novelraw Chapter 304: Intriguing
Chapter 304: Intriguing
The order was issued.
In less than ten minutes, a low-altitude reconnaissance drone painted in camouflage colors arrived over the scene, transmitting back clear images.
Two team members lay motionless in the dust.
Immediately after, a black off-road vehicle rushed over, screeching to a halt.
Several fully armed Aberrant Purge Division members jumped out and swiftly began their investigation.
They confirmed the two colleagues were already dead.
The cause of death: their necks had been instantly snapped by sheer physical force.
The atmosphere at the scene instantly dropped to freezing point.
The news was reported immediately to the newly appointed Commander Qin.
Although Su Zhan had left few traces when he acted, this clean, decisive killing method, coupled with the audacity to directly kill Aberrant Purge Division field personnel, was already enough to speak volumes....
Command Center.
Qin Bai stood before a massive light screen.
It clearly marked the location where the two field agents had been killed.
Han Xiao gnashed his teeth, "Damn it, it must be him! Such a vicious move, directly breaking their necks. That bastard has finally shown his true colors!"
Ling Shuang looked at the high-definition photos transmitted from the scene. "The execution method is clean and efficient, relying purely on physical strength. The perpetrator is very likely Chen Qing. But he's clearly desperate now, no longer concerned about exposing his strength."
"The clues are clear enough. The target is most likely Chen Qing, and he has already shed his disguise. He possesses extremely strong aggression and counter-surveillance capabilities. Conventional area lockdowns and patrols will have greatly reduced effectiveness against him now."
Qin Bai's finger tapped heavily on the location of Black City on the light screen. "I've decided to move the command center forward. All core combat units will immediately follow me south, personally deploying to the outskirts of Black City!"
Han Xiao was taken aback. "All of us? What about here..."
"Leave the standard contingency plan and sufficient personnel here to maintain daily screening. That's enough."
Qin Bai cut him off. "Our focus must be on Black City. His willingness to kill means he's very close to his destination. This is his final act of madness. We can no longer report layer by layer, waiting for approvals. We must be on the front lines ourselves, adapting to the situation as it unfolds!"
Everyone understood and nodded in agreement.
Qin Bai looked at Ling Shuang. "Specialist Ling, you are responsible for coordinating air assets and long-range monitoring. Ensure a 24-hour uninterrupted blockade of all known and suspected exits from Black City. Not even a suspicious fly is to be let through!"
Ling Shuang nodded. "Understood."
Qin Bai then looked at Han Xiao and several other captains skilled in direct combat. "Specialist Han, you will form the assault team. Once the target's location is confirmed, or if he is intercepted outside the city, implement capture at all costs. If met with fierce resistance... lethal force is authorized on site."
Han Xiao patted his chest. "Leave it to me."
"Everyone, this individual is extremely dangerous and cunning. He may hold key secrets related to the core of the Transcendence Society."
Qin Bai addressed everyone with solemn gravity. "This operation must succeed. Failure is not an option! Prepare immediately. We depart in one hour!"
The order was issued, and the entire temporary command center began operating at high speed.
...
Vermilion Bird Academy, Mission Release Hall.
Feng Jue, Liu Ziming, and Xu Hao stood before a light screen.
They were browsing the latest updated high-level missions.
Their gazes were simultaneously drawn to a newly refreshed mission marked with a high-risk red symbol.
Mission Title: Assist in the Pursuit of High-Risk Aberrant Chen Qing.
Mission Description: Target Chen Qing, male, high-risk peak strength. Suspected to possess Mist summoning ability and flight capability. Extremely dangerous and cunning. Currently active in the southern border region, with high probability of attempting to infiltrate Black City. The Aberrant Purge Division has mobilized its main force for pursuit. Currently recruiting elite squads to assist with peripheral reconnaissance, blockade, and coordinated combat when necessary.
Mission Requirements: Tide Realm or above, possessing rich practical combat experience. Team action is recommended.
Mission Reward...
Liu Ziming stroked his chin, eyes gleaming. "High-risk peak? Flight ability? And a special Mist summoning ability? Sounds like a tough opponent."
Xu Hao wore a cautious expression. "The risks are clear. High-risk peak, and he's managed to evade the Aberrant Purge Division's main pursuit force for this long. Definitely not easy to deal with. Although all three of us have reached the Tide Realm, we're only at the second or third tier. In a direct confrontation, our chances of winning aren't high."
Feng Jue looked at the mission details. "Suspicious."
Liu Ziming looked at Feng Jue. "Huh? Poker Face, what's suspicious?"
"His behavior. A non-Transcendence Society Aberrant, frequently summoning Mist in the Uninhabited Zone, not to kill, but just to level up?"
Feng Jue crossed his arms. "Now he's wanted nationwide, heading straight for Black City... His objective is very abnormal."
At that moment.
A gentle voice sounded from behind them.
"Not a bad analysis."
The three turned around and saw Wang Mingyuan, who had walked over at some point unnoticed.
He still wore his gold-rimmed glasses, his demeanor scholarly and refined.
"This mission is indeed quite challenging."
Wang Mingyuan looked at the mission on the light screen and spoke slowly. "Assisting the Aberrant Purge Division, with a target at high-risk peak strength... the pressure is significant for your current realms. But precisely because it's challenging, it's more worth doing. You've been stuck at the first tier of the Tide Realm for a while now. Conventional cultivation and low-risk missions offer limited help in breaking through bottlenecks. Life-and-death combat, stimulating potential under extreme pressure, is the shortcut to rapid improvement. Life-and-death combat is far more important than you holing up in the academy to cultivate. Furthermore, for this mission, you will be operating independently. You only need to share information with the Purge Division when necessary, without having to follow their direct command. Maintaining autonomy, adapting flexibly—this is the leeway the academy has secured for you."
"Teacher Wang is right. Always taking those insignificant, non-threatening missions, my bones are almost rusting."
Liu Ziming immediately perked up. "We need something stimulating! High risk, high reward!"
"If it's independent action, the risks are indeed more manageable."
Upon hearing it was independent action, Xu Hao also relaxed a little and nodded. "We can focus on reconnaissance and peripheral blockade, avoiding direct, head-on clashes."
"Teacher, the mission information mentions that this Chen Qing is not a Transcendence Society member, yet he has mastered the method to summon Mist. Moreover, he was active for a long time in the northwestern Uninhabited Zone, frequently summoning there."
Feng Jue looked at Wang Mingyuan. "This doesn't follow logic. The Transcendence Society treats this method as their exclusive secret, with absolutely no possibility of leakage. How did he learn it? And why summon in the Uninhabited Zone? What is his goal?"
Once this question was raised, Liu Ziming and Xu Hao immediately looked over as well.
Wang Mingyuan adjusted his glasses, pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke. "This question is also a key point of confusion and high-level concern for the Aberrant Purge Division, and even higher authorities. There are currently several speculations, but none have been confirmed. First, he might be a defector from the Transcendence Society, leaving with a core secret and hiding in the Uninhabited Zone to increase his strength. Second, he might have, by chance, obtained a method similar to, or even different from, the Transcendence Society's system. Third... he might have comprehended or mutated to develop this ability on his own. As for why in the Uninhabited Zone... that is even more thought-provoking."