Daqian Martial Saint

’The stronghold’s been exposed? Since when?’

Xing Rongzi’s expression flickered as he looked at Gu Wu.

"Let’s go. We’ll check it out!"

"Right." Gu Wu’s face was grim, his expression grave.

The two walked out of the stone chamber. The man in black who had just delivered the message was standing outside the door.

"Hall Master, Vice Hall Master." Seeing the two emerge, the man in black greeted them respectfully.

"Send word. We’re proceeding with the contingency plan. Prepare to evacuate at a moment’s notice!"

"Yes, sir!" The man in black respectfully accepted the order and went to pass on the message.

"I’ll go check the situation outside. You hold the fort here. If anything seems wrong, evacuate immediately!" Xing Rongzi said to Gu Wu.

"Got it." Gu Wu nodded.

With the situation outside still unclear, having Xing Rongzi, a Profound Light Middle Realm expert, investigate was the safest course of action.

Xing Rongzi was fast. He quickly crossed the underground hall and entered the passage. Just as he neared the exit, he heard the sound of a mechanism. The ceiling of the passage above him then caved in, letting light stream through.

’Weren’t they supposed to have not reached White Stone Temple yet? How did they get here so fast!?’

Xing Rongzi’s expression darkened. Before he could think, a voice rang out from above.

"Down this way leads to the Celestial Net Sect stronghold!"

’What?’

’They already have confirmed intel. They’re here specifically for my Celestial Net Sect!’

Xing Rongzi’s expression changed abruptly.

’How did they find us? Why haven’t we heard a single thing?’

Xing Rongzi was stunned, but his shock didn’t hinder his actions in the slightest.

As the saying goes: strike first to gain the upper hand, or suffer the consequences of striking second.

Since they were clearly enemies, there was no need to show any mercy.

Having clawed his way up from a pile of corpses, this was a principle Xing Rongzi understood all too well.

His figure flashed. The ink-black Longsword at his waist was suddenly unsheathed, its Sword Aura flickering like a striking viper as it shot toward the tunnel’s opening.

"Die!"

A web of Sword Auras instantly covered the entire entrance to the passage.

...

For this encirclement operation, speed was paramount. Initially, Chen Ping’an and Zhao Zhiteng had split from the main force, taking two Profound Light Realm experts and numerous Inner Qi Realm masters to advance ahead.

However, while on their way to White Cloud Temple, Chen Ping’an still felt uneasy. After a brief discussion with Zhao Zhiteng, the two came to an agreement: they would split up again, sending a small, elite team to serve as the vanguard for the raid on the Celestial Net Sect stronghold.

Chen Ping’an, Zhao Zhiteng, Chu Long, Sheng Tingshan, and the remaining three Qiankun Guards who had reached the Third Stage of Inner Qi, moved out ahead, rushing to White Cloud Temple.

When they arrived at White Cloud Temple, the Daoists inside were in the middle of their evening rites.

"Who are you?"

"What do you think you’re doing?"

"Stop!"

The Daoists who saw them shouted reprimands, trying to block their path.

The group paid no mind to the temple’s Daoists and made a beeline for the tall, thin old Daoist’s room. To them, these Daoists were just small fry; the truly important figures were in the Stone Hall below ground.

BANG!

A Qiankun Guard at the Third Stage of Inner Qi activated the force in his palm, completely blasting the door to bits and sending splinters of wood everywhere.

The group swarmed into the room. Chen Ping’an’s gaze fell upon the round table inside. He immediately stepped forward and skillfully turned the mechanism.

KLAK! KLAK! KLAK!

Accompanied by the faint sound of the mechanism, a section of the floor began to slowly sink downward.

Seeing this, the eyes of Zhao Zhiteng and the others lit up slightly.

Although they knew Chen Ping’an had no reason to deceive them, they had remained somewhat skeptical without further confirmation.

’I hope we didn’t go to all this trouble just to be made a fool of!’

But now, the activated mechanism in the room instantly put their minds at ease.

"Who are you people! Get the hell out of here, now!" The enraged voice of the tall, thin old Daoist came from outside as he charged furiously into the room.

"Annoying!" A Qiankun Guard’s eyes turned cold. With a surge of Inner Qi, he snatched up the old Daoist as easily as if grabbing a chick.

"GHK... GHK..." The old Daoist instantly couldn’t breathe. His hands clawed desperately at the Qiankun Guard’s hand, trying to break free.

"Keep him alive!" Zhao Zhiteng ordered with a glance.

’This old Daoist is the Steward of White Cloud Temple above. Keeping him alive might lead to some important information.’

"Yes, Lord Zhao." The Qiankun Guard who made the move nodded slightly.

He channeled a pulse of force from his hand. The old Daoist’s eyes rolled back, and he stopped struggling, passing out completely.

At the same time, the floor finished sinking, revealing a complete underground passage.

Chen Ping’an stood by the round table, pointed to the passage, and said to the group, "Down this way leads to the Celestial Net Sect stronghold!"

The moment Chen Ping’an’s words fell, his expression changed abruptly. He felt an extremely cold and sinister aura.

Looking at the open passage, Zhao Zhiteng and the others had expressions of joy. But just as they were about to enter, their faces changed drastically.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Streaks of Sword Aura crisscrossed, shooting out from the passage in a saturation attack.

"Look out!"

The closest Qiankun Guard’s face paled. He instantly condensed a blade aura from his saber, attempting to block the incoming Sword Auras. The blade aura met the Sword Aura, but the hastily formed defense lasted only an instant before completely disintegrating.

"No!"

SQUELCH!

A Sword Aura instantly pierced his body, splattering blood.

THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!...

He struggled desperately to escape, but the successive Sword Auras riddled his body full of holes. He fell to the ground, stiff as a board, riddled with wounds.

This Qiankun Guard, who had reached the Third Stage of Inner Qi, died on the spot without accomplishing a single thing in the raid on the Celestial Net Sect stronghold.

Sometimes, opportunity and danger go hand in hand.

After the Qiankun Guard’s death, residual Sword Auras continued to fly about. A faint Profound Light glowed between Zhao Zhiteng’s eyebrows. His Saber Momentum shifted, and with a sudden slash, he instantly shattered several incoming Sword Auras.

Sheng Tingshan activated his True Qi, powering his Blood Drop. A blood-red light flickered around it, enveloping several Sword Auras and instantly grinding them to dust.

Beside them, Chu Long’s muscles bulged. His True Qi vibrated around him as he swung his pair of Iron Fists. The wind from his punches howled as he directly smashed the Sword Auras to pieces.

Chen Ping’an stood a little farther away, and only a single Sword Aura came for him.

Break!

Chen Ping’an’s expression turned cold. His Yanling Saber flashed out, and his Gale Blade Intent utterly dispersed the incoming Sword Aura.

The other two Qiankun Guards at the Third Stage of Inner Qi also used their own techniques to block the Sword Auras shooting from the passage.

Looking at the corpse of the Qiankun Guard at the passage entrance, Zhao Zhiteng’s face darkened. ’We haven’t even seen anything yet, and I’ve already lost a capable subordinate!’

Those at the Third Stage of Inner Qi aren’t a dime a dozen. Even in their Qiankun Bureau, they are the true backbone of the force.

"Is everyone alright!?" Zhao Zhiteng asked, looking at the group.

Not only were the Sword Auras numerous, but their power was also considerable. They carried a trace of a sinister cold that was shudder-inducing. For anyone not yet in the Profound Light Realm, they were extremely difficult to deal with.

"I’m fine!"

"Just a scratch, it’s nothing!"

Of the several people from the Qiankun Bureau, aside from Chu Long and Sheng Tingshan who were unharmed, the other two Qiankun Guards at the Third Stage of Inner Qi had sustained minor injuries.

They were lucky not to have been standing right at the entrance, facing the full might of the Sword Auras. Otherwise, they likely would have shared their dead colleague’s fate.

Zhao Zhiteng observed Chen Ping’an from the Garrison Commandant’s Office standing calmly to the side, showing no sign of injury whatsoever.

’He wasn’t injured?’ The thought flashed through Zhao Zhiteng’s mind.

’This Mang Blade from the Rising Star Chart really hides his true strength!’

’He’s no ordinary person, that’s for sure!’

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