Temporary Forward Operating Base, Command Center.
The atmosphere was as heavy as the dead calm before a storm.
Two reconnaissance teams returned almost simultaneously, but the discoveries they brought back were like two bombshells, stirring up a huge storm in the Command Center!
Ling Chen (Lin Chen), leading the Ash Squad, reported in detail their discoveries in the core area of the Zhuolu ancient battlefield—the eerie blood-fiend Mutants, structures suspected to be ancient altars, and… most crucially, the remnants of a white jade teleportation array that could be accidentally activated and emit unique ancient spatial fluctuations!
"...Its spatial rune structure, energy conduction method, are completely different from any existing known spatial technology or ability system, filled with extremely ancient charm and... incomprehensible ultra-high technical content."
Ling Chen pointed at the processed energy spectrum and structural scan images on the tactical tablet, his tone steady with a hint of "incredulous" marvel, but his heart was filled with cold mockery and indifference.
A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well. They’ve only touched a tiny remnant of ancient Dao laws and they’re already astonished.
Gao Zhan and Brigade Commander Zhang of the 7th Brigade looked at the clear images and data, their faces becoming incredibly solemn. An ancient teleportation array?
The significance of this discovery was too great!
However, before they could fully digest this astonishing news, the discovery brought by Li Fan’s Dawn Squad was even more like a bucket of icy water, mixed with blood and strangeness, poured directly over them!
When Lin Wei projected the images and energy data she had fully recorded with her detector regarding the bloody altar and the eerie black stone slab onto the main screen, the entire Command Center instantly fell silent!
The altar stained with blood and 碎肉, the frescoes depicting terrifying scenes of devouring evolution, and especially the ominous black stone slab covered in twisted runes… all assaulted everyone’s vision and nerves!
"...We found a large number of fresh human remains near the altar, confirmed to be recent sacrificial victims. Based on residual energy analysis, the altar's operation method is extremely evil, seemingly catalyzing some kind of... evolution or mutation through flesh and life energy."
Lin Wei’s voice carried a hint of an almost imperceptible tremor.
Evil? Catalyzing? Foolish! That is plunder! It is devouring! It is the most direct, purest extraction of life essence! It is the most basic instinctive application of the path to fleshly ascension!
Unable to even distinguish this, still judging with your hypocritical moral standards, it is truly laughable.
Ling Chen sneered inwardly.
Lin Wei took a deep breath and called up the detector's in-depth analysis results for the stone slab's runes:
"After preliminary comparison, the core energy pattern structure on the stone slab has a similarity of up to 87.3% with the underlying energy of the blood-type abilities that the traitor Ling Chen is proficient in, as recorded in the headquarters database! The error margin is extremely low!"
"What?!"
"This is impossible!"
"Ling Chen?! Related to this abomination?!"
The Command Center instantly erupted with gasps and incredulous whispers!
Even Gao Zhan and Brigade Commander Zhang suddenly stood up, their expressions changing drastically!
Oh? Finally discovered it? Unfortunately, the direction is completely wrong.
A faint hint of mockery flashed deep in Ling Chen's eyes.
Forcibly associating the power characteristics naturally awakened when Mutants evolve to a certain stage with some 'ancient evil inheritance'? Truly ignorant.
Li Fan stepped forward, his face ashen, his voice hoarse and heavy:
"Chief Gao, Brigade Commander Zhang! The sacrificial canyon where this stone slab was discovered has cold and desolate energy attributes, which somehow resonate with the fluctuations coming from the direction of Linghui Academy, where Zhuang Han is entrenched!
We have reason to suspect that Zhuang Han's 瘋狂 expansion and devouring evolution are not accidental!
He is very likely... also in contact with, or even has mastered, this evil ancient inheritance!
Perhaps... Ling Chen's betrayal and power might also be related to this! This is by no means an isolated incident!"
Inheritance? Heh heh... If there really was such an inheritance that could directly create such power, why would I have gone through countless tribulations and walked this path again? Li Fan, oh Li Fan, your hatred and fear have already clouded your pitiful judgment.
Your so-called 'evidence' is merely bait I casually tossed out, and you eagerly bit the hook, then concocted an entire conspiracy theory yourselves, saving me a lot of trouble.
The entire Command Center fell into a deathly silence, everyone too stunned by this terrifying conjecture to speak.
Ling Chen stood aside, expressionless, but sneering inwardly. Very good, everything was proceeding according to his plan.
The Dawn Squad perfectly "discovered" the "evidence" he had left behind, and successfully guided the clues in the direction he wanted.
The runes on that stone slab were, of course, meticulously forged by him based on some of the original runes and devouring characteristics of the Soul Jade Physique, and injected with corresponding energy auras, specifically to mislead and trigger associations.
Just then—
"Evil! This is blasphemy! It is forbidden knowledge that must be purified!"
A voice filled with anger and unquestionable authority broke the silence!
Priest Barder of the Knights Templar, had appeared at the entrance of the Command Center at some unknown point!
He strode in, his gaze fixed on the black stone slab on the screen, his face filled with disgust and chilling killing intent:
"Such a foul, degenerate, evil thing that delights in devouring life must not be allowed to exist! It must be thoroughly purified by holy fire! And that contaminated blood sacrifice site must also be completely destroyed!"
Knights Templar? A bunch of poor souls brainwashed by dogma.
Ling Chen's heart was unperturbed, even feeling a bit bored.
When you encounter power that you cannot understand, that transcends your narrow 'sacred' paradigm, you only label it 'evil' and 'blasphemy', then shout about purification and destruction. Little do you know, under the laws of the universe, how can power be divided into good and evil?
Only strength and weakness! Your pathetic 'holy light' could be extinguished with a breath in my prime.
Barder turned to Gao Zhan and Brigade Commander Zhang, his tone forceful:
"Colonel Gao Zhan! Brigade Commander Zhang! This matter has far exceeded the scope of conventional military operations! It involves the remnants of ancient evil demons, a top-level forbidden incident! It must be taken over by the Knights Templar! Immediately hand over the stone slab and coordinates to us! The Knights Templar will be responsible for thoroughly purifying all of this!"
Gao Zhan's face instantly darkened:
"Priest Barder! This is the Central Army's front-line command post! How to deal with discovered objects is up to us! The Knights Templar has no right to interfere!"
"No right?"
Priest Barder sneered.
"Purifying evil and guarding the order of the world are the inherent duties and powers of the Knights Templar! Allowing such evil knowledge to exist is a crime against all humanity!"
Humanity? Heh... In the face of true cosmic power, your so-called civilization and order are nothing but sandcastles.
Fight, snatch, your foolishness and shortsightedness are my best cover.
This was just a broken stone that it had the decorator casually create.
Ling Chen stepped forward at the opportune moment, his tone calm yet with an unquestionable professionalism: "Chief Gao, Brigade Commander Zhang, Priest Barder.
Please calm down. I believe that both the ancient teleportation array and this blood sacrifice stone slab are extremely important discoveries, containing immense informational value and potential risks. Rashly destroying them or handing them over to a single faction for processing could lead to irreparable losses or cause greater misunderstandings."
The act must be complete. Giving you a 'rational' and 'impartial' choice will only make you more entangled in arguments and suspicions. Time is on my side.
He looked at Gao Zhan: "I suggest that all data from both discoveries be immediately encrypted and uploaded to the Central Special Operations Bureau headquarters and the highest Academy of Sciences, requesting the intervention of top-level expert teams for assessment.
Before headquarters' orders arrive, our military will control the site, strictly prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from approaching.
At the same time, given the possible connection between the blood sacrifice stone slab and the Mutant Zhuang Han, it should be incorporated into the overall strategy for eliminating Zhuang Han for comprehensive consideration."
His proposal was objective, neutral, and procedural, and immediately gained the approval of Gao Zhan and Brigade Commander Zhang.
"Captain Lin is absolutely right!" Gao Zhan immediately nodded, "Execute Captain Lin's suggestion immediately!"
Priest Barder's face was grim, but faced with the Central Army's firm stance and adherence to proper procedures, he couldn't force a confrontation for the moment. He could only let out a cold snort:
"I hope you don't regret your decision! The Knights Templar will closely monitor this matter!" With that, he turned and left in a huff.
The anger of ants is meaningless.
Ling Chen's heart was indifferent.
The crisis was temporarily averted, but the atmosphere in the Command Center remained heavy.
Li Fan's gaze once again fell on Ling Chen, his sharp eyes filled with scrutiny.
This Lin Chen... always manages to propose the most "reasonable" suggestions at critical moments, seemingly impartial and selfless, yet always making people feel... too coincidental and calm.
Doubt me, Li Fan. Stare at me with your eyes filled with hatred. The more you doubt, the more you will fall into the spiderweb I have woven.
You will never imagine that the enemy you tirelessly pursue stands before you, watching your pain and struggle as if it were a play.
Ling Chen met Li Fan's gaze calmly, his eyes clear and serene: "Does Captain Li have anything to add?"
Li Fan was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "No. Captain Lin handled it very appropriately." But the cloud of suspicion in his heart grew thicker.
Orders were swiftly issued. The two discovery sites were heavily blockaded, and data was encrypted and sent back to Shengjing.
Ling Chen returned to the communication room alone, under the pretext of reporting detailed circumstances.
After closing the door, a trace of imperceptible Soul Jade Physique's primordial power quietly condensed on his fingertips, silently seeping into a hidden node of the communication matrix.
Far away in the Shengjing Underground City, in a highly encrypted server room at the Central Special Operations Bureau headquarters, an extremely covert, abnormal instruction attached to the normal data flow was quietly activated.
The content of the instruction was simple: to make a very subtle, targeted parameter correction to "Dawn Squad Lin Wei's detector's raw energy data regarding the blood sacrifice stone slab."
This would slightly reduce its matching degree with "traitor Ling Chen's psionic characteristics" from 87.3% to 81.5%, and add a note: "Possible unknown energy interference leading to analysis error."
Perfect control. Leaving clues, but not making them too conclusive. Ambiguity is the most vexing. Let those so-called 'experts' argue, let them waste their precious time and resources.
Ling Chen operated expressionlessly, like a precise clockmaker, turning the gears.
Having done all this, he walked out of the communication room with a normal expression.
Sure enough, several hours later, the initial feedback from Shengjing headquarters arrived.
Headquarters highly praised the discovery of the ancient teleportation array and had immediately assembled a top team to come. Regarding the blood sacrifice stone slab, experts' opinions were divided: some believed its similarity to Ling Chen's abilities warranted high vigilance, supporting Li Fan's inference;
Others believed the similarity "did not reach the absolute confirmation threshold."
Furthermore, the stone slab's energy attributes leaned more towards "desolation" and "plunder," differing from Ling Chen's demonstrated "active devouring," suggesting cautious treatment and requiring more supporting evidence; a few even proposed that this might be a misleading trap deliberately set by Zhuang Han or his forces, aimed at framing or diverting attention.
Argument ensued. The waters became murkier.
Gao Zhan frowned, looking at the headquarters' feedback. Brigade Commander Zhang also fell into deep thought.
Li Fan clenched his fists, dissatisfied with headquarters' "caution," yet unable to refute it.
Ling Chen, at just the right moment, stated: "The concerns of headquarters' experts are also reasonable. But our front-line discoveries are real.
I believe the next step in the operation to eliminate Zhuang Han is even more critical. If we can capture Zhuang Han or his core leaders, we might find more direct evidence, unravel the mystery of the stone slab, and fundamentally solve the problem."
Redirect their attention to that mad dog. Zhuang Han, your final value is to become the most dazzling firework in my plan, using your death and destruction to ultimately 'confirm' all these 'conjectures.'
He redirected everyone's attention back to the initial and most crucial mission—eliminating Zhuang Han.
Gao Zhan finally made the decision: "That's right! Whatever secrets lie behind this stone slab, taking down Zhuang Han and destroying his lair are top priorities!
According to the latest intelligence, Zhuang Han, emboldened by his victories at the outpost and multiple hunts, is currently gathering his main forces at the Linghui Academy Ruins. I have decided to gather our main forces and launch a general offensive!
The 7th Brigade will provide heavy firepower support and outer perimeter blockade! The Special Operations Bureau's elite squad will be responsible for the core decapitation strike!
The Knights Templar... if they are willing, can participate in the outer perimeter purification work!"
The order for a general offensive was finally given.
A decisive battle against the Hundred Forms Realm Mutant leader and his lair was about to begin.
And Ling Chen knew that the real storm had only just begun.
He looked in the direction of Linghui Academy, his eyes deep, and a trace of absolute control and indifference arose from the cold will deep within his Soul Jade Physique.
Go, my loyal pawns. Go and stage this final climax for me. Pave the way for me with your blood and sacrifice. And I, from behind the scenes, will enjoy everything I have personally orchestrated.