508: Chapter 443: Following the Clues, White Robes Appear and Disappear

The confiscated secret files ran in the Temple of Civilization's data analysis System for a full seven days. Li Mo, sleepless and tireless, repeatedly cross-referenced every communication record, every supply list, and every coordinate in that crystal. Early on the seventh day, he finally found an extremely subtle pattern among the fifty thousand encrypted communications—the communication frequency of White-Clad · Hidden was not fixed, but synchronized with the pulses from the depths of the Gate of Guixu. Every time a pulse from the Lord of Nothingness reached the New Universe, White-Clad · Hidden would send a communication three seconds after the pulse ended. The recipient of the communication was not a person, but a coordinate.

[Communication Pattern · Analysis]

- Transmission Timing: Third second after the Lord of Nothingness's pulse ends

- Transmission Frequency: Once per pulse (approximately once every seven days)

- Recipient: Fixed spatial coordinate

- Coordinate Location: Expeditionary Force Headquarters Civilian District, fifty meters underground

- Coordinate Nature: Anchor Point for a spatial teleportation array

"He has a teleportation array underground in the Headquarters Civilian District." Li Mo projected the coordinates onto the Star Map; the location was beneath the Central Park of the Civilian District. It was a green space with no buildings, but the spatial rule detector showed a stable spatial folding point fifty meters underground. "This teleportation array connects directly to the edge of the Old Universe's Gate of Guixu. He doesn't need to transit through various war zones; he can communicate directly with the Lord of Nothingness."

Lin Zhou stared at the coordinates. "White-Clad · Hidden has been at Headquarters all along. Right under the nose of the High Command."

"His identity might be higher than we imagined." Iron Face pulled up the surveillance records near the Civilian District's Central Park. "In the last three months, seventeen high-ranking personnel have entered Central Park. Including three Generals, five Lieutenant Generals, and... two members of the Cosmic Council."

"Council members?"

"Yes. Cosmic Council members are not military personnel, but they have the right to participate in top-level decision-making. If White-Clad · Hidden is a Council member, he could access the most core secrets—including the location of the Gate of Guixu."

Lin Zhou stood up. "I'm going to Headquarters. Iron Face, you come with me. Li Mo, continue analyzing the communication records to find the specific identity of White-Clad · Hidden. Wang Meng, Qin Qing, take your people and stand by on the perimeter of the teleportation array, wait for my signal."

"Yes."

The silver-white light of the teleportation array transported Lin Zhou and Iron Face to the Expeditionary Force Headquarters Civilian District. Central Park was in the center of the Civilian District, covering about ten square kilometers, with lush trees and dotted lakes. This was a place for officers and their families to relax; it was bustling with people during the day and deserted at night. When Lin Zhou and Iron Face arrived, it was two in the morning. There were only patrolling guards in the park, with a godhead Rank of LV300, which posed no threat to the two of them.

Lin Zhou deployed the Fire of Civilization, completely concealing their presence. They walked along the park's path toward the center and stopped at the shore of an artificial lake. The coordinates provided by Li Mo were fifty meters below the lake bed.

[Teleportation Array Entrance · Location]

- Lake bed depth: Ten meters

- Soil layer below: Forty meters

- Teleportation array: Fifty meters deep

- Entrance: There is a hidden door on the lake bed

Lin Zhou dove to the bottom of the lake. The lake water was freezing, but the Fire of Civilization isolated him from the outside world. He felt a metal plate in the silt at the bottom of the lake, with the mark of the Void Sect—a Möbius strip—engraved on the surface. He pried open the metal plate, revealing a downward shaft. The shaft was one meter in diameter and forty meters deep, with smooth walls and no climbing points. Lin Zhou leaped down, the Fire of Civilization supporting his body as he descended slowly.

At the bottom of the shaft was a secret chamber. The chamber was small, about fifty square meters, with a small spatial teleportation array in the center. The runes of the teleportation array were still glowing faintly, indicating it had been used recently. The walls of the chamber were covered with dark red Talismans, and a Void energy core was suspended in the center of the Talismans, serving as the energy source for the teleportation array.

[Secret Chamber · Data]

- Teleportation array status: Activated (Standby)

- Void energy core: One (one meter in diameter)

- Talismans: About fifty

- Energy residue: Yes (last used three days ago)

Lin Zhou walked to the teleportation array, crouched down, and the Fire of Civilization seeped into the runes. The destination coordinates of the teleportation array were recorded in the runes—the edge of the Old Universe's Gate of Guixu, near the Lord of Nothingness's Anchor Point. After every pulse, White-Clad · Hidden would teleport from here to the Anchor Point to "communicate" with the Lord of Nothingness.

"He has been here." Lin Zhou stood up. "Three days ago, the day of the Lord of Nothingness's pulse. He teleported to the Anchor Point; he might not have returned yet, or he might have already returned."

"If he is in the Civilian District, we can find him." Iron Face pulled up the real-time surveillance of the Civilian District. "Today's list of high-level activities in the Civilian District—the Cosmic Council Speaker, three Council members, the Expeditionary Force Commander-in-Chief, two Deputy Commanders-in-Chief... they are all here."

"White-Clad · Hidden is among these people."

Lin Zhou did not touch the teleportation array. He needed a live captive and could not alert the enemy. He exited the shaft, covered the metal plate, and the Fire of Civilization erased the traces. The two returned to the surface and sat on a bench at the edge of the park to wait.

At three in the morning, the streets of the Civilian District were empty. In the distance, the lights of the Council building were still on—someone was working overtime. Lin Zhou stared at the building, the Fire of Civilization flickering slightly in his palm.

"Iron Face, if White-Clad · Hidden is a Council member, how do we arrest him? Council members are not military personnel; the Inspectorate has no authority to arrest them."

"High Command authorization would work. But we need conclusive evidence." Iron Face paused. "Do you have it?"

"I do. But it needs to be verified in person."

Lin Zhou stood up and walked toward the Council building.

Four guards stood at the entrance of the Council building, with a godhead Rank of LV600. Seeing Lin Zhou's Major General Rank and Iron Face's Inspectorate uniform, they saluted and let them pass. Lin Zhou walked into the building, heading straight for the Speaker's office. The Speaker was the highest official in the Civilian District and also the leader elected by all races in the New Universe, paralleling Lin Zhou's status as the "Co-Master of Civilization."

The Speaker's office was on the top floor. Lin Zhou knocked on the door, and an old voice came from inside: "Come in."

The Speaker was a white-haired old man with a godhead Rank of LV500; he wasn't tall, but his wisdom and political acumen were unmatched. He sat behind his desk, holding a pen, reviewing documents. Seeing Lin Zhou and Iron Face, he put down his pen.

"Commander Lin, it's so late, what is the matter?"

"Speaker, I suspect there is a high-ranking member of the Void Sect within the Cosmic Council, codenamed 'White-Clad · Hidden'."

The Speaker's expression did not change. "Evidence?"

"I have it. But it needs to be verified in person. Please, Speaker, summon all Council members to the conference room. I need to use the Fire of Civilization to check their godheads."

The Speaker was silent for a moment. "You want to check the Souls of the Council members?"

"The Fire of Civilization will not harm them. It is just to check for Void energy contamination."

The Speaker stood up. "Give me an hour."

An hour later, in the Council building's conference room. All twelve Council members were present, including the Speaker. They sat on both sides of a long table, their expressions varied—some curious, some disdainful, some nervous. Lin Zhou stood in front of the long table, the Fire of Civilization burning in his palm.

"Everyone, I need to use the Fire of Civilization to check your godheads. It will not harm you; it is just to check for Void energy contamination. Please cooperate."

The Council members whispered among themselves, but the Speaker stood up first. "I'll go first."

Lin Zhou pressed the Fire of Civilization against the Speaker's chest. The flames seeped into his godhead; there was no Void energy. The Speaker was clean.

The second, the third, the fourth... they were all clean.

The eleventh was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a refined face, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a scholar. He was a member of the Cosmic Council and also a famous historian of the New Universe—Zhou Wen Yuan.

[Zhou Wen Yuan · Information]

- Identity: Cosmic Council member, New Universe historian

- Background: Anthropologist from the Old Universe era, participated in drafting the constitution after the New Universe was established

- Godhead Rank: LV400

- Suspicions: None (never suspected)

Lin Zhou pressed the Fire of Civilization against Zhou Wen Yuan's chest. The moment the flames seeped into his godhead, Lin Zhou felt it—dark red Void energy, like blood vessels, entwined around the core of his godhead. The contamination level was about sixty percent. Higher than General Zhao Wuji, higher than Zhou Tianxing. His godhead integrity was only seventy percent, but it was completely invisible on the surface. His disguise was more perfect than anyone else's.

[Zhou Wen Yuan · Test Results]

- godhead integrity: 70%

- Void energy contamination: 60%

- Identity: White-Clad · Hidden

"Councilor Zhou, there is Void energy in your godhead."

Zhou Wen Yuan's face changed, but he quickly returned to calm. He smiled, his smile refined and gentle. "Commander Lin, have you made a mistake? I have never been in contact with Void energy."

"The detection of the Fire of Civilization cannot be wrong. Your contamination level is sixty percent, higher than General Zhao Wuji and Zhou Tianxing. You are White-Clad · Hidden."

There was an uproar in the conference room. The Council members stood up one after another, moving away from Zhou Wen Yuan.

Zhou Wen Yuan was silent for a moment. Then, his smile changed—it was no longer refined, but crazy.

"You are smarter than I thought, Lin Zhou." He stood up, dark red light surged from his body, and Void energy burned around him. "But, do you think catching me will stop the Lord of Nothingness? It is already waking up. You are too late."

He raised his hand, and a dark red beam of light shot toward the Speaker. Lin Zhou swung his sword to cut off the beam, while rushing toward Zhou Wen Yuan.

[Battle · Data]

- Zhou Wen Yuan Rank: LV400 (Surface) → Actual LV2000 (Void-strengthened)

- Contamination level: 60%

- Skills: Void Erosion, Existence Erasure, Void Summoning

Zhou Wen Yuan did not want to fight. He rushed toward the door, and the dark red beam of light blasted the conference room door open. Iron Face's Fire of Justice caught up from behind, and the chains of rules entangled his legs. Zhou Wen Yuan fell, but he climbed up quickly and continued to flee.

Lin Zhou chased out of the conference room. In the corridor, the guards were alarmed, but Zhou Wen Yuan's Void energy forced them back. He rushed to the window at the end of the corridor and leaped out. Outside the window was the night sky of the Civilian District; he spread his Void energy wings and flew toward Central Park.

Lin Zhou flew on his sword, in close pursuit. On the lake in Central Park, Zhou Wen Yuan dove to the bottom of the lake and entered the secret chamber. He activated the teleportation array, and dark red light enveloped him.

"He's trying to escape!" Iron Face shouted.

Lin Zhou rushed into the secret chamber, the Sword of Civilization slashing toward the runes of the teleportation array. The sword light severed three runes, the stability of the teleportation array dropped, but Zhou Wen Yuan's figure had already become blurry. Lin Zhou leaped into the teleportation array and grabbed Zhou Wen Yuan's ankle.

The two disappeared into the teleportation array together.

The destination of the teleportation array was the edge of the Old Universe's Gate of Guixu, near the Lord of Nothingness's Anchor Point. Lin Zhou and Zhou Wen Yuan fell from the void and landed on the surface of the crystal. Golden light intertwined with dark red lines, and the phantom of the Lord of Nothingness was sleeping in the center of the crystal.

Zhou Wen Yuan climbed up and ran toward the center of the crystal. Lin Zhou chased him, and the Sword of Civilization stabbed into his back.

[Sword of Civilization · Damage]

- Target: Zhou Wen Yuan

- Damage: godhead integrity 70% → 50%

Zhou Wen Yuan screamed but did not fall. He lunged at the crystal, pressing both hands on the surface of the crystal. Dark red Void energy poured into his body from the crystal, and his godhead integrity began to recover.

[Zhou Wen Yuan · Void Remolding]

- Repair speed: 1% integrity per second

- Contamination level: 60% → 65% → 70%

"You can't stop me!" He laughed wildly. "The Lord of Nothingness is about to wake up, and the New Universe will return to the void!"

Lin Zhou did not answer. He unfolded the river of civilization and surged toward the crystal.

[river of civilization · Purification]

- Target: Crystal contamination level

- Current contamination level: 0% (after being purified by Lin Zhou)

- Zhou Wen Yuan's absorption was cut off

Zhou Wen Yuan's body stiffened. The Void energy stopped flowing in, and his godhead integrity stopped recovering. Lin Zhou walked in front of him, the Sword of Civilization held at his neck.

"Surrender. The Void Sect is finished."

Zhou Wen Yuan lowered his head and was silent for a long time. Then, he smiled. "Finished? No. The Void Sect will never be finished. As long as there are people who fear death, who fear the void, the Void Sect will be reborn."

"Then let fear disappear."

Lin Zhou pressed the Fire of Civilization against Zhou Wen Yuan's chest. The flames seeped into his godhead, stripping the Void energy from his body bit by bit.

[Fire of Civilization · Purification]

- Target: Zhou Wen Yuan

- Contamination level: 70% ... 60% ... 50% ...

- Consumption: 10,000 Divine Power per minute

Zhou Wen Yuan screamed, and dark red mist surged out of his body. His body was trembling, but Lin Zhou did not let go. Ten minutes later, the contamination level dropped to zero. Zhou Wen Yuan's godhead integrity also dropped to ten percent, near death.

[Zhou Wen Yuan · Status]

- Contamination level: 0%

- godhead integrity: 10%

- Status: Comatose

Lin Zhou picked him up and flew toward the teleportation array.

After returning to the Civilian District, Zhou Wen Yuan was sent to the Inspectorate's special prison. During the interrogation, he confessed all the secrets of the Void Sect—the location of the Gate of Guixu, the identity of White-Clad · Hidden, and other believers he had planted in the Cosmic Council.

[White-Clad · Hidden · Confession]

- Gate of Guixu location: New Universe core area, directly below the Expeditionary Force Headquarters

- Opening time: The moment the Lord of Nothingness wakes up

- Other believers: Three Council members, five officers (list provided)

Lin Zhou handed the list to Iron Face.

"Make the arrests."

"Yes."

The cleanup operation lasted for a month. Three Council members, five officers, and dozens of officers of various Ranks were captured. The last stronghold of the Void Sect in the New Universe was destroyed. White-Clad · Hidden was caught, and the Void Sect was completely annihilated.

Lin Zhou stood on the city wall, looking in the direction of the New Universe. The Fire of Civilization of one hundred thousand towns was like a sea of stars in the night sky.

"Captain, what are you thinking about?" Qin Qing walked over.

"Thinking that the Lord of Nothingness will wake up in a little over two years. The Gate of Guixu will open the moment it wakes up. We must be prepared before it opens the gate."

"How to prepare?"

"Spread the Fire of Civilization to every inch of the New Universe. Let fear have nowhere to hide."