“So what’s the matter?” Tang Hao asked grimly.
Taoist Master Fu Yun furrowed his brows. He seemed angry.
“Three Hindustani cultivators crossed over into Huaxia territory yesterday morning. They were discovered by our soldiers and an intense battle broke out.
“You should know what happens when mundane people fight against cultivators. All six border patrol soldiers were killed.
“After the incident, the Agency dispatched Fellow Cultivator Qian Ji to respond. Qian Ji pursued the cultivators back into Hindustan territory. Eventually, we lost contact with him.
“At about one o’clock in the night, he sent out a distress signal. See, this was where his last reported location was.”
Taoist Master Fu Yun pointed at a spot on the map.
“That location is quite far away from the border. It’s very risky for any of us to infiltrate there. Moreover, Fellow Cultivator Qian Ji has a strong cultivation base. If he is forced to send a distress signal, it means that he is in big trouble.
“That’s why we can’t send anyone there except you. Me and Comrade Mu aren’t strong enough to take on the mission.
“Other than Fellow Cultivator Qian Ji, you’re the strongest cultivator in the Agency.
“We hope that you can infiltrate into Hindustan and save Fellow Cultivator Qian Ji. At the same time, teach the perpetrators a lesson and defend our national pride!”
Tang Hao was furious after he heard that.
The Hindustanis had acted brazenly for crossing national borders and killing Huaxia soldiers!
“Hindustani forces have been causing us a lot of trouble at the border. Several similar incidents have happened in the past few years,” Taoist Master Fu Yun said angrily.
“So how will it be, Comrade Tang? Are you going to take up the mission?”
Tang Hao nodded. “Of course, this is a matter of national pride!”
“That’s good. Here, these are the things that we’ve prepared for you. There’s a map, a GPS device, and a satellite phone,” Taoist Master Fu Yun said as he handed Tang Hao a backpack.
Tang Hao took the backpack and inspected the items inside.
“We’d better get moving. A helicopter will send you to the border. After that, it’s all up to you.”
“Alright!” Tang Hao replied.
He and Taoist Master Fu Yun exited the building. A helicopter was already waiting at the airfield outside.
Tang Hao threw the backpack inside and got into the helicopter.
The pilot started the helicopter. The rotating propeller raised violent gusts of wind.
“Stay safe, Comrade Tang! We shall wait for your triumphant return!” Taoist Master Fu Yun shouted. He stood in attention and saluted him.
Tang Hao was moved. He returned the salute.
The helicopter rose into the air and sped away.
The military base was not far away from the border. They arrived at an inconspicuous location near the border about half an hour later.
Tang Hao jumped out of the helicopter and landed on a snowy field.
They were high up in the mountains. He looked around and took in the view of the snow-capped mountain range.
He felt relaxed when he looked at the spectacular view.
‘This view is too majestic!’
A while later, he got down to serious business. He took out the GPS device to discern his current position. Then, he leaped off a cliff and flew toward Hindustan territory.
The distress signal was sent at one o’clock at night. That was twelve hours ago.
Many things could have happened in those twelve hours. Tang Hao was worried about Taoist Master Qian Ji’s safety.
Taoist Master Qian Ji might have been a powerful cultivator, but the Hindustani cultivators were no pushovers either.
So much time had passed. Taoist Master Qian Ji should not be at the place where he sent the distress signal.
Tang Hao still went there anyway, in case the Taoist master left any clues there.
Dashing like the wind, he crossed the border and entered Hindustan territory.
The area was barren. Tang Hao did not see another person along the way.
One and a half hours later, he arrived near the spot where Taoist Master Qian Ji sent the distress signal.
It was a small and run-down house, standing alone in the middle of the barren plains. It looked as though it had been abandoned a long time ago.
Tang Hao went near the house and stopped. He activated his Heaven Eye and Earth Ear spell and found that there was no movement within.
That was well within his expectations.
He went ahead to search for any clues that might be left behind by Taoist Master Qian Ji, such as a cipher.
He searched every nook and cranny of the house but did not find anything.
“What should I do now?”
Tang Hao was clueless. How was he going to find one person on such a vast wasteland?
“I should go look for a local and ask them!”
Tang Hao decided on a plan.
He heard the sounds of planes flying overhead just as he stepped out.
Five fighter jets were approaching him, making a noise like rumbling thunder. As they neared, they fired a dense barrage of missiles.
The missiles were flying toward where Tang Hao was standing.
The fighter jets were coming for him!
“Dammit! Is there a need for all that firepower?” Tang Hao cursed loudly.
They mobilized five fighter jets and fired a barrage of missiles as though they were free. What did Tang Hao do to deserve that?
He gritted his teeth, and his expression became grim.
Missiles were a lot more powerful than grenades. He could not take a frontal hit from a missile without suffering damage. Moreover, there was more than one missile].
He was in big trouble!
The missiles covered a wide area. Even if he dashed away at full speed, he might not be able to escape the blast zone.
“Dammit, I’ll have to take it head-on!”
Tang Hao gritted his teeth and flicked his wrists. Jade pendants flew around him. He activated them all and a thick and solid layer of light shields spread out around him.
Those were not jade talismans but Artifacts.
A shell ten light shields thick instantly enveloped him.
The barrage of missiles found their target.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
An earth-shattering explosion!
Fire rose into the sky, and the ground shook.
Dust and debris were thrown into the sky and obscured the sun.
The missile strike formed craters and holes in the barren plains. There was nothing left of the house.
It was a scary sight.
The five fighter jets circled the area and left.
A river of steel appeared from the mountain range at the edge of the plains. That was a line of tanks, sending up clouds of dust as they rolled across the plains.
Flanking the tanks were trucks and jeeps that carried Hindustani soldiers. They were armed to the teeth.
Countless tanks and soldiers moved across the plains like a dragon.
