PCJ – Chapter 773 The Ultimate Killing Weapon

The Battle Camp’s various squads had now formed a healthy sense of competition amongst themselves. In battle, they were comrades-in-arms, but also rivals. When cooperation was needed, they worked seamlessly together. But when it came to competing, each squad fought with full effort.

This was exactly the situation Zhang Jiaohua hoped to see. However, competition was competition — if anyone used improper or underhanded methods that resulted in battlefield casualties, they would certainly be punished by the Enforcement Hall. As the Five Great Families gradually became fully integrated into the Meishan Sect, the Enforcement Hall finally began to truly function. Its composition was adjusted, and instead of being mostly composed of disciples of the Five Families, its members were now selected internally from within Meishan Sect through a series of rigorous screenings. Many former Enforcement Hall stewards were reassigned to the Battle Hall, increasing the level of competition there even more.

As flying spirit beasts gradually approached, a three-dimensional offensive was forming from both ground and sky. The Second Long-Range Attack Unit also began their assault. Although the Battle Hall had to deal with simultaneous attacks from above and below, their defenses remained very stable. After the previous battle, both strategy and tactics of the Battle Hall had greatly improved. Under the leadership of veterans who had participated in that battle, newly joined battle cultivators quickly adapted.

Even though the enemy had not yet engaged at close range, the new recruits performed no worse than the veterans, showing no signs of panic.

“When the spirit beasts rush up later, don’t panic. Fight according to the combat methods we’ve practiced. Understood?” At this point, Wang Jie was already a seasoned soldier. Not only had he participated in the previous large-scale battle, but he had also taken part in multiple small hunting missions afterward. His cultivation had advanced to the mid-stage of Qi Refining to Divine Transformation, and his combat experience had greatly increased as well. His fighting ability had improved significantly. Now he was being trained as a candidate for squad captain or deputy. Several new combat cultivators stood at his side, and his task was to pass on his battlefield experience to them.

This situation was repeated across every squad on the battlefield. All squad captains and vice-captains were chosen from cultivators who had participated in the previous war against the Copper-Skinned Golden-Furred Boar herd. Those who had experienced that battle improved very quickly in both combat power and cultivation level. Many cultivators advanced from early-stage to mid-stage Qi Refining to Divine Transformation right after the battle. First, they received a large share of spirit beast meat as their war rewards, which naturally accelerated their cultivation. Second, the battle had tempered their mindset, deepening their understanding of cultivation. Rapid improvement was expected.

After the Second Long-Range Attack Unit unleashed their fierce assault, the sky — previously covered by flying spirit beasts like thick storm clouds — was quickly cleared. Only a few managed to escape. The sky suddenly opened up wide.

“Flying Squadron, prepare to take off. We need to understand the spirit beasts’ intentions. For so many spirit beasts to gather and launch such an organized attack on our Battle Hall camp — there is definitely something behind this. There must be a high-level spirit beast directing them. Your mission is not primarily to kill, but to investigate and identify the leader.” Zhang Jiaohua instructed the Flying Squadron’s captain, Tian Shitong.

The Flying Squadron was newly formed, and Zhang Jiaohua deliberately appointed someone from the Tian Family — the first family to sincerely align with the sect. Besides setting an example, Tian Shitong’s cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining to Divine Transformation, placing him among the higher-level cultivators of the Abandoned Lands. Since a flying unit could be threatened by both flying beasts and high-level ground beasts, Zhang Jiaohua needed someone powerful to hold the line.

As soon as the flying squadron lifted off, a massive wave of flying spirit beasts immediately surged toward them.

“Dense flying spirit beast group approaching us from the front,” the squad’s spotter reported. Communication between aircraft naturally did not rely on shouting. Even back on Earth, wireless communication devices powered by spiritual energy had already been developed — Zhang Jiaohua’s cultivation compendium even contained full production lines. Now the flying units could communicate freely, and each aircraft could transmit real-time battlefield images back to command.

The spirit beast mountains contained a huge number of spirit beasts, including some that even Zhang Jiaohua could not yet handle. So he relied on spiritual technology to enhance combat power. The Flying Squadron was equipped with the most advanced spiritual energy weapons. As the flying beasts drew closer, their distance appeared clearly on the displays of the aircraft.

“Flying spirit beast group has entered attack range. Aircraft 001 requests permission to fire,” reported the commander of Aircraft 001, Hu Yongkai.

“Permission granted. All aircraft, assume attack formation!” Tian Shitong ordered.

The aircraft immediately grouped together. Suddenly, a brilliant sphere of light shot out from Aircraft 001, streaking toward the dense cluster of flying spirit beasts.

The flying beasts sensed danger and tried to scatter, but the orb had already reached their center.

BOOM!

The light sphere exploded, expanding like a miniature sun, bathing the sky and earth in blinding white. All creatures — flying or on the ground — were momentarily blinded. And within a radius of one to two kilometers, everything was annihilated. The flying spirit beasts in that zone were simply gone, as if evaporated from existence.

“What… what is that? It’s terrifying!” The Battle Hall cultivators were wearing protective goggles, so their sight was unaffected — but they were stunned. A weapon of such power… even a Nascent Soul-stage level spirit beast might not withstand it!

“Captain, since Meishan Sect has such a powerful weapon, why didn’t we use it sooner?” Wang Jie asked Ning Yi.

“Use it sooner? Look at what happened! The flying squad’s idiots just vaporized all the spirit beast meat we worked so hard to get! What a huge loss! We’re not here just to kill spirit beasts — we’re here to cultivate!” Ning Yi said, heart aching as he looked at the scorched battlefield.

“Then report it immediately! We can’t let them waste any more spirit beast meat!” Wang Jie said urgently.

“Master, the Flying Squadron shouldn’t use that weapon right from the start. So much spirit beast meat has been ruined!” Wen Xiaoqiun quickly reported to Zhang Jiaohua.

Zhang Jiaohua hadn’t expected the spiritual energy cannon’s first field test to be this overwhelming. But the cost was also huge — the spirit stones powering Aircraft 001 were reportedly completely drained by that one shot. If the power and weapon systems hadn’t been linked, the aircraft might have simply fallen out of the sky.

“At this rate, we can’t afford to fight like this. The attack is strong, but we gain nothing. Wasting spirit stones and destroying priceless spirit beast meat…” Zhang Jiaohua felt the pain too. This kind of ultimate weapon could only be used in true emergencies.

“Who authorized that cannon shot?! Why didn’t you test the spiritual machine gun first?!” Zhang Jiaohua shouted at Tian Shitong.

Tian Shitong hesitated and replied, “…Someone pressed the wrong button.”

“Have the other aircraft test single-target spirit weapons immediately!” Zhang Jiaohua ordered.

So Aircraft 002, led by Qi Family cultivator Qi Teng, fired. Small beams of spiritual light shot out one after another. The fleeing flying beasts couldn’t dodge — each beam pierced straight through multiple beasts before fading. Spirit beasts fell like rain from the sky.

“Stop attacking. Flying Squadron — continue reconnaissance. Find the commanding spirit beast and attempt to capture it alive,” Zhang Jiaohua ordered.

Soon, the Flying Squadron located the commander: a Phantom-Eyed Spirit Fox, protected by high-level beasts.

“I’ve spotted it! It’s the Phantom-Eyed Spirit Fox!” Tian Shitong reported.

“Clear its guards and capture it if possible,” Zhang Jiaohua said, boarding his personal aircraft.

The Phantom-Eyed Spirit Fox wasn’t strong in direct combat, but it was born with command talent and extremely powerful spiritual force — capable of controlling spirit beasts of the same level.