29: An urgent mission from the Military Intelligence Bureau! They're beyond saving.

Watching the four off-road vehicles depart, Jiang Hao turned to Captain Zeng and asked, "Has the Martial Unification Bureau figured out where those seeds came from?"

Captain Zeng tapped open a Light Screen, enlarging it and projecting it in the middle of the group.

Pointing to the leftmost position deep within the battlefield, he said:

"Through satellite observation, we discovered that all those seeds drifted from this location across the entire battlefield. Now, there are many of those small trees you mentioned in the upper-left area of the battlefield."

So, the problem really was on the left side!

Jiang Hao looked at the projected map and silently thought:

"Last time, a Small World descended on the far right. This time, could a world connection also appear on the left?"

Captain Zeng continued:

"Furthermore, we detected the Smart Wristband IPs of over a thousand Martial Artists in that area."

"Those Martial Artists have remained stationary for a long time with no movement records. Unless they all collectively discarded their wristbands, they've been compromised."

Deputy Captain Yan looked at Jiang Hao and asked, "In your earlier intelligence, you mentioned that even Third-Tier Peak Martial Artists could be instantly enthralled and lose themselves."

"Then, within a mere dozen seconds, they lost a massive amount of Mental Energy. And if that type of tree dies, the controlled creatures die with it, correct?"

"Yes, but that's assuming a typical third-rank Martial Artist. Ahem, my Mental Energy is naturally quite strong. So, I could directly resist that attraction."

Seeing both captains fall silent, Jiang Hao asked:

"Are the higher-ups instructing us to try and save those Martial Artists?"

Captain Zeng nodded, then signaled for the team members to get in the vehicles.

Looking at Jiang Hao seriously, he said:

"Mr. Jiang, you really don't need to participate in this emergency mission. After all, you are the Martial Arts Exam top scorer of Yunxiao Prefecture. Your future is at least that of a Ninth Rank Martial Artist."

Jiang Hao shook his head, meeting Captain Zeng's eyes:

"Just as I said before, I truly have reasons I must go. And you can rest assured about my strength."

"Also, Captain Zeng, why don't you just call me Student Jiang? Everyone else too."

He had wanted to comment on Liu Da and the others' respectful titles earlier, but Liu Da and his team were specifically arranged by the Martial Unification Bureau to look after him.

Plus, he had earned their respect through his strength. Even when he asked them to change how they addressed him, they agreed verbally but still used the respectful titles.

Deputy Captain Yan pursed her lips, glancing at the captain, and said:

"Alright, Student Jiang. But the captain has this habit; he adds 'sir' when talking to people."

Fine, everyone has their own verbal quirks.

"Then let's set off. Head to the nearest Smart Wristband IP location first."

Captain Zeng adjusted the route on the Light Screen.

Jiang Hao rode in the same vehicle as the two captains. Looking at Deputy Captain Yan's grave expression in the passenger seat, Jiang Hao thought for a moment and said:

"When we get close to the target location later, if the Strange Seeds have already grown into small trees, I suggest sending one person tied with a safety rope to approach slowly first."

"Hmm, we've considered what Student Jiang said. I'll apply a Mental Resistance Spell to myself and go test the safe distance," Deputy Captain Yan replied, turning her head.

A sixth-rank Late Stage Support-Style Martial Artist, her spirit must be close to 50 points.

Even higher than Jiang Hao's current level. With the boost from the Mental Resistance Spell, she was indeed the most suitable person among them.

If it were Captain Zeng, a Weapon Combat Style Martial Artist, his spirit would be lucky to reach 40 points.

Seeing they already had a plan, Jiang Hao relaxed, preparing to rest and adjust his state.

After all, Jiang Hao aimed to earn points and obtain spirit enhancements, and those thousand-plus Martial Artists would surely be very scattered.

With just over twenty people here, they would inevitably split up eventually.

This was already the maximum number of Middle-Rank Martial Artists the Yunxiao City Martial Unification Bureau could muster on the shortest notice suitable for the rescue operation.

Mobilizing other Middle-Rank Martial Artists would require more time. As for High-Rank Martial Artists, Jiang Hao didn't think they would participate in this operation.

Although the Strange Seeds were indeed peculiar and had never appeared before, they only affected low-rank Martial Artists. Until it was confirmed they could threaten Middle-Rank Martial Artists...

...those High-Rank Martial Artists would not take action.

After all, Yunxiao Prefecture wasn't one of those major prefectures.

The limited number of official High-Rank Martial Artists were needed to garrison key strategic points.

And the High-Rank Martial Artists from the various Families in Yunxiao City were even less likely to personally take risks for a bunch of 'commoners'.

It was said that the Old Family Head of the Yun Family had applied to the Xia Kingdom authorities multiple times a few years ago for qualification to advance to Saint-rank, but was rejected.

At that time, the whole of Yunxiao Prefecture was in an uproar, thinking Yunxiao Prefecture would finally have a Saint-rank Martial Artist, but the result was a huge letdown.

Afterwards, many small online streamers released videos analyzing why the authorities acted that way.

Because the commotion was so big, even ordinary people, beyond the Blue Star Net, learned of this news.

Everyone knew the Old Family Head of the Yun Family had his promotion application rejected by the authorities.

This led to the Family forces in Yunxiao City cooperating with the Martial Unification Bureau on the surface, but some privately paid lip service while acting otherwise.

Previously, Jiang Hao wondered, where did those major Families get the nerve to oppose the Xia Kingdom authorities?

Jiang Hao closed his eyes, sorting through the information in his mind, feeling he had overlooked something.

"The Old Family Head of the Yun Family!"

Jiang Hao suddenly remembered. On the afternoon of the 24th, while shopping, he had scrolled past a piece of news on the Blue Star Net.

"A Prodigy from the Yun Family, about to take the National College Entrance Examination, needed to advance to the third rank. The Old Family Head of the Yun Family personally took them to Fenglei Prefecture!"

Moreover, this was admitted by the current head of the Yun Family himself. Although Jiang Hao hadn't followed up on the aftermath...

...a Ninth Rank Martial Artist, not far from Saint-rank, suddenly leaves Yunxiao Prefecture, and two days later, Strange Seeds appear.

Could this be that big shot's retaliation against the Xia Kingdom's arrangements?

But why does one need to apply to advance to Saint-rank? Can't one just find a place and advance on their own?

And... thinking about Elder Li's eagerness for Yunxiao Prefecture to have its own Saint-rank Martial Artist who could garrison it long-term...

...a powerful Expert with the potential to Breakthrough to Saint-rank, even if from a Family, shouldn't Elder Li mind, right?

Jiang Hao was utterly perplexed... The vehicle stopped.

Jiang Hao got out and looked ahead. Hundreds of Strange Beasts were gathered around a single small tree.

Most were third-rank Savage Oxen. At the very center were six Martial Artists.

Those beasts stood quietly facing the small tree, completely ignoring Jiang Hao's group.

Deputy Captain Yan tied on the safety rope, buffed herself, and slowly walked inward from about six hundred meters away.

Watching her reach around five hundred meters from the small tree, Captain Yan paused, turned back, and signaled that an alert had been triggered, then continued approaching the sapling.

"Similar to the one I encountered this morning, around five hundred meters."

Jiang Hao watched Deputy Captain Yan maneuver around the Savage Ox herd, trying to rescue the six Martial Artists, and shook his head.

After this much time, ordinary third-rank Martial Artists likely had no chance of survival.

Several fifth-rank Spellcasting School Martial Artists went over to help carry the six affected Martial Artists back.

Sure enough, the fifth-rank Spellcasting School Martial Artists, relying on the earlier Mental Resistance Spells, successfully resisted the deadly attraction.

Deputy Captain Yan came out, sighed in relief, and said:

"That attraction is very peculiar. If one's mental strength isn't sufficient, they could be ensnared instantly!"

"I estimate only a fifth-rank Late Stage Spellcasting School Martial Artist could resist that attraction on their own!"

As she spoke, Deputy Captain Yan glanced at Jiang Hao with a strange expression.

Jiang Hao ignored the Martial Unification Bureau members looking at him as if he were a god.

He privately guessed that only Martial Artists who passed a certain threshold could be immune to that attraction. That value was probably 40 points of spirit!

Fail the threshold, get controlled. Pass it, and you're basically safe.

Captain Zeng on the side had already begun trying to revive the six.

Unfortunately, the six Martial Artists weren't 'unconscious' due to physical injury.

Deputy Captain Yan tried applying various Buffs to the six, but they still didn't wake up.

Jiang Hao glanced at the sapling covered in white-purple flowers and said to the group seriously:

"They're already beyond saving."