World’s No. 1 Swordsman

The Sakura Island delegation was the first to leave.

Once their flight was arranged, the group quickly departed with gloomy expressions and bandages all over. The Hua Republic authorities did not make things difficult for them. Though they had already blacklisted Okamoto Nichikawa, no immediate action was taken against him since he could be used to catch a bigger fish later. That was also why a copy of the sparring footage was still handed to them on their way out.

Soon after, Wang Sheng's solo battle against over ten Sakura Island cultivators was edited into three ten-second clips and posted on the Righteous-Qi Alliance's forum.

In particular, the moment when Wang Sheng stood over several fallen opponents and admitted defeat made many senior Daoists see the young sword cultivator in a new light.

Wang Sheng felt nothing special about it. The Special Investigation Unit had been handling the packaging and promotion of him and his master-disciple group for quite some time now. He still couldn't figure out what good this so-called "reputation" was supposed to do for him.

To freeload meals and lodging from the major sects?

That would be too much of a disgrace to their forefathers.

Once the Jinta and Gelan delegations also left on their respective charter flights, the brief exchange meeting came to a smooth close.

However, Dale Cecil of the Gelan delegation, the blonde girl with near-perfect looks, actually stayed behind. Not only did she remain, but she even gained the opportunity to study in a branch of the Special Investigation Unit, which left Wang Sheng somewhat puzzled.

Of course, she wasn't given any special Special Investigation Unit permissions or access. Instead, she served more like a journalist, merely observing and recording daily routines without any contact with official documents.

Wang Sheng and the others didn't know why the higher-ups allowed her to stay. Perhaps there was some cooperation involved.

Gelan seemed to be interested in learning from the Hua Republic's successful experience, and Dale Cecil likely had a complicated background. She was said to be a priestess skilled in exorcism and shamanistic blessings. Moreover, she was reportedly stronger than even Shi Qianzhang and Liu Yunzhi.

After Dale Cecil added Wang Sheng as a friend, she managed to send over thirty messages within just one hour, even though he only responded with little enthusiasm.

His phone buzzed every minute or two...

If she had been talking about important matters, Wang Sheng would have found it understandable. However, it turned out she was simply practicing ancient Hua language grammar.

It gave Wang Sheng a strong urge to block her.

What does she take me for? Some uneducated rube?

If he were disturbed like this during meditation, he couldn't imagine how much time would be wasted.

Naturally, Wang Sheng wasn't naive enough to think Dale Cecil had taken a liking to him. With Mu Wanxuan by his side, he felt nothing at all. Girls this clever were usually trying to achieve some purpose by getting close to him.

Wang Sheng took screenshots of Dale Cecil's messages and posted them in their five-person group chat, tagging Liu Yunzhi.

Wang Sheng: Brother Liu, any interest in teaching this girl ancient grammar?

Liu Yunzhi, who was resting in his hotel room after the noon meeting, quickly sent a voice message.

—You're on your own, bud.

Shi Qianzhang sent one as well.

—Could she be trying to extract sword cultivation techniques from us cultivators of the Hua Republic through chatting with you?

Soon after, Huai Jing joined in.

—Amitabha, I'm feeling bored. How about we go to Fei Yu's room and liven things up?

Mu Wanxuan, Liu Yunzhi, and Shi Qianzhang agreed quickly. They gave Wang Sheng, who intended to meditate, not even a single chance to refuse.

Soon, the five gathered in Wang Sheng's room again. Huai Jing then mysteriously pulled out and unwrapped a black box—a vintage tabletop card game that had once been popular years ago.

The five sat in a circle on the bed and began a round of psychological warfare and "bloody combat."

Shi Qianzhang grinned. "Brother Sheng, are you and Mu Wanxuan heading back to the mountains for secluded cultivation, or are you going to fight corrupt cultivators? If it's the latter, take me along. Master says I'm at the stage of yearning for movement in stillness. I should go chat about life with those corrupt cultivators."

Huaijing smiled slightly. "Amitabha.You're not strong enough yet, Daoist Qianzhang. Unlike us, corrupt cultivators don't just spar. Your flying talismans have too many flaws, too. If they've got any bow-type artifacts, you'll be meeting the Buddha in a few shots."

"Why would you say such harsh truths, you damn monk?!" Shi Qianzhang rolled his eyes. "If I go anywhere, it'll be the Heavenly Court, not your Western Paradise."

Liu Yunzhi was truly speechless. He casually dealt one health point of damage to the character Shi Qianzhang was playing. "The Buddhist master is just giving you a fair warning. With your foul mouth and twitchy hands, a corrupt cultivator would wipe you out in an instant."

Shi Qianzhang glared and snapped at him, "Are you blind, Little Liu? I'm playing as the lord! Are you a loyalist planning to rebel?"

"If I serve you as my lord, then when better to rebel than now?" Liu Yunzhi sneered coldly.

Playing the traitor beside them, Mu Wanxuan smiled confidently, sensing her victory was near.

Wang Sheng said, "What comes next depends on my master's arrangements. If Huai Jing is not in a hurry to cultivate, you can stay for a day or two. A major event is about to unfold. These past few months, I've rushed to raise my cultivation realm just so I can play a greater role in what's coming."

Shi Qianzhang blinked. "What major event, Brother Sheng?"

"Please keep it a secret," Wang Sheng said as his phone buzzed twice again. He took it out and glanced at the new messages, frowning slightly.

Shi Qianzhang immediately craned his neck to peek. "Aw,did Little Dale send those?"

Liu Yunzhi said, "No need to reply. After a few more messages, she'll most likely stop."

"Right, Little Liu." Shi Qianzhang nodded in agreement. "You're experienced with this kind of thing. You must've had at least a thousand cases like this over the years. Many fairy hearts in the cultivation world must have been wasted on the likes of you.Tsk."

Liu Yunzhi silently played another kill card[1], making Shi Qianzhang tear up.

"Among the countless disturbances of the mortal world, the root of all calamities lies in the word 'emotion,'" Huai Jing commented.

Shi Qianzhang replied, "I know, 'lust is emptiness, emptiness is lust,' right?"

"That phrase doesn't refer specifically to matters between men and women," Huai Jing corrected in a serious tone. "It comes from thePrajnaparamita Heart Sutra,introduced by Master Xuanzang..."

Shi Qianzhang's eyes lit up. "Xuanzang? SoJourney to the Westis real?"

Wang Sheng laughed helplessly. As the conversation veered off track, he could only sigh and quietly mutter, "This poor Daoist needs to focus on cultivation."

He then set Dale Cecil's chat on mute.

Mu Wanxuan took a peek at Wang Sheng's hands. Noticing it, Wang Sheng immediately handed her the phone, which made her blink. She had only wanted to sneak a glance at his cards!

The five spent the entire afternoon playing cards in Wang Sheng's hotel room. Shi Qianzhang already had several tally marks drawn on his face by the time Mou Yue found them.

When she saw these five so-called "elite representatives" of the Hua Republic's cultivation world for the international exchange meeting huddled around a pile of playing cards, laughing and fooling around, Mou Yue visibly froze.

"Uuuh...I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"Not at all. We were just messing around." Shi Qianzhang quickly jumped aside as if he'd been granted amnesty.

Mu Wanxuan gracefully settled herself in a nearby seat, instantly transforming into a dignified senior sister who had clearly not taken part in any of this nonsense.

Noticing Mou Yue seemed to have something she wanted to say but was holding back, Wang Sheng asked, "Is it something inconvenient to say here?"

Mou Yue nodded slightly. "Daoist Liu and Daoist Shi aren't part of the operation plan..."

"Oh. Please excuse us," Liu Yunzhi replied with a smile, while Shi Qianzhang licked his lips with visible reluctance.

"That won't be necessary," Mou Yue said quickly. "Your masters will be joining this operation as well. However, I need all five of you to hand over your phones first."

Mu Wanxuan's brow furrowed slightly, her expression filled with hesitation.

"Fairy Bu Yu, please don't be worried. I'll guard your phone with my life."

"Thank you."

Only then did Mu Wanxuan hand over her phone. The other four were far more casual about it, simply turning off their devices and handing them to Mou Yue. Shi Qianzhang even eagerly fetched a chair for her.

Mou Yue thanked him, then began a brief explanation of the upcoming plan. Since the entire hotel was under the control of the Special Investigation Unit, she could speak freely and without fear of eavesdropping.

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan were already familiar with the plan. After all, Wang Sheng was the one who had proposed it. What they failed to expect was how thoroughly the investigation team had prepared.

Huai Jing, Liu Yunzhi, and Shi Qianzhang were clearly caught off guard by the fact that they planned to use the ancient devil sealed in the Ziyan Temple as bait. Through online publicity and rumor-spreading tactics, they would make it seem as if a major battle had broken out at the Ziyan Temple, dealing heavy casualties to righteous cultivators. This would lure corrupt cultivators to reveal themselves.

Mou Yue explained, "After spending so much time in preparation, all the groundwork for this plan is finally complete. We're now at its most crucial phase: forcing the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect into the open. Our recent full-scale suppression efforts should have already put considerable pressure on them. In the next few days, a nationwide operation to purge corrupt cultivators will begin, and at that critical moment, chaos will erupt at the Ziyan Temple."

She glanced at Wang Sheng. "According to the plan, Fairy Bu Yu, Daoist Master Fei Yu, and Buddhist Master Huai Jing, you three will travel to Shu to participate in the operation against the corrupt cultivators. They will then send a request for backup, and you'll be the first group dispatched to the Ziyan Temple.

"If you join now, Daoist Master Liu and Daoist Master Shi, the overall plan won't change. However, you five must stay together at all times. It's not that we don't trust you; we just can't afford any mistakes in this operation."

"Understood," Liu Yunzhi said. "As part of something so important, it's our duty to give it everything we've got."

Shi Qianzhang scratched his head. "I was thinking of skipping out at first, but since it's against the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect, count me in. We're practically mortal enemies by now. I might not be of much use, but I can still whip up a few hundred talismans for Brother Sheng."

"Amitabha," Huai Jing said. "I will do my best as well."

Wang Sheng asked when they were expected to depart, and Mou Yue was just about to answer when her phone rang. After the call, her expression became visibly complicated.

"I think we'll have to tweak our plan just a little."

Wang Sheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. There always seemed to be some hiccup with anything important.

Mou Yue quickly explained, "The experts at the research institute want to speak with you and Fairy Bu Yu in person. The captain has been holding them off for you, but now they've escalated the matter to the higher-ups. What do you think, Daoist Master Wang?"

"Let's go. There is no avoiding the inevitable." Wang Sheng stood up. "Let's just be quick about it. I'd rather not delay the purge operation."

There was no way he would miss this battle.

1. the kill card does one damage to whoever it's played against ☜