Two days later.
Led by Hu Liena, a specialized unit circled around to the remote rear of the enemy military camp, actively attempting to intercept the crucial supply convoy sent by the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Nana, we've been guarding this desolate place for two whole days, and we haven't seen a single trace of any supply convoy. Could we have made a mistake?"
Xie Yue pressed his temples in frustration, turning to look at Hu Liena beside him, looking slightly weary.
Although Xie Yue's actual cultivation was technically higher, Hu Liena was the officially appointed Holy Maiden chosen directly by Bibi Dong, and the designated leader of this covert mission.
Xie Yue had no intention of vying for operational power with his younger sister.
At this moment, Yan seemed eager to show off in front of Hu Liena, quickly interjecting, "Could it be that they deliberately avoided this specific road?"
"It's highly unlikely. This main road is the absolute only viable way for the Heaven Dou Empire to efficiently send reinforcements and heavy supplies. The supply convoy will definitely take this main road, so it will undoubtedly pass right through here."
As he said this, Xie Yue's eyes carried a distinct hint of disdain.
Of course, he knew full well that Yan had hopelessly fallen for Nana, but in his honest opinion, Yan's innate talent and general intelligence were simply not worthy of his brilliant younger sister.
Moreover, Nana was now the esteemed Holy Maiden of Spirit Empire, fully deserving of an even more outstanding, unparalleled genius.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hu Liena stepped forward, stating with absolute certainty, "The heavy supply convoys are inherently slow by nature; being delayed by four or five days is perfectly normal."
She deeply trusted her own tactical deduction; since the Heaven Dou Empire had formally dispatched its army, a massive supply convoy would surely pass through this area eventually.
This covert operation was her prime chance to finally prove her true abilities.
If she could successfully destroy the Heaven Dou Empire's vital supply convoy, she could definitively prove to everyone that her teacher's controversial appointment of her as the Holy Maiden was entirely correct.
However, from beginning to end, absolutely no supply convoy ever appeared.
Since the Heaven Dou Empire had officially dispatched its army to assist, the Star Luo Empire had taken full responsibility for all logistical supply issues, essentially using the Star Luo Empire's own money and resources to fight the Spirit Empire.
This specific arrangement was also a key part of Qian Renxue's grand scheme.
On one hand, the Heaven Dou Empire was geographically very far from the front lines, and independently transporting massive supplies across such distances could easily cause logistical problems.
On the other hand, this arrangement would conveniently allow them to continually bleed and weaken the Star Luo Empire's overall national strength.
After successfully destroying the Spirit Empire, they could then wipe out the severely weakened Star Luo Empire in one fell swoop.
"Nana, we'll all faithfully follow your arrangements."
Xie Yue had complete, unwavering trust in Hu Liena, and even if this crucial mission ultimately failed, he would always fully support his sister.
"That's right." Yan nodded repeatedly like an obedient dog.
Just then, a blur of a blue figure flew casually over their heads; it was Tang San, who currently had nothing pressing to do.
Even without deliberately using his mental power to actively probe the area, he still immediately sensed the poorly hidden team crouching below.
After all, Tang San's mental power had long since reached the terrifying Limit Douluo level.
Furthermore, if he actively used the Blue Silver Domain, absolutely nothing within a ten-mile radius could possibly escape his precise perception.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Blue Silver Eternal Forest!"
In an instant, a massive, impenetrable forest rapidly materialized and fully enveloped the Spirit Hall's team, completely blocking any possible escape route.
Compared to the mere ten-thousand-year soul skill he had used back in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the current fifth soul skill was exponentially more powerful. After all, it was now a genuine 100,000-year soul skill.
In a single, brief exchange, everyone, including the highly trained Hu Liena, was completely subdued.
"How can they possibly be this strong?!"
Yan's eyes were filled with sheer disbelief. These glowing vines were incredibly, unnaturally tough.
Even using all his explosive strength, he couldn't break free. His intense flames were utterly useless against the bark.
Not only were his flames completely ineffective, but even Xie Yue's incredibly sharp Moon Blade martial soul couldn't cut through the thick vines. This completely defied their fundamental understanding of plant-type martial souls!
Ever since the Myriad Demon King had formally become Tang San's soul spirit, his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul had fully transformed into the ultimate wood attribute.
Coupled with his terrifying Level 97 soul power, how could a mere Soul Saint possibly break free?
"Tang San, why must you constantly go against me?!" Hu Liena demanded resentfully.
Back in the brutal Slaughter City, she had genuinely invited Tang San to challenge Hell Road together, but he had coldly refused, ultimately causing her to lose her sole qualification for the highly coveted Deathgod Domain.
Now that she finally had a real chance to make a significant contribution, he was actively ruining it again.
Hearing this bizarre accusation, Tang San looked at her like she was a complete idiot, his face perfectly cold. "Let's not even mention my deep-seated grudge against your Spirit Empire for a moment. I don't seem to have any personal connection with you at all, do I? And even if we did, it would be a strictly hostile relationship."
Did she really think that just because they had participated in the same Soul Master Competition together years ago, he would treat her any differently than any other enemy? If so, that was just too bizarrely naive.
He really couldn't understand what on earth this entitled woman was actually thinking.
Faced with Tang San's freezing cold attitude, Hu Liena opened her mouth, but couldn't find a single logical rebuttal.
A moment later, she said as if stating a universal fact, "Even if we have absolutely nothing to do with each other, simply as a man, you shouldn't have just left me alone."
"Nana is exactly right."
Acting as a perfectly loyal sycophant, Yan immediately chimed in, "If it were me in his place, I definitely wouldn't have just left Nana behind."
"Is that so? Then why didn't you go with her to Slaughter City before?"
Tang San looked at Yan, who seemingly had absolutely no ability to think critically for himself, with nothing but pure contempt. This pathetic guy didn't even deserve to be called a member of the so-called "Golden Generation."
"This..."
Faced with this direct question, Yan couldn't give a proper reason for a long moment. He knew very well exactly how terrifyingly dangerous Slaughter City was. Once you entered Slaughter City, it was almost certain death for anyone.
Seeing Yan's pathetic reaction, Hu Liena's inner disdain for him deepened.
After a moment, Hu Liena looked up angrily at Tang San and questioned, "Tang San, you definitely didn't want me to have the Deathgod Domain, so you had Lin Mu maliciously slaughter all the Fallen Ones, physically preventing me from even participating in the trial."
"I'm far too lazy to even try and reason with you. You're simply not worthy to talk to!" Tang San said coldly.
In his professional view, with Hu Liena's actual strength at the time, attempting to force her way through Hell Road alone would only have resulted in one guaranteed outcome: a gruesome death.
Yet, this arrogant woman seemed entirely unable to grasp this simple fact.
At this tense moment, Xie Yue, who had been completely silent all along, finally spoke up.
"Tang San, we've fallen squarely into your hands this time solely because we are fundamentally inferior in skill. I, Xie Yue, am entirely at your complete mercy. I only beg you to release Nana."
"Me too."
Even tightly bound by the suffocating vines, Yan still looked at Hu Liena with deep, dramatic affection, feigning a noble willingness to bravely sacrifice himself for love.
Seeing this pathetic scene, Tang San was genuinely amused and openly mocked them, "You two absolute idiots. You don't actually think you have the right to negotiate terms with me, do you?"
They were clearly helpless prisoners themselves, yet they still arrogantly demanded that he release the most important Spirit Empire's Holy Maiden.
This clearly showed that this widely praised Golden Generation only possessed slightly passable innate talent; their actual tactical minds were definitely not normal.
After being directly insulted, Xie Yue and Yan felt extremely aggrieved but absolutely dared not retaliate.
If they actively angered Tang San, he might do something truly wicked to Hu Liena in revenge.
Next, Tang San calmly summoned the Myriad Demon King, securely bound the entire group with even thicker vines, and then physically flew them all back to the main military camp.
Back at the secure camp, Tang San entrusted them to the strict guard of the Myriad Demon King and went to formally inform his master.
Soon, Lin Mu learned the whole amusing story from his disciple.
"This is quite an unexpected, pleasant surprise. If Bibi Dong knew her precious disciple had been captured so easily, she'd probably be absolutely furious."
Lin Mu's lips curled into a highly meaningful smile.
For an incredibly self-centered person like Bibi Dong, besides Yu Xiaogang, her personal disciple was her absolute only remaining solace in the world.