Chapter 557 - 373: The Secret of Spiritual Qi and the Past

Upon hearing this, Old Ghost's body visibly trembled. He was silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "This 'Zero' is the true controller of the Dome Group. There are even rumors that many high-ranking officials in the Alliance Government are puppets he secretly installed."

"The man is a complete enigma. It's not that our Starfire Organization hasn't considered going after him, but in every past attempt, we lost countless skilled operatives without ever getting close."

Old Ghost's fists clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white from the strain. "The military base where he's hiding has the highest security level in all of Zhongjing. It's an impregnable fortress. Our people can't even get past the outer defenses."

He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes. "But things are different now. You destroyed the data center, crippling nearly all of Zhongjing's surveillance and communication systems. This is a golden opportunity. Mr. Wu, this time, I'm entrusting you with all of Starfire's hidden assets. I will personally lead the team and create an opening for you!"

Wu Liangchen nodded. "Alright. You prepare the weapons we need. I'll go gather my people."

"Understood."

「In the long-abandoned underground river channel, the atmosphere was heavy.」

Wu Liangchen had been gone for several days, and he still hadn't returned.

By now, even the ever-optimistic Liangzi was starting to feel anxious.

The feeling peaked when he discovered his micro-communicator had completely lost its signal.

But he didn't dare say anything, burying all his unease deep inside.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the distance, instantly alerting everyone. They all turned to look.

Jian Yi, who had been leaning against the rock wall, shot to his feet. His hazy gray eyes stared in the direction of the sound, his hand already gripping his longsword.

The tense atmosphere didn't break until Wu Liangchen's figure appeared before them.

"Big Brother Wu!" Song Ling'Er exclaimed, overjoyed, and ran over to him.

"Oh my god, you're finally back! Is it absolute chaos out there? Rivers of blood?" Liangzi's portly frame squeezed through, his eyes glinting with excitement and a thirst for gossip.

Master Jie Nian put his palms together and softly recited a Buddhist mantra. "Praise to the Cyber Bodhisattva. We are most fortunate that you have returned safely, benefactor."

His disciples also bowed in respect.

Wu Liangchen smiled and patted Song Ling'Er's head, then gave them a brief rundown of the situation outside.

When they heard that the data center had been destroyed and Zhongjing was in chaos, their faces showed a mixture of shock and exhilaration.

"Next, I plan to deal with this 'Zero.' As for you all..."

Before Wu Liangchen could finish, Song Ling'Er cut in, "Big Brother Wu, wherever you go, I'll go!" Her young face was filled with resolve as she spoke.

Jian Yi silently drew his sword. In the dim light, the blade gleamed with a cold chill. His stance was clear without a word.

Even Alina chuckled and said, "After all this time in hiding, we finally have a chance for revenge. There's no way I'm missing this."

Master Jie Nian smiled faintly. "The Buddha once said that to eradicate evil is an act of benevolence. We monks cannot shirk this duty."

"Alright. Then let's move out."

「Soon, the group returned to the Starfire Base.」

Inside the base, the atmosphere was grim and tense.

Old Ghost had already assembled everyone who could fight. Weapons and ammunition were piled high. A huge structural diagram of the military base was spread across the command table, with red markings indicating firing positions, patrol routes, and potential defensive weaknesses.

"This is the military base, thirty kilometers outside the city. It's also 'Zero's' secret stronghold," Old Ghost said, pointing at the map, his voice steady.

"The base's defenses are extremely tight. The perimeter is protected by an electric grid and minefields. Inside, there are large numbers of augmented soldiers and automated weapons platforms. Our people have tried to infiltrate it before, but all attempts have failed."

"Our mission is to create a distraction at the front, draw their main firepower, and buy Mr. Wu the time and opportunity he needs to get in."

Old Ghost looked at everyone. "Any questions?"

"None!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Good. Move out!"

「Just half an hour later, armored trucks that had sat gathering dust for ages roared to life, carrying everyone out of the city.」

By now, the situation in Zhongjing was completely out of control. Fires blazed everywhere. The bodies of Joint Defense Force patrols littered the streets, and buildings that once stood as symbols of power had been smashed into rubble.

As the armored trucks drove through the chaos, they drew countless eyes.

But the cold glint of steel visible through the firing ports was enough to extinguish the malice in their hearts. It was a swift deterrent; even eyes red with fury cleared up considerably at the sight.

Soon, the vehicles were clear of the city, heading straight for the military base.

Since this was a frontal assault, they made no attempt at concealment. Old Ghost and his team launched their attack while still ten kilometers away from the base.

They didn't have missiles, of course, but their guided rockets could still hit targets over ten kilometers away.

And so, the battle began before they even had a visual on the base.

BOOM—

Violent explosions suddenly erupted from several directions around the base's perimeter. Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed upwards.

But the base was not to be outdone. Surface-to-surface missiles launched in a counterattack. Fortunately, the drivers of the armored trucks were all specially trained. They showed no fear of the screaming missiles, deftly weaving through the storm of enemy fire.

Finally, the armored trucks reached the base. The fighters disembarked, spread out, and began their frontal assault.

Alarms blared across the base as countless searchlights snapped on, bathing the entire compound in light as bright as day. Squad after squad of heavily armored soldiers poured out from the barracks, engaging the members of the Starfire Organization in a fierce firefight.