Chapter 56: Breaking the Barrier

"Host: Zhang Cheng"

"Profession: Daoist Priest"

"Rank: Seventh Grade"

Cultivation Methods: "Valley Clothing Heart Scripture" Lv5 (0/800), "Supreme Three-Five Capital Merit Scripture Seal" Lv10 (4800/25600)

Spirit Refining Art Lv4 (0/400)

Equipment: Universe Patchwork Robe (↑), Five Thunders Command (1/1), Spirit-Refining Treasure Gourd (Refining in progress), Fire Crow Pot, Eight Trigrams Mirror, City God Department Superintendent Seal, Xuanyi Seven-Star Copper Sword, Altar-Suppressing Wood, Five Elements Command Flags, Heavenly Canopy Ruler, Soul-Absorbing Banner, Three Pure Ones Bell, Gold Coin Sword, Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Umbrella, Thousand-Mile Mountains and Rivers Map, Universe Bag, Five-Fire Seven-Feather Fan

Merit: 59000 (Note)"

Zhang Cheng waited until Huang Yuqin had left before taking a look at his panel; according to his current state, it would take at least until the end of the year to bring his Qi Refining method to perfection.

No wonder many people who cultivate the Dao for decades find their progress truly hindered once they are entangled in trivial matters.

Zhang Cheng was not in a hurry, as he understood the principle that one cannot eat hot tofu in a rush.

In the evening, Zhang Cheng changed into a Daoist robe and arrived outside the Hongkou District once again.

Half a month had passed since he last took action against Hongkou.

During these days, those Onmyoji had disguised themselves and were scouting throughout the Shanghai Bund.

Not only that, but the Japanese invaders' secret agents had also been dispatched.

The reason he was able to obtain this information was because he had secretly sought out people from the Fuxing Society.

However, these things were no longer important; in short, the Japanese invaders had not found a single piece of information and were still completely confused.

Zhang Cheng did not care about the Onmyoji or the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect; tonight, he was going to break this Hongkou barrier.

He immediately took out the Five-Fire Seven-Feather Fan, then cast a spell, and struck the Hongkou barrier with it.

A formless gale swept away, and the barrier burst directly like a bubble.

It dissipated just like light, rather than exploding like a bomb.

The moment Zhang Cheng used the fan, he felt that his magic power had decreased by ninety percent.

It was indeed an overbearing magic treasure; he turned and left immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

However, the shattering of the Hongkou barrier instantly alarmed the Onmyo Bureau and the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect.

Abe Yukimasa was the most furious; he rushed out of the Onmyo Bureau immediately, ran across the rooftops, and shouted, "What kind of petty thieves dare to oppose the Empire!"

Unfortunately, by the time he arrived, Zhang Cheng had long since vanished, leaving only his impotent rage.

Before long, Fukada Mitsuko, dressed in night-traveling clothes, appeared not far away, her expression grave as she said, "Onmyo Head Abe, now that the barrier has been broken, your Onmyo Bureau cannot shirk its responsibility!"

Abe Yukimasa glared at Fukada Mitsuko and said through gritted teeth, "This matter is not for you to manage!"

Fukada Mitsuko sneered, "Heh, you can't even guard a barrier; I really don't know what use you have left?"

Abe Yukimasa said in a great rage, "You lowly woman..."

Before the two of them could start arguing, Abe Hiromasa ran over and said, "Onmyo Head, sir, a call from the Commander."

Abe Yukimasa glared at Fukada Mitsuko and then left.

Not long after, the two met again in front of the person in charge.

The Commander said coldly, "Abe, do you know how much the Empire paid for this barrier?

Without this barrier, if ghosts and monsters enter Hongkou and affect the imperial subjects here, what crime should you be charged with?"

Abe Yukimasa lowered his head and said, "Hai, it is this subordinate's dereliction of duty; I have failed the expectations of His Majesty the Emperor."

The Commander waved his hand and said, "What I don't need right now is an apology; is there any possibility of repairing the barrier?"

Abe Yukimasa shook his head and said, "The opponent is very strong; both the formation eye and the formation base have been destroyed, so it is unlikely in the short term."

The Commander nodded and said, "I understand. Then let the people of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect also participate in the Hongkou defense plan."

Abe Yukimasa could only swallow his disgust and agree; he secretly cursed Fukada Mitsuko as a prostitute.

He left indignantly, while Fukada Mitsuko bowed to the Commander and said, "Thank you for your support, Excellency; the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect will certainly not let you down."

The Commander nodded with great satisfaction and said, "Yoshi, then I will wait for your good news.

The Empire currently needs to divert international public pressure; you should stir up trouble here."

Fukada Mitsuko was overjoyed; she hurriedly left the headquarters and returned to the dojo.

She gathered all the members and said, "Everyone, the time to promote the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect has arrived. Go!"

"Hai!"

Fukada Mitsuko did not expect that Zhang Cheng would return, which was why she dared to let the people of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect leave Hongkou to stir up trouble.

Chigusa Tamako was another disciple highly valued by Fukada Mitsuko; her assigned task was to use her beauty to seduce Shanghai officials, obtain intelligence for the Empire, and ideally turn these officials into puppets.

Chigusa Tamako was very happy to receive this important task; previously, with Mouri Mariko around, she was always the substitute, but now Mouri Mariko was dead, and she was finally being valued by her master.

Therefore, she applied the most vibrant makeup, changed into a Western-style dress, draped a water-red overcoat, wore high heels on her petite jade feet, and then sat in a rickshaw and headed outside of Hongkou.

Zhang Cheng had already changed into a Western suit, with his patchwork robe carried in his briefcase; he was watching the situation at the street corner when the rickshaw carrying Chigusa Tamako ran past him.

He sniffed; besides the charming perfume and the rickshaw puller's sweat, there was also a faint scent of corpse rot.

"Jie jie jie, caught you." Zhang Cheng watched the departing rickshaw and gave a low, cold laugh.

He then followed the rickshaw from a distance; before long, the vehicle arrived at the German Club on Renji Road. This place was originally a club operated by Germans, but after World War I, it came under the management of the local government.

The interior and exterior of the German Club building were exceptionally magnificent; the building facade was in a typical eclectic style, combining the characteristics of German Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

The main building was three stories high, with a brick-and-wood structure.

The facade of the German Club was designed with prominent watchtowers at both ends, topped with Baroque-style curved spires.

A long balcony ran across the front of the second and third floors. A finely carved stone statue was placed on the railing of the second-floor balcony, and one entered the ground floor by ascending the wide white marble steps.

The ground floor housed a bar, a billiards room, a reading room, and an auditorium; the second floor had a dining room, a ballroom, a card room, and an indoor game room; the third floor was set up with a kitchen and other utility rooms.

The interior layout of the building was excellent, spacious and elegant, with exquisite decorations, among which the decorations of the bar, auditorium, and dining room were the most prominent.

On the walls of the bar, arched murals depicting the scenery of Berlin and Bremen, Germany, were installed.

The color scheme in the auditorium is deep earth tone, with its most distinctive features being the towering arched shuttle-shaped ceiling and the rugged hall pillars.

The dining hall is spacious and exquisite, with the walls depicting the scenery of Berlin, Vienna, and Munich, and every utensil and piece of equipment inside is refined. A wooden floor-standing pendulum clock inlaid with landscapes from various places is even more eye-catching.

However, after being in use until now, these facilities have become somewhat old.

Of course, this place is still a gathering spot for the upper crust, and government officials all come here to enjoy themselves, which is why Qiancao Tamako came to this place.