193: Chapter 193 Roadblock Raid

At 9:00 PM, Li Xin headed out.

Liu Mo drove, still in that same gray SUV.

After leaving the town, the road became increasingly narrow, flanked by desolate, pitch-black wasteland where nothing could be seen clearly.

After driving for over twenty minutes, they arrived at the abandoned farmhouse.

The farmhouse was small, consisting of a few mud-brick rooms with half of the roof collapsed.

The walls were built of stone, with cracks wide enough to fit a hand through.

The courtyard was overgrown with dried-up grass that crunched when stepped upon.

Liu Mo parked the car behind the farmhouse and killed the engine.

"We have arrived. It is 9.7 kilometers to the north, which is exactly within the range you mentioned."

Li Xin got out of the car and looked around.

It was very dark, and there was no moon.

A chilly wind blew from the north, carrying the scent of damp earth.

He walked into the farmhouse.

It was empty inside, with hay on the floor and broken earthenware pots piled in the corner.

There were holes in the walls through which one could see outside.

He chose a corner and squatted down.

He pressed his hand against the ground; the soil was cool and slightly damp.

"AI System, start Extraction."

[Extraction initiated. Initial rate: 42 tons/hour. Detecting spiritual energy field activity... Rating: S-. Interference level is 40% higher than at Jaigarh Fort.]

"How much do you estimate we can extract tonight?"

[If interference continues at current intensity, we estimate an intake of 480-520 tons over a 12-hour window. If interference escalates, it may drop to 350-400 tons.]

"Then prepare for 350. Better slow than wrong."

[Extraction in progress. Current progress: 0%.]

The progress bar began to jump. It was very slow.

Liu Mo's voice came through the earpiece.

"Boss, the three outer layers of the security perimeter are complete. Mobile sentries are in the middle circle at 500 meters, and fixed observation points are at 200 meters. I am 50 meters away from you."

"Is there anything unusual tonight?"

"Nothing at the moment. The palace side is very quiet... wait."

"What is it?"

Liu Mo was silent for a few seconds.

"I hear many footsteps. Not just a few people, but dozens. They are walking from the direction of the town toward the palace."

Li Xin frowned.

"At this hour, who could it be?"

Liu Mo was silent for a few more seconds; he was likely asking his informant.

"According to information, today is the local religious festival 'Vishnu Night Patrol'. Believers are parading around the palace at night, and the roads are temporarily closed until dawn."

Li Xin closed his eyes.

"When did they close them?"

"They are already closed. All roads leading to the palace have been blocked."

"What about our side?"

"The farmhouse is outside the blocked zone, but the road in and out of town is closed. We are temporarily unable to leave."

Li Xin sighed.

"Then we stay put. Pause Extraction."

[Extraction paused. Current progress: 7%.]

He stood up, walked to the farmhouse door, and looked outside.

In the distance, there were many lights, a long string of them, moving from the direction of the town toward the palace.

The points of light swayed, as if they were carrying torches.

Liu Mo walked over.

"Boss, should we move to another location?"

"No need. There are people everywhere; it's the same wherever we go. Tell everyone to lay low and stay quiet."

"Understood."

Liu Mo spoke a few words into his earpiece.

Several people went out of the farmhouse, scattered into the surroundings, and found places to hide.

Li Xin squatted at the door, watching the lights in the distance.

[Detected a surge in surrounding spiritual energy activity—120% higher than when Extraction started. A sandalwood scent has been detected in the air; this is a physical manifestation of spiritual energy overflow.]

He sniffed.

There was indeed a scent.

It was faint, but detectable.

It was like incense burned in a temple, or perhaps some kind of flower.

"Liu Mo, do you smell sandalwood?"

Liu Mo paused for a moment and sniffed as well.

"It seems there is a little. Could it be the incense lit by those believers?"

"Maybe."

Li Xin didn't ask further.

He knew it wasn't incense lit by the believers.

The believers were over at the palace, several kilometers away, and with the wind blowing from the north, the scent of sandalwood couldn't have drifted that far.

This was something else.

He found a clean spot in the farmhouse and sat down.

His back was against the wall; it was cold and uncomfortable.

The lights in the distance were getting closer.

He could see the torches now, orange-red, tiny dots that were very bright in the night.

He could also hear sounds, singing, a humming, low-pitched tune.

Liu Mo's voice came through again.

"Boss, that group of treasure hunters outside is also trapped. There is a team to the northwest and another to the east, both wandering the outskirts of the wilderness. They have spotted each other and are in a standoff."

"Have they started fighting?"

"Not yet. But they are cursing loudly."

Vague arguing could be heard in the distance.

He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could tell from their tone that they were very aggressive.

There was English, Hindi, and other languages he couldn't identify.

Someone was shouting, their voice very loud.

"This is our territory! Get out!"

Another voice replied.

"Yours? Do you have a permit?"

The first voice cursed again.

Profanity, very nasty.

Liu Mo said softly.

"Someone has drawn a knife."

Li Xin didn't move.

"Do not intervene. The more chaotic they are, the better it is for us."

"Understood."

The arguing continued for over ten minutes.

People were shoving, shouting, and cursing.

But they didn't start a fight.

Eventually, they dispersed and walked in two different directions.

The sounds in the distance faded.

Li Xin leaned against the wall, closing his eyes.

There was a sound in his mind.

Not a hallucination, but from outside.

Those believers were singing, a very low-pitched tune, very far away, but audible.

Humming, like chanting.

He opened his eyes and looked at his watch.

Eleven o'clock.

The road closure would last until dawn.

Two more hours.

He stood up and stretched his legs.

Liu Mo walked over and handed him a bottle of water.

"Boss, do you want to eat something?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

Liu Mo stood to the side, watching the lights in the distance.

"How long will those believers be parading?"

"Rajiv said until dawn."

"So we have to wait until dawn?"

"Yes."

Liu Mo didn't ask further.

The two stood there for a while.

The wind picked up, blowing the broken earthenware pot, making it roll with a rumbling sound.

There was a dog barking in the distance, but it stopped after a few yaps.

Li Xin returned to the corner and sat down.

"Notify everyone to rest in place until 3:00 AM. The energy is too strong right now, and I don't want to take any risks."

"Understood. Do you need to arrange shifts?"

"You arrange it. I'm going to catch some sleep."

Liu Mo said in a low voice.

"Boss... can I ask a question? How do you know whether the energy is strong or not?"

Li Xin closed his eyes.

"Intuition. My intuition is very accurate."

Liu Mo didn't ask further.

At 1:00 AM, the noise outside died down.

Li Xin opened his eyes and checked his watch.

Ten past one.

He stood up and walked to the door.

The lights in the distance were fewer; most of the torches had gone out, leaving only a few that flickered sporadically in the night.

Liu Mo walked over.

"The road is still blocked. But the parade is almost over, and most of the believers have dispersed."

"What about those people on the outer perimeter?"

"Still there. They are all hiding in their respective strongholds, with no movement."

Li Xin thought for a moment.

"Wait a little longer. We'll move after two o'clock."

"Okay."

He returned to the corner and sat down.

He didn't go back to sleep.

He stared into the darkness outside.

Two o'clock. The lights outside were completely gone.

It was pitch black in the distance, and nothing could be seen.

Liu Mo's voice.

"Boss, the road closure has been lifted. The road toward the town is open."

"What about those people on the outer perimeter?"

"Still there. But they are all asleep. No movement."

Li Xin stood up.

[Resuming Extraction. Current progress: 7%. Spiritual energy activity has fallen back to pre-initiation levels. Current rate: 42 tons/hour.]

The progress bar began to jump again.

Ten percent, eleven, twelve.

"Keep a close watch. The 'owner' of this place is not very friendly."

[Monitoring closely.]

Li Xin squatted in the corner, his hand pressed against the ground.

The soil was still cool and slightly damp.

There were insects chirping in the distance.

Chirping, very dense.

He closed his eyes.