"Mu Liang, don't rush!"
Zhou Zhengde's shout stopped abruptly.
Wang Jixuan, carrying a car door and charging forward, was sent flying backward by a shot.
The Vajra Talisman and the blood-stopping charm lit up simultaneously. Wang Jixuan, reacting quickly enough, harshly kicked the ground as he landed and swung his body directly into the ditch on the other side of the main road, close to the direction of the sniper, using the terrain to save his life.
Bang!
A sniper bullet hit right next to Wang Jixuan's foot, missing his right foot by just half an inch.
Wang Jixuan brought his right hand together to form a sword finger, quickly pressing it on the wound on his left shoulder.
Even though the Vajra Talisman protected him and the car door reduced the impact, his left shoulder was still penetrated by the bullet, blasting off a chunk of flesh from the back of his shoulder.
The blood-stopping charm truly worked.
Excruciating pain surged through him.
He clenched his teeth, trying to shrink as much as possible into the foul-smelling mud, and glared at the other side of the ditch where a corner of the car door was shot through.
This thing looks so thick. Why can't it withstand a hit?
Wang Jixuan looked toward Zhou Zhengde's hiding place.
Bang!
Another gunshot sounded, and another hole appeared in the gas tank of the car Zhou Zhengde was leaning against.
It was almost destroyed.
The distant sniper was quickly changing the magazine.
"Mu Liang!"
Zhou Zhengde strained his voice, shouting ahead,
"Don't move! You can't outrun his reaction time! If they can get their hands on this kind of sniper rifle, they definitely can get night vision scopes and thermal imaging! Just hide there! Wait for the Silver Party to come and support us!"
Wang Jixuan didn't respond, tightly closing his eyes, enduring the severe pain in his body and the tremors in his Dao Heart.
'The Daoist has actually miscalculated.'
Although it was because he was unfamiliar with the material of these things, at this moment, he had lost the chance to approach and take out the enemy.
After all, his Dao Body had only just entered the Qi Refining Realm.
The Black Fire Gang didn't give him more time to cultivate.
The sound of the sniper rifle fired again, still aiming at the gas tank of the vehicle.
Zhou Zhengde and those few Silver Party fighters were now on a countdown to losing their lives.
If they left the cover of the car, they would be immediately sniped; if they didn't move away from the car, the gas tank would eventually be blown up by the enemy.
Almost an unsolvable checkmate.
'What can the Daoist still do? Such clever contraptions hold great power. If the Daoist had a Condensation Realm Dao Body, maybe he could withstand it, but it's not something he can contend with at this moment.'
'Ultimately, it's due to insufficient cultivation time.'
'Could this second life really end here...'
Wang Jixuan inexplicably felt a sense of helplessness. The severe pain in his body was somehow ignored, but his Dao Heart was bombarded by visions.
Those were the heart demons he dared not recall over the past twenty or so days, triggered by his current sense of helplessness.
It was his Heavenly Tribulation;
His failed Heavenly Tribulation.
...
"Mu Liang! Don't move!"
Zhou Zhengde's loud voice echoed within the ears of Lan Yuzai, who was in the bathroom of the hotel suite.
Startled, Lan Yuzai, not knowing where his strength came from, covered his injured face and staggered to his feet, walking to the window to look outside.
The sound of the sniper rifle made him shudder, and in the darkness across the street, he faintly saw the weak muzzle flash.
What's going on?
Did the old man get into trouble trying to save someone?
Lan Yuzai's throat quivered a few times, and he turned his head to run, but stopped after only a few steps, touching the paper talisman on his face, flashes of Wang Jixuan's gaze passing before his eyes.
Damn!
He had finally gained an impressive big brother!
Suddenly, a loud shout from a Silver Party member came from the street, "Is there anyone with a flare? Light up the sniper's location!"
A distant echo responded,
"Who the hell prepares that stuff in their own territory!"
Lan Yuzai thought of something, his bulging eyes nearly popping out; his breathing became erratic as he searched the dark room for something.
Flashlights!
They had bought several powerful flashlights before coming down!
These devices could only be used for a few minutes at maximum power, but with the long-range mode, they could illuminate far distances and also featured an instant flash function; the floodlight mode could light up a large area ahead.
Trembling, Lan Yuzai pulled out two unused flashlights, turned one on and covered the light with his hand, grabbed another two that they had used on their way down, and tied the four flashlights together using a nylon rope fastened with his belt, frantically adjusting their directions so that all four buttons were on the outside.
Then, Lan Yuzai approached the window and hid behind the wall, his breathing even more shaky.
He felt like he must be crazy!
Initially, he wanted to trick Mu Liang to the 49th Floor,
Then, for some unknown reason, he dismissed the idea, feeling that if he could master the technique of the sword finger, he could dominate in the Thirteenth Floor where guns were not allowed;
Now, he was even trying to help this big shot deal with the Black Fire Gang!
If the Black Fire gang found out... could he not just show his face? Just a flash! What could happen with just a flash!
"I'm freaking crazy! Crazy!"
He gritted his teeth, cursed loudly, and with his left eye close to the side of the window, he saw that faint muzzle flash again.
Lan Yuzai raised the four turned-on flashlights in his left hand and aimed directly at the area where the gunfire came from!
He shouted in a hoarse voice, "There! He's there! I've lit him up!"
Bang!
The light was suddenly cut off!
On the street, Zhou Zhengde who had just gotten up, did not have time to set up his gun and immediately ducked back down.
In the room, Lan Yuzai lay on the ground, his left arm severed cleanly at the elbow;
the wall was splattered with fresh blood.
The bound flashlights were still held in his left hand, but his left hand had fallen two meters away.
His left forearm was blown off, missing a significant portion, and one of the flashlights was damaged due to the severe impact.
Lan Yuzai let out a miserable scream, the intense pain and fear mixing together, causing his body to twist uncontrollably as he cried out in agony.
"Ah! My arm! Old man! My arm is gone! Ah—save me!"
On the street, Zhou Zhengde tightly closed his eyes, fresh blood continuously seeping from his stomach.
Outside the water ditch, Wang Jixuan lay in a pool of blood, staring blankly at the rocky cliff only a few dozen meters high.
Lan Yuzai's cries echoed in the darkness.
Wang Jixuan's eyelids trembled lightly and he suddenly shuddered, forcing himself to recite the Calming Incantation in an attempt to drive away the demons of his Dao Heart.
He had to do something.
He couldn't just sit and wait for death!
"Supreme Star, responsive without pause. Wisdom clear and brightness, mind and spirit tranquil."
Amidst the dark purple columns of lightning, the Daoist stood proud, soaked in blood, his broken sword hanging powerless…
"Supreme Star, responsive without pause. Wisdom clear and brightness, mind and spirit tranquil."
The endless dark invasion came, the pain of being torn by the heavenly tribulation persisted, and his residual soul drifted aimlessly in the darkness…
"Supreme Star, responsive without pause! Wisdom clear and brightness, mind and spirit tranquil!"
'Jixuan…'
Sect Leader?
Sect Leader Master?
…
'Jixuan, I don't think you are ready to face the Heavenly Tribulation.'
'Reporting to Sect Leader, the disciple has reached the Daoist Great Mahayana, how could I not face the Heavenly Tribulation?'
'Because you are not you… or rather, you don't know that you are you. Jixuan, you are a perfect Daoist, but not a fulfilled being. You have been secluded in the mountains for so long, stepping out of the mountain gate only twice. You enjoy the praises and amazement of your peers, only doing things within your grasp. Your cultivation has been too smooth; you have never experienced what it's like to fail, what limits are, or what hardship is. Unfortunately, the power of the Heavenly Tribulation is determined by a Daoist's limits; it requires you to break through your own limits. It is the one thing in cultivation that is beyond your control. You think you are ready, but you are far from adequately prepared.'
'Sect Leader, I will carefully manage every portion of my spiritual power.'
'That is merely technique, what I am talking about is this.'
'Dao Heart? I believe my Dao Heart is sufficiently steadfast.'
'Have you ever thought, if you were a mortal, what would you do and what kind of person would you be?'
'The disciple has never considered that; my heart is wholly dedicated to the Dao, with no other desires! I am willing to brave the tribulation with my body! Even in death, no regrets!'
'Jixuan… you are the most intelligent and talented disciple I have ever encountered. Yet now my own Dao Realm is no longer a match for you, and I can no longer guide you in your cultivation. But if you trust me as your Sect Leader, seal your cultivation, endure the trials of the mortal world. Merely ten years, ten years is enough!'
'There is vigor in a first effort but decline in the next; I fear it might damage my heart towards the Dao and subsequently fill me with dread. Sect Leader, the disciple will prepare now. There's no need for the sect to do anything more for me, thank you for your kind intentions.'
'Jixuan! Jixuan! The ways of the world are hard to grasp, only the self can be controlled! Immortal, immortal, to be an immortal, one must first be a person. You've suppressed even your nature for the sake of cultivation. Now, you are just a Daoist, just a Daoist! You truly are not prepared, Jixuan… alas, let's hope you can break the limits, ascend and become a true Immortal.'
…
Wang Jixuan forcefully closed his eyes, the images at the bottom of his heart rapidly dissipating.
His lips trembled slightly, revealing a bitter smile.
The Sect Leader was right.
In his pursuit of cultivation, he had even forgotten who he was, not showing up even when his parents passed away, failing as a son, and never learning how to be a person.
The ways of the world are hard to grasp, only the self can be controlled.
The ways of the world are hard to grasp, only the self can be controlled!
Wang Jixuan's pupils flared like two fireballs, his right hand forcefully slapped the earth, and he sprang to his feet!
The talismans on his body were almost ablaze, and a light red flame appeared on his forehead!
Moluo Heavenly Slaughter Technique!
Wang Jixuan dashed forward close to the ground, suddenly accelerating, so fast he almost left elusive shadows behind.
Whoosh—
A bullet nearly streaked past his face.
Wang Jixuan's eyes blazed rapidly, his body's bones, muscles, and inner organs undergoing extreme stress in an instant.
Not fast enough!
Still not fast enough!
Wang Jixuan advanced with quick steps, dodging as his movements became increasingly rapid, leaving the low building he had used as cover behind him!
Bang!
Wang Jixuan preemptively dodged to the left!
Once again, the bullet barely missed him!
On the other side, as Zhou Zhengde was contemplating his strategy, he suddenly heard someone nearby shout:
"He's rushing over!"
Zhou Zhengde looked up towards the third floor where the roof had a bright light source that was shaking—it was the same light from earlier!
That was!
"Rotten fish! Light! Can you give me light! Lan Yuzai!"
"Ah——"
Lan Yuzai had already climbed back to the window, the dim light covering his severed left arm suddenly dispersed!
The power of the blood-stopping charm was exhausted!
The pain was amplified dozens of times!
"I... must become awesome!"
He gritted his teeth and screamed, lying there, wielding a high-powered flashlight with his right hand, waving it wildly forward!
On the main road below!
Zhou Zhengde held his breath, letting the wound in his abdomen deepen and tear, he stood up, set up his rifle, and steadily aimed at the momentarily visible low roof, squinting his eyes and clinching his lips!
Two hundred and sixty-three meters away on the rooftop.
The sniper, calm to almost emotionless, instinctively aimed at the third-floor window of the small hotel and pulled the trigger accurately.
Bang!
Ding!
In the sniper Night Hawk's eightfold night scope, a burst of blood blossomed, and the disorderly shining light source was shattered.
A faint crack appeared on the bulletproof glass in front of Night Hawk, who was slightly surprised by the shooting precision of the person using a rifle on the street.
Luckily, as a retired elite Special Team member, Night Hawk had extremely rich combat survival experience; although it was a last-minute mission, he still brought adequate protective gear.
For instance, the bulletproof glass shield in front of him.
Night Hawk instinctively moved his muzzle, trying to lock onto the Spiritual Ability User whose speed had suddenly surged.
That must be a Spiritual Ability User...
That guy's physical strength far exceeded the limits of ordinary people.
Huh? Where is he?
Night Hawk paused, the night vision in his goggles lost track of the other party; according to his calculations, the other party should still be at a distance...
Whoosh!
A dark shadow suddenly swept across the goggles; Night Hawk almost instinctively squeezed the trigger, but the shadow had already disappeared!
He blankly looked up, seeing the figure standing beside him, the flickering black gleam in the other's eyes, and the tiny flame burning on the forehead.
Shua shua shua!
Along with multiple afterimages, Night Hawk's forehead was instantly plastered with eight or nine paper talismans.
Wang Jixuan clenched his five fingers and made a fierce fist!
'Explode for Daoist!'