207: Chapter 207 Window Recognition: Offense and Defense

The rocks on the outermost edge of the Ring Reef emerged from the water in the sunset — the ebbing tide pulled the seawater out of the shallows, and the tops of the reefs usually submerged were struck by the last rays of the sunset, turning dark gold.

The remnants of the vanguard team on the sea surface had already been scattered by the tide — the dark purple water trails had faded to light gray under the repeated washing of the tide, and then disappeared.

Inside the Lord's Mansion — six items were spread out on the sea chart table: the Fragmented Map, Leng Feng's four abyssal exploration rubbings, Su Qingli's fluctuation source distribution map, Chu Yunfei's abyssal vein transmission, the military stronghold list, and Commander Tie Zhan's support allocation order.

Lu Changyuan picked up a formation brush from the corner of the table — the tip paused on the timeline drawn by Su Qingli.

Two time points were marked on the timeline.

The first — approximately two or three days later.

The outer Restriction in the direction of the Lid would be worn through from the outside by the Haiyuan Clan.

The Haiyuan Clan had been accumulating power in the direction of the altar for at least twenty years — combined with nearly three months of full-speed activation — the outermost sealing Restriction would be forcibly torn open.

After the Lid was torn open — the dark blue outer circle sub-patterns would be filled.

The outer protection of the seal would disappear — exposing the formation platform on the seabed.

The second — at least five days later.

The dark red middle circle sub-patterns in the direction of the Lock Core would be filled to the threshold sufficient to trigger the opening of the main hub.

After the Lock Core was filled — two of the three circles of sub-patterns would be full.

The Connection Node was the slowest — but if the spiritual energy released by the Lid was diverted to the Lock Core and the Connection Node, both would accelerate.

The window between the two time points — approximately two or three days.

The Lid would be gone, but the Lock Core would not yet be in place.

The Haiyuan Clan would use these two days to fully accelerate the spiritual energy injection in the direction of the Lock Core — their main warriors and high priest would all be concentrated in the direction of the Lock Core.

The guards in the direction of the Connection Node would be further drawn away to support the Lock Core after the Lid was worn through — the patrol density seen during Leng Feng's reconnaissance (only nearly half of the outer circle) would continue to drop.

This was the place where they could strike.

Lu Changyuan used the formation brush to draw a small circle at the location of the Connection Node.

The position of the circle was between the Lock Core and the Connection Node on the triangular diagram — not at the main hub in the center, but less than five miles from the main hub.

"It's not about hitting the main hub — it's about hitting the connecting lines.

There are three spiritual energy transmission lines — the thickness and flow rate of the pipe in the direction of the Lid are nearly twice that of the Lock Core direction.

The high priest's staff is a tool for guiding spiritual energy — the crystal at the top of the staff flashes in sync with the outer circle sub-patterns.

If we can — during the window after the Lid is worn through — interrupt the high priest's spiritual energy transmission to the Lock Core direction.

Even if we only interrupt it once — the time for the Lock Core to fill up will be delayed."

He drew a line with the formation brush from the direction of the Connection Node towards the Lock Core.

Measuring with the formation ruler — it was about twenty-five miles from the Connection Node to the Lock Core.

From the Blue Moon Island Ring Reef to the Connection Node — the underwater distance was about one hundred and eighty miles.

Leng Feng had already scouted the safe passage and undercurrent routes to the main hub — it took less than a day of travel underwater to reach the main hub.

From the main hub to the Connection Node was about another twenty miles.

"The cost — " Lu Changyuan set down the formation brush.

"Blue Moon Island must withdraw a portion of its troops from their defensive positions.

An active strike — leaving the protection range of the Geng Metal Sword Intent Killing Array.

Fighting on the Haiyuan Clan's territory.

If we are discovered — there will be no formation wall to retreat behind."

Leng Feng stood across from the sea chart table.

The seawater on his armor plates had already dried — but a very thin layer of grayish-white formation ink powder still clung to the edges of the plates.

Under the cold light, the color of the powder shimmered with a very faint dark red — it was the powder from the middle circle (Lock Core) sub-patterns that he had brushed against in the mountain passage.

"I will take the men.

Ten members of the personal guard — all of them.

Plus twenty of the best swimmers picked from the first page of the Sin Battalion.

Thirty people — that's enough.

The target is the connecting line, not the formation platform.

Break in → destroy the transmission line → withdraw.

From entering the water to withdrawing — no more than one day.

The undercurrent is faster on the way back than on the way there — we can drift up with the current.

Su Qingli will navigate for us from the surface using the Receiving Formation — she knows exactly where the patrol lines are."

He paused.

He pressed his finger on the location of the Connection Node on the triangular diagram — the dark red powder on his fingertip left a very faint mark on the paper.

"But if we are discovered — the guards in the direction of the Lid and the Lock Core will simultaneously press toward the Connection Node.

The heavy troops from both directions add up to at least a hundred.

Thirty people at a depth of two thousand zhang — no formation wall, no retreat path.

We can only rely on the undercurrents and the Bone-Repelling Paste to find our way back."

Lu Changyuan did not answer.

He pressed his hand on the edge of the table — his fingers tapped twice on the stone surface.

Then he walked from the sea chart table to outside the Lord's Mansion.

The ebbing tide on the sea surface had just reached its lowest point.

The rocks on the outermost side of the Ring Reef revealed nearly double the area they usually did — the surface of the rocks was covered in deep brown seaweed that had been soaked in seawater for who knows how many years.

The seaweed dripped seawater in the sunset.

On the stone platform halfway up the reef wall — next to the Formation Flag socket where Leng Feng usually stood — the sea breeze had blown away a layer of salt frost from the edge of the stone platform.

The green light on the Old Veteran's sentry post on the reef wall was still on.

The lens of the observation scope was still aimed in the direction of the Dragon Burial Trench.

The remnants of the vanguard team were gone — but not a single fluctuation signal on the Receiving Formation was missing.

The seventh fluctuation source — the one that had been hovering near the surface when Leng Feng entered the water — had pushed forward nearly twenty miles in the past half-day.

It was now less than forty miles from the reef wall.

The eighth — was already shining steadily at the edge of the Formation Plate.

The new fluctuation source that Su Qingli had marked in the Formation Affairs Room — the ninth one — had also started to appear on the rubbing paper at the very edge of the Formation Plate.

The fluctuation sources would not stop.

The sealing acceleration would not stop.

The window was closing in — every day they delayed, the Lid was closer to being worn through.

Lu Changyuan stood at the entrance of the Lord's Mansion — looking at the sea surface in the direction of the Dragon Burial Trench.

Leng Feng walked to his side — the formation ink powder on his armor plates reflected a very faint dark red in the sunset.

"Two or three days — " Leng Feng used his thumb to rub off the powder stuck to one of the armor plates.

The powder gathered into a small pile on his fingertip — he held his finger up to his eyes.

Dark red — the color of the middle circle sub-patterns.

Confirmed.

"You decide whether to go or not.

Go — I will take the men.

Don't go — I will continue patrolling."

Lu Changyuan did not answer.

He pressed his hand on the door frame of the Lord's Mansion — his fingers tapped twice on the stone frame.

Then he turned and walked back to the sea chart table.

Outside the window — the last ray of sunset withdrew from the Ring Reef.

Twilight spread westward from the eastern horizon — spreading over the sea surface on the east side of the Ring Reef, over the Pier trestle, and reached the entrance of the Lord's Mansion.

The cold light stone lamps automatically switched from dark blue to bright white in the twilight.

Su Qingli walked in from the Formation Affairs Room.

She had copied the latest data from the Receiving Formation onto a palm-sized piece of rubbing paper — the positions and speeds of the nine fluctuation sources were clearly marked on the paper.

The seventh — less than forty miles from the reef wall, still pushing forward.

The eighth — about eighty miles from the reef wall, moving nearly twenty percent faster than the seventh.

The ninth — about one hundred and twenty miles from the reef wall, having just entered the sensing range less than half a day ago.

The sixth (main force) — was still in place about fifty miles away.

It hadn't pushed forward.

But it hadn't retreated either.

It was waiting — waiting for the other fluctuation sources to get into position.

"They are preparing." Su Qingli placed the rubbing paper on the sea chart table — her finger tapped on the positions of the seventh, eighth, and ninth fluctuation sources.

"Three scouts — divided into three layers.

The first layer is closest — the second and third layers are spaced out.

The main force is bringing up the rear.

This isn't a charge — it's a hunt.

They are bringing the outer sentry posts of Blue Moon Island into their attack range one by one."

Lu Changyuan looked down at the rubbing paper.

Nine fluctuation sources — from the sixth to the ninth, plus the first to the fifth already marked previously (the patrol teams and guards deep in the Dragon Burial Trench).

Nine groups of spiritual energy signals were distributed in the fan-shaped sea area around Blue Moon Island — the closest group was less than forty miles away, and the furthest was over two hundred miles away, deep in the Dragon Burial Trench.

If they went to interfere with the seal — thirty people would leave the island and sneak into the Dragon Burial Trench.

Blue Moon Island's defensive strength would lose Leng Feng and the personal guard for at least one day — the most elite underwater combat force.

If the scouts launched an attack during this time — Blue Moon Island would have no Leng Feng to lead the team to plug the breach.

If they didn't go — the window would close.

After the Lid was worn through, the Lock Core would be filled within a few days.

The main hub would open — the abyssal vein would recover — and high-tier Haiyuan Clan warriors would emerge.

By then, the pressure faced by Blue Moon Island would be much greater than it was now — the opponents would change from scouts to Haiyuan Clan warriors of Golden Core Stage and above.

Blue Moon Island would not be able to hold.

Go — they might win, or they might die.

Don't go — they would definitely lose, just a little more slowly.

Lu Changyuan stood in front of the sea chart table for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Then he packed up the six items — the Fragmented Map was rolled up and tied with thin twine, the Jade Slips with rubbings were stacked together and put into a waterproof bag, and the fluctuation source distribution map was folded and placed under the military stronghold list.

He put the items into the rattan storage box under the sea chart table — after closing the lid, he tapped on the lid with his finger.

"Go."

Leng Feng nodded.

Then he turned and walked out — he stopped when he reached the door.

He unhooked the Grand Commander's Seal from his waist — and placed it next to the cold light stone lamp at the entrance of the Lord's Mansion.

The engraving on the face of the seal, showing a sword tip pointing downward into the sea, shimmered with a very deep blue under the light.

"If I don't come back — give the Grand Commander's Seal to Deng Yue.

He knows what to do next."

Lu Changyuan did not reach for the seal.

He pressed his hand on the stone platform — his fingers tapped twice on the stone surface.

Then he looked at Leng Feng.

"Come back.

After you come back — I will take you to the fortress.

Commander Tie Zhan said — if we fight one more battle, he will help me apply for an upgrade to the stronghold's Rank.

The first thing after the upgrade — I will equip you with a set of armor that can withstand Bone Spear from a False Core stage."

Leng Feng picked up the Grand Commander's Seal from beside the lamp base — and hooked it back onto his waist.

Then he walked out of the Lord's Mansion.

The formation ink powder on his armor plates reflected the last faint dark red light in the twilight — and then disappeared as he walked into the shadows of the Pier trestle.

On the Pier — the ten members of the personal guard were already waiting.

Deng Yue had replaced the armor plate over the new wound on his left shoulder — the white gauze under the plate showed a very faint grayish-green under the cold light.

Ma Yuan and Tian Qi stood on either side of him — their shields were already locked onto their arms.

The other seven people lined up in order — each of them had the newly made traction formation stakes by Su Qingli hooked to their waists.

Four long stakes — seven short stakes.

The long stakes were to be driven into deep water, and the short stakes were to mark the retreat route.

Su Qingli stood on the Pier — holding the Receiving Formation plate in her hand.

The positions of the nine fluctuation sources on the Formation Plate were clearly visible in the twilight.

She looked up at Leng Feng — then looked down to continue watching the Formation Plate.

"The seventh — is still on the water surface.

Forty miles.

The direction hasn't changed — toward Blue Moon Island.

Within two hours after you depart — if the scouts move, I will transmit a message in advance.

You will still have time to turn back."

Leng Feng pressed his hand against the emergency talisman at his waist.

The paper of the emergency talisman had been warmed by his palm for nearly a day — the cinnabar patterns on the edges of the talisman were brighter than usual under his body heat.

Then he climbed over the side of the sampan and entered the water.

Ten people followed into the water — their entry movements were spaced out one after another, with about one breath's time between every two.

The ripples on the water surface layered one upon another — the last ripple was swallowed by the undercurrent brought in by the ebbing tide.

On the Ring Reef — the sea surface in the Old Veteran's observation scope was calm.

The green light was still on.

But he unhooked the emergency talisman from his waist — and clenched it in his left palm.

There was no sweat in his palm.