The intelligent fighter hovered high in the sky.
Luo Feng looked down from above. Small fighter aircraft were scattered all around the lakeshore, covering a radius of more than a hundred kilometres. Some had laser cannons set up, while others had deployed specialised detection and monitoring equipment. Large numbers of staff worked under the protection of groups of martial artists, carrying out their assigned tasks. At the same time, within several dozen kilometres of the lakeshore, there was scarcely a single living monster to be seen.
Apart from these small fighter aircraft, there were also six enormous saucer shaped aircraft.
“So many personnel have been deployed by countries all over the world?”
Luo Feng sighed in amazement.
A nation’s ability to mobilise resources really was different. With a single order, every kind of equipment and elite personnel had been assembled at once.
“Command Centre, Command Centre, this is Zero Three, this is Zero Three. Everything is normal. Everything is normal.”
“Command Centre, Command Centre, this is Zero Eight, this is Zero Eight. Direction adjustment complete. Direction adjustment complete.”
A constant stream of reports quickly reached the Command Centre.
A giant saucer shaped aircraft, coloured as though drenched in blood, was stationed 1,500 metres from the lakeshore. This was the Chinese headquarters for the battle over Mist Island Lake, serving as the Command Centre.
Along the vast lakeshore, six enormous saucer shaped aircraft were spread out. They belonged respectively to China, Russia, India, the United States, the European Union, and the HR Alliance. These massive saucer aircraft were extraordinarily expensive. Ordinary base cities could neither afford nor justify building them.
Yet for this operation, the five great powers and the HR Alliance had each deployed one as their field headquarters.
With their exceptional defence and outstanding mobility, they truly were the ideal command bases.
…
“I should focus properly on mastering the second level of the Soaring Shuttle.”
Watching the developments below with great interest, Luo Feng prepared to begin his training.
Suddenly, the auxiliary optical computer on his arm vibrated gently.
“Hello.”
Luo Feng answered the call.
“This is Jia Yi. I wonder whether I have the honour of inviting Councillor Luo Feng to meet with me?” A calm, gentle voice came through.
“Jia Yi? Where are you now?”
Luo Feng’s heart stirred slightly.
“Luo Feng, from your position in the air, you should be able to see the six giant saucer aircraft stationed around Mist Island Lake. The blood red one is China’s headquarters. I’m inside it. I’ve already arranged for someone to meet you at the entrance.”
“I’ll be there immediately.”
Luo Feng flew directly out of his intelligent fighter and headed towards the enormous blood red saucer aircraft below.
“Combat capability scan. Display Apprentice Level Ninth Rank and above.”
He pointed the auxiliary optical computer towards the aircraft below.
A series of messages immediately appeared on the display.
“Oh? Four Councillors? Twelve Advanced Warlords?”
“Our Chinese side is quite formidable.”
Luo Feng was secretly surprised.
He landed at the entrance to the saucer aircraft. A beautiful young woman with delicate features bowed slightly.
“Councillor Luo, please follow me.”
Following her into the corridor, she explained, “This corridor has been converted into a laser passage. Any unauthorised intruder will be shot dead immediately. Please wait a moment.”
“Beep. Beep. Beep.”
The red warning lights above the corridor sounded three times before going dark.
“The Commander in Chief and the others are in the top level compartment.”
The woman pointed towards the staircase. Looking up, Luo Feng saw a closed metal door at the top, guarded by two Warlord level sentries.
“Even the guards are Warlords.”
Luo Feng sighed inwardly.
“Greetings, Councillor Luo.”
The two men bowed slightly.
Whoosh.
The metal door opened.
Luo Feng stepped inside. The circular hall on the top level had been completely redesigned. Gone were the ordinary passenger seats, replaced instead by the world’s most advanced equipment. Even some devices excavated from ancient civilisation ruins had been installed. At the centre of the hall stood a slightly raised circular platform, where four martial artists dressed in combat uniforms were waiting.
All of them looked fairly old, with one even having completely white hair.
“Luo Feng.”
“Councillor Luo.”
The four men greeted him warmly. The leanest middle aged man among them smiled and asked, “Luo Feng, you’ve broken through?”
“Yes, just a few days ago.”
Luo Feng nodded. It was obvious that his flight through the air had already told the four Councillors that he had officially reached Councillor level.
Their attitudes immediately changed.
Previously, the Councillors had not shown Luo Feng much respect. But now that he had broken through…
Before reaching Councillor level, he had already killed Li Yao.
Now that he had advanced, how powerful would he become?
He would undoubtedly rank among the stronger Councillors. Naturally, everyone treated him with far greater enthusiasm.
“Mr Jia Yi, ever since I learned about some of your achievements, I’ve wanted to meet you. I didn’t get the chance when I became an Inspector, but now my wish has finally come true.”
Luo Feng smiled sincerely.
It was not flattery.
After gaining access to higher level personnel files, especially Jia Yi’s file, Luo Feng had developed genuine admiration for the man.
Jia Yi was a truly legendary figure.
His father, grandfather, and earlier ancestors had all served in the military.
His great grandfather had fought throughout the eight year War of Resistance and later in the Korean War.
It was a family of soldiers.
Jia Yi himself had been frail and sickly as a child, underdeveloped and physically weak.
Yet during the Great Nirvana Period, it was Jia Yi who repeatedly performed miraculous rescues.
More than ten million Chinese refugees had been saved by him.
Back then, martial arts cultivation had not yet developed into a proper system.
Even so, Jia Yi had become the military’s first person to surpass the Warlord level.
During the establishment of the base cities, he had made extraordinary contributions.
Even after surpassing the Warlord level, he remained absolutely loyal to his country without the slightest hesitation.
Over several decades, he had directly saved more than ten million people, with countless more benefiting indirectly.
With such achievements, combined with his immense strength, Jia Yi had become the current Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In terms of real authority, he unquestionably ranked among the top three figures in China and was one of the nation’s true military leaders.
“Planetary Level Second Rank.”
“If Jia Yi had been born in my generation, with proper guidance in cultivation, his achievements would probably have been even greater.”
Luo Feng genuinely admired him, especially for saving tens of millions of Chinese citizens during the Great Nirvana Period.
“Haha, I’ve also been eager to meet the newest genius martial artist of China.”
Jia Yi smiled.
“Come, you know these three beside me, don’t you?”
“Councillor Zhu, Councillor Tuoba, Councillor Deng.”
Luo Feng smiled.
The three Councillors nodded with smiles.
Looking around the circular hall, Luo Feng noticed the large number of instruments, many of which he had never seen before.
“The manufacturing style is quite unusual. These weren’t made on Earth, were they?”
“Some of them were excavated from ancient civilisation ruins.”
Jia Yi pointed towards a large display screen.
“Display the Mist Island Lake survey.”
“Yes, Commander in Chief.”
The screen lit up, revealing an image of Mist Island Lake, filled with countless complex shadows beneath the water.
“These shadows are all aquatic monsters?”
Luo Feng looked at the display curiously.
“Incredible. It has detected every monster in the entire lake.”
“That isn’t particularly difficult. All five major powers can accomplish it.”
Jia Yi walked over to the screen and pointed at it.
“Look. Mist Island Lake has an average depth of around 300 metres, with its deepest point approaching 1,000 metres. However, the Monster Emperor isn’t inside the lake.”
“Extend the scan to a depth of 3,500 metres.”
Jia Yi gave the order.
The display shifted, extending deep beneath the ground to a depth of 3,500 metres.
“This is…”
Luo Feng’s eyes widened in shock.
“This is the Monster Emperor. We’ve designated it the Tentacle Beast.”
Jia Yi pointed at a blurry shadow on the screen.
The creature was unimaginably enormous.
The scan covered a depth of 3,500 metres, yet the shadow occupied most of the display’s width.
Its true size was beyond imagination.
“The Monster Emperor, the Tentacle Beast, possesses thirteen tentacles, each around 1,500 metres long.”
Jia Yi pointed at the image.
“You can also see what appears to be a turtle shell on its back. It can instantly retract all thirteen tentacles beneath that shell.”
“That’s not all.”
“It shares another characteristic common to tentacled creatures. Even if one of its tentacles is severed, it quickly regenerates.”
Jia Yi shook his head.
“We’ve monitored Mist Island for several days, but we’ve found no trace of the so called treasure or secret. The main problem is that the Monster Emperor remains deep underground, and we don’t dare pursue it there.”
Luo Feng nodded slightly.
Going underground to kill the Monster Emperor?
That was nothing but a fantasy.
“A few days ago, Hong went down once. He managed to cut off two tentacles before the creature escaped.”
Jia Yi turned to Luo Feng with a smile.
“Truly valuable treasures usually appear under extraordinary circumstances. Whether you obtain one depends largely on luck. In terms of strength, Hong alone surpasses all the Councillors combined. But luck…”
“Luo Feng, would you be willing to join us and help China?”
The other three Councillors also looked at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng paused.
Jia Yi really knew how to appeal to patriotism.
He was trying to recruit Luo Feng for the treasure hunt at Mist Island Lake by invoking the interests of the nation.
If the country had truly been in danger, Luo Feng would certainly have helped.
But this situation was different.
“Mr Jia Yi, I’m very sorry. Since the Headmaster is here, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to oppose him.”
Luo Feng smiled awkwardly.
“I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
Since he had declined the invitation, it would have been inappropriate to remain any longer.
Jia Yi smiled.
“It’s alright. We’ll all be here for the next few days. Come by for a chat whenever you have time.”
“Certainly.”
Luo Feng smiled.
The four Councillors, including Jia Yi, personally escorted him to the exit.
When they saw him flying through the air, Luo Feng’s status in their eyes rose another level.
…
Stepping out of the headquarters, Luo Feng was greeted by howling winds as the wild grass bent low across the wasteland.
“Attention, all personnel.”
“Our Dojo of Limits Headmaster, Hong, is about to enter Mist Island Lake in an attempt to kill the Monster Emperor once and for all. To avoid being caught in the aftermath, all personnel below Councillor level must immediately return to their respective headquarters. Councillor level experts should also stay away from the airspace above the lake to avoid being affected.”
The voice rolled like thunder across a radius of several hundred kilometres.
Luo Feng looked up.
The black clothed man making the announcement was none other than Iceberg, one of Hong’s personal guards.
“The Headmaster is going to kill the Monster Emperor?”
Luo Feng was stunned.
“What? Hong is going to kill the Monster Emperor?”
Behind him, Jia Yi and the other four Councillors were equally shocked.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
One after another, Councillor level experts stationed around the lakeshore rose into the sky.