The whole nation: You're put to survive on a desolate planet, you'll be running an alien b

That announcement was like an ice cube thrown into a boiling oil tank, instantly causing the entire dark web and even the real-world internet to boil and churn.

Inside the villa's basement, the air, which had previously been filled only with the low hum of server fans, was now filled with an almost tangible sense of tension. As Su Wan pressed the Enter key, the data flow on the screen instantly became violent, like muddy water bursting its banks, rushing back through the newly constructed secret passage.

"This isn't just about attention." Su Wan's fingers flew across the keyboard, the keystrokes ringing out in a series of crisp sounds, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "The DDoS attack has begun, but... it's not just a DDoS attack. There are also a lot of probing attacks, like a pack of wild dogs smelling blood, frantically searching for an entry point."

On the main screen, the previously stable green peaks have now turned into a frenzied crimson. The red dots representing malicious attacks are densely packed, like an electronic blizzard erupting at this moment, not only trying to breach the firewall, but also seemingly searching for physical location.

Li Haotian stood behind Su Wan, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the wildly fluctuating data, his expression as calm as a frozen rock. He watched the red alert flashing frantically at the edge of the screen, as if watching a silent drama that had nothing to do with him.

"Let them in," Li Haotian said calmly. "Leave a few ports open, just a few. Don't let them think it's too easy, but don't let them think they have no way out either. Make them feel—if they're just a little faster, they can get a piece of this meat."

Su Wan bit her lip, her heart pounding, but her hands didn't stop. She immediately set up a set of decoy servers, like several prey with flaws, deliberately thrown into the surging tide of data.

Almost the instant the bait was launched, several extremely powerful data streams pounced on it and clung to it tightly.

At the same time, the little black dog lying on top of the row of server racks flashing blue light suddenly moved.

The previously languid black cat suddenly straightened up, its lowered eyelids lifting to reveal a pair of deep, inky eyes. It emitted a very low purr, not like a whimper, but more like a predator's warning of a threat.

The silver pattern on its forehead seemed to breathe, flickering with the data lights on the server rack. Each time the silver light shone, an imperceptible wave seemed to emanate from it, penetrating directly into the cold metal chassis.

"It's helping to 'filter' it." Qin Yue, who had been standing silently at the door on guard, suddenly spoke, her voice tinged with surprise. "It seems to be able to smell the malice on the other end of the network."

Xiao Hei is indeed "sniffing". Virus code that is purely for destruction disappears or is led into a dead end the moment it touches the firewall, as if it has hit an invisible wall. But information that carries strong emotions or a specific demand is precisely "let in".

In the bottom right corner of the screen, a dedicated receiving window started scrolling rapidly.

Su Wan took a deep breath and quickly categorized the flood of information: "Most of it is abuse, calling us blasphemous lunatics; another part is pleas for help, stories of ghosts from various places, people going missing in their families... a complete mess. This group has been suppressed for too long, and the words 'Qing Shen' have become an outlet for their frustration."

Li Haotian ignored the clamor; his gaze, like a scalpel, swept across the scrolling text. He was searching for that specific frequency, that frequency that would remain calm amidst the chaos, or rather, that would observe everything with the mindset of a hunter.

"There's too much, we can't possibly read it all." Liu Hu leaned closer, looking at the text on the screen that was moving at a speed that was faster than the naked eye could perceive, and felt dizzy. "Boss, if they come knocking on our door, they'll break down our villa's gate."

"The louder the noise, the clearer the signal," Li Haotian said in a low voice, his pupils slightly contracting. "They're panicking. Because from today onwards, 'God' is no longer an unattainable mystery, but a business that can be priced. Once it can be priced, the halo of God shatters."

Just then, Xiao Hei suddenly arched its back and let out a sharp screech at the screen.

At the same time, Su Wan's hand suddenly paused: "A special data packet has been intercepted. It's not offensive, but... it's highly malicious."

"Screen mirroring." Li Haotian's voice deepened.

That message was extracted and displayed prominently in the center of the screen.

There were no lengthy curses, nor hysterical pleas for help. It was an extremely brief, even somewhat arrogant, message.

The sender ID is a string of random characters, but the IP address goes through several simple steps and finally points to a vague area—the unfinished buildings in the west of the city.

The message contained only ten characters:

"If God doesn't accept orders, will humans?"

This wasn't a question; it was more like a contemptuous provocation. It was like a finger gently poking Li Haotian's face through the thick fog of the internet.

The villa fell silent for a moment.

"Unfinished buildings in the west of the city..." Qin Yue frowned and quickly searched the map in her mind. "Demolition in that area has been stalled for three years. There are frequent reports of accidental deaths. The terrain is complicated. It is a typical gray area."

"This IP isn't just a provocation." Li Haotian stared at the words, a faint smile curving his lips, the excitement of a hunter seeing his prey's footprints. "It's telling me they know that 'Qing Shen' is backed by 'people,' and that they're just waiting there."

This is a trap.

The other party pulled the so-called "god" down from his pedestal, attempting to lure Li Haotian out through a seemingly crude trap, using his most prized identity as a "human." Or rather, it was a variation of some ancient ritual—an invitation to join the game.

"They think they can catch fish just by holding a fishing rod." Li Haotian straightened up, walked to the wall, took off the black trench coat, and draped it over his shoulders.

Su Wan turned to look at him: "Going?"

"The bait is already in the water. If they don't bite, how can this show continue?" Li Haotian said while adjusting his cuffs. "Besides, the fact that they chose a place like an unfinished building means they need some kind of cover. This shows that they are also afraid of the light."

Fear is a good thing. Fear creates weakness.

Xiao Hei nimbly jumped down from the server rack and silently walked to Li Haotian's feet, rubbing its body against his trouser leg. Its dark pupils reflected its owner's murderous intent at that moment.

Liu Hu patted his waist, and although he was nervous, he followed along: "I'll go too."

Qin Yue walked to the window and glanced at the dark rain outside. The rain was still falling, and the rumble of thunder made the city's neon lights look bizarre and surreal.

"I also need to talk to Dragon Shield; I can't let them think this is an illegal brawl." Qin Yue turned around, her gaze sharp. "But doesn't this count as a personal grudge?"

"It doesn't count." Li Haotian walked to the door, put his hand on the doorknob, and glanced back at the constantly flashing provocation on the screen.

"God doesn't accept orders, but man does."

He repeated it in a low voice, which echoed in the empty living room, carrying a metallic coldness.

"Tell them that human business is often more expensive than God's business."

The door was pushed open, and a damp, cold wind carrying rain rushed in. Li Haotian's figure disappeared into the darkness, like a sword just drawn from its sheath, ready to drink blood.

The bait has sunk into the abyss; now it's time to haul in the net.