Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

The leader of the Tiantong Sect, with his clone, oversaw the church, thwarted the Japanese pirates' conspiracy, killed the Japanese naval admiral, and annihilated five thousand elite marines!

This news was like a bombshell, exploding in the world of supernatural beings and spreading at an astonishing speed, causing a huge uproar.

Not only the Jianghu Xiaozhan, but the entire world of supernatural beings was in an uproar.

In recent years, war has raged across China. Many extraordinary individuals in China have witnessed firsthand the power of modern firearms and have come to deeply understand how powerless a single extraordinary individual is in the face of an organized army.

Throughout history, many powerful and extraordinary individuals have emerged who could defeat ten thousand or a thousand men, taking the head of a general amidst a vast army.

But everyone understands that the heroic era of cold weapons is gone forever.

But today, that young celestial master proved everyone wrong with his undeniable achievements! He showed the world that the era of extraordinary individuals has not passed.

Or to be more precise, this is the era of Zhang Zhiwei!
Many people are saying that Zhang Zhiwei is the undisputed number one in the world of supernatural beings, the "top expert".

Some say that Zhang Zhiwei has already become an immortal, a terrestrial deity, and may ascend to heaven at any time.

Some people say that whether he is an immortal or not, or whether he has become an immortal, is no longer important.

At least in the current world of supernatural beings, the power he has displayed is no different from that of the legendary immortals and gods.

After this incident, it was as if an insurmountable mountain had been erected in the hearts of all the extraordinary people.

At the summit of this high mountain stood a figure, and that figure was Zhang Zhiwei.

Not only in the world of supernatural beings, but also in the Tian Tong Diocese, this great victory quickly made headlines on the front pages of major newspapers.

However, the contents of the newspaper were actually somewhat different. The newspaper reported that the brave soldiers and civilians, who had infiltrated the Tiantong Diocese, fought a fierce battle against the Japanese pirates with the help and cooperation of many believers and clergy of the Tiantong Church. In the end, they annihilated more than 5,000 enemy soldiers and killed the Japanese naval admiral.

The story remains the same; it doesn't overemphasize the miraculous power of the "lightning incarnation," but rather emphasizes the heroic actions of the people, calling it a great victory of the military and civilians working together to resist foreign aggression.

As for the miracle, it was vaguely described as "the manifestation of the Heavenly Master, protecting all living beings."

This was something Zhang Zhiwei specifically instructed Wang Ai to do. Stories of unity and concerted effort are more inspiring and motivating than individual heroic deeds.

These newspapers were mostly published by newspapers affiliated with the Tiantong Church or those closely connected with the Tiantong Chamber of Commerce.

When this newspaper was delivered to every household, the entire land of China was in an uproar!
Everywhere, in the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, there were crowds cheering and jumping for joy.

A newsboy waved his newspaper and ran excitedly down the street: "Extra! Extra! Five thousand Japanese pirates annihilated! The Japanese pirate general killed!"

"Well done! Good kill!"

A rickshaw puller stopped and exclaimed excitedly, "Those little devils, they've finally met their match! They deserve it! It's so damn satisfying!"

"Five thousand men! Five thousand fully armed Japanese devils! They were all slaughtered? Goodness, that's incredible!" An old man who was drinking tea slapped his thigh and exclaimed in delight.

Countless people flocked to the streets, spreading the news.

Some elderly people were even moved to tears, their pent-up humiliation and anger finally finding release at that moment.

This resounding victory was like a ray of dawn piercing through the darkness, giving everyone hope amidst despair.

Of course, some newspapers also reported the truth in these reports.

However, because the Tiantong Chamber of Commerce's newspaper had seized the high ground and gained popular support, it became the mainstream answer in this battle.

As a result, some newspapers that reported real news were dismissed as nonsense and rambling.

After all, it's hard to believe that the military and civilians could wipe out 5,000 well-equipped elite Marines by relying on street fighting in the church.

However, compared to the arrival of the Heavenly Master who transformed into a lightning bolt and annihilated the Japanese pirates, it is still more convincing.

And at the same time.

In the conference room of the Japanese Navy Headquarters in Japan, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive, as if the air itself had frozen.

Some ordinary employees didn't even dare to breathe loudly at this moment, for fear of incurring bad luck.

Ever since the battle reports from Shanghai came back, the ministers of the Navy Ministry were so angry that they almost smashed up their offices.

Several elderly ministers were so angry that they suffered heart attacks. Their attendants quickly summoned experts to watch over them constantly, fearing that they might not be able to catch their breath and would pass away.

In a top-secret meeting room, high-ranking naval officers gathered together.

Seated at the head of the table was Prince Fushimi, Chief of the Naval General Staff.

His face was grim, and the anger in his eyes seemed to set the entire conference room ablaze.

Several naval ministers and admirals sat on either side, all looking dejected and as if they had lost their parents.

"Your Highness, Commander!"

A naval minister stood up with a stiff upper lip and reported in a hoarse voice, "Admiral Yujiro... has already sacrificed his life for the country. The five thousand brave marines... have all perished in the land. That... that 'Dojigiri Yasutsuna,' bestowed upon us by His Majesty, we couldn't even retrieve it..."

With each word he uttered, Prince Fushimi's face grew increasingly grim, eventually turning as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Dojigiri Yasutsuna" is said to be a gift from the Emperor, but in fact, he personally handed it to Takeshita Yujiro, representing his absolute support and expectations for this operation.

He is Prince Gong, the great-uncle of the current emperor, and also the Grand Admiral and Chief of the Navy, possessing the highest authority in naval military decision-making.

This action by Takeshita Yujiro was a joint plan between him and the Shinto Grand Priest, and of course, it was also approved and endorsed by the Emperor.

The mission was simple: led by former Navy Admiral Takeshita Yujiro, an elite force would attack the Tentong Cathedral, slaughter the church's believers, and force out the little Taoist priest who had been hiding in the shadows.

Once the true identity of the Little Celestial Master is revealed, the Grand Master of Shintoism, along with several of the most powerful figures in the world of Japanese supernatural beings, will launch a swift and decisive ambush to eliminate any future threats.

But the current situation is that the Grand Master has everything ready, but the naval admiral he sent out has not even completed the first step of the mission and has not been able to lure out the true identity of the little celestial master.

Not only did they fail to lure it out, they also suffered heavy losses, with five thousand elite naval soldiers killed, a senior admiral killed in action, and even a national treasure-level magical artifact that had been enshrined for a thousand years lost!
This can only be described as a complete and utterly humiliating defeat!

It is foreseeable that when he encounters Prince Kan'in, he will be subjected to merciless ridicule and humiliation.

Prince Kan'in was the Minister of the Army and also his uncle. The Navy and the Army have always been at odds, and he and his uncle disliked each other even more, engaging in open and covert struggles for many years.

The Navy has suffered such a major setback this time, and the Army will definitely use this as leverage to kick them while they're down.

"Is there any way to salvage this?" Prince Fushimi asked the Minister of the Navy coldly, suppressing his anger.

The Minister of the Navy opened his mouth, but didn't speak. He was afraid that if he spoke, his heart wouldn't be able to take it.

He was so shocked when he learned that Takeshita Yujiro had led more than 5,000 marines to their annihilation at Tentsu Cathedral that he suffered a heart attack. If he hadn't been rescued in time, he might be lying in a coffin now.

At this moment, when Prince Fushimi asked, he recalled the shock he felt when he saw the battle report sent by Hase earlier.

The shock he felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life. Even after becoming the Minister of the Navy and weathering countless storms, he had never felt such terror and powerlessness.

Those are five thousand elite troops! They have air support from the sky, tanks clearing the way on the ground, and warships bombarding the river! How could they possibly lose?
He simply couldn't imagine the scenario of losing!
How could one person be so powerful?

Even those so-called karate gods and sword saints don't possess such terrifying power. Against a well-organized army, they are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly helpless.

Are we both supernatural beings? Does this little celestial master really have three heads and six arms?

What's worse, this happened within the International Settlement.

This time, they showed no respect for the foreigners in the concession and forced their way in.

After this incident, those foreigners will definitely make some moves. Although they are currently struggling to survive themselves and are unlikely to take any major military action, they will certainly engage in some disgusting little tricks, such as extensively reporting the tragic situation there and exposing the navy's atrocities and incompetence.

At that time, their navy will not only suffer huge losses, but will also be disgraced and become a laughing stock of countries around the world.

Not only will Takeshita Yujiro and Hase be condemned as defeated generals, but their entire navy will be nailed to the pillar of shame and infamous for eternity.

They were supposed to be meritorious figures who expanded the territory for posterity, but now they have become infamous villains who will be remembered for eternity.

The thought of it made him tremble with anger, his blood pressure spiked, and his vision blurred.

Prince Fushimi, seeing that the Minister of the Navy remained silent for a long time, finally flew into a rage.

He slammed his fist on the conference table, causing a teacup to overturn and spill tea all over the table. He roared:
"No matter what kind of monsters or demons they are, they cannot stop the iron hooves of the Imperial Navy. We will definitely kill that damned Chinese strategist and wash away this shame."

"But before that, we must keep the news under wraps! Any leaks of the true details of this incident are strictly prohibited, and violators will be subject to military law!"

He continued, "The official story is that the Navy was ambushed and attacked by the enemy with new weapons."

"But it also inflicted huge losses on the enemy, so it's not a defeat. It's just a small setback in a grand battle! Do you all understand?!"

"Hai!!"

The generals all responded in unison; they had no other choice.

This scandal must be covered up tightly and not allowed to fester until a thorough solution is found.

"But the army idiots have seen this too. What if they spread it around?" someone asked cautiously.

Prince Fushimi glared and said menacingly, "Then make him disappear! Whoever dares to spread rumors at this time is a traitor to the Empire!"

He paused, a ruthless and resolute glint in his eyes: "Next, I will meet with His Majesty the Emperor and the Grand Master of the Ise Grand Shrine. This incident is definitely not over."

"If necessary, I will even personally lead the flagship into battle. No one can stop the Imperial Navy's advance."

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this. They sensed the murderous intent and determination in Prince Fushimi's words, and knew that this matter would definitely not end so easily.

After the meeting ended, Prince Fushimi, with a gloomy face, got into his car and drove to the Imperial Palace.

Deep within the imperial palace, in the imperial residence.

The architecture here is simple and solemn, with dark brown wooden structures revealing the weight of time. White sand covers the courtyard, and several meticulously pruned pines and cypresses stand quietly, exuding a desolate and solemn Zen-like atmosphere. The long corridor is secluded, with a stone lantern every few steps, its dim light swaying in the night, casting long shadows.

Led by his attendants, Prince Fushimi walked through layers of corridors and arrived at the inner palace where the Emperor lived daily.

He was taken aback as soon as he stepped into the palace. It turned out that the Emperor was not alone here.

On one side of the tatami mat, an old man dressed in a white hunting robe and covered with a purple haori was kneeling.

This person is none other than the supreme leader of Shintoism in Japan, the Grand Master of the Ise Grand Shrine.

At that moment, the Grand Chancellor was speaking quietly with the Emperor. Upon seeing Prince Fushimi enter, both their gazes turned towards him simultaneously.

The Emperor's expression was calm and unreadable, revealing neither joy nor anger. The Grand Chancellor was also expressionless, which sent a strange unease through Prince Fushimi.

Actually, he was more afraid of the Grand Master than the Emperor.

The Grand Master was also a member of the imperial family; he was the Emperor's great-uncle and cousin.

They grew up together, and he was always overshadowed by his cousin, a situation that persists even now.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Prince Fushimi stepped forward immediately and bowed respectfully.

"Rise," the Emperor said in a deep voice. "Your Highness Fushimi has come at just the right time. His Highness Nashimoto is also discussing matters of the Demon City with me."

Prince Fushimi's heart tightened, and he continued, "I wonder if His Highness Nashimoto has any advice regarding the matter of Shanghai?"

The Grand Master said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I am very disappointed with the Navy's performance at the Tenshou Church this time!"

"I am also very disappointed!" the Emperor said.

Prince Fushimi Yasuhito's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am guilty! I have failed to fulfill Your Majesty's great trust, resulting in the loss of troops and generals, and bringing shame upon the Empire! I beg Your Majesty's punishment!"

"Punishment?" The Emperor sighed softly. "Can punishment bring back the lives of those five thousand warriors? Can it save 'Dojigiri Yasutsuna'? Can it restore the Empire's honor?"

Prince Fushimi was speechless and could only lower his head even further. (End of Chapter)