Xiang Fan sat in front of the virtual research terminal, his fingers swiftly typing away on the keyboard. A dense network of energy core design diagrams appeared on the screen. The diagrams were as complex as a heavenly scripture, filled with maddening psychic energy conduction pathways and intersecting nodes.
"This part of the design concept..." Xiang Fan frowned, "It's very similar to the previous drawings, but the level of precision is more like a chess game. If you're not careful, you'll lose everything."
Ling Ruoxi leaned over to take a look and immediately felt dizzy: "Boss, what is this? A heavenly book? You read this kind of thing every day, won't your brain short-circuit?"
"Maybe." Xiang Fan didn't bother to look up and continued decoding. He said lightly, "But if Short Circuit can understand these things, I'm happy."
Shadow Killer, while wiping his mech, nonchalantly teased, "Boss, no need to be so modest. We all know you're the legendary genius who's poor, idle, and spends his days reading."
"Genius?" Ling Ruoxi rolled her eyes. "This genius can barely afford to repair his mecha."
"That's enough, both of you, stop arguing," the Xuanwu guard interrupted solemnly, his tone heavy. "The data we obtained this time is indeed valuable, but don't forget, that place's defense system is probably not meant to scare people. We've already caused a big disaster."
Xiang Fan stopped what he was doing, rubbed his temple, and nodded. "Indeed, the design of that archive doesn't look like something an ordinary organization could create. It's definitely the domain of some high-tech sect. We've moved their cheese, and we don't know when the pursuers will arrive."
"Pursuers? We've already cleaned up the access records!" Shadow Killer scratched his head disapprovingly. "If they really come knocking on our door, we'll just fight them!"
"Fight? Do you know who the other party might be?" The Black Tortoise Guard glared at the Shadow Killer. "Anyone who can come up with this kind of defense system must be at least several blocks ahead of us."
"Isn't this the legendary high-risk, high-return?" Shadow Killer smiled even more smugly. "We're so poor, we need to do something exciting to turn things around!"
"Shadow Killer, could you please not be so impetuous?" Ling Ruoxi glanced at him speechlessly. "The boss just said that we must keep a low profile during this period of time."
Shadow Killer shrugged: "Lowkey and I are like parallel universes, we'll never intersect."
Xiang Fan sighed helplessly, "Alright, listen to me—from now on, we will clean up all traces that might be exposed and reduce all public activities, especially high-profile behavior on the virtual battlefield."
Ling Ruoxi nodded: "No problem, I will only stay in the training ground during this period."
The Xuanwu guard also agreed: "Not causing trouble is our survival rule. Shadow Killer, you'd better not mess around either."
"Tsk, how boring." Shadow Killer rolled his eyes and muttered softly, "It's better to just get caught than to hold it in like this all day long."
At the same time, the scene shifted to a high-tech sect's core research lab, where alarms blared on the main control screen. A researcher nervously reported to an elder, "Elder, our archives have been compromised. An external intruder downloaded some of our core data. They exploited a vulnerability in the virtual battlefield and successfully infiltrated, then quickly evacuated."
The old man raised his head slightly, his eyes as cold as a knife: "To be able to break through multiple defenses and escape unscathed, these people are not simple."
The researcher nodded. "Based on the route analysis, they used a very covert method and seem to have a very high level of knowledge of our defenses."
"Find out." The old man's voice was icy cold. "Trace their identities as quickly as possible. No matter who they are, I want their heads."
Another researcher echoed, "The virtual battlefield logs are still being analyzed. We'll be able to locate their true identities in three days at most."
The old man raised his lips slightly, revealing a sneer: "A bunch of thieves who thought they could disappear silently, they will pay the price."
Back in Team Zero's virtual base, Xiang Fan had already completed his preliminary data analysis and was leaning back in his chair, a weary expression on his face. He muttered to himself, "If we can completely decipher this data... perhaps it will lead to a completely different breakthrough."
Ling Ruoxi came over from not far away, holding a cup of spiritual juice in her hand, and handed it to Xiang Fan: "Boss, don't work too hard, we still hope that you will be alive."
Xiang Fan took the juice and smiled: "I'm not trying my best, but... trying to find the answer."
Shen Tianshu sat cross-legged, his body surrounded by spiritual energy. His aura was calm yet sharp. Having just successfully established his foundation in the past few days, he was like an unsheathed sword, its edge hidden. The Dharma Elder walked slowly to his side, stroked his beard and smiled, his tone full of satisfaction: "Shen Tianshu, you have established your foundation with the Supreme Forgetfulness Art. Your performance is exemplary. No external factors, no deviation, and even the inner demon tribulation has never touched you. Your achievements once again prove the longevity and depth of traditional cultivation."
The disciples watching were immediately in an uproar, with discussions rising one after another:
"Senior Brother Shen is simply a legend in the sect. He succeeded in building his foundation so quickly and without any setbacks!"
"I heard that those in the tech school have to rely on body transformation to build their foundation. It sounds scary."
"Indeed, the traditional practice of our Lingxiao Sect is the right way."
Chu Yang, who was standing at the back of the crowd, smacked his lips and muttered softly, "So cultivating immortality is so troublesome... It seems I'm really more compatible with mechas." His words were heard clearly by Xiang Fan who was standing next to him, and he almost laughed out loud.
Shen Tianshu stood up slowly, his face expressionless, he just bowed slightly to the elder: "Thank you for your teachings, elder. I am just following the procedures and keeping my heart."
The disciples applauded, their eyes filled with admiration and envy. Shen Tianshu calmly returned to the crowd, like a piece of ice, emitting a chill that made people afraid to approach.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
