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Chapter 240 - 239: Precision Demolition

"Maybe... I guess." Chen Xuan wasn’t sure either.

Was this how demons historically launched surprise attacks on the treasure vault? First using armed helicopters to blow open the gates, then storming in with a large group of mercenaries.

Needless to say, the security personnel guarding the vault stood no chance due to the overwhelming disparity in power.

So how was Liuli defeated?

After thinking it over, the enemy’s trump card must have been those coins. Even powerful artifacts couldn’t break free from the constraints of ability rules. From the demon’s strategy, it’s clear they knew there were artifacts guarding the vault; hence the armed mercenaries conducted the first probe, and after locating Liuli, they deployed drones to scatter coins and activate abilities.

However, the demons didn’t anticipate there being another group inside the vault.

This variable ensured they never managed to step into Warehouse One.

The Holy Temple is still here, meaning that even if I don’t bother Mother Lucy, the problem of angels gradually ceasing to be born should be avoidable.

But the impact of the lunar beast’s destruction and the Holy Temple Treasure Vault remains uncertain for now.

Of course, it wouldn’t be hard to find out—just take a trip to New Paris and witness the world a hundred years from now for all questions to be answered.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Lin Qing asked through the earpiece at this point.

"Hmm, go ahead,"

"You should check the room near the exit. The surveillance caught them leaving something big there."

Something big?

Chen Xuan nodded, "Understood. How’s the door coming along?"

"Almost there, just one last bit." Lin Qing paused and asked, "Are you sure you want to go in? The Angel Alliance’s crisis has already been averted, right?"

"Well, I’ll talk about it when I’m back at the vault."

According to the map, the main entrance was right above them.

They climbed the stairs for two minutes and reached the room Lin Qing mentioned. The floor was covered in wooden and metal debris, and the cold winds from the snowy mountain were gusting in. There were two corpses at the doorway, one of whom was bound with hands tied behind, his face scarred and his expression twisted, likely tortured for information before death.

In the center of the room stood a squared box covered with black rainproof cloth.

"Could it be a trap?" Elorie suggested.

"Unlikely." Chen Xuan had already scanned it with the Heart Method, with no reaction of Spiritual Qi inside. If it were meant as a trap for the vault’s guards, it’d be unnecessary as the demons had come with a detailed plan, facing a battle with very high odds of success; setting a trap at the vault’s entrance would be redundant.

Transporting such a large box up to the Himalayas wasn’t easy.

Yet he decided to proceed cautiously, summoning the Thousand Thoughts Sword to unveil the cloth from a distance.

Under the rainproof cloth was a wooden box.

The sword tip pried slightly, and the box’s walls fell down.

"Gasp..."

Both inhaled sharply.

The "cargo" inside was something ominous-looking—a cubic frame welded from eight square steel bars holding a giant cylinder, with some electronic devices connected below. Chen Xuan didn’t know what was inside the cylinder, but he recognized the orange-yellow symbol on it.

Radiation warning.

Lin Qing also saw the true face of the cargo through the camera, "...Really?"

A hand-made nuclear bomb?

"It’s counting down!" Elorie exclaimed nervously.

Chen Xuan also saw the timer hanging from above, its bright red digits constantly jumping, 5 minutes 31 seconds, 30 seconds...

Oh crap.

He finally understood where the previous sense of uncertainty came from! In history, the Holy Temple Treasure Vault was completely collapsed, not merely losing artifacts! And this underground structure was exceedingly solid; even a small force carrying abundant C4 couldn’t destroy it in one stroke. Even if demons could use Forbidden Abilities to kill Liuli, sending the entire vault underground wouldn’t be easy, especially since the Angel Alliance’s reinforcements were already en route and would arrive in half an hour.

Turns out this was the answer.

They had stubbornly transported a nuclear bomb!

Even if the workmanship was poor, even if it was a dirty bomb, the explosion’s energy would be enough to level the Holy Temple Treasure Vault completely!

"Defuse the bomb?" Elorie asked.

"Forget it, this isn’t a movie!" Lin Qing shouted from the other end, "You better return!"

"What if we remove it from the vault... and throw it down the mountain?" Chen Xuan hesitated.

"Impossible, if there’s a level sensor hidden inside, it could explode the moment you lift it," Lin Qing said decisively, "Since they dared to place it at the entrance, it’s obvious they won’t let anyone move it lightly."

Chen Xuan decided to heed the words of the Future Warrior.

After all, they’re the professionals here.

His Thousand Thoughts Sword worked quite well as a shield against bullets, but a nuclear bomb? Chen Xuan felt he wasn’t capable.

As for Decomposition and Re-Fusion, it won’t work either.

It merely re-fuses, not destroying the object’s original function; even after human reformation, breathing and heartbeat can still be maintained, hence the bomb would likely remain a bomb even after re-fusion.

Bursting into Warehouse One, they only took about a minute.

"What’s wrong? You guys look so flustered." Liuli curiously studied them, "Is there another expert outside?"

Chen Xuan decided to reveal the truth to her, "There’s something resembling a nuclear bomb at the door, it’s better if you run."

"Is that so?" She was momentarily stunned before shaking her head in reply, "I can’t go anywhere."

Liuli’s tone was quite calm, seemingly indifferent to her impending fate as part of the vault’s final sacrifice.

"The door’s open!" Lin Qing loudly announced at this moment.

Following her words, a half-meter wide circular hole was cut into the steel door’s center.

There was no need for further hesitation; if leaving Mother Lucy here, she too would be destroyed with the vault’s collapse, making history unfold like it did before—rendering all efforts futile. Taking Mother with them was their only viable option.

Yet Liuli suddenly blocked their way.

"At this moment, are you still planning to fulfill your duties?" Chen Xuan had been wary of her, hoping she wouldn’t interfere by urging her to escape. Seeing her remain relentless, he was prepared for confrontation.

Unable to fuse completely didn’t mean Decomposition and Re-Fusion couldn’t be used; Chen Xuan could simply target her limbs as the goal...like taking a hand or a foot for fusion, thus reducing the fusion cost significantly.

Even if Liuli was highly skilled, losing limbs would make her far less troublesome.

"You’ll die," she replied, shaking her head. "The shelter has a path to a mountain trail, which is also the escape route for the Holy Temple Treasure Vault. If you’re far enough from the peak, you might survive the earthquake and avalanche."

"You mean you’re willing to help us?" Chen Xuan was surprised.

"Didn’t you help me stop a robbery’s pillaging?" Liuli lowered the brim of her conical hat. "It’s just an exchange of favors. As long as you don’t have designs on the treasure, I have no reason to turn against you."

"I see... In that case, take the Angel Miss with you."

"Me? No, I want to go with you!" Elorie insisted.

"This isn’t the time to show courage!" Chen Xuan looked at her with a serious, uncompromising tone. "In case of danger, I can only take one passenger; besides, there’s no point in you following me. If it’s safe to bring...protect the Mother, I’ll surely keep it safe; you just focus on yourself!"

She bit her lip, lowered her head, "I understand."

Upon seeing this, Liuli also stepped away from the path, "Alright... Then at least tell me your name. If you end up dead, I can at least put up a headstone for you."

"My name’s Chen Xuan, no need for a headstone."

After saying this, he entered through the door of Warehouse Nine.

Lin Qing followed closely behind.

"You should leave too." Liuli opened the hidden door on the floor, turning to talk to Elorie, "We don’t have much time."

The Angel gazed at the dark hole on the iron door, placing her hands together for a silent prayer, then followed Liuli, entering the underground escape route.

...