Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

The icy seawater enveloped Jiang Nian tightly.

The surroundings were absolutely dark, with only the miniature display inside the mask emitting a ghostly green light.

On the sonar screen, the dot representing the Poseidon moved steadily, and the low-frequency noise from its propellers churning the seawater guided it like a lighthouse in the darkness.

"We have moved 300 meters away from the submarine. The target is 1.5 nautical miles away. The relative speed is 5 knots."

Jiang Nian reported in a very low voice through a throat vibrator.

The audio was converted into digital signals in an encrypted channel and transmitted back to the submarine's command center, dozens of nautical miles away.

"Received. Keep tracking and be careful to avoid its tail turbulence."

"The Poseidon's sonar system is in normal cruise mode and no signs of abnormal activation have been detected."

Captain Zhang Hai's response was concise and clear.

Jiang Nian stopped responding and focused all her attention on perception and manipulation.

The closer you get, the more you can feel the sheer size of this ship.

From underwater, it looks like a moving steel mountain.

The bottom of the ship is covered with a thick layer of marine life, indicating that it frequently ventures into the deep sea.

According to the plan, he needed to approach from the stern.

The turbulence and noise generated by the propellers are greatest there, making it a blind spot for sonar detection and the best place to infiltrate.

But the water flow is also most turbulent there, like the eye of an underwater storm.

Jiang Nian adjusted the way his internal energy circulated, making it more in sync with the pulse of the water flow.

With his hands gently waving in front of him, he released a little internal energy, and his body rose and fell with the current like a fish, skillfully avoiding the chaotic undercurrents.

Although the speed has slowed down, the concealment has reached its peak.

He could even sense some curious little fish being attracted by his biofield, swimming around him, and then quickly being startled away by the enormous noise of the Poseidon.

Half an hour later, he finally reached the stern of the Poseidon.

A closer look reveals the imposing presence of that enormous propeller.

The seawater here becomes murky, filled with bubbles and debris.

Jiang Nian steadied himself and fixed his gaze on an inconspicuous indentation below the stern of the boat.

According to the structural diagram, that should be a hydraulically sealed hatch for inspecting the propulsion system and rudder system.

He approached cautiously, avoiding the main water flow channels.

Reaching the hatch, I reached out and touched the cold alloy.

The surface is covered with slippery marine deposits.

He took out a palm-sized circular device from the side of his carrying bag and attached it to the edge of the hatch.

This is a miniature decryptor prepared by the technical department, capable of attempting to crack simple electromechanical locks.

"We have reached the target infiltration point and are beginning to attempt to open the maintenance hatch."

Jiang Nian reports.

"Understood. Be quick, your time in the sonar shadow zone is limited," Zhang Hai reminded him.

Jiang Nian activated the decryptor, and the device emitted an almost inaudible low-frequency vibration, causing the indicator lights on its surface to flash.

He waited patiently, while extending his divine sense as far as possible into the interior of the ship.

Penetrating the thick steel plates and layers of structure, it captures the movements inside.

Various pieces of information were mixed together and entered his senses.

Most areas were calm, with activity concentrated in the living quarters and the driver's area.

There were regular footsteps of inspectors near the engine room.

Everything seems normal.

A few minutes later, the decryptor indicator light turned a stable green.

A soft "click" sounded, almost imperceptible amidst the clamor of the flowing water.

The hydraulically sealed hatch slid inwards, opening a gap just wide enough for one person to pass sideways.

"The hatch is open. Prepare to infiltrate."

Jiang Nian whispered.

Inside is a narrow passage, only wide enough for one person to pass by bending over.

The walls were covered with thick pipes and various valves.

The ground was covered with non-slip grating, and seawater dripped from my body.

He gently closed and locked the outer hatch with his other hand.

The passageway fell silent, with only the low rumble of the distant engines transmitted through the metal structure, causing a slight vibration underfoot.

Quickly remove the bulky flippers and regulator, and seal them in a specially made waterproof bag.

Water droplets on the surface of the wetsuit quickly roll off due to the properties of the inner material, and the suit quickly becomes relatively dry.

He checked the equipment.

The close-fitting wetsuit provided basic camouflage and protection, the reconnaissance devices and beacons in the carrying pouch were intact, and the tactical knife strapped to the side of the thigh was cold and reliable.

"Successfully infiltrated and located in the stern auxiliary passage. Moving towards the designated reconnaissance point."

As Jiang Nian reported, he stealthily moved forward along the passage like a raccoon dog.

His footsteps landed on the metal grille without making a sound.

The passageways are intricate and complex, like a maze.

But Jiang Nian had the structural diagram of the Poseidon clearly imprinted in his mind. He avoided the main passages and specifically chose those narrow paths used for maintenance and repair.

The air was filled with the smell of engine oil and a faint whiff of disinfectant.
This seemed somewhat out of place on a research vessel.

After walking about fifty meters, an upward-facing shaft appeared on one side of the passage ahead.

There are ladders on the well wall for climbing.

According to the structural diagram, going up from here will lead to an equipment mezzanine located above the engine room.

The main ventilation ducts and cable trays are located there, providing ideal access to all areas of the ship.

Jiang Nian stopped and listened for a moment to make sure there was no movement above the shaft before nimbly climbing up.

The top of the shaft is a small platform.

On one side are thick fireproof partitions, and on the other side are densely packed pipes and cables of varying thicknesses, extending into the depths of darkness.

He chose a main ventilation duct about half a meter in diameter, removed the grille at the entrance, and crawled inside.

The inner wall of the pipe was smooth and covered with a thin layer of dust.

The air flows here, carrying the mixed scents from different areas of the ship.

He crawled through the pipes like a ghost, his movements gentle and swift, without making a sound.

Now, he felt as if he had entered the very lifeblood of the ship, and could reach most areas relatively safely.

The primary task is to identify the sealed compartments marked as abnormal on the structural diagrams.

"I have entered the ventilation duct system and am heading to the anomalous compartment in Area A," Jiang Nian reported.

"Received. Maintain cover. We have detected that the Poseidon is on a stable course and has increased its speed to eighteen knots, accelerating towards the target area," came the base's response.

Jiang Nian felt a slight chill. It's accelerated? It seems there might indeed be something going on at Guixu, requiring them to get there as soon as possible. He moved quickly inside the pipe, relying on his extraordinary memory and sense of direction to accurately approach the first target area.

About ten minutes later, he arrived at the predicted location.

Below was a spacious cabin, but it was not the warehouse or laboratory he had imagined.

This looks more like a repair shop?
The cabin was brightly lit and filled with various sophisticated instruments and robotic arms that he had never seen before.

Several people dressed in gray overalls were busy around a silver-gray device that was about three meters long and shaped like an elongated teardrop.

The device has a smooth, seamless surface with no visible welds or joints, and a complex vector nozzle structure at the rear.

"This is... an underwater propulsion vehicle?"

Jiang Nian judged that the technology was extremely advanced and was definitely not for ordinary scientific research purposes.

He saw a technician using an instrument to inspect a part of the vehicle's outer shell, with complex data streams jumping on the instrument screen.

The other person was adjusting a hatch on the belly of the vehicle that could be opened and closed, which appeared to contain some kind of sensor array.

These people moved with practiced skill and quietness, communicating very little with each other, using only simple gestures and eye contact, which made them appear well-trained.

This doesn't seem like a typical crew member or researcher.

Jiang Nian secretly took out a miniature reconnaissance device.
A device the size of a button, disguised as an ordinary screw cap.

Adhere it to an inconspicuous spot inside the vent, adjusting the angle to ensure it covers most of the compartment.

The reconnaissance aircraft began transmitting real-time video and audio data back to base via an encrypted link.

"Compartment A has been discovered, containing a high-tech underwater equipment maintenance workshop. The personnel are behaving professionally, suggesting they may be organized technicians. One reconnaissance point has been deployed," Jiang Nian reported concisely.

"Image received! Analyzing... This vehicle model has no record, and its propulsion method and structural design far exceed existing publicly available technologies!" The base's technical department immediately responded, their voices filled with suppressed excitement.

Jiang Nian did not stop and continued moving towards the second target area.

As he delved deeper, he discovered more and more anomalies.

Some compartments were converted into temporary living areas.

The people inside had regular schedules, were taciturn, and exuded a temperament different from ordinary crew members; they were more like soldiers.

Some compartments were filled with crates, which had no markings on them, but Jiang Nian could sense through the gaps that they contained special alloy parts and integrated circuit boards.

He also passed through a heavily guarded area with electronic locks and hidden cameras at the entrances.

Even through the ventilation ducts, one could sense a faint chill and the smell of some kind of biochemical agent emanating from inside.

"Anomalies confirmed in Zones B and C. Suspected armed personnel residential areas, special supplies warehouses, and restricted low-temperature areas have been discovered. Biological involvement is suspected."

Jiang Nian reported to each point and set up reconnaissance points at key locations.

The veil of the Poseidon has been lifted layer by layer, revealing that it is by no means a simple scientific research vessel.

It was a highly armed and well-organized mobile outpost.

Time passed in the tense reconnaissance.

Judging from the airflow inside the pipes and the distant sound of the shift change bell, Jiang Nian knew it was already late at night outside.

Most areas of the ship were quiet, except for the engine room and the bridge, where people were still on duty.

He arrived at a ventilation node located in the forward part of the ship, near the keel area.

Based on the structural diagram analysis, the abnormally protruding structure on the bottom line of the ship, which was discovered during the scan, should be located here – the suspected location of the underwater docking compartment.

The ventilation ducts in this area are unusually large, and the material seems to be different from other places, with smoother inner walls that hardly accumulate dust.

Jiang Nian chose a pipe leading to the core of the area and crawled forward cautiously.

The pipes began to slope downwards, the humidity in the air increased significantly, and there was a salty, fishy smell of seawater and a faint metallic ozone odor.

Suddenly, he stopped.

My divine sense detected a faint light shining through the end of the pipe ahead, along with the sound of human breathing.

It wasn't one person, it was two. Their breathing was steady and long, clearly indicating they were on alert.

He approached silently, stopping a few meters from the end, and peered down through the gaps in the pipe wall.

Below is a relatively spacious connecting compartment.

In the center of the compartment is a circular metal platform with a diameter of about four meters, surrounded by a complex hydraulic support and sealing ring structure.

Below the platform, thick pipes and cables are embedded deep inside the hull.

This is clearly the underwater docking platform!
On either side of the platform stood a guard.

They wore black combat uniforms, unlike any style seen before, more form-fitting, with a matte finish under the lights.

He wore a mask that covered half of his face, revealing only his cold eyes and chin.

They didn't move around, but stood there quietly, like two statues.

But Jiang Nian could sense that the aura emanating from them was far more refined and concentrated than that of the armed personnel on the ship.

He's a master! At least a strong person who has touched the threshold of a grandmaster!
The organization's core security force was indeed deployed here.

Jiang Nian held his breath, suppressing his aura to the extreme, remaining as still as a rock.

He carefully observed the docking platform and its surroundings.

On the control panel on the side of the platform, indicator lights flashed regularly.

Several uniquely designed deep-sea pressure suits were hanging on the wall. Their structure and materials were somewhat similar to the experimental models being developed in the base laboratory, but they looked more complete.

This is the key node connecting the Poseidon and the Ruins of Return!

A beacon must be placed here!
But with two skilled guards, it's extremely difficult. Any slight movement could alert them.

Jiang Nian's mind raced as he considered countermeasures.

A direct assault is not advisable; once exposed, all previous efforts will be in vain.

Tune the tiger away from the mountain?

Where on the ship could one create enough chaos to attract the attention of those two guards?
Or... wait? Wait for the moment they change shifts or become lax?
He glanced at the built-in timer; there were less than six hours left until the estimated arrival time at the target sea area.

time does not wait.

Just then, an airtight door on the side of the docking platform suddenly slid open with a soft "hiss".

A middle-aged man wearing a silver-gray uniform and glasses came out.

The two guards immediately bowed slightly, showing their respect for the man.

"Dr. Chen."

One of the guards spoke, his voice muffled through his mask.

The man called Dr. Chen nodded, walked to the control panel, and quickly checked the data on it.

"Completion status of the docking procedure pre-start check?"

He asked without turning his head, his voice carrying the calmness characteristic of a scientific researcher.

"Ninety-five percent complete, Doctor. All sealing units are under normal pressure, and the guide beacons are synchronized."

"We're just waiting to reach the designated coordinates and receive the guidance signal for the Ruins of Return," another guard replied.

Dr. Chen nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. The catalyst being transported this time is crucial; the Lord is pressing us hard. There can be no mistakes."

catalyst?
Jiang Nian's heart stirred.

"Understood. We are fully prepared," the guard replied. (End of Chapter)