World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 365: Lone Courage!

In the town at the foot of the mountain.

Twenty seconds earlier, the makeshift screen on the warhead hidden in a cargo truck suddenly lit up. Wang Sheng, who was locked in fierce combat atop the mountain peak, felt his spiritual consciousness shudder violently to warn him.

He turned sharply, and with the aid of the powerful perception from Yaoyun, he locked onto the source of danger: a white cargo truck parked on the street at the foot of the mountain.

It was as if he could hear the ticking of a clock. Despite how absurd the idea was, he still unbiddenly concluded, the nuclear warhead has been activated!

However, the mushroom cloud he had imagined did not appear. He froze for half a second, yet his sword strikes did not falter; it still forced the burly opponent wreathed in flames backward.

Two seconds passed. Still no explosion. His spiritual consciousness only screamed louder. Finally, Wang Sheng realized that the warhead had been armed with a timed detonation mechanism.

He immediately abandoned the enemy before him, turned around, and pushed his Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent to its limit. Ignoring the drain on his power, he hurled toward the town.

His spiritual consciousness warned him ever more urgently. He knew only that the warhead had a countdown, but he had no idea how long he had left before it detonated.

"Your Nascent Soul is trembling in fear. Why are you still rushing toward the source of that fear?" Yaoyun telepathically questioned.

Wang Sheng had no answer. His gaze fixed on the town below as his Nascent Soul adjusted enchanted power throughout his entire body, transforming it into cyan tribulation clouds that bred lightning. He merged with the lightning and plunged to the ground.

"You're not certain of success. Why go?"

"I'm acting on impulse," Wang Sheng answered.

"If you know your judgment is unwise, then why persist?"

"As I said, impulse."

Wang Sheng drew a sharp breath. He stopped for the briefest moment, then slashed toward the valley with an even stronger lightning.

"If I can save them, why shouldn't I?" Wang Sheng added.

"And how will you save them?"

"With the storage artifact."

Their minds moved dozens of times faster than their mouths could, bypassing the slowness of verbal communication.

Lightning tore through the sky, cleaving down toward the base of the mountain.

Initially thinking that Wang Sheng was exhausting himself to escape, the four rushed after him. However, a dozen seconds later, alarms blared inside the mountain. Heavy gates began to close with increasing speed.

The modern vampire princess who had delivered "supplies" to the ancient prince earlier hovered in the air and shouted toward Galina in Gelan tongue.

The four immediately stopped their pursuit, turned, and flew at full speed back toward the base entrance, even faster than when they had attacked.

The warhead in the town was armed. Galina, who had the detonator, didn't activate it, yet the device had armed itself, set to explode in one minute.

Galina instantly realized that someone was manipulating the Dark Faction—someone who intended to push the Dark Faction and the Hua Republic's cultivation world into total war.

The one-minute delay was only to ensure that Jialington's base would be fully sealed and the four experts could escape unharmed before the blast.

To everyone's surprise, including the very instigator who had activated the nuclear bomb, the Heavenly Tribulation Wielder was quick to react. Somehow sensing that it had been armed, he had immediately unleashed lightning and charged straight toward the danger instead of fleeing from the warzone.

What is he planning? Carry the bomb away from the town?

Taking the time into consideration, it was impossible. A full minute would hardly be enough for him to rush down the mountain even at lightning speed. Each burst of lightning had a limited range, and there was always a brief pause before the next. Even though he traveled through it, it still cost him precious time.

Only thirty seconds remained.

In his mind, Wang Sheng and Yaoyun debated fiercely. Each second of exchange had more meaning than minutes of speech.

Quickly, Wang Sheng explained, "Professor Ma once explained the use of storage artifacts in detail. He compared them to the Daoist concept of Qian and Kun. The universe has indestructible barriers, and breaching them leads to another plane. Science cannot pierce it, not even with a nuclear blast. However, the runes and seals of Daoist tradition, the legacy of immortal civilization, can open a door in those barriers."

"Your pendant's seal is unstable. The space it opens is fragile and nearly useless."

With surprising calm, he retorted, "But I have you."

Yaoyun faintly showed her displeasure. "Hmph."

"The only problem is whether I can reach the truck before the warhead detonates. Can you see inside it with your perception? Describe it to me."

"I will try, but you're taking a reckless risk. Mortals may live dull lives, but you have a chance to ascend to immortality. Which is more important?"

"Like I said, I'm acting on impulse. Besides, they are innocent. They are only being used as pawns against me. If I can save them, I must."

Yaoyun fell silent. While lost in thought, she stretched her perception into the truck.

***

Galina stood above the closing gates of the base as the storm of lightning zapped from the mountain to the town. Watching the lightning-cloaked sword cultivator, her gaze shifted slightly. She shook her head.

People called from below. Galina drew her longsword and slipped through the narrowing gap of the gates. With a heavy crash, the base sealed shut, layer upon layer of barriers locking into place.

***

In the Special Investigation Unit headquarters, hundreds of eyes stared at the main screen.

They could see only the bolts of lightning surging downward. Due to the distance, the satellite could only capture Wang Sheng for brief instants within the storm.

He had already crossed half the distance. He continued zapping toward the town.

Everyone held their breath. The minute felt unbearably long, yet far too short. He had to traverse the mountain and reach the streets.

And then what?

Doubt filled their faces. To them, he seemed like a moth flying into fire.

"Daoist Master Wang..." Chi Ling still kept her composure. She turned to the stunned man in the corner. "Can the detonation be stopped?"

"N-no, it can't!" the man shouted in panic. "There are barely twenty seconds left. It's impossible to disarm!"

Hearts tightened as the lightning-cloaked man on the screen pressed on without hesitation.

He was fearless, though no one could understand why.

***

Within Wang Sheng's mind, the exchange continued.

"Get out of here, now!" Yaoyun now sounded a little panicked. "The screen shows twenty-three seconds. You cannot reach it in time!"

"Mm."

"You cannot save them! You'll die for nothing! Your spiritual consciousness has warned you. You know better than I do that the weapon down there will destroy you and your Primordial Spirit!"

Wang Sheng snapped. "Then help me, or stay silent."

Yaoyun fell quiet.

Twenty seconds left.

Wang Sheng blanked out, his eyes fixed upon the town. With his Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent being pushed to the limit, he nearly became lightning himself.

Fifteen seconds.

Arcs of lightning enveloped him. His hair stood on end, and his face twisted with strain as he charged forward.

Ten seconds.

The metallic ticking became ever so clearer. Citizens of the Hua Republic stood in the streets, staring skyward. Their eyes reflected the descending lightning.

Eight.

Yaoyun sighed. Spiritless flared with immortal light, weaving into a radiant curtain that condensed before him. She told herself, "If my father had cared for mortal lives as you do, perhaps the Heavenly Court would never have fallen to such a plight."

Faintly skeptical, Wang Sheng questioned, "Are you sure?"

"Only five seconds remain. You might not make it. Do you not fear death?"

"Of course I do. But I will make it in time!"

His determination rang in his replies as firmly as the light in his eyes. He clenched the pendant in his left hand, tearing it free from his neck as he flew.

Calming down, Yaoyun asked, "If you die, will you regret it?"

"Of course, but I won't die. Why are you asking me all these questions anyway? Can't you be a bit more optimistic?"

"I am only curious about your thoughts. To witness a fool rush to save others at the cost of his life is... interesting."

"Don't worry! My fate is strong. Not even Heaven and Earth can take me," he answered, seemingly bolstering his own resolve.

Four seconds.

A bolt of lightning struck diagonally toward the center of the street where the hostages were gathered, its tail end already striking the white metal exterior.

Three!

Wang Sheng stepped forward in a blaze of lightning!

Two!

His face contorted. He thrust out his left arm. The pendant in his palm shone furiously as it devoured his enchanted power.

"Are you afraid?" Yaoyun asked.

Inside the truck, the numbers on the small screen shifted from 00:01 to 00:00.

Beneath the insulated metal casing, a spark flared.

The high explosive ignited. A compression wave forced uranium rings inward toward the neutron core. Density spiked beyond critical. Fission began.

All within a millionth of a second.