I, from the Celestial Empire, have parachuted into Teyvat.

Ivan waved his hand: "Thank you, just put it on the table, I'll drink it in a bit."

"okay."

Kizawa Nagaki put down his teacup, looked up, and said, "By the way, Lord Ivan, Miss Kujo has arrived."

Ivan said, "Kujou Sara has arrived? Has the diplomatic corps concluded its cooperation talks with Liyue?"

"That should be the case. She seems to be at the Knights of Favonius headquarters right now, and I heard she seems to have something urgent to discuss with you."

"Is it urgent?"

Ivan frowned, stood up and said, "Alright, let's go check out the Knights' headquarters then."

Just as Ivan was about to get up and leave, Kujo Sara's voice came from outside the door.

"No need, Lord Ivan, I'm here."

Kujo Sara appeared at the doorway and bowed to Ivan.

"Lord Ivan, it's been a long time."

"Long time no see, Miss Kujo. Has the meeting in Liyue concluded?"

Kujo Sara nodded: "Yes, it's over. So the diplomatic corps has now arrived in Mondstadt, ready to begin cooperative talks with the Knights of Favonius."

At this point, Kujo Sara's expression changed, and she said seriously, "Lord Ivan, I have urgent business with you."

Ivan frowned and asked, "What happened?"

“A few days ago, I received a letter in Liyue sent by the General across the ocean. The letter said that something had happened to Inazuma and asked me to seek your help immediately.”

Ivan raised an eyebrow: "What happened? What happened to Inazuma?"

Kujo Sara said, "The letter did not describe in detail what happened. It only said that the seawater in the southern waters of Inazuma had been strangely churning recently. After that, several islands, including Umijima Island, were covered by a strange black and red mist. When people were sent in to check, they found that all the islands had disappeared."

"what?"

Ivan was immediately startled, his expression one of surprise and doubt. "Inazuma also has a red membrane?"

Although curious about why Ivan added the word "also" to his words, Kujo Sara nodded and said, "Yes, that's what the Shogun's letter said. Oh, by the way..."

At this point, Kujo Sara paused for a moment: "The general's letter also mentioned that the mechanical device you left behind before you left has recently been detected to have slight fluctuations in her senses."

Ivan paused for a moment: "A mechanical device?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Ivan realized: "Is it the communication tower I left behind? Wait, Shadow sensed a slight fluctuation from the communication tower?"

As the god of thunder, Shadow can sense all fluctuations of lightning elements around him, regardless of their magnitude. If Shadow senses fluctuations in the communication tower, it proves that the communication tower is working, receiving or transmitting signals.

But Ivan clearly remembered that when he left, due to a strange magnetic field, communication signals couldn't be transmitted from Inazuma to Inazuma at all...

Of course, these are all minor details now. What Ivan is more concerned about is that a blackish-red thin film of mist has also appeared in Inazuma, and many islands in Inazuma have disappeared, just like the disappearance of Qin Island City.

Ivan asked, "Did the letter specify when the membrane appeared?"

Kujo Sara said, "About a week and a half ago."

"Is it that much earlier than Qindao City's time...?"

Ivan stroked his chin.

"It seems that my previous assumptions were all wrong. The effects of this World Gate anomaly may have already begun, and may have started in Teyvat..."

Thinking of this, Ivan suddenly stood up.

"Kujo, come with me."

"Yes."

A few minutes later, Ivan appeared at the Pan-Chinese Shativat Organization headquarters next door with Kujo Sara. He went straight to the research area, found Han Jie, and then contacted Xu Donghai.

Ten minutes later, Xu Donghai also rushed over. Then Ivan had Kujo Sara describe to the two of them in detail the situation of Inazuma also having a black and red membrane.

"Some of the islands in Inazuma have also disappeared?"

Han Jie frowned: "Judging from this situation, the disappearance of Inazuma Island should be caused by the same reason as the disappearance of Qin Island City."

Xu Donghai's face showed a shocked expression, but then he said, "Wait a minute, it's understandable that Qindao City was affected by the World Gate's anomaly because it's close to the World Gate, but how could something happen to Inazuma, which is so far away from the World Gate? Is there another World Gate near Inazuma?"

Ivan shook his head and said, "There is no World Gate near Inazuma. Based on our previous speculation, the World Gate is essentially a large portal, a kind of self-defense mechanism of the World Tree, or a symptom of the World Tree being infected by the aura of destruction. Just like a person gets a fever when they are sick, the human body raises its temperature to kill the virus after it is invaded by it. This sudden change in the World Gate is very likely because the World Tree's 'illness' has worsened due to the aura of destruction. These black and red films that have caused the land islands to disappear may be a manifestation of the worsening 'illness'. Teyvat is the embodiment of the World Tree, so it is not surprising that this red mist film appears anywhere on Teyvat."

At this point, Ivan frowned and said, "What I really don't understand is, if this is due to the World Tree of Teyvat's condition worsening, then why is it affecting Earth...?"

Xu Donghai asked, "Xiao Yi, what are your next steps?"

Ivan narrowed his eyes.

"Returning to Inazuma, the incident there occurred earlier than in Qindao City; perhaps there will be more clues there..."

Chapter 372 The Chinese Fleet Heads to Inazuma

"Fueling complete in compartment number four!"

"Ready to set sail!"

Before Eagle Soars Harbor, Ivan, preparing to lead his fleet, bids farewell to everyone.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ivan waved to everyone and said, "Gentlemen, we're about to set off."

Qin said, "I'm sorry, I can't go with you this time. The Inazuma diplomatic mission has arrived in Mondstadt and will be holding large-scale cooperation talks soon. I can't leave the Knights of Favonius for the time being either... Mondstadt and China have a deep cooperative relationship. What happens in China is what happens in Mondstadt. If you need any help in the future, please feel free to ask. The Knights of Favonius will do their best."

Ivan nodded and smiled, "It's alright, this incident is still within our scope of handling. I promise you, if there are any difficulties or if we need help, we will definitely contact everyone."

"Ah."

"Then let's set off."

Ivan waved to the departing crowd again, and then boarded the Divine Palace Ship with Xiang Feng, Kizawa Nagahiro, Kujo Sara, and Xu Donghai.

Two-thirds of the ships and personnel of the Huaxia Exploration Fleet were deployed to Inazuma this time, while the rest remained at the headquarters of the Pan-Huaxia Teyvat Organization.

In truth, as the leader of the diplomatic corps, Kujo Sara should have remained in Mondstadt to conduct cooperative talks with the Knights of Favonius. However, due to concerns for Inazuma, Kujo Sara decided to return to Inazuma with Ivan. As for the talks, Kujo Sara herself stated that she entrusted them to the members of the corps. Having gained experience from the talks in Liyue, these members of the diplomatic corps were now capable of handling matters independently.

With a series of horn blasts, the "Iron Islands at Sea" departed Eagle Harbor and headed towards Liyue along the East Sea of ​​Mondstadt.

The journey to Inazuma passes through Liyue Harbor, where the Chinese fleet will make a brief stop and resupply before departing for Inazuma.

The sea journey to Liyue Harbor was not long; the Chinese fleet arrived in less than a day thanks to its speed.

The appearance of the massive Chinese fleet in Liyue Harbor naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers. Ningguang and the others had received advance notice that the Chinese fleet would be passing through Liyue Harbor, so they arrived there ahead of time to make arrangements.

Afterwards, the Chinese fleet made a brief two-hour stopover in Liyue Harbor. During this time, Ivan disembarked and went ashore to chat with the Liyue Seven Stars and other familiar faces from Liyue. The conversation mainly revolved around matters related to the Pan-Chinese Teyvat Organization. They discussed some precautions, Liyue's preparations, and communications with other Teyvat countries such as Sumeru. Ningguang, on behalf of the Seven Stars and the Liyue government, expressed the same sentiment as Jean: if China needs any help, please don't hesitate to ask. Ivan was naturally very grateful.

After a brief rest, the Chinese fleet set off again in a grand procession, heading straight for Inazuma, with no further opportunities to stop or stay on land.

When Ivan returned to Liyue from Inazuma, it took him a week by ship. Although the speed of the modern Chinese warships was much faster than the civilian merchant ships that Ivan had been on, considering various factors and the fact that the fleet as a whole had to maintain a certain speed, it still took one to two days to travel by sea.

Meanwhile, in Qindao City, at the Qianhai Base.

"Hurry, hurry, where are the repair team? There's a seawater leak at the No. 3 passage in East Zone 2, it's closed. Quickly assemble at the No. 2 passage in East Zone 2."

"Open Warehouse No. 6 and bring out all the emergency supplies."

The East Zone 1 square was bustling with base staff and soldiers, all in a hurry.

At this moment, the base's broadcast system announced: "Please proceed to the operations command center, Qi Ji, head of the security department."

Upon hearing the broadcast, Qi Ji, who was in the middle of coordinating operations, put down the wooden crates he was helping the staff carry, greeted the people around him, and then immediately rushed to the operations command center.

Upon arriving at the operations command center, the large room was also a hive of activity, with everyone's brows furrowed and the atmosphere tense and serious, no less so than the situation outside.

Ivan spotted Hong Jianjun in the crowd, talking to the chief of staff and others, and walked over.

"Sir, is headquarters looking for me?"

Hong Jianjun looked up at Qi Ji: "Oh, Xiao Qi, you're here. There's a task that the Security Department needs to do."

Qi Ji asked, "What mission?"

"Landing on the island for reconnaissance."

"Landing and reconnaissance?"

Qi Ji raised an eyebrow: "Is it the island we discovered before?"

Previously, the Qindao City garrison's ships discovered an island of unknown origin shrouded in fog in the nearby waters. This matter has now become the talk of the town throughout the entire Qianhai base, and Qi Ji naturally knows about it as well.

Hong Jianjun nodded and said, "Yes, it's the island we discovered before. After the Ice Wave ship discovered the target island, there was a problem with the coastal defense line of Qin Island City, so the Ice Wave ship did not continue to explore further and returned."

Upon hearing this, Qi Ji frowned.

The majority of the garrison forces in Qindao City are stationed there and are directly commanded by the Qianhai Base. Only a small number of troops are stationed at the Qianhai Base. If even the Ice Wave ship, which is responsible for exploration, has to return to support Qindao City, then the current situation in Qindao City may not be optimistic.

"Sir, what's the situation in Qindao City now?"

"The situation isn't great, but it's still under control."

Hong Jianjun said in a deep voice, "The number of monsters emerging from the sea is enormous. Tens of thousands of various monsters have already landed along the coast of Qin Island City's southern district, and the numbers are still increasing with each wave... Moreover, compared to the monster data our exploration teams brought back from Teyvat, these monsters are much more aggressive and ferocious. We haven't figured out why yet, as our main force is currently engaged in defensive operations. Although these monsters are mortal and vulnerable to bullets and gunpowder, for some reason, the monsters that are killed dissipate into a purplish-black energy and return to the sea, only to reappear in the next wave of attacks, as if they have been resurrected. If it weren't for the extensive monster data brought back from Teyvat by our exploration teams, allowing us to target their weaknesses, we would probably already have suffered casualties... In addition, I don't know if it's because of these monsters, but the surrounding sea area has also inexplicably turned purplish-black."

Qi Ji asked in confusion, "Purple-black?"

Hong Jianjun continued, "Yes, the base's research department has taken some seawater samples for testing and analysis, but the results are not yet available."

"The main force is currently engaged in defensive operations in Qindao City, so the task of landing and reconnaissance on the island can only be entrusted to your security department."

Qi Ji nodded. The people in the Qianhai Base Security Department were all from the Security Bureau. The Security Bureau's personnel were all elites carefully selected by the Senate from various levels of the Chinese military. They were all experts. It was indeed no problem to entrust the reconnaissance and exploration mission to the Security Department at such a critical moment.

"Don't worry, sir."

Qi Ji respectfully bowed.

"We guarantee the mission will be completed."

Chapter 373 Landing on the Island

Suddenly, many bubbles appeared on the deep, silent sea surface. The bubbles quickly grew larger, and the seawater began to churn rapidly.

Before long, a giant square sealed metal box, twenty meters long and twenty meters wide, emerged from beneath the sea and remained still on the surface.

The next second, one side of the square metal box suddenly opened, and two or three small speedboats drove out from it.

After all the ships had left, the metal box was closed again and then slowly sank underwater.

On the lead ship, Qi Ji, dressed in black combat gear, adjusted his goggles and turned to watch the metal box slowly sink.