World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 89: Warfare Unit Advances!

Upon being commanded to retreat, the ghostly woman rushed to the young master's side, and the two swiftly retreated toward the hospital building.

They had already severely wounded Shi Qianzhang and delayed him for the most crucial few minutes. Considering it would take some time to reach the Fire Sage from the hospital, no one could stop the Fire Sage's auction anymore.

The young master shouted, "Blade Slave! Return!"

Despite the command, Blade Slave roared and attacked Wang Sheng relentlessly, seemingly having lost his senses.

The flute melody in the air grew more urgent. The young master flicked his sleeve, turned around, and rushed into the building, abandoning Blade Slave with no hesitation.

Finally, the flute abruptly stopped.

Wang Sheng grew even more cautious. He was hoping to take Blade Slave alive and use him to make the authorities take notice of the Yin-Yang Cult, a true powerhouse among corrupt Daoist organizations.

However, they had abandoned him so easily, making it clear that his weapon was no supreme artifact and that he didn't have any important information. The woman would have likely killed him otherwise. With her footwork, it wouldn't have taken more than a few seconds.

Amid the fierce battle, Wang Sheng glanced at Shi Qianzhang, who was lying in the distance. He was covered in blood and convulsing all over, seemingly experiencing some kind of twisted euphoria.

Wang Sheng chuckled bitterly. Considering Shi Qianzhang had a somewhat troublesome personality, he wasn't sure if taking a hit on his shoulder had been worth it.

Half a minute after the two had retreated, synchronized footsteps echoed outside the hospital walls. To his surprise, Wang Sheng soon witnessed over a hundred people vaulting over the hospital wall. Illuminated by the bright lights, they headed straight to his location like a military-green wave.

Each one had a Godspeed Talisman strapped to their outer thighs and chains wrapped around them like tactical gear. Slung across their backs were either treasured swords or sabers, while rifles and submachine guns hung diagonally from their shoulders.

They sprinted forward at full speed, their aura surging violently. When Wang Sheng swept his spiritual consciousness over them, their overwhelming masculine qi and soaring bloodlust startled him.

The Yin-Yang Cult's extreme caution had clearly saved them that night.

"Drop your weapons! Seal your meridians immediately! If you resist, we cannot guarantee your safety!" one of them exclaimed.

Wang Sheng shouted back, "I am Wang Sheng of the Wudang Mountains, consultant of the Special Investigation Unit! Capture this man alive if possible! Two corrupt cultivators have escaped into the building!"

"Protect Daoist Master Wang! Alpha Platoon, lock down all hospital entrances and exits! Bravo, prepare to execute Standard Combat Plan Six! Capture the target alive! Charlie, search every area. If you encounter any cultivator, capture them immediately! Resistance will be met with lethal force!"

In unison, over a hundred steel-clad, disciplined warriors roared, "Yes, sir!"

Their imposing presence filled the air with killing intent, suppressing all opposition. Even Shi Qianzhang—who had been quietly bleeding out—involuntarily curled, covered his head, and trembled.

The men swiftly split into three units, each moving with precision and efficiency.

A group of thirty charged toward Wang Sheng. About ten meters away, eighteen soldiers leaped into the air, simultaneously drawing their long swords and forming an eighteen-man sword formation.

Wang Sheng flicked his damaged sword lightly. The shockwave forced Blade Slave two steps back—right into the sword formation.

Silhouettes darted around the Blade Slave, moving in sync with each other at maximum linear speed. Though each warrior struck only once, their collective assault shattered the Blade Slave's key joints.

Before blood could even spray from his wounds, chains imbued with true essence flew in from behind and wrapped around him like a dumpling. Seven more soldiers then advanced in a shifting Big Dipper formation. In seamless rotation, they bombarded the Blade Slave with talismans and metal spikes.

The thirty Spirit Convergence Realm cultivators were pushed to their absolute limit as they unleashed every kind of technique upon the Blade Slave. In just ten seconds, he was completely immobilized.

The simplicity and effectiveness of their sword formation impressed Wang Sheng. Their coordination had likely taken at least a few years of rigorous training to achieve.

Wang Sheng couldn't help but wonder, if my legs weren't injured, and I had a divine weapon in hand, could I win against their squad?

After a brief mental calculation, he concluded that he should never, ever do anything that could turn him into a public enemy.

They were definitely not to be messed with.

Clang!

Now wrapped in iron chains, the Blade Slave lost consciousness as he was thrown to the ground. They covered his forehead and torso in yellow talismans, then thrust sealing spikes into several of his meridians.

In specialized uniforms, the soldiers formed two rows and stood tall with their chests out. Their eyes were sharp, their blood surging, yet they remained focused straight ahead.

A dark-skinned officer soon emerged from behind them. He saluted Wang Sheng and firmly shouted, "Daoist Master Wang! Do you require medical assistance?"

Wang Sheng pointed at Shi Qianzhang. Several soldiers were standing over him, their long swords poised at his vital points.

"My injuries aren't serious. That man is Shi Qianzhang, a top disciple of the Longhu Mountains," Wang Sheng said. "He knows how to find Guo Qianxing. There might still be time to save him."

The dark-skinned officer's expression sharpened. He immediately turned and bellowed, "Give that man more of the Immortal Elixir! Now!"

"Immortal Elixir" was the Warfare Unit's affectionate nickname for water infused with Healing Talisman.

If the Special Investigation Unit was known for its efficiency, then the Special Warfare Unit was defined by its execution. Two soldiers immediately knelt beside Shi Qianzhang and performed a standard medical procedure. One stuffed a medicinal pill into Shi Qianzhang's mouth while the other made him drink a mysterious liquid from an iron flask.

Shi Qianzhang soon regained consciousness and coughed a bit. Without hesitation, he immediately pulled a yellow talisman from his coat pocket and trickled some of his own blood onto it. Through gritted teeth, he shouted, "Damn it, Qianxing... I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you in the next life, even if I have to be a chicken pretending to be a duck!"

Bang!

The yellow talisman exploded, revealing a bluebird with blood-stained feathers. Flapping its wings, it circled over Shi Qianzhang twice before flying southwest.

The dark-skinned officer bellowed, "Alpha, stay behind and protect the Daoist masters! Everyone else, follow that bird using any means necessary! And notify headquarters immediately!"

The squads sprinted after the bird, while two communication officers grabbed their "brick" devices and relayed the orders to the headquarters.

Shi Qianzhang covered his eyes with his arm and broke into uncontrollable sobs. Wang Sheng figured that at least half of those tears were due to the sheer pain from his wounds.

Wang Sheng pointed at the immobilized Blade Slave on the ground and warned, "There might be Gu bugs in his ears."

The squad leader immediately turned and shouted, "Medic! Clear his ears!"

Yelling commands seemed to be a long-standing military tradition.

"Fei Yu!" Jingyun called from a distance. Before the echo even faded, she had already reached Wang Sheng.

Her cold expression turned even icier when she saw his injuries. Silently, she stepped forward and pressed a palm to his wounded shoulder. A gentle qi seeped into him, slowly spreading to the wound.

"Did the Five Gods Cult do this?" she asked.

"No, another group of corrupt cultivators. That swordsman over there is the one I fought at the university. They all have Yin-Yang Talismans tattooed on them."

"Yin-Yang Talismans?" Jingyun pondered for a moment but came up with nothing. With a hint of killing intent in her tone, she asked, "Do we know where they're hiding?"

Wang Sheng shook his head. Finally, Jingyun's gaze gradually softened.

She was frustrated that Chi Ling hadn't assigned enough people to protect Wang Sheng, but she had no right to blame her. After all, she didn't expect corrupt cultivators to target him at such a critical moment either. It would be no more than the pot calling the kettle black.

If anything had happened to Wang Sheng, neither she nor Chi Ling would have been able to face Qing Yanzi. Hence, with only a few minutes left until midnight, Jingyun decided not to leave Wang Sheng's side no matter what.

The hospital building buzzed with activity. Nevertheless, as Wang Sheng had predicted, the Yin-Yang Cult members managed to vanish without a trace. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air.

Mou Yue and Bulldozer were no longer in danger. Mou Yue had already recovered enough to be up and about, while Bulldozer had to be hospitalized—ironically, in the same room as Wang Sheng.

Meanwhile, Shi Qianzhang was taken to the emergency room. Even a Spirit Convergence Realm cultivator could die from excessive blood loss. After releasing the bluebird, his survival no longer had any impact on that night's events.

Wang Sheng wheeled himself over to a communications officer and quietly waited for news from the auction.

At exactly midnight, an order was delivered through the officer's "brick." Nearly half of the Special Warfare Unit scattered across the city converged on a major bridge over the river—the location that the Fire Sage had announced for the auction. Fearing that it was just a diversion, they left enough forces in every area to defend every corner of the city at any moment.

Finally, a minute past midnight, a massive explosion erupted over the Dajiang River. Flames illuminated half the sky.

It was a signal. Cultivators who had been lying in wait across the city emerged all at once. Those who had received prior notice from the Fire Sage rushed onto the bridge and leaped right into the river.

Whether one could receive advance notice depended on the amount of personal information they had given the Fire Sage. The investigation unit's undercover agents did not have such privileges.

Under the bridge, amid the raging flames on the river, a speedboat drifted by out of nowhere. It dropped one metal box after another into the water, making it clear that the auction would take place underwater. However, the exact location remained unknown.

Like schools of fish, the cultivators scrambled downstream, guided only by the boxes thrown from the boat.

Anyone below the Seed Formation Realm was destined to be left behind.

***

Despite her lack of combat experience since coming down from the mountain, Jingyun was still a powerful Illusory Core Realm cultivator.

Hence, to not worry her and disrupt her from helping with the situation, Wang Sheng had Mou Yue take him to Chi Ling's temporary base. As a Special Investigation Unit consultant, he had unrestricted access.

Mou Yue and Wang Sheng reached the command center at 12:23 AM. After personally ensuring Wang Sheng had safely gotten inside, Jingyun turned and rushed toward the river.

Several large screens in the command center displayed multiple feeds simultaneously. One of them showed the Special Warfare Unit securing the bridge. Unfortunately, most of the auction participants had already jumped into the water.

Another displayed corpses floating on the river as helicopters hovered overhead, their searchlights sweeping back and forth. Columns of water also kept erupting all over the river. Every so often, a cultivator or two would leap out, only to plunge back into the water after a moment.

On the riverbank, rows of Special Warfare Unit members advanced in tight formation, monitoring the submerged cultivators with unwavering discipline. Over a hundred Daoist-robed cultivators, mostly Longhu disciples, also patrolled the shore. However, none of them entered the water.

Wang Sheng wheeled himself into a corner, studying the screens intently. Mou Yue, who was looking pale, sat beside him to rest. No one paid much attention to them.

Just as Mou Yue settled into her seat, a shout echoed through the command center.

"Captain! We've captured Guo Qianxing!"

The entire room fell silent.

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