemy, the use of firearms was restricted throughout the entire journey.

Now, it's finally time to unleash our full power.

He can use this battle to clear his name and prove himself!

"All personnel, listen to my command!"

Xie Bi'an immediately went into battle mode, his voice low and crisp.

"Sniper rifle loaded, single shot ready! Mortar adjusted to 70-degree elevation, reloading prepared!"

Click! Click!

In an instant, the Hidden Dragon team members moved in perfect unison.

Loading, ammunition loading, gun mounting—all the mechanical sounds were perfectly synchronized, exuding a suffocatingly chilling atmosphere in the quiet night.