Free Web NovelChapter 232: Chapter 201: The Sleepers in the Core Area and the God-Capturing Plan
Deep within the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm, on the G-03 Core Floating Island.
Outside, storms raged and Demon Beasts ran rampant, but here, it was as quiet as a tomb.
The interior of this Floating Island had long been hollowed out. Beneath the thick rock strata lay a subterranean base, all cold metal and sharp angles.
There was no gray fog, no stench of blood—only the cool air from the climate control system and the soft, simulated natural light from the vaulted ceiling.
On the eastern side of the base was an absurdly large, fully transparent isolation chamber.
The big shots from school, the elusive figures who were usually movers and shakers, were all in here, lying around like corpses.
Lu Yunxiao, the prodigy of the Inner City’s Lu Family—that arrogant guy they called "Mr. Versailles himself," who always had his nose in the air—was currently curled up in a white hibernation pod.
The guy was a terrible sleeper. His mouth was slightly agape, a string of drool hanging from the corner as he blew little bubbles.
Next to him was Wei Chen, the tech guru from the Celestial Craft Group’s maintenance department.
This fellow couldn’t even stay still while unconscious. He clutched a half-assembled Rune core, his brow furrowed in concentration.
He was clearly wrestling with a faulty circuit in his dreams.
There was also Su Yunxi, the treasured jewel of the Su Family, along with the elite squad members of several other "Exploration Sequences."
Four to five hundred people were lined up neatly in the isolation chamber, like cans of luncheon meat on a supermarket shelf.
Their faces were rosy and their breathing steady. They were clearly having sweet dreams, completely unaware that the world outside had become a chaotic scene.
"This ’Deep Dream No. 3’ gas really works, but man, is it expensive."
Outside the isolation chamber, a middle-aged man in a dark green Tang suit stood with his hands behind his back, a pained look on his face as he watched the "sleeping beauties" inside.
He was about fifty, with graying temples. He rolled two dark-red Iron Galls in his hand, which made a faint CLICK-CLACK sound.
This was Sun Changhe, a core executive of the Inner City’s Sun Family.
"Mr. Sun, you need to think bigger."
Standing beside him was a man in a white lab coat and rimless glasses.
He was Mo Sen, the director of Star Sea Technology’s entire operation here.
A research fanatic, famous throughout the industry.
He held a tablet terminal, his fingers swiping rapidly across the screen without even looking up.
"To ensure the plan proceeds smoothly, these little masters with their powerful backgrounds must be protected."
"If we let them run around outside, we’d have no way of answering to the council back home, whether they get themselves killed or just ruin our plans."
"Putting them to ’sleep’ is the only safe option."
Sun Changhe nodded, his gaze sweeping over Su Yunxi’s delicate face before he let out a cold snort.
"If I weren’t wary of that old fossil from the Su Family, I’d have thrown this girl out to the Demon Beasts myself."
"It was the Su Family that led the charge to veto our proposal at the last council meeting, forcing us to do all this in secret."
"Keep her. She’s more useful alive than dead."
Mo Sen turned and walked toward the control console, his leather shoes clicking sharply on the metal floor.
"This is a golden opportunity."
"The Dimensional Laws of the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm are unique. A being on the level of the ’Weaver’ cannot descend in its true form; it can only project an Energy Body of Tier Three or below."
"What we need to do is use this environment to give that Energy Body a good ’cleansing.’"
Mo Sen pulled up a complex Spiritual Power model on the screen and pointed to a red area.
"Those idiots from the Blood Feeding Sect think they’re summoning a deity, but all they’re really doing is luring the meat to us."
"Once that thing descends and undergoes ’Spirit Body Contamination’..."
"its consciousness will be scoured clean by low-level Spirit Bodies filled with resentment and desire."
"What’s left will be a pure, Tier Three energy husk that possesses high-dimensional laws."
A fanatical gleam flashed in Mo Sen’s eyes, his glasses reflecting a faint blue light.
"That is the key to ’Genetic Ascension,’ and the cornerstone for Star Sea Technology to step into the Divine Domain."
"As long as we succeed, even those old geezers on the council will have to bow to our will."
A sharp glint flashed in Sun Changhe’s murky eyes.
Risk and reward went hand in hand.
As long as they obtained that husk, the Sun Family’s position in East Sea City would be unshakable.
As for the peripheral Trial Takers who had died?
’You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. It’s just necessary collateral damage.’
The two men arrived at the main control room in the center of the base.
A massive holographic map displayed the real-time status of the entire Suspended Mountain Secret Realm.
The model of the Secret Realm glowed an eerie dark red, representing the chaotic Energy of the gray period running rampant.
And in the southeastern corner of the map, at the location of the Wind Eye Market, a conspicuous red dot was blinking.
Sun Changhe glanced in the direction of the distant ancient altar, which was sealed by multiple Arrays.
"Looks like the Blood Feeding Sect’s plan has hit a snag."
"That useless bunch from the Blood Feeding Sect. They had the ’Holy Infant’ and still couldn’t get the job done right."
"That was to be expected."
Mo Sen seemed unconcerned, even taking a moment to pour himself a cup of coffee.
"The Blood Feeding Sect was always just a front, a consumable."
"As long as they muddied the waters and drew everyone’s attention, our objective was achieved."
"But now, someone’s dismantled our front."
Sun Changhe tapped on the virtual screen, pulling up an encrypted intelligence file.
"Did you see the message that little punk Zhao Hai sent back?"
At the mention of Zhao Hai, Mo Sen’s brow twitched slightly.
That was his informant planted in the Wind Eye Market, as well as a key node using the "Spiritual Will Refining System" as a communication relay.
"I saw it."
Mo Sen nodded and set down his coffee cup.
"A variable... by the name of Han Feng."
On the screen was a briefing on Han Feng.
There was no photo, but the text description was shocking.
[Target Codename: Han Feng]
[Identity: Suspected Enlightenment Realm expert hiding his strength / Secret Guardian from the university]
[Abilities: Possesses Wind Flight Talent (not gliding), wields latest military-grade ’Thunder’ series prototype firearm.]
[Spiritual Power Assessment: 500+ (Stable Tier Three Early Stage level)]
[Combat Record: Instantly killed a Tier Two Peak Demon Beast, moves freely during the gray period, has destroyed the ’Bait Altar’ beneath the market.]
[Movement: Has left the market and is approaching the core area at full speed, suspected to have noticed an anomaly.]
This report was cobbled together by Zhao Hai based on Han Feng’s performance in the market, combined with information from the Star Sea Technology database and a healthy dose of speculation.
In their worldview, Cultivators simply didn’t exist.
Able to fly? That must be a Wind Talent.
Able to instantly kill a High Tier Demon Beast?
That had to be a piece of Black Technology from the military, not yet in service.
As for his high Spiritual Power?
He was just exceptionally gifted.
"A Spiritual Strength of over 500, and he can fly."
Sun Changhe narrowed his eyes, killing intent swirling within them. The Iron Galls in his hand spun rapidly.
"Since when did East Sea Martial Arts University produce someone like this? Those old coots sure know how to hide their cards."
"There’s more."
Mo Sen pointed at the data with the confident air of an expert.
"A firearm capable of instantly killing a Tier Two Peak Demon Beast... It seems highly likely he has the military’s latest ’Thunder’ series prototype."
"Combine that with his ability to fly, and the kid must have awakened an extremely rare Wind Talent."
"A person like that, if he can’t be used by us, will be our biggest problem."
Sun Changhe sneered. "Zhao Hai said this Han Feng has already left the Wind Eye Market and is flying toward the core area. It seems he’s noticed something."
"He’s coming here?"
"Since this kid isn’t a prodigy from one of the major families, he can’t be left alive."
"If he ruins our grand plan, he must die."
Mo Sen, however, appeared quite calm. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and leisurely wiped a coffee stain from his hand.
"Oh, he’ll die, for sure."
"But since his Spiritual Power is so strong, we might as well put him to good use first."
"You mean..." Sun Changhe looked at him.
"Capturing the ’Weaver’s’ Energy Body would normally require more preparation."
"But since a top-grade sacrifice with a Spiritual Power of 500 has delivered himself to our doorstep, it would be a waste not to use him."
Mo Sen turned and walked to the other end of the control console, where there was a red lever.
"Let’s activate the ’Divine Cage’s’ rehearsal mode."
Sun Changhe froze for a moment, then hesitated.
"But that’s a measure meant for a Tier Three High-dimensional Creature. Isn’t it a bit of a waste to use it on a student?"
"It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."
"Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit."
Mo Sen pushed up his glasses, a cold glint flashing across the lenses.
"Besides, he has a gun and he can fly. If it comes to a real fight, we might not escape unscathed."
"If he escapes and gets word of this place out, that would be a huge problem."
"Using the ’Divine Cage’ to trap him in a Spiritual Illusion Realm lets us solve the problem without bloodshed, and we can test the equipment’s stability at the same time."
"Killing two birds with one stone."
Mo Sen chuckled softly and entered a string of commands on the console.
As the commands were entered, the entire underground base’s power system began to hum deeply.
"Our ’Divine Cage’ is designed with a tolerance threshold of 1500 points of Spiritual Strength."
"A mere Martial Artist with 500 Spiritual Strength? Even if he’s made of iron, he’ll melt into nothing once he’s inside."
Sun Changhe laughed too, the wrinkles on his face trembling with amusement.
"Very well. Since you’re in the mood, go ahead and play with him."
"We can consider it a preliminary test. Since the kid is the university’s hidden ace, he’s bound to have a few tricks up his sleeve."
"To be safe, let’s just crank the power to maximum—1500 points."
"How do we lure him into the trap?" Mo Sen asked.
Sun Changhe straightened the cuffs of his Tang suit, a chillingly benevolent smile spreading across his face.
"Since the kid was sent by the university to protect students, he must be bursting with a sense of justice."
"My Sun Family happens to have a small team on perimeter duty nearby. We’ll have them put on a little show."
"They’ll play... survivors being chased by Demon Beasts, fleeing into the ruins in a panic."
"Tell me, what do you think a ’hero’ overflowing with righteousness will do when he sees a few pitiful classmates begging for help at the entrance to the ruins?"
A mocking smile touched Mo Sen’s lips.
"He’ll rush over to save them, and step right into our trap."
"Then it’s settled."
Sun Changhe picked up his communicator and began issuing orders, his tone turning frigid.
"Tell Sun Biao to take a few men to the entrance on the southwest side of G-01 Island."
"Make the act convincing. Rip up their clothes, smear on plenty of blood, and scream pathetically."
"Tell them to activate the ’Soul-Locking Prism’ the moment that person enters the ’corridor’ area."
"I want him alive. The lab is in desperate need of a lab rat with this kind of spiritual mutation."
After arranging everything, the two men turned their gazes back to the main control screen.
There, in the direction of the Wind Eye Market, the red energy mass had become so dense it looked like it was about to drip blood.
And on the edge of that crimson expanse, a barely perceptible blue dot was speeding toward their trap at an astonishing rate.
Mo Sen watched the dot of light as if he were watching a moth flying straight into a net.
His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, creating a rhythmic sound.
"Come now, little hero."
"Let’s see what’s faster—the gun in your hand, or the Divine Cage we’ve prepared."
Meanwhile, Han Feng, who was flying at extreme speed high in the sky, suddenly sneezed.
He rubbed his nose and glanced down at the roiling Cloud Sea below.
’Which bastard is talking shit about me?’
Han Feng didn’t slow down. Instead, he channeled even more Sword Essence into his Wingsuit.
His Divine Sense had already faintly detected the outline of the core island cluster ahead.
And the disgusting stench emanating from it.
What he didn’t know was that the trap waiting for him was a top-tier cage designed specifically for someone with "500 Spiritual Power."
But his current Spiritual Power...
...had long since broken past 2,000 points.
In this game of cat and mouse, the roles of hunter and prey had been reversed from the very beginning.
