Chapter 571: The Mission Begins
Although it was now inert, the rare mineral itself still had research value and could be sent back to the institute for analysis.
The terminal on his wrist vibrated again.
It was an encrypted message from He Yayin.
"Mission time confirmed: 14:00 standard time, three days from now. Warp coordinates have been synchronized. Please arrive at the designated location before 13:30. Additionally, your combat gear is ready. You can retrieve it from the Third Logistics Department tomorrow."
Xu Wuyi acknowledged the message.
...
The next day, Xu Wuyi went to the Third Logistics Department to pick up his specialized gear for the mission.
It was a suit of dark-gray stealth Battle Armor, its surface coated with a material that absorbed Energy Fluctuations to minimize the risk of long-range detection.
The Battle Armor had a built-in miniature warp beacon that, once activated, could initiate a short-range jump within three seconds to exit a battlefield.
For weapons, in addition to his Liaoyuan Long Spear, the logistics department provided him with two high-explosive energy grenades and three Gravity Shock Bombs.
These had been specially developed by the institute based on his combat data. When detonated, they created a wide area of gravitational disruption, interfering with enemy movement and detection.
"This gear is all consumable, so use it sparingly," the logistics officer in charge of the handover joked. "Every piece is worth several million."
Xu Wuyi finished inspecting the gear and nodded. "Understood."
"Also, Captain He asked me to give you this." The officer handed over a small, silver earpiece. "It’s an encrypted Communicator for use during the mission. The channel is preset; only the twelve of you can access it."
Xu Wuyi took the earpiece and fitted it into his right ear.
He tested it. The audio was crisp and free of static.
"Is there anything else?"
"That’s all. Good luck with the mission."
Xu Wuyi returned to his quarters with the gear and began his final preparations.
’The feint mission seems simple, but it’s actually incredibly dangerous.’
’I’ll have to face at least four Vice-Kings alone, and one of them might be a level 49 expert.’
’I don’t have to fight to the death, but to create the illusion of a genuine assault, I need to make a big enough scene. That means I can’t just evade. I have to engage them properly and display my power.’
’Striking the right balance is crucial.’
’If I’m too weak, the Feathered People won’t buy it.’
’If I fight too hard, I might not be able to get away.’
Xu Wuyi closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, running through possible scenarios in his mind and planning his strategies.
Time passed quietly.
「On the third day, 12:45 standard time.」
Xu Wuyi donned the dark-gray Battle Armor, slung the long spear over his back, and, after a final check of his equipment, pushed the door open and stepped outside.
In the courtyard, a military hovercar was already waiting.
The driver was a young lieutenant who immediately saluted upon seeing him. "Martial Artist Xu, I’m your transport to the spaceport. Minister Feng wanted me to tell you that your safety is the top priority."
"Thank you."
Xu Wuyi got in, and the hovercar started up silently, heading for Xingjing’s Third Military Spaceport.
En route, he opened his terminal and reviewed the mission briefing one last time.
N-33 Star Domain. Feathered People experimental base. Six Vice-King guards. Over three hundred Modified Bodies.
His mission: create a diversion on the eastern flank, draw the attention of at least four Vice-Kings, and sow chaos for thirty minutes.
He Yayin’s mission: use the chaos as cover to infiltrate the western flank and seize the living nest core and samples of the Modified Bodies.
’Simple, direct, and dangerous.’
At 13:20, the hovercar arrived at the spaceport.
On the tarmac, a deep-gray stealth transport was already powered up, its hatch open and waiting.
Xu Wuyi disembarked and walked toward the boarding ramp.
Just then, He Yayin’s voice came through his earpiece. "Martial Artist Xu, we’re ready on our end. As planned, we’ll move in five minutes after you begin your assault. Remember, you have thirty minutes. Don’t go over."
"Understood," Xu Wuyi responded. "You be careful, too."
"Will do."
The communication ended.
Xu Wuyi boarded the transport; inside the cabin, he was the only passenger.
The pilot’s voice came from the cockpit. "Martial Artist Xu, please take your seat. Estimated flight time is twenty-five minutes. Once we reach the target area, you’ll have five minutes to prepare. The operation begins at 14:00 sharp."
"Received."
The hatch closed. The engine’s thrust surged as the transport lifted off vertically, pierced the clouds, and entered a Star Realm warp orbit.
Outside the viewport, the Starry Sky streamed by.
Xu Wuyi closed his eyes. In his sea of consciousness, a dark-golden marsh pulsed steadily, and the flames of the Golden Crow Illusion flickered.
The insights he’d gained from the Flame Marrow Crystal had greatly advanced his control over the Golden Crow. Though it had yet to truly merge with his Heavy Water, the two could now work together on a preliminary level.
’Maybe I can try a new combination for this mission.’
He had a nagging premonition.
’This feint won’t go so smoothly.’
’The Feathered People aren’t fools. They might have set a trap of their own.’
’But no matter what, the mission must be completed.’
Xu Wuyi opened his eyes, his dark-golden pupils reflecting the stars that streaked past the viewport.
...
Like a ghost, the dark-gray transport slipped into the peripheral airspace of the N-33 Star Domain. Its engines switched to silent mode as it coasted on inertia toward the designated coordinates.
The view from the viewport was starkly different from that of the X-24 Star Domain.
Here, the sky was a deep purple, and the land was dotted with dark-blue crystal formations. In the faint light, the crystals refracted an eerie luster, like the scales of some colossal beast.
In the distance, the faint outlines of several artificial structures were visible. Their silvery-gray metal construction, combined with the Feathered People’s characteristic spire-topped style, exuded a cold sense of Order.
Xu Wuyi looked toward the experimental base through the viewport.
It was built in the center of a crystalline plain, occupying about two square kilometers. The perimeter was enveloped by a pale purple Energy Shield, its surface occasionally rippling with patterns that resembled data streams.
Within the base, several tall towers stood erect. Dark-red Crystal Stones floated above their peaks, emitting a continuous Energy Fluctuation.
"Three kilometers to the drop zone," the pilot’s voice came over the comms channel. "Martial Artist Xu, hatch opening in one minute. Please confirm your gear status."
Xu Wuyi checked the system indicator lights on his Battle Armor; all were green.
The Liaoyuan Long Spear lay across his lap, the dark-gold patterns on its shaft shimmering faintly in the dim cabin. He raised a hand to his right ear, tapping the silver earpiece. "Gear is nominal."
"Good luck."
A red light flashed inside the cabin as the hydraulic system let out a low hum.
The rear hatch lowered, forming an inclined ramp. The thin outside air rushed in, carrying a faint smell of ozone mixed with the foul reek of some kind of biomass.
Xu Wuyi stood, hoisting his long spear as he walked to the edge of the open hatch.
Below, the plain of dark-blue crystal clusters stretched out beneath a deep-purple sky. Eight kilometers to his front-right, the experimental base looked like a metal scar embedded in the land.
"Countdown. Five, four, three, two, one—JUMP!"
Xu Wuyi leaped out.
The stealth coating on his Battle Armor faintly distorted the surrounding light, blurring his descending form.
He instinctively used the Quicksand Step. A Gravity Field formed beneath his feet, rapidly slowing his descent.
Fifty meters from the ground, he completely negated his momentum, landing as lightly as a feather among the crystalline formations.