You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

The main construction here will be fully completed! The core experimental area, energy supply system, and life support system have all been debugged, and the triple encryption protection has been verified through simulated powerful attacks, making it absolutely impregnable!
"Then, we can focus wholeheartedly on reverse engineering the Tiandao Alliance's gene-based drugs here, and we'll definitely uncover all the secrets of Baicao Shenghui and Kangping Pharmaceutical!"

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"As for the recruited technicians, engineers, and perimeter guards, rest assured, they have all undergone rigorous screening, and they only know that they are building a secret laboratory for a multinational energy giant. The commissions we offer are enough for their families to live the most luxurious life."

As long as they receive their money on time, they will be incredibly loyal to this lucrative 'job,' never asking questions they shouldn't and never knowing things they shouldn't. All peripheral information related to the 'Deep Sea Project' has undergone multiple layers of encryption and tampering, ensuring absolute security.

Chen Yang's sharp gaze swept over every detail of the construction site, paying particular attention to the special protective shields that were being installed, which combined modern technology with cultivation alloys, as well as the energy fluctuations of spatial isolation arrays emanating from several inconspicuous corners.

He nodded in satisfaction. True Lord Xuan Shui was indeed adept at infrastructure development and winning people over.

"This place will be one of the key nodes in the future counterattack against the Heavenly Dao Alliance's biological weapons conspiracy."

Chen Yang's tone was solemn and left no room for doubt.

"Xuan Shui, remember, secrecy is paramount! Even those inside the base are only responsible for a portion of the procedures within their authority. Core data, samples, and analysis can only be held by you and the researchers who will be stationed there in the future."

I don't want any information about the 'Deep Sea Base' to leak out, especially not to alert the Special Administration Bureau or the Heavenly Alliance.

"Boss, I understand your rules!"

Xuan Shui Zhenjun immediately straightened his back and patted his chest to guarantee it.

"Only you, me, and a top-level security administrator account that I set up can log in to the core computer room and sample library."

Even a genetically modified fly cannot fly into the core area without authorization!
Every brick, every tile, every person, every item here—I, Xuan Shui, have personally overseen it! I guarantee to build you an impenetrable fortress!

Chen Yang gave him a deep look.

"That would be best. This place is now entirely in your hands. Any progress, especially regarding the Immortal Abode ruins, should be immediately communicated through the Golden Core Heart Seal we have established."

Without lingering any longer, he finished giving instructions on the most important matters, and then, in a flash, disappeared from the spot, transforming into a streak of light that was difficult to catch, speeding towards the distant south.

Hours later, in a penthouse suite of a five-star hotel on Hainan Island.

As soon as Chen Yang unlocked the door, a fragrant breeze carrying a hint of urgency greeted him.

Liu Yu was dressed in an elegant, modified ancient-style dress. Her temperament was gentle yet slightly aloof, and her pretty face showed a hint of worry.

"You're finally back! I hope nothing serious happened to True Monarch Xuan Shui? He contacted me a couple of days ago, saying he discovered a strange canyon restriction and wanted to invite you over. I was a little worried."

As she spoke, she naturally helped Chen Yang take off his coat.

Chen Yang raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh? He contacted you first?"

He wasn't angry about this roundabout way of seeking proof; on the contrary, he felt that Liu Yu was very cautious in her work.

"Ah."

Liu Yu nodded and poured a glass of warm water for Chen Yang.

"It was a few days ago."

He couldn't reach you, so he contacted me, asking if I knew where you were, saying he had made a 'new discovery' but it might be a bit tricky. I know you're always elusive, so I told him honestly that I didn't know.

He contacted you again later, right? How did things turn out?

Her clear eyes were filled with concern.

"It was just a minor problem, a somewhat strange extraterrestrial formation and abandoned temple ruins. It's been taken care of."

Chen Yang took the water glass and casually brushed it off, not wanting to mention the real gains from the temple.

"The subsequent construction in Xuanshui will also proceed without any problems."

Upon hearing Chen Yang say "it's all cleaned up," Liu Yu visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and her slightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"It's good that you're alright. You have no idea, things haven't been peaceful here in Hainan these past few days since you left."

"How to say?"

"You thoroughly cleaned up the Heavenly Dao Alliance's henchmen in Hainan before, with the ringleaders Zhong Fabai and Liu Shaolong being executed. Their intelligence network was indeed disrupted."

Liu Yu's expression turned serious.

"But local gangs like the Sea Shark Society are deeply entrenched and powerful, and there are always some who slip through the net and are unwilling to accept defeat, or they may simply be new spies planted by the Heavenly Alliance. The covert small-scale conflicts, information gathering, and attempts to restore contact have never stopped."

Coupled with the effects of the previous turmoil, the entire underworld of Hainan is actually at a very sensitive and tense point of delicate balance, with everyone observing and vying for power.

"in addition."

She lowered her voice.

"The Qingwei Sect has also noticed the unusual energy fluctuations in Hainan, especially those involving some special 'bloodline techniques,' which may be related to demons or forbidden forces. The higher-ups have dispatched a patrol team led by an elder of the Enforcement Hall to the island. Ostensibly, they are training newly recruited 'Sword Generation' disciples along the coast, but in reality, they are secretly investigating whether there are any new demonic forces active."

Chen Yang put down his water glass and tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth tabletop.

"The Qingwei Faction's patrol team? What's their activity?"

Although the Qingwei faction is currently considered a potential ally, they are, after all, a reputable and orthodox sect that values ​​rules and evidence in their actions.

"Very low-key."

Liu Yu immediately replied.

"That law enforcement elder is also a Golden Core expert, and he is very experienced in his work."

They stayed scattered in several inconspicuous guesthouses and seaside inns. During the day, they did take their junior disciples to some spiritual energy nodes by the sea to practice swordsmanship and gain insights, and only acted quietly at night.

Their main targets seem to be the key areas in Haikou and Sanya where the 'Blood Bat Plague' and 'Strange Corpse Attack' cases occurred, as well as some newly emerging, suspicious small gangs. Our people have been keeping a close watch, but so far their investigation hasn't reached our 'Skywalker Group' and… uh, your 'special forces'.”

Liu Yu cleverly referred to Yuna and the others.

"very good."

Chen Yang nodded and offered a reminder.

"Let them continue to train their disciples and investigate their leads."

However, we must maintain distance and secrecy between ourselves. At least until we resolve the major problem of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, our 'cooperation' must not be made public. The Special Administration Bureau has too many eyes on us; if they find out about our 'collusion' with the Qingwei Sect, it will only lead to unnecessary trouble and expose our objectives.

Liu Yu was very clear about this.

“I understand. I also subtly conveyed this meaning to that elder, and he understood. The sect sent him primarily to investigate whether the sources of those forbidden powers were dangerous, not to interfere with local forces. As long as we don't reveal any obvious collusion with demonic forces, he will naturally cover for us.”

She gave a relieved smile.

"With Uncle Yuan's prestige within the sect, that enforcement elder will turn a blind eye to our presence. Rest assured, our disciples' activities will be handled very cleanly, and the 'trial' guise will be perfectly legitimate."

Chen Yang was relieved. He greatly admired Liu Yu's ability to navigate the complexities of large sects and the gray areas with ease.

He changed the subject and asked.

"Hainan is an important bridgehead. Do we have our own branch base here?"

His interest in managing his territory has never been as strong as his pursuit of power and the fight against enemies, but since he has chosen to cultivate deep roots in Hainan, he naturally needs a solid foundation.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yu revealed a slightly confident smile.

"Of course!"

She turned to the side and gestured for them to proceed.

"Sect Leader, this way please, I'll show you around."

While it may not compare to your magnificent Sumeru Cave, it represents the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication in Hainan.

The two left the hotel quietly without alerting anyone else.

Following Liu Yu, Chen Yang traveled through several streets and arrived at a main road that was not particularly bustling, but was by no means deserted.

A standalone building with a strong Southeast Asian style comes into view, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an antique charm.

A huge neon sign shimmered with a glamorous yet stylish light – “Qiongyuan Zhenxiu Pavilion”. It was lunchtime, and a queue had formed at the entrance. Waiters in uniforms bustled about, while inside, the sounds of clinking glasses and the lively atmosphere of everyday life filled the air.

"here?"

Chen Yang was somewhat surprised, but then he understood.

The greatest hermits live in the city; what could be a better cover than a thriving, high-end restaurant with a huge flow of customers?
"Exactly."

Liu Yu led Chen Yang through the VIP entrance on the side, eliminating the need to queue.

As soon as you enter, a middle-aged man in a sharp manager's suit, who is patrolling the lobby, quickly greets you.

He had an ordinary appearance and a reserved demeanor, but his eyes were sharp. When he saw Chen Yang behind Liu Yu, his pupils shrank almost imperceptibly, and then he showed undisguised excitement, bowing respectfully.

"Elder Liu, you've arrived!"

His gaze then turned to Chen Yang with utmost solemnity, and he bent down even lower.

"Sect Leader! I was unaware of your presence. I, Liuyun, have failed to greet you properly!"

"Master Liuyun, there's no need for such formalities."

Chen Yang waved his hand.

He could sense that in the lobby, those who looked like ordinary supervisors, waiters, and even bartenders wiping glasses, although they were still busy on the surface, suddenly became much more ardent and respectful in their gazes toward him, and their movements seemed to be more standardized.

Well, as expected, from the manager to the lobby supervisor, the finance director, the cashier, the food runner, and even the cleaning lady, they're probably all family members, all disciples in disguise.

"Sect Leader, please follow me."

Master Liuyun led Chen Yang and Liu Yu through the bustling lobby, avoiding the crowds, and directly into the quiet office area at the back. The elevator descended two floors, arriving at an alloy door that required complex biometric identification and spiritual energy scanning to open.

Behind the door was not the cramped space one might imagine, but an exceptionally spacious underground hall large enough to accommodate hundreds of people for training and martial arts demonstrations!
The place is brightly lit, and the spiritual energy here is far richer than outside, with a spirit-gathering array set up.

In one corner of the hall, various body-training equipment and cold weapon racks were neatly arranged, while on the other side was a combat area covered with soft cushioning material.

Even more eye-catching is the complex simulation training ground that occupies a large area, flashing with various holographic virtual lights and shadows, simulating a variety of combat environments such as jungles, cities, and deserts.

At this moment, about forty or fifty young people dressed in uniform training clothes are sweating profusely as they practice.

Some were practicing grappling and fighting, their punches and kicks whistling through the air; others were darting through virtual light and shadow, dodging simulated attacks; still others were meditating and cultivating their inner energy, their bodies radiating faint fluctuations of spiritual energy.

Their movements were synchronized and their expressions focused, displaying a fierce demeanor far exceeding that of ordinary waiters.

Upon seeing Master Liuyun and Liu Yu walk in, everyone instinctively stopped what they were doing.

When their gazes fell upon Chen Yang, who stood close behind with his hands behind his back, a brief silence was followed by an uncontrollable commotion and gasps of breath.

"Sect Leader... Sect Leader?!"

"It really is the sect leader!"

Oh my god!
He came in person!

Excitement, admiration, and disbelief spread like ripples in an instant.

Many of these young disciples had only seen Chen Yang, the legendary sect leader, a few times from afar during sect competitions or group speeches. Seeing him so close today felt like a dream.

The Daoist Liuyun, standing next to Chen Yang, and another Daoist with a more composed demeanor and three long wisps of beard—who had just emerged from the side rest room—quickly raised their hands to signal for quiet. Daoist Liuyun coughed lightly and spoke in a clear voice.

"Silence! The sect leader has come in person to instruct you on your cultivation. Don't you know to step forward and pay your respects?"

"Disciple respectfully welcomes Sect Leader!"

In an instant, all the disciples knelt on one knee, their voices booming yet trembling with excitement. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times, their eyes filled with fervent worship. In the hearts of the Qingwei Sect disciples, Chen Yang was no longer just the sect leader, but a legend who had swiftly purged the sect from within and without, slain powerful enemies, turned the tide, and led them out of their slump!
Master Qianmo also stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Chen Yang.

"Sect Leader, you've arrived. Disciple Qianmo and Junior Brother Liuyun are here, following the sect's instructions, to conduct preliminary combat training and basic infiltration training for this group of newly selected 'Flying Jade' disciples. Elder Liu is in charge of external intelligence liaison."

Master Liuyun added.

"Yes, Sect Leader. You instructed us to use Hainan as a bridgehead to strengthen intelligence infiltration and force deployment. We dare not slack off. The primary goal for this group of disciples is to adapt to the local environment, hone their combat skills and disguise and infiltration capabilities, in preparation for subsequent missions."

He pointed to the complex facilities of the simulation training ground.

"These are training subjects specifically designed based on the situations that modern cities may face."

Liu Yu looked at Chen Yang, her expression also becoming serious.

"Sect Leader, the stronghold has been initially stabilized. These disciples are all elite initial candidates of the 'Flying Jade' sequence, loyal and reliable, and with considerable potential. Please advise on the subsequent arrangements."

Master Liuyun also stepped forward, his attitude resolute. (End of Chapter)