Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal

Chapter 438: Chapter 434 Trap

Thunder Origin Sect, two hundred and thirty miles away from the city.

Although Wind and Rain City’s influence extends a thousand miles, in reality, beyond two hundred miles, the City Guard Army barely patrols.

Even though the safety here is a significant improvement from a thousand miles away, the possibility of encountering Devils is much higher than in other areas.

However, most of those living two hundred miles out are individuals without either significant abilities or backing.

Were it not for the law decreed by His Majesty the Emperor of the Holy Dynasty, prioritizing the safety of citizens’ lives above all, Wind and Rain City would hardly bother with these individuals who lack ability and resources.

Just as the death of an ordinary person might stir considerable discussion,

the sudden death of a vagrant in some corner goes unnoticed by everyone.

In the eyes of Wind and Rain City’s upper echelons, these people living two hundred miles from the city are those who lack any special abilities and struggle to sustain even themselves.

For this reason, Thunder Origin Sect established their Sect here, becoming a lifesaver for these people.

With their extremely scarce output, they tried every means to send their children to Thunder Origin Sect, trading for a chance to change their fate, their social standing, to stand out from the rest.

There was no choice; the Holy Dynasty provided free martial arts education, and if Thunder Origin Sect wanted to develop and ensure the continuation of their lineage, they had to offer this kind of protection in exchange for the dedicated service of these people.

"We have witnesses who saw Lei Dao bringing Devils into the Outer City District..."

All along the way, Fu Youguang kept explaining the case details to Gu Jinlai.

Gu Jinlai nodded, listening patiently.

The group passed through the Outer City District.

The farther away from the city, the sparser the buildings became.

By the time they had reached two hundred miles out, the area had become a cluster of buildings resembling numerous villages, with dozens of houses grouped together for warmth and crisis response.

Surrounding the houses were vast fields.

Despite the Heavenly Master Hall of the Holy Dynasty having created numerous high-yield foods, someone still had to cultivate them.

These cultivators did the hardest work, faced the greatest risks, yet they sustained tens of millions of people in the Inner City of Wind and Rain City.

"Up ahead is Thunder Origin Sect. With Lei Dao, Lei Que, and Bian Shouxin, the three Martial Kings of Thunder Origin Sect offering protection, it has attracted quite a number of residents to live in the vicinity. Most of the disciples recruited by Thunder Origin Sect each year are chosen from the nearby area," said Fu Youguang, pointing ahead.

There was a mountain range only a few hundred meters tall ahead.

At its foot was a small town with a population of about tens of thousands.

And on the mountain was a cluster of buildings, the entrance of Thunder Origin Sect.

Gu Jinlai nodded.

But his gaze shifted to Fu Youguang and he didn’t say anything.

He simply followed Fu Youguang up the mountain and entered Thunder Origin Sect.

Upon arriving, surprisingly, he encountered no obstruction on his way.

It wasn’t until he reached the square in front of the main hall that Lei Dao, with a group of followers, came out to greet him: "Is this District Master Gu in person? District Master Gu’s presence brings glory to Thunder Origin Sect..."

"No need for those words."

Gu Jinlai spoke calmly.

He turned to Fu Youguang, "What benefits did they give you to lure me here?"

Fu Youguang was taken aback, his eyes flickering, "District Master, what are you talking about? I don’t quite understand..."

"You understand," Gu Jinlai said, then raised his voice, "I’m already here, aren’t you going to reveal yourselves?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of figures revealed themselves.

Subsequently, outside Thunder Origin Sect, rays of light began to rise and after a series of crisscrossing, they formed a huge protective Formation, enveloping the core areas of the Sect, the main hall, and the square, and blocking all transmission of images and information.

As the rays rose, more figures revealed themselves.

In addition to the other two Martial Kings of Thunder Origin Sect, Lei Que, and Bian Shouxin, there were also the three Martial Kings of the Zhang Family, Zhang Zhongshan, Zhang Guangming, and Zhang Guanghua.

After these individuals appeared, three more figures arrived at the scene—one in front and two behind.

Suddenly there was a Devas and two Martial Kings.

"Bai Fengyu, Bai Ziyu," Gu Jinlai called out the names of the two individuals.

Then his gaze rested on another Martial King.

After a moment of contemplation, he figured out something, "The Out-of-Control that the Bai Family hide? Guang Ye?"

Beyond these individuals, he also sensed a large number of experts emerging outside the great hall.

In addition to Martial Sect members, there were also dozens of Primordial Spirit Monarchs.

They were positioned at the edge of the Formation, not moving closer.

Clearly, their purpose was to prevent Gu Jinlai from escaping.

"One High-level Devas, eight Martial Kings... among them a Peak Martial King, a Top Martial King, two High-level Martial Kings..."

Gu Jinlai counted, "To take me down, you’ve really set a big trap."

"Wan Tianlie himself wasn’t much weaker than a High-level Martial King in combat. Since you killed him, you must at least be as strong as a Top Martial King. But to ensure absolute certainty, we treated you as a Peak Martial King!" Bai Fengyu stepped forward, speaking coldly: "To take down a Peak Martial King, we need at least three of the same level of experts. We couldn’t gather three Peak Martial Kings, but I have cultivated Divine Skills, my combat ability is no less than that of a Peak Martial King, Zhang Family Head himself is a Peak Martial King, and with Top Martial King Guang Ye, High-level Martial Kings Zhang Yuhua, Lei Dao, and others... fully equal to a Peak Martial King. Only after making these fail-safe preparations could we truly make a move to surround and kill you, to strike you down in one blow."

"The lineup is indeed powerful enough to take down a Peak Martial King."

Gu Jinlai nodded, his gaze falling upon Lei Dao, "Why would your Thunder Origin Sect wade into these muddy waters?"

"Just doing someone a favor," Lei Dao said indifferently.

"Just doing someone a favor..." Gu Jinlai looked at Lei Dao, wondering who could have the influence to command the Sect Master of the Thunder Origin Sect.

"The Fang Family?"

At this moment, Fu Youguang’s figure flashed rapidly, quickly distancing himself from Gu Jinlai.

Only after retreating to the side of the Thunder Origin Sect did he let out a slight sigh of relief.

"District Master Gu, don’t blame me. The one to blame is yourself for the shocking things you’ve done recently," Fu Youguang said.

His eyes on Gu Jinlai were complex, "You want to re-establish order within the Law Enforcement Court, and your intention is good, but your methods are too radical. You’ve offended everyone... You are a Martial King, even a Peak Martial King. Even if this reform fails in the end, you can just walk away. But for us... when the time comes to settle scores after the fall, what awaits us will be a fate from which we will never recover..."

"So, you’ve betrayed me?" Gu Jinlai said.

"What is betrayal? The wise adapt," said Zhang Zhongshan, the mightiest of the Zhang Family, stepping forward with the force of a Peak Martial King. "Gu Jinlai, you’ve been acting against the tide, your methods brutal. You’ve drawn the ire of heaven and men in the Southeast Outer City District, and anyone can see that continuing this way will only lead to your self-destruction. In such a situation, it’s only normal for Master Fu to refuse to wallow in the mire with you and to repent in time."

"I thought that after demonstrating strength comparable to that of a Peak Martial King, the Zhang Family would swallow their pride and let things slide. I didn’t expect to find you waiting here."

Gu Jinlai spoke, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Whatever crimes you have committed, I believe you know them even more clearly than we do. As the Dean of the Law Enforcement Court, I enforce the law impartially. What is wrong with that?"

"Impartial enforcement? Wasn’t it just to seize our resources and fill your own pockets? Don’t think we don’t know where the resources confiscated from our families have gone! Impartial enforcement, my foot!" Bai Ziyu cursed loudly.

"That’s enough, don’t waste time with him," Bai Fengyu spoke indifferently, "When the heavens want to destroy a man, they first make him mad. He has rampaged and plundered in the Southeast Outer City District for the better part of a month. It’s time for him to pay the price for his actions."

As he spoke, his figure soared into the air.

The other eight Martial Kings exchanged glances, no longer wasting time, each revealing their True Bodies.

Instantly, the eight of them transformed into titans, their terrifying aura dominating the square, whipping up a storm and moving mightily toward Gu Jinlai.

"Good timing."

Gu Jinlai clutched the Supreme Grade Spirit Artifact he had named Cheng Ying Sword after confiscation; his figure began to swell: "A High-level Deva with Divine Skills and eight Martial Kings, including one Peak Martial King and one Top Martial King... I hope you all don’t disappoint me."

In the next moment, his body, which radiated golden light, seemed to thunder with the roar of thunder.

Charged with lightning, his Cheng Ying Sword let out a brilliant electrical light, transforming into a Thunder Sword, shooting toward Bai Fengyu in the sky like lightning.

Just as Bai Fengyu, who had rushed into the void and was preparing to wield Divine Skills, sensed danger, his whole body went cold with dread.

Facing Gu Jinlai, a Peak Martial King, he had not underestimated the threat at all.

Under such deadly stimulation, he dodged reflexively with utmost speed.

But the Thunder Sword was too fast.

Although it wasn’t nearly at lightspeed like the Thunder Staff, to cover the distance of less than a kilometer between them, it still took only an instant.

The sword struck, it hit Bai Fengyu’s body, and almost immediately, the brilliance of the Supreme Grade Spirit Armor flickered on him.

Right as his Spirit Armor was penetrated by the powerful force imbued in the Thunder Sword and further impaled his shoulder, blasting him away, he realized in horror...

He had been struck by the sword!?

He had dodged the second he perceived the imminent threat through the prescience that came with his spiritually elevated senses, yet he was still pierced through the shoulder by that sword!?

If he had hesitated even slightly...

Or if his dodging had been even a bit slower...

Cold sweat streamed down Bai Fengyu’s forehead.

"Sizzle!"

Before Bai Fengyu could recover from the close call, electrical light flickered, and Gu Jinlai’s figure shot into the void as if catapulted by an electromagnetic force.

The sheer speed...

"Not good!" Bai Fengyu’s complexion turned drastically as he made a hasty retreat skyward, seemingly attempting a counterattack.

But just as he planned to act, he found that most of his body was completely paralyzed; not only were his Divine Skills no longer an option for retaliation, but even the circulation of True Qi within him became incredibly sluggish.

This speed...

This effect...

"The Thunder Staff!?"

A Divine Skill—the Thunder Staff—wielded by Gu Jinlai, a Martial King!?

"How could this be possible!?"

"Boom!"

As he identified Gu Jinlai’s Divine Skill, a roar of overwhelming Fist Force carrying the fierceness of thunderous force, like a storm, engulfed him.