Chapter 366: Diffusing Danger, Laying an Array

The Special Investigation Unit's headquarters had sunk into dead silence.

A group of staff members stopped what they were doing and stared at the images on the large screen. The satellite feed was a little blurry, but they could tell that the town was unharmed.

In the corner, a few young technicians rushed over to the next workstation. They held down the man with the thick glasses.

"Who the hell are you trying to fool? The fuck do you mean detonated?"

"You made Daoist Master Wang rush over there! Are you trying to stir up some sensational news?"

"Report him! We've got a traitor over here!"

"Get a hold of yourselves! Be rational!" the man being pinned shouted. Everyone present heard him, yet they still looked doubtful.

To his credit, the man managed to stay composed in the crisis. Using the logical advantage of a technical mind, he quickly analyzed, "Considering there's no way to contact Daoist Master Fei Yu right now, there's no way I could have influenced him. I'm not sure how, but he probably realized on his own that the nuclear bomb had been activated.

"If it weren't, why would the Dark Faction leaders retreat into their mountain base instead of chasing him? On the other hand, if it did detonate, why wasn't there an explosion... Can you let me go so I can gather intel and analyze this properly?"

At that moment, a young woman pointed a pencil at the corner of the big screen. "Look! The truck where Daoist Master Wang landed vanished into thin air!"

"Storage artifact!" a middle-aged man shouted in excitement. "Daoist Master Wang must have deposited the warhead into one before it exploded!"

"That makes sense! The space inside a storage artifact is separated from the real world! We learned this in school. The textbooks even had emergency protocols about it. If cultivators encounter dangerous bombs or mines, they should deposit them into storage artifacts for isolation!"

"He had barely a few seconds to react, yet he already calculated that he could reach the bomb and put it in his artifact? Daoist Master Wang is incredible!"

"Oh my god... My hero!"

"I'm a fan now! Starting today, I'm shipping Daoist Master Fei Yu and Fairy Bu Yu!"

"Stay focused!" Chi Ling reprimanded.

Everyone, from the middle-aged aunties and older men to the young interns and fresh recruits, instantly fell silent and hurried back to their stations.

Chi Ling's expression remained unchanged. "Do not waste any more time. The Special Warfare Unit is to act according to the original plan. The Daoists who have gathered are to move out immediately to give support at the Aukuili Mountains!"

"Yes, ma'am! Orders have been relayed!"

A chain of explosions then erupted above the small town. The drones hovering in the air seemed to have collectively self-destructed. Through the flames, the satellites clearly captured a flash of multi-colored light: Flying Haze and Sword-Controlling Art, Wang Sheng's signature mark!

A group of young adults smiled in relief. Someone even cheered.

They had now confirmed that Wang Sheng was still alive, and half of the nuclear threat had been eliminated. Little did they know that he had already taken the other nuclear warhead as a "souvenir" and, in the process, eliminated a minor expert who constantly opposed the cultivation world.

***

On the main street of the town at the edge of the Aukuili Mountains.

Wang Sheng sat cross-legged where the truck had been. With eyes closed, he focused on absorbing primal qi from the surroundings, quickly recovering his enchanted power. In front of him floated a ring wrapped in immortal light, spinning in place. The glow around it was gradually fading.

All around him, Hua Republic citizens of all ages supported one another and looked at him with concern. Meanwhile, Flying Haze flew across the sky, swiftly cutting down the armed drones. The enemies controlling them seemed stunned, unable to react at all.

To Wang Sheng's left, in the crowd, a little girl with swollen eyes quietly asked, "Daddy, is he here to save us?"

"He is. Don't worry. He has already driven off those corrupt cultivators," a middle-aged man beside her answered, his voice trembling with excitement.

Soon, someone recognized Wang Sheng. "Wait, isn't he the Heavenly Tribulation Wielder?"

"Don't disturb him. The Daoist master is controlling his flying sword to eliminate the drones around us. We're saved! We really are saved!"

"Everyone, stay calm and keep quiet! We've already been saved. Someone will come to pick us up soon. For now, maintain order. Now's the time to show our national character. Don't give those foreigners a reason to look down on us!"

Wang Sheng was only gathering primal qi; he wasn't in deep meditation. Though frightened, the hostages around him mostly remained calm, which made him a lot less worried.

His cold sweat had already evaporated, but his Dao Heart still swayed like a swing. The brief events of the past minute had tempered his Dao Heart the best.

When he threw himself onto the truck, Yaoyun had asked him through their mental link if he was afraid.

Why even ask that question? Of course, I was afraid. Who isn't afraid of death?

However, once he had made the decision and put in the effort, he could no longer back down just because he was afraid. Though fear was sometimes useless, it was still a human emotion no one could avoid.

Wang Sheng truly gambled with his life when he rushed to the town despite the risks. He even fittingly described himself as a hot-headed, impulsive head. Still, he had come here to save his fellow citizens, not watch them be vaporized in a nuclear explosion.

His master had once told him to ask himself why he drew his sword every time he unsheathed it. Earlier, Wang Sheng had answered,

If I can save them, why shouldn't I?

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The moment he realized the nuke had a delayed detonation, he gained some confidence. If he could reach it before it exploded, he could take the warhead into a storage artifact. Should time allow it, he could even send the artifact away with Flying Haze.

He had also thought of the Qiankun Ring, which was hidden in his pendant. It was Yaoyun's former storage artifact, her mobile wardrobe.

What he lacked confidence in was the exact timing of the detonation delay. He had calculated it in his mind. The delay was most likely around a minute or two.

After all, the four experts of the Dark Faction were also within the blast radius, and the base's gates were wide open. They would not abandon themselves and their own people.

In the end, it still came down to the very last second. Just before the warhead exploded, he managed to transfer the truck into the first layer of the Qiankun Ring.

Had he hesitated or faltered even slightly on the way, he would have been reduced to ashes along with the thousands of Hua Republic citizens and tens of thousands of townsfolk.

Wang Sheng sighed deeply. "

Phew!

"

Extending his spiritual perception into the Qiankun Ring, he smiled bitterly. Its first layer had been completely ruined. Most of the garments and racks were destroyed except for a few immortal dresses, pants, and shoes in a corner.

Yaoyun's clothes had all been treasures. He could hardly afford to repay the damage.

What had once been a grand hall was now leveled, with only unmelted rubble left. The lines of restrictive seals, which were wrapped in immortal light, all around it still held, though. The impact had only shaken them, not badly damaged, and they were now quickly recovering.

Yaoyun stood among the rubble, staring blankly.

Wang Sheng withdrew his perception. "

Sorry, I made a mess of your ring.

"

Spiritless released threads of immortal light, and Yaoyun vanished from within the ring. She appeared on Wang Sheng's shoulder, turning into a three-inch-tall fairy.

"

Don't worry about it. What's destroyed is destroyed, and I had little use for those anyway. You can repay me in the future.

"

Wang Sheng readily agreed, relaxing a little. "

Alright. Want me to write you an IOU?

"

Remembering how he had snapped at Yaoyun earlier, he smiled apologetically. Soon after, he frowned at the little fairy, seemingly coming to a realization. "

When I flew over, did you already calculate that the Qiankun Ring could hold the bomb in time?

"

"

Of course. You were in the middle of the situation and couldn't see clearly. If I had determined it was impossible, I would have knocked you unconscious and flown you the other way.

"

Wang Sheng's gaze immediately filled with grievance. Yaoyun raised her chin slightly, wearing a perfect expression that brooked no criticism.

"

There's no need for an IOU. Just think about how to protect these mortals for now,

" Yaoyun added calmly.

"

I do have a piece of good news for you.

"

"

What is it?

"

"

The shock just now loosened the seal on the second layer, so I took the chance to open it. You can now enter it with your spiritual consciousness, and you may freely use the treasures inside."

Wang Sheng froze for a moment.

How is that supposed to be good news? Wait, if the first layer is full of outerwear, then the second layer has to be... filled with undergarments? How is that good news? I'm not a pervert or some degenerate who would get excited over that kind of thing.

Nevertheless, he sent a thread of spiritual consciousness inside and followed Yaoyun's directions. When his spiritual consciousness entered another grand hall, about the same size as the first, he felt slightly disappointed.

It was full of piles of familiar multi-colored celestial crystals.

"

This layer was specially set aside for celestial crystals,

" Yaoyun explained softly.

"

Didn't we see plenty of these in the Small Nether Realm?

"

Yaoyun snorted. "

Do you think Earth Qi Immortal Springs is scattered everywhere across the stars? Those celestial crystals are extremely valuable even in the immortal spirit realm.

"

Anyway, enough idle chatter. The mountain gate is opening again. The fiends and devils have realized that you survived and are rallying their forces. If you don't act quickly, they'll just kill the mortals you worked so hard to save.

"

Wang Sheng immediately leaped into the air. Flying Haze had just destroyed the last drone and returned to him, settling under his feet.

In the distant mountains, several circular gates slowly opened. The four experts had stepped out once more.

Wang Sheng looked down, finding expectant gazes and fearful faces.

"

Any suggestions?

" he asked.

"

Use the celestial crystals to form an array. They'll protect the mortals, but you'll still have to hold back the four you fought earlier since they're strong enough to destroy them."

"

Fine. What do I need to do?

"

"

Clear your mind. I'll temporarily control your body.

"

Wang Sheng nodded without hesitation. Having already shared life and death with the sword spirit, he had no problem opening his mind to her.

It was a strange sensation. He felt an immortal light wrap around his Nascent Soul, then saw a small figure standing beside it, putting her tiny hand on its chest.

Right after, his body began moving seemingly on its own. Standing on Flying Haze, it soared into the sky and drew out celestial crystals from the Qiankun Ring. He then tossed them downward.