Even before anything was said, Ji Jue had already sensed the severity of the situation.

After all, he truly found it difficult to imagine anything that could cause the Great Elder such distress and exhaustion. In fact, he was even prepared for the worst-case scenario, to manifest into a Mutated shape and take advantage of the night to deal with Xu Chaoxian.

But that was not the case.

Yet, it was more troublesome.

More than a month ago, the upheaval caused by the temple was not just limited to the global sweep and suppression of the Evil Cult; rather, it was more like... a fuse.

Adding fuel to the fire.

Furthermore, the Imperial Emperor was critically injured and hospitalized in the ICU, causing a chain reaction that shook the entire world.

The vastness and terror of Tian Yuan were evident.

Even an insignificant ripple, when continuously amplified, could form a devastating tsunami. And when the Dust of an era settled somewhere, it became a catastrophic disaster.

The Empire mounted its fourth large-scale troop increase in Central Earth, while a new military base on the Endless Sea had begun construction, which when completed, would include a fresh long-range missile launching base, just within maximum striking distance of Central City. In retaliation, the Federation deployed the Leviathan Fleet to start patrolling, and the airborne giant strike sequence began deploying.

Both sides sharpen their weapons, ready to draw swords, poised to strike, while the fuel, food, medicine, rubber, and other material prices in the international market started soaring even further, with commodity prices in the futures market plummeting...

After a bout of remote confrontation, without a single clash, assets of many city-states outside of the Federation and Empire decreased significantly, filled with cries of despair.

Unable to survive.

Disputes everywhere, turmoil everywhere.

And under the push of many Invisible Hands behind the scenes, the Federation and Empire remained stable as before, while the situation in Central Earth shifted like storm and calm, yet the city-states among the Thousand Islands were close to tearing each other apart.

Blood feud, conflict, assets, water source, food, religion, conspiracy... too many excuses and reasons. Moreover, the Northern Realm crossed White River once again, pressing forward.

The frost period was about to arrive, at which time the vast wilderness of the Northern Realm would turn into a complete dead end, where survival demanded anything to be done.

Many city-states, already eager to fight, lost restraint and buffer, fighting directly into a chaotic mess.

Resulting in utter devastation.

Like a flood relief area when the dam breaks.

Sandwiched between the Federation and Empire, yet lacking the rich output and size of Central Earth, like wheat stalks in the field, toppled by the fierce wind.

The Endless Sea is vast enough, and the islands are naturally isolated, near incredibly close, far excruciatingly far. Combined with the disturbances of storms, currents, tsunamis, and other factors, the massive unmanned areas and empty oceans are ample to harbor too much chaos without fear of backlash.

Hell unseen, wails unheard.

None even cares.

Currently, the internal unrest of the Punabantu Islands on the southeast side of the Endless Sea has continued for more than a month. The president suddenly died, and under the struggles of warlords, it has been completely isolated from the outside world.

An epidemic silently spread from there.

"...Blood Thirst?!"

Ji Jue exclaimed in shock.

The Great Elder's voice grew increasingly bitter: "No, it's a more primal spiritual plague... Lost Dream Syndrome."

Spread through spiritual matter, diffusing through resentment and grievances, early-stage patients feel lethargic, fatigued, frequently dreaming and waking, and then, as the frequency of dreaming decreases until it disappears entirely, they can no longer sleep.

Yet hardly awake.

Thus, enduring daily, muddled like a living corpse, until utterly spent, even resulting in mutation, deformity, or... becoming a Mutant.

"The other day, Hai Province's sect responded to headquarters' call, sending a humanitarian medical team, hoping to restore the situation as much as possible and limit the epidemic's scope.

Although treatment is troublesome, prevention is simple, just one vaccine is enough."

The elder sighed wearily: "Now the general in power claims we possess weapons, driving us out of the country, but once the medical team left, they accused us of harboring key politicians among the patients and forcibly detained the medical team..."

In reality, when the medical team was driven out, they could almost leave nothing but clothes, let alone patients.

It was entirely used as an excuse to extort the Chongguang Sect.

Just as the sect's headquarters made a call, the other party flatly denied it, claiming that the Chongguang Sect had violated their religious taboos and had been expelled from the country entirely, without any capture or obstruction.

Both sides sticking to their statements, the dispute was difficult to resolve.

But who to trust is evident.

Quite frankly, if the elder and Xu Chaoxian simultaneously pointed at something, each saying it was a deer and a horse, the crowd would certainly spit toward Xu Chaoxian.

The golden reputation forged through countless acts of devotion and benevolence over centuries is that solid!

"Though what I'm about to say might be inappropriate..."

Ji Jue hesitated for a moment, asking: "The Chongguang Sect is vast and wealthy, holding so many resources and money, isn't there any way... or means to..."

The elder sighed, "Limited by reputation, constrained by position."

Carrying a knife and doing good cannot be unified, the very reason the Chongguang Sect persists to this day is its absolute resistance to violence. Sect members and institutions, apart from necessary security, must not carry any weapons, let alone cause harm.

The sect's reputation must remain unblemished, its position unshifted.

It cannot be openly associated with any violent events, nor even linked.

Maintaining harmlessness.

Only thus it could garner welcome and courtesy from all sides. But regretfully, this method fails against fools and ignorants; especially fools who presume complete wisdom with guns in hand.

In fact, throughout the years, the sect has witnessed such events numerous times, equipped with strategies and processes, yet no matter the outward communication and coordinated pressures, it's still too slow, even a month or two seems long.

Currently, speed is of the essence.

After all, who knows what might happen in that one or two months. Could a warlord who ascends through coups and starts executing heretics genuinely endure for one or two months?

It can only be said if there were any hope, it wouldn't have degraded to extorting the Chongguang Sect...

"In reality, this matter isn't entirely public business."

Having clarified the situation, the elder sighed self-deprecatingly: "More of it is my personal selfishness, truly pathetic."

His assistant is in that medical team.

It's called an assistant, but actually, they have a father-son-like relationship, the elder's life dedicated to duty, unmarried, without fortune, nor offspring. The young assistant is an orphan raised by the sect, after graduating from college and obtaining medical qualifications, formally joined the sect, aspiring for the aura brought by the elder.

This time, as volunteers, both husband and wife joined the medical team.

Their enthusiastic departure scene was still vivid, but upon receiving the midnight distress message and headquarters' notification, the elder was distraught, overwhelmed with anxiety.

Even at the risk of violating the doctrine, being abandoned by the Holy Spirit, and completely expelled from the sect, he had to take action secretly.

Time is running out.

More than two hours ago, the sect received a distress signal, and an hour ago the ship's communication went silent. Once the medical team is brought back within the borders, it will be too late to retrieve them!

However, in such haste, there are hardly any who can exert influence on the Thousand Islands. Among them, those truly reliable and won't harm the sect's reputation are even scarcer...

"I understand."

Ji Jue silently sighed with understanding.

He understood the reason for the other's anguish and torment... It wasn't because this matter was dangerous or troublesome, it's simply that the elder's moral standards were too high.

So much so, they felt such hesitation and helplessness.

Ji Jue said, "Anyway, as long as the medical team can come back safely, right?"

The elder hesitated for a moment, his voice hoarse: "If necessary..."

"Alright, elder, there's no need for unnecessary words."

Ji Jue interrupted him, "I will do my best."

No need, nothing more to say.

In reality, as long as the medical team comes back safely, the rest doesn't matter. If necessary... It doesn't matter if everyone else perishes!

But why say such things out loud?

Leaving something to be criticized.

The old gentleman's lifelong reputation built through good deeds and virtue, why let it be destroyed by a bunch of scoundrels.

Reputation is also power; in fact, it's a very strong and precious power... Not even needing Ji Jue's reminder, as long as the elder wanted, he could use this reputation to accomplish many things.

But he never did.

Even when able to indulge, restraint is a virtue.

Ji Jue doesn't possess such a thing, but he sincerely admires it.

"Please leave it to me, elder," Ji Jue said before hanging up the phone, "Just give me the registration number of the ship your assistant is on."

"Okay."

The hoarse voice on the other end finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon, a number was sent to Ji Jue's phone, and before this, Isis's search had already begun.

With the cables reconnected to Hai Province's supercomputing center, the workshop's bottom layer, repeatedly intersected by countless spiritual crystal sequences, was preheated and activated once more.

One second later, a signal transmitted by the Federation satellite, a red dot quietly emerged on the map of the southwest Endless Sea.

It flickered.

Unfortunately, it was too dim, and the weather was bad.

No matter how much it was magnified, it couldn't be seen clearly through the thick night fog.

"Search complete, found, coordinates confirmed."

Isis's voice sounded: "The ship's main engine is unresponsive, both the system and engine are shut down, currently under towing."

"What about the other ship?" Ji Jue asked.

"It's an Empire's retired destroyer from many years ago with an Astarte-II Generation Control System, currently connected through the ship's WIFI, but the control system is too outdated, too many devices are missing, afraid it can't take over the engine."

Isis's voice rarely revealed a trace of displeasure.

Unexpectedly, one day I would be defeated not by advanced technology, but by equipment so outdated there's no way to take control... What's the use of electronic warfare being powerful?

This old destroyer is nearly over a hundred years old, just short of hand-cranking!

"Doesn't matter, taking over navigation works too."

Ji Jue looked at the position of the red dot on the map, measuring the distance slightly: "Guide them to change direction, head north."

It seems the ship carrying the medical team, upon realizing the pursuit behind them, had run a certain distance while calling for help, otherwise Ji Jue would be pulling his hair out, forced to activate the Doomsday Special Train for personal intervention.

Luckily, this position is still timely.

No need to trouble Desert Market, Gray Port's Ling Liu, that cunning fox, always scheming, might make exorbitant demands.

He took out his phone and dialed the number for the Seven Cities.

After a few short busy tones, it finally connected.

"Hmm? Mr. Ji?"

An enthusiastic voice came from the other end, slightly sleepy, faintly hearing the woman's soft moans and complaints.

Ji Jue smiled slightly and greeted, "General Minkler, I heard you were appointed deputy commander of the joint fleet a few days ago, congratulations congratulations."

"Haha, well said, well said, it's the recognition from those esteemed gentlemen above, being appreciated by friends."

Minkler's laughter became even more hearty: "Old Lu's brother is my brother, if there's anything in need of help, feel free to say! I certainly..."

"No, not really."

Ji Jue interrupted his empty pleasantries and asked directly: "I just wanted to ask, are you still interested in military achievements? Hmm, too bad there's no general this time, just a Punabantu destroyer delivered to the doorstep."

"Hmm?"

Minkler froze for a moment, suddenly flipped up like a fish.

"Hmm?!"

All sleepiness gone.

No longer sleepy!

In the middle of the night, a pair of glowing green eyes seemed to emit light.

"Brother, Brother Ji! Tell me in detail!"

Indeed, being Old Lu's brother, his actions are extraordinary.

Is there even a reward?!

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