Chapter 156: Drawing the Sword

Chapter 156: Drawing the Sword

"The ten Red Cloud Swordsmen will be divided into two groups to enter the Immortal City. You're in the second group and will depart in an hour," Zhou Yishang said while glancing at the time. "Go for your disguise first."

Ji Xinghuo left the office and made his way to the Special Service Department.

Already present were four Swordsmen—two men and two women. Each of them exuded an aura that screamed they were not to be trifled with; they were at least super-beings with formidable strength.

All four were Red Cloud Swordsmen.

Ji Xinghuo only recognized Ling Yufei among them. He nodded at her before lying down on the operating table, awaiting the plastic surgeon to begin his disguise.

"You're joining this mission too?" Ling Yufei asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Mhm," Ji Xinghuo acknowledged.

"Solitary Goose, is this the new Red Cloud Swordsman?" A man in his thirties, who had been observing Ji Xinghuo, asked Ling Yufei. However, he couldn't discern anything about Ji Xinghuo.

"His code name is..."

Ling Yufei was about to reveal Ji Xinghuo's name when she suddenly recalled the confidentiality principle among Red Cloud Swordsmen—unless necessary, they should not inquire about each other's identities. Moreover, Ji Xinghuo's identity was unique, and his name was listed on the Heaven Ladder, making it easy to expose him.

"His code name is 'New Sky'. He just became a Red Cloud Swordsman last month," she introduced briefly.

Every Swordsman in the Sharp Sword Bureau had a code name.

Ji Xinghuo had chosen 'New Sky', adopting the nickname he used on the Martial Arts Platform.

Ling Yufei's code name was Solitary Goose, and she introduced Ji Xinghuo to the other Red Cloud Swordsmen, though only by their code names.

Of course, these introductions were purely on a professional level, as they were colleagues in the Sharp Sword Bureau with no conflicting interests. Although they were technically rivals in this mission, they would also need to cooperate, so the atmosphere remained relatively relaxed.

With a mission looming, none of them were in the mood for light-hearted chitchat.

Ji Xinghuo quietly memorized the physical features and magnetic field forms of these Red Cloud Swordsmen.

Soon, the plastic surgeon was ready.

Ji Xinghuo lay on his side on an operating table as the doctor injected a carefully prepared serum into his face. Instantly, he felt his facial muscles tingle and go numb, followed by a painful sensation as the flesh under his skin writhed. Within just a few seconds, his face transformed into that of another person.

He got up and looked into the mirror. His eyebrows were now higher, his eye sockets deeper, and his skin tone darker.

His hair was then dyed brown and styled into a mohawk, with the sides shaved down to a thin layer, creating a geometric pattern that looked incredibly cool.

In less than twenty minutes, Ji Xinghuo had transformed into a spiritual young man with a punk style.

A Swordsman from the Information Department handed him a data card.

"This is your identity in the Immortal City."

Ji Xinghuo carefully read through the information.

His new identity was that of a 27-year-old man named David Renatus, a mixed-race child of Latin and Asian descent who had grown up in the Asia-Pacific Commonwealth. Five years ago, he had arrived in the Immortal City and became a mercenary, making a living by taking on some "dirty jobs".

David's profession was that of a ranger, a mid-level super-being skilled in firearms and shooting.

This identity was entirely real, and there truly was a person by this name in the Immortal City's database.

Every once in a while, the Sharp Sword Bureau's South American branch would send a Swordsman disguised as David to operate within the Immortal City, thus maintaining the authenticity of this identity.

Such identities were known as "Sword Sheaths".

Around the world, the Sharp Sword Bureau had fabricated and maintained numerous Sword Sheaths across various industries. When a Swordsman needed to carry out a mission, they would assume one of these identities as a cover.

The other Red Cloud Swordsmen also completed their disguises, each adopting one of these Sword Sheath identities.

The 'Planning Department' of the Intelligence and Information Department, a group specifically responsible for this operation, held a brief meeting with the five Red Cloud Swordsmen.

Zhou Yishang was the overall leader of this action.

After the meeting, Ji Xinghuo and the other four immediately boarded an aerospace fighter jet and headed for the Chaka Star Gate.

The fastest way to travel on Earth was not by vacuum train or aerospace fighter jet but through the star gates that connected various parts of the world.

There was a star gate in the Immortal City, which was nominally controlled by the American Federation. Still, its true owners were the three major conglomerates that had joined forces to bypass federal law. Anyone could pass through this star gate between Earth and the Immortal City by paying a transportation fee.

Moments later,

Ji Xinghuo and the other four used the Sharp Sword Bureau's special approval channel to bypass the queue at the Chaka Star Gate. They entered the starry realm and arrived at Olympia without delay.

The five Red Cloud Swordsmen did not stick together but instead dispersed within Olympia.

As previously agreed upon.

Ji Xinghuo spent two hours wandering around Olympia before returning to the star gate square. He circled around to the area corresponding to the Immortal City, paid the passage fee, and smoothly entered the star gate.

The scene before his eyes distorted.

This stargate hall was situated at the base of a towering skyscraper, with the building soaring over two kilometers high, piercing the clouds. The stargate hall exuded modernity, featuring a spotless mirrored floor and walls comprised of interconnected electronic screens that provided guidance on exiting the area.

Ji Xinghuo's gaze swept across the soldiers, a chill running down his spine.

These soldiers were all Mechanized Rebels!

Although they appeared human, beneath their armor and helmets, most of their limbs and organs had been replaced with mechanical prosthetics.

These Mechanized Rebels, modified from an already powerful race of superhumans known as the "Yi People," were equipped with advanced technological weapons, making them even more formidable.

Even a mid-tier Mechanized Rebel could exhibit combat prowess surpassing that of a high-tier Yi individual! While their strength diminished upon entering the Star Realm, their low cost and rapid production gave them a significant advantage, leading to their widespread use among the nations of Earth.

The pinnacle of mechanical modification and biological technology on Earth was undoubtedly possessed by the American Federation.

Ji Xinghuo exited the stargate hall and stepped out into the night of the Immortal City, where it was raining.

Under the cover of the rain, a dazzling city of neon lights spread out before him, with skyscrapers stretching as far as the eye could see. The city was a kaleidoscope of flashing lights, bewitching and mesmerizing.

Ji Xinghuo took a pair of smart glasses from his pocket and put them on. The lenses activated, loading the auxiliary system in just a second.

The smart glasses functioned like a phone but were even more powerful.

People bustled around him, their faces cold and indifferent.

Most paid no heed to Ji Xinghuo as he stood on the street side. Occasionally, someone would glance his way, their gaze veiled with a hint of malicious intent.

Ji Xinghuo waited for a few minutes until a maglev car pulled up in front of him. He silently climbed in, and the car sped off along the street, soon joining the superconducting highway. Through the window, he observed the city, which, on the surface, resembled Chang'an—equally bustling and vibrant.

However, his magnetic field perception revealed many subtle differences.

Firstly, the people.

Most residents of the Immortal City had undergone physical modifications, replacing their limbs or organs with mechanical counterparts, and they carried various mechanical weapons on their persons.

Secondly, the security situation.

After traveling just a few kilometers, Ji Xinghuo detected three separate instances of combat—taking place indoors or in secluded alleys—each resulting in a swift loss of life.

The population density of the Immortal City was also much higher than he had imagined.

"Definitely more than a hundred million," Ji Xinghuo mused to himself.

He gazed into the distance, noticing that only the central area of the Immortal City was flatland, accounting for less than a tenth of the total area. The vast majority of the city sprawled across the mountains, with countless buildings of varying heights covering the slopes, leaving barely any trees in sight. Steel and concrete dominated the landscape as far as the eye could see.

The maglev car traversed half the city and entered an unassuming building, parking in the garage.

A path prompt popped up on Ji Xinghuo's smart glasses.

Deep underground, beneath this very building, lay one of the Sharp Sword Bureau's secret bases in South America.

Ji Xinghuo needed no prompt, as he had already scanned the area several times with his magnetic field perception, mapping out the entire building and its underground spaces in his mind.

After two rounds of identity verification and exchanging secret codes, Ji Xinghuo took the elevator down to the base.

In the conference room, about a dozen people were gathered.

Ji Xinghuo's gaze swept the room, quickly identifying the nine other Red Cloud Swordsmen, all of whom had undergone disguise and remained unrecognizable.

"Now that New Sky is here, let's begin," said a middle-aged man sitting at one end of the conference table as he stood up. "I am Liu Tianxu, the bureau chief of the South American branch. You can call me 'Iron Hand.'"

He wasted no time on pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.

A projection screen displayed information about Shen Yucheng, along with several locations he had visited in the Immortal City over the past few days and the individuals he had come into contact with.

"Shen Yucheng is a Super Flame Maniac, and his strength is formidable, but that's not the main issue," Liu Tianxu said, his gaze sweeping across the ten Red Cloud Swordsmen. "The key is finding him and retrieving the information he possesses. The mission details have been sent to you, and I don't care how you do it, but you must complete the task within 72 hours. I want to see results, whether he's alive or dead."

"The weapons, equipment, and vehicles you requested are all prepared and ready for your use in the base."

"Go!"

Ji Xinghuo left the conference room and entered a spacious armory, where the Red Cloud Swordsmen selected their preferred weapons and gear.

"New Sky."

Ling Yufei suddenly walked over. She had chosen a laser gun and an electromagnetic rifle for herself, along with various tactical gadgets. She asked, "Do you want to team up?"

Ji Xinghuo thought about it but still shook his head and said, "Maybe next time."

After he finished speaking, he started the light-wheel motorcycle. With a loud rumble, he drove into the garage passage and left the Sharp Sword Bureau's base in the blink of an eye.

The Red Cloud Swordsmen all looked at him in awe.

"Who's that?"

"His code name is New Sky. He's supposedly a newly promoted Red Cloud Swordsman from last month."

"He looks pretty formidable. He only took a hammer, and he's off so quickly. Could he already have a lead?" One of the Red Cloud Swordsmen exclaimed in surprise.

"A newcomer can't be that amazing."

Ling Yufei listened to the Red Cloud Swordsmen's discussion, feeling conflicted. She guessed why Ji Xinghuo had refused to team up with her; he was probably worried that she would hold him back.

But she also didn't believe that Ji Xinghuo could complete the mission alone.

The Immortal City had a population of over a hundred million, and finding someone in such a massive city was extremely difficult. Moreover, this was the Immortal City, not Chang'an, and without the support of official organizations or powers, the numerous factions within the city would never allow someone to act recklessly in their territory.

Rumbling...

The rain outside had stopped.

Ji Xinghuo drove the light-wheel motorcycle, leaning forward as he sped down the superconducting highway, quickly reaching a speed of 350 km/h.

He had often ridden as a passenger on Zhao Manying's light-wheel motorcycle during their dates these past few days, and although he hadn't taken a driving test, he had easily mastered the driving skills. A speed of 300-400 km/h was not considered fast for Ji Xinghuo, who possessed microscopic perception.

The map of the Immortal City was displayed on the lenses of his smart glasses.

His destination was not far away.

It was a neighborhood in the Immortal City, covering an area of about five square kilometers and located in a relatively remote area. It was controlled by a gang called the "Dark Tide Gang."

The Dark Tide Gang was not small, with over a thousand members.

The gang leader, nicknamed "General," was quite famous in the Immortal City and was known for his strength and cruel methods. He had deep connections in the underworld.

Rumor had it that his backer was the "JSKD Company."

And this company was affiliated with the Giant Conglomerate, one of the three major conglomerates controlling the Immortal City.

The Giant Conglomerate was a household name on Earth, one of the thirteen conglomerates in the American Federation and one of the top four conglomerates with significant influence. The Giant Conglomerate had its fingers in various industries in America, mainly in finance, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, stargate materials, and xenotypes, holding numerous patents in biotechnology.

With the backing of a company affiliated with the Giant Conglomerate, the General's gang essentially served as the conglomerate's peripheral enforcers.

With such a powerful backer, not many in the Immortal City dared to provoke the Dark Tide Gang.

Moreover, the General himself was a Super Giant, just half a step away from becoming a Legend. He also had an entire Mechanized Rebel army at his command, protecting him at all times.

The General's proudest achievement was evading an assassination attempt by a Legend.

He claimed that he could rank within the top thousand on the Heaven Ladder.

Although no one believed the General was that strong, he had stood firm in the Immortal City for over a decade, making him one of the true big shots.

The Sharp Sword Bureau had an informant within the Dark Tide Gang.

Two days ago, the General had met with Shen Yucheng, but it was unclear what they discussed.

Shen Yucheng had met with several people in the Immortal City, and the General was just one of them.

The Red Cloud Swordsmen naturally knew that the "General" might be the biggest breakthrough, but to pry information out of him, a direct assault was impossible. A meticulous plan to get close to him was necessary.

However, Ji Xinghuo didn't have the patience for that.

As soon as he saw this lead, he took immediate action.

After a little over ten minutes...

Ji Xinghuo arrived at the neighborhood. He drove the light-wheel motorcycle off the superconducting highway and into a secluded alley, killing the engine and getting off. After confirming that there were no surveillance cameras in the vicinity with his magnetic field perception, he reached out and gently pressed the motorcycle, causing it to vanish and get stored into his Dimensional Pouch.

He then put away his smart glasses and walked out of the alley, looking up at the building across the street.

This fifty-plus-story building was the headquarters of the Dark Tide Gang, and within a few seconds of using his magnetic field perception, he located the "General."

Ji Xinghuo crossed the street and approached the building.

Several gang members guarding the building's entrance immediately pointed their guns at him, about to shout a warning, but Ji Xinghuo released an invisible force field from his body, which instantly spread out in a space of hundreds of meters.

Electromagnetic Pulse!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end