The job change is a bizarre and calamity; the nation begs me to tone it down.

"right."

Li Weiguo's tone became decisive: "Reconnect with all seven senior figures in the General Headquarters."

"Let them decide for themselves who stays and who leaves."

"They've been guarding this area for so many years, they know the situation in their zone a million times better than we do. They know better than anyone which zone can be temporarily taken over and which cannot."

At this point, Li Weiguo paused for a moment, then added, "Moreover... we can't and shouldn't get involved in matters of seniority."

"How the seniors coordinate among themselves is their business. We just need to take care of the logistical support."

Zhang Daoxuan nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor, hurried yet steady.

Seeing Zhang Daoxuan's energetic demeanor, all the staff officers on duty along the way consciously pressed themselves against the wall to make way and saluted.

After all, something that could elicit this expression from Minister Zhang clearly meant something serious had happened.

It should be noted that Zhang Daoxuan usually walked very slowly and steadily, with the composure of an "old monk in meditation".

Something that could make this guy jog.

The number of people in the entire command headquarters can be counted on one's fingers.

The last time I saw him run away was when Commander Gu was fighting with the Forbidden Water Clan.

But this time, it's clearly more serious than the last.

Zhang Daoxuan arrived at the seventh underground level of the Supreme Command without any hindrance.

The headquarters' underground facilities have a total of nine floors.

The fifth and sixth floors house top-secret archives and strategic weapons depots.

The seventh level – the location of the Night Watch Star Chart.

No more than ten people in the entire Sherlock Holmes have the authority to enter the seventh level.

The alloy door slowly opened after identity verification.

Behind the door was a huge circular space.

At the very center of the space is an astrolabe.

Despite being called a "star chart," it's actually more like a giant instrument.

Above the instrument's base, a slowly rotating sphere of light floats.

The orb of light is about two meters in diameter, and its surface is projected with a complete topographical map of the Sheikha Empire.

The topographic map is marked with a dozen or so bright dots.

These correspond to the positions guarded by the Night's Watch veterans.

At the very top of the astrolabe is a small groove, about the size of a palm.

The groove has a unique shape—it resembles an enlarged chess piece base.

Only one thing can fit into this groove.

Night watch order.

Zhang Daoxuan's secretary, Chen Yang, had already been notified in advance and arrived.

The young man stood next to the control panel, his expression tense.

Even though he had seen many storms and waves with Zhang Daoxuan, he couldn't help but feel nervous at this moment.

After all, the Night Watch Astrolabe has only been used once since its construction.

Each activation signifies a major event that could shake the very foundations of the nation.

The last time it was activated was seventeen years ago, because the seal on the South China Sea Ruins showed signs of loosening.

This is the fifth time.

Zhang Daoxuan walked to the control panel.

He took out a token from the inside of his Zhongshan suit.

The token was entirely black; it was the Night Watch Order.

Without any hesitation, Zhang Daoxuan steadily placed the Night Watch Token into the groove.

The moment the token entered the slot, it emitted a very crisp "ding".

The sound wasn't loud, but it was remarkably clear in the empty underground space.

Then Zhang Daoxuan turned his head and looked at Chen Yang.

"Activate the astrolabe."

Chen Yang took a deep breath and placed his hands on the control panel.

"Astrology activated!"

"Buzz—"

The next moment, a low buzzing sound came from deep within the base of the star chart.

The sound was initially very soft, like some long-dormant beast turning over.

But a second later, the beeping suddenly increased in volume.

The entire seven underground levels were shaking.

It could even be said that the entire Supreme Command was shaken.

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The staff officers on duty on the ground felt a faint tremor under their feet and looked at each other in bewilderment.

The experienced senior staff officers' expressions immediately changed—they knew what this tremor meant.

The astrolabe has been activated.

Another major incident has occurred.

In the circular space on the seventh underground level, the suspended sphere of light suddenly burst forth with a blinding white light.

White light burst forth from the surface of the sphere, flowing rapidly along the ancient patterns on the base.

It's like a blood vessel infused with life.

Then, a huge energy surge exploded out from the core of the star chart.

Fluctuations are invisible and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

But all professionals can sense its presence.

The energy wave spread out in all directions to the west at an unreasonable speed, centered on the Supreme Command Headquarters.

They passed through the underground pipe network of Longjing City.

We crossed the mountains and rivers outside the city.

It traversed the vast territory of the entire Shenxia Empire.

Almost at the same moment the fluctuations spread out—

Kunlunxu.

At the summit of the snow-capped peak.

Wang Cang was holding a pipe in his hand, puffing away.

They were clearly waiting for a reply from the Supreme Command.

However, perhaps because Old Master Wang was getting a little annoyed, he first tapped the sole of his shoe with his pipe and cursed, "These little brats, why are they so slow? Are they going to do it or not? Give me a straight answer! If we're late, we won't even be able to get the shit warm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a token hanging from his waist suddenly began to vibrate violently.

The token was exactly the same shape as the night watch token in Zhang Daoxuan's hand.

However, the character engraved on the front is not "night" but "vast".

Wang Cang glanced down at the token that was vibrating incessantly at his waist and raised an eyebrow.

Then he chuckled twice.

The laughter, carried by the wind across the vast snow-capped peaks, didn't seem out of place.

"The Night Watch Astrolabe has been activated?"

He reached out and took the token, weighed it in his hand, and a meaningful smile appeared on his old face: "It seems that I'm not the only one who can't sit still."

He certainly knew what that meant.

The fact that the Night Watch Star Chart was activated meant that he wasn't the only one who had submitted a resignation application.

It was something that everyone brought up.

"Those old fogies, they have a pretty good nose."

Wang Cang muttered something to himself, his tone carrying the casualness typical of old friends.

He clicked the connection rune on the token.

Almost at the same moment—

The Qinling Underground Palace.

A tall, thin old man with a stern face stood in front of a dark blue dimensional rift.

He stared at the crack for three seconds.

Then he glanced down at the token at his waist that was vibrating wildly.

He answered the call with a blank expression.

……

The South China Sea has returned to ruins.

Deep beneath the ocean, a woman covered in seaweed sits on a coral reef.

She tilted her head and looked at the token in her hand, which was shaking as if she had been electrocuted.

He gave a dry laugh.

connected.

……

Bottom of the pool in Changbai Mountain.

A robust young man who looked to be only ten years old stood in the center of the bottom of an ice-blue lake.

But the speed at which he connected the token was unusually fast.

connected.

……

Shennong Mountain.

Beside the dimensional rift, a short, stout old man was squatting on the ground watering an unknown herb.

When the token vibrated, he chuckled, put the kettle aside, wiped his hands, and answered the call.

……

Aiyun Mountain

A figure draped in a white cloak stood alone amidst the ruins, the vibration of the token sounding particularly jarring in the silence of the ruins.

The figure tilted their head slightly, then raised their hand to answer the call.