CHAPTER 155: THE FALL OF AZURE DRAGON

Observing the situation, the corrupt cultivators of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect realized that they had walked right into the Special Investigation Unit’s trap.

Before the Immortal Dao Conference’s ranking matches, Qing Yanzi had deliberately read aloud the preface of the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll. It instantly stirred the spirits of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect, who were already interested in the celestial tablet. Hence, they decisively resolved to act and reclaim the core text that they had lost a thousand years ago.

Even though the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect currently had more than ten top-tier Daoist heritages, the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll remained their most coveted text. It had been a millennium, yet they still couldn’t wash away the humiliation of losing it.

Having been lurking for far too long, they had now amassed enough strength. One of their Primal Immortals had also been captured; they could no longer afford to stay hidden.

Choosing to go on the offensive, the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect rapidly mobilized all the experts they could gather and devised a surprise attack on the Longhu Mountains to lure away defenders. They also accurately calculated the transport route of the celestial tablet and launched an ambush to secure it.

Everything seemed so perfectly planned. Even if it cost the lives of some of their top experts, it would all be worth it as long as they could reclaim the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll.

However, the Golden Core Realm cultivator who had been hiding next to the celestial tablet fought back with everything she had. Moreover, Special Warfare Unit soldiers strapped with flight talismans had swooped in from the west.

It was all a trap—one designed to bait them into revealing themselves and wipe them out completely.

All the corrupt cultivators of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect looked at Azure Dragon, the brute who was still locked in fierce combat with Jingyun.

Furious, the elder roared, "Don't get bogged down in the fight! Take the celestial tablet and go!"

But it was already too late.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

People flew across the sky above the corrupt cultivators.

The flight packs on the backs of the soldiers had already begun to reverse for deceleration. Nearing the chaotic battlefield below, they skillfully unleashed their true essence and cranked the jets on their chests to full power. A few meters away from the ground, they opened mushroom-shaped parachutes one after another, completely neutralizing their momentum.

Only Seed Formation Realm cultivators and above could endure such a landing. Considering the immense forces involved, Spirit Convergence Realm cultivators would likely be torn apart before they could even touch the ground. Even the paratroopers had lost count of the times they had rehearsed this maneuver and the injuries they had suffered during training just to be able to join battles so quickly and effectively.

People descended like falling leaves all over the battlefield. By the time they cut their parachutes loose, they had already completed the encirclement.

Some of the righteous Daoist masters burst out laughing, while others cursed at their enemies. Meanwhile, the corrupt cultivators desperately charged uphill, trying to break through. However, Jingyun unleashed as much force as her realm would allow. Despite taking several hits from the brawny man, she willingly sustained injuries to stop the corrupt cultivators from escaping.

"Special Warfare Unit, attack! Eliminate the corrupt cultivators and protect our allies!" shouted one of the Special Warfare Unit instructors. Wang Sheng recognized him.

Peak Illusory Core Realm aura surged forth. Zhang Zikuang, surrounded by dozens of yellow talismans, let out a long howl and charged down the slope toward Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan.

One after another, the Special Warfare Unit paratroopers quickly took off their flight gear. Within moments, they formed teams of six, eight, and even eighteen, then assumed battle formations. Dozens of snipers simultaneously set up, while hundreds of soldiers moved in unison to encircle and assault the enemy.

In response, the corrupt cultivators fought back desperately. Some Illusory Core Realm combatants even detonated their own cores, taking several righteous cultivators and soldiers down with them.

Wang Sheng's expression turned grim. The fanatical light in the corrupt cultivators' eyes made him truly understand how terrifying the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect was.

He formed a sword finger with his hand, making his celestial-grade flying sword zip through the battlefield. It cut down all corrupt cultivators who showed even the slightest opening.

After waiting for the rest of the Special Warfare Unit to fully join the fray, Mu Wanxuan left Wang Sheng's side. A hint of anger showed in her starry eyes as she joined the battle against Azure Dragon. Her yin-yang qi empowered Zhang Zikuang and Jingyun, who were continuously interfering with the brawny man.

Even so, the already heavily wounded Golden Core Realm cultivator remained unmatched in ferocity despite now gradually slipping into madness.

Corpses piled higher and higher as the corrupt cultivators behind the brute were gradually slain. The silver chest had been flung into a pool of blood, crushing two gravely wounded corrupt cultivators beneath it.

It took only a few more moments for the righteous faction to eliminate all the corrupt cultivators at the scene. The Special Warfare Unit had deliberately captured seven to eight Illusory Core Realm experts alive, tying them up like dumplings and tossing them to the ground.

The battle still wasn't over, however.

The Golden Core Realm cultivator was still standing. Dozens of Special Warfare Unit soldiers had surrounded him, yet none dared act recklessly. They simply formed a tight formation, preventing his escape.

The burly man was drenched in blood. His long hair had come loose, and the blood patterns on his body now flickered erratically; he was already at the end of his strength.

Rather than engaging him head-on, Jingyun and Zhang Zikuang chose to harass and dodge. Meanwhile, Wang Sheng silently controlled his celestial-grade flying sword to attack from the side.

With no spare strength left to resist the sword, the corrupt cultivator just allowed it to keep slicing him. He suffered cut after cut, yet his eyes never left Jingyun as he launched fierce attacks.

"Die!"

"Hmph." A cold aura erupted out of Jingyun. She twirled and drifted gracefully through the air, easily avoiding his strikes.

Soon, the brute staggered. The blood-colored golden core inside him had already begun to dim. However, as if unleashing a final flare before his demise, his aura fiercely surged, and his power intensified further.

"You think I’ll allow you to self-destruct?" Zhang Zikuang roared. "Ten Thousand Swords Convergence!"

"Attack!" dozens of elite Special Warfare Unit soldiers shouted in unison.

One longsword after another flew from their hands as the accumulated power of the formation exploded forth.

Their longswords, codenamed Light Edge No. 7, were the upgraded version of Light Edge No. 6. Only the tips and front half of the blades were forged with the same materials and techniques as Spiritless.

Sword after sword pierced through the corrupt Golden Core Realm cultivator. His surging qi immediately dissipated.

The burly man coughed up a mouthful of blood as the light faded from his eyes. With what little strength he had left, he muttered, "Heaven and earth... should... revere... yin... and yang..."

At last, the towering man collapsed, but no one cheered around him. The Special Warfare Unit soldiers swiftly retrieved their longswords.

Zhang Zikuang shouted, "Begin emergency treatment for the wounded and handle the corpses. This corrupt Golden Core Realm cultivator's body is valuable research material. Give it to the research institute."

Behind the crowd, the pale-faced Wang Sheng finally sighed in relief. His true essence had long been depleted. As he slowly leaned and fell backward, Fei Lianzi steadied him with his large hand. Jingyun and Mu Wanxuan arrived at the same time soon after. Fei Lianzi stepped aside, making way for them.

Mu Wanxuan supported Wang Sheng while Jingyun pressed her palm to his chest, helping him heal his injuries.

"Don't worry about me, Martial Aunt. Treat yourself first," Wang Sheng urged.

"I'm fine," Jingyun replied softly with a gentle shake of her head. However, as she spoke, a sweet taste rose in her throat, leaving her no choice but to sit cross-legged and begin meditating.

Mu Wanxuan looked worriedly at their martial aunt. Fortunately, several Special Warfare Unit soldiers had already walked over to them with alchemical pills and water infused with Healing Talismans.

"Daoist Master Wang, do you need us to channel true essence into you?" one soldier asked.

"Thank you, but no need."

"Alright. If you need anything, just let us know."

The group quickly ran toward Huai Jing, who was still chanting sutras.

Gao Shixing sheathed his longsword and stood quietly before the scattered corpses, seemingly lost in thought. Some new insight appeared to dawn on him, and his sword intent subtly shifted once again.

Soon, Qing Long appeared at the edge of the sky. He had rushed over despite his long hair wildly whipping across his face. In just over twenty minutes, he had traveled a hundred li—nearly a Golden Core Realm cultivator’s limit in controlling an object to fly.

The righteous faction had successfully defended the celestial tablet and annihilated all 135 corrupt cultivators that the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect had dispatched. The one hiding in the shadows playing the flute had long since vanished.

Of the righteous cultivators who came to protect the celestial tablet, twenty-six were killed, including several of the Immortal Dao Conference’s referees. Over forty were seriously injured, though almost all were wounded to some degree.

Perhaps this was the true cruelty of the battle between righteousness and corruption.

Recalling the hateful and resentful gazes of the corrupt cultivators before death—and the fervent fanaticism that never left their eyes—Wang Sheng's understanding of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect deepened once more. He now understood why the Hua Republic in his past life had spent several years purging that sect.

The Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect’s members likely saw themselves as the true inheritors of the Dao—the true orthodox path. To them, the Daoist and Buddhist sects were the real corrupt cultivators.

No part of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect's conduct could be called righteous, however.

They treated human lives as worthless, indulged in their desires without scruple, openly harbored corrupt cultivators with extensive criminal records, and wantonly slaughtered the innocent to seize cultivation techniques. If that were righteousness, then there would be no peaceful place left on this blue planet.

If Daoists only cared about their own cultivation and failed to defend the righteous path of heaven and earth, how could they cultivate in peace?

Having helped eliminate this group of corrupt cultivators, Wang Sheng felt the weight in his heart from the Wudang night raid begin to ease. He also now had a strong desire to reach the Illusory Core Realm. After all, had his cultivation realm been higher, he could have used the many Sword Dao techniques he possessed to help reduce their casualties and eliminate their foes much more efficiently.

He still had to enter seclusion, though. He had to seize the time to train, lay a solid Dao foundation, condense his Illusory Core, and advance to the Celestial Embryo Stage as soon as possible.

"Instructor Zhang! The enemies at the Longhu Mountains have been driven off!" someone nearby announced.

Wang Sheng turned his head toward Zhang Zikuang, witnessing him slowly exhale. At last, his tensed expression eased.