Chapter 151: The Battle Between Righteousness and Corruption

The mountain gate of the Longhu Mountains was under attack!

A large number of Illusory Core Realm corrupt cultivators charged toward the main palace of the Longhu Mountains. As they stormed the gate, two Golden Core Realm cultivators unleashed oppressive auras, enveloping Mount Tianmen.

However, by the time the powerful, corrupt cultivators appeared at the foot of the mountain, the Celestial Master Sect had already received a warning from the Special Investigation Unit. Since the Celestial Master had just left to attend the Immortal Dao Conference, his disciples chose to avoid direct confrontation and instead immediately rushed to the main palace from all directions. Only a fool of a leader would have the disciples of their talisman sect engage so many corrupt cultivators head-on without their strongest defender.

Thanks to the Special Investigation Unit's timely warning, the Daoist masters and disciples of the Longhu Mountains avoided significant casualties. They swiftly gathered at the main palace and activated its protective array, keeping the formidable enemies outside. However, a small number of disciples did not manage to retreat into the main palace, leaving them with no other choice but to scatter and flee.

Flames blazed across the Longhu Mountains. The corrupt cultivators said not a word—they only looted, burned, and killed. Although the sect had not suffered heavy casualties yet, the corrupt cultivators were tearing apart its thousand-year-old legacy. It stoked the fury of the sect members, making them wish they could rush out and fight to the death.

Upon receiving a call from the sect, the Celestial Master looked deeply at Qing Yanzi. Everything that Qing Yanzi had said before turned out to be true, making it difficult not to suspect that he had somehow obtained inside information.

In truth, Qing Yanzi had received no such intel in advance. The Special Investigation Unit had simply already simulated various scenarios the night before, allowing them to conclude that there was a seventy percent chance that the enemy would attack the Longhu Mountains as a diversion. Nevertheless, after weighing many factors, they did not inform the mountain gate to prepare ahead of time.

The Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect's surprise attack on the Longhu Mountains was meant to unite the righteous sects against the corrupt cultivators. However, the Celestial Master was not easily deceived—he easily saw through it.

His gaze on Qing Yanzi had deep meaning, but Qing Yanzi could only respond with a helpless smile. Chi Ling had made the decision—he was just a lackey running errands for the Special Investigation Unit.

Before the old Celestial Master could speak, Qing Yanzi quickly said, "Daoist Master Qing Long has mastered the Sword-Controlling Art and can handle multiple enemies alone. Please have him reinforce the celestial tablet's escort."

He then looked at Yuan Pu Zhenren. "Martial Uncle, let us follow the Grand Celestial Master to the Longhu Mountains and provide help."

The Grand Celestial Master frowned. "We should all go together."

Qing Yanzi smiled faintly. "Don't worry. We've arranged everything on the Longhu Mountains, and we also have thousands of righteous cultivators at the conference grounds in case they show up there. Everyone, we will eliminate those corrupt cultivators once and for all!"

"Go!" Qing Long shouted and then soared into the air on his sword, heading at full speed toward the convoy. His long hair clung to his face and fluttered wildly in the wind.

Right now, the convoy had already traveled over a hundred

li

[1], with no signs of an ambush. However, it would take some time for Qing Long to arrive. If the enemy was going to strike, it would happen in a flash. Otherwise, the large-scale assault on the Longhu Mountains would have no strategic value.

The Grand Celestial Master flung out three yellow talismans, sticking them to Qing Yanzi, Yuan Pu Zhenren, and himself. Primal qi surged around the three as the talismans glowed, allowing them to fly freely through the sky without having to control flying objects. It increased their speed by nearly thirty percent. The three veered southwest toward the Longhu Mountains, which were three hundred

li

away.

Back at the conference grounds, the thousands of cultivators still had no idea what had happened. However, seeing the four Golden Core Realm experts hastily depart, they could only assume that it was something serious.

Soon, the Longhu Mountains cultivators participating in the tournament turned pale and rushed out of the venue. While descending the mountain, they sent out a signal: the Longhu Mountains were under attack!

Nevertheless, the officials did not issue any announcement at the Immortal Dao Conference. The Daoist masters and Daoist elders present could only stay where they were, quietly awaiting the afternoon's symposium.

***

The convoy steadily drove southeast along the highway.

Inside the canopy of a truck at the rear, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan sat next to each other. Fei Lianzi and Gao Shixing were sitting beside them, faintly taking up a protective stance. Several Special Warfare Unit soldiers were also next to Fei Lianzi. Across from the four, among a row of Special Warfare Unit soldiers, the bald Huai Jing stood out.

Wang Sheng originally didn't want Mu Wanxuan to come along, fearing she would become a target. However, he simply could not out-stubborn his senior sister. Moreover, she was strong enough to shift the tide of a battle; he ultimately had no choice but to let her accompany them.

Ever since getting into the truck, Wang Sheng had been cradling his longsword and constantly polishing it, his expression rather grim. Also having a foreboding feeling, Fei Lianzi and Gao Shixing had each begun to regulate their breathing and calm their minds.

"Daoist Fei Yu," Huai Jing called in a hushed tone. "Are we sure that those corrupt cultivators will set up an ambush? Can't we take a different route?"

"If we don't take this road, we'll have to go on the expressway," Wang Sheng replied. "If the enemy causes trouble there, the situation could spiral out of control."

"So we've already confirmed that they're going to ambush us?" Huai Jing frowned. "Where would these corrupt cultivators even get that kind of intel?"

"The day of the conference, the helicopters came from one direction," Fei Lianzi responded. "Since we can't really conceal that, figuring out which road we'll take and where we're going really isn't that hard."

Huai Jing furrowed his brow. "Still, all of our Golden Core Realm cultivators are back at the conference. If a corrupt Golden Core Realm cultivator makes a move, we'll be in trouble. The Special Investigation Unit really overestimated itself."

Wang Sheng smiled. "In that case, we'll just have to rely on you, Buddhist Master Huai Jing. If a Golden Core Realm cultivator ambushes us, just charge in with your Golden Bell Shield and stall them for a while."

Huai Jing let out a long, bitter sigh, then half-joked, "Daoist Master Fei Yu, don't let those damn online games mislead you. We monks aren't tanks[2] in real life. Moreover, our Heavenly Dragon Temple is known for the Divine Six-Meridian Sword. If we're assigning roles, we'd be more suited as ADCs[3]."

Gao Shixing chuckled, seemingly recalling his youthful days.

"So you like gaming?" Wang Sheng asked.

"Just occasionally," Huai Jing said sheepishly. "My comprehension often hinders my cultivation, and daily life in the mountains gets dull. When I was younger and naive, I'd often sneak to the internet café in the town for a little entertainment."

Fei Lianzi nodded and sighed. "True. Before the resurgence of primal qi, I spent quite a bit of time catching people in the net cafés at the foot of our mountain."

Huai Jing glanced sidelong at Fei Lianzi. "We had to walk more than ten

li

through the mountains just to get to surf the internet. We couldn't even play for two hours before we were dragged back and forced into seclusion for a few days. What kind of spiritual discipline is that..."

Fei Lianzi laughed briefly. "

Hah,

it's just an internet addiction. Nowadays, no brat would dare go down the mountain to surf the web anymore! With a single flick of my flying sword, I could sever their internet cables from ten

li

away!"

"Spare the café owners," Wang Sheng interjected, making a few of the soldiers chuckle. The tense atmosphere in the back of the truck was instantly dispelled.

Huai Jing laughed. "Miss Mou Yue always says you're too serious and you hardly ever show a sense of humor, Daoist Master Wang. I didn't expect this side of you."

Gao Shixing glanced at Wang Sheng, as if trying to figure out where his martial nephew's sense of humor had come from.

Mu Wanxuan, however, looked slightly confused, clearly unable to understand what they meant.

"We'll be working together a lot from now on, and we are of the same seniority," Wang Sheng replied. "No need for formalities. Let's just call each other by name."

"All right, Wang Fei Yu!"

"Huai Jing."

The two exchanged gestures, one offering a Buddhist salute, the other a Daoist bow. They then shared a smile. Just as Huai Jing was about to speak again, a shout crackled from the walkie-talkie on a soldier's shoulder.

—All vehicles, brace for collision! Stop immediately and maintain formation!

Tires screeched one after another. Crashes were already reverberating from the front of the convoy.

Before anyone in their truck could react, the driver slammed the brakes. Thrown forward by inertia, Wang Sheng was flung straight toward Mu Wanxuan. Two seconds later, with a loud bang, their military truck collided with the one ahead. Fortunately, the impact wasn't that strong.

Before Wang Sheng could do anything, his senior sister was already holding Wang Sheng tightly. Surrounded by yin-yang qi, she leaped out of the truck with him in her arms, pulling a few soldiers who had lost their footing along with them. They landed firmly on the asphalt.

Wang Sheng didn't even have time to feel anything about the embrace. He immediately opened his eyes and jumped onto the roof of the truck, scanning the scene ahead.

At the very front, several civilian cars had been tossed sideways across the road. Inside them were many tied-up civilians. Unable to stop in time, the lead police car had crashed straight into them.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Just moments ago, someone had pushed the vehicles onto the road, blocking the entire convoy. Fortunately, the military trucks were durable. Despite the chain collision reaching from the front to the back, not a single truck had been seriously damaged.

The SUVs at the front fared better; most had swerved onto the gentle slopes at the roadside. Doors were flung open one after another, and Daoist masters burst out, furious. The terrain here was terrible for them. One side was sloped, while the other was a flat farmland.

Something's not right... Wait! The celestial tablet!

As Wang Sheng looked up, a powerful pressure descended from the sky.

Backlit by the sun, a figure shot down from above and slammed into an attack helicopter, causing it to lose control and spiral toward the slope.

From the trees along the slope, figures burst forth, each one radiating intense aura fluctuations that pressed across the highway toward the convoy.

"Protect the stone tablet! All units, fire at will! Reinforcements are three minutes out!"

***

Over a hundred kilometers away at a military base, Chi Ling stood before a monitor that showed real-time footage of the scene. The moment the convoy was attacked, she rapidly issued orders to the Special Warfare Unit officers behind her.

Soon, a map appeared in the corner of the large screen. Two flashing dots moved quickly toward the Longhu Mountains and the site of the ambush. They represented the two Aerial Rapid-Response Teams, which the Special Warfare Unit had formed in the last two years.

"Don't let any of those corrupt cultivators escape. Even if this isn't the full force of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect, we must make sure they suffer a devastating blow!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

1. The modern equivalent of one

li

is 500 meters (0.5 km or ~0.3 miles) ☜

2. The most durable role in online games. Tasked to act as vanguard and soak up damage. ☜

3. Abbreviation for "Attack Damage Carry," which is the main damage dealer of the team in online games ☜