All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes
Chapter 645 - 20 Intelligence

Chapter 645: Chapter 20 Intelligence

Because the examination topic was this area, An Jing quickly confirmed using the reference that the location of the wilderness bandit cultivators’ camp, which had stolen the detection equipment, was the fortress area remaining from the development of the Beishan Lake marshlands over forty years ago.

The terrain of that area is complex, and there are numerous traces and pollution left from the battles between cultivators and monsters/demons. Even the people from the wilderness rarely approach it. Now, it truly is a region of activity for genuinely menacing elements - the evil demons.

Exactly for this reason, if it were to be used as a combat mission, it would be too dangerous. Therefore, the exam only requires simple initial reconnaissance, which is also a test of the students’ capabilities in intelligence gathering.

The martial test is on the third day after the written exam, which is the day after tomorrow. However, it’s already evening now, and An Jing only has two days left to gather related intelligence and prepare the equipment and instruments.

This mission is not a solo job; other students will participate as well — after all, in the Tianyuan Realm, one rarely fights alone; teamwork is essential in executing missions.

An Jing actually doesn’t need to prepare in advance. His Great Void Magical Instrument is filled with supplies, various unmanned drones, and heavy firepower. The firepower he carries is enough to obliterate a wilderness people’s camp. The only thing he needs is intelligence.

By the time An Jing and others arrived at the large flat level of the Nian Quan mansion, preparing for the martial test, Yan Chengju’s intelligence was already in place.

"It’s not only the Third Middle School that was robbed."

The Yan Family’s intelligence network is relatively fast. Yan Chengju quickly figured out what happened: "In the past month, there have been quite a few similar attacks near Beishan Lake. Several group companies and private enterprises, even some private teams, have been attacked."

"The Third Middle School is among the luckiest, as there were no fatalities." As he spoke, Yan Chengju also realized something was off: "This group is quite arrogant, slapping anyone who comes along. Even the prominent families in the city wouldn’t dare to conduct affairs in such a manner."

"Aren’t they afraid of hitting hard bones?"

"Why are there so many attacks?"

And An Jing was even more surprised: "With such a high threat level, it’s going to be used for a school test?"

"Actually, it’s not that high."

A glimmer of orange-red light shone in Yan Chengju’s eyes as he organized information and forwarded it to An Jing and Nian Quan: "Look, battle footage. They are all local villagers from the wilderness. Most likely, they became bandit cultivators out of desperation. Most of them are not Qi Refinement cultivators. Among five cultivators, only one is at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement, the rest are at the first or second stage."

An Jing reviewed these videos and indeed found it to be true.

The majority of attackers were ragged wilderness itinerant cultivators with meager strength, and the art of magic they knew were very simple, merely the most commonly used minor arts like ’Gale Talisman’ and ’Armor Protection Spell.’

However, their firepower was surprisingly strong. Sword Boxes and Thunder Beads were used to their full extent, and unmanned drones as well; the entire battle footage was filled with thunderous roars and fierce flame bombardments. They completely relied on firepower that went beyond the detection team’s expectations to launch attacks, driving everyone away and then fleeing with the loot.

"We don’t know where the funding came from."

Yan Chengju continued to summarize the news: "This is also one of the key points of current investigation: to figure out who is funding these people... to catch this lead for investigation, the outcome of the martial test will not be poor."

An Jing thoughtfully considered the influx of intelligence. His thoughts shifted from the attacks to those who initiated the detection teams like the Third Middle School: "Thinking back though, why are there so many Spirit Vein detection teams in this place?"

Even Nian Quan knew the answer to this, no need for Yan Chengju’s intelligence: "It’s surely for territorial expansion. Isn’t it that various news outlets and social media have been hyping up the start of a new frontier war recently?"

Indeed. An Jing recalled and realized that Huo Qing had mentioned this to him.

In the Ancient Immortal Ruins, the cultivation resources brought out by a large number of exploration teams had caused a significant increase in the number of Qi Refinement and even Foundation Establishment cultivators around Xuanye City. As their power grew, so did their desire for territorial expansion, growing with the day.

Since that’s the case, the Beishan Lake marsh, this once developed area, is naturally a top priority. Many Monsters/Demons here have already been eradicated, and there are also many permanent fortification works. Going at it once more will definitely yield twice the result with half the effort.

"Seems like there must be some hidden stories behind these Wilderness Tribulation Cultivators."

Having known this intelligence, the situation became clear, An Jing slightly nodded: "All parties are gathering intelligence on the directions of the Spirit Veins in preparation for the upcoming development wars, yet someone is intercepting halfway... Although it’s meaningless, it could also possibly be the competitors wanting to get a step ahead."

"Dangerous it is not, the main objective is still to find out who exactly is the mastermind behind this—but that’s not the task for us students."

"Probably so."

Nian Quan commented: "It’s a bit more difficult than the tasks I had back then, but it’s very unlikely to pose a threat to life."

An Jing really wanted to say that was not necessarily the case.

And just as An Jing and the others returned to the Nianquan Mansion to continue their preparations.

Xuanye City, Rusty Feather Studio.

Huo Qing was contacting an old friend of his parents.

[Huo Qing... Years have passed and I didn’t expect Qian Xin and Little Mercury’s child to have grown so big and sturdy]

In the Water Mirror, a figure entirely encased in steel, looking like a humanoid armor suit, spoke with a voice that carried an electronic effect: [You look in good shape, seems like you’ve been practicing the Body Cultivation Method your family passed down... Good health is what matters, good health is what matters]

His face was completely concealed by a helmet adorned with dragon scale patterns, one could even say his entire head was a helmet.

"Uncle Gang Hai..."

Huo Qing did not recognize the heavily mechanized man in the Water Mirror, but he immediately knew who he was.

Without a doubt, this person was indeed his parents’ and Iron Hand’s older brother, the mercenary group leader ’Steel Skeleton’ who roams the Wilderness year-round.

Behind Huo Qing, Iron Hand and Rusty Feather stood straight.

This time, Iron Hand had tidied himself up properly, his prosthetic hand and eye were very clean and orderly, showing that there were technical similarities between his augmentations and Steel Skeleton’s full-body mechanization.

And Rusty Feather also stood erect. She had reddish-brown flowing hair and eyes of the same hue, fluffy as feathers, a slender waist, and despite her age, she was quite a striking beauty just by her appearance.

Both of them stood with military posture, and so did Steel Skeleton on the other side of the Water Mirror.

Steel Skeleton, Rusty Feather, Iron Hand, Big Spear, Qian Xin, these were the members of the Guiyi Army’s squad from the past.

[The main reason I contacted you this time is to reassure Little Huo]

Because the encryption route used does not support long distances, Steel Skeleton’s voice was somewhat distorted: [Your parents’ sacrifices and Military Merit will not be forgotten, but I have concealed your existence from the military. If you don’t wish it, you won’t be forced to join the Guiyi Army]

[However, if you want, you can also inherit your parents’ titles and the legacy they left in the army, which amounts to a rather substantial fortune]

[Still, I am not here to persuade you to join. On the contrary, if you have no conflict with the Group Company and do not feel that this World, this society, is unreasonable and do not wish to change it, then your joining the Guiyi Army would actually be bad for us]