Huh? What do you mean your mother is one of the seven deadly sins?!

Helena tilted her head slightly, a deeper confusion flashing in her eyes; she simply didn't understand.

After thinking for a while and still not understanding, Helena looked down at the wound on Lin Xia's ribs that had almost completely healed under her holy light, leaving only a faint red mark.

Only after confirming that the last trace of erosion had been completely purified did she withdraw her small hand, and the holy light dissipated.

.........

Blue Star, Xia Kingdom, Secret Realm Central Command Center.

The atmosphere in the huge circular conference room was so heavy it was almost palpable.

On the holographic screen, fragmented intelligence from the SS-level Desire Realm—the seventh layer of the Abyss—was constantly scrolling, along with core information that was enough to overturn common sense, transmitted back through a letter.

The air was thick with a mixture of tension and anxiety.

"...A one-year survival period, a one-day return period, hunting gods... and that ability to devour worlds..."

An elderly man with gray hair tapped his fingers heavily on the table, his voice hoarse.

"This is no longer about conquering a secret realm; this is a war concerning the survival of our race!"

"What about the 'Spiritual Breathing Record' that Lin Xia sent back? Have the analysis results come out yet?"

Another middle-aged man in military uniform with gleaming epaulets asked in a deep voice, his sharp gaze sweeping over the technical team.

The technical supervisor immediately retrieved the data.

"Preliminary analysis complete. The principle behind this exercise is extremely unique; it can guide energy and initially strengthen the body! The expert panel unanimously agrees that its value is immeasurable! Small-scale testing has already shown significant results!"

"This is definitely... a genuine transcendental system from that world!"

The technical director's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement; this was almost the first ray of dawn that Blue Star had seen in the darkness of despair.

"And his mother's identity..."

Someone added in a low voice, their tone still carrying an incredulous and dazed quality.

"The seventh layer of the abyss, a transmigrator, a succubus queen, Liu Ruyan... This is simply... too bizarre! Yet, one can't help but believe it!"

The expressions in everyone's eyes were varied.

However, the focus of the debate soon shifted to the ancient compass-shaped device in the center of the conference room that emitted a faint blue light—the [Star Ring].

It is currently the only known legendary item that can briefly break through the world barrier and establish stable two-way communication under specific conditions, and it only has one last use left.

The cost is enormous, and the chances are slim.

"No!"

A bald, shrewd-eyed official suddenly stood up, his voice shrill.

"Our trump card is the 'Star Ring'! Using it now? Just to contact a student?"

"What if the information he provided is wrong, or what if his mother... is hiding something? This is too risky! We must save it for a more crucial moment, or use it on a more likely explorer!"

"An even more crucial moment?"

Someone immediately objected.

"Should we wait for the SSS-level secret realm to descend? Or should we wait for the Desire Realm to completely devour our city? Now is the most crucial moment!"

"Lin Xia is already at the core; his mother is the ruler there! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we don't seize it, how many more chances will we have?"

"A more promising explorer? Lin Xia is currently the most likely candidate!"

Another voice joined in.

"He sent back the core information, he sent back the cultivation techniques from that world! He even managed to gain a foothold in that other world! Without him, we're still risking our lives to find even the most basic intelligence! Tell me, who else is more likely to do this than him?"

"But there are risks..."

"Risk? Haven't we climbed over risks every step of the way?"

The old man sighed.

"Haven't we learned our lesson from those two cities in Japan? The devil has arrived! We have no time to hesitate any longer!"

The meeting room erupted in chaos.

Supporters and conservatives each held their own views, and the sounds of debate, data citations, and table-pounding mingled together, creating an atmosphere that seemed ready to ignite.

Everyone was flushed, their eyes bloodshot, the immense pressure pushing their rationality to its limit.

Just then, Lin Ruowei, who had been sitting in the main seat and silently staring at the [Star Ring], suddenly stood up.

boom!

Her pale hand slammed heavily on the cold alloy tabletop. The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap that instantly drowned out all the noise.

The entire conference room fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on her.

Lin Ruowei surveyed the entire scene. Her eyes, which had once fought bloody battles in the secret realm, now burned with a firm and blazing flame, showing no trace of the reluctance and sorrow she felt when she first faced her students' deaths.

Her voice was clear, powerful, and had an undeniable penetrating quality.

"Don't you even trust our own students?!"

Lin Ruowei's gaze swept across everyone's face, filled with questioning and heartache.

Look at these!

She pointed to a mountain of images of letters on the holographic screen—blood-stained, stained letters.

"Look at the information Lin Xia sent back: a year of survival, hunting gods, a succubus queen! Which of these isn't revolutionary? Which of these wasn't earned with their lives? The children we sent out are paving the way for us with their lives!"

"Lin Xia, not only did he survive, he also found the key person—his mother!"

"Isn't this a miracle?"

"Isn't this the breakthrough we've been waiting for?!"

Lin Ruowei took a deep breath, her speech quickening, carrying a sense of urgent mission:

"This realm of desire isn't a copy at all! It's a complete world, a world that's devouring us!"

"Its rules, its power system, and its methods of completion are completely different from any other dungeon we've encountered before!"

"While we argue and hesitate here, every single second, demons rage outside, and the process of merging the secret realms continues to advance!"

"The tragedy of the Sakura Kingdom is right before our eyes! If we continue to argue here over the right to use a mere tool, what will we use to cope when this behemoth completely crushes us? How will we protect the millions of ordinary people behind us?!"

"The Record of Spiritual Breathing Exercises!"

Lin Ruowei's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable certainty.

"This cultivation manual was the first key that Lin Xia and his mother gave us. It has proven its value and given us hope!"

"Isn't this enough to prove the value of Lin Xia's connection? Isn't it enough to prove the sincerity of his mother in conveying the message?"

"We've finally managed to grasp this glimmer of hope for clearing this hellish dungeon, after countless sacrifices and immense effort!"

"Just because we're afraid of the risks, are we going to nip it in the bud ourselves?!"

Lin Ruowei's gaze finally landed on the [Star Ring].

"Aren't props meant to be used by people? Aren't they meant to be used at the most crucial moments?"

"Now, that moment!"

"Are we going to keep it unused until it becomes an antique in a museum, and then regret it after we've completely failed?"