A technologically powerful nation: The national treasure is actually myself.

Outside the city of Baichi.

Lin Yang first led the team around the city, and then they went outside the city.

Actually, there wasn't much to be familiar with; I just led everyone to see the surrounding area outside the city, including the re-established strongholds of independent cultivators.

There are several independent cultivator strongholds outside the city of Fucheng.

There's only one in Baichi City.

"An ordinary second-tier city."

After getting to know the place, Li Rui commented.

Lin Yang nodded. Bai Chi City was indeed not very big, nor did it have anything particularly unique about it.

There are no special mineral or high-grade resource productions.

It is indeed somewhat strange that the Ancient Night Clan infiltrated this area.

"But the more this is the case, the more it suggests that the Ancient Night Clan may have much bigger plans in this operation," Lin Yang thought to himself.

The team then returned to Blazing City and began to secretly patrol the city.

The so-called patrol was just aimless wandering around the city to see if there were any suspicious targets.

Several months passed, and the team made no discovery.

No other squads requested assistance.

The entire city of Baichi remained peaceful.

At least on the surface, that's how it appears.

"Captain, it's been several months and we haven't found anything wrong. Could it be that the people of the Ancient Night Clan are no longer here?" a team member muttered.

Li Rui shook his head: "Probably not. They went to great lengths to infiltrate here, so they must have some ulterior motive. They shouldn't be leaving so quickly. Besides, there's no notice from above for us to evacuate, which means the Gu Ye Clan's infiltrators are definitely still there."

As he spoke, Li Rui glanced at the rest of the team and whispered:

"The harder it is to detect a problem, the deeper the other party is hiding it, and everyone should be more careful."

"Moreover, now is the time to test our patience. It's only been a few months, there's still a long time ahead, we can just wait patiently."

Everyone nodded and said nothing more.

To be honest, this task is pretty good.

Before facing the Ancient Night Clan head-on, things were relatively easy.

Lin Yang then asked, "Captain, do you know how many squads are here this time? Have you contacted other squads? Is there any intelligence you can exchange?"

Li Rui shook his head again: "I don't know the situation of the other teams, and naturally I haven't contacted them. I don't even know which team participated in this operation. There are many soldiers in the city, and I don't know many people. I didn't find any familiar faces in the city."

"Alright." Lin Yang didn't ask any more questions.

Seeing this, Cheng Fu laughed and said, "What? Lin Yang, do you want to find the people of the Ancient Night Clan as soon as possible? This mission is quite comfortable and not bad at all. I actually hope we don't find them so soon, otherwise who knows what the next mission will be?"

“Cheng Fu is right. This mission is pretty good so far. We can stay in the city, which is much better than other overseas missions,” a team member agreed.

Lin Yang remained silent.

Cheng Fu loves to eat, so this mission is a good fit for him, as he can always find food and drink in the city.

"Alright, take some time to cultivate whenever you have a spare moment. This mission is expected to last quite a while, so improve as much as you can before the Ancient Night Clan is exposed," Li Rui said.

Another advantage of being in the city is that cultivation is more convenient.

Lin Yang and the others nodded in deep agreement.

Before the Ancient Night Clan took action, things were peaceful, but after the action, they had to face their opponents directly and focus on cultivation.

For the rest of the time, Li Rui symbolically had a few team members patrol every now and then, while everyone else cultivated.

time flies.

A thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye.

For a thousand years, the city of Baichi remained peaceful as always.

But Lin Yang and his group still hadn't received any news about evacuation.

The mission is still ongoing.

"These Ancient Night Clan guys are really patient. They haven't made a sound or caused any trouble yet. I really don't know what they're up to," one of the team members muttered.

Some people said, "It's only been a little over a thousand years, there's no need to rush. If they really have a plan, it's normal for them to prepare for tens of thousands of years."

"..."

This person's words came true.

For the next ten thousand years or so, nothing unusual happened.

If the order to evacuate hadn't still not been issued, Lin Yang and the others would have thought that nothing had happened here at all.

However, although nothing happened in Baichi City, Lin Yang's cultivation level improved again.

Although I haven't broken through to the mid-stage of the Dao Fire Realm yet, it's not far off.

This rate of improvement is undeniably fast.

Over the years, the young girl Xia Shuang also sent Lin Yang several messages, all of which were greetings and words of reassurance that she was doing well in the Illusionary Sound Sect, telling Lin Yang not to worry.

"Once the mission is complete, I'll find an opportunity to visit the Illusionary Sound Sect with Cheng Fu," Lin Yang thought.

……

A quiet street in the city of Baichi.

Inside a cave dwelling courtyard, several cultivators stood.

One of the men with a hooked nose said to another man who looked simple and honest:

"Qiling, we have been stationed in this city for tens of thousands of years. Our people have been searching continuously, but we have found nothing, not even the slightest clue. Is the intelligence wrong? Should we consider retreating?"

The seemingly honest middle-aged man's gaze instantly turned incredibly sharp: "Su Ying, are you questioning the adults' orders?"

The man with the hooked nose immediately said, "No, it's just that it's been over ten thousand years and we haven't found a single trace. It's too dangerous for us to be among humans all the time, and the humans are constantly searching for us. I feel that if we stay any longer, something bad will happen."

Qi Ling's gaze darkened slightly: "Su Ying, the orders from the lords are to find the cause. Although the situation is indeed somewhat tricky, we cannot evacuate without the lords' orders."

"Qiling, have you reported the situation here to the adults? We've searched the entire Baichi City and all the surrounding areas over the past ten thousand years, practically digging three feet into the ground, but we haven't found a single clue."

Su Ying frowned and said:

"This is very abnormal. In the past ten thousand years, our people have tried all sorts of methods to communicate with the local humans, but to no avail."

"I'm not trying to question anything, I'm just wondering if it's possible that the adults were indeed mistaken? Or perhaps the location is off, and it's not here, but in another city?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Ling did not immediately refute, but pondered for a moment before saying:

"I will report back on the situation here later, and also address your questions, sirs. However, the operation cannot be halted until the sirs issue new orders."

Su Ying nodded: "Alright, let's continue the operation. I'll tell everyone to be extra careful."

Qi Ling nodded slightly and said, "I also know that everyone has been on edge for the past ten thousand years, but has made no progress or gains, which has been very tiring and frustrating."

"But these are orders from the adults. They went to great lengths to send us here, so we must obey, even if it means our lives. Do you understand?"

Su Ying sighed upon hearing this: "Qi Ling, you misunderstood. I don't mean to back down. From the moment we were chosen, no one thought about going back alive. It would be too worthless to die without achieving anything."

Qi Ling frowned and said, "I understand what you mean. Let me report and then we'll see what the adults' new orders are. Go and get busy."

Su Ying said nothing more and left the courtyard with the others.

Qi Ling turned and went back into the house, took out a unique communication device, and began sending a message. The device flashed for a long time before a voice came from the other end: "Qi Ling, it's not yet the agreed-upon time for regular contact. Why are you suddenly sending a message? Is there something to report? Has there been any progress?"

Qi Ling, with a solemn and respectful expression, said, "Our incompetence is not due to any progress in the operation, but rather..."

He quickly recounted what had just happened.

A cold snort came from the other end: "Hmph, a bunch of useless things. The adults sent you over there, and not only have you made no progress, but you also dare to question the adults?"

"We dare not, but ten thousand years have passed and White Blaze City remains unchanged. We would like to ask for your instructions, sirs, whether to continue. We are not afraid of death, but we do not want to die in a meaningless way," Qi Ling said in a deep voice.

There was another cold snort on the other end: "Alright, you wait here, I'll go ask for instructions."

Qi Ling remained silent and waited.

This wait lasted for nearly seven days.

Then a voice came from the other end of the communication device: "Qiling, the adults said the location is correct and they require you to continue the previous operation until it is successful."

Having said that, the message was abruptly cut off without giving Qi Ling a chance to reply.

Qi Ling remained silent for a moment before leaving the room.

Su Ying seemed to know that there would be a result today, and he had already returned to the courtyard.

Seeing Qi Ling come out, he immediately asked, "How did it go? What did the adults say?"

Qi Ling said indifferently, "I truthfully reported your questions, but the adults said that the location was correct and demanded that the previous orders be carried out until something is found."

"This..." Su Ying was taken aback, then said, "What if we never discover it? Or what if we are exposed before we make any progress?"

Qi Ling did not answer immediately, but remained silent for a moment before saying, "If that's the case, then kill! Kill these damned humans of White Blaze City, the more the better."

"In that case, it can't be considered a pointless death!"

Su Ying's eyes flickered a few times, and he whispered, "I understand."

……

Two thousand years have passed.

Lin Yang's team was cultivating when Li Rui suddenly interrupted them, saying with some excitement:

"I have good news. A while ago, I contacted another team that was also operating in the shadows through some connections. According to them, they have discovered some suspicious targets and may be taking action soon. Let's all prepare and be ready to act at any time."

Everyone perked up upon hearing this, and Cheng Fu said directly, "Captain, you have quite the connections; you even managed to find out this."

Li Rui smiled slightly: "It's alright, I guess."

"Who are the suspicious targets?" Cheng Fu asked again.

Li Rui shook his head: "I don't know about that. They didn't say anything. I guess they want to keep it a secret."

“That’s true. With more people knowing, there’s bound to be mistakes and omissions, which would be bad if it aroused the other party’s suspicion,” Cheng Fu nodded.

Li Rui waved his hand and said, "We don't care about these things. It's better that we don't know. We won't do this close-range tracking of the Gu Ye Clan's infiltrators. We don't need this little bit of credit. Our lives are more important. We'll just wait to provide support after the operation breaks out."

The team members immediately nodded in agreement.

Li Rui had mentioned this before.

Their team is of average strength, so survival should be their priority; achievements can come later.

For the next period of time, although everyone still made time to cultivate, they were also ready to provide support at any time.

There was even a hint of anticipation.

It's not that I'm looking forward to fighting the Ancient Night Clan, but rather to taking down the Ancient Night Clan members and figuring out their purpose for infiltrating here.

What could possibly be the reason that they would remain hidden for so many years?

That day, Lin Yang suddenly received a message from Shi Jie, saying that he had something to do and needed to come to Baichi City, and asked if it would be convenient for Lin Yang to meet him.

Although Lin Yang had warned Shi Jie and the others not to come to Baichi City unless necessary, Shi Jie was ordered by the Xu family to come to Baichi City on business, so he had no choice but to come.

Lin Yang agreed to this.

After all, it's been so many years since we last met. Since Shi Jie is coming, we should naturally see him.

The meeting was scheduled for five days from now.

Five days passed in a flash.

Lin Yang left home on time.

But as he was leaving, Cheng Fu followed him: "Lin Yang, it's rare to see you go out. Where are you going? Want to grab something to eat and drink?"

In recent years, apart from the occasional routine patrols, Lin Yang has basically never left his home.

Cheng Fu was quite surprised to see Lin Yang going out.

Lin Yang said with a hint of helplessness, "Cheng Fu, you're going to restaurants to eat and drink every other day."

"Haha, life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can! I don't have any other hobbies, I just love to eat!" Cheng Fu laughed.

“Okay, I’m going to meet a friend today, also at a restaurant,” Lin Yang said.

"That's perfect, let's go together. You can meet your friends, and I'll eat my food," Cheng Fu said with a smile.

Lin Yang did not refuse.

Soon, they arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant.

Just as Lin Yang was about to step inside, several people suddenly walked out of the restaurant.

The two sides met head-on.

The next moment, they both stopped in their tracks.

Then, a surprised voice rang out: "Lin Yang, it's you! You actually dare to come back to Baichi City?"

That's right.

The people they bumped into were disciples of the Tiankun Sect.

They were all dressed in the robes of Tiankun Sect disciples.

Lin Yang frowned. He rarely went out, and this was the only time he had come out, and by sheer coincidence, he ran into the people from the Tiankun Sect.

This is really...unlucky!
"People from the Tiankun Sect?" Cheng Fu, who was standing to the side, also frowned.

He naturally knew about the feud between Lin Yang and the Tiankun Sect, but he never expected to encounter them here.

Lin Yang ignored the group and prepared to go inside.

Since he couldn't make a move inside the city, he couldn't be bothered to waste words with these people.

However, the other party moved in unison, one of them extending a hand to block his way, sneering:
"Lin Yang, what a coincidence! Since you dare to come back, then don't leave. Stay."

As he spoke, he gestured for the others to notify the sect, seemingly intending to forcibly take Lin Yang away.

"Go away!"

Lin Yang's expression remained unchanged as he coldly said:

“A good dog stays out of the way!”

He didn't take these people seriously at all.

Even if we could fight inside the city, these guys would just be easy prey.

"Lin Yang! You're asking for death! How dare you speak so rudely!"

The man from Tiankun Sect was immediately enraged. (End of Chapter)