World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 428: The Sword From the Moon! (III)

Deep within a lunar crater, hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from Earth.

Weary, Huai Jing sat cross-legged in midair. He had become faint and pale, with Buddhist light flickering endlessly behind him. Swiftly, he formed hand sign after hand sign, but he stopped halfway through each time.

"Amitabha. Had I known it would come to this, I would never have suppressed my realm. This is really frustrating."

He had tried countless times but still could not deduce a way to lift the seal. Even using his golden body only widened the lunar restriction. After all, it was nothing more than the bones that he had left behind when he had passed away in meditation. It could not unleash the power that he had at his peak. Even if it could, he still wouldn't be able to break through the Small Immortal Realm's barrier.

Huai Jing sighed wearily. According to his calculations, Wang Sheng and the others would miss the great event that he had arranged with Xiaomiao if he failed to get Wang Sheng's attention soon.

He had been carefully calculating how to make the most efficient use of his golden body. Now, he was forced to make a choice. In hopes of drawing Wang Sheng's attention, he would use two fingers' worth of Buddhist power to strike the barrier of the Small Immortal Realm. He would then use three fingers' worth of Buddhist power to carry Wang Sheng back to Earth.

With gritted teeth and a heavy heart, Huai Jing took out a skeletal hand that gleamed like solid gold. Closing his eyes, he detached the little finger and ring finger, then placed them carefully into his alms bowl.

"Amitabha. I have truly invested everything I have in you, Fei Yu."

He shook his head, gently returned the rest of the hand into his storage artifact, and clenched his fist. Slowly, he began to grind the two severed bones to dust. With each punch, his facial muscles twitched slightly.

A few moments later, Huai Jing had successfully turned the bones in the alms bowl into fine golden powder. All that remained was to pour it over him and unleash the secret technique.

Boom!

"Hmm?"

Huai Jing's eyes widened. Beneath him, immortal light began to flare. The lunar surface cracked open, and rocks split apart. Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan then soared from underground.

Wang Sheng immediately released primal qi so his words could reach the monk. "Huai Jing? What are you doing here?"

Huai Jing slapped his thigh, covered the alms bowl, and leaped down. When he tried to reply, the primal qi dispersed, preventing him from making any noise.

Hence, he quickly sent out a beam of Buddhist light toward Wang Sheng and shouted through it, "Great Immortal Fei Yu! We have to go back right now! The cultivation world is in chaos!"

"What happened? Calm down; don't talk too fast. "

"There's no time to take it slow! The Immortal Dao Conference is about to begin! The fifteen ancient cultivators ambushed Big Sister Xi Lian, forced her to turn into a devil, and then pretended that they had no choice but to purge her! Thankfully, the Shu Sword Sect's sword spirit arrived in time and sealed her away. Amid the chaos, I managed to rescue Xiaomiao.

"The Immortal Dao Conference starts in half a day. Those ancient cultivators plan to use it to force every Daoist heritage to bow to them, allowing them to control the entire cultivation world!"

Wang Sheng's smile disappeared. The confident warmth on his face turned to icy resolve. "Is Xiaomiao hurt?"

"She's fine, but she's clearly shaken. She even declared that she'd avenge Big Sister. Don't worry, Fei Yu. I'll use my golden body to bring you ba—"

Before he could finish, Wang Sheng had already turned to his senior sister, whose eyes also burned with anger. He softly instructed, "I'll fly ahead. I'm faster; I'll reach them sooner. Follow me with Huai Jing."

Mu Wanxuan instinctively grabbed his arm. "Go together."

"This is an emergency. We have to get back to Earth as quickly as we can."

His gaze was so firm that she could only bite her lower lip and slowly let go. Before Huai Jing could say another word, Wang Sheng shot into the air. Pale, pure enchanted power surged and glowed around him brilliantly.

Within the light, a phantasm in the form of the Golden Crow shrieked. It spread its wings and wrapped them around Wang Sheng. He then sped toward the blue planet in the distance, a blazing tail of light trailing behind him.

"A manifestation of the Golden Crow? Was that Chun Yang—" Huai Jing stopped himself. He then sighed in relief and quietly put away the alms bowl.

Better to save what he could. His golden bone powder and golden body were precious treasures that could save lives in critical moments.

Beside him, Mu Wanxuan stepped onto Ice Crystal and chased after Wang Sheng. Huai Jing summoned a lotus platform, glanced once at the closed Moon Palace gate, and followed a short distance behind.

***

6:23 AM.

An old record player played elegant music in the background as Qin Yishen, who had just taken a bath, put on a sharp suit that he had treasured for years. His steps seemed uniquely light.

Soon, he left his top-floor office and headed to the command hall.

Having just clocked in at 6:00 AM, the technical staff still had tons of energy. They monitored the flow of qi across the qi meridians, observed the movements of the world's cultivator factions, and ensured that the Immortal Dao Conference would proceed smoothly.

Qin Yishen took his seat, which was reserved for him, and called Zhang Jiuqian over. Since she would be in charge of the command hall once he left, he carefully taught her how to handle the emergency protocols.

Afterward, he casually strolled through the hall. He greeted technicians, observed each station, and glanced at the monitors showing Mount Hua to pass the time. At 7:00 AM, he would board a private jet bound for Mount Hua, where he would represent the government at the Immortal Dao Conference... and usher in a new era.

The final stretch of waiting was difficult, but Qin Yishen showed no trace of impatience. He remained as composed and capable as always.

Five minutes before his departure, his private jet landed on the rooftop. A Special Affairs Unit agent walked over to him and reminded him that it was time to leave.

Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

All his years of planning and preparation had finally come to this moment. He was about to witness it all unfold.

The phone in Qin Yishen's shirt pocket vibrated. The Special Investigation Unit and the Special Affairs Unit also simultaneously received the same message.

In the corner, a young woman stood up and called out, "Captain, a new notice just came through; it's been automatically projected onto the main screen."

Qin Yishen looked up. A few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead as he turned pale.

Members of the Special Affairs Unit cheered and congratulated him from the side.

The official notice announced the personnel changes within the three special departments. It only had three paragraphs.

Chief Chi Ling, former head of the Cultivation Affairs Bureau, is hereby demoted for serious negligence of duty. Captain Qin Yishen of the Special Affairs Unit will be taking over her position.

Senior officers Mou Yue, Xing Tianzhang, and Chen Zhengdao are also appointed as vice captains of the Special Investigation Unit. They will manage all matters that fall under its jurisdiction.

Moreover, after careful deliberation, Chi Ling has been given a chance to redeem herself through service. She is hereby demoted to captain of the Special Affairs Unit. All of these changes are effective immediately.

Reading the signature at the bottom, Qin Yishen blurted out, "This isn't right! I built the Special Affairs Unit! Me!"

Old Xing, who had been dozing off in a corner, suddenly stood up and shouted, "Congratulations on your promotion, Captain Qin—no, Chief Qin!"

Applause filled the command hall. The officers of the Special Affairs Unit quickly realized what had happened.

Their captain had certainly been promoted.

For the past few days, Qin Yishen had been acting as the temporary chief. Now, he had been officially given the position, allowing him to supervise both the Special Affairs Unit and the Special Investigation Unit.

But the promotion was hollow. In truth, it stripped him of his authority. The chief position was nothing more than a title, after all. Though Chi Ling used it mainly to restrain the Special Affairs Unit, she only truly had authority over the Special Investigation Unit. The two captains were the ones who controlled the cultivator institutions, not the chief.

Qin Yishen gained a boost in reputation, a salary increase, and a front-row seat at meetings. In exchange, his voice of authority turned hollow, and his entire base of power was severed.

Chi Ling's protégés were now the three new vice captains of the Special Investigation Unit. Moreover, she would only require a few months to completely replace Qin Yishen's original team.

That's no demotion! So you never really left, Chi Ling! You've been here all along, watching everything!

With slightly trembling hands, Qin Yishen wiped the sweat from his forehead. He quickly steadied himself, stood up, and shouted, "Make sure the private jet is ready. I'm flying to the Immortal Dao Conference now!"

The command hall doors opened. A Special Affairs Unit officer rushed in and urgently called, "Chief, Captain Chi Ling and her team are on their way here from the top floor!"

"What? Where did they come from?"

"Your private jet, sir! They're already on this floor!"

Qin Yishen's pupils contracted sharply. Already well aware of what was about to happen, he turned toward the large screen, which showed the sunrise spreading over Mount Hua. He felt completely drained.

The command hall doors opened again, and a small woman stepped inside the same way she had left days ago.

All the staff instinctively stood as Chi Ling walked toward the central command platform. The members of the Special Investigation Unit looked on with faint joy, while those from the Special Affairs Unit showed quiet bitterness.

Behind Chi Ling stood Qing Yanzi in his Daoist robe and several Special Warfare Unit instructors in uniform, all with calm expressions.

"Chief Qin," Chi Ling called softly. "Aren't you going to check the message you just received?"

Qin Yishen gulped as he took out his phone and glanced at it. His bitter smile deepened.

"Don't keep the leaders waiting. They're expecting your promotion speech," Chi Ling whispered. She then subtly gestured at him.

Several Special Warfare Unit instructors immediately stepped forward. Zhang Zikuang saluted and cheerfully said, "We'll escort you to the conference, Chief Qin. Please turn off all communication devices for now."

Qin Yishen looked up at Chi Ling and once again wiped cold sweat from his forehead. Regaining his composure, he calmly asked, "How did I lose, Captain Chi Ling? Please tell me."

Chi Ling simply looked at him calmly.

Before Zhang Zikuang could urge him again, Qin Yishen handed over his phone, stood up, and allowed two talismans to be placed under his ribs. He then walked toward the exit. Four Special Warfare Unit instructors guarded him closely, their stance making the scene look like an escort as much as it did an arrest.