Free Web NovelChapter 24: Chapter 24: Evil Cult Stronghold
"Dark Force... When did he reach it?"
Xu Zhengxiong looked at Fang Xing, who was standing to the side.
If Shen Ye hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t have believed that Fang Xing had already stepped into the Dark Force realm.
From Bright Force to Dark Force, it was a leap across a Dragon Gate!
And crossing that Dragon Gate was an extraordinary feat!
Especially for someone as young as Fang Xing, not even nineteen years old.
His potential was incomparable to that of an ordinary person.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a Martial Dao genius.
Under the gazes of so many pairs of eyes, Fang Xing remained calm.
’His cultivation being exposed will have consequences, but what’s meant to happen will happen sooner or later.’
’It’s just happening a bit earlier than expected.’
"You... How can you possibly be a Dark Force Martial Artist?!"
Yang Bo snapped back to his senses, his eyes wide as he stared at him, still in disbelief.
Fang Xing paid him no mind, not even sparing him a glance.
’If Yang Bo weren’t a Constable, I might have found a chance to kill the bastard already.’
"Lord Zhang, have the others withdraw. This matter is to be kept secret and must not be publicized before the mission is over," Shen Ye said lightly.
"As Lord Shen commands." Zhang Chen nodded and promptly had the others leave.
Yang Bo was now wide awake. He looked at Shen Ye and said, "Lord Shen, I misjudged. Please, my lord, give me a chance."
He had intended to have his own men join, but he never would have imagined that Fang Xing was already a Dark Force Martial Artist.
This was far beyond his expectations.
"That won’t be necessary. Four people are enough. You may leave," Shen Ye said coldly.
"Lord Shen..."
"Do you not understand?" Just as Yang Bo was about to say more, a majestic aura suddenly erupted from Shen Ye. The very air seemed to freeze.
The immense pressure swept over him, and Yang Bo’s face instantly turned the color of pig’s liver.
Feeling that overwhelmingly powerful presence, Yang Bo didn’t dare say another word and hastily fled the main hall.
The majestic aura around Shen Ye instantly dissipated, and he returned to normal.
’Neutralizing Force... He could probably defeat me with one hand.’ A chill went down Fang Xing’s spine.
Even without a direct confrontation, just from that burst of aura, he felt an immense sense of pressure.
The Foundation Establishment Three Realms, three Dragon Gates!
At this moment, the difference was on full display.
The gap between Dark Force and Neutralizing Force was several times greater than the gap between Bright Force and Dark Force.
—
After the others had left, only Fang Xing’s group, the Deputy Magistrate, and the County Magistrate remained in the hall.
"Lord Shen, I won’t disturb you any longer. If you need anything, I will do my utmost to cooperate," Zhang Chen said with a smile, looking at Shen Ye.
Shen Ye nodded. Afterward, Zhang Chen and Lin Zheng also left the hall.
In the hall, only five people remained.
Shen Ye swept his gaze over them and took out a folded report from his robes. "This contains information about the mission. Take a look and commit it to memory."
Hearing this, the group took the report and passed it around.
"So it really is in Bai Chao Village..."
Fang Xing carefully read the contents of the report. It detailed information about a stronghold of the Fire Worship Sect.
According to the document, this stronghold was located in a temple within Bai Chao Village’s territory.
Lingyuan Temple!
On the surface, it was a temple, but in reality, it was a stronghold for an Evil Cult.
Information on the temple’s Abbot, head monk, and several other individuals was recorded inside.
Publicly, they were all monks, but their true identities were members of the Evil Cult.
The report detailed the situation within Lingyuan Temple very clearly.
After reading it, everyone quickly understood.
Shen Ye took back the report and looked at Fang Xing and the others. "The operation must be covert, without attracting attention. Go change your clothes, then follow me out of the city. I’ll give you half an hour. We’ll gather at the city gate."
The men nodded and left one after another.
Returning home, Fang Xing changed into a gray martial artist’s uniform and headed for the city gate.
Half an hour passed quickly, and Fang Xing’s group met at the city gate.
After leaving the city, the group proceeded toward Bai Chao Village.
...
Bai Chao Village was located over ten miles from Qingshan County Town.
It was the foremost village in Qingshan County.
It wasn’t until 1:30 PM that Fang Xing’s party arrived in Bai Chao Village.
In a small, abandoned courtyard in Bai Chao Village, Fang Xing’s party appeared.
Shen Ye went straight to a dilapidated side room in the back of the courtyard and quickly retrieved several weapons.
Four long sabers!
"One of these weapons for each of you," Shen Ye said.
The men nodded.
They each took a saber.
The long sabers were heavy, their blades sharp.
The four weapons seemed brand new.
After they had their weapons, Shen Ye brought out a bundle from the side room. Inside was some dry food.
Black meat jerky and some coarse flatbread.
"The mission begins after dark," Shen Ye said. "Eat something first, fill your stomachs."
Hearing this, the men exchanged glances, and Chen Shan couldn’t help but ask, "My lord, aren’t we heading directly to Lingyuan Temple?"
Shen Ye glanced up at him and said, "Lingyuan Temple is heavily guarded. We can’t risk alerting the enemy. Moving at night is safer."
Hearing this, Chen Shan nodded and said no more.
The group ate the jerky and coarse flatbread, filling their stomachs.
Shen Ye’s preparations were thorough; he even had waterskins.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group left the courtyard.
Around 3:00 PM, the group reached a hillside in Bai Chao Village.
Standing on the hillside, their gazes turned to a nearby mountain peak.
A temple was built on the peak.
And this temple was Lingyuan Temple.
Locally, it was a rather popular temple with a good number of worshipers who came to burn incense and pray.
If they hadn’t seen Shen Ye’s report, no one would have ever known that this seemingly prosperous temple was actually an Evil Cult’s stronghold. freēwebnovel.com
Gazing at Lingyuan Temple on the distant peak, Shen Ye laid out the specific plan of action.
Fang Xing and the others were tasked with guarding the temple’s exits.
Fang Xing was responsible for the exit on the back mountain, while Xu Zhengxiong and the others would cover the front exit.
Once Shen Ye entered Lingyuan Temple, they would be responsible for eliminating anyone who tried to escape.
Their main task was to prevent any fish from slipping through the net.
Looking at them, Shen Ye’s expression turned serious. "Follow the plan. As long as there are no surprises, it will be completed smoothly. Is everyone clear?"
The men nodded.
Shen Ye looked at them and said, "Since you’re clear, we’ll wait for nightfall to move."
With that, Shen Ye went to a tree, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest and meditate.
Seeing this, the others also found places to conceal themselves.
Closing his eyes, Fang Xing circulated the Inner Cultivation Method of his Demon Suppression Skill, continuously refining his Inner Strength.
...
Night fell quickly.
Countless stars dotted the night sky.
In the woods on the hillside, Shen Ye slowly rose to his feet, and Fang Xing and the others immediately stood up as well.
His gaze fixed on the lit-up Lingyuan Temple in the distance, Shen Ye swept his eyes over his men. "Move out!"
With that, Shen Ye’s steps were like the wind as he headed toward the mountain where Lingyuan Temple stood, with Fang Xing and the others close behind.
In the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the party arrived outside Lingyuan Temple.
The night was deep, bathed in starlight.
Shen Ye gave a hand signal, and the group began to move according to the plan.
Fang Xing arrived at the entrance to Lingyuan Temple’s back mountain, on a winding, twisting path.
Shrouded by the night, he hid like a ghost.
This mountain path was the only exit from the back of the mountain.
His task: guard the rear exit.
Fang Xing gripped his saber in one hand, his eyes fixed on the lit-up Lingyuan Temple.
His nerves were taut. He felt a mix of tension and a hint of anticipation.
He was actually hoping a few fish would slip through the net.
That way, by killing Martial Artists, he could gain Enhancement Points.
A single Bright Force Martial Artist was worth a full fifty Enhancement Points.
Even with his current rate of accumulation, it would take him more than ten days to gather fifty Enhancement Points.
Killing a Martial Artist was much, much faster.
