Chapter 41: Bullets Are Completely Useless

Zhou Yinglong decided to let the police officers go in and see for themselves. That way, they would stop thinking that he was a fraud. Whether they would suffer any psychological trauma afterward was none of his concern.

Silently, he counted backward from ten. Soon, a chorus of chaotic shouts erupted in the courtyard.

"Captain Fu, what the hell is that?!"

"Holy shit, there really is a ghost!"

Fu Ai, the stern-faced commanding officer, shouted, "Stay calm! Follow the emergency protocol we trained for! All units, prepare to fire on my command!"

"Captain Fu, shouldn't we report this to Deputy Chief Zhan first?"

"Is the body cam recording? Make sure you're filming this!"

At this moment, Officer Fu shouted, "Discipline, everyone! Stay calm! Don't fire yet! There's a Daoist priest over there!"

At the gate, Zhou Yinglong glared at the two armed policemen standing in front of him and watching him warily. With a slight exertion, he shook them off and strode forward, retrieving his treasured sword before charging into the residence.

The two armed policemen hesitated for a moment before quickly following behind, uncertain whether they should tackle Zhou Yinglong to the ground.

Meanwhile, Li Shishan turned his head and roared, "Li Wen, Li Wu! Take your wives and children away from here! If I don't make it through this night, my estate will be divided according to my will, and the donations will proceed as planned!"

The old man marched forward with determination, hurrying back toward his home.

Li Weiwu, his second son, rushed forward and grabbed him by the arm. "Dad, where are you going?!"

"Let go of me! That vengeful ghost came for me tonight! If it means ending its rampage, then let my death quell its wrath! It's better than losing innocent lives for nothing!"

"Dad!"

With his face flushed red and veins bulging, Li Shishan forcefully shook off his son's grip.

"Scram! Take your wife and kids to safety! Even if I die tonight, I've left you enough money to last a lifetime!" he exclaimed.

Clutching his chest, he staggered toward the group of armed policemen.

Meanwhile, the young armed policemen forced themselves to remain calm.

They were more than thirty meters away from Wang Sheng and the fierce spirit. Handguns wouldn't do much at such a range. Moreover, although their semi-automatic rifles could ensure precise shots, they couldn't immediately open fire—not just because of the terrifying fierce spirit but also because of Wang Sheng, who was constantly maneuvering around it.

"Captain Fu, are Daoist priests really martial arts masters?" one of the younger officers murmured.

Fu Ai shook his head, his hand trembling slightly as he lit a cigarette. He had spent over two decades climbing the ranks in this small town's police force, yet this was his first time encountering such a situation.

A Daoist priest fighting a fierce spirit only happened in movies, yet it was now unfolding right before his eyes. There was a chance that it was fake, but over the past few years, he had sensed some subtle shifts in the world.

Reports of monsters, ghost hauntings, and encounters with immortals were spreading like wildfire. His colleagues in cyber patrol were even forced to work overtime to suppress such information, following strict orders to block and control the spread of these stories.

Moreover, Fu Ai and his fellow officers were constantly dispatched to deal with citizens who spread these so-called "rumors," persuading them to stop. Nevertheless, within months, similar reports became increasingly common.

The department's leaders began traveling frequently to provincial meetings, and a flood of new directives suddenly poured in, surpassing the total number of directives issued in previous years combined.

It was as if something major was about to happen—something inevitable.

Soon, sweeping changes occurred within their police force's structure. Seasoned officers like Fu Ai found their authority significantly expanded. The emphasis on discretionary emergency response was repeatedly reinforced, and they were required to undergo physical fitness reassessments, forcing Fu Ai to get back into shape.

A year ago, a large number of young soldiers, originally meant for frontline military service, were instead reassigned to armed police units across the country. Moreover, he learned that in every city near mountains or rivers, armed police forces had been significantly reinforced.

All across the country, regular officers, neighborhood patrols, and even traffic police were mandated to undergo physical training and combat drills. A new centralized dispatch system was implemented to coordinate responses across different branches seamlessly.

Even sanitation workers under government contracts were issued emergency alert devices. At the press of a button, large teams of armed officers would arrive on the scene.

The training for these new police units differed drastically from the old regional police drills. There was a heightened focus on real-world combat response, precise shooting, and psychological resilience.

Moreover, a bunch of new regulations were introduced. Officers were now required to carry live firearms at all times while on duty. Even for minor street brawls, they had to call for backup before engaging, eliminating any "heroic lone-wolf behavior."

Strangely enough, an official directive explicitly stated that in cases involving armed suspects wielding ancient weapons, creatures defying common sense, or individuals in ancient attire carrying swords, officers had the authority to shoot on sight if they posed a threat to public safety.

Just two years ago, pointing a gun at a civilian without proper cause was a grave mistake that would result in severe punishment. It wasn't something that could be brushed off with a simple review.

Now, however, failing to use firearms to deter an armed suspect was considered a dereliction of duty—one that warranted disciplinary action and retraining.

Fu Ai had heard plenty of rumors about these changes, but he never believed them until tonight, when he saw firsthand the monstrous fierce spirit... and the young Daoist priest battling it head-on.

At that moment, everything that had changed in the past two years suddenly made sense.

When the dispatch call came in, Fu Ai assumed it was a homicide case. In all his years working in this small town, he had encountered only a handful of major crimes. Since he was on duty at the nearby police station, he immediately gathered a squad of ten newly transferred officers and rushed to the scene.

When they arrived and saw Zhou Yinglong wielding a sword, Fu Ai's instincts immediately told him that some con artist was trying to rob the wealthy Li family. However, when the young man released his aura and sent two well-trained armed policemen flying with ease, his heart sank.

Afterward, when they stepped into the brightly lit courtyard of the Li residence, they found a three-meter-tall fierce spirit.

In just half a minute, it wasn't only the young officers whose worldview collapsed—even Fu Ai's perception of reality crumbled completely. Still, thanks to his age and experience, he quickly regained his composure. He forced himself to set aside his doubts and immediately analyze the situation.

To his surprise, he noticed that the newly added elements in their training courses were now proving useful.

"All units, stay alert! Maintain a safe distance from the creature! Analyze its movement and attack patterns!"

"Captain, how do we even analyze this...?"

Fu Ai cracked his neck and yelled, "Use your brain! I'll communicate with the Daoist priest over there. Don't just stand around! Bring me the megaphone!"

"Captain Fu, here!"

Fu Ai grabbed the megaphone that a nearby cop handed to him. He then tried to speak a few times, but he couldn't steady his voice.

Finally, when Li Shishan arrived, Fu Ai took a deep breath and shouted toward the battlefield, "Daoist Priest, I am the commanding officer of this armed police unit! We are preparing to open fire on that creature! We request your cooperation to avoid accidental injury!"

Just moments ago, Fu Ai had casually referred to Zhou Yinglong as a Daoist priest and even dismissed him as a con artist. Now, standing before the real embodiment of a fierce spirit, his tone involuntarily softened.

"Alright, on my signal!" Wang Sheng kept his response concise and clear. His crisp voice carried effortlessly to everyone's ears.

Strangely, the young policemen felt a bit less anxious. A few officers even managed to steady their trembling hands gripping their guns.

What was that? Voice projection?

Fu Ai's mind buzzed with confusion. He couldn't help but wonder how tonight's events would impact the remainder of his career.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng's sword technique suddenly shifted. With several quick footwork maneuvers, he dodged two of the fierce spirit's lunging grabs and repositioned himself behind it. Then, he delivered a powerful kick to the back of its head.

The fierce spirit's reflexes were remarkably fast. It twisted its upper body, swinging its massive arm to intercept Wang Sheng's foot.

Wang Sheng lightly landed against the blood-red, hardened skin between two sharp bone spurs. Using the force of the impact, he then propelled himself into the air.

Spinning his long sword, he unleashed an invisible wave of sword energy at the fierce spirit's forehead. As the sword energy sliced through the night air with a piercing whistle, Fu Ai and Wang Sheng simultaneously shouted orders.

"Fire!"

"Shoot now! Aim for the creature's midsection!"

Fu Ai's voice trembled slightly from excitement, whereas Wang Sheng remained calm and composed. He even informed the armed policemen of the optimal target area.

Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A dozen rifles fired in unison, the deafening gunshots echoing through the night. Bullet casings clattered to the ground and bounced across the stone pavement.

Though it lacked the cinematic grandeur of a movie, the scene was still enough to make Zhou Yinglong's blood boil with excitement.

The young policemen displayed excellent marksmanship, and the sheer size of the fierce spirit ensured that almost every shot hit it.

Bullet after bullet struck the creature, forcing it to stumble backward repeatedly. Thick, dark-green smoke billowed from its wounds.

Wang Sheng landed gracefully to the side. He remained completely vigilant, his gaze locked onto the fierce spirit.

As expected, the rifle bullets could not truly pierce it.

The fierce spirit exhibited a high degree of resistance to physical attacks. However, unlike wandering spirits, which could fully turn incorporeal, this one had a living person trapped within it—the very reason Wang Sheng had directed the cops to aim for the creature's stomach. If they continued their concentrated fire on its midsection, there was a real chance they could kill it.

The gunfire persisted for a long while.

When the fierce spirit fell to one knee, the commanding officer finally raised his hand, ordering a ceasefire. Thick, greenish smoke that the bullets had dissipated now rapidly condensed around it once more.

Clink.

A bullet fell onto the shattered stone pavement.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Clink. Clink...

One by one, bullets slid out of the creature's body and dropped to the ground. The fierce spirit slowly raised its head, and the scattered smoke swirled back into its form. Its massive, blood-red eyes, each as large as a bronze bell, burned with eerie green flames.

The cops were stunned.

"Die! All of you, die!"

The fierce spirit let out a beast-like roar and launched itself forward with an explosive force. It leaped over ten meters, hurtling toward them like a cannonball.

"Fall back!" Fu Ai shouted and immediately opened fire with his handgun. The young cops turned pale, barely managing to maintain formation as they hastily retreated.

"Stop shooting! Get out of here now!" Wang Sheng ordered, his voice ringing clearly in their ears once again. "Don't draw its attention anymore!"

Wang Sheng then raised his head and tossed two alchemy pills into his mouth. He chewed briefly before swallowing them whole.

He had hoped to conserve some effort, but it seemed that the armed police had yet to be equipped with "holy water weaponry." Ordinary firearms were simply too ineffective against an evil spirit of this level.