You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

She switched between a magnified satellite image and a thermal imaging diagram.

"Based on heat source analysis, monitoring of slight ground vibrations, and occasional leaks of weak energy signals, we determine that this underground base is quite large, with at least three to four levels, and includes living areas, training areas, research/production areas, and possibly independent energy systems and ventilation and water supply facilities."

Their defense system likely combines modern surveillance technology, automated weapon platforms, and their unique energy shields and traps incorporating runic technology.

Master Huang frowned.

"They've been operating here for a long time, and their influence is deep-rooted. Moreover, to have such a scale and secrecy, they must have insiders providing protection and resources. It must be one of those families as greedy as the Wang family, right?"

Luanhuang nodded, her tone tinged with coldness.

"What Master Huang said is correct. Although we have not yet obtained direct evidence, all indications suggest that at least three or four influential cultivation families or financial groups closely related to the cultivation world have intricate connections with this stronghold."

They provide the men in black with funds, supplies, and some technology, and may even help cover their tracks and handle 'trouble'. In return, the men in black supply them with genetic agents, special technologies, and even act as shady 'thugs,' forming a nefarious chain of profit.

A cold glint flashed in Liu Yu's eyes.

"These traitors! Miss Luanhuang, do you have a specific list or clues? Once this matter is over, my Qingwei Sect will definitely seek justice from them!"

Luanhuang shook her head regretfully.

"Elder Liu, I am very sorry. The other side has extremely strong counter-surveillance awareness and has done an extremely thorough job of maintaining secrecy. All key communications with the outside world are conducted through encrypted channels and single-line communication, and these are frequently changed. Our personnel planted within the relevant families either cannot access the core members, or..."

They disappeared without a trace, without even issuing a warning. Clearly, if there's any risk of exposure, they won't hesitate to eliminate any potential threats.

Jiang He took over the conversation and said in a deep voice.

"Chen Yang, this is also one of the important reasons why we must take down this stronghold this time. Only by destroying their lair can we find a solid chain of evidence, follow the clues, and expose the domestic black hands hiding behind the scenes! Otherwise, we will always be passive."

Chen Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the table and asked.

"So, how much do we know about the internal structure, personnel configuration, and weak points of this outpost? Did the reconnaissance team we sent out earlier not bring back any useful information?"

Qiuniu looked at Luanhuang.

Luanhuang's face darkened, and her voice became low.

"We dispatched four elite reconnaissance teams to try to get close and investigate from different directions and in different ways, and even attempted infiltration. The result... without exception, they all lost contact."

The last signals we received were either interrupted by strong interference or fell silent after a brief period of intense firefight. We couldn't even recover the bodies and equipment of our team members; the other side's cleanup of the scene was extremely professional.

Therefore, we currently know very little about the specifics of the base's interior. We only know that there may be more than one entrance, and that they are extremely well-camouflaged; the perimeter is equipped with a wide range of dynamic sensing and energy detection devices; and the internal defenses are unknown, but certainly not weak.

A brief silence fell inside the tent. The enemy was in the dark while we were in the light, and intelligence was scarce, which undoubtedly greatly increased the difficulty and risk of the operation.

Master Huang stroked his beard and said.

"In this light, a direct attack is not the best strategy. The safest approach would be to first ascertain their internal strengths and weaknesses, find key points or defensive vulnerabilities, and then launch a swift and decisive strike."

Jiang He nodded in agreement.

"What Master Huang said is exactly the dilemma we are facing. We need more accurate intelligence, but conventional reconnaissance methods have become ineffective and are too costly."

Chen Yang raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Jiang He and Luan Huang. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

"In that case, I'll take on the reconnaissance mission. I'll personally lead the team to patrol around this stronghold and see if we can find any clues or figure out what's going on inside."

Chen Yang volunteered to conduct reconnaissance, and the atmosphere inside the tent tensed. Jiang He hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously instead of directly objecting.

“Chen Yang, you will have a better chance of success if you go to investigate personally. But this matter is of utmost importance. We need a meticulous plan. It would be best if we split into two groups to support each other, avoid exposure, and prevent any unforeseen circumstances.”

"It's natural."

Chen Yang nodded.

“I’m leading a team to infiltrate and reconnoiter, and I need a guide who is very familiar with the environment and the enemy’s possible deployment habits.”

Luanhuang immediately stepped forward, her tone firm.

“Damn! I’m in charge of reconnaissance and surveillance of this outpost. I know the surrounding terrain, climate, and patterns of their past activities best. I’m the most suitable person to lead the way.”

Liu Yu, who was standing to the side, also spoke up.

"Sect Master, I am willing to go with you. More people will help each other."

Chen Yang glanced at Liu Yu, but shook his head.

"Elder Liu, I understand your intentions. However, this reconnaissance is about quality, not quantity; the operation must be extremely covert and swift. Too many people will only make us more vulnerable to being exposed."

Thus, Master Huang will accompany me; his experience is rich, and he may be able to provide assistance with array formations and restrictions. Miss Luanhuang is indispensable as a guide. Furthermore, Minister Jiang, please send another expert skilled in infiltration, reconnaissance, and adaptability to assist Miss Luanhuang. Four people per team should be sufficient.”

Master Huang stroked his beard and nodded.

"The sect leader's arrangements are appropriate; I have no objections."

Jiang He pondered for a moment and also felt that Chen Yang's arrangement was reasonable. Infiltrating and reconnaissance is indeed not a case of the more people the better.

He looked at Luanhuang.

"Luanhuang, what do you think? If we were to assign you a deputy, who would be suitable?"

After a moment's thought, Luanhuang replied decisively.

“Let ‘Night Owl’ come with me. He’s the best battlefield scout in the bureau, an expert in infiltration, camouflage, demolition and electronic warfare, with excellent adaptability and familiarity with this kind of desert and Gobi environment.”

"Okay, then it'll be Night Owl."

Jiang He made the decision and then looked at the crowd.

"The reconnaissance team has been decided: Chen Yang, Huang Zhenren, Luanhuang, and Yexiao. But we can't just let them take risks. We need to create some controllable 'movements' in another direction to attract their attention, disrupt their judgment, and create better infiltration conditions and exploration windows for the reconnaissance team."

Upon hearing this, the burly Qiuniu's eyes lit up, and he spoke in a deep, resonant voice.

"Leave this job to me! I've been itching to try it out, I'll practice on their outer outposts!"

Jiang He glared at him.

"Don't be impulsive! Our goal is a feint to contain them, not a full-scale attack! We need to control the scale and intensity, putting pressure on them, raising their vigilance, and diverting some of their manpower, but without letting them realize we're about to launch a general offensive, or revealing our true intentions and strength. We must strike the right balance!"

Qiuniu shrank back after being scolded, and chuckled.

"Understood, understood, Jiang Tou'er, I know what I'm doing. It's about striking the mountain to scare the tiger, stirring up the grass to alert the snake... no, it's about feinting to the east while attacking the west!"

Liu Yu looked at Jiang He. "Minister Jiang, what about the rest of us?"

Jiang He walked up to the map and pointed to several locations with his finger.

"In this way, the reconnaissance team will be led by Chen Yang, and will approach from the northwest via this ancient river channel, where the terrain is complex and easy to conceal. The feint and diversion team will be led by me personally, with Elder Liu, Luanfeng, Qiuniu, and a special operations squad participating."

From the southeast, we will select a known, relatively peripheral guard post or suspected entrance/exit on the enemy's territory and conduct limited probing and harassment with fire. Remember, the goal is to create chaos and attract attention, not to annihilate them.

We'll fire a few shots and then retreat, moving to a different location to fire again. We want them to think we're conducting a probing attack, trying to gauge their strength, but without actually catching us. This will buy the reconnaissance team at least two to three hours of safe space.

Huang Zhenren added.

"The best time to make a feint is when it is dusk, when visibility is affected but not completely dark, which makes it easier for us to move and withdraw. The enemy is also more likely to become complacent or make a mistake due to the change in the sky."

"Master Huang is right."

Jiang He nodded.

"Then we'll set the operation for this evening! The reconnaissance team and the feint team will depart at the same time, but the reconnaissance team must arrive at their hiding place in advance and wait for the feint to begin before sneaking in to investigate amidst the chaos."

Liu Yu looked at Chen Yang with concern in her eyes.

"Sect Master, you must be extra careful. Infiltrating the enemy's lair is fraught with unpredictable dangers."

Jiang He also solemnly addressed Chen Yang.

"Chen Yang, remember, your main task is reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. If you are discovered or encounter an insurmountable danger, retreat immediately. Don't linger! We have plenty of time and opportunities. If we don't succeed this time, we'll have another. Preserving our strength is the most important thing!"

Feeling the concern of everyone, Chen Yang felt a warmth in his heart and nodded.

"Elder Liu, Minister Jiang, rest assured, we know what we're doing. Now that the plan is set, let's all prepare. We'll move out promptly at dusk."

The crowd responded in unison, and their fighting spirit began to rise quietly.

At this moment, Luanhuang spoke.

"Everyone, now that the action plan has been set and there's still some time before evening, I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the weapons and equipment we can use in this operation."

Many of the equipment here are the latest experimental models, not yet officially deployed domestically or internationally, and boast excellent performance. Choosing the right equipment for our needs will make our operations safer and increase our success rate.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang immediately became interested.

He had long been curious about the Special Administration Bureau's new equipment, which combined modern technology with cultivation elements, and immediately agreed.

"Great! I've been wanting to see your bureau's cutting-edge equipment."

Liu Yu and Master Huang nodded in agreement. Although they primarily relied on cultivation methods, they were not averse to external objects that could enhance their strength, especially equipment meticulously developed by the Special Administration Bureau.

Jiang He laughed.

"No problem, come on, I'll show you around. Let's check out the equipment first, then have a good meal, eat our fill, and get plenty of rest so we can give those rats hiding underground a 'surprise' tonight!"

Everyone responded with smiles. Led by Luanhuang, the group left the conference room tent and headed towards an inconspicuous steel building half-buried underground deep within the camp.

Upon entering the building and passing through several heavy alloy doors requiring identity verification, the group arrived at a spacious elevator lobby. The elevator descended approximately ten floors before slowly coming to a stop.

The elevator doors opened, and a bright and spacious view unfolded before us.

This is a vast underground space, brightly lit, with the air circulation system humming softly. Neatly arranged equipment racks and weapon platforms, as well as the outlines of some semi-disassembled armored vehicles, drones, and other heavy equipment, are visible.

The walls and floors are made of sturdy alloy, gleaming with a cold luster. Fully armed and highly skilled special forces soldiers can be seen patrolling or maintaining equipment everywhere, making the defense extremely tight.

"Hey! Good guy!"

Qiu Niu exclaimed in admiration. Although he was from the Special Administration Bureau, this was his first time visiting the depths of this cutting-edge equipment testing base in the Northwest.

Huang Zhenren and Liu Yu were also taken aback by the scene, which was full of modern industrial and technological feel. It was a completely different world from the ancient and simple mountain gate of the Qingwei School that they were familiar with.

Chen Yang looked around with great interest, his gaze soon drawn to some strangely shaped pieces of equipment with subtle energy fluctuations.

"Everyone, please follow me."

The phoenix led the way.

"Let's go to the individual armor zone first."

She led the group to an area where dozens of sets of individual combat armor of various styles were neatly displayed. Some were as heavy as steel fortresses, with sharp lines; others were light and form-fitting, with a streamlined design, as if born for speed.

There are also some that fall somewhere in between, balancing protection and flexibility. The armor is coated with camouflage to suit the desert environment, and is made of a material that is neither gold nor iron, with a matte finish. It is covered with various interfaces, sensors, and power circuits.

Jiang He walked over to a set of heavy armor, patted the thick shoulder armor, and introduced it to Chen Yang.

"Chen Yang, look, this batch of armor can be said to have been successfully developed thanks to you."

"Oh? How do you say this?"

Chen Yang was curious.

"Do you remember the corpses of those men in black and their armor that you gave us before?"

Jiang He explained.

“We previously encountered bottlenecks in individual exoskeletons and energy armor, especially in how to perfectly integrate the armor with the user, respond to the user’s intentions in real time, and provide the most appropriate assistance and protection.”

At the same time, we also needed to solve the energy and life support problems for prolonged combat. This continued until we cracked the core technology of those men in black armor.

He gestured for Luanhuang to explain in detail.

Luanhuang walked to a set of armor, skillfully opened the breastplate, revealing a core device with a sophisticated structure, embedded with several microchips and energy crystals.

"Sect Leader Chen, True Man Huang, Elder Liu, please look. This is the 'heart' of our new armor—the Adaptive Bio-Link and Tactical Assist Core."

She pointed to the core device and explained.

"Once the user puts on the armor, this core will establish a superficial connection with the user's nervous system through a built-in array of biosensors, and monitor the user's heart rate, adrenaline levels, muscle electrical signals, and even brainwave activity trends in real time."

Meanwhile, the armor's built-in micro supercomputer performs billions of calculations per second based on battlefield environment data, the user's physical condition, and preset tactical objectives.

Then, through 'micro-power units' and 'feedback arrays' distributed at corresponding locations in the joints and muscle groups of the armor, the user is provided with assistance such as strength amplification, movement correction, posture stability, damage prediction, and deflection. (End of Chapter)