75: Chapter 75 So you think you're the best in the world?

Chen You logged back in and headed straight for the Wailing Valley.

Compared to last time, the number of Adventurers here had at least tripled.

Countless pairs of eyes instantly focused on him like searchlights.

"It's him! That super tycoon who activated Destruction Mode!"

"Quick, look, he's back! Is he going to clear it again?"

"Damn it, our guild organized the most elite team, but we still couldn't beat it!"

Chen You paid no attention to the surrounding discussions.

He walked directly to the dungeon entrance and selected "Destruction Mode."

Under the envious gazes of countless players, Chen You's figure turned into a streak of light and vanished into the dungeon entrance.

Six minutes later.

Chen You reappeared, his expression calm, as if he had just taken a short stroll.

This time, he did not drop the shattered world stone.

However, he obtained a usable purple-grade leg guards and quite a bit of experience.

Chen You glanced at the experience bar; he was significantly closer to leveling up to 12.

He ignored the players around him, who instantly turned to stone with their jaws dropped, and directly used a recall talisman.

A white light flashed, and he disappeared from the spot.

Then, without stopping, he arrived at the Supreme Tower.

"Hill, let's train."

"Very well, esteemed supreme member."

Payment, entry, seclusion! Everything was fluid, without wasting a single second.

His goal was clear—

To reach the fourth level of Qi Refining before the national team's blueprints were completed!

At the same time.

In various corners of the Source Realm continent, the same scene was unfolding.

The elite groups of Moon Gods Radiance at their various strongholds had compressed their clear times to the absolute limit using every method possible, then struck the dungeon plaques with their strongest attacks.

The result was, without exception.

The wooden plaques remained completely undamaged.

...

In the real world, in the Eastern Sea, on the high seas.

The night was like a pool of black water, completely merging the sea and the sky.

Only the 'Reagan' carrier strike group, resembling colossal steel beasts, cut through the white spray on the ocean surface, announcing its presence.

Inside the bridge command center, the lights were bright, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Fleet Commander Brigadier General James Williams held a cup of steaming hot coffee, leisurely chatting with his adjutant.

"Tom, what do you think the expressions on those Chinese faces will be when they see us?"

Williams wore a playful smile, "Will they be scared enough to wet their pants?"

Adjutant Tom shrugged and laughed easily: "Sir, I imagine they are currently frantically holding emergency meetings, discussing how to issue us a 'solemn protest.'"

A low chuckle echoed in the command center.

In their view, this so-called 'navigation exercise' was nothing more than an armed patrol.

It was the world's number one displaying its muscle and reiterating the rules.

It was like an adult going to kindergarten to warn a small child who just learned how to swing his fists to behave.

Minister Holman's judgment was correct: the military was the only standard of strength in this era.

However, just then, an extremely subtle humming sound, not belonging to the ship's engines, faintly drifted in.

"Vmm..."

The sound was faint, like the buzz of a mosquito in the distance on a summer night.

The smile on Williams's face froze slightly, and he subconsciously leaned in to listen.

"Quiet."

He raised his hand, stopping his adjutant.

The command center instantly became silent enough to hear a pin drop.

That sound... was still there!

And it seemed to be getting closer, becoming clearer and clearer.

"Vmm— Vroom vroom—"

It didn't come from the sea surface, nor from the carrier itself. It was the screech of a high-frequency engine with extremely strong penetration!

Williams's expression instantly changed!

As a top commander, his sensitivity to various sounds far surpassed ordinary people.

He judged almost instantly that this was... the sound of fighter jet engines!

He rushed violently to the radar control console of the shipboard system, his eyes fixed on the pale green screen.

On the screen, the blue dots representing their own fleet were clearly visible.

The airspace and sea area for hundreds of kilometers around were as clean as a wiped piece of glass.

There was not a single red or yellow dot representing an unknown target.

"Report! Radar scan normal! Airspace secure!" the radar operator reported loudly.

Williams's expression did not relax at all; instead, it became even more grave.

His ears would not lie to him!

The sound was getting louder! It had changed from a mosquito buzz to the buzzing of a bee, and it was nearby!

"Whoo— Whoo— Whoo—!"

The piercing air defense alarm sounded across the entire carrier without any warning!

It wasn't an exercise!

It was the highest level combat alert!

A soldier on lookout duty spotted the anomaly with his high-powered binoculars!

"What's going on?!" Williams roared into the communicator.

"Report, Sir! Visual confirmation! Multiple unidentified flying objects are approaching at high speed!"

Williams's pupils contracted sharply. He ignored the demeanor of a commander and rushed out onto the external deck like a madman.

The cold sea breeze carrying the scent of steel rushed toward him.

He looked up sharply toward the pitch-black night sky.

He saw several ghostly red dots flash under the clouds directly above the carrier strike group, moving as fast as meteors!

Immediately following that, the deafening sonic boom arrived late!

"Rumble—!"

It was as if a rift had been torn in the sky, and violent airflow swept down, making the people on the deck unsteady.

That was the trace left by supersonic flight!

Williams's heart clenched violently, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze instantly.

Before he could react, those dots had completed an incredibly sharp turn, drastically reducing their speed.

Like several graceful yet deadly night owls, they began to circle above the carrier formation.

They were too close!

So close that Williams could even see with the naked eye the smooth, beautiful lines of the fuselage, and the missiles hanging beneath the wings, emanating a cold murderous intent!

Their paint scheme was so bizarre that in the night, it seemed to absorb light, presenting an almost ethereal dark gray.

On the wings, the bright red insignia looked like a ball of burning flame, stinging Williams's eyes.

The Chinese Air Force!

An uncontrollable chill surged from the soles of Williams's feet, traveling up his spine to the crown of his head!

How did they get here?

When did they arrive?

Composed of the world's most advanced radar, satellites, and early warning aircraft!

Why did the Aegis defense network, boasted to be so tight that not even a seagull could fly in, show no reaction from beginning to end?!

"Fuck!" Williams let out a beast-like roar.

He rushed back to the command center, grabbed the collar of the Radar Chief, and roared with bloodshot eyes:

"Can someone tell me! What the hell is going on? Why is there nothing on the radar?!"

The Radar Chief's face turned deathly pale, and his voice trembled.

"Sir... I don't know... We really can't scan anything... They... They are like ghosts!"

Ghosts!

Williams let go of his hand and staggered back two steps in dejection.

He looked at the clean airspace on the screen, then listened to the clearly audible sound of engines circling outside.

They could be seen, but they couldn't be locked onto.

This meant that their floating fortress, costing hundreds of billions of dollars and hailed as 'unsinkable,' was currently just a collection of live targets floating on the sea surface in the eyes of the enemy!

The enemy could open fire whenever they wanted.

And they couldn't even find a target to retaliate against!

A ship ticket? To hell with the ship ticket!

The other side didn't even want the ship; they flew directly over your head in airplanes!

Just as the command center fell into dead silence, everyone suffocating under the invisible terror—

A calm, clear, emotionless Chinese voice slowly sounded over the international public channel.

Immediately following, it was translated into standard English.

"Attention, U.S. Navy fleet..."

"The area ahead is the territorial waters of the People's Republic of China. You are not authorized to enter. Please turn around immediately and return at once."

"Repeat, please turn around immediately and return at once."

The voice was calm and restrained, containing no warnings or denunciations, as if stating an undeniable fact.

But this calmness carried more oppressive weight than any roar.

Williams froze in place.

He could even clearly hear the sound of his own heart pounding wildly.

The area ahead is the territorial waters of the People's Republic of China?

He glanced at the GPS; it clearly marked this location as the high seas!

Absolutely the high seas!

Fury rushed to his head with a 'boom.' Williams almost subconsciously ordered a counterattack.

However, the words reached his lips, but he couldn't utter a single one.

Retaliate?

On the radar control console, the pale green screen was as clean as an abstract painting.

Besides the blue dots representing their own side, there was nothing.

Who to retaliate against?

Retaliate against the air?!

Then— retreat?

No!

The dignity of the United States, the honor of the Navy, did not allow him to do so!

Just as the scales in Williams's mind swung wildly between dignity and fear—

"Beep—!!!"

A sharp beep, piercing enough to rupture eardrums, exploded in the entire command center without warning!

It wasn't the air defense alarm.

It was a sound more terrifying and fatal than the air defense alarm!

Everyone's gaze 'swished' and focused entirely on the fire control radar operating station!

"Fire control radar is locked! Repeat! Fire control radar is locked!"

A young operator screamed hoarsely, his face drained of all color, as if he had seen Death itself.

Fire control radar lock!

This meant that the enemy had completed all preparations before the attack!

As long as the enemy pilot moved his finger slightly.

This multi-billion dollar 'sea fortress,' along with the thousands of soldiers aboard, would be torn into a pile of burning scrap metal and sink into the cold seabed within seconds!

Williams trembled all over.

Dignity? Honor?

In the face of absolute death threat, they were worthless!

He rushed to the communications station and snatched the master communication microphone.

"...All units."

In the command center, everyone held their breath, staring intently at him.

Williams closed his eyes, as if using all his strength, squeezing out the order that would bring him lifelong shame through gritted teeth.

"Turn..."

"...Turn immediately! Full speed retreat!"

The order was given.

Dead silence.

After the dead silence, there were rapid but slightly flustered responses.

"First Battle Group clear!"

"Escort formation clear!"

"Supply ship clear!"

...