Han Feng raised his hand and pointed at the holographic image, zooming in on a rainforest in South America: "For example, here—the underground altar of the Mayan remnants. The concentration of ghostly crystal energy detected three days ago was enough to tear space apart."
A burst of dazzling green light suddenly erupted in the video feed, quickly fading into a green indicator signifying safety. Almost simultaneously, an excited report came through the communication channel:
"Rainforest mission complete! Three ritual artifacts of the Dark Crystal Clan seized, and prisoners captured..."
Han Feng turned off the audio and looked towards the sky beyond the base's dome. He didn't care at all about the protests from those overseas leaders—political correctness was utterly ridiculous in the face of the survival of civilization.
"What about Elder Lin..." Zhang Jingtian hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
"He acquiesced." A wisp of gray mist danced between Han Feng's fingertips. "Our top priority now is to ensure that Earth is not invaded."
Just then, a special communication channel lit up. The image showed Aya Ikegami in a traditional kimono, holding a Kagura bell dripping with blood. Behind her, the emblem of the R Kingdom's royal family burned in flames.
"R Country is quiet now." The girl's voice was as cold as ice. "From today onwards, there will only be one voice here—your voice."
The holographic image shifted to the skies above Kyoto—thousands of cultivators knelt in the streets, among them several prominent clan elders trembling as they offered their clan crests. Even more shockingly, members of the imperial family were also among them!
"You..." Han Feng rarely showed a surprised expression, "You even subdued the royal family?"
Aya Ikegami's lips curled into a cruel smile: "Those who refused to bow their heads went to Yasukuni Shrine to keep the war criminals company." She turned slightly to the side, revealing a collapsing shrine building behind her, "and cleaned up some trash while they were at it."
The command center was silent. Everyone was stunned by the methods employed by this seemingly frail young girl.
Han Feng was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "Not bad, come see me in a couple of days."
After the call ended, Liu Mengran frowned with concern: "Wouldn't this be too radical?"
"In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary." Han Feng looked eastward, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of space to land on the R-country archipelago. "Aya Ikegami understands better than we do what that land needs."
At that moment in R Country, the chilling killing intent surrounding Aya Ikegami receded like a tide the instant she ended the communication. She casually tossed the blood-dripping Kagura bell to the maid behind her, her movements as elegant as if she were giving away an ordinary gift.
"Prepare the private jet." The girl's voice reverted to the soft tone characteristic of Kyoto nobility, but the content sent chills down one's spine: "I am going to China to meet my master."
Misaki Ikegami, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly looked up: "Master, now that the situation has stabilized, is it necessary to...?"
Before she could finish speaking, Aya Ikegami glanced at her indifferently. That seemingly casual glance felt like an immense weight had been placed on her back, almost causing Misaki Ikegami to collapse to the ground.
"Teacher." Aya Ikegami bent down to help her up. The moment her fingertips touched Misaki's wrist, an extremely pure energy flowed in, instantly soothing all discomfort. "I said, prepare the private jet."
Misaki Ikegami trembled, incredulously feeling the surging energy within her—this was clearly the oppressive aura of someone at the Great Dao Realm! She managed to speak: "You...you've already reached the mid-stage of the Great Dao Realm?"
Aya Ikegami smiled noncommittally and turned to walk towards the courtyard. Wherever she went, all the kneeling cultivators lowered their heads even further, and even the members of the royal family held their breath.
Misaki Ikegami staggered to catch up and finally saw the runes flowing around the girl's body. They were energy trajectories that only a Great Dao Realm expert could see, and each rune contained world-destroying power.
This realization sent chills down Misaki Ikegami's spine. Even more terrifying was that someone with such an astonishing rate of improvement still addressed that Chinese youth as their master?
"Master..." Misaki Ikegami's voice was hoarse, "Should we bring some guards?"
Aya Ikegami was admiring the newly transplanted red maple trees in the courtyard when she heard this and chuckled softly: "Teacher, what kind of guardian do you think could protect me in my current state?" She casually plucked a maple leaf, and with a slight flick of her fingertips, the leaf instantly transformed into a crystalline ice sculpture, only to burn to ashes the next second. "Or rather... would my master be hostile to me? If that were the case, I'd probably be dead by the sea by now."
Misaki Ikegami was completely speechless. Watching the girl casually playing with the jade talisman in her hand, she suddenly realized that this so-called "unification" might just be the beginning of a larger scheme.
"While I was away, the clan affairs were managed by the teacher," Aya Ikegami finally got to the point. "The royal family has already given them a heads-up; they know what to do."
She handed over a jade talisman, engraved with an intricate star map: "When you encounter a problem you can't solve, channel energy into this. However..." A cruel smile curved the girl's lips, "I don't think anyone would dare try to experience the consequences of disobeying me."
Misaki Ikegami received the jade talisman with both hands, instantly sensing the terrifying energy contained within it. This was no communication talisman, but a deadly weapon sealed with the full power of a Great Dao Realm expert!
"Go ahead." Aya Ikegami waved her hand, as if dismissing an ordinary servant. "I'll leave after I've bathed and changed."
Half an hour later, at the Ikegami family's private airport. Ikegami Misaki watched as the girl changed into simple clothes, her black hair tied into a simple bun, and she wore no other ornaments except for a maple leaf-shaped hairpin.
As the lights of Kyoto Huafu gradually illuminated the night, Han Feng dragged his slightly weary steps back to the villa area. Just as he was pondering how to arrange his next steps, an elegant figure quietly appeared from under a ginkgo tree by the roadside.
"Master." Aya Ikegami bowed slightly, her black hair tied into a bun, the maple leaf hairpin gleaming coldly under the streetlight.
Han Feng was genuinely taken aback: "Ikegami Aya? Didn't I tell you to come back in a couple of days?"
The girl maintained a respectful posture: "I came ahead of time, sensing my master's summons." She raised her face, the runes in her eyes appearing and disappearing.
"Come in first." Han Feng rubbed his temples.
The moment the villa door was pushed open, three pairs of eyes shot towards them simultaneously. Liu Mengran was arranging flowers, Su Wanwan was sitting cross-legged on the sofa playing games, and Dongfang Wantang was studying an astrological chart—but at this moment, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Chi Shangling behind Han Feng.
"Isn't she Aya Ikegami? Why is she here..." Liu Mengran was the first to react, putting down the lilies in her hand.
Su Wanwan's game console emitted a "Game over" sound effect, but she was completely unaware: "Such powerful energy, even stronger than that time at the beach?"
Dongfang Wantang's horoscope trembled slightly, and she stood up warily: "Han Feng, what's going on?"
Ikegami Aya ignored the three people's reactions and simply stood quietly half a step behind Han Feng, like his most loyal shadow.
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