Chapter 22: The Arrival of Jiuli

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Eleven o’clock in the morning, Lianhu Shopping Center, Liangzhou City.

Usually, this time would be a minor peak for foot traffic at the shopping center, but today the central building’s lights were dimmed, all the shop curtains drawn tight, suffusing the area with a heavy atmosphere of lifelessness.

Outside the building, a long stretch of yellow police tape spanned the entire main road. All crowds within a five-kilometer radius had been dispersed, leaving only heavily armed SWAT officers patrolling before the cordon.

A black sedan approached along the main road, its window bearing the clear emblem of the Sanitation Bureau. The SWAT officers guarding the perimeter recognized the license plate, promptly retracting the roadblocks to allow the vehicle into the restricted zone.

Five minutes later, the car came to a halt by the roadside. Lü Zhenhai, now dressed in combat gear, opened the door and stepped out. Immediately, he spotted dozens of officers gathered tens of meters away in the fountain plaza, forming an impenetrable circle.

“Team Leader Lü, you’ve arrived!” The lead officer ran up to report as soon as Lü Zhenhai appeared.

“Early this morning, our informant reported that nine members of the Taohuayuan faction were planning to assault the commercial street. We apprehended two within the district, but the remaining seven escaped into the shopping mall and are now confronting us inside.”

“Have you tried long-range sniping?”

“We’ve attempted both breaching and precision sniping. However, the enemy employs special techniques that deceive the snipers’ sight. As for breaching... the terrain here prevents us from deploying heavy weaponry, and three attempts have already failed.”

Lü Zhenhai listened quietly, his brows furrowing.

Something felt off.

Since receiving the emergency notification two nights ago, this was already the third Taohuayuan incident he was handling, with locations in residential areas, the municipal stadium, and now the shopping district. To prevent escalation, the Sanitation Bureau had deployed several times their usual manpower just to keep the situation under control.

Previously, although the Taohuayuan faction had repeatedly caused disturbances and harmed civilians, their methods mostly involved subtle manipulation or soul-washing that was difficult to detect. Even when forced to use destructive spells, they minimized the commotion to avoid alerting the authorities.

But now, they had abruptly changed tactics, deliberately targeting crowded areas as if daring the Sanitation Bureau to notice them.

“Drawing the tiger out of its mountain lair, feigning attacks in the east to strike in the west,” Lü Zhenhai’s mind flashed with these tactical terms.

“Have all checkpoints on the main roads been secured?” he asked the officer beside him.

“All within a five-kilometer radius centered on the incident site have been arranged.”

“Not enough,” Lü Zhenhai said decisively. “Contact the Traffic Department. Besides the city checkpoints, all exits from the city must be controlled. Also, share the Taohuayuan personnel intelligence we previously obtained with SkyNet. Have them search for any individuals matching the profiles.”

The officer hesitated. “Search? But the intelligence says all the persons of interest are trapped inside the shopping center...”

“Just do it. If there are any issues, have them come find me.”

“...Understood.”

The officer’s footsteps receded. Lü Zhenhai turned back to gaze at the shopping center behind him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The enemy’s choice to cause chaos in a civilian residential area was a bold strategy. Even if he sensed something wrong, he could not ignore it. He would have to play into their trap and strive for a swift resolution.

This was an urban area, and the bureau could not simply call in an airstrike to level the shopping center. And if they relied on individual operatives, aiming to minimize disturbance, extraordinary techniques would certainly surpass firearms in such terrain.

Yet, according to intelligence, the adversaries included at least three Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the Sanitation Bureau’s cultivators were mostly Qi Refining practitioners with no more than twenty years of cultivation experience, not to mention the enemy’s terrain advantage.

This promised to be a brutal battle.

Estimating the firepower needed, Lü Zhenhai reached for the walkie-talkie at his waist to summon three more combat squads. Just as he opened the channel, a clear voice spoke from behind.

“Just a bunch of street rats, yet they dare to parade so boldly.”

The words sent a chill through all the officers within earshot, including Lü Zhenhai.

It was a primal reaction to a powerful being—like hearing a tiger roar in the wilderness. Even absent any hostility, one could not help but feel a deep unease.

Lü Zhenhai turned toward the voice. By the steps behind him stood a figure who had appeared unnoticed.

A man dressed in a white Taoist robe, seemingly about thirty years old, his hair tied in a classic bun. His sharp eyebrows and bright eyes radiated a faint but imposing aura. Merely standing there, he inspired a respectful awe.

“Unexpected to see you here in person today.”

Lü Zhenhai, experienced in high-stakes situations, quickly composed himself and saluted. “Junior Lü Zhenhai greets Steward Jiang.”

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Jiang Ruifeng, senior steward of the Jiuli Sect, held a Golden Core cultivation level. Records indicated he was over four hundred years old, ranking him among the sect’s elite both in strength and age.

As one of the sects most closely allied with the authorities, Jiuli routinely stationed elite cultivators within the Sanitation Bureau. These elites dispersed among various district offices, functioning like embassies and intelligence outposts.

In emergencies, they also fought as official cultivators. Their formidable strength earned them high status within the bureau, commanding deep respect even from local leaders.

“I received notice days ago that Steward Jiang would be coming to assist. I had planned to hold a welcoming ceremony within the bureau, but today’s sudden mission has left me unprepared. Please forgive any lack of formalities,” Lü Zhenhai said, folding his arms and bowing slightly in a traditional Ming dynasty salute.

Jiang Ruifeng, aged over four centuries and originally from the Ming era, appreciated the gesture. With a wave of his hand, he responded in fluent Mandarin, “No need for ceremony. Our sect has heard of the Taohuayuan incidents. I was sent to inspect the situation and provide assistance. We can dispense with formalities—just tell me the situation.”

“Unexpected that the Taohuayuan, our ancient nemesis from a thousand years ago, should rise again... I understand you plan to root out those vermin inside this building?” Jiang said, getting straight to the point—a typical cultivator manner.

“Exactly,” Lü Zhenhai replied. “This place is crowded, and capturing them alive risks endangering nearby residents. For safety, it’s best to eliminate them outright.”

With the senior steward of Jiuli Sect on site, the mood among the Sanitation Bureau personnel brightened considerably. Having a Golden Core cultivator on the front lines alleviated many of the concerns that had troubled Lü Zhenhai, and his tone hardened.

“The terrain limits the use of firearms; we will need cultivator techniques. Steward Jiang, if convenient, please assist in dispatching the enemy.”

“No problem. That suits me well,” Jiang Ruifeng said, curling his fingers as a faint glow shimmered. A spirit sword appeared in his hand. Drawing it from its sheath, his eyes reflected a cold, sharp gleam.

“One of our sect’s transcendent ancestors once said—To eradicate disaster, one must kill with killing. This situation calls for following the ancestral way.”

“Kill with killing?” Lü Zhenhai’s mind stirred. Recalling Jiuli’s history, he immediately thought of that ancestor’s name.

Zhou Wuqing... if anyone deserved the title of ‘transcendent,’ it was him.

Though a millennium had passed, Jiuli’s descendants still revered his words.

Lü Zhenhai felt a surge of emotion. He raised the walkie-talkie and switched to short-range communication.

“Attention all units, activate auxiliary formation B.”

A low hum sounded as several drones ascended from all directions, circling the shopping center.

Each drone bore special spell inscriptions. Under the control of ground officers, the drones interwove to form a massive formation in the sky. Below, all anti-air units were on high alert, guarding to ensure the formation’s stability.

“Positioning complete.”

A talisman was handed to Jiang Ruifeng. Using it, a cultivator’s perception could be linked to the formation, expanding their spiritual awareness coverage fivefold—enough to encompass the entire sprawling shopping center.

Jiang gently traced the blade of his spirit sword with his fingertip. The spirit runes etched on the sword glowed, summoning tiny arcs of lightning that danced along its edge.

He closed his eyes to concentrate. With the formation’s aid, his spiritual sense swept across tens of thousands of square meters of buildings. Suddenly, he opened his eyes sharply and pointed with two fingers toward an open window on the mall’s east side.

“Go.”

With a sharp ring, the spirit sword, surrounded by crackling lightning, soared into the air, splitting into multiple streams of flashing light. Under Jiang’s control, these streams flew through the open window, vanishing into the shadows beyond.

All the officers craned their necks, eager to witness the Golden Core cultivator’s prowess. But moments passed, and no dramatic scene unfolded. Jiang remained standing calmly, as if nothing had happened.

“What is this...” someone muttered skeptically. Before the words finished, a flash of light appeared, followed by a faint rumble of thunder.

Centered on where the flying sword had entered, the once powerless mall interior flickered briefly. The neon sign near the window blinked out in a shower of electric sparks, as if a surge had caused a short circuit.

Several agonized screams echoed from inside, mingled with flashes of spiritual power and explosions, but this quickly subsided after a few seconds.

The electric sparks-laden streams of light flew back out through the window, reforming into the spirit sword and returning to Jiang’s hand.

Sheathing it with one hand, he nodded to Lü Zhenhai. “The bodies are on the second floor, east side. Please dispatch personnel to collect them.”

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Those who had been muttering fell silent. A team of officers jogged into the mall. Ten minutes later, they emerged carrying several bodies, lining them up on the ground.

A murmur of mixed voices and sharp intakes of breath rose around. Many officers were seeing such a powerful figure in action for the first time, stunned by the swift and decisive manner of the attack.

They had anticipated a fierce battle, imagining a Golden Core cultivator wielding overwhelming power, turning the tide with thunderous might. But this was not even a battle; from the first move to the end, mere seconds passed before the enemies were all corpses.

“Steward Jiang’s skills are truly formidable—truly awe-inspiring,” Lü Zhenhai saluted again, his words filled with genuine respect.

Compared to the grandiose large-scale spells, Jiang Ruifeng’s attack appeared subtle but was even more terrifying to those knowledgeable.

No loud noise, no direct confrontation, yet complete annihilation in moments—this was absolute power crushing the enemy. When heavy weapons were unavailable, he was the heavy weapon.

A Golden Core cultivator’s terror was like this!

“You flatter me, Team Leader Lü,” Jiang waved his hand. “Once you finish examining the bodies, send me a copy of the report. If it truly is the Taohuayuan faction causing trouble, Jiuli Sect will not stand idly by.”

Lü Zhenhai was no stranger to cooperation with ancient cultivators, so he stepped forward to inspect the bodies without further ceremony.

Each corpse was intact, but with a bloodied hole burned by lightning at vital points—evidence they were all killed instantly by a single strike. Amid the blood’s metallic scent, a faint floral fragrance lingered, a distinguishing trait of Taohuayuan members.

After a thorough scan, Lü’s expression darkened again.

“Is this all?”

“Yes, all accounted for. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators and four Qi Refining.”

Lü Zhenhai squinted and asked Jiang, receiving the same confirmation.

According to official informants, nine attackers had participated in this assault. Counting those apprehended earlier, only eight were now under official control.

One Foundation Establishment cultivator had escaped—or rather, one had never even appeared within the encirclement.

His earlier suspicion was confirmed: the enemy’s true intent was not merely the urban assault but a diversion—drawing the Sanitation Bureau’s attention east while aiming west.

But where was their real target?

He ordered his subordinates to clean up the scene and took out his phone to inquire further. Before he could dial, an internal call came through.

“This is the SkyNet system. Based on the data you provided, we have identified a suspected target who passed the city exit bridge at 9:15 this morning, heading toward the Yiyuan Power Plant in the suburbs.”

“Immediately dispatch nearby officers to surround that area. I will be there shortly,” Lü Zhenhai said decisively.

There was a brief silence, then hesitant voice on the line.

“Team Leader Lü, a squad is already deployed at the Yiyuan Power Plant.”

“A squad?” Lü Zhenhai was momentarily taken aback.

...

Three hours earlier, Sanitation Bureau collective dormitory.

As soon as Qin Jiajia stepped out of the dormitory door, she saw a black sedan parked outside. The window rolled down, revealing the Sanitation Bureau emblem on the occupant’s arm.

“You must be Xiao Qin. We’re here to take you along,” the driver greeted her. “Director Li should have already informed you about the mission, right?”

“Yes, she told me.”

Qin Jiajia nodded. She already knew that the five evil cultivators who had attacked Zhou Qing had briefly stayed at the same location before the assault, which was the destination of their current mission.

“We’re heading to the Yiyuan Power Plant, where the evil cultivators appeared, to search for traces they left behind.”