One of the highest secrets of the Eastern Radiance Investigation Bureau, a secret location.
A faint gray mist perpetually permeated this place. Beneath the mist lay several mu of farmland, cultivated under the guidance of the薪火 (Xin Huo) planting department, growing mysterious crops that were easy to cultivate and widely applicable.
On-duty investigators and special combat personnel patrolled inside and outside the secret location.
Some were stationed there permanently, responsible for tending to the crops, monitoring the secret location and its counterpart.
At this moment, the gray mist rippled slightly, and a sturdy man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a weathered face, clad in black combat gear, appeared in the center of the secret location.
Several other people in combat gear appeared with him.
"Director!"
"Director Tang!"
"Director, you're back."
One of the team members held a bright light torch, now extinguished. It had been turned off with a switch upon returning to the secret location's "Gui Jie" (Ghost Realm interface) to conserve fuel.
This group was the Eastern Radiance pioneering team that had entered the Gui Jie, explored the area under the gray mist of the Gui Jie.
They were all elites from the Investigation Bureau and the Special Combat Team.
Besides Director Tang, there were two rising triple-awakened individuals and three double-awakened individuals, a formidable force indeed.
"Our first entry into the Gui Jie allowed us to ascertain the situation on the other side."
"Our second entry, we cleared all dangers in the secret location's Gui Jie interface."
"Our third entry, we ventured a thousand meters beyond the secret location and observed and recorded its landscape..."
At this point, Director Tang expressed some regret, "Our secret location is situated in the desert, so we won't see the kind of sight that Xin Huo spoke of, a ruined city that seems weathered by a thousand years."
"Perhaps not, Director Tang. I heard Xin Huo invented new facilities."
"Or perhaps, in a short time, we'll have the ability to travel hundreds of miles within the Gui Jie and reach cities, just as we once couldn't imagine another world existing beyond our own."
The speaker was 'Hong Yan' (Red Rock), a rising triple-awakened powerhouse.
He was from the Special Combat Team. While the Special Combat Team and the Investigation Bureau had different responsibilities, at the highest combat echelons, the two departments often cooperated.
After breaking through to the third awakening and stabilizing it, Hong Yan joined the 'Gui Jie Pioneering Team'.
His ability was the Lava Hand, capable of both offense and defense. Compared to the past, his right arm no longer swelled like a 'Kirin Arm'. This was a benefit from consistently taking the 'Calming and Purifying' set of potions produced by Xin Huo.
Pollution and mutation had been significantly reduced. From Da Feng Novel Network.
Now, on this muscular right arm, only streaks of crimson remained as the mutation. Not only did they have no impact on daily life, but they also lent a majestic appearance to his skin, with a subtle red glow effect.
Hong Yan almost felt reluctant for these crimson stripes to fade.
"Everything produced by Xin Huo is indeed of high quality."
"The potions are, the awakenings are, and so is the Gui Jie."
"It's high quality, and also practical and inexpensive," Director Tang did not deny. "But we cannot rely on Xin Huo for everything. Our Eastern Radiance must possess its own technology. We must be self-reliant and self-strengthening!"
"Take this Gui Jie exploration for example. Xin Huo is ahead of us, moving much faster, but should we do nothing because of that?"
"We need our own practical exploration of the Gui Jie, and we can obtain more details beyond Xin Huo's information."
"Moreover, in the face of disaster, this is not the responsibility of a single organization or a single country, but the responsibility of all humankind."
Director Tang paused, "Our next task is to venture further, explore more Gui Jie environments, and at the same time, establish a true, long-term survival base in the secret location's Gui Jie interface."
The Director set the main tone.
At this moment, the patrol team outside the secret location discovered an anomaly.
"Director, someone is approaching our secret location. He... he's wearing clothes with a strange red bird pattern and carrying a weapon that looks like a staff."
Mysterious attire and appearance in the desolate and dangerous area outside the secret location.
Hong Yan and several other high-ranking officials exchanged glances, immediately thinking of one possibility – an extraterrestrial visitor!
A little astonished, but also a bit curious and excited.
Director Tang said solemnly, "Let's go, follow me to take a look."
Outside the secret location lay endless sand dunes, occasionally stirred by gusts of wind, painting the sky in a yellowish hue.
A figure slowly approached from the sand dunes in the distance. His pace was very slow, as if deliberately waiting to be discovered.
He wore attire completely different from Blue Star's style, with fluffy, fiery red hair as vibrant as his clothes, swaying in the sandstorm.
What was astonishing was that a faint red light emanated from the visitor's person. Even while walking through the dust-filled air, this red light kept the sand from clinging to him.
He quickened his pace, approaching through the wind and sand.
Indeed, his clothes and hair remained vibrant, unsullied by the dust.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that when grains of sand flew near, the faint red light surrounding the person would flash, instantly burning the sand particles.
This display immediately stunned many of the experts from the Investigation Bureau and the Special Combat Team.
Who is this person?
"This is a powerhouse!"
Director Tang mused. His rich combat experience and instincts told him that the visitor's strength was likely on par with his own, possibly even greater.
After all, he was from the Oasis forces, which had endured for many years within the Gui Jie.
It was not strange for him to be strong.
Director Tang was not particularly surprised; it wasn't the first time he had encountered a powerful individual. There were plenty of people within Xin Huo stronger than him.
He stepped forward.
"Visitor from afar, state your purpose."
"My name is Yan Xiao, from the Scorching Flame Great Oasis. My journey is to save your world."
His words resonated outwards through a special mental frequency wave.
Looking at the astonished native humans before him, Yan Xiao's lips curved into a faint smile.
He had not displayed his abilities in the sandstorm for nothing. As long as these native humans were awed, he would gain complete control.
Soon,
Yan Xiao, accompanied by these Blue Star people, arrived at a base tens of kilometers away from the secret location.
Along the way, they encountered some 'Gui Xie' (Ghostly Evils). He had wanted to intervene and show the power of the Great Oasis people, but he couldn't find an opportunity.
Hong Yan stepped forward and instantly killed a two-star Gui Xie that blocked their path.
Another rising triple-awakener, 'Po Xiao' (Breaking Dawn), also acted, unleashing a sword beam that cut through darkness and defeated another two-star.
Yan Xiao slowly lowered his raised hand.
Never mind. Since this was the Blue Star's own world, it was up to them to deal with these Gui Xie.
It's just...
This world seemed not to be underestimated; it was a relatively strong one.
Yan Xiao judged and spoke, "I come from the Great Oasis. I am well aware of the process of worlds being invaded and gradually destroyed. If my prediction is correct, your world is currently suffering from the ravages of Gui Xie."
Hong Yan and Po Xiao exchanged glances.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes. Everything you say is correct."
Director Tang narrowed his eyes, remaining silent and gesturing with his hand in an inviting manner, urging him to continue his performance.
"And according to our observations at the Scorching Flame Great Oasis, your world is about to enter the mid-to-late stage of world destruction. The tide of gray mist will arrive, and at that time, Gui Xie will swarm in and destroy all order in your world."
"The destruction of the world is inevitable, but you, as elites among humans, still have a sliver of chance for survival, and this is precisely the purpose of my visit."
Yan Xiao unleashed his ultimate trump card – a new oasis!
They at the Scorching Flame held the coordinates of a new oasis. Developing it themselves would be uneconomical due to distance and other factors, so they intended to 'sell' this new oasis.
It wasn't a simple sale. The price of an oasis was something these native worlds' humans could not afford.
"If you can accept these terms, our Scorching Flame Great Oasis can immediately provide you with assistance. Leader Tang, please consider it carefully. The sooner you agree, the more elites of your Blue Star can survive."
But Director Tang immediately refused.
"No need to consider. We are not interested in an oasis."
Yan Xiao was stunned.
In his view, this was clearly a falsehood, an attempt to negotiate for more favorable terms. He had seen and heard of many such natives.
He was not angered, merely stating calmly, "It's fine. We can wait for your reply. However, Leader Tang, please remember that the longer you delay, the more disadvantageous it will be for you. By the time the world is completely destroyed, it will be too late."
"No, Mr. Yan Xiao, you haven't understood me."
"We never pursue an oasis. Our Eastern Radiance will not abandon any of our citizens. We will block the approaching tide of gray mist. This is our way of survival."
Yan Xiao's eyes widened.
Looking at the seemingly sincere Leader Tang and other Blue Star powerhouses who clearly agreed, he could only snort, "Foolish! You will regret this!"
When the tide of gray mist arrives, and you realize all your efforts are in vain, you will come begging me.
...
Under the cloak of night.
In the capital, at the top-floor conference hall of the Investigation Bureau headquarters.
Deputy Director Huang, Deputy Director Liu, and other high-ranking officials were seated. Those not at headquarters, like Director Tang, attended via video conference.
They were discussing the matter of the envoy from the Scorching Flame Oasis that day.
"For an unclear oasis, they expect us to sell ourselves off. Their ambitions are too grand."
"We don't even know if the identity of this envoy from the Scorching Flame Great Oasis is genuine."
"A normal oasis cannot accommodate many people. Whether it's true or false, this path is not what we desire. Abandoning billions of citizens to flee to an oasis alone?"
Director Huang scoffed.
When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, dam it. Even if there is no path, we will carve one out. Moreover...
"How is the 'Dawn Plan' progressing?"
"Currently, the entire nation is mobilized. Various materials are being rapidly prepared. Once the site is confirmed, we are confident we can establish a base city quickly."
The Dawn Plan was a plan to establish a giant base city within Eastern Radiance capable of protecting human safety!
It needed to accommodate a sufficient number of residents and ensure basic living conditions.
The core of the plan was the word 'Dawn'!
The dawn that disperses the gray mist.
"Building base cities can concentrate our strength for better defense, but..."
With more people, it also becomes easier to trigger Gui Xie surges.
What was even more troublesome was that while a large population could reduce Gui Xie infiltration, it could not prevent it entirely. Furthermore, when people gathered, the appearance of a two or three-star Gui Xie would result in a major disaster.
Yan Xiao's words were not entirely wrong.
Director Huang was well aware of this.
But,
They still chose to trust Xin Huo and to protect the entire Eastern Radiance.
The Dawn Plan had already begun. When the gray mist descended, would they be able to... see the dawn again?
---
Author's Notes:
The next chapter will be released slightly later~