267: How could a shooting star possibly bend in the city?

Jiangyuan City, East District, an abandoned underground parking lot.

The place was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of mold and machine oil.

A dozen or so Shadow Worship Cult evil cultivators were gathered here, busy around a miniature version of an Evil Energy ritual circle.

Compared to those at the main altar, the strength of the evil cultivators here was generally weaker, mostly hovering around the third and fourth tiers.

The leader was a Fourth-Tier Evil Cultivator with a pale face and sinister eyes.

He was carefully injecting a canister of shadow energy into a node of the ritual circle, chanting under his breath.

Suddenly, he frowned and snapped his head up toward the entrance, a hint of suspicion and alarm crossing his face.

"What's going on? Just now... it felt like a strong energy fluctuation flashed by?"

The evil cultivator beside him didn't take it seriously:

"Boss, are you being too tense? Maybe the ritual at the main altar is making progress?"

"Yeah, with Shadow Priest Mo Sang presiding in person, it's bound to be foolproof!"

The sinister evil cultivator shook his head, the sense of unease in his heart growing stronger:

"No... it feels different... everyone, stay alert!"

Before his words could land—

Boom!

With a dull, massive roar, the heavy iron door at the parking lot entrance buckled and deformed as if hit by a cannonball, then came crashing inward!

It slammed heavily against a distant concrete pillar, emitting a deafening bang!

Amidst the swirling dust, a group of figures slowly stepped inside.

It was a Spiritual Energy Bureau Combat Squad that had just arrived.

They held their weapons, aiming warily at the evil cultivators inside.

"Listen up, everyone! You are surrounded! Give up your resistance immediately!" the squad captain shouted sternly.

The evil cultivators were instantly drained of color!

"The Spiritual Energy Bureau! How did they find this place?!"

"Quick! Activate the ritual circle! Hold them back!"

"Everyone, prepare for battle! We must not let them interfere!"

For a moment, the atmosphere on the scene was extremely tense.

However, just as both sides were at each other's throats—

A blood-colored streak of light appeared directly in the center of the battlefield like a phantom!

As the blood-light dissipated, Chen Nian's figure was revealed.

His appearance was so abrupt and so silent.

So much so that both sides in the standoff were startled!

Chen Nian's gaze swept indifferently over the evil cultivators before looking at the Spiritual Energy Bureau Agents behind them.

He didn't waste a single word, nor did he even acknowledge the people from the Spiritual Energy Bureau.

He simply pressed his fingers together like a sword and made a casual swipe toward the most densely packed area of evil cultivators!

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!

Several condensed blood-colored threads erupted instantly!

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

The dense sound of blades cutting through flesh rang out!

The evil cultivators, who were putting all their effort into countering the Spiritual Energy Bureau's attack, had no time to react at all!

Their protective Evil Energy was torn apart like paper, and their bodies were easily sliced and decomposed by the blood-colored threads!

Heads rolled, limbs were severed, and torsos were cut into several sections!

Blood surged wildly from the clean cuts like fountains!

In just an instant, more than half of the evil cultivators had been turned into a floor full of fragments!

This sudden, violent change left the Spiritual Energy Bureau Agents on the scene stunned!

The sounds of battle came to a screeching halt!

The Spiritual Energy Bureau Agents stared wide-eyed at the bloody scene before them, their minds going blank.

What happened?

Who did this?

Why did the evil cultivators suddenly shatter all over the floor?

However, Chen Nian simply gave a faint instruction: "You handle this place."

After saying that, without waiting for a response, his figure vanished once again in a flash of blood-light.

He left behind only the unrecognizable remains of evil cultivators and a squad of Spiritual Energy Bureau Agents staring at each other in utter bewilderment.

"This... what's the situation?!"

...Similar scenes played out one after another in different corners of Jiangyuan City over the next period of time.

In the South District, on the rooftop of an old residential building.

In the North District, in the underground warehouse of a bustling shopping mall.

In the city center, on a hidden floor of an office building... Chen Nian was like a cold god of death, using that black crystal as a compass to traverse the city with precision.

Wherever he went, blood-light flashed.

The evil cultivators of the Shadow Worship Cult, regardless of their strength or where they hid,

Often didn't even understand what was happening

Before they were killed instantly by Heart-Devouring Demon Silk, Air-Piercing Punch Force, or casual energy blasts!

Their deaths were extremely gruesome—heads exploding, bodies shattering, limbs tearing apart... the entire scene would be covered in flying flesh and blood, like a slaughterhouse!

Meanwhile, the citizens of Jiangyuan City saw a striking blood-colored streak of light flashing, turning, vanishing, and reappearing across the city sky at speeds that defied common sense.

This drew countless people to look up and gasp in surprise, many pulling out their phones to record.

The internet also exploded instantly!

"Look! What is that red thing in the sky? A meteor?"

"Doesn't look like it! It's too fast! And it can turn corners in the city!"

"Is it a super expert from the Spiritual Energy Bureau? I saw it charge into a parking lot over here in the East District, and then there were sounds like explosions inside!"

"There's one in the West District too! I saw it dive into a building!"

"Oh my god! What exactly is happening? Is someone clearing out Demonic Evils?"

"It must be the heroes from the Spiritual Energy Bureau in action! Go for it!"

The public discussed fervently, filled with curiosity as well as a hint of unease and anticipation.

In contrast to the citizens' wonder, the Spiritual Energy Bureau's internal communication network was in a state of total frenzy.

Reports from various Combat Squads kept coming in: "Encountered Special Commissioner Chen," "Target eliminated," "Requesting cleanup support."

Every report was accompanied by descriptions of Chen Nian's terrifying strength and brief accounts of the gruesome scenes.

Everyone in the Jiangyuan City Spiritual Energy Bureau, from high-level officials to ordinary agents, was deeply shocked by Chen Nian's efficiency in sweeping through the enemy like a hot knife through butter.

At the same time, an unprecedented sense of security and worship for the strong began to grow in everyone's hearts.

When Chen Nian cleared out the last stronghold located at the edge of the city suburbs,

The energy fluctuations within the crystal finally settled down.

Clearly, the organized forces of the Shadow Worship Cult within Jiangyuan City had been completely uprooted.

A Combat Squad captain on the scene immediately stepped forward.

His face was filled with a respectful and grateful smile, and he was just about to speak on behalf of the Jiangyuan City Spiritual Energy Bureau to express their thanks.

However, just as he opened his mouth—

Chen Nian's brow twitched slightly, and his gaze suddenly shifted toward the western suburbs!

Through the resonance of the crystal, he clearly sensed that there was still an extremely hidden, wicked aura moving toward the western suburbs!

It seemed these Shadow Worship Cult fellows still had some fish that escaped the net!

But... the western suburbs?

Chen Nian remembered the intelligence provided by the 'Candle Dragon' department of the Spiritual Energy General Bureau—

There was a stable spatial anomaly in the western suburbs of Jiangyuan City, suspected to be connected to an Abyssal Stronghold!

"Oh? Interesting?"

A cruel and excited arc curled at the corner of Chen Nian's mouth.

Are they all going to gather in one place?

Perfect! It saves him the trouble of searching for them one by one!

He directly interrupted the squad captain who was about to speak, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable authority:

"There's a situation in the western suburbs."

"Organize your men immediately and move toward the western suburbs. Prepare for support and containment."

"I'll go ahead and check it out."

Before his voice could fade—

Boom!

Blood-light soared into the sky!

Chen Nian's figure turned into a brilliant streak of light that tore through the sky, charging toward the western suburbs with overwhelming force!

He left the Spiritual Energy Bureau members standing there, looking at each other with faces full of shock and solemnity.

There's still something in the western suburbs?