Dao City University, Computer Building, Sub-level Server Room.
The students were all fast asleep, but in the sub-level server room of the academy building, the lights were blazing.
Several elderly individuals in research attire and over a dozen young researchers were tinkering with something in the server room, simultaneously monitoring the data flashing frequently on the large screens.
Every piece of equipment in this server room cost no less than a million, and the exquisitely crafted servers were worth billions!
The students of Dao City University would likely never imagine that such a treasure was hidden within their school.
"Professor, I've detected traces of system intrusion," a researcher said with a slightly grave tone to a balding elderly man wearing glasses.
"System intrusion? The firewall didn't react?" The balding elderly man was startled and quickly accessed the system, discovering that some files had already been attacked and destroyed.
Their location had also been discovered by the intruder.
"Someone managed to bypass the Hongchen Pavilion's firewall. This person's background must be significant. Can you trace the IP address?"
The researcher quickly replied, "No, the intruder's traces were wiped clean. It's impossible to track!"
"This is troublesome..."
The balding elderly man's brows furrowed as he paced back and forth.
Hongchen Pavilion had planned to establish a new Chinese branch at Dao City University. These servers had only recently been set up, and the Hongchen Pavilion network was not yet fully established.
All processes were top secret!
During the construction of the servers, these researchers had lived, eaten, slept, and used the facilities within this server room, never having the chance to leave, all to prevent leaks.
Now that the server location had been compromised and an external enemy had attacked, this place would surely not be safe!
The work of Hongchen Pavilion would be in vain!
Hongchen Pavilion had already lost its East Sea branch, suffering immense losses. If their newly established stronghold were also taken down, even the wealthy Hongchen Pavilion would be severely weakened!
"No, we must notify everyone immediately to evacuate this place!"
The balding elderly man decisively moved to grab the broadcast microphone by the control console, only to find someone there already!
The balding elderly man was startled by Ye Ling, falling onto the floor, and exclaimed, "Who, who are you?"
Ye Ling sat on the control console, playing with the broadcast microphone, a faint smile on his lips. "Who are you trying to notify?"
The other researchers' expressions changed drastically, but they quickly reacted, drawing handguns from under their desks and surrounding Ye Ling.
"Oh? You scholars can use guns?"
Ye Ling glanced at the armed researchers surrounding him, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "You don't seem like native faculty or staff of Dao City University. Are these fake identities created by Hongchen Pavilion?"
The balding elderly man regained his composure, adjusted his glasses, and asked Ye Ling, "Could it be that you are the one who infiltrated our Hongchen Pavilion system?"
Ye Ling smiled, "You could say that. I didn't expect you to be in Dao City. Discovering you was a pleasant surprise."
As he spoke, Ye Ling destroyed the communication equipment on the control console and also disabled all the cameras in the server room.
The entire server room was completely isolated from the outside world!
The researchers, seeing this, tightened their grips on their guns, cold sweat trickling down their foreheads.
Although Ye Ling was unarmed, the pressure he exerted on them was immense!
It was as if a sharp sword hung above their heads, ready to fall at any moment!
The balding elderly man's eyes narrowed slightly, and he stared at Ye Ling, saying sternly, "You must know what it means to be an enemy of our Hongchen Pavilion?"
"Tell me, what does it mean?"
Ye Ling chuckled, his eyes filled with mockery.
Upon entering the server room, Ye Ling had sensed a massive base beneath the school.
The spatial structure was similar to that of Tianluo Ghost City; the area beneath Dao City University had been hollowed out!
Within the vast space lay a pyramid similar to the metal pyramid on the East Sea island.
However, the pyramid below had only its framework constructed; the specifics had not yet been built.
Apart from the base below, there were only the dozen or so people surrounding Ye Ling in this server room. The strongest among them was only a third-rank异士 (yìshì - a term for a special ability user, often translated as 'variant' or 'specialist'), and even with their firearms, their overall strength was quite weak.
Let alone Ye Ling, even Zhang Daoyuan could have taken this place down single-handedly!
The balding elderly man's threat sounded hollow even to himself.
Seeing Ye Ling's nonchalant attitude, the balding elderly man realized that Ye Ling did not care about Hongchen Pavilion's retaliation at all!
In the past, he might have thought Ye Ling was bluffing, putting on a brave face.
Hongchen Pavilion's power surpassed that of the world, with countless strong individuals under its banner, capable of crushing any nation. Many Hongchen Pavilion 异士 believed that there was no one in this world who was not afraid of Hongchen Pavilion!
But not long ago, their East Sea branch was destroyed by a single sword.
The entire branch had no survivors!
This incident was a slap in the face to Hongchen Pavilion, causing them to fall from their pedestal. Their members also realized that there were indeed people in this world who could threaten Hongchen Pavilion!
They were not invincible.
Due to all this, the balding elderly man's sense of crisis was at its peak. He instinctively retreated, his aura completely suppressed by Ye Ling.
He continued to put on a brave front, "Sir, I advise you to leave as soon as possible, otherwise, if we open fire, the spirit-breaking bullets are indiscriminate!"
Ye Ling smiled, "Stop pretending. Your fear is written all over your faces."
"Cooperate with me honestly, and you might have a chance to live. Anyone who acts rashly will die."
One researcher, overwhelmed by Ye Ling's aura, was on the verge of a breakdown and shouted, "I want to see what you're capable of! I'll kill you!"
*Bang!*
As the researcher roared, before he could even pull the trigger, his head exploded!
Scarlet blood splattered onto a few people nearby, terrifying them into paling and trembling.
The researchers, watching their companion's headless corpse collapse into a pool of blood, felt their legs tremble. They all dropped their weapons and knelt before Ye Ling, completely surrendering.
"Don't, don't kill us! We'll cooperate with you!"
Seeing that all of them had surrendered, the balding elderly man gritted his teeth, furious!
How could a member of the dignified Hongchen Pavilion be so cowardly?
But when he recalled the tragic fate of the researcher just moments ago, he couldn't muster any will to resist.
Finally, the balding elderly man also knelt down, "Sir, please spare our lives!"
To bend and stretch, that is the mark of a true man!
There was no need to lose his life here for nothing.
Seeing that everyone had given up their resistance, Ye Ling's smile widened. He looked at the highest-ranking individual, the balding professor, and asked, "What is your name?"
"Pan, Pan Yichun."
Pan Yichun said with a trembling voice, his forehead covered in cold sweat. Despite the cool weather, he was drenched in perspiration!
He discovered...
That after surrendering, the pressure on him had only increased!
"Very good, Pan Yichun."
Ye Ling narrowed his eyes, gazing at the trembling professor. "Now, I want you to retrieve all of Hongchen Pavilion's data from the server."