The three Quasi-Grandmasters from the Dark Group did not return with them. Instead, they remained on the flanks to stand guard, ensuring the retreat proceeded without interference.
Han Mo, Tie Zhan, and Lu Wenquan escorted Xu Wuyi as the group boarded the assault shuttle that had been waiting for them.
The hatch closed, the engines ignited, and the shuttle sped off in the direction of Mountain Stone Base.
Outside the viewport, Broken Star Castle gradually shrank, finally disappearing below the horizon.
...
By the time they returned to Mountain Stone Base, it was already evening.
Two dim yellow suns sank beneath the horizon, one after the other, dyeing the sky in interwoven shades of dark red and deep purple.
The sea breeze grew stronger, and waves crashed against the base’s outer walls with a dull boom.
Xu Wuyi didn’t rest, following Han Mo directly to the command center instead.
In Conference Room No. 3, Yang Zhenyue, Su Wanqing, and Chen Feng were already waiting. The three Quasi-Grandmasters from the Dark Group hadn’t left either, which clearly meant there were still important matters to discuss.
"Sit."
Yang Zhenyue gestured for everyone to take a seat and pulled up a holographic projection of the combat logs.
The footage began with the feint attack, moved to Xu Wuyi clearing the field, then the appearance of six Vice-Kings, the surprise attack by the Blood Wing Twin Kings, and finally, the Dark Group’s arrival to turn the tide. The entire sequence had been recorded from multiple angles with perfect clarity.
"First, let’s assess Xu Wuyi’s combat strength." Yang Zhenyue got straight to the point. "Researcher Su, you begin."
Su Wanqing pushed up her glasses and brought up a data analysis interface.
"According to the battlefield Energy readings, Martial Artist Xu’s Power of Heart Image peaked at the Middle Tier Innate level during this battle, and its stability was extremely high."
"His Gravity Manipulation has a maximum range of a three-hundred-meter radius with centimeter-level precision. He can generate a maximum of approximately two hundred Flame True Seals at once. The killing power of a single seal is enough to instantly kill an ordinary Innate, and it has a continuous burning effect even on those at the Vice-King level."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "What’s most noteworthy is the ’Cognitive Mapping’ ability Martial Artist Xu displayed in combat. He extended the Gravity Rules from the physical plane to the Spirit plane, successfully resisting and countering the Feathered People’s Heart-Eroding Curse. This already touches upon High Tier applications of the Power of Heart Image, which, in theory, only someone at the peak of the Quasi-Grandmaster level should be able to grasp."
The conference room fell silent for a moment.
"A twenty-one-year-old Innate who has grasped techniques at the peak Quasi-Grandmaster level." Chen Feng said, his arms crossed and his tone flat. "It’s completely understandable why the Feathered People want to kill him, no matter the cost."
Tie Zhan grinned. "Even... he wasn’t this monstrous back in the day."
"That’s not the point." Han Mo looked at Yang Zhenyue. "Commander, the Feathered People’s formation today was obviously a carefully designed kill trap. Six Vice-Kings to pin us down, while the Blood Wing Twin Kings went for the kill. If the Dark Group hadn’t arrived in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Yang Zhenyue nodded. "Therefore, we must adjust our strategy moving forward."
He brought up a strategic map of the entire Tianshui Star Realm.
"The Feathered People have fully contracted their defensive lines, concentrating their forces in five main fortresses. They’re obviously planning to mount a defensive counter-attack, using the fortifications to wear us down while seeking opportunities to hunt Xu Wuyi."
"Then what’s our move?" Lu Wenquan asked. "A direct assault on the fortresses would result in too many casualties, but if we don’t attack, the front line will solidify into a stalemate."
"Which is why we need a new approach." Yang Zhenyue’s finger swept across the map. "The Feathered People think Xu Wuyi is our only sharp blade, but the truth is... we have other cards to play."
All eyes turned to him.
"Commander, you mean..." Han Mo said, looking thoughtful.
"Xu Wuyi will continue to serve as a strategic deterrent, but he will not be deployed lightly," Yang Zhenyue said slowly.
"We need to make it so the Feathered People can’t guess where or when he’ll appear next. Meanwhile, we’ll intensify the offensive on other fronts, forcing them to spread out their troops so they can’t focus everything on hunting him."
Su Wanqing added, "Judging by the actions of the Blood Wing Twin Kings today, there is a divergence in the threat assessment of Xu Wuyi within the Feathered People. The Blood Sacrifice Divine Hall wants him dead at any cost, but other factions may not be willing to invest so many resources. We can use this to create internal friction."
Chen Feng said coldly, "Sow discord. Divide and conquer."
"Precisely." Yang Zhenyue nodded. "The command staff will work out the detailed plan. I’ve called you all here today not just for a post-battle summary, but for one other matter—"
He looked at Xu Wuyi.
"Martial Artist Xu, from this day forward, your security level is being raised to ’Grandmaster Level.’ All off-base movements must be accompanied by at least two Quasi-Grandmasters. You are not to participate in any frontline combat without explicit approval from Command."
Xu Wuyi frowned. "Commander, isn’t this a bit..."
"This is an order." Yang Zhenyue cut him off, his tone unquestionable. "You are no ordinary Innate Martial Artist; you are a strategic asset of the Federation. Your life and death already influence the direction of the entire war in the Tianshui Star Realm."
No one in the conference room objected.
Everyone knew Yang Zhenyue was speaking the truth. A Genius who could clear a battlefield of hundreds of enemies, forcing the Feathered People to use their trump cards in an attempt to surround and kill him, was worth far more than ten ordinary Quasi-Grandmasters.
Xu Wuyi was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "I understand."
"Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re to be confined to the base," Yang Zhenyue said, his tone softening slightly.
"You need to keep growing, to be honed by real combat. But all battles must be within controlled perimeters. We will arrange specialized training and missions for you, designed to increase your strength while guaranteeing your safety."
Han Mo clapped Xu Wuyi on the shoulder. "Listen to the Commander. A tall tree catches the wind. The Feathered People are watching you, and even among our own... not everyone necessarily has good intentions."
The words were heavy with implication.
Xu Wuyi felt a chill run down his spine.
’The human Federation isn’t a monolith; the power plays between its various factions are complex. For a Genius like me, if there are people who want to protect me, there must also be people who want to control me... or even destroy me.’
’They wouldn’t dare make a move themselves, of course. But manipulating things from the shadows to place me in a dangerous situation? It was entirely possible someone was already pulling those strings.’
"I’ll be careful," he said in a low voice.
The meeting continued for another half hour, with detailed discussions on the subsequent tactical arrangements and Xu Wuyi’s training plan.
When the meeting finally ended, the sky outside was filled with countless stars.
Xu Wuyi walked out of the command center and made his way alone to the observation deck on the base’s top floor.
The sea wind howled, carrying the chill of the deep. Far out on the water, the sparse lights of Federation patrol boats drifted slowly through the darkness.
He closed his eyes, replaying the day’s battle in his mind.
The coordinated attack of the Blood Wing Twin Kings, the fusion of Gravity and Flame, the confrontation on the Spirit plane... every scene replayed itself over and over in his head.
’Still not strong enough.’
’If I were strong enough, I wouldn’t have needed the Dark Group to rescue me. I could have defeated the Blood Wing Twin Kings in a direct confrontation, charged into Broken Star Castle, and eliminated every last one of those Feathered People.’
The Power of Heart Image circulated through his meridians as the Dark Gold Mountain Body stood majestically in his sea of consciousness. Atop its peak, the Golden Crow Illusion spread its wings, the Flame runes on its feathers glowing brilliantly.
He could feel that he was very close to a breakthrough.
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