84: Chapter 84 Black Tide Return, Highest Priority

Wang Cang handed over a Jade Slip of intelligence. "Dao Child, the information on those five deceased students has been supplemented."

Wang Pingan took the Jade Slip, projected his Divine Thought into it, and images appeared one by one.

The first student followed the Mechanical path and had ranked in the top two hundred upon admission. He led a large number of mechanical war beasts into the Black Swamp Scale Nest. His early advance was swift, and his firepower kept the Black-scaled Swamp Lizards from raising their heads.

When they reached the middle section of the Divine Kingdom, the ground collapsed without warning. Corrosive water submerged the heavy artillery positions, and venom corroded the mechanical cores, causing the firepower grid to collapse on the spot.

The student tried to retreat, but the Black Tide cut off the passage to the Divine Kingdom. The final recording showed only a mass of dark green vertical pupils closing in.

The second student followed the Beast Taming path. Hot, humid miasma poisoned most of his flying scout beasts, and the swamp ensnared his ground war beasts.

Although he slew many Black-scaled Swamp Lizards, he fell into a quagmire while in pursuit. The Black Tide surged from behind, completely cutting off his retreat.

The remaining three died in different ways, but Wang Pingan's gaze narrowed as he saw the pattern.

All five had the upper hand in the early stages; the true death knell lay in the Black Tide backflow that erupted after they penetrated deep inside.

Wang Cang reminded him, "Intelligence brokers speculate that the Black Swamp Scale Nest hides an Origin mechanism. The deeper one goes, the more dangerous it becomes. Three of them were not defeated in a frontal battle but were cut off by the Black Tide erupting from the depths of the Divine Kingdom, dragging them into the Divine Core area to be killed."

Wang Pingan stared at the churning Black Tide within the Jade Slip. It was definitely not ordinary muddy water; it was more like the Origin of the Divine Kingdom mixed with the Law of the toxic swamp.

Once this thing erupted, the terrain would invert, the retreat path would close, and the corrosive pressure would rush straight into the passage. This was the true killing move of the Black Swamp Scale Nest.

Wang Cang looked solemn. "Dao Child, if there is no countermeasure, the risk of this battle is immense."

Wang Pingan nodded slightly, marking the Black Tide backflow as the highest priority for defense. "Then we simply won't give it the chance to backflow."

Wang Cang nodded slightly.

Wang Pingan continued, "Wang Mu and Wang Shan will advance in stages. If the Black Tide wants to swallow our retreat in one gulp, it doesn't have the appetite for it."

He didn't elaborate, and Wang Cang wisely didn't press for details. During Wang Pingan's seven days of seclusion, he must have prepared countermeasures within his Divine Kingdom.

Outside the mansion, the heat on the Xinghe University intranet remained high. The post about Wang Pingan accepting the Black Swamp Scale Nest mission held the top spot on the freshman leaderboard.

"Let's bet: will Wang Pingan forfeit?"

"It would be normal to give up. The Black Swamp Scale Nest has five lives on its conscience; the school's review intensity is too high."

"I bet he'll make a forced push and then retreat. Sending a heavy armored legion into a swamp is just asking for trouble."

"Coming from a remote Star Domain, how could he understand the dangers of a complete high-risk Divine Kingdom? He probably just got lucky with the Blood Moon Wreckage."

"Just look at the activity in the teleportation zone, and you'll know."

Some also spoke up for Wang Pingan. "His first battle was S-rank. What did you get in your first battle?"

"The Black Swamp Scale Nest is difficult, but Wang Pingan doesn't look like a brainless person."

"I'm just hoping he clears it so I can see the reaction of that group from the Central Star Domain."

The post's popularity soared, and private betting pools started turning. Most people bet that he would give up or withdraw within ten days. Others bet that he would suffer heavy losses. Very few bet on him clearing the mission.

Lu Ming scrolled through these discussions. He had just finished his first real battlefield, achieving a B-rank evaluation and receiving six points of Divine Power.

He led his team with zero casualties and a rich harvest; his teammates were congratulating him repeatedly.

This result was bright enough among ordinary freshmen, but Lu Ming was full of frustration. The focus of the intranet was entirely on Wang Pingan. His B-rank notification didn't even make a splash before being drowned out by the topic of the Black Swamp Scale Nest.

A teammate nearby whispered to dissuade him. "Brother Lu, there's no need to provoke him again."

Lu Ming's gaze lingered on the light screen. "I'm not that stupid."

He didn't want to taste the humiliation he suffered in the teleportation hall a second time. He wouldn't provoke him openly, but he wasn't idle in the shadows.

Lu Ming approached an intelligence broker he was familiar with. "I want deep-level information on the Black Swamp Scale Nest, especially regarding the Black Tide backflow."

The other party quickly replied, "This stuff is expensive and incomplete. There's no guarantee it's genuine."

Lu Ming replied decisively, "Money is not an issue."

He calculated clearly: once Wang Pingan failed, he would take over the popularity.

At that time, he only needed to spread the word that Wang Pingan was brave but reckless, and that clearing a high-risk Divine Kingdom required intelligence and brains. If he could seize the opportunity to take on the follow-up mission of the Black Swamp Scale Nest, he could regain his lost reputation with interest.

But as soon as this thought appeared, he felt even more stifled. All these calculations were based on the premise of Wang Pingan's failure.

Once Wang Pingan truly cleared it, he wouldn't even have room for recovery.

Inside the Wang Family Mansion, Wang Pingan ignored the commotion on the intranet. He transmitted the intelligence on the Black Tide backflow into his Divine Kingdom, and Wang Mu and Wang Shan finished reading it quickly.

Wang Mu analyzed, "Divine Lord, the foundation of the Black Tide backflow is likely the enemy demi-god using the Origin to reshape the terrain, forcibly cutting off the front line from the passage."

Wang Shan frowned tightly. "This move is insidious. The deeper we fight, the easier it is to have our retreat cut off."

Wang Pingan issued a divine oracle. "Come up with a solution."

Wang Mu immediately responded, "Build temporary purification Formation positions in stages. Advance a section, secure a section of the retreat path."

Wang Shan followed up immediately. "The Floating Board Shield Vehicle cannot all be at the front. We need to leave guards in the rear in stages, and the towing cables must be set up in layers."

Wang Mu thought for a moment. "The Artillery Battalion won't do a one-time forward push. We'll split it into three firepower points. If we are truly cut off, it won't result in total silence."

Wang Shan added, "The swamp exploration squads will take shifts scanning the rear path. We cannot only focus on what's in front of us."

Wang Pingan nodded inwardly. He didn't want timidity; he wanted practical, feasible countermeasures.

Once the solution was out, this intelligence was just a problem to be solved, not a death knell.

The military orders were adjusted accordingly, with the Black Tide backflow listed as the number one threat.

In front-line pursuit, it was strictly forbidden to leave the range of the rear purification Formation. If signs of the Black Tide were encountered, rescue was the priority; never be greedy for merit.

The military order quickly spread throughout the five thousand standby troops.

No one in the army had any objections. The lessons of the Blood Moon Wreckage were there; greed for merit would cost lives.

They had suffered enough in the Black Swamp training; any slight mistake would implicate their comrades.

On the fourteenth day in the outside world, Wang Pingan set off. Wang Cang led people to see him off outside the mansion.

"Dao Child, the school has confirmed the teleportation authority. The Deacon of the Management Hall will be there in person."

Wang Pingan nodded slightly.

Wang Cang handed over a list. "There are still surplus Materials purchased from outside. The mansion will maintain a state of combat readiness. In case you withdraw midway, we will be ready to support you at any time."

Wang Pingan's gaze was steady. "I will not withdraw."

Wang Cang was slightly stunned, then smiled. "Then we will await the Dao Child's triumphant return here."

Wang Pingan left the mansion and headed straight for the Alien Battlefield teleportation zone.

This time, the number of freshmen watching far exceeded the last time. Above and below the steps, around the light screens, and in the spectator seats, it was packed tightly.

Those hoping to witness a miracle and those waiting to see a joke were all gathered. Many people had even set up their recording Magical Artifacts, hoping to record this Class-A sequence review.

As soon as Wang Pingan appeared, discussions broke out all around.

"He really came; he didn't forfeit."

"I thought he would drag it out until the last day of the deadline."

"The Black Swamp Scale Nest is no pushover. The heavy armored legion will suffer this time."

"What's the rush? We'll find out once he enters."

Lu Ming was mixed in the far end of the crowd, not pushing forward. A teammate beside him glanced at him. "Brother Lu, don't push to the front."

Lu Ming's expression was unpleasant. "I know."

He stared at Wang Pingan, his mind churning. He hoped the other party would stumble, but he also understood that once Wang Pingan cleared the Black Swamp Scale Nest, the gap between them would be impossible to bridge.

This feeling was more agonizing than losing a battle in person.

The Deacon of the Freshman Management Hall was already waiting. The gray-robed Deacon held the mission order, standing before the teleportation array, his tone extremely solemn.

"Wang Pingan, the Black Swamp Scale Nest has buried five Xinghe University students. Live streaming the core area is not mandatory during the mission. If the Divine Core is damaged, the school can only collect your remains."

The surrounding freshmen quieted down significantly. This was not alarmist talk; it was the iron Law of the real battlefield.

Wang Pingan's expression remained normal. "Leave the remains for them to prepare."

The teleportation zone suddenly went quiet. Some cursed him for being arrogant, while others had bright eyes.

No long speech was needed; the single sentence about leaving the remains to the enemy showed his full confidence.

The gray-robed Deacon watched Wang Pingan for a moment, then raised his hand to activate the mission order.

"Identity verified."

"Coordinates locked."

"Class-A sequence review, Black Swamp Scale Nest, confirmed."

Wang Pingan stepped into the teleportation array, the Formation patterns beneath his feet lighting up one by one. Before the teleportation began, his consciousness sank into his Divine Kingdom.

Inside the Northern Military Camp, the five thousand standby troops were ready for battle.

Wang Shan did not shout and clamor as usual. He bent down, checking the towing cables and the Floating Board Shield Vehicle one by one.

Walking to the rescue team, he personally tugged at the winch. "If this thing jams for even a second, a life on the front line will be lost. Keep a close watch."

Wang Mu stood at the rear, personally counting the Medicinal Pills. Clear Pulse Miasma-Avoiding Pills, Anti-Toxin Pills, Healing Pills, and Qi Recovery Pills were distributed by the crate.

He did not put all his focus on the Artillery Battalion; instead, he prioritized ensuring the quotas for the rescue team and the Formation maintenance team.

Wang Pingan watched the activity in the camp and issued a divine oracle.

"In this battle, do not seek speed; seek stability. Do not seek spectacle; seek total annihilation."

The five thousand standby troops responded in unison. Their Battle Intent was calm and slow, and their Killing Intent was deeply hidden.

Wang Pingan's heart settled, and the Formation light beneath his feet surged upward.

I beg my foster fathers and mothers to give some five-star ratings; there have been too many negative reviews lately. This adopted son kowtows in gratitude. Also, "generating electricity with love" is free, oh.