192: Uninvited guests and "domineering" deterrence

However, the tree desires tranquility, but the wind will not cease. Just as Excellence was fully immersed in the new world of Energy Programming, a realm full of infinite possibilities, eagerly exploring how to structure his own power system like a software architecture, and taking solid steps towards higher-level ability application, the brief tranquility and strategic respite that Homeland had painstakingly gained under Excellence's powerful deterrence was once again violently shattered by an external force, arriving with an undeniable posture.

An official letter, delivered through the highest-level, extremely formal, and highly encrypted diplomatic channels, was placed on Wang Jianguo's desk. The letter was signed by the "International Paranormal Phenomena Association" (IPPA), a non-governmental organization with significant international influence but unfathomable background. The letter's wording was rigorous and firm, leaving almost no room for negotiation, formally requesting a "routine inspection" of Homeland.

The publicly stated reason was grandiloquent: "Based on cross-referenced data from multiple independent monitoring sources, it is confirmed that your region continuously exhibits signals of abnormally high-level, unknown-nature energy activity. This activity pattern falls outside the scope of known natural phenomena or conventional scientific research activities. According to the 'International Guidelines for Cooperation and Security in Paranormal Phenomena Research' and relevant international conventions, this may involve potential, undefined global security risks. To ensure transparency in regional and global security, and to avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, we hereby request to dispatch an expert team for on-site verification and assessment."

Those who come with ill intentions are not good, and those who are good do not come. Wang Jianguo and Evelyn, upon receiving the official letter, immediately sensed the strong undertones of probing and pressure hidden beneath the diplomatic language. They knew that the IPPA was by no means the simple academic or supervisory body it appeared to be. Its background was as complex as a labyrinth, with intricate and elusive ties to intelligence agencies of several major powers, powerful multinational military-industrial complexes, and even some secretive private organizations pursuing supernatural powers. Its inspection request seemed procedurally just and public-spirited, but in reality, it was more like a carefully planned, legally compliant, frontal probe and strategic reconnaissance targeting Homeland's core secrets. Evidently, the energy ripples generated when the ancient core beneath the ground was activated not long ago, and the unusual energy fluctuations that inevitably escaped even with Homeland's strenuous shielding after Excellence's power leap, ultimately failed to completely evade the keen and greedy 'tentacles' of the outside world, which had always been closely monitoring the area. It's hard to say that there wasn't covert instigation from the remaining forces of the Prophet Foundation, or other covetous parties equally eager for the seed and ancient secrets, using others to achieve their goals and fanning the flames.

Wang Jianguo attempted to use his skilled diplomatic maneuvering to stall and delay, hoping to buy Homeland more preparation time. However, the IPPA's stance was exceptionally firm. In subsequent communications, they even stopped concealing their threatening intentions, subtly but clearly implying that if Homeland refused or indefinitely delayed the inspection, the IPPA would have to consider initiating "necessary follow-up procedures," including but not limited to submitting the matter to higher-level international forums for public questioning, and collaborating with relevant parties to implement "higher-level pressure measures" against Homeland, including technological blockades and resource embargoes. The situation was pressing, and Homeland faced unprecedented external pressure.

Strategic Choice: Seeking Survival Through Deterrence

Facing this formidable pressure, Homeland's highest decision-making body held an emergency meeting overnight. The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy, filled with smoke (the stress on the veteran smokers was evident). There were two main opinions: one was to firmly resist, viewing it as a sovereign provocation that should never set a precedent; the other was to cooperate to a limited extent, but to find ways to feign compliance and muddle through.

Ultimately, after intense debate and risk assessment, Wang Jianguo made the final decision, adopting a bold and adventurous strategy proposed by Evelyn—"limited display of strength for strategic deterrence." The core idea was: since hiding was no longer possible, it was better to go with the flow and, within a controllable range, demonstrate to the outside world that Homeland possessed inviolable strength and resolve. This would transform the inspection from a passive, one-sided scrutiny into an active, muscle-flexing strategic declaration, aiming to deter potential adventurous actions and win Homeland longer-term strategic initiative and development space. The core of this display of strength, without a doubt, was Excellence, who had completed his crucial transformation.

Inspection Day: Arrogance and Scrutiny

The inspection day arrived as scheduled. A five-person IPPA delegation, "accompanied" by Homeland's foreign affairs officials and security personnel, rode in a dedicated internal vehicle, passing through layers of gates, and entered the base. The delegation members were uniformly dressed in well-tailored dark suits, with serious expressions and efficient demeanor, exuding a sense of superiority from long-held high positions and professional detachment. Leading them was an official named Walsh, tall and upright, with sharp, hawk-like gray-blue eyes that scrutinized people with undisguised condescension. His mouth was habitually downturned, making him appear arrogant and unapproachable. They carried several high-tech and expensive-looking briefcases, clearly containing various advanced portable energy field detectors, spectrum analyzers, biological signal collectors, and other professional equipment. Their every word and action adhered to diplomatic etiquette, but the probing gaze, like a scanner examining every detail hidden beneath their professional masks, and that almost imperceptible yet undeniably present hint of greed, like discovering prey, did not escape the experienced eyes of observers like Wang Jianguo and Evelyn.

According to the predetermined plan, Excellence was not hidden or protected. On the contrary, he was arranged in a specially prepared laboratory that looked like it was used for high-end energy physics research, "accompanied" by Su Mu and Evelyn, to conduct a planned, "public" energy manipulation demonstration—this was precisely the main act of a carefully directed "show of force."

When Walsh and his entourage were guided into this spacious, bright laboratory filled with various instruments, their gaze almost instantly, as if drawn by the most powerful magnet, collectively and firmly locked onto the seemingly slender figure in the center of the laboratory—Excellence. Almost without instruction, several accompanying technicians skillfully opened their briefcases, took out various detectors, and like programmed machines, quickly aimed the probes at Excellence. The indicator lights on the instruments flashed rapidly, and data streams on the screens began to scroll wildly, clearly conducting comprehensive, high-precision data collection.

Walsh made no attempt to conceal his objective. He strode directly to Excellence, his tall stature creating an invisible sense of oppression. He lowered his head, looking down at Excellence with cold, emotionless eyes, and in an almost interrogative, procedurally oppressive tone, he cut straight to the chase, speaking in slightly stiff but exceptionally clear common language: "Young man, according to Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the IPPA's routine inspection procedures, please immediately and truthfully report your full name, a preliminary judgment of the nature of your abilities, and your current energy intensity level assessment. Please cooperate with our work." His tone was forceful, as if addressing an anomalous object requiring registration rather than a living person.

Overbearing Response: A Silent Declaration of Absolute Power

A few months ago, facing such a scene —a strange and hostile environment, aggressive interrogation, and the cold scanning of countless precision instruments—the young Excellence might have felt nervous, overwhelmed, or even terrified. But now, having been baptized by the resonance of the underground cavern and the ancient core, and having experienced the mental sublimation and leap in power control brought by Energy Programming, Excellence had undergone a fundamental transformation in both strength and temperament. Facing this provocative questioning, he merely raised his head slowly.

His gaze calmly met Walsh's sharp and oppressive stare. His eyes were crystal clear yet as deep as an ancient, cold pool, without a single ripple. That look contained neither the timidity of a child nor the anger of being offended. Instead, it held an indifference that saw through everything, and an invisible, intimidating pressure that stemmed from absolute confidence in his own power. Merely being swept by that calm gaze, Walsh, who had been through countless battles and prided himself on having seen all manner of grand spectacles, felt his heart suddenly clench, and an uncontrollable chill instantly shot up his spine from his tailbone to the crown of his head! It was the instinctual tremor of a life form facing a higher-level existence!

Excellence did not immediately answer Walsh's question, which was laced with procedural arrogance. He simply raised his right hand casually and lightly, as if slightly impatient, the movement as natural as dusting away motes of air.

In the next moment, the scene inside the laboratory underwent a terrifying upheaval!

The bright lights on the laboratory ceiling suddenly dimmed, as if an invisible hand had instantly covered the light source! It wasn't an electrical malfunction; the light itself seemed to be twisted and absorbed by some unseen force field, plunging the entire space into an eerie, twilight-like gloom! Even more terrifyingly, the expensive, precise energy detection instruments brought by the IPPA delegation, which represented the highest level of current technology, simultaneously emitted shrill, piercing alarms! All the gauge needles swung wildly to the extreme limits of the dial, and immediately afterward, the stable data streams on the screens instantly turned into static and garbled code! Then, after a short crackle of circuit overload, the screens of these priceless devices all went black, and all indicator lights completely extinguished—they had utterly failed! It was as if an irresistible power, beyond current physical understanding, had forcibly seized their "throats," severing all connection between them and the external energy field!

And above Excellence's fair, slender, and seemingly harmless palm, an energy construct, only the size of a fist but dazzlingly complex and precise, slowly rotated and materialized out of thin air! Within it, a miniature, evolving cosmic nebula seemed to be sealed, with countless dust-like specks of light flowing, colliding, and constantly being born and destroyed along incredibly profound trajectories. It emitted a terrifying energy fluctuation that was not chaotic or rampant, but condensed and contained to the extreme, causing the souls of everyone present with keen Perception to tremble! This was not an attack technique, yet it demonstrated, in an incredibly intuitive and shocking manner, Excellence's absolute, terrifying control over energy—a level of mastery that was "as easy as moving a limb, almost reaching the Dao." This was a silent declaration of power!

"My name is Excellence." Only then did Excellence finally speak. His voice was not loud, even carrying the clear tone characteristic of a young man, yet it pierced the deathly silence of the laboratory with exceptional clarity, like ice beads dropping onto a jade plate, entering everyone's ears. It carried a cold authority and undeniable certainty completely inconsistent with his age. "As for where my abilities originate, or what level they are..." He paused briefly, his gaze falling once more upon the now slightly pale face of Walsh, his eyes showing an unconcealed indifference, as if looking at ignorant ants. "What does that have to do with you? What does that have to do with IPPA? The safety of Homeland is guarded by us. Outsiders need not concern themselves."

His gaze slowly swept over the members of the entire IPPA delegation. Everyone touched by that calm but immensely authoritative gaze, no matter how professional, composed, or arrogant they had been moments before, now felt a cold chill of death shoot straight up their spine to the top of their head. Their breath caught, as if they were being stared at by an ancient, primordial beast awakened from slumber, unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance or doubt, leaving only instinctive fear and reverence.

"Inspection is acceptable," Excellence continued, his tone still flat but every word carrying immense weight, conveying the resolve of drawing a clear red line. "But, there must be restraint." His tone lowered slightly, and the pressure filling the air instantly intensified. "If anyone harbors ill intentions, seeking to use this opportunity to test the mettle of Homeland..."

Before he finished speaking, the energy construct slowly rotating in his palm, like a miniature nebula, suddenly burst into brilliant light, emitting a deep hum that seemed capable of directly shaking space itself and resonating through the soul! The air in the entire laboratory instantly became incredibly viscous and heavy, as if transforming from gas into a colloid, making movement difficult and seemingly solidifying even thought! "...I don't mind," Excellence's voice suddenly turned cold, like the Siberian cold wind, carrying a sharp murderous intent, "letting him personally experience what true 'Unknown Energy' is—the kind you cannot comprehend."

Deterrence Takes Effect: Hasty Retreat and Internal Jubilation

When his voice fell silent, the laboratory descended into a true, deathly stillness. Only the heavy, suppressed gasps of a few people, clearly laced with fear, could be heard. Walsh's forehead was already covered in fine cold sweat, and his face was ashen. The precision instruments he had brought, his pride and the peak of human technology, had become laughable and pathetic toys in the face of the opponent's absolute, near-miraculous power! He had no doubt that the seemingly young boy before him possessed the terrifying ability to instantly and silently wipe every single one of them from the face of the earth! This was not just a vast difference in power level; it was a complete dimensional and life-form subjugation!

Ultimately, this inspection, which had begun with great momentum and obvious intent, ended abruptly in a farcical, anticlimactic manner. The so-called "first-hand data" collected by the IPPA delegation consisted entirely of indecipherable electromagnetic noise and physical static. Under Excellence's unparalleled, overbearing deterrence, they hastily and mechanically completed a few superficial procedures, not even daring to utter a single diplomatic farewell phrase to save face. Like stray dogs, they quickly and shamefully left Homeland's jurisdiction, escorted "politely" by Homeland security personnel, carrying hearts full of dread, disbelief, and immense frustration.

In stark contrast was the atmosphere within Homeland. The news quickly spread among the core personnel, who were naturally ecstatic and greatly encouraged. Excellence's strong performance not only successfully defused a potential major diplomatic and security crisis but also, with his overwhelming strength, greatly deterred the covetous eyes watching from outside, clearly conveying a message to all potential enemies: Homeland possesses ultimate power that they cannot understand, let alone resist. This won Homeland invaluable strategic development space and much-needed buffer time. After hearing the detailed report in the command center, Wang Jianguo nodded in satisfaction, a long-absent, relieved smile appearing on his usually tense face, his eyes filled with confidence for the future. Su Mu and Yifilin exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes filled with endless pride and comfort, watching their own child, having weathered the storms, finally grow into a towering tree capable of holding up the sky.

In this crisis-ridden, dog-eat-dog reality, the rule that the strong are revered is an eternal, undeniable law. Excellence used his concrete, unimaginable strength to execute a perfect strategic deterrence, successfully winning a hard-earned, temporary period of peace and tranquility for Homeland, and for all the family and companions he swore to protect.