Chapter 235: The Female Corpse's Plea for Help, the Nether Realm's Nuclear Tremor

Inside the transport aircraft cabin, a group of Daoist elders had gathered once again. This time, they surrounded Mu Wanxuan.

"Did the immortal not say anything specific? She only asked you to help her?"

Mu Wanxuan nodded gently, her eyes filled with concern as she turned to glance at Wang Sheng. Meanwhile, Qing Yanzi lowered his head in thought.

"Senior Sister says that the senior seems very anxious, as if something extremely urgent has happened," Wang Sheng said.

"Your senior sister may have a decent level of cultivation within the cultivation world, but she is still just at the Golden Core Realm. What could she possibly do to help?" Qing Yanzi muttered, clearly unwilling to let his two disciples take such a risk.

An elder of the Hidden Earth Sect could not help but whisper, "Could this be some kind of secret art that allows one to transmit voice into another's mind? Isn't it said that only cultivators who have reached the Heavenly Abode Realm and developed spiritual perception can communicate telepathically?"

Xi Lian, who was leaning over the back of Mu Wanxuan's seat, rolled her eyes and dramatically recited, "Though the bodies lack twin wings, the hearts connect with perfect understanding."

A few of the Daoist elders exchanged meaningful smiles. Mu Wanxuan remained perfectly composed, while Wang Sheng could not stop the redness that crept up his face.

The elder from the Hidden Earth Sect and Big Sister might as well be performing crosstalk!

"Let's focus on the important matter first," Wang Sheng said. "I believe the female immortal is using Senior Sister to ask us for assistance, not just her. The beam of immortal light that she had left inside Senior Sister allowed her to reach her current cultivation realm, and I'm sure she's hiding more contingencies. We can report this to the temporary command center at Mount Pingdu and let the decision-makers handle how best to assist."

Qing Yanzi nodded and smiled. "You've become much calmer in how you handle things. That eases my worries about entrusting your senior sister to your care. I will go contact your mistress right away."

The group of Golden Core Realm cultivators smiled knowingly. Wang Sheng felt a little awkward but did not shy away from his senior sister's gaze.

So what if I like her? Are the heavens going to strike me down?

Rumble!

Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky outside the window, making the aircraft shake slightly. A broadcast reminded passengers to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts as they were about to pass through a rain cloud.

The Daoist elders remained perfectly calm. With over ten Golden Core Realm Daoists on board, even if something truly went wrong, they could fly out and carry the aircraft to Mount Pingdu themselves.

Shen Sui'an took the initiative to sit beside Qing Yanzi. Solemnly, he said, "Daoist Master Bu Yan, may I ask you to share more details about this immortal?"

Meanwhile, a few uneasy elders from the Hidden Earth Sect quietly opened the "Nether Map" and studied the dense cluster of innumerable black dots on its surface. They had already surged out of Fengdu City and were now racing across the dark-red ground of the Small Nether Realm.

What the map could not show was that, in the low, dusky sky of the realm, a formation of over ten bombing drones was closing in on the mass of unclassified lifeforms at high speed.

The yang qi outside the Nether Gate seemed to possess an overwhelming allure to the ferocious ghosts and vengeful spirits. However, what awaited them inside and outside the gate was an onslaught completely different from Daoist or immortal arts.

***

Within the ancestral hall of the Hidden Earth Sect's territory, dozens of elders led the clan members in bowing before the ancestral tablets. Smoke and incense filled the air as they prayed for blessings.

The elders had already told them of another immortal light emerging within the Small Nether Realm. Those who had been left behind could only continue praying to their ancestors. If needed, the Special Investigation Unit would deploy the Illusory Core Realm cultivators of the clan to Mount Pingdu as the second wave of reinforcements.

Thanks to the secret techniques of the sect, its Illusory Core Realm cultivators were immune to the yin qi of the Small Nether Realm. Hence, they could exert more combat strength than Daoist heritage cultivators of the same realm.

The entire Daoist community had now been mobilized. However, just like those from the Hidden Earth Sect, most Illusory Core Realm cultivators were still waiting for the order to assemble. If the initial bombing against the ghosts failed, then the battle would fall to the cultivators.

In a corner of the ancestral hall, Shen Qianlin stood in front of several ancient treasures with her arms crossed. She had fixed her gaze on an old robe.

Though she did not cultivate, she was a direct descendant of the sect master. Her respected position gave her free access to the ancestral hall.

An old woman slowly approached her and bowed respectfully. "It's already quite late, "Young Sect Mistress. You should rest. Your body is frail. Don't push yourself too hard."

"Thank you, Seventh Grandma." Shen Qianlin sighed softly and glanced at her phone. "I'll wait a bit longer for news."

"You won't be able to help them. Let us elders worry about this matter," the old woman replied gently. "They're planning to bomb the malevolent ghosts, aren't they? If it works, then our cultivators won't even have to fight."

Shen Qianlin nodded lightly. "Yes. Modern weapons have become powerful enough to threaten the entire Earth's ecosystem. Perhaps it is fitting that they are used against these ghosts and monsters."

After a few awkward exchanges, her phone vibrated. Upon checking, Shen Qianlin found a message from one of the sect's elders in the clan's elder group chat. A blurry photo on a tablet screen was attached to it.

The image itself was an aerial shot, showing visible shockwaves rippling across the dark-red land. Malevolent ghosts covered in rotting flesh were torn apart, and vengeful spirits, which were only made of ghostly mist, were instantly scattered.

"Such powerful bombs!" the old woman exclaimed in awe.

"It has begun," Shen Qianlin said nervously. More photos were sent to the group chat, each showing different angles of the drone bombings.

***

Inside the temporary frontlines command center at Mount Pingdu.

A large screen showed the faces of more than ten senior figures of the Special Warfare Unit, the Cultivation Research Institute, and the Special Investigation Unit. Chi Ling was among them. Several officers also stood in front of a sand table model of the Small Nether Realm, discussing artillery-strike distribution across the realm.

Other screens displayed live drone footage. Reports rang out continuously.

"Six rounds of conventional bombing have concluded. Damage assessments are in progress."

"Results from the first wave of conventional bombing. Model 734 bombs are estimated to have eliminated 642 Class One targets, 370 Class Two targets, and zero Class Three targets."

"Results from the second wave of conventional bombing. Model 845 bombs eliminated approximately 3,620 Class One targets, 230 Class Two targets, and zero Class Three targets."

"Results from the third wave..."

After the reports, the command center fell quiet for a few seconds, then resumed its busy operations.

One officer saluted the senior commanders. "We have tested all conventional bombs. Only one-tenth of visible targets were destroyed. Class Three targets remain unharmed."

An elderly researcher was quick to reply.

「Class Three ghosts are fewer but likely stronger than vengeful and malevolent ghosts. This is still excellent progress. We have proven that physical damage is effective against the crawling malevolent ghosts.」

「The shockwaves and intense heat from the explosions can also eliminate the flying Class Two targets, the wandering spirits. I recommend we continue bombing in rotation to wipe them out along the way and reduce the risk to our own forces.」

「I suggest we initiate testing of unconventional weapons.」

「I object. The energy from nuclear weapons could accelerate the collapse of spatial boundaries between the Small Nether Realm and the space around Mount Pingdu.」

A veteran from the Special Warfare Unit joined in.

「Tactical nuclear warheads with yields in the kiloton range can be deployed with precision. The cost is high, but worthwhile. We have many nuclear warheads nearing the end of their storage lifespan. It is a perfect chance to test their power in the Small Nether Realm and gather valuable data for future development.」

Another elder from the research institute quickly added his opinion.

「If we are going to do this, we must act quickly. The total energy released in the first bombing wave was already comparable to a nuclear detonation.」

「Very well. I will request permission.」

One of the Special Warfare Unit leaders went offline immediately. Meanwhile, Chi Ling, who had been busy and silent, raised her head. Her brow furrowed slightly as she tilted her head to listen.

"I just got an update. The immortal responsible for the disturbance in the Small Nether Realm has somehow contacted Daoist Master Bu Yu and is requesting aid from us," Chi Ling reported.

「What? 001 reached out to us? And she's asking for help?」

Several researchers were instantly energized.

「Captain Chi Ling, do we have more details?」

"No. She only said, 'Help me.' Since it sounded rather urgent, let's clear out the malevolent ghosts as soon as possible. Then we can discuss how to send cultivators to Fengdu City and the rift beyond. Something must have gone wrong for her to ask for help. I can't imagine what kind of trouble she can't handle herself, though."

「Her physical body might be breaking down.」

An elderly man in a wheelchair raised his voice.

「If she has overused her immortal power, then her body might be disintegrating now. After all, it should have perished long ago. She could be in need of a new body or planning to possess Daoist Master Bu Yu.」

Chi Ling's brow furrowed further, but she said nothing. Instead, she continued to issue transport orders for the cultivators in an orderly manner.

Soon, the Special Warfare Unit senior who had left came back online. He quickly gave the order. The engines of several trucks parked near Mount Pingdu immediately roared awake.

Ten minutes later, a military truck entered the Nether Gate.

***

Having learned about the plan to deploy nuclear weapons in the Small Nether Realm, Wang Sheng and the others gathered once again around Qing Yanzi and watched the live feed on his tablet. The last footage showed the truck driving through the Nether Gate.

Now, they could only wait for the transfer station inside the Nether Gate to send back the next video.

The driver and the operator in charge of launching the missile were both Illusory Core Realm elites from the Special Warfare Unit. All they had to do was drive to a designated location and press a few buttons to launch the missile.

It was a simple task. One push of a button to bring peace.