Chapter 31: Full Penetration
Chapter 31: Full Penetration
While Xue Ruyan was praying for Jiang Tian's safety, outside the space-time gate, in Yue City, a tense situation was unfolding.
---
Huang Hui, the chief of the Xunfu Prefecture, was standing in his office, nervously serving an old man with a nod and a bow.
---
"Teacher, why are you back so soon?"
Huang Hui handed over a cup of hot tea and asked with a smile.
Zhou Shang took the tea, blew on it, took a sip, and said, "It's all because of that useless disciple. He has some problems with his cultivation, so I need to give him some advice."
---
Zhou Shang said this without the slightest bit of shame or nervousness.
There was no way he would admit that guiding his apprentice was one thing, but on the other hand, he was also learning a few tricks from his disciple.
The former War Emperor and the current principal of Hongwu University—would he really be so shameless?
---
Boom boom!
A series of urgent knocks suddenly echoed from the door, making Huang Hui frown.
---
Urgent News.
Before entering the office, he had already given strict orders—unless it was an emergency, no one was allowed to disturb them.
If word got out that Zhou Shang was frequently appearing in Yue City, it would definitely attract unwanted attention.
Someone knocking despite the order meant that something major had happened.
Huang Hui glanced at Zhou Shang, who had already pulled out a mask and a hat from somewhere.
A simple and crude disguise, yet effective.
Seeing this, Huang Hui opened the door.
Standing there was one of his trusted patrol officers, drenched in sweat.
"Boss, something big has happened."
---
"Something Big?"
---
Huang Hui didn't understand at first, but when he followed his officer to the special detention room of the patrol office, he felt a chill run down his spine.
---
The Report Was Terrifying.
---
"In the case of the suburban Starry Sky Gate incident, we followed clues and caught some small fish."
"At first, it seemed minor, but after several days of investigation, we uncovered something shocking."
"There are people from Starry Sky Gate who have infiltrated the temporary examination group for the city-wide awakening assessment."
---
Huang Hui's face darkened. "How deep is the infiltration?"
---
"Based on the evidence we obtained, they seem to have targeted a specific student and are planning a kidnapping... inside the examination site."
---
A Kidnapping?
Huang Hui crossed his arms and said coldly, "That's impossible. How could they kidnap someone from inside the assessment venue?"
---
"Because the exam has a death quota."
---
The interrogator explained, "They're planning to hide the target inside an ice coffin."
Huang Hui froze.
---
The Plan Was Ingenious.
"By choosing a relatively weak student with no background, they ensure that when he 'dies' in the exam, no one will investigate too deeply."
"They can then transport the ice coffin—along with their actual target—out of the exam unnoticed."
---
Huang Hui's expression turned ashen.
The Starry Sky Gate had infiltrated so deeply that it was terrifying.
---
"Who are the suspects?"
---
The interrogator hesitated.
"From our intelligence, the infiltration started over two years ago.
"The city-wide examination team has 15 members—including the leader, deputy leader, and 14 other officials. At least 14 of them are from Starry Sky Gate."
"Among the 329 examiners monitoring the assessment, 278 are suspected to be infiltrators."
---
Boom!
A furious aura erupted from Huang Hui.
---
"What the hell has Ping'an Prefecture been doing?!"
His pupils were filled with murderous intent.
---
The Starry Sky Gate Had Already Infested Everything.
"They have one job! Just one job! Investigate Starry Sky Gate! And yet, this is what happens?!"
---
The interrogator quickly covered his mouth before he could say anything worse.
"Boss! Be careful with your words!"
---
Huang Hui angrily pushed the officer's hand away.
---
"You don't understand. Do you think I'm mad about the infiltration?!"
"No! I'm mad because those idiots didn't do their jobs!"
---
Huang Hui suddenly stopped talking.
He realized he couldn't mention either Xue Ruyan's identity or the existence of his teacher's last disciple.
---
Instead, he took a deep breath and said, "My nephew, Huang Xing, is inside that exam."
"If Starry Sky Gate causes a riot, can we really control it?"
---
Then, he gave an immediate order.
---
"The 1st and 2nd Patrol Teams—follow me to the examination hall.
"We'll kill every Starry Sky Gate member and protect the students.
"The 3rd Battalion will arrest all suspects. Notify the Star Expedition Army stationed in Yue City and ask them to block off the entire city!"
---
Meanwhile, Back in the Exam Venue...
---
No. 15204, the Level 1 Space-Time Gate.
A fire raged in the redwood forest, sending billowing black smoke into the sky.
From within the thick smoke, a distorted shadow was growing larger and larger.
Wu Xianqing, his corrupt examiner allies, and the Level 2 Flame Birds all turned to face it, their eyes filled with vigilance.
---
"Who is it?"
---
They had expected to eliminate all opposition.
Most of the examiners in this area were already compromised.
---
"There shouldn't be anyone left to stop us."
---
Yet, as the shadow finally emerged from the smoke—
---
The entire battlefield fell silent.
---
Everyone Stared in Shock.
---
Because the figure that stepped out of the fire...
---
Wasn't an examiner.
It wasn't backup.
---
It Was Jiang Tian.