160: Chapter 160 Infiltrating the Tiger's Den to Steal Heavenly Secrets

With thoughts racing, Ling Ye suppressed the sharp pain in his back and his mental exhaustion, his gaze turning icy and focused once more.

He first checked the wound on his back; the bullet had grazed him, leaving a shallow but searing burn, and blood had soaked his clothes.

He tore off a relatively clean piece of his undershirt and hastily bandaged the wound to stop the bleeding.

Then, he tilted his head to listen, confirming there were no immediate sounds of pursuit behind the airtight door (Keith might be reporting or handling the alarm in the Old Factory District), but the alarm might have already been sounded, and time was of the essence.

He quickly observed the metal corridor. It was straight, about fifty meters long, and seemed to end in a T-junction.

Most of the cabin doors on both sides were tightly closed, bearing simple labels or numbers, such as "Equipment Storage A-7," "Environmental Control Node," "Backup Power Room," and "Low-Level Personnel Rest Cabin," all of which were auxiliary functional rooms.

He needed to find places like the Command Center, communication hub, database, or offices for high-level personnel.

As he crept toward the T-junction, he pushed his "Spiritual Sense" to the limit he could currently maintain, sensing the movements and energy fluctuations behind the cabin doors on both sides.

Most rooms were silent, but his "Spiritual Sense" could capture the low hum of machines and the steady flow of energy within them.

As he approached the T-junction, faint, rhythmic footsteps came from the left corridor, getting closer! It was a patrol team!

Ling Ye immediately darted into the recess of a cabin door on the right marked "Cleaning Tool Room," holding his breath and focusing his attention.

A few seconds later, two soldiers dressed similarly to Keith but with better equipment and holding pulse rifles marched out from the left corridor in orderly steps, heading toward the direction Ling Ye had come from (the airtight door).

Their expressions were stern, but they did not appear to be in a state of particular urgency; it seemed to be a routine patrol.

It seemed that Keith's alarm might not have been fully communicated yet, or the sudden situation in the Old Factory District had diverted most of the base's attention.

Once the patrol team was far away, Ling Ye immediately flashed out from his hiding spot and, without hesitation, turned toward the left corridor—the direction the patrol team had come from!

Usually, important areas were deployed in the more core positions of the base where patrols were more frequent.

The left corridor was wider, the lighting was brighter, and the labels on the cabin doors began to change: "Data Analysis Room," "Communication Monitoring Node," "Tactical Briefing Room"... He was getting closer and closer to the core!

Ling Ye's heart rate quickened, but his footsteps became lighter and more cautious.

He used his "Spiritual Sense" to perceive the situation around corners and behind cabin doors in advance, avoiding the occasionally appearing, hurried technicians or low-level officials.

Finally, in the middle of the corridor, he saw a cabin door that stood out from the rest.

The door was thicker and heavier than the others, silver-gray in color, and had no functional labels on it, only a simple authorization identification panel flickering with a faint blue light.

On the wall next to the door was a small metal plaque embedded with a line of small text: "District 7 Temporary Action Command Center - Top Secret"

This was it!

Ling Ye's heart pounded wildly! But he immediately suppressed his excitement.

The door had an authorization lock, and forcing a Breakthrough was impossible. Moreover, there was very likely someone inside.

He needed to wait for an opportunity, or... look for another way to enter?

He looked at the wall opposite the Command Center door, where there was a grate labeled "Ventilation Duct Maintenance Access."

A ventilation duct! They usually connected various rooms and were a classic path for infiltration, but they were also places easily rigged with sensors and alarms.

He needed to assess the risk. Should he take a gamble and try to infiltrate the Command Center via the ventilation duct? Or should he continue looking for other key rooms that might be unlocked or have lax security (like the "Data Analysis Room" he had just passed)?

Just then, the heavy cabin door of the Command Center suddenly made a soft "hiss" and opened inward!

A young officer wearing a dark gray uniform, with shoulder insignia indicating the Rank of "Lieutenant," and looking exhausted but sharp-eyed, walked out holding a data pad.

He walked while looking down at the data pad, his brows tightly furrowed, muttering curses under his breath, "...The activity has risen again... 'the key' has no clues at all... The higher-ups are rushing us like crazy..."

He did not close the door immediately; it seemed he had only come out temporarily, or was going to the next room to fetch something.

An opportunity! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The Command Center door was slowly closing automatically, but the speed was not fast!

Ling Ye did not hesitate at all! The moment the officer turned to walk to another room nearby and his gaze shifted away, he channeled his last remaining "Mental Energy" and "Qi" into his legs. His entire body became like a blurred shadow, and the instant the door closed to a final sliver, he slid inside sideways!

"Click."

A soft closing sound rang out behind him. Ling Ye was now inside the "District 7 Temporary Action Command Center."

He immediately rolled under a huge holographic tactical sand table, curled up his body, held his breath, and simultaneously spread out his "Spiritual Sense" like mercury spilling onto the ground, scanning the entire room.

The interior of the Command Center was simpler than he had imagined.

In the center was a holographic sand table displaying a 3D map of Dawn City, where the Oak Street Community was covered by a conspicuous blue hemisphere (energy barrier), and inside the barrier were several flashing red dots and constantly pulsing data streams.

Surrounding it were several huge monitoring screens, displaying the real-time energy readings of the Old Factory District barrier, scans of the surrounding underground pipe network, summaries of anomaly reports from various city areas, and... a list of dozens of constantly refreshing "High-Priority Monitoring Targets" with avatars and brief information!

Ling Ye's gaze was instantly drawn to the list!

He saw familiar avatars—Su Qing (Note: Third Colonial Academy, Center for Abnormal Psychology and Behavioral Analysis, Tier 1 Liaison for Partners, Project Codename "Heart Anchor");

Zhou Ming (Note: Peripheral Operative, Codename "Nightingale," Status: Active, Current Mission: Monitor anomalous energy reactions at the academy and surrounding areas, search for "Sensitives");

Even... Sun Li (Note: Potential Sensitive, Assessment Rank: C, recent behavior abnormal, requires observation)!

So that was it! Su Qing was indeed a "Partner," and Zhou Ming was a "Peripheral Operative"! They belonged to the same massive action network targeting "Anomalies"! The executors of the "Cleaning" protocol!

In a corner of the screen, there was also an independent encrypted communication window flashing; it seemed that instructions from a higher level were being received.

Beside the sand table were two operators with their backs to Ling Ye, fully focused on the screens and data. They did not seem to have noticed anyone sneaking in.

Just as Ling Ye was greedily absorbing the shocking information on the screens and trying to memorize those key data points and the target list—

The Command Center's main communication channel suddenly broadcast a cold, authoritative male voice that carried an unquestionable sense of oppression. It had been encrypted, but every word was crystal clear:

"Attention all units, top-level command from the Command Center. The activity of the 'Secondary Pollution Source' in the Old Factory District has risen abnormally, reaching eighty percent of the critical threshold. The risk of 'Barrier' generator overload has increased. The search priority for 'the key' has been raised to 'Shadowless' level. Authorization to initiate the 'Cleaning' Phase II preparatory program—'Purification Net'—is granted."

"Repeat: 'Purification Net' program initiated. Objective: Lock down and control all identified and potential 'Sensitives,' individuals associated with 'the key,' and high-threat individuals with knowledge. Action time: Within 12 standard hours. Executing units: All peripheral action groups and partner support units. Authorization to use non-lethal and lethal force is granted. The target list and coordinates have been distributed."

"'the key' must be found and controlled before 'it' fully awakens. Spare no cost."

"For the blue purity."

The instruction ended, and the communication channel fell into dead silence. But inside the Command Center, the air seemed to freeze instantly.

The two operators turned around abruptly, their faces showing shock and a trace of fear. They exchanged glances, then immediately began frantically operating the consoles to pull up lists and send out instructions.

Ling Ye hid under the table, his whole body turning cold, as if falling into an ice cellar.

"Cleaning" Phase II... "Purification Net"... Lock down and control all Sensitives, individuals associated with 'the key,' and high-threat individuals with knowledge... Within 12 hours... Authorization to use lethal force... The list... the coordinates have been distributed...

He, Ling Ye, this "sample" and "intruder" who possessed "rapid recovery," "Spiritual Sense," and "knowledge of the inside story," and who had just escaped from the opponent's observer, was undoubtedly on their list of "high-threat individuals with knowledge" or even "individuals associated with 'the key'" at this very moment! And his ranking was likely very high!

Su Qing and Zhou Ming had likely already received action orders containing information about him!

12 hours! No, perhaps even shorter! The pursuit within the base had likely already started simultaneously!

He had to leave this place immediately! Immediately! Before they completely locked down the base and began a city-wide manhunt!

But how to leave? The corridors outside were likely already under martial law!

His gaze darted to the other side of the Command Center, where there was a small red door that looked like an internal emergency escape route, with a manual valve and a warning sign that read "For Emergency Use Only."

Was that the only path to survival? Or was it another trap?