Operation Zhu Xian

"Jiang... Lord Jiang, what should we do when these people are so eager to throw their lives away?"

"Then let them die!"

Jiang Lingfeng sneered, openly activating the public voice channel as he arrogantly glared at the other cultivators aboard the spirit vessel.

"I've spent decades, even centuries, in bitter cultivation—not to debate fairness with a bunch of worthless rogue cultivators..."

"A mere Nascent Soul cultivator, daring to suppress my realm? Hah, what a joke!"

"Fairness? My cultivation is fairness!"

"Today, not a single one of you will leave Tianren City alive!"

"Here, I am the Immortal!!"

Hearing these words, Zhong Yi's fury burned even hotter. He slammed the table and rose to his feet. "What kind of damned immortal are you? If you truly are one, you're nothing but a vile fiend! And we... slay immortals like you!!"

His declaration ignited the remaining hesitant cultivators, who roared in unison.

"Right! Slay the immortal!!"

"Damn it, let's blow him to hell!!"

"From now on, Tianren City will be called the Immortal's Grave!!"

"Slay the immortal! We slay immortals!!!"

More and more cultivators rallied to Zhong Yi's call.

The moment the spirit vessel passed over Tianren City,

nearly all 99 players aboard leaped down!

Countless figures plummeted through the vast sky, a breathtaking spectacle.

Zhong Yi surveyed the scene and shouted,

"Fellow Daoists, do not engage this vile cultivator head-on!"

"Open terrain puts us at a disadvantage. Land and seek cover in the complex urban areas first. Gather equipment and tools, then fight together!"

"Those landing in the east, regroup at the Immortal Shrine!!!"

Under Zhong Yi's leadership, six squads assembled around him, all awaiting his command.

"Old Zhong, how do we fight this battle?" Zhou Yue asked.

Zhong Yi's lack of combat skill was well-known,

but no one doubted his tactical genius.

"To keep it short... we need three types of people right now."

Zhong Yi took a deep breath and began rapid-fire orders.

"First... resources."

"High-tier weapons, high-tier armor, high-tier soul jades..."

"And grappling hooks—the more, the better."

His gaze then settled on Zhou Qiaoling from Li Moran's squad, and his expression eased slightly.

In Lu Ze's past life, she'd have been a top-tier treasure hunter.

"With Junior Sister Qiaoling here, this task falls to you!"

"Me...?" Zhou Qiaoling hesitated briefly before steeling herself under the determined gazes around her. "Alright! I'll do it!"

"Next, combat."

Zhong Yi glanced at Zhou Yue beside him, then at Li Moran standing protectively in front of Zhou Qiaoling, and exhaled in relief.

"With Old Zhou and Junior Sister Li here, the heavens favor us."

"All frontline fighters and Tianhai players, assemble..."

"And the Hú Táo players, come too."

"We're heading to the Tianren Shrine... to farm rage!"

This was the most critical part of Zhong Yi's "Slay the Immortal" plan.

Who was the deadliest threat outside?

The vile cultivator Tianhai after his transformation into the Vajra Buddha.

Once he assumed that form, ordinary blades would struggle to harm him, and anyone caught in his grip would perish instantly!

Worse, this cheat-enabled Vajra Buddha had a near-perfect capture rate.

They needed shields—players to block the golden palms and buy time.

Thus, Tianhai players had to transform.

The faster, the better!

In Naraka: Bladepoint, ultimate abilities required rage, which only accumulated through dealing or taking damage.

Without exploits, they'd never generate enough rage before dying.

So, trading blows with healers was their only option.

"Senior Brother Zhong, what about me?" Mu Yawen scratched his head curiously.

"Your mission is the most perilous..."

Zhong Yi solemnly gripped Mu Yawen's shoulder.

"Form a vanguard squad and buy us time to gather gear and rage—even if it costs your lives!"

This was the hardest task.

Mortal bodies versus cheaters?

The outcome was obvious.

But sacrifices had to be made.

The two vile cultivators outside knew Zhong Yi's group was scheming and were closing in fast.

Their squad had landed at Tianren Bridge and was advancing eastward.

Kill notifications flooded the upper-right corner.

The player count was plummeting.

"Leave it to me!"

Mu Yawen grinned, flashing white teeth.

He casually picked up a white-tier armor and a blue-tier greatsword, then strode outside.

A dozen cultivators followed without hesitation.

Zhong Yi watched the vanguard squad depart, his mind momentarily adrift.

His eyes burned with urgency as his rage bar slowly filled.

"Faster..."

"Just a little faster..."

---

Beneath Tianren Bridge, in the valley,

corpses littered the ground.

Black soul tombstones dotted the landscape.

Shattered weapons lay scattered everywhere.

Mu Yawen stood defiant, his eyes bloodshot, gripping a broken blue greatsword with zero durability.

Behind him, Li Jiujian stood bare-handed, glaring furiously.

"Hahaha... Elder of the Infinite Sword Sect, elite disciple of the Lingxiao Sect..."

"You've cultivated for decades, centuries, yet you stoop to stand with rogue cultivators? This is what you deserve!"

Jiang Lingfeng laughed maniacally.

He recognized Mu Yawen and Li Jiujian and deliberately spared them for humiliation.

"Watching you cower in the Immortal Shrine, only to send these trash to die?" Du Cheng taunted.

"We never planned to return," Mu Yawen spat through gritted teeth.

His only regret was that his brothers had already fallen.

"Those hiding won't return either."

Du Cheng pointed toward the distant shrine, then extended a golden rune-etched arm into thin air.

A Hú Táo player materialized in his grasp.

He smirked at Mu Yawen as if observing an insect.

"No."

Mu Yawen raised his shattered greatsword.

Its ruined frame groaned in protest.

"Senior Brother Zhong said we'd win."

"Pathetic ant—perish!"

Du Cheng snorted, impatient, and reached to crush Mu Yawen.

Then—

Two golden runic arms shot from opposite ends of the valley, slamming into Du Cheng.

One fist sent him stumbling back.

A hail of arrows rained down on the weak spot at the back of his neck.

"Junior Brother Mu!"

Zhong Yi, now in Vajra Buddha form, exhaled in relief.

"I'm late."

"Senior Brother Zhong!!"

Mu Yawen's heart leaped—then he frowned.

"Did... your punch just miss?"

"Ahem, details don't matter..."