Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal

Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Good and Evil

The shift in mindset meant that Gu Jinlai did not rush on his journey at breakneck speed.

Although still moving at a sufficient pace, he did so knowing that a tough battle awaited at Haitian City, and he ensured that his speed would not affect the combat strength of the Demon God Guards and the Sword Heavy Artillery Unit.

As a result, by the time they arrived sixty li away from Haitian City, it was already the morning of the second day.

...

"Whoosh!"

In the void, two Mystic Bird Fighting Machines sped through the air like two real Divine Beast Xuan Birds.

Thanks to Zhang Taiping’s convenience of having slaughtered numerous flying demon birds, the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines encountered almost no airborne attacks while flying at full speed.

Even if there were...

For any demon bird below the Demon Demon King level, facing the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines was equivalent to courting death.

Even those of the Upper Level Great Demon rank among the flying birds were no exception.

The Fighting Machines quickly reached the airspace over Haitian City.

By that time, the outer walls of Haitian City had already been destroyed, and the interior was also heavily damaged, with thick smoke and fierce flames visible everywhere.

But...

Even though the outer city walls had been breached, the people of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect were still putting up a tough resistance at the core inner city, and fighting bloody battles with the demons in the alleys of the outer city.

However, the street battles between humans and demons...

Were extremely fierce to the utmost degree.

The whole city seemed to be dyed red with blood.

Seeing this, Gu Jinlai quickly made some calculations and without hesitation gave the command, "Sword Heavy Artillery Unit, follow my orders..."

Gu Jinlai quickly reported a set of coordinates and angles.

Meanwhile, his controlled Mystic Bird Fighting Machine swiftly swept across the city walls.

"Ratatatata!"

The sound of machine gun fire thundered through the void.

Soon after, the Sword Heavy Artillery Unit completed their alignment adjustments and, amid piercing screeches, shell after shell crossed the sixty li of void and swiftly struck the city walls and the areas in the outer city district near the walls, resulting in a series of deafening roars.

As these explosions and roars sounded, the cultivators trapped in Tianhai City were initially stunned but then seemed to understand what these sounds meant, and cheers like landslides and tsunamis burst from every corner.

The morale of the soldiers soared to its peak.

The precarious situation in Haitian City gradually stabilized.

In contrast to the demons...

Some of the demons seemed to recall the fear of being dominated by heavy artillery months ago under Yuntian City and began to panic and retreat.

Those demons that remained were clearly uneasy amid such thunderous explosions and roars.

Seeing this, the commanded Demon God Guards quickly formed lines, intercepting the fleeing demons.

This time, the Demon God Guards inevitably engaged in close-quarters combat with the demons.

...

The bombardment continued for the better half of the day.

The two Mystic Bird Fighting Machines controlled by Gu Jinlai emptied all their bullets.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of demons died by his hand, including quite a few Great Demons.

This battle should have continued in this deadlock, tragic state for an even longer time.

However, as Gu Chifeng, who had been at the Blue State Battlefield, took a shortcut through Jiangzhou State and rapidly arrived at the Haitian City battlefield, the addition of tens of thousands of Demon God Guards and Reserve Guards decisively secured the victory for Lingxiao City and the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect.

...

Several hours later.

Inner City.

At a defensive point outside the City Lord Mansion.

Gu Jinlai arrived with a group surrounding him, including Gu Qingmei, taking large strides.

And at this defensive point, Yu Xuanjing, leading his disciples in a blood-soaked battle, sat on the ground.

Exhausted, he glanced at the bodies piled up around him, then at the group led by Gu Jinlai who was approaching briskly, his voice hoarse, "You... why have you only just arrived..."

"Why have we only just arrived?"

Gu Jinlai looked at this Venerable Daoist Elder of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, "Don’t you know why we’ve only just arrived?"

Faced with sorrow, Yu Xuanjing was taken aback, then seemed to realize something, and his already pale face drained of any remaining color.

Then sure enough, he heard Gu Jinlai continue, "Your Yellow Heaven’s First Venerable Daoist Zhang Taiping still had the energy to strike at our Lingxiao City reinforcements. In my view, there was absolutely no need for us to come to the rescue."

A look of sorrow flashed in Yu Xuanjing’s eyes, but it was mostly despair.

He opened his mouth to say something but in the end...

He couldn’t utter a single word.

He knew very well that their Venerable Daoist Elder was fully capable of such actions.

In the eyes of the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect’s higher-ups, Lingxiao City has always been seen as a bad neighbor, greedily eyeing the territory they held in Yellow State.

Just as they viewed Star State with the same covetous eyes.

If Zhang Taiping, Venerable Daoist Zhang, had the chance to wield the powerful forces at a Devas level through the Power of Fate, he would definitely not hesitate to strike at this bad neighbor and deliver a fatal blow.

By doing so, with Star State in chaos and their own strength greatly weakened, the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect could lick its wounds and recover during this time.

Otherwise, after suffering two devastating calamities at the hands of Tianhe Demons, the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect would no longer have the strength to fend off this neighbor’s invasion. Then, not only would Yellow State be in jeopardy, but the continuation of their Yellow Heaven Dao Sect’s legacy would also be uncertain.

"Faced with devils, you were utterly defeated, but when it comes to backstabbing allies, you proceed without hesitation. If it weren’t for my unwillingness to watch millions of innocent people in Haitian City perish at the jaws of devils, based on the actions of your Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, I should have let you all be devoured by the demons."

Gu Jinlai sternly chastised.

Then, with a wave of his hand, "Take him away."

Gu Qingmei stepped forward personally and seized Yu Xuanjing.

Yu Xuanjing originally wanted to resist, but after suffering the backlash of Lucky Qi, and going through a night of bloodshed, he already lacked the strength at this moment.

Moreover, standing beside Gu Qingmei was Gu Jinlai himself, an existence with a physique comparable to an Upper-level Demon.

In the end...

He went limp, powerless, and allowed Gu Qingmei to escort him off in the direction of the City Lord Mansion.

Alongside him, there were originally more than a dozen Yellow Sky Dao Elders and protectors, but after hearing Gu Jinlai’s rebuke of Yu Xuanjing, they all lowered their heads in shame, not daring to utter a word.

The group entered the City Lord Mansion.

The City Lord Mansion was filled with injured personnel.

In addition, many members of Yellow Heaven Dao Sect were busy among them.

Gu Jinlai scanned the area, and soon saw the Sect Master of Yellow Heaven Dao Sect, who was currently the only remaining Primordial Spirit other than Yu Xuanjing.

"Zhang Lingjian."

Gu Jinlai called out loudly.

Zhang Lingjian, upon hearing Gu Jinlai’s shout, was startled and then abruptly stood up with a stern expression, appearing as if he was ready to righteously reprimand someone.

However, when he saw Yu Xuanjing being escorted over, his expression changed, and the anger dissipated instantly, turning into one of confusion, "Heavenly Monarch Gu, thank you for Lingxiao City’s timely assistance that allowed us to repel the demon attack. However... What is the meaning of this?"

"The fact that Zhang Taiping took advantage of the Power of Fate in Yellow State to ascend to Devas battle power and attacked our reinforcements is witnessed by all, so I am too lazy to explain further."

Gu Jinlai looked at Zhang Lingjian, "Because even if I provide ample evidence, you would still feel you have done no wrong. So instead, let me put it another way."

He moved forward, bringing an indescribable oppressive force with him, "Victors write history; do you understand?"

Zhang Lingjian was instantly silenced.

After a long while, he looked up at Gu Jinlai and scoffed coldly, "What, no longer playing the pretentious act?"

"Pretentious act? What do I have to pretend about?"

"Pretend to be a Saint; Pretend to be fair and just, merciful and right."

"What fairness and justice, what mercy and righteousness... You seem to have forgotten one thing. I come from the Purgatory Sect. What do you all call the Purgatory Sect? The Purgatory Demon Sect! The ways of the Demon Sect have always been about doing whatever one desires, about seeking sheer enjoyment. I think having all of you act according to my rules fits my requirements and disposition far better. Do you think this is an act?"

Gu Jinlai looked at Zhang Lingjian, "Compared with me, who openly admits to doing as I please, you are the ones who truly pretend. You pride yourselves on being Immortal Sects, grand and righteous, but your actions are meant to satisfy your own interests and desires. Tell me, who is really putting on a pretentious act?"

Zhang Lingjian opened his mouth to retort, but in the end, he said coldly, "The victor is king, the loser the bandit! Since you have won, what more can I say? In the end, it’s simply that my Yellow Heaven Dao Sect is not as skilled."

"So, even though you didn’t have enough strength, you repeatedly provoked opponents stronger than yourself, ultimately leading to the downfall of the entire Yellow Heaven Dao Sect. When it comes down to it, your tenure as Sect Master has indeed been quite fitting."

Gu Jinlai said, laughing.

"Provocation? I don’t think I did anything wrong. Once your Lingxiao City grows powerful enough, it will eventually unify Tian Nan, and sooner or later there will be a great battle between us."

Zhang Lingjian said.

"Yes, there will be a great battle sooner or later, but why is it that you from the Yellow Sky Sect are the first ones to jump out? After the incident at Dragon Sparrow Manor, logically, my next target should have been the Netherworld Sect, yet, impatiently, your Yellow Sky Sect leapt out. In the end, it’s because you, as the Sect Master, are incompetent and fail to understand the situation."

"I..."

Zhang Lingjian’s face changed, and it was a while before he said, "Everything I’ve done is for the future of the Yellow Sky Sect..."

"Indeed, so, to avoid the possibility of the Yellow Sky Sect being wiped out in the future, did you, as the Sect Master, take action first to ensure that the Yellow Sky Sect would be destroyed by your own hand? As long as the Yellow Sky Sect is extinguished by your hand, it doesn’t count as being destroyed by others, right?"

"You..."

Zhang Lingjian’s eyes widened: "You’re talking nonsense..."

"Nonsense?"

Gu Jinlai calmly said, "If I directly made a move against the Netherworld Sect, the principle of mutual dependence would inevitably lead other top forces to feel threatened for their own safety. If all of you were to unite, even with Lingxiao City’s strength as it is now, we wouldn’t be able to resist. Understanding this, what could I do? I have no choice but to suppress my ambitions and not easily provoke conflict. In time, the situation south of Tianhe would gradually stabilize, and even if I wished to act, the interconnected nature of things would prevent me from daring to do so. If luck wasn’t on my side, one of you with a silver tongue might form an alliance against Lingxiao City, our significant concern, and might even join forces to eliminate us first."

As he spoke, he added another sentence: "Even if you didn’t take action, the demons, who see our Lingxiao City as a major threat, would never let us off easily. However..."

Zhang Lingjian seemed to guess what Gu Jinlai was about to say next, his body trembling slightly.

"But now it’s different; your Yellow Sky Sect has made a move, and what’s more, the first to strike against us was one of your Yellow Sky Dao Elders."

Gu Jinlai spread his hands: "While we were nobly rushing to rescue the Yellow Sky Sect, a Yellow Sky Venerable Daoist Elder actually attacked me! What kind of ingratitude is that!? If we at Lingxiao City do not extinguish such a sect, what are we waiting for, New Year’s!? When we destroy the Yellow Sky Sect, the Netherworld Sect, Purgatory Sect, and Cold Moon Sect will not only not feel the slightest bit of trepidation but will likely cheer! After all, the actions of your Yellow Sky Sect have already fallen below moral standards."

"Gu Jinlai... you... is this all your scheming!?"

Zhang Lingjian glared at Gu Jinlai, his breathing becoming incredibly rapid.

"With the Yellow Sky Sect under our control, our Lingxiao City will effectively have the land of three states. With just a period of recuperation, even if the Purgatory Sect, Cold Moon Sect, and Netherworld Sect joined forces again, they would no longer have the power to oppose us. So... I should thank Sect Master Zhang for giving me a reason to occupy Yellow State."

Gu Jinlai looked at the Sect Master of the Yellow Sky Sect with a smile: "Thank you, Sect Master Zhang, for sending the Yellow Sky Sect to its grave while also laying the foundation for Lingxiao City’s unification of Tian Nan."

"No... it’s not like that! I, Zhang Lingjian, have worked tirelessly for the Yellow Sky Sect... I..."

Zhang Lingjian’s lips trembled, his whole body shaking, his face turning deathly pale.

"You truly are a good person."

Gu Jinlai smoothly added.

"No... it’s not like that..."

Zhang Lingjian flailed his hands, frantically trying to deny it.

Suddenly...

"Pfft!"

A stream of fresh blood violently sprayed from the mouth of Zhang Lingjian.

The next moment, the Sect Master of the Yellow Sky Sect fell backward with eyes wide open in reluctance.