Chapter 173-01 Acquired

Ruan Ning looked at the barrier frequency displayed on the detector: "We need the energy fluctuation of carrier 01 itself as a 'key', or to force it open with resonance using the same source energy. I can try to use the resonance of our three carriers (02, 06, 07) to simulate a fluctuation similar to the 'key', but that will also expose us."

Shen Yan proposed a plan: "Two steps. First, Qin, Lin Yan, and Zhou Min, you create an 'accidental' fire on the east side of the residence to attract attention and the patrol teams, especially to lure Xi Yuan there. The fire should look like an aging power line accident or a test failure; it can't be too fake, and it needs to be accompanied by a large fire."

"Secondly, Ruan Ning and I took the opportunity to sneak into the second basement level through the pipes. Ruan Ning first maintained a large area of ​​weak shielding to cover our infiltration and Qin's team's actions."

Once Xi Yuan was lured away, Ruan Ning concentrated his efforts on shielding the treasure vault area and simulating biological characteristics to break through the energy barrier. "After obtaining Carrier 01, we'll retreat along the original route. Team Leader Qin, you take advantage of the chaos to evacuate and rendezvous at the designated location." Shen Yan spoke quickly.

"The risk is that Xi Yuan may not leave the main house, or he may leave and then return very soon," Qin Li pointed out.

"So the fire has to be 'troublesome' enough, something that looks like it could threaten important areas of the main house or his private laboratory." Shen Yan pointed to the building's electrical diagrams. "The east annex has his private weapons storage room and training ground, where a lot of high-energy weapons and flammable materials are stored."

Ruan Ning pondered for a moment: "Okay. But the timing must be precise. At the same time as the fire is set, you start your operation to draw attention. Shen Yan and I will infiltrate immediately. After obtaining Carrier 01, I will use my mental energy to briefly disrupt Xi Yuan and the other ability users' perception, creating an opportunity for our retreat. Maintain a mental link throughout."

The plan was set. At three in the morning, the operation began.

The fire silently crept up to the outer wall of the Xi family's house, sneaking into the vicinity of the east annex through the drainage ditch. It found an aging electrical connection, carefully spewing out a small, extremely concentrated burst of high-temperature flame, igniting the insulation layer. The flames quickly spread along the wiring towards the weapons storage room inside the annex.

Soon, thick smoke billowed from the east annex, and flames erupted! The piercing fire alarm blared throughout the mansion!

"Fire! East Building! Quick!"

The patrol and sentries were instantly drawn to the scene, and a large number of people rushed to the east side. The lights inside the main house were turned on one by one.

Ruan Ning and Shen Yan moved like shadows, scaling the high wall, avoiding the chaotic crowd, and heading straight for the abandoned greenhouse in the backyard. Following the informant's blueprints, they found the hidden pipe entrance and crawled inside.

Qin Li, Lin Yan, and Zhou Min deliberately made noise on the wall a little further away, attracting some of the guards to chase after them, thus relieving the pressure on Ruan Ning and the other two.

The pipe was narrow and dirty, but wide enough for one person to crawl through.

Shen Yan scanned ahead with his portable device and corrected his direction. Ruan Ning maintained a weak shield covering the entire house while simultaneously diverting a wisp of her mental energy to monitor Xi Yuan's movements.

Xi Yuan was indeed alerted. She "saw" him stride out of the study, demanding to know what was going on, and then leading the two third-tier ability users straight to the east annex.

Chance!

Ruan Ning and Shen Yan quickened their pace and soon reached the end of the pipe. In front of them was a thick concrete wall, and behind the wall was the outer wall of the treasure vault on the second underground floor.

Shen Yan took out a specially made silent drill and began working. Ruan Ning reduced the shielding range, concentrating it on covering the area where the treasure vault was located, and increased its intensity.

They drilled through the wall and entered a maintenance passage. Ten meters ahead lay the first heavy alloy door of the treasure vault.

Shen Yan stepped forward and connected the decoder to the electronic lock. The screen scrolled. Thirty seconds later, the green light came on, and the door unlocked.

The second step requires iris and palm print.

Ruan Ning stood in front of the scanner, a silver light flashing in her eyes, her mental power precisely simulating the biological fluctuations of the distant creature.

Scan passed.

The third door was a pale blue, constantly shifting energy barrier. In the center of the secret chamber behind the barrier, the jade ring carrier 01 floated silently on an alloy pillar.

Ruan Ning took out the bone bead (02), jade pendant (07), and jade pendant (06) and brought the three carriers close to the energy barrier.

Three energy fluctuations, originating from the same source but differing in nature, were released simultaneously, resonating with the frequency of the barrier. The barrier rippled like water.

Ruan Ning focused his mind, adjusted the resonance frequency of the three carriers, and tried to match the "lock" of the barrier.

Five seconds, ten seconds...

The barrier fluctuations grew increasingly violent, and finally—

Buzz.

The barrier shattered and dissipated silently, like a soap bubble.

Ruan Ning stepped in and reached out to grab the jade ring.

The moment her fingertips touched the jade ring, a sudden change occurred!

A strong, repulsive energy suddenly erupted from within the jade ring, and a cold, ancient, and repulsive spiritual shock slammed into Ruan Ning!

At the same time, from the direction of the eastern annex building in the distance, came Xi Yuan's furious roar: "Lure the tiger away from the mountain! Treasure vault!!"

He noticed it! Not Ruan Ning, but the alarm mechanism of the carrier 01 itself when it was triggered!

"Go!" Ruan Ning, enduring the dizziness brought on by the mental shock, grabbed the jade ring and stuffed it into a specially made shielding bag. The jade ring struggled and vibrated violently in her hand, showing a strong sense of rejection.

Shen Yan has already rushed back to the pipeline along the same route.

Ruan Ning followed closely behind, maintaining the shield while resisting Yu Huan's mental onslaught!

As soon as the two climbed back into the pipe, they heard a roar and Xi Yuan's furious shouts coming from the direction of the treasure vault behind them: "Seal off all exits! Dig three feet into the ground and find them!"

Ruan Ning gritted her teeth and pressed her remaining mental energy fiercely onto the jade ring in her hand, forcibly suppressing it with her sixth-level will!

Yu Huan's struggles and attempts to break free paused for a moment, but the sense of rejection remained.

She and Shen Yan crawled desperately through the pipes. Behind them came the sounds of digging and destruction; Xi Yuan was trying to break through the ground!

Pipeline exit in sight!

The two rushed out of the greenhouse, followed the pre-arranged route, climbed over the wall, and jumped into the modified off-road vehicle that was waiting in the shadows.

"Drive!" Shen Yan roared.

The vehicle roared into the night.

Almost simultaneously, several powerful energy fluctuations rose into the sky from the direction of the Xi family mansion, and Xi Yuan led his men out in pursuit! However, he had lost the exact location after Ruan Ning's mental shielding, and could only pursue in general direction.

Ruan Ning sat in the car, her face pale, clutching the struggling jade ring in her bag. Blood seeped from her nose.

"How is it?" Qin Li asked anxiously as he drove.

“Carrier 01… has a strong repulsive force… unlike our necklace and bone beads…” Ruan Ning said with difficulty, “It… seems to have been programmed to refuse to be controlled by those who are not ‘chosen’…”

She concentrated all her mental energy once again, combining it with the power of the three existing vessels, and fiercely attacked the inside of the jade ring!

As if some kind of shackles had been temporarily broken, Yu Huan's struggles suddenly stopped, and the feeling of rejection receded, turning into a kind of submission.

At the same time, a vast and complex stream of information about "energy conduction and amplification" and "analysis and reconstruction of material structure" flooded into Ruan Ning's mind.

The characteristics of carrier 01: extremely precise energy manipulation and material interference.

The four carriers resonated within the cramped carriage, creating a clear sense of direction, ten times stronger than before, pointing to a precise coordinate in the Himalayas, northwest by north!

"Got it...and the direction is clear now..." Ruan Ning slumped back in her seat, wiping the blood from her nose. "Let's go...Xi Yuan won't give up..."

The vehicle sped through the capital's intricate streets and alleys, shaking off its pursuers and disappearing into the pre-dawn darkness.

The Xi family mansion was in complete disarray.

Xi Yuan stood before the destroyed treasure vault, his face ashen.

“Mental strength… at least level five, or even higher…” His eyes were sinister. “It can simultaneously shield the entire house, simulate my biological characteristics, and forcibly suppress the backlash of the ‘Golden Crow’…”

He turned to his trusted aide and said, "Investigate! All high-level ability users who have recently entered the capital from the northwest! Especially women with exceptionally strong mental abilities!"

“Furthermore,” he looked north, “instruct the entire Shadow Guard to stand by. With the Golden Crow stolen, some plans must be brought forward.”

"No matter who you are... if you take something from the Xi family, you will always have to pay the price."

As dawn approaches, undercurrents surge in the capital.

Meanwhile, Ruan Ning's team, carrying the fourth "key," quietly embarked on their journey home.