CHAPTER 198: THE WRATH OF THE AUTHORITIES

Military base dispatch room, Special Investigation Unit's temporary command post.

"Report the situation on every battlefield."

A young man immediately replied, "Daoist Master Bu Yan is already on his way back. He is no longer in critical condition—"

"I said every battlefield," Chi Ling interrupted.

In response, someone nearby carried over a tablet and provided a report. "Instructor Pang Longhua and Instructor Wei Ansheng have approached the Devil-Sealing Well. Our other Golden Core Realm cultivators have also completely suppressed the enemy's Golden Core Realm cultivators, but the yin sect master of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect is putting considerable pressure on us.

"The grand protection array near the fake Ziyan Temple has already been activated. Though the corrupt cultivators have begun attacking it, it can still hold for over an hour. Our missiles in the area have also locked onto the Devil-Sealing Well.

"In three minutes, the Special Warfare Unit's Aerial Response Team will land near the temple to reinforce us. The second wave of effective reinforcements is six minutes out. Among them are two Golden Core Realm cultivators..."

A trace of contemplation flashed in Chi Ling's eyes. She turned her head and looked at the several nearby officers who were discussing heavy weaponry distribution around the holographic terrain projection.

Chi Ling suddenly stood up and walked over to a few elderly seniors standing in the corner. "I request on-site command authority."

They immediately discussed among themselves. Ten seconds later, they gave her their permission.

Chi Ling walked straight to the terrain display. She then took the headset and command wand that an officer handed over. As she slid the wand across the panel, the terrain projection zoomed in on the target location.

"I'll give simplified instructions; each of you will carry out the specifics. First, redirect eighty percent of our heavy weaponry. Temporarily abandon the blockade near the Devil-Sealing Well and aim for Target Zone Two, sectors D3 to J12. Once the bombers have razed that region, unleash multiple batches of precision strikes. I want the ambush forces near Target Zone Two notified to withdraw from the blast radius immediately.

"Deploy all drone squads at once as well. I want at least one drone tracking each corrupt cultivator. Request additional air force support again, and deploy more fighter jets. Use air-to-air missiles to strike the Golden Core Realm cultivators. If one is not enough, then fire five, or even ten! Also, go apply for authorization to use the Heavenly Sword system, and get me its launch device!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

It was the soldiers' duty to execute her commands. Right now, no one questioned her. The officers immediately began issuing precise military commands.

One of the elderly figures said, "According to our estimations, the threat posed by the ancient devil far exceeds that of the corrupt cultivators. Wouldn't it be too risky for you to make such an arrangement?"

"I will take full responsibility," Chi Ling replied calmly. "I've already made the mistake of letting an enemy spy infiltrate and take out a Special Investigation Unit advisor. I'm prepared to resign and accept any disciplinary actions. One more risk is nothing.

"Those corrupt cultivators must die, and those Sakura Island ninjas have to be buried in this mountain region! If twenty percent of our firepower cannot destroy the ancient devil, then even four times that amount will still be useless."

The elderly figures just nodded slightly in response.

Their presence in this base was solely to authorize the use of "unconventional" weaponry against the ancient devil. Neither Chi Ling nor the highest-ranking officer at the base had that authority.

As the deployment was completed, someone shouted, "Captain! We've got activity near the Ziyan Temple! Drones have captured a large number of ninjas gathering near its main gate!"

"Captain! Another cultivator is rushing toward the Ziyan Temple from the forest! It's Daoist Master Fei Yu! Ninjas are ambushing him!"

"I want that footage on the main screen!" Chi Ling instructed. "Neither he nor his master is allowing me even a moment of peace!"

She took a few steps to the side. The command center's large screen immediately displayed the drone footage. At the edge of it, Pang Longhua could be seen fighting a deadly battle in the sky with his long spear. He launched a fierce and relentless assault on the Fire Elder, who was engulfed in flames. The Fire Elder was already at a clear disadvantage, barely holding on.

In the center of the footage, a man darted swiftly through the forest. Streaks of dark shadows kept appearing and surrounding him out of nowhere. He had a wooden hairpin, donned a Flowing Celestial Robe, and had a five-colored flying sword circling him. Who else could it be but Wang Sheng?

His opponents seemed to pop into existence. They would charge out from the trees or the ground, ruthlessly attacking Wang Sheng as he ran through the forest.

In response, Wang Sheng swung his longsword, sending out streaks of light so quickly that even military surveillance drones failed to capture his slashes. They could only barely make out his incredibly swift sword techniques.

Two of the elderly figures could not help but walk over and focus on the screen.

A technician manning the controls projected the images from other drones into the corners of the main display. The ninjas who had ambushed and destroyed the defenses around the Ziyan Temple were all converging on Wang Sheng. They poured in from all directions, clearly intending to prevent him from entering the Ziyan Temple.

One of the seniors instructed, "Do not let that young man fight alone. Give him whatever support we can provide!"

"Mou Yue!" Chi Ling called.

Mou Yue, who had been outside the command room, immediately rushed in.

"Since Advisor Wang is under your charge, find a way to cheer him on," Chi Ling instructed. She then added, "Switch the screen back to the secondary objective area. How long until the bombers arrive?"

Mou Yue was dumbfounded. However, their captain had already turned her attention to the terrain projection.

The senior who had spoken earlier could only smile bitterly and watch the screen switch away from the footage. He was clearly worried.

If they could provide Wang Sheng fire support, they would have bombed the Ziyan Temple already.

Right now, it was still uncertain whether the enemy could break the ancient devil free. If they used heavy weaponry, they could end up destroying the already fragile seal from the outside and effectively release the ancient devil themselves.

The only one who could support Wang Sheng at that moment was himself.

"Y-yes, ma'am!" Mou Yue pursed her lips and moved to a console in the corner. She worked together with the technicians controlling the drone squads.

***

Soon, Wang Sheng, who had already slain over twenty ninjas, heard a slightly muffled cheer coming from the external speakers of the drone overhead.

—Go, Daoist Master Wang, go! You're amazing, Daoist Master Wang!

Wang Sheng's mouth twitched slightly. Mou Yue had nearly broken his rhythm. On the other hand, though, she also quickly provided him with valuable information. According to her, his master had already been brought back to the base at the foot of the mountain, and his senior sister was still channeling true essence into him to stabilize his injuries.

Now, Wang Sheng no longer had to worry about them; he could fight with all his strength.

Rufeng!

Wang Sheng coldly looked up at the corner eaves of the Ziyan Temple's great palace. It was right here that the corrupt cultivators had played him and Fei Lianzi. He had even told Rufeng to go find his master.

During his secluded cultivation back then, his master had often spoken of Rufeng, calling him a kindred spirit.

Rufeng's sword had pierced through his master's heart meridian. Had he and his senior sister arrived even a few seconds later, his master could have already departed from this world.

At that moment, his Dao Heart resonated with a murderous tone. Even if he cut Rufeng into a thousand pieces, it would still not quench the hatred in his heart. Due to his bloodlust, the perfected Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent grew sharper than ever, making Wang Sheng feel as if it would pierce even his spiritual platform.

Ahead, dozens of figures appeared at once. They rushed toward Wang Sheng in battle formation at an incredible speed.

Wang Sheng gripped the hilt of Spiritless with his right hand so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. He angled the longsword forward as he pushed the Seven-Star Footwork to its limits.

***

In the command center, in front of a display screen in the corner, Mou Yue stood still for quite some time with her mouth slightly open.

She watched Wang Sheng flash rapidly through the forest, charging into the formation of dark shadows. In just a breath, he shifted his position twenty-one times, went through eleven zigzag patterns, and unleashed a storm of sword radiance.

Wang Shend didn't stop even for a moment. He passed through without obstruction, like a white horse crossing a gap, and reappeared behind the group of black shadows. He then slowed down, naturally transitioning from a rapid charge to a calm walk.

He lightly flicked Spiritless.

Behind him, over forty figures collapsed backward like dominoes before they could even mount a proper assault. Thin cuts could be seen on their necks.

Mou Yue merely gaped, while the technician beside her kept exclaiming in disbelief.

The main gate of the Ziyan Temple was already within reach.

Suddenly, a burst of aircraft engine noise came from the big screen beside them. Mou Yue looked up, finding the bombers already carpet-bombing the designated area.

"Open fire!" Chi Ling commanded with restrained fury. Her words rang out from all the speakers in the command center.

***

On the mountain peak at the edge of the formation surrounding the fake Ziyan Temple.

A group of righteous cultivators stood behind the transparent primal qi formation wall, watching the dense explosions outside and commenting on the skills of the corrupt cultivators. They discussed which ones were tougher to deal with.

Having already distributed the talismans, Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi stood on the back wall of the fake temple courtyard. They had now finished their role as support. Their cultivation was too low, and the Daoist masters had told them not to get in the way.

Huai Jing also squatted nearby. As a monk, he could not really blend into the circle of Daoist masters.

"I wonder how Brother Sheng is doing." Shi Qianzhang sighed. "The authorities really embarrassed themselves this time. They staged such a huge operation only for that Rufeng guy to turn out to be a spy."

"The corrupt cultivators aren't idiots. They naturally infiltrate the authorities' ranks too," Huai Jing murmured. "They're also relying on Sakura Island to stir up trouble. Maybe this is actually Sakura Island's covert operation against the Hua Republic."

"Exactly!" Shi Qianzhang slapped his thigh. "Once we finish this battle, let's go hit Sakura Island with everything we've got!"

"Shhh! Listen!" Liu Yunzhi furrowed his brow and tilted his head.

"What is it, Little Liu?" Shi Qianzhang asked meekly.

Liu Yunzhi calmly replied, "Large aircraft are flying overhead."

Huai Jing pointed above with exasperation. "Just look up. The plane has already passed, yet no paratroopers were deployed. Are they just here to take photos?"

At that moment, they saw dense black dots in the sky, tracing arcs from the direction the plane had flown. Two seconds later, the entire mountain began to quake.

Explosions erupted from left to right outside the formation, where two to three hundred corrupt cultivators were standing. The forest was instantly destroyed, and rocks were shattered and blasted in every direction. In the blink of an eye, the army of corrupt cultivators outside was engulfed in flames, and shockwaves repeatedly struck the grand protection formation.

By the time the smoke cleared, the outer perimeter had been reduced to a sea of fire, and two meters of the rock layer had been shaved down. Soon, most of the corrupt cultivators began to move again. Seventy percent surprisingly survived, but they no longer rushed toward the formation. Instead, they scattered in all directions.

Even Illusory Core Realm cultivators had to consume a massive amount of true essence just to protect themselves and perhaps a companion against such intense bombardment. If more waves followed, how many could endure?

Just then, a new cluster of black dots appeared from the southeast, once again blanketing the scorched earth. However, the second wave was slightly less intense than the bombers' earlier carpet bombing.