All-out: Starting with the Awakening Special Operations Unit, search, attack, and withdrawal.

[An upgrade plan for the "Special Operations Division" has been detected...]

[Upgrade?]

This upgrade consumes no passive energy points, but it will forcibly retrieve the real-world item "Forbidden Item 003 - Imperial Tomb Core".

Chu Hong, who had originally planned to agree to upgrade without hesitation, suddenly felt a chill.

"No! Brother Tong, what you just did was scary enough. If you had taken that thing directly from the treasures under the layers of security and blockade of Daxia, I would have been sent to the dissection table in the next second..."

Chu Hong hurriedly refused.

Finding that he had regained his mobility and that the "Divine Platform" potential scanning core beneath him seemed to be in standby mode, Chu Hong opened his eyes and slowly sat up from the bed.

I had just sat up and hadn't even had a chance to speak.

An excited figure swiftly appeared in front of him.

"Chu Hong, we've really given you a fright today. It's truly...we never expected that within the Great Xia territory, in the Xia Long Base City of the Central District, someone would dare to brazenly snatch someone in public!"

"This is simply... a disgrace to the family!"

Liu Wanquan was practically pointing his finger at Wen Zaishan and the others and cursing them.

While cursing, he was also gripping Chu Hong's wrist tightly with one hand.

It was as if they were afraid that Chu Hong would be snatched away again in the next second.

Without saying a word, he grabbed Chu Hong and started to walk outside.

"Don't worry, Chu Hong. Your information and that of your three companions have already been entered into the system backup. At most, those underhanded tricks of some people will only make us spend some time recovering the information."

"Chu Hong, you are still freshmen of our Dragon Roar Sacred Academy! The resources in the middle level of Suspended Dragon City are much better than those in the lower level, and the people you come into contact with are at least at the Core Condensation Realm..."

Liu Wanquan stopped in his tracks, staring angrily at Su Zheng, who stood calmly in front of them.

"You dare stop me?! You think you can stop me?!"

Liu Wanquan let out a fierce shout, and the surging source energy on his body instantly erupted, actually bursting out of his body in a substantial way. Then, in a burst of red light, it solidified into a ferocious and savage tiger with piercing eyes.

He shielded him and Chu Hong behind him.

A look of shock flashed in Chu Hong's eyes.

This tiger was not an illusion, but a tangible entity that could be touched.

But it wasn't a living thing, nor was it the result of being driven by some red-quality collectible; rather, it seemed more like... something from a cultivation novel from my previous life.

The true form of the Dharma?

Is this the realm beyond the Core Condensation Realm?

Chu Hong took a deep breath, his eyes burning with passion.

Su Zheng, who was blocking their way, remained silent.

However, a source energy fluctuation that was no weaker than Liu Wanquan's also rose from his body. Behind him, a faint spatial ripple rippled, as if through a thin veil of a layer of space.

A row of four doors was radiating a scorching light, like phantom energy cannons charging up, pointing directly at Liu Wanquan in front of him.

Chu Hong observed these two individuals of equal strength, yet using different methods and techniques.

He had a vague idea of ​​what changes occurred in the realm after the Core Condensation Realm...

"Alright, what's the point of fighting over these things now? Retrieving the [Forbidden Item] from Number 003 isn't something anyone can decide casually. This matter needs to be reported to the Dragon Pavilion!"

Wen Zaishan took off his glasses, took a slight breath, suppressed his excitement, and spoke calmly.

On the console, the brand-new fusion solution that appeared out of nowhere made his world seem as if several windows that he had never imagined had been opened.

"Regardless of whether Chu Hong chooses to stay with Tiangong or return to Longming, he is an important and valuable talent resource for our Great Xia!"

"Even if he joins the Dragon Roar Holy Academy in the future, the Heavenly Craftsmen will still be willing to provide him with the best resources and assistance... just like they would their own students!"

Hearing Wen Zaishan's solemn words.

Liu Wanquan, who was on the verge of a fight, also breathed a small sigh of relief.

We absolutely must snatch him, even if it means fighting. We must snatch him because he is a top-notch talent with a great potential to become a new guardian deity of the nation. Because of Liu Wanquan's inaction, the Tiangong Academy has benefited from his inaction.

Then Liu Wanquan's name will become utterly infamous in the history of Longming Sacred Academy!

"I'm going to report to the Dragon Pavilion. Ji Ji, you continue the [Forbidden Item] matching for Chu Hong's companions..."

Senior Tao nodded, her face also showing excitement.

As he walked back to the control panel, he couldn't help but glance once more at Chu Hong, who was still being fiercely protected by Liu Wanquan.

The future guardian of the nation...

Wang Suming's focus, however, was rather novel. He stared blankly at Wen Zaishan, who seemed to vanish from the spot in an instant as if teleporting, and then looked at Senior Tao.

"Senior, the Ji Ji that Dean Wen just called out, was that you...?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Hong's gaze also held a strange glint.

This senior student's name... is quite unique.

Tao Jiji glared at Wang Suming: "You talk too much! You're next! Go lie down..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Suming nervously lay down inside the "Divine Platform" Potential Scanning Core.

With Tao Jiji operating the machine, it began to run normally.

Just like Chu Hong had done before, the data stream began to sweep across the screen once again.

only.

With Chu Hong's brilliant example before them, everyone's minds were already wandering to the future image of Chu Hong becoming a guardian deity of the nation, even though they were staring at the screen.

Especially Song Jiao'er.

She was already under a lot of pressure, and now, from exerting so much force, the knuckles of her hands turned white.

"Beep beep beep" came in waves, the sound of the proposal being rejected.

Suddenly, Chu Hong frowned slightly.

"Does matching everyone with [forbidden items] have to be this complicated?"

His sudden words brought everyone back to their senses, and when they saw the information on the screen, everyone's brains went blank for a moment.

"【Forbidden Item 75 - Insect Valley Sacrifice】......Rejected!"

"..."

"【Forbidden Item 17: Deathly Demonic Purification】...Rejected!"

"..."

After Wen Zaishan left, Liu Wanquan and Su Zheng, who had the highest authority and status at the scene, were so shocked by the absurd scene that they were speechless.

"What, how come there's another one?!"

17, 16, 15... one taboo after another was rejected.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath at that moment.

The data on the console finally settled.

"【Forbidden Item 10 - Radiation Behemoth】......Fusion Estimation.....85%"

"Data fusion standards have been met, and permissions comply with fusion conditions... Do you wish to retrieve [Forbidden Item 10 - Radiation Behemoth] and initiate fusion?"

Number ten is a forbidden item!

If the fusion estimate is 85%, then it's practically the perfect contract template!

Su Zheng and Liu Wanquan exchanged a glance.

Liu Wanquan spoke first: "I'll take charge! 85% of the fusion estimate, no need to report, just retrieve the [forbidden material]!"

Su Zheng sent a message to Wen Zaishan, who had just left, using the communicator in his hand.

After a few seconds' delay, Wen Zaishan's reply was delivered.

Seeing Su Zheng nod, Tao Jiji took a deep breath and began operating the control panel.

The white blocks behind the control panel also began to move, like containers being loaded at a port.

A petrified demon statue, encased in a glass container, soon appeared before everyone's eyes.

[Item Name]: Forbidden Item - Radiation Behemoth

[Item Level]: Red

Value: 7,500,000

[Type]: Craft collectibles

【Weight】: 30kg

[Occupies backpack slot capacity]: 3×3

[Item Description]: An unknown substance possessing extremely violent source energy factors, definitely not a product of the secret realm. A forced seal petrified and imprisoned the core of the radiation troll, but the release of its energy is only a matter of time. No one knows its energy peak; all that is known is that since its arrival in this world, it has been constantly in a state of energy growth.

"Begin the fusion!"

Tao Jiji solemnly issued the order, and the [Forbidden Object - Radiation Beast] was immediately pushed into the feeding tank behind the ["Divine Altar" Potential Scanning Core].

"Buzz!!!"

Amidst a tremendous buzzing sound, Wang Suming, who was lying inside, was completely enveloped by a blinding light.

It was so small that it was almost impossible to see any human form.

"Holy crap...this looks like a cremation..." Chu Hong's ill-timed, hellish joke didn't elicit any agreement from anyone.

Su Zheng and Liu Wanquan quickly walked to the control panel.

On the screen, as the fusion progressed, it rapidly climbed from 1% to 10%, then 30%, 40%...

Once 100% fusion is complete.

On the screen, a new line of skill information appeared after Wang Suming's personal information.

【Weight and Strength】: Level 2 skill. It can be activated by consuming source energy while under load. The greater the load, the greater the power amplification. It can be activated repeatedly.

Chu Hong's eyes widened, and for a moment he didn't understand whether this skill meant what he thought it meant.

He gasped slightly.

"The more weight you carry, the greater your strength; the greater your strength, the more weight you can carry, so... left foot stepping on right foot?"

Meanwhile, on the other side...

In the upper level of the Hanging Dragon City, amidst a set of ancient and elegant Xia Dynasty gardens, Wen Zaishan wiped the sweat from his brow and stepped out.

But in his hand, a golden dragon token appeared.

Dragon Pavilion approved!

Chu Hong is permitted to fuse with the [Forbidden Item - Imperial Tomb Core]!

[Item Name]: Forbidden Item - Imperial Tomb Core

[Item Level]: Red

Value: 9,000,000

[Type]: Tools and Materials

【Weight】: 8.8kg

[Occupies backpack slot capacity]: 2×2

[Item Description]: An unknown substance possessing extremely violent source energy factors, definitely not a product of any secret realm. It appears to contain source energy comparable to a hellish secret realm, requiring meticulous maintenance and guarding to prevent an irreversible source energy disaster.

"Chu Hong, you must not let Great Xia down..."

P.S.: Oh my god! Thunder and lightning! The humble author's house lost power, but thankfully it was restored in time. o(╥﹏╥)o