346: Is it easier to strike at the heart of the enemy than to clear out the outer strongholds?

The Capital, Spiritual Energy General Bureau.

A heavy sense of tension permeated the air.

A massive screen wall was divided into dozens of war zone feeds, with data streams scrolling and refreshing like waterfalls.

The clicking of keyboards, communication calls, and emergency reports rose and fell, weaving into a solemn and busy symphony.

“Southwest Sector Seven reporting! The target outpost ‘Shadow Nest’ has had its outer defenses breached; the enemy is putting up a desperate last stand!”

“Message from Northeast Task Force Three: remnants of a large-scale sacrificial Magic Formation have been discovered inside the ‘Well of Corruption’ outpost. The scene is secured, and samples are being collected!”

“Emergency notification from the East China Branch! Demonic Evils at the ‘Blood Moon Altar’ outpost have suddenly self-detonated en masse, triggering space tremors. Emergency lockdown procedures have been initiated!”

General Bureau Director Director General Li Zhenguo stood before the central command platform, his posture as straight and tall as a pine tree.

His face was resolute, his brow furrowed, and his eyes swept across every screen like lightning.

“Attention all units!” Director General Li Zhenguo’s voice was steady and carried authority. “Maintain the offensive, but avoid being reckless! Abyssal Demons are cunning and cruel; their deathbed counterattacks are the most dangerous!”

“Prioritize personnel safety! War zone commanders, adjust your tactics flexibly based on the situation on the ground. If necessary, you may temporarily retreat and reorganize the offensive!”

The orders were quickly transmitted.

Inside the command center, dozens of high-ranking military officers, staff officers, and intelligence analysts performed their duties.

Fingers slid rapidly across holographic control consoles, sending out encrypted instructions one after another.

Though the atmosphere was solemn, it was orderly.

At that moment, a middle-aged female staff officer wearing glasses stood up and spoke rapidly:

“Reporting, Director! According to the latest battle damage statistics, out of the seventeen interference outposts, nine have been completely captured, four are in a stalemate, and the remaining four are facing fierce resistance from Demonic Evils, but the overall situation has tilted in our favor.”

“After their defensive lines collapsed, the Demonic Evils at each outpost generally chose to abandon their positions rather than fight to the death, instead retreating en masse to their Abyssal territories through preset spatial tunnels.”

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Director General Li Zhenguo’s eyes.

“As expected. Abyssal Demons may seem mad, but they actually value their lives.”

“Order all units: do not force a total annihilation. Securing the outposts and thoroughly clearing all pollution and traps is the primary mission!”

“Yes!” The female staff officer quickly recorded the command.

Just then—

“Report! From the Northwest Soul Burial Valley main battlefield, Special Commissioner Chen has sent the latest news!”

A communications soldier’s voice trembled slightly with excitement, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the command center.

The entire hall fell silent.

All eyes turned simultaneously toward the main screen.

The screen switched to show real-time footage from the outskirts of Soul Burial Valley.

In the footage, Chen Nian had just stepped out of the Abyss of Curses and was speaking with Captain Wang Zhen.

He was dressed in casual clothes that were completely spotless, his expression calm and indifferent, as if he had just returned from a walk.

The communications soldier continued his report:

“According to Special Commissioner Chen’s report, the matter has been resolved.”

“The Lord of Curses and his Demonic Evil subordinates have been completely cleared out—not a single one remains.”

“The pocket dimension of the Abyssal territory has also been cut off and banished from the Gloomy Abyss.”

His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a thunderclap in the ears of everyone in the command center!

“Wh... what?!”

“The Lord of Curses' territory has been cleared?!”

“Even the nest was taken out?! How long has it been since he went in?!”

After a brief dead silence, exclamations erupted like a crashing tide!

Everyone widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the figure on the screen.

Their faces were filled with unparalleled shock and disbelief.

They knew Special Commissioner Chen was strong.

But... this was just too fast, wasn't it?!

In this short amount of time, single-handedly, he leveled the home base of an Abyssal Evil God who wielded the Authority of Curse and Resentment?

And he killed the opponent along with all their subordinates without leaving a single survivor?

He even made the entire pocket dimension territory disappear?!

This had already completely exceeded the scope of being 'powerful'; this was simply a myth come to life!

“My God... Special Commissioner Chen's strength... is there even a limit?!”

“We're over here struggling to clear peripheral outposts, suffering constant casualties and dealing with the headaches of the aftermath... while Special Commissioner Chen just went and blew up the enemy's home base?!”

“And look! Special Commissioner Chen doesn't have a single injury on him! Not even a wrinkle in his clothes!”

“This gap... is truly too massive...”

The command center was filled with chatter; everyone's emotions were complex to the extreme.

There was the ultimate shock and worship of Chen Nian's strength.

But more than that, there was a sense of relief and exhilaration, as if they had survived a disaster.

With such a guardian deity present.

How could the Human Race not prosper!

Several high-ranking generals and School consultants also looked at each other, seeing the horror in each other's eyes.

“Our Spiritual Energy Bureau gathered the nation's elites and cooperated with experts from various Schools to clear these scattered peripheral outposts, yet we still needed meticulous planning and had to pay a price.”

“Special Commissioner Chen struck the heart of the enemy alone, facing the main body of the Lord of Curses and his most elite forces, and yet he won so easily and thoroughly.”

“This is truly... I don't know how to describe it.”

Director General Li Zhenguo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the stormy waves churning in his heart.

As the Director of the Spiritual Energy General Bureau, he had seen countless storms, and his mind had long been tempered to be as strong as steel.

But at this moment, facing Chen Nian's exaggerated and illogical battle record, he still felt a wave of dizziness.

“Silence!” Director General Li Zhenguo’s low and majestic voice rang out, instantly suppressing the noise in the room.

His gaze swept across the room, and everyone who met his eyes subconsciously straightened their backs.

“Special Commissioner Chen has once again achieved an unparalleled feat. This is a great blessing for the Human Race and a great blessing for the Dragon Kingdom!”

Director General Li Zhenguo’s voice was powerful and resonant.

“Pass down my orders.”

“First, immediately announce the great victory at Soul Burial Valley to the entire military, all branches nationwide, and cooperating Schools to boost morale and demonstrate the might of our Human Race!”

“Second, Northwest War Zone, immediately dispatch additional forces to cooperate with Wang Zhen’s unit to completely take over, investigate, and purify the Abyss of Curses pocket dimension!”

“Third, all major war zones must not slacken in the follow-up work of clearing interference outposts. Purification, investigation, and reverse engineering must be completed according to the highest standards!”

“Fourth, the logistics and medical departments must go all out to ensure the treatment and compensation of all participating personnel. Especially for the seriously injured, provide the best treatment. Their sacrifices and contributions are equally worthy of being remembered and respected.”

The series of orders were clear and precise, quickly pulling everyone back from their shock to reality.

Yes, Special Commissioner Chen had resolved the greatest threat and created an unprecedentedly favorable situation.

But they couldn't just rest on their laurels. They had to seize this precious opportunity to maximize the results of the victory.

They had to eliminate hidden dangers in their infancy and prepare for even more difficult struggles in the future.

“Yes!” A deafening response echoed through the command center.

This time, everyone's voices carried a sense of confidence and passion that came from deep within.

With a peerless powerhouse like Special Commissioner Chen leading the way, what did they have to fear?

They could only charge forward bravely to protect this hard-won peace and hope!

The orders were quickly translated into specific actions, and the entire General Bureau began to operate as efficiently as a precision machine.

The news of the great victory spread across the country like wildfire through the encrypted network.

The entire Dragon Kingdom was jubilant; morale was soaring like a rainbow, reaching an unprecedented high!