Chapter 731 - 697: One-Man Army

Ren Bai looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"But don’t worry. With Senior Shen Jin here, he won’t let that happen. He didn’t earn the title of Sword Emperor for nothing."

Xu Wuyi nodded, not saying much. He knew Ren Bai wasn’t actually that old—only in his sixties—and when Shen Jin became a Grandmaster, Ren Bai might not have even embarked on the path of Martial Arts yet.

After chatting for a bit longer, Ren Bai got up and left to arrange tomorrow’s reception. Xu Wuyi also walked out of the conference room and returned to his own lounge.

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to turn light, the outpost grew busy.

Martial Artists hurried in and out, transporting supplies, inspecting equipment, and reinforcing defenses. The technicians were also making preparations, fine-tuning the equipment and calibrating parameters to ensure everything was foolproof.

Xu Wuyi stood at the entrance of the outpost, looking at the Rift in the distance.

After a night of recovery, the Heart of Order’s glow was brighter than yesterday. Although it hadn’t fully recovered, it would no longer hinder his combat capability.

Just past nine in the morning, a low rumble echoed from the distant sky. Xu Wuyi looked up and saw three large military transport planes flying toward them. They flew in a neat formation, their silver-gray surfaces gleaming in the morning light, with various complex devices suspended beneath their wings.

The transport planes slowly descended and landed at the temporary airfield next to the outpost. The cabin doors opened, and squads of soldiers in technical uniforms filed out to begin unloading the massive equipment.

Finally, a familiar figure stepped out of the largest transport plane.

Shen Jin.

He was still wearing his dark blue service uniform. His hair was meticulously styled, and his face remained expressionless. However, the moment he stepped out, the entire atmosphere at the airfield changed.

The busy soldiers unconsciously paused their actions, their eyes falling on him. The previously noisy environment quieted down, leaving only the rustle of the wind sweeping through the mountain forest.

Ignoring their gazes, Shen Jin walked straight toward the outpost. Ren Bai had already gone up to greet him, with Xu Wuyi following closely behind.

The two stopped in front of Shen Jin and bowed slightly in unison.

"Grandmaster Shen."

Shen Jin waved his hand, signaling them to dispense with the formalities. His gaze lingered on Ren Bai for a moment before shifting to Xu Wuyi’s face.

"Not bad," Shen Jin said, his voice still raspy but powerful. "You’re a bit steadier than the last time we met."

Xu Wuyi bowed slightly. "You flatter me, Grandmaster Shen."

Shen Jin didn’t say anything more. He turned to look toward the Rift. His gaze pierced through the thin morning mist and landed on the dark red light, remaining silent for a few seconds.

"Is this the Rift?"

Ren Bai nodded. "Yes."

Shen Jin gave a noncommittal hum and strode toward the Rift.

Ren Bai and Xu Wuyi followed him. The three crossed the outpost, walked past the cleared open space, and stopped about five hundred meters away from the Rift.

From here, the Rift was much clearer. The dark red light pulsed faintly in the morning glow, its edges constantly twisting like a wound that would never heal.

Shen Jin watched quietly for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.

"Ren Bai, you’ve guarded this place for three years and are the most familiar with this Rift. Tell me your thoughts."

Ren Bai nodded and pointed at the Rift. "The Energy Level Limit of this Rift had always been stable at around Level 50, which is why I was the only Grandmaster dispatched to guard it.

"But starting two months ago, the Energy Fluctuations behind the Rift suddenly intensified, and that Tiger-shaped Beast King began to frequently strike at the Rift."

He paused, then continued, "It wasn’t until I went inside that I discovered there wasn’t just one Beast King behind the Rift, but two.

"That Ape-shaped Beast King is a newly ascended one, likely reaching that level only within the past year. This indicates that the Star Realm behind the Rift is undergoing changes, and its originally stable Energy Field has started to become chaotic."

Listening to him, Shen Jin nodded.

"Your assessment is correct. The appearance of a second Beast King means the balance in that Star Realm has been broken. If we delay any longer, it’s highly likely that even more Beast Kings will swarm out."

He turned around and looked at the soldiers unloading the equipment behind them.

"That’s why I came personally. This Rift must be completely closed, and the sooner the better."

Ren Bai asked, "Grandmaster Shen, how long do you estimate the closing operation will take?"

"The equipment is already calibrated, and the technicians are in position," Shen Jin said. "If all goes smoothly, it can be done within seven days. But if any unexpected issues arise during the process, it might take longer."

He paused, his gaze falling back onto the Rift.

"The most dangerous period will be the final three days. By then, the spatial structure of the Rift will have become extremely unstable. Even the slightest Energy Fluctuation could trigger a chain reaction.

"You two need to be prepared to handle any potential emergencies at a moment’s notice."

Ren Bai and Xu Wuyi nodded in unison.

Over the next few days, the entire Profound Abyssal Rift was bustling with activity.

The technicians worked around the clock setting up equipment around the Rift, fine-tuning parameters, and running all sorts of complex calculations. Those massive Energy Neutralization Devices were arranged around the Rift, forming a huge encirclement, each one aimed directly at the center of the Rift.

The Martial Artists weren’t idle, either. Divided into three shifts, they took turns patrolling the perimeter of the Rift to prevent any accidents.

The first echelon of Innate Martial Artists remained constantly on high alert, ready at all times to deal with a potential Beast Tide.

Xu Wuyi also participated in the patrols. Although he didn’t need to stand guard like an ordinary Martial Artist, he still took time every day to walk a few laps around the Rift, using his own perception to observe its changes.