Chapter 60: The Show Finally Begins

Ten days had passed since Jiang Qin arrived at Hanyue City.

With the Spirit Suppression Bureau Investigators coming and going so frequently, the three great families finally sensed something was wrong, catching a whiff of danger, and gathered once more to discuss countermeasures.

In the Sixue Group office, the three heads were all present.

However, this time the Lei Family did not send Lei Zhongshan, but his younger brother Lei Hu.

In the Lei Family's view, Lei Zhongshan, having lost an arm, was no longer fit to run the family's business; a cripple would only damage the family's image, so they used this as a pretext to replace him.

Unlike Lei Zhongshan's rash, blunt manner, Lei Hu was a typical smiling tiger.

The moment he sat down, he narrowed his eyes and said:

"These past two days you two must have already received word — for some unknown reason, the Spirit Suppression Bureau has been conducting extensive investigations on members of our three families. Yesterday, a branch-line disciple of my Lei Family tried to leave Hanyue City with a shipment, but was stopped by two Investigators."

"Doesn't this mean… the people of our three families have been boxed in and trapped inside Hanyue City, barred from leaving?"

"Brother Zhao, haven't you been cultivating a good relationship with that woman beside Special Envoy Jiang? Do you know any inside information?" This book is first published at 𝔱𝔱𝔨. 𝔱𝔴 — the most hassle-free place, giving you error-free chapters and an out-of-order-free reading experience.

Better not to mention it — the moment it was brought up, Zhao Tianji's expression turned a little unnatural.

These past few days he had tried many times to contact Su Lingwei, but the results were like stones sinking into the sea with not the slightest response, and the people he sent were sent back too. It was obvious he had been double-crossed.

Double-crossed by a girl not even twenty years old, no less…

"I… don't know."

"But since the Spirit Suppression Bureau dares to act like this, they must have grasped some key evidence. They're likely preparing to move against us at any moment. Right now we don't know the cards in their hand, and we're in a very passive position."

The two almost simultaneously looked up at Li Ruyue.

She had called them here today — she must have made some discovery.

Li Ruyue expressionlessly slapped a dossier onto the table.

"Two days ago, a foreman and a 'tool' went missing from the mine. When the men below investigated, they found a secret passage in his quarters leading straight outside. Short of any surprises, what we've been doing is now known to the Spirit Suppression Bureau."

"What!"

Zhao Tianji shot to his feet in terror, a flash of fear crossing his face.

This was no joking matter — for the things the three great families had been doing behind the scenes, death by a thousand cuts would be a light punishment. Once those above learned of it, they would certainly send Law Enforcement Officers to deal with them.

When that time came, not one of them would escape!

A flash of fear also crossed Lei Hu's face. He had only just barely taken this seat — he had no desire to die so soon.

"Don't panic." Li Ruyue remained calm, her eyes sweeping over the two:

"According to my intelligence network within the upper echelons of the Spirit Suppression Bureau, no related intelligence has been received. This indicates that Special Envoy Jiang most likely has not reported the matter upward. There are two possible reasons."

"First, although he knows the true situation of the mine, he has no evidence, so he hasn't acted rashly — but the probability of this is very small."

"Second, combined with the Spirit Suppression Bureau's recent frantic investigation of our three families' members, I think there's a high probability that Special Envoy Jiang wants to wipe out every member of our three families. That's why he sealed off the city and barred us from leaving — to prevent us from escaping."

Although two possibilities were given, any fool could see the second one was clearly far more likely.

Zhao Tianji hurriedly rose: "Then what are we waiting for? While they haven't reacted yet, let's rally our men and run! I don't want to die just like that."

Whether it was Lei Hu or Li Ruyue, both were now looking at this fellow with the gaze reserved for an idiot.

"Run? Do you really think that given what we've done, the Spirit Suppression Bureau Headquarters would let us get away with it?"

"Even if we flee to another country, I guarantee that within half a month our three families will be completely wiped out."

Over the years, the 'tools' who had died in the mines alone numbered close to a million.

This alone would be enough to make Huaguo spare no cost in executing them.

Not to mention they had also secretly been cooperating with the Church of the Gods and the Great Jin Kingdom.

Lei Hu narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flickering in them, stared at Li Ruyue and said: "Miss Li, you mean… join forces with the Church of the Gods and the Great Jin Kingdom, and strike first before the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau moves against us?"

Li Ruyue nodded.

What they could be certain of was that the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau had not yet requested reinforcements from Headquarters; otherwise, given the relationship network they had cultivated over the years, they would certainly have gotten word.

Even if his connections fell short, Cao Hai could at most call in one or two Divine Image Realm Realm cultivators.

Without conclusive evidence, Law Enforcement Officers would absolutely not be dispatched.

"Then it's decided…"

Li Ruyue stood up with a cold face, madness already surging in her eyes.

"Three days from now, the Great Jin Kingdom and the Church of the Gods jointly attack Hanyue City. Though the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau, led by Special Envoy Jiang, fights bravely against the enemy, they are ultimately outnumbered, and are finally wiped out along with the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau in the… Broken City Battle!"

Destroying a local Spirit Suppression Bureau would bring about terrifying consequences.

But… this was already the only choice they had to survive. Not doing it meant waiting for death; doing it might still leave them a slim chance of life!

——

Three days flew by in an instant; nothing happened in the meantime.

The whole of Hanyue City seemed like the calm before a storm. From time to time, Investigators could be seen rushing through the streets. Even ordinary people sensed something was wrong and tried their best not to go out.

Finally, on this morning, Chen Xiaohu, who had gone out, was kidnapped.

An hour later, someone delivered the news to Jiang Qin.

"Your friend is in our hands. If you don't want anything to happen to him, come alone to Kuangfeng Xiagu. Don't try any tricks — every move you make is under our surveillance."

Looking at the letter in his hand, the corners of Jiang Qin's mouth curved up slightly.

"The show has finally begun."

"Either I break through my limit, or Kuangfeng Xiagu becomes my burial ground."

Before his words had even faded, his figure had already vanished from the spot, making no attempt to conceal himself or the Spirit Power wildly surging from his entire body, as he headed out of the city.

Ten minutes after Jiang Qin left.

Dense clusters of bombs appeared above the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau. The roar of artillery fire was tremendous, the shells landing precisely on the Bureau's strongholds and exploding wildly!

Although for Spirit Sea Realm Martial Artists, the bombs' effect was negligible.

For those Intern Investigators and peripheral personnel of the Spirit Suppression Bureau, this was already nothing short of an apocalyptic disaster!

Wild explosions thundered across the heavens, the smell of gunpowder filling the air.

A gust of wind swept in and scattered the lingering smoke, revealing that the Hanyue Zhenling Bureau had been reduced to a heap of rubble.

In the distance.

A man stared at the ruins, nothing left but broken walls, and reported in a low voice:

"Report: the target has been completely bombed. Those investigators never even had time to run out before the shelling killed them. The bodies can be confirmed, but Cao Hai's figure was not spotted among them."

A cold voice came through the earpiece:

"No matter. With three Divine Image Realm cultivators present, even if Cao Hai grew wings, he wouldn't be able to escape."

"The siege is about to begin. Destroy the traces and withdraw immediately."

"Yes!"

……