Han Lingyun's communication request was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples across the surface and heralding the arrival of a greater storm.
Lin Yuan and Su Jiu'er stood amidst the ruins of the Cultivator Community, watching as members of the Qi Gong Association were taken away by the police, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
"Finally, that's temporarily resolved," Lin Yuan sighed in relief, rubbing his sore shoulders. "These guys are tougher than cockroaches."
Su Jiu'er nodded lightly, but her gaze drifted into the distance, her brows furrowing slightly. "I can't shake the feeling that things aren't that simple. There must be a larger force behind the Qi Gong Association. We can't let our guard down; otherwise, one day we might find ourselves sold out by them while helping them count their money."
Lin Yuan agreed wholeheartedly, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "You're right. We need to root out this mastermind quickly to avoid any prolonged nightmares or unexpected troubles."
Back at the temporary command center, Zhou Haoran had already organized the seized intelligence and sat upright, waiting for Lin Yuan and Su Jiu'er, resembling a student awaiting a teacher's inspection of homework.
"How's it going, Brother Hao Ran? Any earth-shattering discoveries?" Lin Yuan asked eagerly, almost desperate to know the answer.
Zhou Haoran adjusted his glasses and replied seriously, "According to this intelligence, the Qi Gong Association's secret base is located on the first underground level in the city center. It's heavily guarded and difficult to attack—practically an iron turtle shell."
"The city center underground level? That's quite a case of darkness under the lamp!" Lin Yuan exclaimed, secretly admiring the cunning of the Qi Gong Association. "These guys really know how to pick their spots; it's as if they're afraid no one will find them!"
Su Jiu'er studied the marked location of the secret base on the map, falling into deep thought. "This location is surrounded by skyscrapers with heavy foot traffic. If we launch a frontal assault, it could cause unnecessary panic. Once the media reports it, we’d be labeled as the culprits disrupting social harmony."
"A frontal attack isn't wise; we need a more cautious approach," Lin Yuan said, stroking his chin as his mind raced. "By the way, did the intelligence mention anything about the secret base's defense system? Are there any weaknesses we can exploit?"
Zhou Haoran flipped through his documents and said, "The secret base is equipped with state-of-the-art AI Monitoring System and defensive equipment—almost no blind spots. It's tighter than a drum."
"Seriously? That's outrageous!" Lin Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief as if he had heard an absurd tale. "It's practically a fortress! How are we supposed to deal with that?"
"However," Zhou Haoran shifted his tone and pointed to a line of small text in the intelligence report with excitement in his voice, "I found that the AI Monitoring System experiences brief signal interruptions between three and four in the morning for about five minutes. That's our window; we can infiltrate during that time."
Lin Yuan and Su Jiu'er exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes, as if they had caught a glimpse of dawn in the darkness.
"Truly, there’s always a way out!" Lin Yuan exclaimed, slapping the table excitedly. "This is our chance! Five minutes is enough for us to make a big impact!"
"However, even if the AI Monitoring System is interrupted, there are surely other defenses within the Secret Base," Su Jiu'er calmly analyzed. "We must be fully prepared; a cautious approach is essential."
"Exactly," Zhou Haoran added. "I can use my high-tech equipment to interfere with the AI Monitoring System, extending the signal disruption time and giving you more time. This will increase our chances of success." As he spoke, he pulled out an oddly shaped device from his backpack that resembled an oversized router, its surface flickering with various colored indicator lights, exuding a sense of advanced technology.
Lin Yuan nodded, already formulating a preliminary plan. "Alright, it’s settled! We’ll split into two teams. Su Jiu'er and I will infiltrate the Secret Base, while Hao Ran provides technical support outside to ensure our safety."
"Got it!" Zhou Haoran readily agreed, confidence shining in his eyes. "My equipment is no joke; I’ll make sure their AI Monitoring System becomes blind."
With that, Lin Yuan and Su Jiu'er began to devise a detailed infiltration plan. They carefully studied the terrain and architectural structure surrounding the Secret Base, mapping out the best routes for entry and retreat while drafting various contingency plans to ensure everything went smoothly. Su Jiu'er also utilized her knowledge of Ancient Martial Arts to identify potential dangers, such as hidden sentries and Mechanism Traps, proposing corresponding countermeasures to ensure their safety during the operation.
Once everything was ready, Lin Yuan gathered the members of the Cultivator Community to inform them about the infiltration plan.
"This mission is extremely dangerous; feel free to voice any concerns," Lin Yuan said solemnly, scanning each person's face. "After all, this isn’t just a trip to the market—one misstep could cost us our lives."
Li Qiang and Wang Xiaoyu exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment before stepping forward.
"Master Lin, we know you are powerful, but the risks of this operation are too great. We’re worried..." Li Qiang stammered, worry etched on his face. "If we get discovered, we won’t be able to escape."
Wang Xiaoyu chimed in, "Yes, Master Lin. With our limited abilities, we might not be able to help at all and could even become a burden."
"I understand your concerns," Lin Yuan said as he patted Li Qiang on the shoulder with a firm tone. "But we cannot back down. We must thwart the Qi Gong Association's conspiracy and protect our home. Even if it means facing mountains of knives or seas of fire ahead, we must press on!"
Lin Yuan's words were passionate and powerful, deeply moving everyone present. They all expressed their willingness to follow Lin Yuan into this perilous mission, ready to risk their lives if necessary.
At midnight, the night enveloped the entire city, and everything seemed unusually quiet. Lin Yuan, Su Jiu'er, Zhou Haoran, and several members of the Cultivator Community quietly approached the vicinity of the Qi Gong Association's secret base. They hid in the shadows like a pack of waiting cheetahs, poised for the perfect moment to strike.
Zhou Haoran activated his high-tech equipment, beginning to disrupt the Secret Base's AI Monitoring System. The indicators on the device flickered wildly, emitting a faint buzzing sound.
"Signal interruption estimated at five minutes!" Zhou Haoran whispered, his tone tense yet exhilarated. "We need to hurry; in five minutes, the AI Monitoring System will automatically reboot."
Lin Yuan and Su Jiu'er exchanged glances and nodded. Then, like two phantoms, they vanished into the night, their figures blending seamlessly with the darkness.
Using their agility and familiarity with the terrain, they successfully avoided patrols and infiltrated the Secret Base without alerting anyone.
However, once inside, they discovered that the situation was far more complicated than they had anticipated. The internal defense systems of the Secret Base were more stringent than expected, with surveillance cameras and infrared detectors everywhere, not to mention laser barriers and pressure-sensitive devices—it was like a fortress.
"Wow, this is ridiculous!" Lin Yuan couldn't help but exclaim. "This place is practically a maze! Do these guys think it's a military base or something?"
Su Jiu'er frowned, sensing trouble ahead. "It seems we've run into some issues..."
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, shattering the silence.
At the end of the hallway appeared a squad of fully armed members of the Qi Gong Association.
They had been discovered!
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