The Head of the Zhao Family's voice carried an undisguisable exhaustion and was shot through with bloodshot weariness. After bowing deeply, he raised his head, his eyes burning with a bone-deep hatred.
"Sect Leader Tang, it is not that Zhao is incompetent, nor that my comrades lack effort."
"Previously, the Chinese outcast world was not without action in its attempts to eliminate the leader of the Bihe Mountain Ninjas."
His voice was pained, as if he were peeling back a bloody scab.
"Forces like the Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon-Tiger Mountain organized an encirclement, but that Ninja Leader is extremely cunning, and his strength is eerily unpredictable. The Celestial Master Mansion lost several high-ranking experts."
"Other sects large and small, as well as rogue cultivators and righteous warriors, have also struck out. But the results... most were defeated, and some did not even have their bones recovered."
The Head of the Zhao Family clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"The most tragic instance was the eldest young master of the Lu family."
He paused, seemingly unable to bear mentioning the name.
"To probe even a sliver of that Ninja Leader's true nature, to obtain even the smallest bit of intelligence on him, the eldest young master of the Lu family used himself as bait! Only then did we barely obtain information on that Ninja Leader!"
"This time, Zhao emboldens himself to implore the Tang Sect to act—not for an assassination."
He emphasized his tone, his eyes burning as he looked at the Tang Sect Leader.
"But for a 'Bright Killing'!"
"We want everyone to know that the so-called experts of the Japanese invaders are actually nothing to be feared! We want the soldiers on the front lines to know that behind them, there are also outcasts of our generation bravely slaying the enemy!"
"This act is to boost morale and to console the spirits of those fallen soldiers!"
A sharp glint flashed in the Tang Sect Leader's single eye. His finger tapped lightly on the armrest, producing a dull thud—once, then twice—striking a chord in everyone's heart.
The air in the inner hall seemed to freeze.
After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly, his voice raspy and low.
"Head of the Zhao Family, do you know the rules of my Tang Sect?"
"Assassination is already a matter of narrow escapes from death."
"To 'Brightly Kill' a powerful and elusive Ninja Leader means inevitably facing the frenzied retaliation of the Japanese invaders afterward. This price..."
He did not continue, but his meaning was clear. The Tang Sect usually prioritized interests and rarely took on such high-risk, uncertain-reward tasks.
The Head of the Zhao Family suddenly straightened his spine. There was no hint of hesitation on his face; instead, it was filled with resolve.
"The price, Zhao knows well!"
His voice rang out with conviction.
"My Zhao family has been in business for generations and possesses some modest wealth. As long as the Tang Sect is willing to strike, I am willing to exhaust my entire fortune and offer everything up!"
"After the deed is done, if the Japanese retaliate, my Zhao family is willing to share the risk with the Tang Sect!"
"Merchants are inherently profit-driven, and I, Zhao, am the greediest of all."
"Seeking profit for myself or my family can no longer satisfy me. Only seeking profit for the country is a true gain!"
His voice echoed in the inner hall. Every word was filled with sincerity and determination, shaking the hearts of every Tang Sect disciple present.
The Tang Sect Leader's finger stopped tapping the armrest. He looked deeply at the Head of the Zhao Family. Within that single eye, something seemed to be churning.
Was the Tang Sect truly only about profit? If the country ceased to exist, how could the Tang Sect survive alone?
He slowly stood up, an invisible majesty radiating from him.
"What a fine 'seeking profit for the country'!"
The old Sect Leader's voice was no longer raspy; instead, it carried a long-lost fervor.
"Dealing with the Japanese invaders who infringe upon our China, killing these beasts who are less than pigs or dogs, is already the duty of my generation!"
He waved his hand.
"This mission, my Tang Sect accepts!"
"As for the reward, ten gold bars will suffice!"
"As for the rest, keep it, Zhao. Use it to buy more guns and ammunition for the front lines, and to provide more relief for the displaced commoners!"
The old Sect Leader's decision stunned the Tang Sect disciples present, but immediately after, a surge of hot blood rushed to their hearts. The Head of the Zhao Family was so moved his entire body trembled as he bowed deeply once more.
"Sect Leader Tang's righteousness is high! On behalf of thousands upon thousands of suffering compatriots, I thank the Tang Sect!"
The old Sect Leader waved his hand, signaling him not to be overly formal.
"Pass down the order: all inner sect experts, gather at the martial arts field!"
The order was conveyed. Soon, on the martial arts field outside the inner hall, dozens of Tang Sect experts with steady auras and sharp eyes gathered. They all knew what they were about to face. Assassinating the leader of the Bihe Mountain Ninjas was a one-in-ten chance of survival.
But not a single person flinched. When the nation is in peril, every common man shares the responsibility.
A black lot-container was brought forward, containing the iron lots that would decide their fates. Whoever drew the lots with special markings would take on the heavy responsibility of this "Bright Killing."
The atmosphere was murderous to the extreme, with only the howling of the cold wind blowing across the martial arts field. The old Sect Leader picked up the container, preparing to announce the start of the drawing.
Right at that moment, a sudden change occurred!
In the empty space in the center of the martial arts field, the air rippled without any warning. Following that, a ghostly blue light bloomed out of thin air, expanding rapidly to form an oval portal over two meters high.
"What is that?!"
"An enemy attack?!"
The Tang Sect members reacted instantly. Each one looked wary, adopting defensive or offensive stances with various hidden weapons clutched in their hands. The atmosphere turned abruptly tense. The Head of the Zhao Family was also struck with horror, staring fixedly at the eerie portal.
Under the suspicious and uncertain gazes of everyone, a group of people slowly walked out from the portal radiating blue light.
The dress and appearance of these people were completely out of place with this era. Their "strange clothes" (modern attire) left the Tang Sect members in a daze. What shocked them even more was the aura emanating from this group.
Every single one was exceptionally terrifying.
Some had fine electrical sparks coiling around them, emitting soft crackling sounds that made the air feel scorched. Others simply stood quietly, yet they were like volcanoes on the verge of eruption, harboring a suffocating pressure.
Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing simple Taoist robes. At a glance, he was clearly a person of the Taoist faith. His face was hale, his gaze calm, and his frame as upright as a pine. Just standing there, he possessed a terrifying, mountain-like majesty that suppressed the entire field.
It was precisely the Old Taoist Master, Zhang Zhiwei, who had regained his middle-aged appearance.
Following closely behind was a thin-faced middle-aged man with a ferocious gaze. The moment he stepped out of the portal, his eyes swept over the surrounding Tang Sect environment. Especially as he felt that unique scent of the air belonging to the year 1940, a sky-toppling hatred and killing intent instantly erupted within his clouded eyes.
It was Lu Ci!
He heard it! He heard the call of this era; he heard the cry of that blood-deep feud!
"Those little devils!"
Lu Ci's teeth ground together with a clicking sound, and the killing intent around him almost solidified.
The modern outcast group—the Old Taoist Master, Lu Ci, Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, Xiao Zizai, and dozens of other experts who had just mastered or were proficient in magnetic power—had appeared on the Tang Sect martial arts field in the year 1940.
The Tang Sect experts acted as if facing a great enemy, their hidden weapons ready as they stared fixedly at these uninvited guests.
The Head of the Zhao Family's heart pounded wildly. He had no idea what was happening, but judging solely by these people's clothing, there was a high probability they were not Japanese invaders.
The Old Taoist Master Zhang Zhiwei scanned the field calmly. Finally, his gaze landed on the old Tang Sect Leader. Sensing the pure Qi and unique sect inheritance within the other man, he nodded slightly.