Cosmic Demon

Chapter 286 An Inquiry Puts Power in a Cage!
Faced with Qin Shi's deadly move, Instructor Zhao was practically waiting to die.

The intense and domineering fluctuations of life force resembled a giant steel furnace running at full power, exuding a scorching heat that was almost overwhelming.

Before Zhao could even make a move, the field he had created crumbled away little by little, like snow melting under the scorching sun!
"Is this really the combat power that a professional-level fifth dan can possess?"

Instructor Zhao activated his Titanium Extreme Body technique, his body radiating a silver metallic luster, his flesh and blood appearing incredibly dense as if compressed by gravity.

He once withstood a direct hit from a soldier-level Divine Machine, whose terrifying kinetic energy of nearly 100 tons at full speed was enough to shatter a mountain!
Instructor Zhao, however, used his extraordinary physique to withstand the attack and successfully completed the interception!

However, the collapse of the field made it difficult for him to even think of resisting, because it meant that Instructor Qin's life force was fluctuating, like a hot knife cutting through butter, disintegrating his own characteristics layer by layer.

The path of martial arts is a contest of characteristics and a clash of fields. If one cannot gain an advantage in this aspect, it is destined that the scales of victory will not tip in one's favor.

As expected, the field fully unfolded, and Qin Shi, standing at the fifth level of the professional level, seemed to transform into that white-gold blazing sun, his life force undulating like a vast ocean, radiating dazzling brilliance.

In just a moment, everyone felt as if their senses had been stripped away, and all they could see was a bright, dazzling white expanse, no longer Qin Shi's figure!
It's like walking through a long, dark tunnel and then suddenly being greeted by sunlight, causing temporary blindness!
"Old Zhao, you're not dead, are you?"

Sitting in the sandpit, Fu Lei scratched his head. The killing move that Xiao Qin had made was invincible for anyone below the professional level three.

Unless the field solidifies into a real scene and can withstand the overwhelming force of terrifying numerical values, anyone who comes will fall.

"He should be able to keep a breath of life. After all, the Titanium Golden Body is an A+ martial art, the top-tier new martial arts external training! Old Zhao is still a virgin, with a solid foundation!"

Instructor Li from the Iron Fist Training Camp came over, and the two sat side by side, like members of the "loser's bracket" exchanging ideas.

"No wonder Old Zhao always grumbles, 'What's the use of this iron rod?' Turns out he's a virgin at forty! My second brother has suffered because of him!"

Fu Lei revealed his sharp tongue. As an instructor at the Yellow Springs Training Camp, he often clashed with Lao Zhao and Lao Li.

Baiyang Fortress City is not wealthy. If it wants to ask for more resources, it has to take more from others.

The bright light illuminated the world, and the new recruits squinted or lowered their heads to look away. Some stubborn ones tried to see clearly, but the intense light stung their eyes and made them tear up.

Only instructors were safe, but Lao Fu and Lao Li didn't know the situation either.

Instructor Qin's field was like a tear in space, with endless vitality bursting forth like the blazing sun.

This terrifying and horrifying scene lasted for a full ten seconds!
Old Fu and Old Li lost their appetite for conversation and their expressions gradually became serious.

They were worried that Instructor Qin might not know his own strength and really crush Old Zhao!

"If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer! Old Zhao is tough enough!"

Fu Lei couldn't help but admire him; despite the terrifying killing move that could evaporate rivers and melt steel, he stubbornly refused to admit defeat.

Old Zhao truly deserves to be called the toughest man in Baiyang Fortress City!

"Indeed. If it were me, I would have been on my knees in five seconds at most, but Old Zhao managed to hold on for ten seconds!"

Old Li from the Iron Fist Training Camp readily agreed, but also expressed his concern:

"Old Zhao is determined to go head-to-head with Xiao Qin. Won't something bad happen? If he goes too far, it'll be hard to handle."

Fu Lei pointed to the infirmary next door and said:

"Don't worry, the commander has specially assigned a medical team to Xiao Qin. If Lao Zhao kicks the bucket, he can be saved immediately."

Fifteen long seconds later.

The field slowly contracted, and the bright white color faded and dissipated.

Qin Shi was the first to appear from it. He gently flicked his palm, and the life force that seemed to be burning like a solid flame was instantly extinguished.

He remained calm and strode out. The blazing white-gold sun, like a setting sun, returned to his body and returned to its dormant state.

"Xiao Qin, is Lao Zhao alright?"

Fu Lei quickly got up and asked.

Qin Shi shook his head.

"Old Zhao is really tough, he just kept holding on without uttering a sound... Old Fu, quickly call the medical team! Old Zhao has passed out!"

Instructor Li from the Iron Fist Training Camp was about to say a few polite words when he walked up to Instructor Zhao, who remained "unmoved," only to find that the other man had his eyes closed and was unresponsive.

Fu Lei's lips twitched, and he silently retracted his statement that "Old Zhao is the toughest man in Baiyang Fortress City".

After sparring with the instructors from the three training camps, Qin Shi had a general assessment of his own strength.

"Instructor Zhao was just overloaded, he's fine."

Qin Shi offered an explanation.

Due to excessive tension, Instructor Zhao pushed "Titanium Extreme Body" to its limit in an instant, resulting in an overload of his life force output, causing his field to "overload" and resulting in a violent impact that led to a "fainting" situation. In reality, the two of them did not actually exchange blows.

"Old Zhao... he's not tough at all!"

Fu Lei's lips twitched even more violently.

He had the nurses from the infirmary bring a specially reinforced stretcher to carry Instructor Zhao, who was as heavy as a lump of high-manganese alloy steel, to "treatment".

Through this exchange, Qin Shi has made significant progress in the application of field combat and in integrating inherited and varied techniques. He is no longer confined to individual techniques, but rather grasps the essence and connects them.

"Instructor Fu, I feel I've had enough time to mature."

After the group of new recruits who had been watching and applauding dispersed, Qin Shi made his request.

"I hope the commander can assign me an outbound mission so that I can use my skills."

He believes that the expansion of a field is a process of "digestion".

Engage with different professional-level martial artists, and clash with their spirit, will, and inherited skills through high-intensity battles.

This process can accelerate the transformation and evolution of characteristics, making them closer to "real"!
Just now, during my sparring session with the three instructors, a portion of that platinum-gold blazing sun merged into my extraordinary body, with remarkable results.

“I’ll mention it to the commander, but he might not agree. The Governor’s Office has almost finalized its strategic plans, and it won’t be long before the western front will officially begin its advance.”

Fu Lei and Qin Shi returned to the office building and revealed a confidential piece of information.

"Is the war horn about to sound?"

Qin Shi raised an eyebrow.

He heard that on the eastern front, they had built tens of thousands of kilometers of defensive fortifications, forming a complete and solid line of defense, and cleared two contaminated areas.

Good news keeps pouring in!

In contrast, the western front made no progress, causing some anxiety among the highest-ranking officers of the fortified city at the front.

The Great Expansion Movement was a collective opportunity for rising administrative stars to advance their social ranks. If they performed exceptionally well and achieved remarkable results, they could move from the frontier to the military and rise from local to top-tier positions.

Therefore, at the macro level, everyone's enthusiasm for participation is very high and their attitude is very positive, especially for the fortified city.

They lack the abundant educational resources found in metropolitan areas or even central cities, and are eager to make a name for themselves and break free from their current environment.

"Yes. The 7th Regiment's support battalion has begun to withdraw, which means we need to push the battle line deeper and tear through the contaminated zone in front of us."

Fu Lei licked his lips, stood up, and opened the window. The new recruits were heading to the canteen for a meal. After this period of training, the rookies gradually adapted and began to chat and laugh, radiating vibrant vitality.

He didn't know how many of these little guys would make it to the end once the massive machine of the Western Front was running.

"The other side of civilization's pioneering is bloodshed and death."

Qin Shi began to have a deeper understanding of this sentence in the history textbook.

"In such a great era, keep striving. Xiao Qin, when you reach the forefront one day and look back on this turbulent period, you may have a different perspective."

Fu Lei was also filled with emotion. He was unlike those new recruits who had just arrived at the front lines or veterans who were full of expectations for the stars and the sea.

The passage of time and the sands of life have smoothed out the rough edges of this instructor; all he wants to do is watch over the poplar trees and take root in the fortified city.

Let the brighter future and greater ambitions be left to the young people.

Qin remained silent, deep in thought, contemplating what to do once this grand expansion came to an end.

After rejecting the four major national universities, there don't seem to be many options left.

……

……

Seventh Regiment, Support Battalion.

All kinds of weapons and equipment were loaded in a unified manner and the evacuation was carried out in an orderly manner.

"Old Wu, the operations room wants you to come over."

Lin Xiong said, holding the power armor components.

"understood."

Wu Yong's heart stirred slightly. Ever since carrying out the last expulsion mission, he had been constantly submitting letters to the military. Was there finally a reply?
He straightened his uniform, adjusted his hat, and strode away from the barracks.

"What's wrong with Lao Wu? Going to the operations room to report on work, like he's going to the battlefield?"

Lin Xiong put down the heavy power armor components and asked, puzzled.

"Old Wu did something big."

After a moment of silence, Jiang Shijie spoke.

Wu Yong believes that the last expulsion mission was a scheme devised by Commander Mo Zhenting to harm Qin Shi, a young man from Hengzhou.

Otherwise, there is no other reason why the Seventh Battle Group's Wind Scythe Sequence Army would need to be there.

Wu Yong subsequently filed several anonymous reports and clearly explained the matter in his mission summary.

"Tell me more! What's the big deal? Let me get involved!"

Lin Xiong was completely baffled, feeling that Lao Jiang and Lao Wu were acting mysteriously, as if they were speaking in riddles.

"You'll soon understand."

Jiang Shijie didn't elaborate.

Subordinates report on superiors; soldiers in rank question military generals.

This is a very taboo thing to do.

If even the slightest word gets out, at best you'll be ostracized and have nowhere to go; at worst you might be targeted, suppressed, and lose everything.

Jiang Shijie's eyes showed worry; he didn't want to see the worst outcome.

Because the teacher he admired was indeed a petty person who abused his power and sought personal revenge.

One's closest comrades-in-arms will fall into a dark abyss and be shattered to pieces!
……

……

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

Wu Yong raised his hand and knocked on the door of the operations room.

"Come in."

A deep, resonant voice rang out as Wu Yong pushed open the door and entered.

Then he saw a figure from behind.

"Master!"

Wu Yong was taken aback; he hadn't expected Mo Zhenting to appear here.

"Look at the reports and anonymous letters on the table. Were they all written by you?"

Mo Zhenting's voice was steady, revealing no emotion.

Wu Yong felt a chill, not from fear of what was about to happen, but from the terrifying suppression of his life force.

In his vision, the figure of his mentor Mo Zhenting was like that of someone at the top of the food chain, radiating a powerful aura at all times.

It's like standing on the crater of a volcano about to erupt, with scorching lava rising from below, seemingly about to incinerate flesh and blood into charcoal and ashes in the next second.

"Yes!"

Wu Yong took a deep breath to calm the trembling panic that came from the bottom of his heart, and slowly walked to the table.

He picked up the anonymous letters and read through them, his brows furrowing deeply. Every soldier in the sequence could communicate with the military through an active consciousness.

"Hella's underlying logic should not include 'protecting superiors'."

Wu Yong raised his head, his eyes bright and fearless, as if he were mentally prepared to calmly face the storm.

"Reporting to the commander, I wrote these anonymous whistleblower letters, as well as the report on the auxiliary defense mission to drive out the Rakshasa ants."

I also hope the division commander can answer me: why did my 'anonymous letter,' which I sent to the military headquarters through Hera, end up in your hands?

Mo Zhenting did not turn around, and asked calmly:

"You believe I abused my power to murder a young genius who was included in the Dongxia Fire Seed List, obtained the only spot in Hengzhou's Pride Sun competition, and had already entered the direct advancement channel of the Star Cup?"

Wu Yong chose to remain silent in response.

He believed that Mo Zhenting, as the commander of the 7th Battle Group and who had commanded many large-scale battles, knew better than he did that the defense battalion should not have ventured into the contaminated area, much less have launched an attack on the dependent creatures without permission.

This could very well disrupt, or even undermine, the overall deployment on the western front.

"Hera is an active consciousness cultivated by the Seventh Chapter, and she retains a considerable degree of independence. As you know, each Chapter is a massive machine of violence."

They are not under the jurisdiction of the council, and even if one of the nine commanders awakens from his long slumber, he cannot arbitrarily command the battle group by his own will.

Mo Zhenting spoke each word slowly and heavily, like the terrifying weight of the planet beneath his feet pressing down on Wu Yong.

"This is a legacy of history. The capital city is theoretically the supreme power center of Eastern Xia, but the Nine Marshals overthrew the empire and deposed the emperor, so they don't want to create another centralized ruler for the newly established Eastern Xia."

The military headquarters served as the command center for each major battle group, responsible for its operation and maintenance. In some ways, it was more like a logistics department, supporting the long-term development of the Great Expedition.

Therefore, the highest-ranking military commander cannot directly mobilize combat groups and needs to consult the opinions of the various army commanders.

As for the Senate, they can't even decide on the list of defense contractors.

When Mo Zhenting said these words, his tone was arrogant, just as military personnel looked down on the members of the Beijing parliament, thinking they were all sissies and cold-blooded animals.

He was proud of his identity as a soldier, but he also looked down on all institutions except the military headquarters.

"So do you understand now? The newly established Eastern Xia is very contradictory. Its supreme power has been fragmented, and even the Ninth Marshal regards it as a hot potato. No one wants to touch it because even the slightest contact could lead to the abyss of 'imperial restoration'."

However, a powerful civilization belonging to a great race must also maintain an outward-expanding ambition and a strong will to suppress discordant voices.

Active consciousness entities cultivated through the original texts are theoretically assigned various levels of authority and underlying logic, much like manufactured supercomputers.

The warband does not tolerate any activities involving eavesdropping, censorship, or information gathering. While Hera does obey the military, she will prioritize the highest-ranking officer when principles do not conflict.

Mo Zhenting's voice was like pebbles falling into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Wu Yong laughed at himself:

"So in the eyes of my superiors, all my behavior was ridiculous, like that of a clown, right?"

Mo Zhenting turned around, his eyes deep and unfathomable like an ancient well, and replied:

"Wrong! You did the right thing. Just like the power division implemented by the newly established Dongxia, whether it's the battle group, the military, or the council, power must be put in a cage and cannot be held in the hands of just one person, not even the Ninth Marshal!"

“But you didn’t do a good enough job. Even if I didn’t accept these anonymous letters, they would have come to the attention of your superiors sooner or later. You shouldn’t have trusted Hera so much, and you shouldn’t have been so eager to satisfy your sense of justice when you were just a Sergeant.”

"If you don't stand high enough, your influence won't be big enough to make the world operate and execute according to your will. A sense of justice and idealism are beautiful words, but beauty doesn't guarantee success."

“If you work hard to accumulate combat merits and wait until you are promoted to the rank of colonel and have a certain voice, then you can report this question to the military headquarters. I will appreciate you even more.”

appreciate?

Wu Yong was somewhat bewildered; it seemed that his superior did not intend to punish him.
“You must remember that no group welcomes ‘betrayal’ and ‘tattling,’ even if you may be right. This will cause division and breed suspicion.”

Mo Zhenting's words were like a teacher's earnest instruction:

"Furthermore, you can move your list of suspects down. Qin Shi does indeed have a conflict of interest with my father, the Director of Education in the Central City."

But I am first and foremost a soldier of Dongxia, and only secondly my father's son.

Your superior, Deputy Adjutant Zheng Min, secretly altered my orders, mobilizing the auxiliary defense battalion to drive out the Rakshasa ants, which were their dependent creatures, and then surrounded Qin Shi's team, who were on an exploration mission, nearly causing heavy casualties.

This is Hera's investigation report.

Mo Zhenting walked to his desk, opened a drawer, took out a file, and looked directly into Wu Yong's eyes.

"In the top 100 competition a few months ago, Qin Shi killed a contestant named 'Zheng Jun' in self-defense. She was the niece of Zheng Min, the adjutant."

Just two days ago, Lieutenant Zheng was arrested and truthfully confessed to his actions and motives.

arrest?

Lieutenant Zheng?
Wu Yong was stunned, as if he were a statue.

"I was the one who issued the arrest warrant."

Mo Zhenting sat down upright, appearing before Wu Yong like an unshakeable celestial body.

he asked:
"Can you accept this result?"

(End of this chapter)