National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

It wasn’t uncommon to see people in strange attire here, though.

So when Chu He and Sun Canxing got out of the car,

they at most only drew attention because of the Rolls-Royce.

But after a few glances, those people looked away and went back to their own business.

A Rolls-Royce was certainly expensive in this day and age,

but for many who cultivated Martial Arts, it was no longer an unattainable luxury.

Sun Canxing had already printed out his exam admission ticket.

This was Chu He’s first time at a Martial Arts assessment site.

Due to the Great Xia Empire’s enormous population, a qualification exam was held before the main Martial Arts college entrance exam.

Nearly fifty percent of the participants failed the qualification exam.

It consisted of four major assessments: strength, speed, theory, and practical combat.

Sun Canxing went inside to take the exam by himself, while Chu He strolled around outside.

From humanity’s initial panic and helplessness when facing Evil Spirits to the rise of Martial Arts and the establishment of a mature system,

far too much blood and tears had been shed.

Chu He walked a full circle around the area, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

...

「Lighthouse Empire, Jinshan City.」

After arriving in the Lighthouse Empire, Ye Lingyun

immediately had Xiao Cangqing carry out a major consolidation of the Vampire Clan.

Xiao Cangqing had already begun this process, abolishing all the original Clans and uniting them into a single force.

Before, when they were divided into various Clans, they were constantly scheming against each other and could never truly unite.

The Werewolves, in contrast, were incredibly unified.

As a result, whenever the Vampire Clan clashed with the Werewolves, it was usually the Vampires who paid the heavier price.

Once the consolidation was complete, Ye Lingyun established their headquarters directly in Jinshan City.

Jinshan City, a port city nestled within the Lighthouse Empire,

was like a dazzling pearl set upon the coastline,

capturing the world’s attention with its unique charm and allure.

It was not only the largest financial center on the west coast

but also a globally renowned high-tech R&D and manufacturing hub, as well as a world-famous tourist destination.

The Golden Gate Bridge spanned the bay like a silver dragon,

its steel cables glittering with golden light under the sun, a stunning contrast against the azure sea.

It formed a breathtakingly beautiful scene that soothed the soul.

The Mediterranean climate here brought warm sunshine that fell upon the city almost year-round.

Even in winter, the sun in Jinshan City remained bright, draping the city in a warm glow.

The sunlight pierced through the clouds and sprinkled onto the streets, filling every corner with life and vitality.

During the day, Jinshan City was extraordinarily lively, with streets bustling with traffic, flanked by countless shops, and crowded with people.

The commercial district in the city center was its most prosperous area.

Skyscrapers shot up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, exuding an air of modernity.

The streets were lined with a dazzling array of brand-name stores, offering everything from high-end luxury goods to common daily necessities.

But when night fell, the cityscape of Jinshan City took on a flavor all its own.

The brilliantly lit streets, the dazzling neon lights, the bustling port...

All of it became even more enchanting under the city’s nocturnal glow.

Just as Ye Lingyun was gazing down upon this exceptionally prosperous city,

the door behind her was gently pushed open, and Xiao Cangqing walked in from outside.

To the outside world, Xiao Cangqing was still the master of the Vampire Clan.

But only he himself knew that when facing Ye Lingyun,

he had to be utterly servile just to preserve his own dignity.

”I’ve received the latest intelligence. The Werewolf Clan has begun mobilizing on a large scale.

It seems they’re extremely displeased that we’ve suddenly concentrated our forces to meddle in Jinshan City.”

Xiao Cangqing reported.

”Since they’re coming, let’s just set a trap.

Discreetly leak the news that our Vampire Clan will be holding a high-level meeting tonight

at a remote and secluded manor,

and that you will be attending in person.

Since they’re going to all the trouble of mobilizing and gathering their forces,

we can’t just let them waste their efforts.

Let’s just prepare a net for them to walk right into. We’ll kill as many as we can.”

Ye Lingyun said with a cold smile, ”Since Teacher gave me such immense power and sent me to the Lighthouse Empire to control this entire, vast Vampire Clan,

I must naturally complete this mission properly, flatten the entire Lighthouse Empire, and then present it to Teacher as a gift.”

’Psycho,’ Xiao Cangqing cursed inwardly.

After spending time with Ye Lingyun, he had come to realize that the young girl’s train of thought was increasingly abnormal. He didn’t know if she had always been this way or if she had been severely affected by fusing with the complete Bloodline Power of the Vampire Clan’s Ancestor Cain.

Ye Lingyun’s devotion to Chu He had reached a fanatical, twisted level; she regarded him as one of the Deities.

Xiao Cangqing mused that if he were the one who had grasped such immense power, he probably would have developed his own ambitions; being subservient was nowhere near as satisfying as being the boss.

Originally, he had wondered if, through prolonged contact, he could wait until they were more familiar with each other and then find an opportunity to slowly plant the seeds of rebellion in Ye Lingyun’s mind, but now, it seemed there was no chance at all.

If he actually dared to try, he was certain Ye Lingyun would make him wish for death.

”Why aren’t you talking?”

Ye Lingyun suddenly spun around, her gaze like a blazing torch, locking firmly onto the pensive Xiao Cangqing.

Xiao Cangqing jumped in fright, his body trembling slightly.

He hastily threw all the chaotic thoughts from his mind to the furthest corners of the heavens,

then quickly and tentatively said, ”I was just pondering how to execute this plan flawlessly to lure in that entire pack of foolish and reckless Werewolves.”

”I’m leaving this matter to you. I don’t want any mistakes today.”

Ye Lingyun turned her gaze back to the dense forest of skyscrapers beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, a surge of ambition rising in her heart. ’Jinshan City is simply too beautiful. I must become its master, and from there, my influence will radiate throughout the entire Lighthouse Empire.

And the Werewolves... they will be the first stepping stone on our path to conquest.’

During this period, Ye Lingyun

had already conducted as comprehensive and in-depth a study as possible on the various powers within the Lighthouse Empire.

The situation in the Lighthouse Empire was far more intricate and complex than imagined, with all sorts of factions entrenched within it.

The Bright Holy See, for example, was a formidable power that could not be underestimated.

But Ye Lingyun knew very well that you have to eat a meal one bite at a time, and obstacles must also be cleared away one by one.

”Very well, I’ll go make the arrangements.”

Xiao Cangqing nodded and turned to walk out the door.

Only after the door closed softly behind him did he let out a slight sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Ye Lingyun hadn’t noticed anything unusual about him. Otherwise, another painful punishment would have been unavoidable.

...

「Nightfall. The outskirts of Jinshan City.」

Hidden in the vast, boundless landscape was a luxurious, historic manor that covered a wide expanse of land.

Like a lost pearl, it rested quietly in the river of time, having witnessed countless vicissitudes.

This manor not only carried the deep historical heritage of the Lighthouse Empire

but also exuded a classical charm and an air of luxury, carved by time itself.

The main building of the manor was a three-story Ancient Castle-style structure, exquisitely carved from high-quality local stone.

Its outer walls, though washed by the ages, still maintained their sense of stability and solemnity.

The roof of the Ancient Castle was covered with dark gray slate tiles,

which formed a sharp contrast with the blue sky and white clouds, adding a touch of rustic elegance.

But when night fell and a bright moon slowly rose, its silver light poured down upon the old manor, draping it in a mysterious and beautiful veil.

Beneath the moonlight, the Ancient Castle’s silhouette softened, resembling a sleeping noblewoman silently recounting a thousand years of secrets.

The surface of the manor’s lake, illuminated by the moon, shimmered like a mirror,

reflecting the stars in the sky and the beauty on the ground, making it hard to tell dream from reality.

It was in such a manor, steeped in historical charm and romantic atmosphere,

that a wealthy man, at some point, had plucked it from the dust of history and given it new life and vitality.

But good times don’t last forever. The rich man eventually decided to sell the manor, and its new owner

was now the enigmatic Vampire Clan.

In the depths of the manor, an old clock tower stood silently, its chimes echoing melodiously in the night wind.

A cold, eerie mist gathered imperceptibly and silently from all directions,

gradually blanketing the entire manor and adding a touch of the bizarre and desolate.