National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: A Nearly-Burnt-Out Candle Must Still Serve Its Purpose

”What’s wrong?”

As Guan Sect turned to leave, he suddenly felt a strange, inexplicable sensation. His gaze fell back on Xiao Cangqing, scrutinizing him with suspicion.

He frowned slightly, trying to pinpoint the source of this odd feeling,

but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He could only continue to stare at him searchingly.

”It’s nothing. Chu He and I just have some history, so I wanted to know the details of your operation.”

Xiao Cangqing shrugged lightly, trying to ease the tension.

Guan Sect gave him a deep look, as if trying to confirm something.

He finally nodded, having apparently made up his mind, and revealed the entire plan. ”Since you’re so concerned, there’s no harm in telling you.

The organization has high hopes for you now. They intend to groom you to become a future core member.

Therefore, I will be personally leading the next mission.”

He paused, as if gathering his thoughts, then continued, ”Above the Demon Cave in the Great Xia Empire, an extremely terrifying entity lies hidden.

This Evil Spirit is powerful enough to suppress all the other Evil Spirits in the entire Demon Cave.

However, this Evil Spirit has always remained dormant in one place.

The plan is to go there and release this Evil Spirit.

This will put unprecedented pressure on the Great Xia Empire, and our New World Organization will use this opportunity to establish a closer relationship with them.”

Guan Sect said, ”The Lighthouse Empire established a Martial Artist Base in the Great Jing Empire for the sole purpose of monitoring and checking the Great Xia Empire.

And the Great Xia Empire is no fool; they can certainly feel this pressure.

Our operation is designed to add more internal pressure on the Great Xia Empire, forcing them to join forces with our New World Organization.”

”And in this process, the one we’re truly interested in is that young man named Chu He.”

As soon as Guan Sect finished speaking, his gaze fell on Xiao Cangqing again.

Xiao Cangqing nodded and asked, ”When are you planning to move?”

”Tomorrow night at midnight.”

Guan Sect answered without hesitation, ”Don’t worry. I know it’s a bit much for you to face the pressure from the Lighthouse Empire alone.

But this mission isn’t difficult. I’ll take care of it quickly and return.

Not even the Lighthouse Empire can expect to get the upper hand on our New World Organization.”

The moment Guan Sect finished speaking, he slipped into a car parked by the roadside.

The vehicle started up quickly and vanished.

Xiao Cangqing swayed a couple of times, a little unsteady on his feet.

His eyes turned cold and sinister again. He touched his head and muttered to himself, ’What just happened to me? I suddenly felt a bit dazed.

Could it be the after-effects of devouring another powerful Evil Spirit?’

...

「The Great Xia Empire」

Moonlight, like liquid silver, poured down quietly over the Demon Cave, draping a mysterious veil over the desolate land.

In this forgotten corner, the silence was so profound that even the air seemed to have frozen.

Only the occasional sound of a distant breeze rustling through the treetops broke the dead silence.

”I’ve already informed you of your mission in detail on the way here.”

Guan Sect’s voice was deep and magnetic. ”As long as you can successfully complete the task you’ve been given, the organization will give you the rewards you deserve.

Specifically, the opportunity to fuse your body with a second Evil Spirit. For you, this will be a monumental leap.”

Guan Sect’s words echoed in the night, carrying a seductive power.

Ever since the Lighthouse Empire released its plan and related information about fusing humans with Evil Spirits, the spirits were no longer just shadows that brought fear to people’s hearts.

They were now imbued with a new value, becoming a target that everyone vied for.

These five King-level Martial Artists all emanated the uniquely eerie and cold aura of an Evil Spirit.

It was clear they had not reached the King Level through normal cultivation, but rather through some unknown fusion with Evil Spirits.

Hearing Guan Sect’s words, excited expressions appeared on their faces. They all thumped their chests, promising to complete the mission beautifully.

Seeing this, Guan Sect nodded in satisfaction.

His figure flickered slightly before vanishing into the night.

”You all need to understand that this mission is a crucial opportunity for us.

If we can succeed, we’ll get the chance to fuse with a second Evil Spirit.

This will be a qualitative leap, a chance for us to step into the Emperor Realm,

and become one of the very few who stand at the pinnacle of the world of Martial Arts!”

The five King-level Martial Artists looked at each other, their eyes glinting with determination.

Then, without a second thought, they stepped into the cold, heavy fog.

They had only taken two steps when five heads fell from their shoulders in perfect unison.

Blood bloomed like flowers, dyeing the ground red, before the five headless bodies collapsed rigidly.

The mission was over before it had even begun.

The night was still tranquil, as if no one had ever set foot in this forbidden zone.

The night was black as ink. Chu He stood at the edge of the Demon Cave, gazing into the bottomless darkness.

He muttered to himself, ’It’s a pity. That fellow, Guan Sect, was just a clone.

Even if I killed it, it would have been an insignificant move and might have even alerted the enemy.’

Chu He closed his eyes, sensing the Primordial Spirit hidden within him.

It had been lurking in Xiao Cangqing’s body for a long time and had finally discovered the secret drawback of fusing humans with Evil Spirits. ’Initially, fusing with an Evil Spirit does indeed bring a massive surge in strength, even allowing a peak King-level Martial Artist to leap into the Emperor Realm.

At that time, the Evil Spirit and the Elemental Power inside the King-level expert’s body form a delicate balance, like the complementary nature of yin and yang, reinforcing each other.

But this balance hides a fatal flaw.

This fusion makes it impossible for the Martial Artist to ever elevate their Elemental Power to a new level.

If they want to advance further, they are forced to devour a second, or even a third, Evil Spirit.

But this is a path of no return, a dead end from which one cannot turn back.

Once a second Evil Spirit is integrated into the body, that original, delicate balance will completely collapse,

like a blazing fire on a candle, only accelerating the consumption of one’s life force.

Xiao Cangqing’s body is being consumed by the Evil Spirit at an imperceptible rate. This consumption is silent, but it is lethal.’

’This nail I’ve planted inside the New World Organization needs to be driven deeper.

Otherwise, Xiao Cangqing might end up finished before he can dig up the information I need.

A candle that’s about to burn out must at least serve its purpose before it’s gone.’

Chu He turned, his back to the Demon Cave.

A plan had already begun to form in his mind.

...

「At the border between the Great Xia Empire and the Great Jing Empire」

Within a dense, ancient forest, Guan Sect was hidden in the shadows.

He snapped his eyes open, a shocked and suspicious glint in them. ’

How is this possible? Those five King-level experts were killed the moment they set foot in the Demon Cave. What in the world happened? There’s only one possibility... the news was leaked!’

He stared at the five cracked gray jade stones before him. These stones represented the lives of the five King-level experts.

If the person was alive, the jade would be intact.

If the person was injured, the jade would show cracks.

If the person died, the jade would shatter completely, impossible to piece back together.

Guan Sect was certain this was not the work of the Evil Spirits in the Demon Cave.

Even if the five King-level experts had encountered Evil Spirits, it would be impossible for them to be killed instantly.

Then, only one possibility remained: Chu He.

But how could Chu He have known in advance?

Guan Sect’s expression turned terrifyingly dark, and a powerful surge of anger rose in his heart.

’Only a few people knew about today’s operation. Could there really be a traitor in the New World Organization?

Who could this traitor be?’

The image of Xiao Cangqing couldn’t help but surface in his mind.

’Why was he so insistent on digging for information?’

Guan Sect suddenly remembered how Xiao Cangqing had pressed him for every last detail before he left!