ccnovels #261 - The Lord's Crushing
#261 - The Lord's Crushing
“Team Leader Ling Tong, I have good news for you.”
Shen Hai's voice came from Ling Tong's headset:
“Teacher Wang has already taken down that Demonic Ingressor and destroyed the Blade Beast's interstellar portal. The whole process was effortless. Teacher Wang is now the second strongest man in our D5 division.”
Ling Tong naturally heard the teasing tone in Shen Hai's words.
She didn't respond, staring at the rolling black clouds below through the side window of the fighter jet.
It was as if a volcano had erupted here, but the black clouds didn't spread. Instead, they swirled around the snow-capped mountain. The few plants and animals on the mountain had withered rapidly.
Perhaps because Ling Tong had undergone continuous enhancement from Wang Ji Xuan, she could now seemingly hear the wails of ghosts and wolves constantly emerging from the black clouds below.
Ling Tong signaled the fighter pilot to continue maneuvering the aircraft. She opened the radar interface above the cockpit, looked up to observe for a while, and then issued a crisp order:
“All teams, pay attention, continue to move outwards. The black gas is slowly spreading. Maintain your distance from the edge of the black gas.”
“Our mission is to shoot down any objects flying out of the black gas range. Do not attempt anything risky. This is not a problem that technology can solve.”
“A swarm of Blade Beasts is charging towards here from underground, numbering approximately three thousand five hundred. The Blade Beasts may be transporting Pterodactyl individuals. The special models of transformable mecha should prepare themselves.”
“Understood.”
“Roger.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Ling Tong, the psionic signals of Meng Jin's group have disappeared.”
A male voice said hesitantly:
“This black cloud is a massive psionic barrier. Our detectors, including drone probes, are all affected. I've marked their last known location on the map. It's also possible they've been ambushed.”
Meng Jin…
Ling Tong had a deep impression of this name.
A mainstay of the ruling faction of Psionic City, the head of the Spirit Control Council's Inquisition, possessing a degree of 'internal monitoring power' within the Psionic City's system. He was also a key figure in the Spirit Control Council's fifteen-member conference, and one of the heirs that the Six Elders were focusing on grooming.
Last time, Teacher Wang was almost driven to a dead end by Meng Jin, fortunately, the battle puppet suddenly unleashed its power and severely damaged Meng Jin's core team.
According to the information D5 had gathered, Meng Jin had also suffered some neglect after returning to Psionic City.
—After Ling Tong participated in the D5 Hero Successor Project, her intelligence reading permissions were second only to Fu Jian and Black Shell, among the highest echelons of the D5 military.
Ling Tong also knew that her Teacher Wang definitely wanted to avenge the last time he was cornered. This time, their D5 side occupied the advantage of timing (Wang Ji Xuan could restrain demonic energy) and location (the D2 military had fully supported the D5 military). Teacher Wang would never easily let Meng Jin go.
Now, Meng Jin's signal was lost…
‘This is not a normal phenomenon.’
Ling Tong not only didn't take it lightly, but also marked this information as urgent, reporting it to the general headquarters while also directly transmitting it to Daoist Wang.
Wang Ji Xuan, who was about to arrive at the periphery of the snow mountain, frowned slightly upon seeing this message.
Meng Jin and his group had disappeared?
Even if you beat the Six Elders to death, Wang Ji Xuan wouldn't believe that Meng Jin and the others couldn't withstand the demonic energy;
Moreover, if they couldn't withstand the demonic energy, they would mostly go mad, or become weak themselves. It was unlikely that they would suddenly disappear.
There were no traces of psionic fluctuations below either.
“This guy can't be guarded against.”
Wang Ji Xuan glanced at the countdown timer and gave Mudan an order.
The order was simple.
Compare the members of Meng Jin's group that Aunt Dragonfly photographed just now with those that were photographed when Meng Jin cornered him last time, to see if there were any suspicious people.
Mudan gave the answer in just a few seconds:
“Chief, the psionic signals of three people are new! However, they're all at A-grade level?”
Wang Ji Xuan nodded slowly, looked at Number Five, who was staring blankly at the snow mountain, and conjured two Soul Nourishing Pills in his hand.
When asking for someone's help, one must lower their stance.
…
“Alright, we'll hide here.”
Meng Jin said, transmitting his voice in the dark passage.
More than a dozen people stopped simultaneously, shoulder to shoulder, surrounding the middle-aged man radiating milky white light, and squatted down at the same time.
Meng Jin pressed one hand on the damp ground, carefully sensing something.
“A swarm of Blade Beasts is approaching here. This location should be safe. If we find anything amiss later, Sand Walker Zun will immediately use his ability to take us away.”
An old man said: “The situation here has exceeded our expectations. I don't know how much power Fu Jian has sent here. It definitely won't be good to fight head-on.”
Someone else sighed: “Our electromagnetic signals are all blocked. There's no way to contact the outside.”
“All we know now is that the Blade Beasts are being attacked from behind, and the Blade Beasts are transmitting panicked emotions.”
The crowd gradually fell silent.
The demonic energy around them that could contaminate their bodies and souls, the terrifying Demonic Ingressor, and the earth-penetrating missiles constantly exploding within the mountain…
Their morale was already very low.
Meng Jin clapped his hands and smiled: “We also have a backup plan, so don't worry. The SS-grade Feng Lao is nearby. As long as we work hard, we don't need to care too much about the rest.”
“Boss, what's going on with Spirit Cultivator Number Four?”
“Our mission here is to retrieve the stone tablet of Spirit Cultivator Number Four for a while, and then it becomes to obtain the method of using this dark power. So, is it retrieving the stone tablet or obtaining the power?”
“Are you stupid? Isn't this the same thing?”
A woman laughed:
“All technology that uses spiritual energy originates from spirit cultivators.
“Now, as long as we obtain Spirit Cultivator Number Four, we will naturally obtain this technology… This technology that can restrain the vast majority of spirit energy users… Think about its value.”
The morale of the crowd clearly improved.
Meng Jin didn't want to pour cold water on them at this time, but he still reminded his subordinates:
“Living is the prerequisite for everything. Don't force yourself to do things beyond your ability. If things exceed our expectations, then do what we can.”
“The D2 military suddenly turning against us is a failure of other departments.”
“When I say to leave, if anyone stays behind, I will definitely not come back to rescue them.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“The boss is just harsh with his words. We've had so many accidents, hasn't the boss pulled us back every time?”
“Boss, don't worry, we'll be fine!”
Suddenly, a sigh came from the side.
The chatting crowd fell silent at the same time, their hair standing on end, and they each prepared to attack.
Meng Jin suddenly smiled: “Feng Lao, why did you show yourself directly?”
“Hmm,” A cloud of gray aura spun rapidly in the rock crevice in front, and a skinny old man with his hands behind his back walked out.
He frowned as he walked to the crowd, his expression indescribably solemn.
Meng Jin's subordinates, this group of S-grade and A-grade core thugs of the Spirit Control Council's Inquisition, quickly stood up and saluted, shouting “Feng Lao” non-stop.
This was respect for an SS-grade powerhouse.
Feng Lao nodded, only looking at Meng Jin and saying: “In principle, I can't easily come out. The power used for deterrence is best hidden in the shadows. This time, there's no way around it.”
Meng Jin asked calmly: “Is the situation very bad?”
“Two things.”
Feng Lao patiently explained:
“First, Black Storm is rapidly reaping the battlefield. He easily blew up the Blade Beast's pseudo-interstellar gate and solved that new SS-grade that I couldn't understand either.
“They have shown many incredible methods. I have been observing in secret and they are indeed very powerful.
“Now they have already charged towards here, you should also be one of Black Storm's targets.
“In addition, the D2 Comprehensive War Zone has completely stopped responding to inquiries from the Six Elders. They seem to have made up their minds to side with Fu Jian. It should be the battle situation here that made the commander of D2 make a decision.”
Meng Jin's subordinates were mostly calm.
They had similar information or speculations before.
Meng Jin asked: “What about the second thing?”
“Second.”
Feng Lao narrowed his eyes slightly:
“I just received direct instructions from Lord Number Two. Spirit Cultivator Number Four has become mentally unstable. The Blade Beasts are frantically attacking here, and more Blade Beasts will be sent in the future until they can kill Spirit Cultivator Number Four and destroy Number Four's core circuit.
“If Number Four's core circuit is destroyed, the Pillar-level Blade Beast will awaken in advance.
“Therefore, we must find a way to ensure that Number Four's core circuit is not obtained or destroyed by the Blade Beasts. On this basis, we will seize Number Four's core circuit.
“Lord Number Two has made it clear that Spirit Cultivator Number Four no longer has any value. He was originally the bottom of the barrel. If we can retrieve the core circuit, then a true spirit cultivator will be born in the human world. This will be the future Lord of the Planet.”
Meng Jin, and the group behind Meng Jin, had their eyes light up at the same time.
Feng Lao smiled and said: “You must think clearly, because D2 is siding with Fu Jian, it will be particularly difficult for our reinforcements to enter D2's airspace.”
Meng Jin's subordinates looked up at Meng Jin.
And Meng Jin pondered for more than ten seconds, and nodded slowly: “Feng Lao, my attitude is still… If things are impossible, we will leave immediately, and not fight a battle we are not sure of.”
“You want to escape?” Feng Lao frowned at Meng Jin.
“The reasoning is very simple.”
Meng Jin shrugged and explained quickly:
“Black Storm has already destroyed the pseudo-interstellar gate, so the fastest the Blade Beasts can come over again is six or seven hours later. They must also be here to seize the core circuit of Spirit Cultivator Number Four.
“Fu Jian will definitely not let the Pillar-level Blade Beast awaken in advance…”
“I even suspect that Fu Jian has already arrived in this area.”
“Then, for us, there is no moral issue. We only need to consider whether we can obtain enough benefits.”
“The core circuit is certainly extremely valuable, but any treasure requires someone to bring it back alive. I am confident in confronting the Black Storm head-on, but I am not confident in dealing with Fu Jian.”
“Good lad!”
Old Feng's eyes showed a hint of admiration. He raised his hand and patted Meng Jin's arm, saying gently:
“Indeed, I didn't misjudge you. Let's continue forward. I'll take you to a more hidden area, which is closer to Tower Four.”
“Your grandfather was right, you are very clear-headed.”
Old Feng tremblingly raised his right hand, and gusts of whirlwind enveloped everyone.
Those black energies could no longer approach them at all.
Meng Jin calmly smiled and said, “It seems we haven't faced an uphill battle in a while.”
… …
At the same moment.
Near the Snow Mountain Base, at the edge shrouded in dark clouds, at the entrance of the collapsed underground passage.
Wang Jixuan's battle puppet, Spiritual Cultivator Five, Shen Qionglin, along with the Buddhist Hall squad and the Peak Maid Corps, were organizing their armor.
The battle puppet's foundation was demonic art, so it was in its element in an environment filled with demonic energy.
Spiritual Cultivator Five would hide inside a stone slab, which could be stored in the hoop of Wang Jixuan's battle puppet.
The Buddhist Hall squad's Buddhist Dharma naturally restrained demonic energy, and the maids, except for Mudan, had no spiritual bodies or souls, so they were completely unafraid of the rampant demonic energy.
Mudan would stay behind to protect Wang Jixuan's main body.
Wang Jixuan's spiritual sense could cover the area near the underground spire. As long as it was within the range of his spiritual sense, the connection between his main body and the dragon python's alien soul would not be affected by space.
“Chief, we've investigated the new people who joined Meng Jin's group.”
Mudan quickly reported:
“Among them, two people's spiritual energy signals appeared when Deputy Commander Angel of the Annihilation Squad led the attack on Fortress 76 last time.”
“According to Aunt Dragonfly's information, that guy is called Sha Xingzun, and he has abilities similar to Ji Xiao, but he doesn't seem to be able to fight. He can only take people through underground areas, sand dunes, and dry soil.”
Wang Jixuan raised an eyebrow: “No wonder Meng Jin dared to break in. They really have a backup plan.”
Zheng Shiduo marveled: “A high-end version of Ji Xiao?”
“Go away,” Ji Xiao said unhappily, “I've heard of that guy too. He's a specialist, only good at this one ability… but his ability is indeed stronger than mine.”
Wang Daoshi smiled.
He said: “In that case, if we find Meng Jin later, we will directly ambush him. If we can't find him, then we don't need to bother with him, and prioritize seizing the core circuit of Spiritual Cultivator Four.”
After a pause, he added:
“We can't say seize, we can only say, better protect this core circuit.”
Everyone smiled at the same time.
Wang Daoshi sat back inside the Spirit Release Array disc, cross-legged, meditating and concentrating, leaving Mudan to guard him.
The battle puppet awakened, took a few steps forward, and instructed:
“I'll go ahead and scout the way. Your main task is to intercept Meng Jin and the others.”
“Don't engage in prolonged battles even if you encounter them head-on. Their strength is still very strong… You can also purify the demonic energy while moving inward, which will give you a lot of benefits.”
“Sir,” Wu Man asked worriedly, “Shouldn't we proceed cautiously, purify the demonic energy before entering?”
“No need.”
Wang Jixuan's battle puppet grinned:
“This stuff is a great supplement for me.”
Everyone: … …
The battle puppet flashed and jumped directly into the cave, rushed into the stratum in two steps, and directly cast a遁术 to rush up.
He didn't actually say it too directly, for fear of undermining the confidence of his young subordinates.
Wu Man and the others were responsible for guarding the entrance.
As for that Meng Jin…
Let's see if he can withstand his 'Great Flame Nuclear Blast' technique first.
Wang Jixuan's spiritual sense covered all areas, carefully searching for every trace of spiritual energy fluctuations, while Spiritual Cultivator Five was also carefully sensing in the stone slab within his hoop, searching for the spiritual energy circuit.
Number Five quickly took out her 'owner' advantage and transmitted to Wang Jixuan:
“It seems they are near Old Sophie's spire? How did they get there… Oh, there's a SS-level high-level spirit slave, Tomisfe, following Lando's high-level spirit slave.”
Wang Daoshi slammed on the brakes in the stratum.