Guidance

RUMBLE!!

This wasn't the sound of cannons, nor the collapse of buildings, but the thunderous roar of Zhao Jian, the Giant Elephant, charging in a frenzy. His already ferocious face, now coupled with the Giant Elephant Vajra Body, distorted with a sinister grin, his facial scars twisting and trembling as if he were a general in hell, devouring Hungry Ghosts.

With his Qi Cultivation perfected and the sheer tonnage of a dragon-elephant, Zhao Jian was a standout among the martial artists in terms of both explosive power and resilience.

The Hungry Ghosts before him were like scooters in front of a heavy-duty truck. They had barely appeared and hadn't even made a move before being sent flying by the savage, muscular bald man's grinning charge!

Geng Liangchen's [Hungry Ghost Scene] attempted to attack him, but was brutally and savagely knocked away by sheer force, as if nothing could stop him when he was charging.

Although he hadn't yet cultivated his spirit, Zhao Jian had already touched upon that threshold. Even if he couldn't use mental attacks, he could still passively defend. Moreover, he was naturally tough and thick-skinned, having witnessed all sorts of horrific tragedies while traveling far and wide. The effect of [Hungry Ghost Scene] was greatly reduced against him.

"Hehehehehe! Geng Liangchen!"

"Stop your little ghosts quickly!"

"If you ruin the Immortal Master's good deed, I'll twist your head off and present it to the Immortal Master as an apology!"

In the blink of an eye, this wall of flesh had reached the side of Geng Liangchen's hiding place. Zhao Jian, too lazy to go around, faced the brick wall and began digging into it with his hands like a demolition machine, as easily and comfortably as digging a beehive.

After breaking through the brick wall, Zhao Jian's grinning face was the first to push through.

"Hehe, Geng Liangchen, I'm here, I'm going to snap your..."

Then Zhao Jian couldn't laugh anymore.

Geng Liangchen was kneeling on the ground, clutching his head and trembling in pain. Beside him was Lan Yi, who had returned to his black, short hair. Lan Yi was currently activating his Colorless Eyes, meticulously scanning the out-of-control Geng Liangchen.

"Immortal Master, forgive me! I didn't know the Immortal Master was here! This martial man has disturbed the Immortal Master!" Zhao Jian's massive head squeezed into the room, and he quickly apologized with a smile, while cursing Lan Yi inwardly.

Damn Huo Yuanjia!

Why did he send himself here? Who knew what the Immortal Master and Geng Liangchen were doing here.

If it was something bad, he would definitely be in trouble. If it was something good... Heh, Geng Liangchen was already shaking like he had the chills, how could anything be good? He wished he hadn't seen anything.

Zhao Jian felt miserable! Huo Yuanjia had truly harmed him!

Geng Liangchen had turned himself into a Hungry Ghost.

His [Hungry Ghost Scene] cultivation was fast to master, but ultimately, it couldn't completely annihilate his humanity, achieve a state of detachment from self and world, and act without intention.

Lan Yi, who was overseeing the situation, sensed Geng Liangchen's loss of control and rushed over immediately.

Perfected Qi Cultivation couldn't be treated as a consumable at this stage; it couldn't be left to fend for itself.

"All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow. They are like dew drops, like lightning; thus they are to be contemplated." Lan Yi murmured, reciting his insights into Spirit Cultivation.

The insights of a top-tier psionic cultivator entered his mind and went straight to his soul.

Geng Liangchen, twitching on the ground, struggled between the Hungry Ghost and his human self. He felt his spirit instantly receive a vast, tranquil, and magnificent expanse like the starry sky. The direct mental communication was more shocking and inspiring than words, profoundly enlightening. Even a Hungry Ghost, faced with such depth and grandeur, such dazzling brilliance, would feel inferior, curl up, and be completely subdued.

Geng Liangchen immediately stopped twitching.

Even Zhao Jian, the brute, had a dazed look in his eyes, and his aura rapidly changed.

After an unknown amount of time.

Zhao Jian suddenly jolted awake from a hazy, forgotten dream. He subconsciously raised his hand, and only a visible black iron light hovered in his palm. This was his path of Spirit Cultivation, [Vajra King Contemplation], which was difficult to effectively use against martial artists of the same level, but its resistance to mental attacks was like an impenetrable fortress.

"Huh? I've cultivated my spirit."

"You idiot, you're so slow to break through to Spirit Cultivation, and I still have to watch over you to prevent you from going berserk and demolishing this street."

Geng Liangchen's voice sounded from the side. At this moment, the darkness behind his head covered half his face, making it look as if all his features had disappeared, leaving only a mouth that seemed to have been enlarged.

"Geng Liangchen, you've returned to normal?" Zhao Jian frowned. He felt that Geng Liangchen had become even colder, making him uncomfortable like the soil of a mass grave.

"The Immortal Master's guidance." Geng Liangchen's teeth were bared involuntarily as he smiled faintly.

"Hmm? The gunfire has stopped. Were all those Dongyang devils killed?" With a rumble, Zhao Jian, as he stood up, crushed the surrounding bricks and stones. His physique had grown several inches taller, and he now stood like a load-bearing wall in the room.

Geng Liangchen deliberately moved away from the muscular monster with disdain.

Spirit Cultivation Practitioners hated opponents like Zhao Jian.

It could be said that besides Lan Yi, no one else, even if they joined forces, could do much against Zhao Jian.

"The Dongyang people were killed long ago. The Immortal Master said there's no reason to just take a beating without fighting back, so he sent Master Huo and Zhao Sikong to the Dongyang concession to have a look around and seize the foreigners' arsenal." Geng Liangchen briefly explained what happened next.

After the Dongyang people were defeated.

There was no more decent resistance.

Huo Yuanjia and Zhao Sikong, two martial artists who had also broken through to Spirit Cultivation amidst slaughter and life-or-death crises, easily shattered the last desperate resistance of the Dongyang people who were holding grenades and shouting "Banzai!" They also captured the foreign observer groups who couldn't outrun the martial artists.

The martial artists had carried out Lan Yi's orders.

They left no survivors among the Dongyang devils who were covered in blood debt.

This was the first time in many years that the Xinghan people, who had endured endless humiliation on their own land, could hold their heads high with such pride! You have technology, we have divine skills; let's see who laughs last!

"Hiss, they actually sent Zhao Sikong over." Zhao Jian felt his teeth ache slightly.

His relative, Zhao Sikong, was originally the personal assassin for a gang boss in the bustling city. After being enlightened by Immortal Master Lan Yi, he decisively abandoned the darkness and embraced the light. Covered in blood, he presented the boss's head and received the Immortal Master's Bestowing Martial Arts.

Zhao Sikong had rarely made a move since surrendering to Lan Yi.

Due to the nature of his cultivation technique, he essentially acted as a shadow beside Lan Yi.

Zhao Sikong's few instances of taking action were deeply impressive. He harbored an extraordinary hatred for gangs and corrupt merchants. If Lan Yi hadn't intervened, the targets of his actions would have met gruesome deaths, easily evoking thoughts of sacrifice.

Now, Zhao Sikong was heading to the Dongyang concession.

Even with Huo Yuanjia watching over him, it was likely that a river of blood would still flow.

After all, Zhao Sikong had long wanted to cut into a thousand pieces the corrupt Dongyang merchants and the lawless ronin warriors within the Dongyang concession.

"The Immortal Master has given an order. Once you're awake, pick twenty men and come with me to Shili Pu," Geng Liangchen said with a serious expression.

"Why are we going to Shili Pu?"

"It wasn't specified. We're only told to cooperate with Chen Qimei's actions... I'd wager it's about the warships."