Chapter 304: The Death of the Vampire Prince (III)

The past several hours had been an emotional roller coaster for the staff at the Special Investigation Unit's headquarters, especially Mou Yue.

First, the rescue team had been wiped out on Saros's vast snowfields. Qing Yanzi and several Daoist elders were then surrounded while trying to save people. Shortly afterward, a large-scale battle involving over a thousand cultivators had erupted.

The foreign cultivators soon retreated, and it seemed the large reinforcements that the Hua Republic's cultivation world had dispatched would arrive in vain. Only two elite teams managed to catch up to the foreign corrupt cultivators who had provoked the Hua Republic.

Qing Yanzi and his companions led one of the teams north, barely managing to catch up to more than thirty stragglers. Meanwhile, his disciples led the other team to the west. Using his Sword-Controlling Art, Wang Sheng cut down two groups of foreign corrupt cultivators in succession. He even triggered a heavenly tribulation to seal off a city in Saros, wiping out all the corrupt cultivators who had taken refuge there.

The retaliatory pursuit had more or less ended by then. The bulk of the foreign corrupt cultivators had already blended into the western regions of Saros.

The situation of other countries differed from that of the Hua Republic. After twenty years of development, the Hua Republic had become the most stable and orderly country in the world, unmatched by any other.

The Saros Empire did have formidable military strength, but due to a series of internal and external troubles and the disruptive impact of cultivators, parts of the country had become unstable in recent years. Tracking down those foreign cultivators in time would be difficult. The Special Investigation Unit was willing to help, but they could not exert much influence beyond the Hua Republic's borders.

At that moment, an unexpected twist occurred.

Gucci Vlad, one of the six vampire princes of the current generation and a top-tier expert of the Pan-European cultivation world, developed a deep interest in Wang Sheng, who could summon a heavenly tribulation. He appeared in the capital of Saros and publicly declared that he wished to have "a showdown at the peak of the Forbidden City" with Wang Sheng. He clearly didn't think it was worth acknowledging the cultivators of Saros.

Ordinarily, the authorities would persuade Wang Sheng not to accept such a high-risk challenge. However, they seemed to believe that Wang Sheng's strength was unfathomable. They even asked whether he could win instead of urging him to return and avoid the fight.

Wang Sheng accepted the challenge without much hesitation.

Following Chief Chi Ling's instructions, the Special Investigation Unit then generated publicity on overseas networks. They used certain resources to ensure that Gucci Vlad received their message.

The Hua Republic has a saying: strike early, not late. If you wish to taste defeat, then come east. —Fei Yu

Gucci Vlad delightedly followed. However, a few minutes into his duel against Wang Sheng, he found himself being pressed to the ground. Wang Sheng's sword pummeled him relentlessly.

He was still a vampire prince, though. His ability to escape shouldn't be underestimated. Soundly beaten, he realized that he could not contend with Wang Sheng's perfect balance of skill, power, and speed. Hence, he immediately fled toward his homeland.

When Mou Yue received the news, she breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Even the dispatch center at the Special Investigation Unit, filled with young staff who usually buried themselves in work, erupted in cheers as they watched the red and green dots representing Gucci Vlad and Wang Sheng move across the large screen.

No one had expected Qing Yanzi's disciple, who had only just broken free from the Earth Qi Seal, to be so powerful. He had achieved what could only be called a heroic return.

Unfortunately, they could only watch the battle via satellite. Aside from a few blurry photographs, they could not discern any real detail. Still, the outcome was evident: Wang Sheng had chased Gucci Vlad across half of Saros.

Even if the prince managed to escape now, he would still be labeled as the most disgraced vampire prince in history.

Sadly, it wasn't a "green hat" kind of humiliation.

While the Special Investigation Unit was in high spirits, Mou Yue's brow furrowed slightly, worried about Wang Sheng's situation. He was fighting alone. If he crossed the Saros border in pursuit, he would enter a grey zone where foreign cultivators gathered. The likelihood of him being ambushed there was high.

We should warn Daoist Master Wang not to chase the vampire too deeply. Winning today's battle is already significant enough from a strategic standpoint.

Mou Yue was just about to instruct someone to send a message to Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan when someone shouted, "Captain Mou! Satellite detection shows a large number of vampires at the western border of Saros! Initial estimates put their number at forty to fifty!"

Dozens of flashing red dots appeared on the large screen, their trajectory making it obvious that they intended to assist Gucci Vlad.

"Contact Daoist Master Wang immediately!" Mou Yue ordered.

"We've tried, but he won't even look at his phone! The chase may be too intense!"

"Then contact Fairy Bu Yu now! Tell her to hurry over and provide support!"

"Fairy Bu Yu's location... Captain, Daoist Master Wang and the vampire prince are flying too fast! Their speed far exceeds the known flight speed limit of Heavenly Abode Realm cultivators!"

Mou Yue frowned. Though she was already a mother, her expression at that moment was like her temperament in her twenties. Despite being known for her steadiness and composure, she began pacing back and forth restlessly.

"Is there any way to make Daoist Master Wang look at his phone?"

Silence fell among the staff. Even if they contacted the Saros and asked them to relay the message ahead of time, they'd still be cutting it too close.

A young woman murmured, "Let's not be too pessimistic. Maybe Daoist Master Wang can take on a hundred of them alone."

"Report to higher authorities and see if we can request the Empire of Saros to use laser weapons to stop the vampire prince. I know Daoist Master Wang well enough. Once he has set his mind on something, he will not stop until it is done.

"You all studied the battle at the Ziyan Temple in the training academy. Your textbooks left out what Daoist Master Wang did back then to avenge his master when he was severely injured."

Mou Yue lowered her head again in thought. She knew full well that her proposal would be difficult to implement. Saros was unlikely to provoke the vampire race. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they would remain spectators.

Daoist Master Wang! Look at your phone, please!

***

In the western skies of Saros, about a hundred meters above the ground, Wang Sheng continued pursuing the vampire prince.

The vampire was already running on fumes. Though he forced himself to fly at full speed, his pace was beginning to falter.

Behind him, Wang Sheng rode Flying Haze relentlessly. Contrary to the Special Investigation Unit's assumptions, he was not so preoccupied that he failed to notice the "mooncake" on his arm vibrating nonstop. He actually kept his phone in hand to occasionally glance at the 3D map. In fact, the moment the satellites detected dozens of incoming targets, Wang Sheng had begun monitoring the situation.

He quickly reached two conclusions: the reinforcements were all vampires, and judging from their speed, they weren't particularly strong. That meant he would soon get a chance to stop the vampire prince from escaping.

Gucci Vlad was overjoyed to sense his kin rapidly approaching. To him, it was a lifeline in the midst of despair. The taut string in his heart even began to loosen. Despite teetering on the brink of collapse, he became even more desperate and urgent.

Wang Sheng steadily closed the distance to his prey, yet at such high speed, he still could not seize the right moment to pin him down with his Sword-Controlling Art. Spiritless could be used for sword control, but it was not as specialized as Flying Haze. Moreover, its speed was limited.

Still, he didn't grow impatient. He waited for the precise opportunity to strike.

Five minutes later, fluctuations of aura appeared on the horizon. The vampire reinforcements were close, and they were rapidly narrowing the distance between them and the two combatants.

Wang Sheng's expression remained calm, his mind experiencing not even the slightest ripple. He put away his phone and carefully observed Gucci Vlad's flight patterns.

The vampire prince threw back his head and laughed, shouting something in an unknown language. The vampires approaching head-on let out shrill cries, as if warning or threatening Wang Sheng, before diving at him in unison.

Wang Sheng held his breath. The moment he had been waiting for flashed before him.

As Gucci Vlad and his reinforcements passed each other in the air, Wang Sheng crashed into the group of vampires. At that moment, the prince shuddered, his speed dropping sharply.

Now!

Wang Sheng flipped in midair, kicking Flying Haze's hilt with his left foot. The celestial-grade flying sword burst forth with immortal light, but the incoming vampires perfectly concealed its glow.

Dozens of vampires spread their leathery wings and swung their claws. Their sheer numbers almost blotted out the sky as they surged forward to tear Wang Sheng apart.

While riding the momentum from his flight, Wang Sheng formed a sword-finger gesture with his left hand to command Flying Haze. He also swung Spiritless, releasing sword phantasms arranged based on the Big Dipper.

Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation!

With my sword drawn and the stars charted, none can withstand my blade!

Sensing a sudden surge of terrifying aura behind him, Gucci Vlad turned instinctively. Disbelief filled his grotesque, monstrous face as he witnessed a river of stars unfurl and sword radiance surge. Severed limbs and mutilated bodies rained down from the sky.

Wang Sheng had not slowed down in the slightest.

Gucci Vlad snarled. He spread his wings to flee once more, but along with a sharp sound, a sharp pain spread across his back. He lurched uncontrollably and plunged to the ground.

Wang Sheng's ancient sword, gleaming with rainbow light, had once again pierced the joint where his left wing met his back.

Fury initially consumed Gucci Vlad, but midway through his fall, his anger turned to fear. High above, the Hua Republic cultivator was diving toward him from the east, swinging an ancient longsword.

Arcs of sword phantasms swept through the air. Gucci Vlad could feel a powerful force rapidly gathering upon the cultivator's sword.

Lightning flared. With Flying Haze at the center, dozens of thunderbolts erupted and exploded behind the vampire prince. He no longer had any chance to escape.

Wang Sheng perfectly unleashed Ziwei Sword. The trail of sword phantasms he had left along the way flared brightly as they merged into a golden sword phantasm over ten meters long and enveloped him.

"You will pay for—"

Bzzz—

A powerful wave rolled outward in all directions, and the sword phantasm pulverized Gucci Vlad. Flying Haze then flashed and shredded the eight golden bats before they could even beat their wings.

Holding Flying Haze, Wang Sheng descended slowly from the sky.

I have no clue what that guy tried to shout at the end, but it certainly was not 'For the clan.'