November eleventh.
Suzhou.
Heavy snow fell.
"Double Eleven is here! Enjoy more discounts!"
The screens on the bustling commercial streets displayed advertisements from major e-commerce platforms.
There were few pedestrians on the street.
After the great world's revival, martial arts schools, sects, and immortal sects emerged like mushrooms after rain, but this had nothing to do with the vast majority of people.
Talent, wealth, companions, and land were all indispensable. Joining just one martial arts school cost seven to eight thousand yuan a month, an expense that ordinary people simply could not afford. Those with better conditions might not possess the talent.
Most people continued to live their lives as usual.
Even Chen Yating, Chen Jiuyang's sister, was diligently studying in medical school, let alone others.
"Wuwuwuwu!!!"
The urgent sirens of the Six Doors sounded.
Some people couldn't help but whisper:
"What's going on lately? The constables of the Six Doors seem to be non-stop, with police cars constantly on the move."
"There must be criminals, but that has nothing to do with us. Have you paid your mortgage and car loan?"
"Sigh, don't mention it. The economic environment is not good right now..."
...
After November third, criminal activity nationwide surged dramatically, leaving the Six Doors in various regions in a state of disarray.
Gradually, the number of Six Doors constables killed began to increase, with many foreign criminals infiltrating the Dragon Country.
Suzhou Six Doors Headquarters.
The higher-ups were in a meeting.
Everyone's expression was grim, and the atmosphere was heavy and somber.
Tang Anmin, the Chief Constable of Suzhou Six Doors, had never felt such immense pressure.
All sorts of lawbreakers were in chaos, and their frequency and actions were becoming increasingly bold.
The Suzhou Six Doors were on the verge of collapse, and many cases still had unapprehended culprits.
It was as if an impenetrable, vast dark curtain was descending.
After listening to the reports from below, Tang Anmin summarized that the constables of the Suzhou Six Doors could no longer hold on.
Tang Anmin said, "I understand. I will find comrades from the Heavenly Revelation Army to assist the Six Doors shortly."
"Meeting adjourned."
Tang Anmin sat alone in the main seat, his brow furrowed in thought.
When things are abnormal, there must be a demon. With this happening all over the country, what were these enemies trying to do?
Everything, both inside and out, felt peculiar.
In Yan Jing, the central headquarters of the Six Doors had not issued any clear directives.
"Within a week, hundreds of homicides have occurred, ranging from commoners to the wealthy and powerful, and even martial artists and cultivators."
"What is their objective, and what are they trying to gather intelligence on?"
As he was racking his brains in distress, a senior secret agent, a constable with martial arts cultivation, burst into his office with a pale face: "Chief Constable, something big has happened..."
Tang Anmin's heart sank with a 'clatter,' and he quickly asked, "What happened?"
The constable trembled and said, "Our... Suzhou's Sword Bearer... is dead..."
"Boom!!"
This information exploded in Tang Anmin's ears like a bomb, making his head buzz and his vision spin.
The Sword Bearer... is dead...
For countless years, the Sword Bearer had been the last line of defense for the Dragon Country's safety. Even a King-rank expert had to show respect to the local Sword Bearer.
And now, what had he heard?
The Sword Bearer was dead!
"Quick! Notify the Martial Cultivation King! Take me to the scene!" Tang Anmin, ignoring the darkness before his eyes, roared.
The Sword Bearer was dead; this was truly a major incident.
He quickly got into a car and drove to the crime scene.
The Suzhou Sword Bearer lived in an old courtyard in the old town.
At this moment, a cordon had been set up inside and out, prohibiting ordinary people from entering or exiting.
In the middle of the small courtyard, the body of the Suzhou Sword Bearer was pierced through the heart by a samurai sword. The Sword Bearer was dressed in gray, with an aged face, one hand tightly gripping a sword, and the other clutching an enemy's arm.
Besides the Sword Bearer's body, there were over a dozen other corpses. Judging by their attire, they were Japanese martial artists and ninjas, as well as superpowered individuals from the Lighthouse Country.
Tang Anmin's features contorted: "How is this possible!"
His heart was churning with immense shock.
Even he, the Chief Constable of the local Six Doors, did not know where the Sword Bearer lived.
How did these enemies accurately locate the place to strike the Sword Bearer?
The Sword Bearer's combat power should have been more formidable than imagined, so how could this have happened...
Tang Anmin's mind was in turmoil, and his hands and feet began to tremble.
"Chief Constable, the Martial Cultivation King is here."
The Martial Cultivation King was Wu Xiuyuan, a participant in the Dragon Country's martial arts rankings a few years ago.
Wu Xiuyuan, with a deep frown, walked into the small courtyard, his expression then turning extremely grim.
"The King's Sword is still here."
After learning of the Sword Bearer's death, Wu Xiuyuan found it difficult to believe.
He thought it was utterly absurd.
But when he truly saw the body of the Suzhou Sword Bearer, his heart was shaken like a tsunami.
He stepped forward alone and picked up the King's Sword in the Sword Bearer's hand.
"King's Sword."
The next moment, Wu Xiuyuan's expression suddenly changed, and he immediately shouted, "Immediately notify all soldiers of the Heavenly Revelation Army to mobilize and work in shifts for twenty-four hours!"
"Yes!"
"Also, notify all Marquis-rank experts in Suzhou to join the patrol team immediately."
"Yes!"
"To ensure safety, further notify all sect martial artists and cultivators within Suzhou to participate in this operation."
With the Suzhou Sword Bearer now dead, he, the Martial Cultivation King, held the highest status and authority.
Seeing the Martial Cultivation King making such a grand mobilization, Tang Anmin's unease grew.
Tang Anmin was unaware of certain secrets.
However, Wu Xiuyuan knew them all too clearly.
The Sword Bearer's primary functions were to suppress King-rank experts and to wield the King's Sword, which protected the peace of the Dragon Country's territory.
He had just picked up the King's Sword and discovered that...
The King's Sword had lost its efficacy.
This was the true reason for the Sword Bearer's death.
Henceforth, there was no King's Sword.
Wu Xiuyuan took a deep breath, his expression shifting constantly. How could he not understand the importance of this?
What had happened?
What was the enemy's target, the spiritual脉泉眼 beneath Suzhou?
Or something else...
But no matter what.
Since the Sword Bearer was dead, the enemy's next target was highly likely to be him, the Martial Cultivation King stationed in Suzhou.
The storm was gathering, and the wind filled the tower!
"Hoo!"
The Martial Cultivation King exhaled a breath of turbid air, "Quickly search for the enemy's whereabouts."
It was better to take the initiative than to wait for death.
"Yes," Tang Anmin replied, his heart heavy.
The enemy had created multiple incidents, first to lull and deplete them, and now to strike at the Sword Bearer, giving the impression of the plot being revealed.
...
The death of the Suzhou Sword Bearer could not be hidden from those who cared.
Within the Han clan territory of Jiudu.
Chen Jiuyang fell silent for a long time after learning of this news.
"Inviting wolves into the house, starting to lull the Immortal Alliance."
"However, those foreign beasts are so audacious that they can't help themselves in the end."
Chen Jiuyang changed his clothes, held the Yan Sheng Saber, and walked out of the Han clan territory.