Chapter 310: The Best Country at Giving Nicknames

On a stretch of lush green grassland in the Saros Empire's western region.

The Sarosian army and cultivators, who had just witnessed hundreds of vampires vanish into thin air, stared at their various observation instruments in bewilderment. Right before their eyes, one to two hundred vampires were retreating from the scene.

They're retreating? Something's not right. It hasn't even been that long yet since hundreds of vampires disappeared from the radar, yet the rest are now suddenly retreating? It's as if they have already swallowed their bitter defeat!

According to the bio-radiolocation's tracking data, reinforcements from the Hua Republic were still at least half an hour away. Throughout the entire fierce battle against the vampires, the Hua Republic's side had only been composed of the young cultivator who commanded lightning and the beautiful Eastern cultivator who had arrived later to join him.

Nevertheless, it didn't take long for them to kill hundreds of vampires, including a vampire prince and several dukes and marquises.

Although the Empire of Saros spanned many degrees of longitude, most of its population lived in the warmer western region. Culturally and ideologically, it was not much different from Europe.

Hence, Sarosians knew very well how formidable the vampire forces were. Legends of the Blood Race had long circulated in Europe, turning them into a symbol of sin, malice, and darkness. It was only in recent centuries that they started being called "vampires."

Over a decade ago, vampires suddenly became active. Two to three years later, their numbers grew rapidly, and their activity spread all over Europe and Africa. They also started using certain "initiation" rituals to expand their ranks.

After another three to four years, the vampire princes of the current generation completed their awakening. Moreover, ancient vampire princes were revived, turning their kind into a major power across Europe and Africa.

Cultivators around the world had no choice but to acknowledge the power of the Blood Race. The vampires' invasion forced the once-proud Light Faction, which spoke of holy light and glory, to retreat.

The cultivation world of Europe and Africa essentially split into two factions: Light and Dark. The six great vampire clans were the backbone of the Dark Faction.

These blood-drinking, spirit-hungry beings not only had striking looks. They also lived in indulgence and decadence. Moreover, they were undying and immortal.

Today, in Sarosian territory, they clashed head-on with cultivators from the Hua Republic and suffered a crushing defeat.

The Saros Empire was well aware of all the events that had led to this moment. After all, they naturally possessed first-hand intelligence since the battle had taken place on their soil. Even though their cultivators were few and far between, modern surveillance equipment still had its uses.

First came the plane crash incident. Afterward, the Hua Republic's rescue team was ambushed deep within Saros's snowy plains, successfully provoking the Hua Republic. The first seven cultivators to arrive at the scene managed to save the last dozen members of the rescue team, but they fell into a trap that the vampires had set.

Many powers of the Dark Faction had taken part in the ambush. Even the werewolves, the vampires' archnemesis, chose to cooperate with them in launching a ferocious assault against the seven cultivators, putting Hua Republic at a clear disadvantage.

However, that was precisely what drew out a hidden "boss" of their cultivation world.

The Sarosian cultivators had nicknamed him Lightning Wielder, Executor of Heaven’s Judgement, Zeus’s Illegitimate Son, Sword Master, and Wang! Flying[1]! Fish[2]!

The sword cultivator, who appeared to be twenty-something years old, flew on his sword to chase down those who had ambushed the Hua Republic's rescue team. He even summoned countless bolts of lightning, nearly destroying an important city in central Saros.

That was only just the beginning.

He defeated a vampire prince in single combat, pursued him across half the Saros Empire, and slew him near the border. Afterward, instead of hiding or retreating, he held his position and sent wave after wave of furious vampires to their graves with his sword.

Eventually, hundreds of vampires charged into Saros. Two-thirds entered the white mist that blocked all external detection and were never seen again. The rest fled in disarray.

The spectacle left the Saros cultivators utterly shaken and the Saros army dumbfounded. When they learned that the elder who had personally confronted Wang Sheng was one of the three ancient vampire princes, the military and the cultivators quieted down.

Less than ten minutes after the vampires had retreated, two figures emerged from the white mist, flying side by side toward the east. The Saros army, which had formed a surrounding cordon, erupted into thunderous cheers. It was a salute to the martial siblings' strength and a celebration that justice had been upheld.

In a short span, the martial siblings and a sword spirit had severed an arm of the vampire forces.

The white mist slowly dissipated as the great formation quietly dispersed. A gentle breeze blew past, and the mist rose like a cloud, revealing the green grass beneath and a scene that resembled a hellish slaughter ground. Not only the hundreds of vampires who had rushed in, but the dozen or so who had been held as hostages had also been killed.

The clash between the Hua Republic's cultivation world and the foreign cultivators seemed to have drawn to a close. The Hua Republic had won cleanly and decisively.

The Saros Empire now had no choice but to reassess the Hua Republic's standing within the world's cultivation circle. They had to speculate on how many "secret weapons" and "hidden experts" they still had.

In the West, because of the constant struggle between the Light and Dark Factions, most powers were openly known. Meanwhile, after severely damaging Sakura Island's cultivation world in the Battle of the East Sea ten years ago, the Hua Republic had shown little of its true strength since.

The two great factions across Europe and Africa, as well as the powerful empire that used technology to forcibly open the path of cultivation, would also have to reassess the Hua Republic's true might. After all, the cultivator who had fought today was only a "young man." Even more terrifying individuals could be among the elders.

Beside a tank, the middle-aged man who had spoken to Wang Sheng earlier took a deep drag of his cigar and sighed. To a uniformed friend, he muttered in the Sarosian language, "Why did those vampires have to provoke the Hua Republic's cultivation world?"

"Vidata, you always claim to have researched their cultivation world the deepest. How come you know nothing about that expert?"

"It's not that I know nothing. If I remember correctly, he's the astonishingly talented young sword cultivator from more than ten years ago and a disciple of Daoist Master Bu Yan. The Eastern female cultivator who looks like an angel is also Daoist Master Bu Yan's disciple. They have been missing for over a decade.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a few more unknown experts appear in the Hua Republic. Their cultivators like to hide away in remote places, going into seclusion for years and even decades. Trust me when I say this: of all the factions out there, we should never provoke the Hua Republic's cultivation world."

"That decision isn't for us to make."

Vidata shrugged and exhaled smoke. "Fair enough. How about the title 'Vampire Terminator Wang Flying Fish'?"

"What are you planning?"

"Whether the Hua Republic chooses to suppress this matter or use it as a deterrent, from our standpoint, we can reap more benefits if these powerful cultivation forces keep clashing.

"Our cultivation system is far too weak. Let them fight and consume each other's strength. That way, we'll have more say in certain areas. They've always compared us to bears, but they don't realize that bears can be cunning too."

Smiling slyly, Vidata winked at the officer beside him.

***

After flying east for over ten minutes, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan finally spotted their reinforcements. Over forty Daoist elders and Daoist masters flew swiftly toward the two. Unfortunately for them, the battle was already over.

When the vampires began their retreat, the Special Investigation Unit had already informed the elders to wait a bit, but they had hurried over anyway.

"We can't just make ourselves comfortable while those two youngsters are standing on the front lines,"

a Shu Sword Sect elder had replied at the time.

Wang Sheng had considered waiting for reinforcements, but he realized that doing so brought forth unpredictable risks. Hence, he had decided to gamble on walking out of the formation and intimidating the ancient vampire prince instead.

If the elders had engaged the vampires head-on, they could have likely slain the ancient prince. They would have surely charged across the Saros border and straight into the vampires' lair, too. It was their duty to slay fiends and eradicate devils, after all.

The Hua Republic's cultivation world had not suffered such humiliation in its renewed history.

"Fei Yu, are you injured?"

"Where are those bloody vampires[3]?! Even a clay figurine has its temper! Today, we'll fight them to the death!"

"By the infinite gods above, why don't we just kill our way over and uproot this so-called Dark Faction? We'd be doing the people of this world a service!"

Wang Sheng scratched his head and transmitted, "Esteemed seniors, the ancient vampire prince is no weakling. It would take at least three Rebirth Realm or five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators to guarantee victory."

The elders fell silent.

Qing Yanzi frowned, already examining Wang Sheng for internal injuries. "Little Sheng, did you fight the ancient prince?"

Wang Sheng shook his head, then winked at his master. "I didn't, but I could sense how strong he was."

Qing Yanzi was quick on the uptake. The sword spirit of Spiritless, which Wang Sheng had already sheathed, was the one who had assessed the ancient prince's strength.

"We're not safe here, esteemed seniors. Let us return for now. By the way, has anyone seen Big Sister—

ahem

, Senior Xi Lian?"

"I believe Senior Xi Lian set out before us. She entered the Saros Empire right after you did, but we don't know where she is now. Perhaps the Special Investigation Unit knows."

Wang Sheng nodded. As they made their way back to the Hua Republic's border, he contacted the Special Investigation Unit.

According to Mou Yue, they lost contact with Xi Lian as soon as she entered the Saros Empire due to her personally customized phone, which used a commercial network available only within the Hua Republic. The satellite communication module had been disabled, preventing it from getting any signal.

Moreover, following Xi Lian's request over the past two years, the Special Investigation Unit had weakened its surveillance on her. It also hadn't tagged her with any special tracking devices.

Did she get lost?

Wang Sheng wondered.

Following their mental connection, Wang Sheng faintly sensed Xi Lian nearby. She was just northeast of their location. He tried mentally contacting her.

"

Big Sister...

"

Xi Lian's excited voice immediately rang in his mind.

—

Where are you, Little Fei Yu? Come quickly! You have to see what I've found! Wahahaha! We've struck gold this time!

Uh...

Wang Sheng was completely speechless.

1. the word "飞," which means "Flying," is pronounced the same as Fei Yu's "Fei(非)" ☜

2. the word "鱼," which means "Fish," is pronounced the same as Fei Yu's "Yu(语)," but has a different intonation. ☜

3. Translator pun intended. ☜