259: There are even experts!

Arriving at the office door, Chen Nian pushed it open and entered.

Sun Li was already waiting inside. Upon seeing Chen Nian enter, he immediately stood up with a respectful smile on his face:

"Mr. Chen, you've arrived!"

Chen Nian nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon two other people in the office.

These were two people he had never seen before.

One was about forty years old, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with his hair combed meticulously, and dressed in a tidy white research coat.

He had a calm and wise aura, holding a shimmering tablet in his hand.

The other was younger, in his early thirties, with a tall and straight build, wearing a modified version of the Spiritual Energy Bureau's combat uniform.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's and his aura was condensed; he was clearly a high-level Special Agent with rich combat experience.

"Mr. Chen, let me introduce you," Sun Li quickly stepped aside. "These two are core members of the General Bureau's newly established 'Special Items Analysis and Application Department'—codenamed 'Torch Dragon'."

"This is Dr. Ouyang Hua, the department's chief analyst and a top expert in spatial energy and otherworldly runes."

"This is Captain Qin Feng, the department's security supervisor and operations consultant, who has handled high-risk otherworldly item incidents on many occasions."

Dr. Ouyang Hua adjusted his glasses, an admiring and eager smile appearing on his face.

He took a step forward of his own accord and said respectfully:

"Special Commissioner Chen, I have heard much of your great name!"

"I had the honor of analyzing the 'abyssal beacon' you brought back last night. It was truly astonishing, and I deeply admire your strength!"

Captain Qin Feng straightened his posture and gave a standard military salute, his voice resonant:

"Special Commissioner Chen, Qin Feng of the 'Torch Dragon' department, at your service!"

Chen Nian nodded to the two of them as a greeting and went straight to the point: "Dr. Ouyang, Captain Qin, there's no need for formalities. What progress has been made in the investigation?"

Seeing how direct Chen Nian was, Ouyang Hua didn't waste words either and said:

"Special Commissioner Chen, we analyzed the 'abyssal beacon' throughout the night, and the results are much simpler than we expected."

"Simple?" Chen Nian's brow arched slightly.

"Yes." Ouyang Hua nodded. "From a conventional analysis, the craftsmanship of this item is extremely exquisite, with at least seven layers of energy barriers nested inside."

"By all accounts, it should have been extremely difficult to crack, but during our analysis, we found that the multi-layered protective runes inside this beacon seem to have been manually 'deactivated,' or rather, set to a 'semi-open' state."

"The holder of this beacon seems to have actively 'opened' some of its permissions. Using this beacon, it only took us a few hours to locate the coordinates of several suspected abyss strongholds."

As Chen Nian listened, a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

It seemed that the Crimson Flame Demon Lord's resentment toward the Gloomy Abyss before his death was sincere.

That fellow hadn't just revealed the existence of the beacon; he had even "pre-processed" it in some way before his fall.

All so that they could more easily find the forces of the other Abyssal Overlords.

At this point, Captain Qin Feng chimed in:

"We conducted a preliminary screening based on the signal strength and stability of these coordinates."

"After excluding several signals that were too weak or erratic, we have currently locked onto a target with the strongest energy reaction and relatively clearest spatial coordinates."

He pointed to the brightest and most stable light on the map and continued:

"These coordinates are located in the western suburbs of Jiangyuan City. The energy signatures show that a stable spatial anomaly exists there."

"Its Evil Energy concentration far exceeds the surrounding environment, and there is a very high probability that it is an already formed and active abyss stronghold!"

After listening, Chen Nian nodded slowly.

He didn't particularly care which random nobody was behind the stronghold.

He only needed to know that there was a "big prize" there worth his effort.

"Very well." Chen Nian's tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "Just send me the coordinates."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ouyang Hua and Qin Feng.

"As for the subsequent, more in-depth analysis—such as how to reverse-locate the core of the Gloomy Abyss or crack the power characteristics of other Abyssal Overlords..."

"Leave those tedious tasks to your 'Torch Dragon' department."

"I only need to know where the next target worth my time to clean up is located."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Hua and Qin Feng immediately straightened their bodies and responded in unison:

"Yes, Special Commissioner Chen!"

"Please rest assured, the 'Torch Dragon' department will certainly do its utmost to provide you with the most accurate intelligence support!"

Ouyang Hua quickly tapped a few times on his tablet and sent an encrypted data package to Chen Nian's personal terminal.

Just then, Sun Li suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of gravity:

"Mr. Chen, the Jiangyuan City Spiritual Energy Branch Bureau just sent an emergency intelligence report."

"They monitored an evil cultivator organization—the 'Shadow Worship Cult'—operating in that area, acting suspiciously."

Shadow Worship Cult?

Chen Nian had some impression of this name.

It seemed to be an evil cultivator organization that believed in the powers of shadow and guile.

They were quite strong and acted secretively, having caused the Spiritual Energy Bureau a lot of trouble before.

Sun Li continued:

"According to the intelligence from the Jiangyuan Branch Bureau, the Shadow Worship Cult seems to be conducting some kind of large-scale ritual in Jiangyuan City."

"If you go to Jiangyuan City to deal with that abyss stronghold, perhaps you could look into this Shadow Worship Cult along the way."

"Of course, everything is subject to your judgment!"

Hearing this, instead of showing any sign of trouble, an unexpected and playful glint flashed in Chen Nian's eyes.

There’s actually another expert?

Since they’ve all gathered together, he didn't mind wiping them all out in one go.

After all, they’re all points.

Thinking this, Chen Nian replied directly, "Alright, I'll take care of it!"

Hearing this, Sun Li immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly:

"Understood! I will contact the Jiangyuan City Spiritual Energy Branch Bureau immediately to inform them of your upcoming arrival, so they can fully cooperate with your actions and provide all necessary support!"

Chen Nian nodded slightly. "Mm, have them prepare the relevant intelligence; I'll seek them out once I arrive."

"But tell them that without my command, no one is allowed to enter the abyss stronghold without authorization, so as not to alert the enemy."

Sun Li immediately complied: "Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"

Then, Chen Nian looked at Ouyang Hua and Qin Feng again and said:

"You two continue analyzing the other strongholds, especially the stable ones, to see if you can find any connections or patterns between them."

"Yes!" Ouyang Hua and Qin Feng responded immediately, their eyes filled with absolute trust in Chen Nian.

Chen Nian nodded with satisfaction and, without saying more, turned and walked out of the office.

The next second.

"Boom—!"

Blood Fiend Incarnation, activate!

Chen Nian's figure instantly transformed into a streak of blood-red light.

At a terrifying speed exceeding the speed of sound, he galloped toward Jiangyuan City.