FIMA Ch77: External Aid

Dusk grew thicker, and a cold wind howled in.

Gu Siyuan’s thin clothes fluttered slightly. He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture tall and straight, looking up at the thick dark clouds in the sky. There might be a storm later.

Offstage, quite a few people couldn’t help but cheer softly for this ethereal and graceful bearing.
However, these faint cheers were quickly drowned out.

Han Mingye stepped onto the stage. His strides were vigorous, his brows cold and indifferent, and his attire low-key yet luxurious—the exact image of the “cold-faced noble young master” that people nowadays favored the most.
Not to mention he came from the Han family, the head of the Four Great Aristocratic Families. He possessed extraordinary talent since childhood and had long enjoyed a prestigious reputation in the metaphysical circle.

The screams of his die-hard fans almost pierced through the sky.

He looked at Gu Siyuan with disdain in his eyes: “To think my opponent in the finals is actually someone like you. I’m truly disappointed.”

Gu Siyuan’s expression was indifferent. He lifted his eyes and cast a light, airy glance at him: “Disappointed? Because you know you’re going to lose?”

“Shameless boasting,” Han Mingye raised his eyebrows, clearly furious to the extreme.

“Whether it’s big talk or the truth, we’ll see under our hands,” Gu Siyuan said carelessly.
After speaking, he took a step forward with his hands still behind his back.

This single step seemed to stomp directly onto the hearts of everyone present.

Han Mingye narrowed his eyes, and the hilt gripped in his palm shifted slightly. With a soft shing, a silver-white blade was drawn from its sheath—bright as water and boundlessly sharp.
This was the Han family’s ancestral weapon, their best magical artifact, and a symbol of the current Family Head’s status. Yet, before this Grand Tournament started, it had been handed over to Han Mingye. It was evident how much hope the Han family placed on ultimate victory.

Although he was a blade master, in the previous rounds, because his opponents’ abilities were limited, this blade had never been unsheathed. But facing Gu Siyuan now, for the sake of playing it safe, Han Mingye didn’t hesitate to use it right from the start.

Gu Siyuan glanced at the blade, his face expressionless.
He had spent several days studying Gu Beilin’s demonic blade. Now, no weapon could stir up the slightest ripple of emotion in him.

In the next moment, several talismans appeared in his broad palm. In an instant, they scattered across the sky like yellow paper money tossed at a funeral, pressing down toward Han Mingye.

Even though the people present were already used to Gu Siyuan’s lavish spending, they still couldn’t help but be moved at this moment. Uncontainable exclamations continuously rang out across the venue!

Previously, although Gu Siyuan had used over a hundred talismans in some matches, he had thrown them in several separate batches. But looking at it now, there were far more than a hundred. Setting aside whether it was a waste or not, could his spiritual sense really control this many? Wouldn’t he suffer brain death directly from excessive damage?

However, all these doubts and shock were instantly drowned out by an extremely massive, even terrifying explosion.

“Boom!”

All the talismans detonated in a single instant.
Because the power was too immense, the entire space seemed to shudder.

Han Mingye’s blade move was only half-executed. He completely didn’t have time to react before his entire person was enveloped by a prison of talismans.
In a panic, he instantly activated all the defensive magical artifacts on his body, yet he was still blasted flying backward a great distance by the powerful explosive force.

Knowing Gu Siyuan’s behavior in the previous matches, he had actually already activated a defensive treasure before getting on stage, which was completely enough to block ordinary talisman attacks.
Who knew that Gu Siyuan would actually go crazy and use hundreds of them at once? All his well-thought-out strategies were rendered completely useless.

Han Mingye propped the tip of his blade against the ground, barely steadying his body. He spat out a mouthful of blood, glared viciously at Gu Siyuan, and said: “I don’t believe you can launch an attack like this a second time! Next, I want you dead!”
His tone sounded as if he wished he could devour his flesh and drink his blood.

However, in the very next second, Han Mingye found his vision turning slightly yellow again.
This is…

The sky full of talismans scattered once again, still resembling a sky and wilderness during a dusk funeral.
The autumn wind howled, and the talismans rustled in mid-air, making the sorrowful atmosphere even thicker.

Han Mingye was completely bewildered.
How is this possible?
An ordinary cultivator activating a few talismans at once was already impressive. How could Gu Siyuan activate hundreds at once? And after hundreds, how could he activate them again?
Just what exactly is going on with his spiritual sense?!

But… the most important thing was, right now, he had no more defensive magical artifacts around him.

“Stop!” Han Mingye roared.

Of course, Gu Siyuan wouldn’t stop.

Thus, Han Mingye could only move himself, if he didn’t want to be left with incurable injuries, missing arms or legs.
He could only rapidly jump directly off the arena.

And the exact moment he landed safely, those nearly hundred talismans also happened to explode.

“Boom…”
The entire venue clearly smelled the scent of fireworks.

Gu Siyuan slightly retracted his spiritual energy, looked coldly at Han Mingye already on the ground, and said calmly: “You lost!”

Han Mingye, however, widened his eyes, his entire being still trapped in disbelief.
How is this possible?
I haven’t even swung my blade, I haven’t even made a move, all the strategies I prepared haven’t even unfolded yet…
I still…

The entire audience was also plunged into a bizarre silence, as if someone had hit the pause button in an instant.
Who could have imagined that the highly anticipated finals would proceed so quickly? In just two moves, the result was directly decided.

Gu Siyuan turned his head to look at the judge and said nonchalantly: “Shouldn’t you announce the result now?”

“Ah…” The judge responded, though his entire person was still dazed.

“Announce the result!” Gu Siyuan repeated again.

The judge finally snapped out of it, slowly walked to the edge of the stage, cleared his throat, and was just about to announce the result loudly.

Right at this moment, the crisp sound of clapping, clap, clap…, rang out.
“Not bad, not bad. Congratulations, young friend.”

A snow-white figure walked out from the Han family’s private box.

Gu Siyuan cast a glance at the newcomer and said expressionlessly: “I am indeed very ‘not bad’. There is no need for this fellow Daoist to specifically come out and repeat it.”

The Han Family Old Ancestor didn’t react much to his rudeness, but continued: “This old man greatly admires you, young friend, and has a cooperation to discuss with you.”

Gu Siyuan peeked at him and said casually: “Even if you want to discuss cooperation, there’s no need to interrupt the good thing of me being announced as the champion. You lack sincerity.”

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression slightly stiffened: “It cannot wait. It must be at this moment.”

“Must be? At this moment?” Gu Siyuan sneered. “Could it be that you intend to make the judge change the champion to someone from your Han family?”

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression didn’t change; instead, he nodded frankly: “Young friend is truly a smart person. So what if it is?”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyebrows slightly, nodded after a moment, and said: “For someone so ugly, your dreams sure are beautiful.”

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression changed for the first time.

At this time, Gu Siyuan was already looking at the five representatives of the Metaphysics Alliance sitting at the edge of the spectator stands, saying faintly: “Elders, the Grand Tournament is the Alliance’s biggest annual event. Are you just going to watch this old man from the Han family cause trouble?”

“Naturally not,” the Alliance elders exchanged a glance, then all smiled lightly at the Han Family Old Ancestor, advising him in an amiable tone: “Fellow Daoist Han, one must accept defeat if one is willing to bet.”
They were unexpectedly fair, just, and easy to talk to, completely unlike the rumors describing the Metaphysics Alliance as controlled by the Four Great Aristocratic Families, banding together to exclude the Special Control Bureau and rogue cultivators.

The crowd present was also momentarily surprised and discussed animatedly.
“The Metaphysics Alliance hosting the Grand Tournament all these years has been very measured after all!”

And right at this moment, those five elders, along with the heads of the Four Great Aristocratic Families, suddenly stood up together and said very solemnly to the Han Family Old Ancestor: “Since your grandson couldn’t secure first place in the Grand Tournament, the terms we discussed previously must be changed. Let us apply the second condition!”

The Han Family Old Ancestor sneered at them and snorted: “It seems to have fallen exactly to your wishes.”

“Hahaha, such is destiny! Fellow Daoist Han is already at this age, why bicker so much at this time? The grand enterprise should be our priority!” the Chen Family Old Ancestor among those few said loudly.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes. As expected, they were colluding together in villainy.

The other people outside the Four Great Aristocratic Families, however, were completely bewildered.
“What conditions? What does this mean?”
“What are they talking about?”
“Did they make a bet using the champion’s title? What are they up to?”
“And a ‘grand enterprise’? What grand enterprise? What could be a bigger event in the metaphysical world than the Grand Tournament?”

Hearing everyone whispering and talking at once, one of the aristocratic family heads looked at the sky, which had completely darkened, and smiled at the Han Family Old Ancestor: “Fellow Daoist Han, the time is about right. Since all the fellow Daoists seated here are quite interested in the grand enterprise, why don’t we just speak straightforwardly?”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan frowned and objected: “So, what about my championship? Are you going to announce it or not?”

“Hahahaha…”
“Hahahaha, you’re still focusing on this petty championship?”
Suddenly, this group of people from the Four Great Aristocratic Families burst into a fit of raucous laughter.

The Han Family Old Ancestor also shot a cold glance at Gu Siyuan, then completely ignored him, declaring to the crowd: “Everyone seated here is part of our Profound Gate. This grand enterprise concerns the future of every single one of us.”

Gu Siyuan: “…”
Very well, you’ve made me angry. I’ll let you speak; just don’t regret it.
He gave a secret look to Xie Xuanxing, signaling him to come to his side.

The Han Family Old Ancestor said loudly: “Everyone knows the higher-ups made a rule back then: ‘After the founding of the state, animals are not allowed to become spirits.’ And influenced by the nation’s grand destiny, the spiritual energy on our land became completely thin and virtually non-existent overnight, entering a thorough Dharma-ending Age. Let alone cultivating to ascend to immortality like in ancient biographies, even wanting to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage to extend one’s lifespan has become a complete and utter fantasy. Sigh… cough, cough…”
At this point, the Han Family Old Ancestor began coughing loudly. Clearly, he was a victim of being unable to reach Foundation Establishment.

Seeing this, the other cultivators present, especially the older ones, couldn’t help but feel a sense of sorrow for their kind.

Suddenly, the Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression changed drastically. He looked up at the sky and roared angrily: “But on what basis?! We cultivators are one in ten thousand! Bearing spiritual roots, we should be the natural darlings of Heaven! How can we be trapped by birth, aging, illness, and death just like ordinary mortals?!”
“This is completely unreasonable! Illogical! Unjustified!”

As soon as this was said, the venue was in an uproar, and many people immediately nodded repeatedly.
“Makes sense.”
“Yes! Nowadays, we cultivate bitterly for half our lives, but our cultivation growth is almost invisible.”
“But the spiritual energy is already like this. What can we do?”

The Han Family Old Ancestor said coldly: “Yes! For so many years, we couldn’t do anything but watch helplessly as countless talented fellow Daoists missed out on the Great Dao due to lifespan limits, dying in mediocrity.”
“But fortunately, Heaven never seals off all paths. Just a few years ago, this old man accidentally discovered a profound secret that can restore the spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth!”

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s voice grew increasingly impassioned: “As everyone can see, upon entering the Dharma-ending Age, the cultivation of us Profound Gate cultivators plummeted. But at the same time, all the ghosts and monsters in this world also vanished without a trace.”
“The laws of Heaven and Earth emphasize the conservation of all things; nothing increases or decreases out of thin air. Thus, everyone should have realized: the spiritual energy in our realm hasn’t disappeared. It was merely drawn away by the Heavenly Dao to form a spatial barrier, completely suppressing those ghosts and monsters in the Ghost Realm, isolating the two worlds ever since.”

“After years of investigation, our Han family has confirmed that the spatial barrier formed by this spiritual energy is located right here in Fengdu! As long as we break the barrier and let the spiritual energy return to the human world, we cultivators can return to that prosperous and thriving grand world of cultivation!”

“Everyone, whether from aristocratic families or rogue cultivators, we are all cultivators after all. At this moment, we should stand together and fight jointly for the Revival of Spiritual Energy!”

When he spoke this final sentence, the Han Family Old Ancestor’s voice suddenly increased several octaves from before, wishing he could declare it for the whole world to hear.
He looked at everyone in the venue, then at Gu Siyuan, and said disdainfully: “Young friend, how can your petty Grand Tournament championship compare to the grand enterprise of reshaping the cultivation world and reviving spiritual energy?”

The Han Family Old Ancestor thought that this impassioned speech and the weight of this ‘righteous cause’ would make Gu Siyuan unable to lift his head.
However, Gu Siyuan merely cast a faint glance at him and said lukewarmly: “I don’t think so.”

“…” The Han Family Old Ancestor’s white eyebrows shot up. He froze for a long moment, then laughed out of extreme anger: “Hmph, young people are just ignorant.”

Gu Siyuan lifted his chin slightly and also sneered: “If I remember correctly, before you started talking about this so-called ‘grand enterprise’, old man, you used both carrots and sticks to demand I yield first place in the Grand Tournament to your good grandson Han Mingye, right? If it’s truly as you said, that the Grand Tournament championship is so unimportant and unpresentable, why did you bring it up at all? Could it be that you’re senile and confused in your old age?”

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression drastically changed, his eyes clouding over with darkness like an impending thunderstorm.

And immediately, Gu Siyuan spoke again, his tone even colder: “Since you, the mastermind, are a confused old fool, then this so-called ‘grand enterprise’ is most likely pure fabricated nonsense, definitely not to be taken seriously. Therefore, what’s wrong with me saying it can’t compare to the Grand Tournament championship?”

“…You!” The Han Family Old Ancestor pointed a finger at him, his body trembling with rage, his expression vicious to the extreme.

Gu Siyuan stepped aside from the direction his finger was pointing and continued: “So, the judge should just hurry up and announce my championship, and then…”
He cast a sidelong glance at his little lackey who had just arrived by his side.

Xie Xuanxing intuitively understood and immediately sneered, picking up the sentence: “…and then the fellow Daoists present can hurry up and return to their respective homes and mothers. Stop listening to this old man who already has one foot in the grave, grandly operating a pyramid scheme scam here.”

The Han Family Old Ancestor: “…”
Fuck!

Enraged, he immediately surged his spiritual energy, his figure flashed, and he attacked Gu Siyuan and Xie Xuanxing.

After listening to his nonsense on the side for so long, Gu Siyuan’s spiritual energy and spiritual sense, which were depleted during the battle with Han Mingye, had already recovered.
He immediately raised his hand and tossed again. Dozens, nearly a hundred yellow talismans rose into the air, flying directly toward the Han Family Old Ancestor, and then exploded simultaneously an instant later.

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression changed drastically, and he hastily and wretchedly retreated backward.
Although his cultivation was much higher than Han Mingye’s, in this wretched era, one could at most cultivate to the Peak of the Qi Condensation stage. No matter what, everyone was at the same tier and couldn’t achieve a qualitative breakthrough. The power of these talismans added up through sheer quantity, which would similarly cause massive damage to him.
He just didn’t expect that in such a short amount of time, this kid could launch such large-scale talisman attacks one after another!

The Han Family Old Ancestor steadied his body, stared at Gu Siyuan for a few moments, and then immediately turned to the Four Great Aristocratic Families and the rogue cultivators present: “Fellow Daoists, in the future when spiritual energy revives, we will all be beneficiaries. It isn’t appropriate to just watch the fun right now, is it? This person is a running dog of the state and the Special Control Bureau; he is a massive hidden threat to us accomplishing our goal!”

“Massive hidden threat?” Gu Siyuan snorted coldly, his expression slightly chilling.

Xie Xuanxing immediately understood his thoughts. He raised his head and asked the Han Family Old Ancestor, seemingly quite puzzled: “Old man, you just said that all cultivators should unite their efforts for the revival of spiritual energy. Why is our Boss Gu suddenly a massive hidden threat now? He is also a cultivator, and if spiritual energy revives, he is also a beneficiary. Why would he be your hidden threat? Could it be that your aristocratic families want to monopolize all the resources and have decided to eliminate all the rogue cultivators and minor families in advance?”

Hearing these words, the rogue cultivators in the venue immediately caused a commotion.
No one was a fool; they came to gain advantages, not to throw their lives away.

The Han Family Old Ancestor’s expression fluctuated, and he immediately denied: “Naturally not.”
Although their aristocratic families didn’t care about these rogue cultivators, there was a saying that many ants can bite an elephant to death. If this bunch of rogue cultivators teamed up with the Special Control Bureau to deal with them, it would be a huge problem.
Moreover, later when they broke the spatial barrier to welcome the descent of the Ghost Emperor, they would still need these people to step forward and serve as sacrifices…

Gu Siyuan nodded, his gaze piercing like a torch: “Since you don’t, then as representatives of the rogue cultivators, our Special Control Bureau has a few questions to ask. First, the spatial barrier is incredibly sturdy, and forcibly breaking it will inevitably exact a price. So, will it require a cultivator blood sacrifice? How many are needed? Will the people be drawn from the rogue cultivators, or from within your aristocratic families?”

“Second, after the spatial barrier is opened, the two worlds will connect. The yin energy accumulated over many years and countless malicious ghosts will inevitably flood into this realm. Since we cultivate the Dao, and Heaven cares for every living thing, what methods do you all have to settle and protect these billions of powerless mortals?”

“Third, if we cultivators form a joint alliance, how will power be distributed afterward? Earlier, you strongly demanded that Han Mingye take first place in the Grand Tournament. Did your aristocratic families make a private agreement in advance that whichever family’s junior wins the championship gets to be the Alliance Leader? If so, where does that leave us rogue cultivators? Isn’t this cooperation far too insincere?”

Gu Siyuan had always been a man of few words; it was a rare occurrence for him to speak this much all at once.
And the effect of these words was obviously incredibly significant.

Especially the Han Family Old Ancestor, he was shocked to the absolute core. These three points hit exactly upon the crucial elements at every turn.
It was precisely because this was highly unpresentable to the public that they could only prepare and discuss it secretly in private, using this Grand Tournament as an excuse to gather the many rogue cultivators here.

But how could Gu Siyuan happen to know exactly about it?!
This was information the Old Ancestor had slowly pieced together after decades of searching.
He had even planted several Yin Soul Cauldrons in various blessed heavenly grottoes over the years just for this, before finally succeeding in refining a Ghost King, which he then followed to find this spatial barrier located in Fengdu.

Seeing the silence in the venue.
Gu Siyuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly impatient as he urged: “So, can no one answer? Did everyone really just eagerly gather together after listening to this old man’s empty words?”

Hearing this, the Han Family Old Ancestor immediately sneered coldly: “Since it’s already come to this, there’s nothing that can’t be said. First, a blood sacrifice is indeed needed, but not of cultivators. We just need to throw in more mortals to fill it. The seventy to eighty thousand mortals in this county town will roughly be enough.”

“Second point: what does the life or death of those mortals have to do with us? We are working painstakingly to revive spiritual energy in order to cultivate immortality and achieve the Dao, not to act as nannies for these mortals!”

“Third point: you kid actually have some wisdom and guessed very accurately. But since you came out halfway and disrupted the situation, none of our families managed to win the Grand Tournament championship. We can only form a Council of Elders to discuss jointly and decide by voting on the Alliance’s affairs after the spiritual energy revival.”

“I see. Alright,” Gu Siyuan nodded calmly.

The Han Family Old Ancestor furrowed his brows slightly, seemingly a bit surprised.
The others also began whispering to each other in confusion.

In the next moment, Gu Siyuan’s thin lips parted, and he suddenly said faintly: “Then regarding your spiritual energy revival plan this time, I do not agree. The spicy rabbit heads next to the hotel are very delicious. I can’t accept not being able to eat them in the future.”

Xie Xuanxing lifted his eyes and looked at his Boss Gu, his eyes brimming with starlight.

“Whoa…”
An uproar of discussion instantly erupted in the venue.
Yet, it also seemed as if everyone had expected it.

The Han Family Old Ancestor sneered: “Truly a running dog of the government and the Special Control Bureau. However, the revival of spiritual energy is a matter greater than the heavens; how could it be changed just by the singular opinion of a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?”
Saying that, he looked back at the Four Great Aristocratic Families and those rogue cultivators behind him: “Since that’s the case, we don’t need to hold back. Let us pool our efforts to purge these running dogs of the Special Control Bureau first!”

Those people from the aristocratic families swept a glance at Gu Siyuan and, without even needing to weigh the pros and cons, immediately nodded: “We naturally ought to lend Fellow Daoist a helping hand.”

The rogue cultivators, however, were still somewhat hesitant. Once they took this step, there would be absolutely no turning back.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes at them and said expressionlessly: “We are not on the arena right now. You desire to kill me, a Special Control Bureau personnel. Coupled with your previous statements, can I assume that you people of the Profound Gate aristocratic families intend to use martial force to violate the bans, gathering here to collectively engage in terrorist activities? This is one of the heaviest charges in the penal code.”

“Hmph, so what if it is?” One of them coldly snorted, showing extreme disdain.
They were about to usher in the grand world of cultivation! From now on, the so-called laws of the mortal realm would be nothing more than scraps of paper!

“Very good,” Gu Siyuan nodded.
He immediately lifted his eyes, sweeping them toward He Pan, who had been watching the show not far away: “Team Leader He, you should have heard. Division 1 of the Special Control Bureau specializes in managing Profound Gate affairs. Now that someone is violating the bans and breaking the law, what should be done?”

“Naturally, those who should be arrested will be arrested, and those who should be killed will be killed,” He Pan chuckled. Dropping the half-lit cigarette from between his fingers, he crushed it out with his foot while speaking loudly: “Alright, comrades who want to rebel, raise your hands now. Lay down your arms, and you won’t be killed!”

“Hahahaha…”
“Hahaha…”
Hearing this, several people immediately burst out laughing in unison.

A long while later, a young cultivator dressed in luxurious clothing began to speak on behalf of the aristocratic families: “In the past, we merely gave you a bit of face out of respect for the government. Yet your Special Control Bureau actually thinks of itself as something important?”
“Wait until we break the Ghost Realm’s barrier! Yin energy will blanket the human world, and century-old malicious ghosts will commit atrocities everywhere. Even those mortal officials in the government won’t be able to protect themselves! Do you dogs of the government think you are still fit to act arrogant in front of us?”
“Haha, if we weren’t initially apprehensive of the government’s heavy weaponry, do you think your Special Control Bureau—with just its three or five rogue cultivators lacking any inheritances—would even have the qualifications to challenge our aristocratic families?”

After he spoke, several voices of agreement immediately rang out from the aristocratic families’ side.
They had suppressed themselves for far too long.
Their aristocratic families had long histories. In their respective genealogical records, they had all read about that era brimming with spiritual energy—how unrestrained and noble it was! Even mortal emperors had to serve at their beck and call. Nothing like the present situation…

“Oh? The Special Control Bureau’s rogue cultivator—are you talking about me?”
A male voice, cold as freezing iron, rang out abruptly.

Following that, an even colder flash of a blade, accompanied by a mournful shriek that tore through the air, slashed straight toward the aristocratic family young cultivator who had just been spouting nonsense.

“Gu Beilin!” the young man shrieked indignantly and unwillingly. Almost without thinking, he swiftly raised his foot and stomped heavily on the ground, using the recoil force to channel all his spiritual energy and rapidly retreat backward.
Because he retreated so fast, he even created a slight sonic boom. Yet from beginning to end, he never once thought of drawing his sword to block.
Because he knew very clearly that facing this blade of Gu Beilin’s, he could only flee. If he hesitated or delayed for even a second, he would inevitably be cut down immediately by this blade.

In the Grand Tournament finals three years ago, he had been the last one to directly face this blade. Since then, he had dreamed of this blade countless times in his nightmares.

The originally boiling center of the venue also fell quiet under this blade—a deathly, dead silence.
They all looked up at Gu Beilin, looking at this rumored Northern Heavenly Wolf.

Just a moment ago, that aristocratic youth’s words and attitude were so overbearing and overwhelmingly arrogant, practically degrading the Special Control Bureau into the dirt. Yet at this very moment, in the blink of an eye, the way he dodged and fled was so pathetic, humiliating, incompetent, and cowardly.

And all of this change merely stemmed from this one person, from his casual slash of a blade.

Han Mingye looked at Gu Beilin. He remembered when they were on the Feng Shui street, Fourth Uncle had comforted him saying that with the Han family as his backing and a complete inheritance, his blade would definitely surpass Gu Beilin’s one day.
But at this instant, he suddenly felt that Fourth Uncle might have just been patronizing him.
His blade was inferior to Gu Beilin’s. It was inferior now, and in the future when the spiritual energy revived, Gu Beilin’s progress would inevitably be even greater, and he would be even more inferior.
Unless Gu Beilin died right now.
No, not just Gu Beilin. Both Gu brothers had to die!
Just now on the arena, the humiliation Gu Siyuan had dealt him made him deserve a thousand deaths, even more so than Gu Beilin.

Han Mingye stood up, took a step forward, and spoke to the aristocratic families with righteous indignation: “Fellow Daoists, for the future revival of spiritual energy, we must unite as one to jointly oppose this pack of running dogs from the government and the Special Control Bureau! At a time like this, there’s no need to care about the Daoist rules of one-on-one combat. Let’s attack together!”

“Right! What morality is there to speak of when dealing with these running dogs? Let’s attack together!”

Gu Siyuan and his group also exchanged a glance.
Tsk, isn’t this exactly what we wanted?
They didn’t want to fight one-on-one either.

Thud-thud… thud-thud… thud-thud…
Just at the exact moment those aristocratic family cultivators were about to charge forward, they suddenly noticed that the previously dim edges of the venue had lit up with large searchlights one after another.

The members of the aristocratic families looked up, only to find that the entire perimeter of the venue had, at some unknown time, been completely surrounded by Special Police in uniform. Moreover, each of them was holding an oddly shaped gun or cannon, aiming right at them.

“Lay down your weapons, surrender and you won’t be killed!”

Seeing this scene, the Han Family Old Ancestor was initially startled, but then sneered and said disdainfully: “Do you think these mortal weapons can actually hit us?”

The other heads of the aristocratic families immediately echoed: “Everyone use defensive arrays to prop up protective shields! We will immediately go kill people for the blood sacrifice! Once we open the spatial barrier, once yin energy permeates the human world and malicious ghosts run rampant, these government running dogs won’t have the energy to deal with us anymore!”
It wasn’t like they hadn’t tested it before. Ordinary firearms and artillery shells couldn’t pierce their spiritual energy defenses at all, not to mention they had specifically brought their ancestral defensive arrays this time.
If the government insisted on using heavy weaponry, then everyone in this entire town would be in danger.
Furthermore, heavy weaponry wasn’t that easy to mobilize over, and they only needed to hold out for a short while anyway.

“Quick, quick, everyone move…”

Transparent light barriers rose around the members of the aristocratic families one after another.
At the same time, the bullets from above rained down. After hitting the light barriers, the barriers immediately rippled, but the bullets still failed to pass through.

However, those Special Police didn’t give up. Soon, there was another wave of attacks in a hail of bullets.
Immediately, the group of people from the aristocratic families began to mock: “Overestimating your own capabilities.”
“Truly laughable!”
“Hahaha, mere mortals want to fight with us?”

“Exactly, you should have long…” This person’s words were cut off halfway, and he suddenly froze. He raised a hand to touch his shoulder; it was wet and sticky.
He turned his head to look at his clansman beside him, only to see a patch of blood-red before his eyes.
And their protective divine array light barrier had, at some point, shattered and vanished with a pop.

They stared blankly at the bullets shooting down. Observing closely, they seemed slightly different from the past, carrying a thin beam of yellow light. It was precisely because of this that, after a few hits, they could pierce right through their spiritual energy shields!

Immediately, bursts of screams and the sounds of clashes rang out.

Gu Siyuan looked at the aristocratic family cultivators dodging desperately and said expressionlessly: “A new type of psionic weapon, specifically born to break these so-called spiritual energy shields. Thanks to the Han family, thank you for the motivation and inspiration you provided at Hongtan Villa.”

“…” The aristocratic families.
We agreed on a metaphysical battle! Why did you secretly turn on cheat codes?!

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