71: Chapter 71: This isn't crushing defeat, it's a dimensional reduction attack.
In the command center, Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and a group of engineers were still cheering wildly over the successful activation of the grand array.
Director Zhao Lixin was also incredibly excited. He had just wanted to say a few words of gratitude to Jiang Ning when he noticed her expression was a bit off.
She was still standing in front of the sand table, but her brow was furrowed.
"Engineer Jiang, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the formation?" Director Zhao Lixin asked nervously, his heart sinking.
"The formation is fine." Jiang Ning shook her head, her gaze falling on the blue area on the edge of the sand table representing the East Sea waters. "It's the people who sent the 'gift'—they're too weak."
"Too weak?" Director Zhao Lixin didn't understand.
Jiang Ning extended her finger and tapped the sand table.
The image on the sand table switched instantly, and a three-dimensional map of the sea appeared before everyone. Thirty kilometers from the coastline, a tiny red dot was being completely surrounded by a "mist" composed of countless points of light.
"I just followed the source of that energy and found them." Jiang Ning's tone was as flat as if she were talking about a trivial matter. "I originally wanted to see if there were any bigger fish behind them. It turns out, it's just a bunch of small fry."
Director Zhao Lixin's eyes nearly popped out, and his mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.
Following the energy source... and finding the people just like that?
Those were the top-tier special agent squads from M Country, using the most advanced quantum encrypted communications! By all logic, their location should be impossible to detect!
How did it become as simple as "taking a look" when it came to Jiang Ning?
"Then... then what is this mist?" Director Zhao Lixin pointed at the strange cluster of fog on the screen.
"Oh, the grand array has been activated, and the spiritual energy in the city has interacted with the surrounding environment. The water vapor at sea is heavy, so I just gave it a little nudge, and the fog formed," Jiang Ning explained.
Director Zhao Lixin: "..."
He no longer knew what expression to make.
Just gave it a little nudge? And created a dense fog covering several kilometers that even satellites couldn't see through? If this were used in military applications...
Director Zhao Lixin didn't dare to think any further. He felt that his worldview had been crushed back and forth several times by Jiang Ning tonight.
"Then they are now..."
"Trapped." Jiang Ning replied. "I used the power of the formation to disrupt the space and magnetic field around them. All their electronic equipment is done for, and now they're spinning around inside like headless flies."
"Then what should we do now? Should we send the navy over to fish them out?" Director Zhao Lixin immediately switched back to work mode. These were live, top-tier M Country special agents; they were too valuable!
"No need for that much trouble."
Jiang Ning's finger swiped across the sand table again.
Several points of light in different locations in Donghai City lit up.
One of them was at People's Park, which was exactly where Dongfang Shuo and his group were staying. Another was at the police pier, where there were several speedboats ready to deploy at any time.
"I've already sent their coordinates, as well as the safe route into the fog, to the people who need to know." After finishing, Jiang Ning turned around, no longer looking at the sand table.
To her, this matter was already a closed chapter.
What remained was just cleaning up the battlefield.
She refocused her attention on the grand array within the city.
"Chief Engineer Wang," she began, "the formation has just been activated and is not yet stable. The next seventy-two hours are the critical period. Notify all positions to strengthen security and keep a close watch on all energy data. If there are any anomalies, report to me immediately."
"Yes! Engineer Jiang!" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo snapped out of his excitement and loudly acknowledged the order.
"Director Zhao," she looked at Director Zhao Lixin again, "after those flies are caught, give me their electronic equipment and weapons. I need to analyze what level of technology this world has reached."
"No problem! I'll arrange it immediately!" Director Zhao Lixin agreed without even thinking.
In his view, these precious items might not be as useful if handed over to the country's top research institutions as they would be with Jiang Ning.
After arranging these things, Jiang Ning walked back to the sand table, as if the secret battle just now was merely an insignificant little interlude.
Her true interest was only in her "engineering."
...
People's Park.
Dongfang Shuo was sitting cross-legged on the grass, practicing breathing exercises.
As soon as the grand array opened, he immediately felt that the surrounding air was different.
The spiritual energy before had been as thin as water vapor in a desert, requiring a great deal of effort to catch even a tiny bit.
Now, the spiritual energy was thick and vibrant, like being in the water towns of Jiangnan; every breath felt nourishing.
Practicing in a place like this, one day was equal to ten!
He was immersed in this comfort when the special communication device in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
He opened his eyes and took out the communication device.
There was only a very short message on it.
"Coordinates: XXX East Longitude, XXX North Latitude. Target: M Country 'Ghost' special agent squad. Mission: Capture alive. — Engineer Jiang."
Below the message was an attached real-time updated sea map, with the safe route clearly marked.
Dongfang Shuo stood up abruptly, his whole person energized.
It's here!
The Immortal Master's mission!
For the past half month, they had nominally been "protectors," but in reality, they were just acting as security guards, wandering around the park every day. His junior brothers under his command had long been frustrated.
Now, there was finally work to do!
"Everyone! Gather at my location immediately!" He issued the order through the internal channel.
In less than a minute, a dozen Kunlun Academy disciples from various parts of the park gathered. Each of them had a steady aura; there was no longer any hint of them being security guards.
"Senior Brother, has something happened?" the Junior Sister asked.
"The Immortal Master has issued an order!" Dongfang Shuo's voice was not loud, but it carried weight. "A few blind fools have offended the heavenly might in the East Sea and have been trapped by the Immortal Master. As protectors, we must go and relieve the Immortal Master's burden by capturing them!"
"Great! Finally, we can stretch our muscles!" an impatient junior brother shouted excitedly.
"Be serious!" Dongfang Shuo glared at him. "This trip represents the Immortal Master's reputation; we can only succeed, not fail! And the Immortal Master wants them alive! Did you all hear clearly?"
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
"Good! Target, police pier, move out!"
Dongfang Shuo waved his hand, and a dozen figures darted out rapidly, leaping and traveling between the city's high-rise buildings as if walking on flat ground, without alarming anyone.
...
Police pier.
The person in charge received an encrypted call directly from the capital. The phone call contained only one sentence: "Unconditionally cooperate with a team wearing blue work uniforms. Give them whatever they ask for."
The person in charge hadn't even figured it out yet when he saw a dozen figures falling onto the pier as if they had dropped from the sky.
Dongfang Shuo, who was leading, walked straight up to him and flashed his identification.
"'Kunlun Engineering Team', acting under orders to execute a special mission. We need the three fastest speedboats on the pier, fully fueled."
The person in charge looked at the blue work uniforms on them that had been washed until they were faded, and then looked at the simple identification Dongfang Shuo handed over, which was stamped with "Forward Command Post." His mind was a bit dazed.
This is... the team the higher-ups were talking about? Why do they look like a bunch of plumbers?
But he didn't dare to ask too much and could only nod and bow in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes, I'll arrange it immediately! The best assault boats, just fueled up, ready to go at any time!"
A few minutes later, three black assault boats cut through the sea surface and sped at full throttle toward the unknown waters shrouded in thick fog.
On the boat, Dongfang Shuo stood at the bow, the sea breeze making his clothes flap loudly.
He looked at the real-time route map provided by Jiang Ning on his communication device; his heart was filled with nothing but shock.
This map not only marked the safe route, but it also clearly marked where the undercurrents and reefs were. Even more absurdly, there was a red dot on the map that kept moving, representing the enemy's position, accurate down to the meter.
Is this the Immortal Master's capability?
Strategy and tactics, deciding victory from a thousand miles away.
No, this is already beyond a thousand miles away. It's simply holding the entire world in the palm of her hand.
He gripped the sword in his hand, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his heart.
Being able to work for such an existence was his honor, and the honor of all of Kunlun!