Celestial Human Diagram

After his call with Yan Yi, Chen Chuan was about to head to the White Bird District when the phone on his desk suddenly rang.

He walked over, picked it up, and said, "This is Chen Chuan."

"Chen?" A familiar voice came from the receiver. "It’s me, Luo Kaiyuan."

"Luo?"

Chen Chuan was a little surprised. He smiled and said, "Luo, it’s not a rest day yet. What’s up? Why the sudden call?"

Luo Kaiyuan said, "Chen, for the Unlimited Defense Certificate Class C assessment, all three of us passed. But the academy only had one recommendation spot this year. The results just came out, and Weidong got it."

’Weidong got the recommendation spot?’

Chen Chuan was surprised again. But on second thought, although Weidong was a bit reckless, he was indeed the most talented one of their group.

In that case, Weidong should be coming to the Central Hospital for his studies next year.

Luo Kaiyuan added, "Even though we didn’t get the spot, Xiaochi and I talked it over. We’re not planning to stay in Yangzhi anymore. We want to come to Central City together."

A smile appeared on Chen Chuan’s face. "That’s great. When are you guys coming?"

Although Luo Kaiyuan and Feng Xiaochi couldn’t obtain citizenship, their opportunities to acquire resources in Central City would be far greater than in Yangzhi City.

To put it this way, if they stayed in Yangzhi, they might remain at the Second Limit for the rest of their lives. But if they came to Central City, they’d have a chance to reach the Third Limit.

After all, his former suitemates were some of the most talented A-class students of their year. Even in all of Yangzhi Wuyi, they were considered outstanding.

And if they could reach the Third Limit, citizenship wouldn’t be an issue at all.

"Weidong will be coming to Central City for school next year. We’ll come with him then."

"Okay. I’ll be back for the New Year. We can talk more in person then."

Luo Kaiyuan agreed, then added, "By the way, Chen, some people from the Fenxin Society told me that someone seems to be specifically asking about you recently."

"Oh, is that so?"

Chen Chuan’s mind stirred slightly.

"Yeah. They’re probably not locals from Yangzhi, or they wouldn’t need to ask these things. Chen, you need to be careful."

Chen Chuan said, "I understand. Thanks, Luo. And please thank the others at the Fenxin Society for me."

After discussing the matter, he and Luo Kaiyuan chatted for a little longer about other things before hanging up. Just then, a notification came through on his Realm Token: the company-assigned car had arrived downstairs.

So, he quickly got his things together, grabbed his Snow Monarch Blade, and went downstairs. He got in the car and headed for the White Bird District.

While on the way, Director Wu contacted him. He reminded Chen Chuan that even though Meng Huang’s influence within the Fusion Boundary Company had been cleaned out recently, the affair involved many people and their interests. There was no guarantee someone wouldn’t try to sabotage things in the next couple of days, so he should be careful.

Chen Chuan acknowledged.

In truth, he had been on high alert ever since confirming he was being followed that day, but nothing similar had happened since.

And now, Luo Kaiyuan’s call about people asking about him suggested that if it was the same group, they hadn’t given up. In fact, they were digging deeper for clues about him.

He thought for a moment and said, "Director Wu, I’d like to request permission for my Resonator to use public Boundary Points tomorrow and the day after."

Director Wu replied, "It’s right to be cautious. We’re also paying close attention to the events of the day after tomorrow. You know the situation at the Bureau; because of the Ring Screen breach, the guards we sent are still stationed there and can’t be recalled. We also have to keep a certain number of personnel in reserve for emergencies."

"The surrounding garrisons are bound by their duties and won’t move unless they witness a situation firsthand. So if something happens, do your best to delay them. But I’ll say it again: if the situation is hopeless, retreat on your own. Don’t worry about anyone else."

Chen Chuan said, "I understand, Director Wu."

Just then, a sound came from his Realm Token. He glanced at it and saw that Director Wu had sent over a map marked with a dotted line.

Director Wu said, "This is the route we believe is best. The Bureau recommends you follow it. That way, even if you run into trouble, the personnel stationed in that area can get to you quickly."

After receiving it, Chen Chuan examined the map carefully. Although following this route meant taking a detour, it was significantly safer. However, there was still one vulnerability.

After a moment of thought, he made a mark on a specific point along the route.

The car drove smoothly all the way to the White Bird District. As it entered the Meng Manor, Chen Chuan saw that there were even more security personnel than on his last visit. Armored vehicles were parked all over the plaza, and the corner of the manor that had been destroyed before was now fully repaired.

When he got out of the car, Yan Yi was already waiting for him. After greeting him, she led him into the building. Inside the elevator, Yan Yi said, "Mr. Chen, we’ve prepared the prisoner you requested."

"Thank you," Chen Chuan said.

Yan Yi was indeed very thorough. Even though he hadn’t given any special instructions and she didn’t know what he wanted the prisoner for, she had prepared him anyway, saving Chen Chuan the trouble of reminding her.

Once upstairs, he first met with Meng Shu and transferred the route map from the Processing Bureau to her.

He said, "I’ve looked over the route planned by the Processing Bureau, and I think it’s viable. However, there’s one section we need to be careful with. You should be prepared; there’s a good chance you’ll be ambushed on the way to the company. But someone’s been targeting me recently, so this attack might not be aimed just at you."

Meng Shu replied, "You’re the company’s Chief Security Advisor. Targeting you isn’t much different from targeting me. If necessary, I can try to change the time I officially take over the company."

She knew very well that Chen Chuan was the most reliable force she and Fusion Boundary could publicly count on. If something happened to him, she would lose the vast majority of her protection. Therefore, targeting Chen Chuan was the same as targeting her and the company. In essence, they were one and the same.

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "If they’re only targeting me, it’s simple. But if they’re after you, then even if we avoid it this time, it will happen again. We’d only be postponing the conflict, not eliminating it."

He looked at Meng Shu and said, "My opinion is that we should take this opportunity to solve the problem for good, especially while they’re still willing to show their faces."

Meng Shu said, "What do you need? I’ll have my people cooperate."

Chen Chuan said, "The security arrangements can proceed as planned. If we encounter enemies, I might take the initiative to attack, which will leave you exposed. I suggest you have Aunt Yu stay by your side for protection."

Although Meng Lai also needed protection, as the former head of the company, his safety wasn’t as critical anymore. Besides, the body Meng Lai used in public was controlled by a Consciousness Coordinator. His real body was in a location that probably only Meng Shu knew, so it wouldn’t be a major issue even if the remote one was destroyed.

Meng Shu nodded. "I’ll talk to my grandfather."

He and Meng Shu discussed a few more details before he returned to the room arranged for him.

He stayed there for a day, during which he took another dose of the special medicine.

Perhaps because he had only recently entered the Third Limit, the medicine’s effects were very noticeable. He felt a slight improvement with every dose.

He had considered that continuous use of the special medicine might eventually lead to diminishing returns, but he didn’t need to worry about that for now. As long as he kept getting stronger, he would always find more ways to acquire it.

On November 19th, a long convoy of armored vehicles departed from the Meng Manor, heading toward the Fusion Boundary Company’s headquarters in the Central City District.

This time, Chen Chuan didn’t ride with Meng Shu. Instead, he was in the car directly behind hers to avoid them both being hit by an attack at the same time. Both vehicles were specially modified, so he would be able to react even if something went wrong.

Several scout cars drove ten minutes ahead of the convoy, reporting back on the situation every three minutes.

After traveling for a little over forty-five minutes, the convoy left the White Bird District and got on the cross-sea Celestial Bridge.

After passing the highest point of the Celestial Bridge and entering the final stretch, with about twenty minutes left before reaching the Central City District, the security personnel in the lead vehicles suddenly noticed something and looked up.

They saw numerous black dots in the sky, flying toward them.

At first, they thought they were just birds, but as they got a clearer look, they realized they were people wearing hang gliders. Judging by the distance and altitude, they must have jumped and glided from the tops of the skyscrapers along the coast.

Realizing there was a problem, they immediately reported back to the rest of the convoy.

The figures in the sky continuously adjusted their direction, rapidly closing in on the Celestial Bridge. Several of them swooped over the lead vehicles and headed straight for the rear of the convoy, scattering caltrops onto the bridge’s surface as they passed.

One of the men flying in the formation was wearing a special Realm Token. He scanned the convoy below for a moment and said, "Sister Huan, vehicle analysis suggests the target is most likely in the twenty-second car from the rear. The protectee is in the twenty-first."

Sister Huan’s voice came back: "Execute plan B. Include both vehicles and those nearby in the attack radius."

Although their target was Chen Chuan, it was necessary to attack Meng Shu’s car as well. It was the only way to force Chen Chuan to stay and fight.

"Roger!"

The team members at the forefront had already drawn near. With a POP, the packs on their backs opened. After briefly acting as an air brake, they quickly unhooked the harnesses, leaped down, and landed on the roofs of the moving vehicles and the ground below. Their powerful legs bent just slightly to absorb the impact.

One of the team members looked up and saw the suspected target vehicle about twenty meters ahead. With a flick of his wrist, he threw out several custom Smoke Bombs and grenades. A series of explosions rocked the Celestial Bridge, instantly shrouding it in smoke, punctuated by flashes of fire and the roar of detonations.

...

...