355: Now, is there anyone still trying to stop us?

Jiangzhou City, the outskirts of Qinglan Mountain.

The Action Team from the Jiangzhou City Spiritual Energy Bureau has already arrived quickly at the scene.

Dozens of special vehicles have completely blocked the road to the main entrance of Qinglan Mountain.

Fully armed Special Agents set up temporary energy barriers and monitoring equipment.

A swarm of drones took to the sky, conducting an all-around scan of the entire mountain area.

Leading the team was the deputy director of the Jiangzhou Branch, a middle-aged man with a resolute face named Zhou Zhen.

He was currently standing beside the command vehicle, staring at the energy spectrum of Qinglan Mountain displayed on the screen, his brows tightly furrowed.

On the spectrum, deep within the Qinglan Sect, a red energy point flickered in and out of sight.

But the trouble was, the Qinglan Sect's Mountain-Protecting Array had been fully activated.

A translucent, pale green light curtain enveloped the main peak of Qinglan Mountain, isolating the inside from the outside.

Complex runes flowed across the surface of the light curtain, emitting defensive fluctuations that could not be underestimated.

"Director Zhou, we still can't contact Sect Master Feng Qingzi. All communication channels within the Sect are busy or filled with static," a Signalman reported.

Zhou Zhen nodded with a grim face.

He looked up toward Qinglan Mountain, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

The Qinglan Sect had been rooted in Jiangzhou for hundreds of years and had always maintained a good relationship with the Spiritual Energy Bureau.

Sect Master Feng Qingzi was a righteous man, and his Disciples often performed heroic deeds.

He truly found it hard to believe that such a Sect could be a minion of the Abyss.

But the monitoring data would not lie.

The fluctuations of the Abyss's Evil Energy could not be faked.

Zhou Zhen sternly ordered the surrounding Special Agents:

"Have Team Two and Team Three continue to evacuate the residents of the villages at the foot of the mountain, ensuring there are no civilians within five kilometers."

"Team One and Team Four are to guard the main entrances and exits. No one is allowed to enter or leave without orders."

"Additionally, notify the Special Task Force to stand by, ready to respond to any emergencies at any time."

Just as the orders were given, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

At the mountain gate of the Qinglan Sect, the pale green light curtain rippled slightly, and a figure slowly stepped out.

The newcomer was an elderly man dressed in a blue-grey Daoist robe, with white hair and a white beard, a thin face, and a whisk in his hand.

It was one of the Elders of the Qinglan Sect—Elder Yunsong.

Elder Yunsong stepped out of the Mountain-Protecting Array, his gaze sweeping over the Spiritual Energy Bureau troops waiting in formation.

A trace of displeasure appeared on his face.

"Deputy Director Zhou, what is the meaning of this?" His voice carried the authority of an Elder. "Why have you brought people to surround our Qinglan Sect's mountain gate? And with such a display?"

Zhou Zhen stepped forward a few paces and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Elder Yunsong, I apologize for the intrusion, but it is truly out of necessity."

"Our bureau has detected an abnormal energy eruption within your Sect's mountain gate, suspected to be related to the Abyss."

"As a precaution, we have come to investigate. Please, Elder, grant us passage and open the Mountain-Protecting Array to allow us to enter and inspect."

Hearing this, Elder Yunsong's face darkened:

"Nonsense!"

"My Qinglan Sect is a Sect of the Righteous Path, established for over three hundred years. We act with integrity and sit upright; how could we be tainted by Abyssal evils?"

"Deputy Director Zhou, do not listen to rumors and damage our mutual harmony!"

Zhou Zhen's attitude remained polite, but his tone was firm:

"Elder, the monitoring data is conclusive."

"There is currently an Evil Energy reaction from the Abyss within your Sect, and the Mountain-Protecting Array is isolating the inside from the outside while communications are being refused. Such behavior is truly suspicious."

"If your Sect is innocent, opening the mountain gate to accept an investigation will naturally bring the truth to light, which would also be the best way to protect your Sect's reputation."

Elder Yunsong snorted coldly and flicked his whisk:

"My Qinglan Sect is currently holding a secret ancestral ritual, requiring us to close the mountain gate and maintain quietude."

"This is an internal matter of the Sect. How can outsiders be allowed to interfere?"

"Deputy Director Zhou, please take your people and leave immediately. Do not disturb our Sect's peace!"

A flash of impatience crossed Zhou Zhen's eyes as he pressed further:

"If it truly is a Sect ritual, why are there fluctuations of Abyssal Evil Energy?"

"Elder, this matter concerns the safety of Jiangzhou and could even affect the entire country. Please consider the bigger picture."

"Presumptuous!" Elder Yunsong finally lost his temper, his spiritual power surging slightly. "Zhou Zhen! You, a mere deputy director of a branch bureau, dare to point fingers in front of my Qinglan Sect's mountain gate?"

"When my Sect was established, you weren't even born yet. Leave quickly, or else do not blame this old man for being impolite!"

Zhou Zhen's eyes turned cold, and the Special Agents behind him simultaneously tightened their grip on their weapons. The atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.

Zhou Zhen's voice also deepened as he said seriously:

"Elder Yunsong, if you insist on obstructing the investigation, I can only conclude that your Sect indeed has unspeakable secrets."

"According to the 'Spiritual Energy Safety Emergency Disposal Regulations,' I have the right to take necessary coercive measures when a major threat is suspected."

"Please open the Mountain-Protecting Array immediately; otherwise, we will regard your Sect as a hostile target and resort to a force Breakthrough!"

Elder Yunsong's hair and beard bristled, his eyes wide with fury:

"You dare! My Qinglan Sect has a Legacy of three hundred years, with over a thousand Disciples, and our Sect Master is an Eighth-rank Great Cultivator! How can you people insult us so easily?"

"Zhou Zhen, if you dare touch even a single blade of grass or a tree of my mountain gate, you will be an enemy of the Qinglan Sect!"

"When the time comes for swords to meet, you will bear the consequences yourself!"

The two sides faced off, the smell of gunpowder reaching its peak.

Zhou Zhen clenched his fists.

He did not want to go to war with the Qinglan Sect.

But his duty required that he could not allow an Abyssal threat to brew right under his nose.

Just as he was about to order a forced Breakthrough—

"I could hear you all shouting and clamoring from far away."

A flat voice suddenly came from the sky.

Everyone looked up at the same time.

High in the sky, a figure dressed in casual clothes stood in mid-air, his sleeves fluttering, his expression indifferent as he looked down.

The newcomer was none other than Chen Nian.

His gaze fell on Elder Yunsong, his tone so indifferent it carried no emotion at all:

"Why waste words with them? I only have one question: will you step aside, or not?"

The moment Elder Yunsong saw Chen Nian, his face changed drastically!

As a member of the cultivation world, how could he not recognize this face?

The news of the great victory at Soul Burial Valley was everywhere; Chen Nian's image had long since spread across the world!

"Spe... Special Commissioner Chen?" Elder Yunsong's voice was a bit dry, his previous arrogant Aura instantly dissipating by more than half.

In its place was a hint of panic.

But he quickly forced himself to be calm and bowed in greeting:

"I did not know Special Commissioner Chen was coming; please forgive me for not welcoming you properly."

"My Qinglan Sect is currently holding an internal ritual and it is not convenient to open to the public. I hope Special Commissioner Chen can understand."

"As for the 'Abyssal energy' mentioned by Deputy Director Zhou, it is purely a monitoring error. My Sect would never..."

Before he could finish speaking.

Chen Nian simply raised his right hand casually and flicked a finger toward Elder Yunsong.

"Pfft—!"

A muffled sound.

Elder Yunsong's body, like a watermelon struck by an invisible giant hammer, suddenly exploded!

Blood, shredded meat, bones, internal organs... mixed with dissipating spiritual energy, splashed out in front of the Qinglan Sect's mountain gate like a cruel firework in full bloom!

This seventh-rank Qinglan Sect Elder didn't even have time to let out a scream before his body and soul were both destroyed, leaving no remains!

The entire scene fell into a dead silence.

All the Spiritual Energy Bureau Agents, including even Zhou Zhen, were dumbfounded, their minds completely blank.

Chen Nian slowly withdrew his finger, as if he had merely flicked away a fly.

He looked at the pool of blood in front of the mountain gate, his tone still flat:

"Obstructing the Spiritual Energy Bureau in the performance of its duties and harboring an Abyssal threat—death is a punishment he richly deserved."

His gaze turned toward those Qinglan Sect Disciples whose faces were filled with terror, a golden light flashing in his eyes.

"Now, is there anyone else who wants to stop us?"