207: Chapter 208 Trying to Turn Lin Muyang Against Him

Fortunately, Lin Muyang was a citizen of the Xia Country, one of their own.

This thought passed through their hearts like a cold stream, making them feel a chill of lingering fear amidst the tense and heavy atmosphere.

Just imagine, if such an existence—with talent, strength, and intellect that could all be called monstrous—had been born in the American Empire, the Western Federation, or other countries hostile to the Xia Country... how could the Xia Country of today possibly sleep or eat in peace?

Perhaps what they would be discussing right now would not be how to retrieve the mythical grade skill book, but rather how to kill or suppress him at all costs before he became a major threat.

That kind of situation was enough to make one's back turn cold just by imagining it.

By comparison, facing a joint setup by foreign forces, while tricky, meant that at least Lin Muyang was on their side; he was a treasure they needed to protect and support, rather than a nightmare they needed to guard against day and night or even seek to eliminate.

The difference in this stance brought about completely different mentalities and strategies.

However, relief was relief, but the worry had not diminished.

The other side had painstakingly laid out this trap, uniting top experts from several countries, and they had certainly set up an inescapable net on that strange island with its complex terrain and chaotic magic.

No matter how strong Lin Muyang's strength was, he was still young after all, and his actual combat experience—especially in dealing with such complex international conspiracies and the encirclement by top experts from multiple forces—was likely lacking.

Letting him go alone was simply too risky.

"Lin Muyang," Xu Ruohan stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. With a trace of contemplation on her stunningly beautiful face, she tilted her head slightly, her beautiful eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts, looked at Lin Muyang, and her voice was soft but earnest: "You mentioned that your invisibility ability is very strong, and we believe that. However... I am a bit curious, can this invisibility ability of yours be applied to yourself, or can it also cover people around you, taking others along to hide their tracks?"

Her question was very clever; it was both testing the details of Lin Muyang's abilities and laying the groundwork for the proposal that followed.

If Lin Muyang's invisibility ability could be cast on a group, then perhaps there was room for maneuver.

Upon hearing this, Lin Muyang turned his head to look at Xu Ruohan. Seeing the undisguised concern in her eyes and the trace of expectation hidden behind it, he understood.

He smiled gently, nodded, and said candidly: "Yes. As long as they are within a certain range and establish a temporary energy link with me, I can extend the concealment effect to cover them."

He did not explain the principle in detail, but his affirmative answer was enough.

This was not a secret that needed to be strictly guarded; revealing some details of his abilities at this time could instead increase his companions' confidence and reduce unnecessary arguments.

"Really?" Xu Ruohan's beautiful eyes brightened slightly, and she seemed to heave a sigh of relief, but then she pursed her lips and said in a negotiating tone: "Since you can take people with you when using invisibility, Lin Muyang, what do you think about this? Everyone is really worried about you going alone. The other side has united elite forces from several countries this time, and their traps are interlinked; no one knows what kind of insidious methods they have prepared. Why not take a few people with you? You don't need many, just two or three—good hands who are experienced and adept at dealing with various emergencies. They won't participate in direct conflict; their main role will be to provide support, reconnaissance, and early warning from the shadows, or to provide mutual assistance and help you escape in the unlikely event of an extreme, unforeseen situation."

She paused, her tone becoming softer, but her stance was firm: "This is not just about protecting you; it is also about being responsible for the future of our Xia Country. You are too important to us, Lin Muyang. If we let you go into the dragon's den alone, we, the people here, truly cannot sit here and wait with peace of mind."

Lin Muyang looked at Xu Ruohan's sincere gaze and then swept his eyes over the same worry and persistence on the faces of Sword Saint, Fierce Wolf, and the others around him; he was silent for a moment.

He understood their worries and also understood the responsibilities on their shoulders.

Although he was confident, he was not blindly arrogant.

Since the other side dared to set up such a big operation so openly, they must have something to rely on.

Having a few more experienced helpers in the shadows might indeed be able to cope with some treacherous methods he hadn't anticipated, such as certain restrictions or traps specifically targeting Summoners or specific abilities, or special epic-grade or even mythic grade items that the other side might be carrying.

Moreover, as Xu Ruohan said, if the other side were to be driven to desperation and use the skill book, then when trying to find that mysterious Six-Eyed Wizard Clan for help later, they would likely need the connections and channels of the Xia Country's officialdom to mediate.

Although he was confident in being able to "persuade" the other side, having the authorities step in to coordinate would ultimately save a lot of trouble.

Thinking of this, Lin Muyang no longer insisted. He restrained his smile, his expression became a bit more serious, and he nodded towards Xu Ruohan and all the seniors present who were concerned about this matter.

"Very well, then we shall follow Senior Xu's wishes." Lin Muyang's voice was steady and clear. "I will take people with me to go invisibly. However, the number of people should not be too many; two or three is enough. As for the selection, I will trouble Senior Xu and Sword Saint to decide. It is best if they are people who are proficient in stealth, reconnaissance, and anti-trapping, or who have strong resistance and experience in dealing with elemental or mental abnormal statuses. Our primary goal is stealthy reconnaissance and seizing the skill book when the opportunity arises, and we will try our best to avoid direct conflict. If the situation becomes impossible, or if the other side truly has heavy troops in ambush, I will take everyone and withdraw immediately."

Hearing that Lin Muyang had finally relented and agreed to take people with him, the heavy atmosphere in the conference room eased significantly.

Sword Saint's tightly locked brows relaxed slightly, and a trace of imperceptible relief flashed across Fierce Wolf's cold and hard face.

Wang Zhuojun restored his original, ordinary face, nodded slightly towards Lin Muyang, and a trace of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

Knowing how to assess the situation, listening to reasonable suggestions, and yet not losing one's own opinions and decisiveness—this was the true mindset of a powerhouse.

"Good! Lin Muyang, with you thinking this way, we can be much more at ease!" Sword Saint clapped his hands, a look of gratification appearing on his face. "You can rest assured about the selection; we will definitely choose the most suitable, most reliable, and most experienced ones. Fierce Wolf, you are in charge of this matter; draft the list immediately, and be quick!"

"Yes!" Fierce Wolf answered crisply and immediately began operating his communicator to retrieve data.

"Lin Muyang, you go back and rest first, or make some preparations. Once the candidates are finalized, we will have them report to you as soon as possible, and we will provide you with all the detailed information we have regarding that island and the foreign experts who may participate in this operation." Xu Ruohan also heaved a sigh of relief and said softly.

Lin Muyang nodded, said no more, gave a slight bow to everyone, and then, with Lilia, Succubus Maiden Elabess, and Gui Wanwan, who had been standing quietly behind him, he turned and left the still-serious conference room.

The heavy alloy door closed silently behind him, cutting off the discussion inside. Walking along the wide corridor paved with soft carpets and soft lighting, the calmness on Lin Muyang's face finally melted away slightly, revealing a trace of contemplation.

"Brother Muyang~" Elf Princess Lilia skipped forward lightly, turned around, and walked backward facing Lin Muyang. Her beautiful, large, emerald-green eyes blinked at him, her small nose wrinkled slightly, and her pink, tender lips pouted unhappily. "We could have perfectly solved this matter by ourselves! For that island or whatever, with me, Sister Elabess, and Sister Xiao Wan accompanying you, regardless of what traps or ambushes they have, wouldn't it be fine to just bulldoze our way through? Why bring other people? They must still be worried about you, thinking that you can't do it alone!"

The little girl's tone carried obvious dissatisfaction and absolute trust in Lin Muyang's strength. In her simple worldview, her own people were invincible and could bulldoze through everything; any difficulty was vulnerable in front of Brother Lin Muyang and them.

Lin Muyang looked at Lilia's adorable, puffed-up appearance and couldn't help but smile. He reached out and habitually rubbed her soft, smooth, silver-white hair; it felt excellent.

"Silly girl," Lin Muyang's voice carried a trace of doting. "This isn't a question of whether it's possible or not. The other side has painstakingly planned this, uniting top experts from several countries, and that island is their chosen home field. Who knows what strange things they have set up? Having a few more experienced helpers will always allow us to see some details we might have overlooked. Besides..."

He paused, his gaze looking at the sky gradually darkening outside the corridor window, his tone calm: "What if they really disregard everything and use that skill book first? We can't just make a wasted trip. At that time, we will likely still need to use the official power to contact that Six-Eyed Wizard Clan. With their people following, it will be much more convenient to negotiate."

"To be able to extract skills that others have already learned and turn them back into a skill book..." The Yama Maiden Gui Wanwan, who had been quietly following by Lin Muyang's side, suddenly spoke softly.

She had already put away that fearsome, massive scythe. At this moment, she looked just like a girl next door with overly pale skin but exquisite, cute features, though the faint, lingering sense of coldness and mystery between her brows could not be shaken off.

She tilted her head slightly, a glimmer of interest flashing in her scarlet eyes. "This kind of ability is unheard of. Even in the world where I was born, the deprivation and granting of powers involving the soul and the level of laws belong to the deepest forbidden realms. This Six-Eyed Wizard Clan... is quite interesting."

Her tone was calm, but those familiar with her could detect a hint of curiosity hidden within.

"I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what happens if Master successfully obtains that mythic grade skill book this time and learns it..." The Succubus Maiden Elabess, walking on the other side, swayed her slender waist as she moved closer to Lin Muyang, unabashedly linking her arm with his. Breathing like an orchid, her soul-captivating eyes were filled with anticipation. "What kind of sisters will you be able to summon for us? Will it be a fiery queen from the world of flames? Or a mermaid princess from the deep sea? Ah, just thinking about it makes my heart race~ I wonder if the new little sisters will be as cute and obedient as Lilia and Xiao Wan?"

As she spoke, she deliberately winked at Lilia and Gui Wanwan, earning a cute roll of the eyes from Lilia and an indifferent gaze from Gui Wanwan.

Elabess's words successfully steered the conversation toward a more relaxed and anticipated direction.

Not only her, but Lin Muyang himself, including Lilia and Gui Wanwan, were filled with curiosity and anticipation regarding the new summoned companions.

Every new summoning meant new power, a new partner, and an unknown yet interesting encounter.

This was almost one of the core motivations driving Lin Muyang to constantly grow stronger and collect resources.

"We will know soon enough." Lin Muyang smiled, gazing into the distance as if he could pierce through the layers of buildings to see the vast Pacific Ocean. "Once we arrive at that island, we will take the item back."

Meanwhile, just as the Summer Nation was busily discussing countermeasures, selecting personnel, and gathering intelligence.

In the depths of the vast Pacific Ocean, in the wide waters east of the Summer Nation and west of the American Empire.

Since global digitalization and the fusion of games and reality, the ocean was no longer the purely natural sea it once was.

The surging magic tides had not only changed the land but also profoundly affected the ocean.

New islands rose from the seabed like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and new clans of marine monsters were constantly being born and migrating, occupying these newborn lands.

Today's Pacific Ocean was no longer the relatively "empty" blue expanse on the maps of the old era, but was dotted with countless islands, large and small. Some islands were even comparable in size to the territories of small nations, inhabited by countless powerful and dangerous monsters. They formed complex and dangerous ecological chains, becoming new lands for adventure and hunting for human Class Transferees, as well as new chessboards for the secret rivalries between various national powers.

On one of the larger islands privately named "Crocodile Shark Island" by American Empire explorers, undercurrents were currently surging.

This island covered an area of about two hundred square kilometers and had complex terrain. In the center was a raised volcanic rock zone, surrounded by tropical jungles that were abnormally dense and shockingly tall, catalyzed by the rich magic. Swamps, streams, and steep rock walls were scattered throughout.

The coastline of the island consisted of craggy cliffs and complex bays hiding undercurrents.

It was named after the "Armored Crocodile Shark," a type of amphibious monster that was abundant on the island, possessing both the thick skin of a crocodile and the ferocity of a shark, with levels generally above 150.

At this moment, deep within the island, in an area cleverly concealed by natural caves and dense vines, more than a dozen figures with powerful auras and distinct styles were gathering.

These people were the participants of this transnational joint operation.

They came from the American Empire, the Western Federation, Japan, and Kimchi Country, while the largest number came from Australia, which was geographically relatively close to this island.

This "Crocodile Shark Island" was less than two thousand kilometers away from Australia's northeastern coastline in a straight line, which was not unreachable for high-level Class Transferees, making it convenient for them to secretly mobilize forces and supplies.

This operation was extremely secretive.

It began with the American Empire's top thief, known as the "Saint of Thieves," Gatlin, taking action personally. Relying on his miraculous stealth and cracking abilities, combined with the mental interference of the Indian ascetic Amir, the elemental Disguise of the Western Federation's elementalist Carlos, the perfect illusion of Australia's illusionist Lilia, and the cooperation of several other powerhouses, they staged a "perfect theft" at the Summoner Association headquarters in Jingdu City, which was strictly guarded by the Summer Nation, and successfully obtained that crucial mythic grade Summoner skill book.

Their plan was clear and vicious: use the skill book as bait to lure Lin Muyang out of the Summer Nation's territory and into this "home field" they had carefully selected and prepared in advance.

The primary goal was to attempt to defect Lin Muyang, promising him enormous benefits, freedom, and even status that even the Summer Nation could not easily offer.

They believed that such a young genius would likely waver when faced with the temptation of a mythic grade skill book and the combined might of several nations.

If the defection was successful, everyone would be happy, and they would gain a weapon capable of changing the world order.

But if the defection failed... then this "Crocodile Shark Island" would be the burial ground they had chosen for this super genius of the Summer Nation!

For this, they had mobilized some of the most top-tier and special forces within their respective countries, carried many trump card special items, and set up an inescapable net on this island, seeking to kill him in one blow and eliminate future troubles forever!

They knew deep down that if they could not kill or control Lin Muyang before he truly grew into a towering tree, then in time, the whole world would be shrouded under the shadow of the Summer Nation, or rather, under the shadow of Lin Muyang.

This was something they absolutely could not accept.

"Everything is ready, just waiting for the fish to take the bait." A low, hoarse voice, like metal rubbing against metal, rang out in the dim cave, coming from a figure shrouded in a black cloak with only a pair of eyes glowing with ghostly green light exposed. He was one of the people in charge of this operation from the American Empire, codenamed "Shadow."

"Hehe, with the feast we've prepared, we can definitely give that kid endless surprises, unforgettable for a lifetime." Another slightly shrill voice with a hint of femininity laughed, coming from a short man with skin as pale as paper. He was the powerhouse sent by Japan this time, skilled in curses and barriers, codenamed "Crow."

"However, given the style of the Summer Nation's officials, I'm afraid they won't easily let Lin Muyang come alone. They will likely send top-tier stealth experts to land on the island first to scout, or even attempt to secretly retrieve the skill book." A blonde lady wearing a classical European noble gown with elegant manners played with a crystal ball in her hand, analyzing calmly. She was one of the representatives of the Western Federation, skilled in prophecy and detection, codenamed "Madame Crystal."

"Hmph, no matter." A thick voice like muffled thunder rang out, coming from a giant over two point five meters tall with muscles knotted like cast rock. He was one of the leaders from Australia this time, known for his terrifying defense and strength, codenamed "Hill." "Even if they have many hidden moves, as long as Lin Muyang steps into the core area of this island, we have a way to activate that thing and temporarily drag him into the preset duel space. In that special dimensional fragment, all outside interference will be isolated, and there will only be him and our chosen people. By then, whether to talk or kill, it will all be under our control."

"Mavis," Shadow turned to a petite figure in the corner of the cave who was almost blended into the shadows, his voice carrying a hint of command. "Keep your Eye of Truth activated at all times, covering the entire island and the surrounding waters. On the Summer Nation's side, the Thousand-Faced Monkey King Wang Zhuojun's Disguise is superb, and Zhang Mayi's stealth ability is even more impossible to guard against. I don't want any rats to slip in under our noses and ruin our welcome ceremony."