Blasting open the vault to steal information, magic factions!

Meanwhile, under the relentless force of four detonations, the once-impenetrable cement wall began to yield, splitting open with deep, jagged fissures.

"Mr. Ji, should we blast it again?" Tian Qing, who had been carrying the explosives, asked cautiously.

"Try chiseling first. If it doesn't work, set up another detonation in half an hour," Ji Boda instructed.

Following Ji's command, the ragtag crew swiftly armed themselves with shovels and other tools, chipping away at the wall, each piece of concrete falling away to reveal the promise of the coveted files and experimental apparatus concealed on the other side.

Once he could deliver these assets to Y Country, Ji Boda mused, he would finally secure the support of the Chasefield family—and along with it, the coveted powers they could bestow upon him.

Yet as Ji's ambitions filled his thoughts, a crewmember halted abruptly, observing the wall's stubborn core. "Sir, the cracks are helping with the surface concrete, but deeper sections are proving immovable. Plus, this entire concrete slab above could collapse if we continue this way."

"Hold off then. Set another three charges," Ji said dismissively.

Accustomed to obeying his word without question, the crew merely nodded, taking a step back from their efforts. As time slipped by, the air was punctuated once more by the roar of explosions.

Deep below, four security personnel exchanged wary glances. Each had an uneasy sense that something was amiss, the distant reverberations sounding too near for comfort.

"Should one of us go investigate?" one guard proposed.

"I'll take a look," his colleague replied, swiftly retracing his steps to verify the surveillance systems. Returning, he reported, "All clear. No alerts or breached zones. I checked every alarm nearby—nothing's been triggered."

The other guards shared puzzled looks, unable to reconcile the explosions they'd clearly heard with their complete lack of evidence.

"Relax. Since this catastrophe hit, missiles and explosions have become as common as rain," another guard shrugged. "Just get used to it."

Meanwhile, with the final detonation, the concrete slab at last collapsed, revealing the inner wall of the Security Bureau's underground chamber.

"Mr. Ji, do we detonate here as well?" Tian Qing inquired nervously.

"No need," Ji replied. "Blasting would trigger their alarms." He gestured for Tang Xue to step forward, who promptly began preparing her equipment.

After ensuring the crew had vacated the area, Tang Xue, donned in gloves and a gas mask, methodically applied bags of white powder to the wall's surface, followed by a potent liquid from another container. The combination emitted a nauseating odor, and in moments, the concrete began to erode, exposing the metal structure beneath.

The astonished crew could only marvel at the process, their limited minds unable to fathom the science at work.

First, she had used a strong base, then an acid, and now, with the application of a chlorine solution, the wall continued to dissolve, ultimately revealing a steel plate.

"Your turn," she said, sealing her equipment and swiftly exiting.

Ji checked his watch, awaiting the right moment. Time passed—fifteen minutes, then another half-hour. At last, he gave the order.

"Fifteen minutes—retrieve everything inside!"

The crew sprang into action, their collective reply resounding. Ji approached the steel plate, taking a deep breath as energy surged through his hands, starlight dancing at his fingertips. He struck, shattering the barrier with two fierce blows. With a final heave, he tore the steel open, leaving a yawning gap.

In the vault above, one of the guards turned to his colleagues. "Did anyone else hear that banging?"

"No," one replied.

"I swear I heard something," another muttered, his expression growing tense. "Like someone hammering at the door."

"Sounds bad," agreed the first. "Let's check it out!"

Pooling their strength, the guards unlocked the vault door and began to turn the wheel. As the heavy door swung open, they were met by Ji Boda himself. Before they could react, two military-grade knives flashed, and in silence, the guards collapsed, each lying in a darkening pool of blood.

Glancing over the fallen guards, Ji re-sealed the vault entrance and began organizing the rapid retrieval of items.

In the extradimensional rift, Xu Que and his team sprawled across the ground, utterly spent. For once, they hadn't been brought low by a powerful creature but rather by the sheer, endless numbers of them.

"Brother Xu, I swear…these blasted beetles are endless," Kun Shao sighed, lying atop two stag beetle carcasses.

"Enough talk," Xu replied curtly. "Focus on recovery."

Though drained himself, Xu felt a pang of regret. He should have brought reinforcements with Kun Shao. Instead, here they were—six battle-ready men against swarms of these insects. Clearing them all out in a single day seemed almost impossible.

"At least the loot has been worthwhile. I picked up four items myself after downing a couple hundred," Huang Bo chuckled.

"Too bad they're low-grade," Qi Shan sighed. "If we had more D-grade gear, we could equip a full squad."

But Xu Que's mind was elsewhere. He was strategizing on how best to eliminate the remaining insects swiftly. Equipment was secondary; D-grade weapons awaited in the valley's depths, and there was even one C-grade piece listed.

"Alright, rest up. I'll continue clearing the beetles," he said, rising.

The others stifled further complaints, knowing Xu's mentorship was a rare boon. Xu was oblivious to their sentiments, his thoughts already focused on reaching the valley's temple—a challenge he hoped would be easier than this relentless wave of insects.

He knew the temple's final boss, a Death Knight. Though records described it only briefly, one critical piece of information had stood out: the boss belonged to the Dark Abyss faction.

The rift's factions were a mystery. Xu knew only a few—Light, Dark, Fire, and Water. While his knowledge had been limited to what an A-rank warrior could learn, he was sure that these powers held secrets at the very pinnacle of strength, hints of which even he could barely comprehend.