Thus, the Taoist Office quickly learned of Gu Zhao and the others’ objective.
It was precisely for those three highly threatening typhoons.
However, because Gu Zhao wanted to give the wage earners and students a day off, he hadn’t notified the office.
"He’s actually quite nice!"
"So compassionate!"
"So full of love!"
"It’s just that the various local systems have already prepared all their flood prevention and emergency work."
"Don’t worry, it’ll all be put to use. It’s just that there are so many massive typhoons this time. The Daoists from the research institute don’t step in for every single one. Didn’t they ignore Typhoon Swordfish when it made landfall in Qiong Province last month?"
"Its core wind force was only category 12. It wasn’t much of a threat."
"Send notices to the local authorities. Let the standby firefighters, armed police, and rescue teams disperse. They’ve worked hard, so let them go home and get a good day’s rest too."
As the three typhoons drew closer, several coastal cities grew noticeably deserted.
With fewer pedestrians and vehicles on the streets, and shops closing their doors, everyone stayed home to scroll on their phones, play video games, or watch TV. Some cozy little families even started preparing a hearty dinner.
Of course, there were also tech-savvy netizens fiercely exchanging fire on overseas networks.
"Idiots! You laughed at us for being ravaged by typhoons, and now it’s your turn. Three super typhoons! I’d like to see how much you’ll lose and how many people will die."
"I heard that Typhoon Beidu destroyed two of your counties two months ago, and you still haven’t restored power? Furthermore, there’s no food, no shelter, and no disaster relief?"
"Do you know our disaster relief process from the last earthquake in Zang Province? We had hot meals on the very same day, and the students didn’t even miss their classes!"
"Despicable Celestial Xia People! When we were struck by a typhoon last time, you didn’t offer any rescue. This time, as you face an Attack from three major typhoons, we won’t rescue you either!"
"Hilarious. If we counted on you Lü Zon monkeys for rescue, our nation would’ve been wiped out long ago!"
"You’d better worry about yourselves first. The 25th typhoon is forming just east of you, with a core wind force of category 14. Let’s hope you can withstand it and not come whining and crying for rescue later."
Ordinary citizens were naturally unaware of the malice many held toward them on foreign networks, but they truly weren’t afraid in the slightest.
Aside from some city dwellers worrying about their cars being flooded or shop signs being damaged, many people in the towns and villages were already well-prepared. Those living in dangerous terrains had also been evacuated to higher ground.
While they did have some concerns about their property, they never once feared for their lives.
Moreover, even when it came to their property, they had insurance. It was just that going through the process was relatively troublesome, and naturally, normal people hated trouble.
"Therefore, the best solution is to prevent this trouble from happening in the first place."
Gu Zhao poured out the last cup of tea, emptying the teapot. He then raised his cup and looked at the four. "I request you gentlemen to make your move."
Yunyang and the other three similarly raised their cups and downed the tea in one gulp.
Gu Zhao smiled. "I’ll go buy some braised meats in a bit. We can have some drinks when you return."
Yunyang raised an eyebrow. "The wage earners have all gone home to rest. Where are you going to buy braised meats?"
Gu Zhao set down his teacup. "I’ll go to West Capital in Qin Province to buy them. It’s inland, so they haven’t issued any typhoon warnings or work suspension notices."
Yunyang remained silent for a moment. "Bring me a Fanji meat sandwich."
Four streaks of flowing light shot into the sky, flying off in three different directions. They didn’t conceal their Escape Lights, so quite a few people in Yangcheng saw them.
"What is that?"
"It’s the Taoist Sect’s Extraordinary Beings! They’ve been deployed again. Did something happen?"
"Look at those two Escape Lights heading south! Their direction is slightly east—the very direction Typhoon Red Willow is attacking from. Are they going to deal with the typhoon?"
Yangcheng was directly in the path of Typhoon Red Willow. Everyone was waiting at home for the typhoon to pass and was extremely sensitive to any developments, so they immediately guessed the truth.
"Then those other two Escape Lights—are they going to save Shanghai and Bailu Island?"
"One person is handling each typhoon. Still, our Typhoon Red Willow is the most formidable since it requires two people!"
Someone uploaded the photos and videos they had taken to the internet, attaching their speculations. This quickly attracted the attention and discussion of the entire web.
"Is this real?"
"It hasn’t happened yet, so don’t make wild guesses. If they aren’t going there for the typhoons, it’ll be so awkward."
"The Taoist Masters only take action to save people; they generally don’t intervene in other matters."
"What about the torrential rain crisis last time?"
"That was because the situation was extremely critical, and people could have died."
"It’s the same for these three major typhoons! Even the weakest one is a category 16. People are very likely to die."
"Stop arguing. I’m right here in Shanghai, and I saw that flowing light stretching for over a kilometer. It was heading straight in the direction of Typhoon Wooden Bear. They really are here for the typhoon!"
"I’m from Bailu Island. I saw the flowing light too, heading toward Typhoon Yellow Fish. Their objective is basically confirmed."
"Hahaha, to think that our flood prevention engineering and emergency systems haven’t even had the chance to step in, and the typhoons are already about to be resolved by the Extraordinary Beings! I’m going to go back to the foreign networks to keep flaming and mocking them!"
While the internet was buzzing with excitement, Yunyang had already arrived at the open seas outside Shanghai. Hovering in mid-air, he watched the massive, dark super typhoon sweeping in from the distance.
The dark clouds threatened to crush the city, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon.
All the fishing boats had returned to port. Only a ten-thousand-ton mega-ship ignored the wind and waves, continuing to sail beneath the typhoon.
The sea directly beneath Yunyang’s feet was calm and tranquil, but under the dark clouds in the distance, wall-like waves had already churned up, surging toward the West one after another.
"The might of nature has actually reached such a terrifying degree," Yunyang lamented.
Except for the lack of attached Demon Power and Spiritual Qi, the imposing might of a category 15 typhoon was no less than the spellcasting of a Great Demon with hundreds of years of cultivation. It was just that the wind force wasn’t highly condensed, and because its spread was too broad, its power had heavily attenuated.
If all the power of Typhoon Wooden Bear could be condensed within a few miles, even Yunyang would have no choice but to temporarily retreat to avoid its edge.
Drawing his longsword, Yunyang gave it a casual wave, and the Eight Immortals Dharma Aspect instantly materialized around him.
This time, he didn’t compress his Magical Power. Instead, in order to make a public display of power, he directly manifested the Dharma Aspect to a colossal height of a thousand meters.
Lü Dongbin wore a green robe and held a sword, while He Xiangu held a lotus flower. Eight towering Dharma Aspects stood tall in the void, clearly visible to everyone on the nearby mega-ship and the satellites in the sky.
"Break!"
At Yunyang’s command, the Eight Immortals Dharma Aspect lined up in a row and charged straight into the dark clouds of the typhoon.
Each wielded a Divine Soldier, gathering their True Qi to push aside the clouds, pierce the winds, and cleave the ocean waves.
It was the literal embodiment of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea!
Countless exclamations of "Holy shit," "OMG," and "Shibal" erupted from the mega-ships of various countries in the vicinity. Almost everyone held up their phones, recording this awe-inspiring scene.
Wherever the Eight Immortals Dharma Aspect passed, the clouds scattered, the winds ceased, and the waves settled.
Looking from the satellite cloud imagery, it was as if a thin line had been drawn from the outer edge of the West side of the massive vortex, driving straight toward the typhoon’s center.
Immediately after, the dispersal spread outward from that thin line to both sides. The White Clouds began to drift away, and the storm gradually subsided.
Then, the Eight Immortals arrived at the eye of the typhoon without any hindrance. Without even pausing, they swept right through it.
The condensed tropical cyclone was shredded apart by the True Qi. The colossal wind force forming the whirlwind dissipated in an instant, gradually spreading from the inside out.
Layers of clouds continued to drift inland, ensuring that the inland areas wouldn’t lack moisture. However, the wind force core of the magnificent category 15 Typhoon Wooden Bear vanished almost in the span of a single breath.