Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

"Twenty meters ahead, turn right. Behind the old Warehouse No. 3."

The car slowly turned, bypassed a site filled with rusty containers, and finally stopped in the shadow of a half-collapsed warehouse.

Chen Meng did not turn off the engine immediately, but let it continue to hum.

He quickly checked the surroundings and, after confirming it was safe, whispered, "Rendezvous point confirmed. The Flying Fish should have arrived by now."

As soon as he finished speaking, three rhythmic knocking sounds came from deep within the warehouse.

"The code was correct." Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Nian picked up his black sports backpack and opened the car door. The sea breeze, carrying the salty and rusty smell, rushed towards him, and in the distance came the dull sound of waves crashing against the embankment.

"Advisor Jiang," Chen Meng turned around from the driver's seat, "be careful."

“You too.” Jiang Nian nodded. “You stayed at the hotel before I came back.”

"Understood." Su Qing handed over a miniature communicator about the size of a thumb. "The base will send you a trigger command through it. Remember to destroy it after you come out of the water."

Jiang Nian skillfully attached the device behind his left ear.

“Signal test,” he whispered.

A processed electronic voice immediately came through his ear: "Channel 1 is clear, sound quality is excellent. Consultant Jiang, please respond."

"Received, clear."

Jiang Nian responded with a vibration in his throat.

"Test complete. Best wishes for a successful operation." The electronic voice disappeared.

Jiang Nian slung his backpack over his shoulder and turned to walk deeper into the warehouse.

Chen Meng and Su Qing remained in the car.

The inside of the warehouse looked more dilapidated than the outside.

The knocking sound rang out again, this time coming from behind a half-open iron door on the right.

Jiang Nian walked over and pushed open the iron gate. The hinges made a harsh creaking sound.

Behind the door was a relatively intact space, with the roof still intact and a thin layer of seawater on the ground.

A speedboat, about six meters long and painted with a matte dark blue paint, sat quietly on the water. Its hull was sleek and unmarked.

A man in a black waterproof suit stood by the boat and nodded slightly when he saw Jiang Nian: "Advisor Jiang, please board the boat."

Jiang Nian stepped onto the speedboat.

The ship was very stable, with almost no swaying.

The cabin interior has been modified, with no extra seats, only a simple instrument panel and a few storage compartments.

"Hold on tight, we're leaving in five minutes."

The engine is almost silent when it starts; the only sound is the slight vibration from the underwater propeller stirring the seawater.

The speedboat slowly drove out of a hidden water outlet behind the warehouse.

"The flight time is about forty minutes."

The staff member, operating the control panel, said without turning his head, "We will detour from the west, avoiding the main shipping lanes and monitoring areas. Haiying has already submerged and is waiting at the designated location."

Jiang Nian sat in the middle of the cabin, looking out through the specially designed one-way glass.

He closed his eyes and once again circulated that unfamiliar internal energy path within his body.

This time it was smoother than when I was in the car. Perhaps it was the quiet environment, or perhaps it was the focus of facing the task ahead. My inner strength was like a stream that had found its way, flowing steadily and firmly even though the path was narrow.

A faint static came from the communicator behind his ear, followed by Bai Yongxu's voice. It was encrypted and slightly distorted, but the seriousness was still evident: "Jiang Nian, can you hear me?"

“Clear,” Jiang Nian replied softly.

"The final simulation data from Professor Qin's team showed that the best suppression effect occurred between the third and eighteenth seconds after the external field was applied. After that, the effect gradually diminished."

Bai Yongxu paused for a moment, then said, "So if you really encounter a probe, you need to react quickly."

"The trigger command will be sent 20 seconds before the signal is transmitted. Remember, start building the inner loop as soon as you hear the prompt tone, don't wait."

"clear."

“In addition,” Bai Yongxu lowered his voice, “General Zhao just received the latest report from the South China Sea Fleet. They detected a cargo ship registered in Panama acting suspiciously seventy nautical miles southeast of the target area. Its course was being changed repeatedly, unlike that of a normal merchant ship.”

"It is suspected to be a mobile maritime platform or command ship of the organization. A drone has been deployed for covert reconnaissance, but it will take time to confirm."

Jiang Nian opened her eyes: "Will it affect our movements?"

"Not for now. It's more than 100 nautical miles from your work site, and even if you come at full speed, it will take more than an hour."

"But you should be prepared that if tonight's verification operation is important enough to them, they may have multiple layers of preparation."

"I will pay attention."

Communication is temporarily cut off.

The speedboat moved steadily across the sea.

The staff operated with great skill, making minor adjustments to the course from time to time to avoid floating objects at sea and the occasional lights of fishing boats.

Time passed in silence.

Twenty minutes later, the communicator rang again. This time it was General Zhao's voice: "Jiang Nian, Haiying reports that they have reached the designated depth. Sonar scans show no large underwater targets within five nautical miles. Hydrological conditions are good, and ocean currents are stable."

"receive."

"Where are you now?"

The crew member in the cockpit immediately responded: "We are 12 nautical miles from the target coordinates, at a speed of 25 knots. We are expected to arrive in 22 minutes."

"Okay. Once we arrive, as planned, Jiang Nian will change and dive, while you stay on the surface to keep watch."

"Remember, once you receive an evacuation order, provide assistance at all costs."

"clear."

Communication fell silent again.

Jiang Nian took out the black, specially made diving liner from his backpack and began to put it on.

Next up is the lightweight pressure helmet, with a display screen inside the visor that lights up to show basic data such as time, depth, and oxygen levels.

Finally, he inspected the signal transmitting device.

The tablet-sized device had a cool casing and a few simple physical buttons and status indicator lights on the side.

"And eight nautical miles."

Jiang Nian secured the device to a specially made buckle on her chest and adjusted its position.

The emergency shield was tucked into the most easily accessible pocket on the waist, and the two syringes were fixed to the inside of the left and right forearms respectively.

everything's ready.

He leaned against the cabin wall, adjusted his breathing, and allowed his body and mind to enter a state of absolute calm.

The master-level internal energy flowed slowly within his body, not the surging power of battle, but a deep, ocean-like accumulation of power.

The speedboat gradually slowed down.

"arrive."

"The predetermined coordinates are directly below you, with an error of no more than fifty meters. The sea shadow is three hundred and fifty meters below you."

Jiang Nian stood up and walked to the side of the ship.

"After descending, follow the guide cable. The rigging will guide you through vibration signals. When you reach a depth of 900 meters, the device will automatically alert you."

A staff member handed over a thin but strong fluorescent rope. "Tie this around your waist, and the other end is connected to the speedboat. If things get bad, we'll pull you up."

"But that's a last resort, and it will cause a huge commotion."

Jiang Nian took the fluorescent cable and skillfully fastened it to the special buckle around his waist. "The trigger command will be sent when you descend to about 880 meters. Once you hear the prompt, proceed as planned."

Jiang Nian nodded and said nothing more.

He put on his helmet, tightened the sealing ring, and the display screen inside the mask lit up completely, with all data showing normal readings.

Then he fell backward and plunged into the cold seawater.

At the same time, at the Xuanwu Base command center.

The huge circular screen was divided into more than a dozen images.

Satellite cloud images, sonar data streams, speedboat positioning signals, Jiang Nian's vital signs monitoring curves, and a three-dimensional terrain model of the target sea area.

Bai Yongxu stood in front of the control panel, his hands behind his back, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

General Zhao stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the sonar monitoring screen.

"Flying Fish reports, Advisor Jiang has entered the water," the communications soldier reported.

"Sea Shadow Sonar confirmed target has entered the water. Begin descent," another operator reported immediately.

On the main screen, the green dot representing Jiang Nian began to move, sinking into the deep sea along a vertical trajectory.

The data display next to it shows the real-time depth: 50 meters, 100 meters, 150 meters...

Old Qin was also allowed into the command center. He sat in a wheelchair and was pushed to the monitoring console by his assistant.

The old man stared intently at several specific parameters in Jiang Nian's vital signs data.

Those curves representing the activity of gene markers.

"Currently, the activity level is stable, at 37 percent above the baseline," Qin Lao said in a hoarse voice, "which is in line with the predicted peak range."

"The surrounding environment?" Bai Yongxu asked.

"Sonar background noise level five, no abnormal active scanning signals detected."

The sonar analyst responded quickly, "Hydrological sensors indicate a stable southeast-facing cold current at a depth of 800 to 1000 meters, with a velocity of about 0.3 knots, which is conducive to signal propagation and cover."

“Alright.” Bai Yongxu looked at General Zhao. “Have Haiying prepare. Once Jiang Nian releases the signal, their sonar must scan at full speed, and any unusual activity must be reported immediately.”

"Already in place."

General Zhao nodded. "The active sonar array of Haiying is warmed up, but remain silent. All underwater listening devices are turned on and their sensitivity is set to the highest level."

Time passed by minute by minute.

The depth number on the home screen is steadily increasing.

Jiang Nian's vital signs remained stable throughout, and her breathing was even.

"Depth 600 meters. Physiological parameters normal," the medical monitor reported.

Old Qin suddenly raised his hand: "Wait, there is a slight fluctuation in the labeling activity curve."

Everyone's eyes were instantly drawn to the screen displaying complex biological data.

The curves representing different marked areas did indeed show subtle fluctuations, not large in amplitude, but with a consistent rhythm.

"Is it a natural fluctuation or caused by interference?" Bai Yongxu asked urgently.

Old Qin leaned closer to the screen, his glasses reflecting the blue light of the data: "The rhythm is very regular, not like random fluctuations. Wait, let's compare it with the hydrological data!"

The technician quickly retrieved the temperature, salinity, and pressure change curves of the water at a depth of 600 meters.

Several curves were displayed side by side, and everyone immediately noticed the problem.

The frequency of the marker activity fluctuations is perfectly synchronized with the minute periodic changes in seawater pressure!
"It's pressure!"

Old Qin suddenly looked up, "The pressure environment of the deep sea itself is exerting a subtle stimulus on these markers! How come I didn't think of this before!"

"Will it affect the inhibitory effect?" General Zhao asked the crucial question.

Qin quickly operated on the console and brought up the mathematical model.

"The pressure-induced fluctuations should theoretically not interfere with the high-frequency suppression field we are preparing to apply. However..."

He paused, his expression turning grim: "But this kind of synchronous fluctuation may make the markers more sensitive and unpredictable to external fields."

"It's like a string that has already been gently plucked. If you pluck it harder, the sound may not be the expected tone."

The command center was silent.

"Does that mean the inhibitory effect might be reduced?"

Bai Yongxu asked in a deep voice.

"Or it may produce side effects that we did not anticipate."

Old Qin took a deep breath, "But there's no time to adjust now. Jiang Nian has already descended to 700 meters, and will reach the designated depth in ten minutes at most."

He looked at Bai Yongxu: "Old Bai, should we postpone it? Or have Jiang Nian dive a little deeper to avoid this pressure fluctuation layer?"

Bai Yongxu stared at the steadily descending green dot on the main screen and remained silent for a few seconds.

“No.” He finally shook his head. “The plan remains unchanged.”

“Any adjustment could bring more unknown risks. Jiang Nian is in good condition now, and his ability to control his internal energy can cope with a certain degree of variables.”

He turned to the communications soldier: "Notify Jiang Nian, tell him about the potential impact of the stress fluctuations, and let him prepare himself mentally in advance. But the operation continues."

"Yes!"

Deep sea, 800 meters.

Jiang Nian floated in the dark seawater, her body swaying gently with the weak ocean currents.

There are still about 100 meters to go before reaching the planned operating depth.

A new message came through the communicator behind his ear: "Consultant Jiang, we have detected regular fluctuations in the marker activity in your body that are synchronized with the water depth and pressure."

"Qin's team has assessed that this may cause some deviation in the effectiveness of the subsequent suppression field. Please be prepared, but the operation will continue as planned."

Jiang Nian's eyes flickered slightly.

He had actually sensed it a long time ago.

As the depth increases, the cool sensation left after being scanned by blue light does indeed fluctuate slightly with changes in pressure, rhythmically like the tides.

He tried to adjust his internal energy to calm the fluctuations, but with limited success.

The pressure is an external factor, something he cannot control.

"receive."

He gave a brief response while simultaneously accelerating the circulation of his internal energy.

Since we cannot change the external environment, we should strengthen our own control.

He devoted more of his attention to the internal energy circulation along that specific path, making the flow more refined and stable.

The depth continues to increase.

Just as the depth display jumped to 905 meters, a unique audio prompt, like the gentle ringing of a wind chime, came from the communicator in my ear.

Two short and one long, repeat three times.

Trigger command!

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Nian immediately focused all his attention on his body.

The internal energy began to accelerate along that narrow and unfamiliar path, forming tiny vortices at several key meridian nodes.

At first, it was a bit sluggish, but soon, with his focus and the continuous infusion of his inner strength, the circulation became smoother and smoother.

He could sense that the marked areas, which were originally active with pressure fluctuations, were beginning to be affected by this special internal circulation, with the amplitude of the fluctuations decreasing and the frequency changing.

A countdown timer popped up in the corner of the mask's display screen: 20, 19, 18... (End of Chapter)