295: Looks like we've caught a big fish!

Chen Nian's exclusive office was located on the top floor of the building, with a wide view and a simple yet grand layout.

When Chen Nian pushed the door open and entered, three people were already waiting in the office.

Sun Li stood to the side with a respectful expression.

The other two wore deep blue uniforms, with unique dragon-shaped patterns on their epaulets—the insignia of "Zhulong," a special department directly under the General Bureau.

Seeing Chen Nian enter, the three of them straightened their backs simultaneously.

"Special Commissioner Chen!" Sun Li spoke first.

The two members of the "Zhulong" department saluted directly, their eyes filled with unconcealed awe and admiration.

"Hello, Special Commissioner Chen! I am Zhao Ming, the leader of the Technical Analysis Group of the 'Zhulong' department." A steady middle-aged man on the left wearing black-framed glasses spoke.

"I am the deputy leader, Lin Xue," a capable woman on the right with short hair and a sharp gaze added.

Chen Nian nodded and sat down behind the desk. "Sit down, don't be formal. Sun Li said you've made a major discovery?"

Zhao Ming and Lin Xue sat on the sofa opposite him, while Sun Li stood by Chen Nian's side.

"Yes, Special Commissioner Chen." Zhao Ming opened an encrypted tablet he was carrying and pulled up a complex energy spectrum. "It's about the Gloomy Abyss."

Chen Nian nodded, signaling him to continue.

Lin Xue took over, "After you cleared the Abyssal Stronghold in the western suburbs of Jiangyuan City last night, the cleanup team from the Jiangyuan Branch Bureau entered and conducted a comprehensive search."

"In the deepest part of the stronghold, the altar area you blasted open, they found some residual rune core fragments."

Zhao Ming turned the tablet toward Chen Nian.

The screen showed several dark red crystal fragments, their surfaces covered in twisted abyssal runes.

"Although these fragments are severely damaged, our technical team performed a reverse analysis overnight."

"Combined with the 'abyssal beacon' obtained from the 'Luoxia Mountain Demon Cave' incident, we have successfully constructed a more refined 'Abyssal Energy Spectrum Recognition Model'."

Chen Nian listened intently. "In other words, our ability to identify the abyss has improved?"

"Yes, significantly," Zhao Ming said with excitement in his voice. "Previously, we could only passively monitor obvious abyssal energy fluctuations or rely on the resonance of 'abyssal beacons' to lock onto a general direction."

"But now, this new model can actively scan, identify, and track extremely weak abyssal energy signatures, and even distinguish the differences in energy imprints of different Abyssal Overlords!"

Lin Xue added, "Simply put, before we were like using a flashlight to find things in the dark; now, we've turned on a thermal imaging scanner."

Chen Nian nodded with satisfaction and asked, "So, what have you discovered?"

Zhao Ming's fingers slid quickly across the tablet, pulling up another complex signal spectrum.

On the spectrum, an extremely weak dark red curve, almost completely hidden in the background noise, rose and fell regularly in a certain frequency band.

"Just an hour ago, we successfully captured a set of extremely abnormal spatial signals!"

Zhao Ming pointed to several light spots on the spectrum that were so faint they were almost invisible, yet showed a certain regular pulse.

His voice trembled slightly with excitement:

"This set of signals is very special! It is not continuous but intermittent, appearing for an extremely short time each time, and the energy fluctuations are so weak they are almost non-existent!"

"What's even more eerie is that this set of signals was perfectly hidden by an extremely sophisticated, multi-layered spatial shielding method!"

"The level of its concealment technology far exceeds any Abyssal Stronghold or cult ritual we've encountered before!"

"If we had relied solely on 'abyssal beacons' or hadn't found those key parameters at the Jiangyuan City stronghold, it would have been nearly impossible for us to discover it!"

Lin Xue took over, her tone serious:

"Our preliminary judgment is that this is by no means a technological level that an ordinary abyss outpost or cult den would possess."

"Behind it, it's very likely that the true high-level powers of the Gloomy Abyss are involved."

"It might even be a secret stronghold personally set up by an Abyssal Overlord, or an important ritual currently in progress!"

"The other party is being so cautious, not hesitating to spend a huge price on spatial shielding, their goal must be immense!"

Zhao Ming continued with a serious expression:

"We speculate that a large-scale abyssal ritual is likely being held there, and it has already reached its final stage."

Lin Xue nodded. "Although the signal is weak, the energy level is extremely high and the scope of impact is very wide. Judging from the energy curve, the ritual may be completed within the next 24 to 48 hours."

The office fell silent for a few seconds.

The three people present all looked somewhat tense.

However, after Chen Nian finished listening, a sharp light instantly erupted in his eyes!

True high-level power? Personally set up by an Abyssal Overlord?

Needing to hide their tracks like this?

It seems I've hooked a big fish!

A cruel and excited arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

Hiding their heads and showing their tails, acting all sneaky—it seems they're afraid of being discovered.

The more they hide, the more it shows they have something to conceal.

It just so happens his hands have been itchy lately, and he was lacking a heavyweight target.

This group of rats really knows how to pick their time.

Chen Nian asked, "Where is the target location?"

Lin Xue replied, "We performed a triple cross-positioning and finally locked the signal source deep within the Yunling Mountain Range."

She pulled up a map, where a red dot was marked amidst the rolling mountains.

"The specific coordinates have been confirmed. It's about thirty kilometers from the nearest city, Tiannan City, located in a primary forest area where few people venture."

Sun Li couldn't help but speak up and ask:

"Special Commissioner Chen, should we immediately mobilize personnel from the war zone? Or notify the General Bureau to organize a joint operation?"

Chen Nian shook his head.

"No need."

He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city below.

"Large-scale troop movements might alert the enemy, causing the Abyssal Demon to notice in advance and cut off contact to escape—just like the Skeleton Monarch did."

"Contact the Tiannan City Spiritual Energy Branch Bureau and have them prepare for peripheral support and containment, but do not approach the target area, and do not make any moves that might alert the enemy."

"Yes!" Sun Li immediately took the order and began to contact the Tiannan City Spiritual Energy Bureau.

"Group Leader Zhao, Deputy Group Leader Lin," Chen Nian looked at the two "Zhulong" members, "continue to monitor signal changes. If there's any abnormality, notify me immediately."

"Understood!" the two replied in unison.

Soon, Sun Li returned and reported respectfully:

"Mr. Chen, based on the coordinates provided by the 'Zhulong' department, I have urgently contacted the local Tiannan City Spiritual Energy Branch Bureau."

"I have ordered them to immediately enter a state of maximum alert, mobilize all resources to conduct peripheral control and intelligence gathering on the target area."

"But they have been strictly ordered not to approach the core area without authorization to avoid alerting the enemy. Everything will be decided once you arrive!"

"The Director of the Tiannan City Bureau stated that they will fully cooperate with your actions, and all resources of the entire Tiannan City Bureau are at your disposal!"

Chen Nian nodded with satisfaction. "Very good."

Sun Li's efficiency was very high, and he was very satisfied with it.

He said no more, turned around, and walked out of the office.

At this moment, Zhao Ming couldn't help but ask, "Special Commissioner Chen, do you need any special equipment prepared for you?"

Chen Nian smiled, a smile filled with absolute confidence.

"No need."

As his voice fell, he pushed open the office door and his figure disappeared at the end of the hallway.

Zhao Ming and Lin Xue stood there, taking a long time to recover... Chen Nian walked out of the Spiritual Energy Bureau building without alerting anyone.

He looked up toward the Yunling Mountain Range, his gaze seemingly piercing through thousands of mountains and rivers to land deep within that primary forest.

He smiled contemptuously and muttered to himself:

"Gloomy Abyss, is it?"

"This time, don't let me make a trip for nothing again."

The next second.

"Boom—!"

Blood Fiend Incarnation, activate!

Chen Nian's figure instantly transformed into a dazzling blood-red rainbow tearing through the sky.

At a terrifying speed, he charged resolutely toward the Yunling Mountain Range!

A new hunt has begun.