Read full story at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝘯𝘦𝘵 Mu Wanxuan's attack wasn't heavy; she did not seal the ninjas' cultivation with yin-yang qi or severely injure them. All she had done was lightly push them aside. While free-falling through the air, most of the shadow dwellers immediately fired grappling hooks. A few relied on techniques to slice across the air, attaching themselves to the tall building's wall like geckos. They were all fairly strong, which was a clear sign that Sakura Island had prepared for this encounter. Nevertheless, all they could do now was look up. In their eyes was not only anger but also deep fear. The female cultivator, who was as beautiful as a goddess from legends, made them feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness. One punch was enough for her to instantly etch the feeling deep into their hearts. Akiu Masayo rushed to the balcony and glanced down. Discovering that his teacher and the others had not been smashed into pulp upon impact, he breathed a sigh of relief. "This is only a warning," Wang Sheng said from behind. "We're only here to escort our scientists, not wage another war against the cultivators of Sakura Island. But if you insist on fighting, we will take you on. Our master will scold us when we get back if we kill too freely, though. Officer Akiu, I believe you're quick on the uptake. How events develop often comes down to the decision of the one in power." Wang Sheng turned, walked back inside, and lifted the sword case onto his back. With Spiritless in hand, he called out to Huai Jing, who was already carrying Shi Qianzhang, and headed toward the door with Mu Wanxuan. Their scientists had just passed by in the corridor. With three Special Warfare Unit soldiers protecting them, they entered the elevator with Zhou Yinglong and Hao Ling. Xi Lian was outside the high-rise, descending alongside the elevator. Wang Sheng spread his spiritual consciousness. He pressed his left hand against his chest, making immortal light gather in his palm. Flying Haze slowly materialized. "Senior Sister, Huai Jing, do not stray too far from me." Huai Jing frowned slightly, seemingly sensing something. In a low tone, he reported, "A large military force seems to be heading this way, Fei Yu." "Yes, I detected them with my spiritual perception," Wang Sheng replied with a slight frown. "They came from the military base. They appear to be the Dami Empire's armored division. Stay on your guard." "Sakura Island really is sharing a pair of trousers with Dami, huh?" Huai Jing commented. On Huai Jing's back, Shi Qianzhang yawned. He opened his eyes weakly. "That's just how they've always been. What's wrong with me? Why do I still feel so sleepy?" Wang Sheng thought for a moment. He took out a small bottle of alchemical pills and handed it to Shi Qianzhang. "These pills will restore your spirit. Take one." Shi Qianzhang obediently took it. He shook one into his mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed. Two seconds later, his eyes snapped wide open. Brimming with spirit, he jumped down from Huai Jing's shoulder. His once weary gaze now gleamed brightly. "What happened to me? Brother Sheng, what did you give me?" "A soul-calming pill." Wang Sheng smiled as he stored the porcelain bottle back into his treasure pouch. "It will replenish a bit of your soul power, which you've overexerted. Get ready to fight." "Alright!" Shi Qianzhang grinned, then scratched his head. "What was wrong with me earlier, though? I felt like I was dreaming, mumbling all sorts of nonsense in a daze." Wang Sheng and Huai Jing exchanged a smile, while Mu Wanxuan blinked in confusion. The four soon reached the elevator, and Wang Sheng pressed the down button. Huai Jing gave him a doubtful look. "Are we really taking the elevator down?" "Would it not be cooler to just smash a window and leap straight out?" Huai Jing sounded serious, which made Wang Sheng laugh and cry at the same time. As the elevator doors opened, the four stepped inside. They weren't in a movie. There was no need to act cool for no reason. Actual combat had already proven that acting cool or trying to be cute was meaningless. What mattered was preparation with black technology[1] and clever tactics. Inside the elevator, Wang Sheng instinctively began distributing battle resources. He even handed out most of the pills that he had obtained only a couple of days ago. Mu Wanxuna took out Ice Crystal, while Huai Jing grabbed his devil-subduing staff. Shi Qianzhang fastened talisman pouches all over him and even shared a few valuable ones with the others. He chuckled mischievously. "Finally, I get to stir up trouble with you, Brother Sheng! Those Sakura Island cuties really do know how to make me happy!" "Senior Xi Lian and Fairy Bu Yu just happened to come across the devilish sword. It's not as if they went looking for trouble," Huai Jing pointed out. "Make sure not to go overboard later. We have to fight righteously, within reason, and with justification. That way, when they submit, they won't find any fault with us. That's our only path to a true victory." Shi Qianzhang clasped his hands behind his back and sighed. "Alright, fine." Wang Sheng nodded slightly as well, finding some sense in Huai Jing's words. If they were to fight, they had to hold the moral high ground. That would force the enemy to admit their faults afterward and suffer condemnation from all sides. "Remember not to harm civilians, except for any soldier who'll attack us," Wang Sheng reminded. The three nodded lightly. Mu Wanxuan looked up and stared at Wang Sheng. Without realizing it, she had grown accustomed to standing behind her junior brother. It wasn't a bad thing; it only meant that he had become stronger and advanced so quickly that she could no longer keep pace. Even so, a faint sense of disappointment lingered in her heart. The authority she once held as his senior sister had already faded away. At the hotel's top floor, within Wang Sheng's room, Akiu Masayo stood before the sliding door as Wang Sheng and the others calmly rode the elevator. He faced over ten shadow dwellers dressed much like himself. Though their gazes were sharp as blades, he refused to take a single step back. In Sakura Island's language, the short man at the front coldly and harshly commanded, "Step aside, Akiu Masayo." "Teacher, do you really want to anger the Hua Republic and provoke a third cultivation war? We haven't even recovered our primal qi yet!" Akiu Masayo shouted. His brow had furrowed, though his gaze remained firm. "I still believe the best solution tonight is to prevent conflict altogether, not let Dami's army clash with the cultivators of the Hua Republic. "We should stop those increasingly lawless Dami troops! They see Sakur Island's cultivators as nothing. They trample our dignity and even use our people for shameful research. We—" "That's enough!" the elder suddenly roared. "Akiu Masayo, the cultivators of the Hua Republic have already brainwashed you!" Stunned, Akiu Masayo stared in disbelief at the middle-aged man, who was a powerful over-fifty shadow dweller from one of the four hidden villages. He felt as though his heart was crumbling. "Move aside, or I will purge my sect here and now!" Behind the man, more than ten shadow dwellers reached for the hilts of their ninjatō. "Fine…" With pain in his eyes, Akiu Masayo lowered his head. He stepped back, moved aside, and slowly knelt. "That's more like it. You've always been an outstanding disciple." The man waved lightly, and those behind him flooded into the corridor to search for the Hua Republic group. "Teacher," Akiu Masayo cried out begrudgingly, "those young cultivators are terrifying. They're far stronger than we can even imagine. Please do not mistake them for ordinary youths of the Daoist sects!" The elder replied, "You no longer have the backbone to stand tall before the Hua Republic, Akiu." Akiu Masayo gave his teacher a lifeless look. When he heard glass shatter, he laughed bitterly and slumped onto the bed. Discovering that the Hua Republic cultivators were already at the ground-floor lobby, the shadow dwellers had broken the windows and leaped outside, descending rapidly using their techniques. The room fell silent. All that remained were the wind, sirens, and orders to evacuate the area, all of which seemingly echoed like a lullaby. Akiu Masayo closed his eyes, as though about to fall asleep. "How events develop often comes down to the decision of the one in power." Decision… of the one in power… As though struck by revelation, Akiu Masayo's eyes lit up once more. He shook water off his phone, turned it on, and immediately began making calls. In front of the hotel lobby, Wang Sheng and his three companions quietly watched two vans, which the Special Investigation Unit had arranged, drive away with Xi Lian and most of their people. With her around, they had little to fear from ambushes. Wang Sheng's team just had to draw the attention of their unwelcomed guests now. Wang Sheng gazed into the distance. Past two traffic lights, he could already see the silhouettes of armored vehicles. The aura of technology was swiftly approaching. Before he could make arrangements, over ten ninjas rained down along with shattered glass. They landed steadily, once again blocking their path. Wang Sheng frowned. Have Sakura Island's cultivators mistaken my kindness for weakness? He spun Spiritless slightly in his hand and pointed its blade forward, intending to fight. "Honored cultivators from the Hua Republic," the ninja leading them, a middle-aged man, coldly called in Sakura Island's language. "Please cooperate with us and wait here for a moment." Wang Sheng did not bother replying. Instead, he gestured at Shi Qianzhang, who immediately understood what he meant. In the ninjas' native tongue, Shi Qianzhang replied, "Cooperate with you? In what? Becoming dogs and cannon fodder of the Dami Empire?" "Your words are as unpleasant as ever." The elder snorted coldly. "Shi Qianzhang, no matter what happens today, I will make sure to settle my old grudge with you!" "Oooh nooo, I'm sooo scared." Shi Qianzhang sneered. He then turned his head to Huai Jing and muttered in the Hua Republic's language, "They just said they were going to burn down your Heavenly Dragon Temple, cut your internet, and destroy your cabinet of figurines." Huai Jing scoffed. He dragged his devil-subduing staff forward a few steps. "Then I shall take this fight. You're bullying me just because I don't speak your language? I believe you look more pleasing when wrapped in sacred light." The monk released his aura. Buddhist light enveloped him. As his robes billowed, a serene smile graced his handsome features.