The private jet was a small, high-speed military transport with a refitted interior. Besides the pilot, only Xu Wuyi and Qiao Tongyu were on board.
The plane rose into the air, pierced the cloud layer, and headed toward Xingjing.
"We still have a little time. Let me walk you through the clearance procedure in detail." Qiao Tongyu pulled up his personal terminal, projecting a simplified diagram.
"First, you’ll be connected to a Spirit Resonance device to establish a shallow spiritual link with Grandmaster Shen. This phase is primarily for you to acclimate to the ’environmental pressure’ of a Grandmaster Level sea of consciousness, like adjusting to water pressure before a dive."
"Once you’ve acclimated, the medical team will guide your consciousness along the connecting channel into Grandmaster Shen’s sea of consciousness."
"Right now, that place is a ’Sword Intention Domain.’ Ye Yixin’s Sword Intention is dominant, while Grandmaster Shen’s own Blade Intention is suppressed in the core area, barely maintaining a fragile balance."
"Your mission, inside the Sword Intention Domain, is to find and defeat the Sword Intention’s core—the complete Sword Intention that Ye Yixin left behind."
"Be warned, this isn’t a virtual battle. There are no second chances. Once you begin, you must succeed in one fell swoop, completely destroying the Sword Intention’s core to purge it."
"During the purging process, Grandmaster Shen’s sea of consciousness will instinctively repel any outside consciousness, and the Sword Intention will actively attack you. The medical team will use equipment to help stabilize your connection, but you’ll have to bear the brunt of the pressure yourself."
Xu Wuyi studied the diagram carefully, committing every step to memory.
"What are the characteristics of the Sword Intention’s core?" he asked.
"Based on our previous probes, the Sword Intention’s core manifests in a form nearly identical to the Illusion: a man around thirty years old, dressed in gray, carrying a Cyan Sword," said Qiao Tongyu.
"But it will be stronger, and... it might possess certain Traits the Illusion lacks. After all, this is a Sword Intention left personally by Ye Yixin, one that contains his complete understanding of the Sword Dao."
Xu Wuyi nodded.
’In other words, I’ll be facing an enhanced version of "Ye Yixin," one that could possess more unknown abilities.’
"Is there anything else I need to watch out for?" he asked.
"Time," Qiao Tongyu said, his expression turning serious. "Theoretically, the purging process cannot take more than three minutes."
"Exceed that, and your Spirit will begin to degrade from prolonged exposure to the high-pressure environment. Grandmaster Shen’s sea of consciousness will also start to reject your presence for staying too long. It must be a swift and decisive operation."
Three minutes.
Xu Wuyi made a quick mental calculation.
With his current combat style, it took him an average of around forty seconds to defeat the Illusion in virtual battles.
’But in the actual purge, the environment will be more complex and the Sword Intention stronger. I might need a probing phase as well. Three minutes... That’s not much of a buffer.’
"I’ll keep it under control," he said.
Seeing Xu Wuyi’s calm expression, Qiao Tongyu’s anxiety eased slightly.
"One more thing." He paused. "During the purge, Grandmaster Shen will remain conscious. His consciousness will be situated in the core of his sea of consciousness, observing the entire process."
"If... if something goes wrong, he might forcibly intervene to ensure you can retreat safely. But doing so would intensify the backlash from the Sword Intention and cause him even greater harm."
Xu Wuyi fell silent for a moment.
"I won’t let it come to that," he finally said.
...
The private jet touched down at a military airfield in the northern suburbs of Xingjing at 9:17 AM.
The cabin door opened. Wu Dingbo was already waiting at the bottom of the ramp.
The Grandmaster General was wearing a dark blue service uniform. The General Stars on his epaulets glinted coldly in the morning light, but his expression was etched with obvious fatigue; he clearly hadn’t slept all night.
"Martial Artist Xu, Grandmaster Qiao." Wu Dingbo stepped forward, forgoing any pleasantries. "The car is ready. We’re heading straight to the main hospital."
Xu Wuyi and Qiao Tongyu nodded in return, and the three of them walked swiftly toward a black SUV waiting at the edge of the tarmac.
The vehicle left the airfield, entering the Xingjing urban area via a dedicated access route.
Wu Dingbo, in the front passenger seat, turned to face Xu Wuyi in the back. "The medical team is in position, the Spirit Resonance device has completed its final calibrations, and Deputy Minister Feng is also waiting at the main hospital."
Xu Wuyi nodded. "My condition is fine. I can begin at any time."
"No rush." Wu Dingbo paused. "There’s something I need to tell you first."
His tone grew solemn. "The final decision for you to be the one to attempt the Sword Intention purge wasn’t made by the military alone. It was Grandmaster Shen’s decision as well."
Xu Wuyi’s gaze wavered slightly.
Qiao Tongyu also looked at Wu Dingbo. "Old Shen woke up?"
"He was conscious for four hours yesterday evening," said Wu Dingbo. "The medical team presented him with the data on all candidates, including two other Grandmasters who have also defeated the Illusion. After reviewing everything, Grandmaster Shen specifically requested Xu Wuyi."
He looked at Xu Wuyi. "He said, ’That kid’s tactics weren’t a fluke. He’s truly found the way to counter Ye Yixin. The other two victories were more like sudden bursts of power—not replicable.’"
The car fell silent for a few seconds.
Xu Wuyi hadn’t expected to receive such an endorsement from a Peak Grandmaster he had never even met, especially under these circumstances.
"So," Wu Dingbo continued, "you don’t need to feel any extra pressure. The fact that Grandmaster Shen chose you means he believes you can do it."
After a moment of silence, Xu Wuyi asked, "How is Grandmaster Shen’s condition now?"
Wu Dingbo’s expression grew heavy. "Very bad. His periods of lucidity are getting shorter and shorter. Four hours yesterday, but only one hour in the early morning today. The medical team says the Sword Intention’s corrosion is approaching his Heart Phase Core. If this drags on any longer..."
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Xu Wuyi looked out at the streetscape rushing by, his finger tapping lightly on his knee.
"Then let’s start immediately," he said. "I don’t need to rest."
Wu Dingbo glanced at Xu Wuyi’s calm face in the rearview mirror, nodded, and said to the driver, "Notify the main hospital we’ll be there in forty minutes. Have the medical team make all necessary preparations."
"Yes, sir."
The Xingjing Military Region’s main hospital was located in the city’s western suburbs. On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary complex of white buildings, but its subterranean levels descended seven stories deep, housing the Federation’s highest-grade military medical center, reserved for high-ranking generals and important Martial Artists.
As Xu Wuyi stepped out of the vehicle, he immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.
Three cordons of sentry posts had been added to the hospital’s perimeter, all manned by elite Martial Artists armed with live ammunition. Their Life Energy Levels were all above 30.
An Energy Detector was set up at the entrance, and anyone entering or exiting had to pass through a strict identity verification process.
Wu Dingbo presented his credentials and led Xu Wuyi and Qiao Tongyu through multiple security checkpoints. Once inside the main building, they proceeded without stopping, heading directly for a restricted-access elevator.
The elevator descended. The numbers on the display flickered: -1, -2, -3...
It finally stopped at level -7.
The doors opened.
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