199: Chapter 198 The Perilous Situation of the Profound Core! Awakening in Anger to Break Through the Darkness and Alleviate the National Crisis, Wielding the Blade to Protect the Light and Stabilize the Tide (4)

Everyone in the Command Center listened intently to Mu Li's words, their eyes flickering with a determined light, as the exhaustion and grief on their faces were replaced by a steadfast fighting spirit. They knew Mu Li was right; the challenges ahead would be even more severe, but they would not retreat or fear. They would follow Mu Li, protect the Mystic Light Energy, guard this land, avenge their fallen brothers, and fight for the future of humanity.

"Engineer Mu, we'll listen to you!" Zhao Gang said loudly, his voice firm and powerful, carrying a sense of resolve. Other security members and technicians chimed in as well: "Yes, we'll listen to you! We will definitely adjust our state as soon as possible and go all out to fight the enemy and protect our Home!"

Mu Li nodded, a warm current surging through his heart. He knew that with these loyal brothers and partners who were going all out to protect the Mystic Light Energy and their Home, he would surely overcome all difficulties and realize his dream, allowing Mystic Light Energy to benefit all of humanity and bringing eternal peace to this land.

Just then, Mu Li's personal communicator suddenly vibrated. The slight vibration was exceptionally clear in the silent Command Center. He picked up the communicator and saw an encrypted message. The sender was the unknown number that had previously warned him to be careful of Lin Wei. This number was mysterious and unpredictable, yet it always provided him with crucial information at key moments. The message contained only one sentence: "The Priest of the Shadow Tribe holds a sacred relic of the Xuanguang Tribe called the 'dark moon jade pendant.' It possesses powerful Dark Energy manipulation capabilities and can amplify the power of Dark Energy. Deal with it carefully and do not underestimate the enemy."

Mu Li's heart skipped a beat, his pupils constricting sharply as a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. A sacred relic of the Xuanguang Tribe? The dark moon jade pendant? He immediately recalled the special jade pendant the technical team had found on the Dark Soldiers earlier. That pendant was as black as ink and emitted cold Dark Energy. At that time, they didn't know its origin, but he hadn't expected it to be a sacred relic of the Xuanguang Tribe, possessing such formidable power. Could it be that that pendant was the dark moon jade pendant?

[System Prompt: Keyword "dark moon jade pendant" detected. Retrieving relevant data... Data retrieval successful. dark moon jade pendant: One of the ancient sacred relics of the Xuanguang Tribe, it forms a duality of Yin and Yang with the light moon jade pendant. It possesses powerful Dark Energy manipulation capabilities, can amplify the power of Dark Energy, and can also resist certain Xuanguang Energy attacks. In ancient times, the dark moon jade pendant was stolen by the ancestors of the Shadow Tribe and became their clan's treasure, kept by the Priest of the Shadow Tribe ever since. It is the key to the Shadow Tribe's ability to control powerful Dark Energy.]

"So that's how it is..." Mu Li realized everything in an instant. He finally understood why the Shadow Tribe could control such powerful Dark Energy and why their dark energy weapons were so devastatingly powerful—it was because they possessed the sacred relic, the dark moon jade pendant. As a sacred relic of the Xuanguang Tribe, it had to be reclaimed no matter what, not only to take back what belonged to the Xuanguang Tribe but also to weaken the Shadow Tribe's strength so they could no longer manipulate powerful Dark Energy or pose such a massive threat.

Furthermore, since the dark moon jade pendant was in the hands of the Shadow Tribe, the light moon jade pendant was likely somewhere as well. The light moon jade pendant and the dark moon jade pendant were the Yin and Yang to each other, possessing powerful Xuanguang Energy manipulation capabilities. If he could find the light moon jade pendant and combine it with the xuanguang core, he might be able to further enhance the power of Xuanguang Energy, develop even more powerful weapons and protective equipment, and better combat the Shadow Tribe and the Void Temple.

"System, can you locate the position of the light moon jade pendant?" Mu Li thought to himself, his heart filled with anticipation.

[System Prompt: The energy signal of the light moon jade pendant is shielded by a powerful barrier and cannot be directly located. However, according to the ancient records of the Xuanguang Tribe, there is an energy resonance between the light moon jade pendant and the dark moon jade pendant. When the two are close to each other, they will generate a special energy fluctuation, allowing them to sense each other's location. It is suggested that the host find the dark moon jade pendant first and then use the energy resonance between the two to locate the light moon jade pendant.]

Mu Li nodded, a new plan forming in his mind. He would first find Lin Wei and use her to locate the Priest of the Shadow Tribe, because the dark moon jade pendant was kept by the priest. Finding the priest meant finding the dark moon jade pendant. Then, he would seize the dark moon jade pendant and use it to find the light moon jade pendant, reclaiming both sacred relics to enhance the power of Xuanguang Energy and prepare for the subsequent confrontation with the Shadow Tribe and the Void Temple.

Just then, Zhao Gang walked over with a serious expression and said, "Engineer Mu, security departments across the country have begun a full-scale manhunt for Lin Wei. All major transportation routes, airports, and stations have been put under surveillance. Once Lin Wei's tracks are found, we will be notified immediately. Additionally, we found a secret safe in Lin Wei's office. This safe uses the most advanced encryption technology, and we can't open it. We need you to open it personally."

"A secret safe?" A look of doubt flashed in Mu Li's eyes as he pondered. For Lin Wei to have a secret safe in her office, it likely contained secrets of the Shadow Tribe, evidence of her betrayal, or some important intelligence. "Let's go take a look."

Mu Li followed Zhao Gang to Lin Wei's office. Everything inside remained as it was, clearly indicating that Lin Wei had fled in a hurry. Her notebook and some documents were still on the desk, the chair wasn't pushed in properly, and a faint scent of perfume—the one Lin Wei commonly used—still lingered in the air, which now made Mu Li feel a wave of nausea. On the office wall, there was an inconspicuous hidden door that was almost the same color as the wall. If one didn't look closely, it would be impossible to find. Behind the hidden door was the secret safe Zhao Gang had mentioned.

This safe was specially made, entirely black and smooth-surfaced, employing the most advanced encryption technology. It required not only fingerprint recognition but also complex passwords and system authorization. Ordinary people couldn't open it, and even professional technicians would take a long time to crack it. Mu Li walked to the safe, placed his palm on the fingerprint recognition area, and with a determined gaze, silently recited the system cracking command. [System Prompt: Cracking safe encryption program... Crack successful. Fingerprint matched, password verified. Opening safe...]

With a "click," the safe door slowly opened, making a crisp sound. Mu Li looked inside and saw a black notebook, a Dark Energy crystal, and a neatly folded map. Other than those, there was nothing else.

Mu Li picked up the black notebook. Its cover was black and made of a special material that was waterproof and shockproof, with no text or patterns on it. He opened the notebook, and inside were the communication logs between Lin Wei and the Priest of the Shadow Tribe. The handwriting was neat yet carried a bone-chilling coldness. From the contents, it was evident that Lin Wei had been a member of the Shadow Tribe long before joining the Xuanguang Energy Base. She was a pawn personally planted by the Priest of the Shadow Tribe to lurk in the Xuanguang Base. Her mission was to stay by his side, steal Mystic Light Energy technology, obtain data related to the core system, and wait for the right moment to destroy the Xuanguang Energy Base, paving the way for the Shadow Tribe's rise.

The notebook also recorded some secrets of the Shadow Tribe, including their organizational structure, a list of core members, the research and development progress of their weapons and equipment, and their next plan—the Shadow Tribe planned to join forces with the Void Temple to seize the xuanguang core, control Mystic Light Energy technology, and then gradually infiltrate every level of human society to ultimately achieve their ambition of world domination. Mu Li became increasingly shocked as he read, his fingers trembling slightly from the force he was exerting. He hadn't expected the Shadow Tribe to have already infiltrated every level of society; even some officials from the Management Administration and corporate executives were members of the Shadow Tribe. These people were hidden in the shadows, ready to deal a fatal blow at any moment.

"These traitors!" Mu Li angrily slammed the notebook onto the desk. It hit the surface with a heavy thud. His eyes were filled with hatred, and the fire of rage surged in his chest once more, nearly consuming him. "To hide so deeply, to betray their own country and people, and to harm the innocent... they will surely pay the price!"

Zhao Gang, watching from the side, also clenched his fists in anger, his eyes full of killing intent. He said, "Engineer Mu, we must drag all these traitors out and bring them to justice, to avenge our fallen brothers and everyone they have harmed!"

Mu Li nodded, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. He picked up the Dark Energy crystal. This crystal was different from the ones found on the Dark Soldiers; it was larger, darker in color, and emitted a dense and stable Dark Energy. Its energy density was higher and its stability stronger, clearly having been specially refined by the Shadow Tribe. [System Prompt: High-purity Dark Energy crystal detected, containing special Shadow Tribe refining technology. Energy density is 3 times that of ordinary Dark Energy crystals, with extreme stability. Can be used to research Dark Energy conversion methods to transform Dark Energy into Xuanguang Energy, and also to enhance the power of Xuanguang Energy Weapons, increasing their destructive force.]

Mu Li handed the Dark Energy crystal to the technician beside him and said in a serious tone, "Take this Dark Energy crystal to the Core Laboratory immediately. Organize a professional technical team to conduct a detailed study. You must find its refining technology and conversion method. Convert the Dark Energy into usable Xuanguang Energy as soon as possible to enhance our weapon power and prepare for the subsequent confrontation with the Shadow Tribe and the Void Temple."

"Understood!" The technician immediately took the Dark Energy crystal, carefully put it away, and turned to leave the office, his heart filled with a sense of responsibility. He knew that this Dark Energy crystal was very important to them and was crucial to the success or failure of the upcoming battles.

Finally, Mu Li picked up the map. The map was folded and made of a special material that was waterproof and tear-resistant. Once unfolded, it showed the terrain of the Southwest Deep Mountains, with the locations of mountains, rivers, and jungles clearly marked. There was also a red mark located deep within the Southwest Deep Mountains, clearly indicating an important location. [System Prompt: The marked location on the map is the Shadow Tribe's secret base. The dark moon jade pendant is hidden in the core area of that base, personally guarded by the Priest of the Shadow Tribe. It is heavily guarded with strong defensive forces.]

"Excellent!" A flash of joy crossed Mu Li's eyes, and he could hardly contain his excitement. He finally knew where the Shadow Tribe's secret base was and where the dark moon jade pendant was hidden. For him, this was undoubtedly a major breakthrough. As long as they could take down the Shadow Tribe's secret base and seize the dark moon jade pendant, they could weaken the Shadow Tribe's strength and get one step closer to finding the light moon jade pendant and defeating the enemy.

He put the map away, carefully placing it into the storage module of his combat suit, and said to Zhao Gang, "Zhao Gang, immediately organize an elite Xuanguang Assault Team. Select the best members and equip them with the latest Xuanguang Energy Weapons and protective gear to prepare for the trip to the Southwest Deep Mountains. We are going to take down the Shadow Tribe's secret base, seize the dark moon jade pendant, and completely destroy the Shadow Tribe's effective forces to avenge our fallen brothers!"

"Understood!" Zhao Gang immediately responded, his gaze firm and his tone resolute. "I'll go prepare right away, select the elite members, and equip them with the best gear to ensure this mission is successfully completed. We will definitely seize the dark moon jade pendant and take down the Shadow Tribe's secret base!" After speaking, Zhao Gang turned and left the office to immediately arrange the matters.

Mu Li watched Zhao Gang's hurried departure, his resolve growing even stronger. The thick smoke outside was gradually dissipating, and sunlight filtered through the shattered porthole into the office, falling on the black notebook on the desk and reflecting the coldness and conspiracy within the handwriting. He raised his hand to touch the unhealed wound on his combat suit. The sharp pain from his fingertips served as a constant reminder of the price of betrayal and the responsibility of protection.

Su Qing walked softly into the office. Looking at Mu Li's tall but slightly weary back, her voice was full of concern: "Engineer Mu, Zhao Gang has already gone to arrange the assault team. They're expected to depart in an hour. Why don't you rest for a moment? Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, and high-intensity action will aggravate your old injuries."

Mu Li slowly turned around, his eyes showing no sign of retreat, only unyielding fighting spirit and firm conviction: "I'm fine; now is not the time to rest. The Shadow Tribe's secret base is right before our eyes, and the dark moon jade pendant is within reach. We cannot afford any delay. Lin Wei is still on the run, the Priest is still lurking in the shadows, and the threat of the Void Temple has never disappeared. Every extra minute we wait is another minute of danger."

He walked to the desk, picked up the black notebook, and ran his fingertips over the handwriting on the pages. The hatred in his heart gradually settled into a calm plan: "The list of traitors recorded in this notebook and the Shadow Tribe's infiltration plan are things we must focus on next. Once we return from the Southwest Deep Mountains, we will collaborate with the national security departments to investigate them one by one, drag out all these vermin hidden in the shadows, and completely sever the roots of the Shadow Tribe."

Su Qing nodded and handed an organized medical kit to Mu Li: "I've prepared emergency medicine and energy supplements for you. I'm coming with you on this mission. The medical team will accompany us the whole way to ensure your and the team members' safety and respond to any sudden injuries at any time."

Mu Li took the medical kit, a warm current rising in his heart. In this battle filled with betrayal and crisis, it was these loyal partners who gave him a continuous source of strength. He looked into Su Qing's determined eyes and nodded gently: "Alright, let's go together. But you must protect yourself. This mission is extremely perilous; the Shadow Tribe's secret base is heavily guarded, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

Just then, Zhao Gang's voice came over the communicator, urgent and firm: "Engineer Mu, the assault team has finished assembling, all equipment is in place, and the medical helicopter is ready. We can depart for the Southwest Deep Mountains at any time!"

Mu Li gripped the communicator, took a deep breath, and said in a serious and powerful tone: "Received! Everyone assemble. Target: the Shadow Tribe's secret base in the Southwest Deep Mountains. Seize the dark moon jade pendant, take down the base's core. Move out!"

He turned and walked out of the office, the sunlight spilling over him and casting a long shadow. Inside the Command Center, technicians were still working hard to repair the xuanguang core, injured team members were gradually stabilizing under the care of the medical team, and the surviving security members were wiping their weapons, their eyes full of fighting spirit. Mu Li knew this battle was far from over. The Shadow Tribe's conspiracy, Lin Wei's whereabouts, the location of the light moon jade pendant, and the subsequent actions of the Void Temple were all waiting for them to resolve.

But he was no longer lost, nor was he blinded by rage. Betrayal had made him grow, the crisis had made him firm, and the partners by his side gave him courage. He looked toward the southwest, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, as he thought to himself: Lin Wei, Shadow Priest, I will definitely find you, reclaim everything that belongs to us, protect this land, and protect everyone worth protecting.

The Xuanguang helicopter slowly ascended and flew toward the Southwest Deep Mountains. Its fuselage sliced through the clouds, carrying hope and determination as it headed toward the next life-and-death struggle.