Chapter 15: Metamorphosis

"Check your gear!" Aoki's voice was low and firm, cutting through the quiet hum inside the ship. The team snapped into alert—this was it. The operation was about to begin.

On the ship's screen, the lush landscape of Qingcheng Mountain unfolded vividly: green hills blanketed in thick forest, peaks rising like ancient walls guarding secrets beneath.

Wang Xuan tightened his protective suit. It felt heavy but reassuring—bulletproof and resistant to blades. In a life-or-death moment, it might just save him.

Strapped to his back was a razor-sharp alloy blade, perfect for close combat—a brutal weapon that could turn the tide if things went south. A dagger hung at his belt, small but lethal in narrow spaces where retreat wasn't an option.

"There's one piece of gear I don't know how to use," Wang Xuan admitted, eyeing a small vial of liquid.

Aoki explained calmly, "That contains synthetic irises. Put them on, and your identity won't be exposed."

Wang Xuan followed instructions, peering into a handheld mirror. His pupils shifted to a pale blue. Paired with the lifelike synthetic skin mask, he looked convincingly Western—unrecognizable.

"Qingcheng Mountain has deep ties to Taoism and a shroud of mystery," said 'Black Tiger,' one of the operatives. "Could there really be something incredible hidden there?"

They all used code names; no one dared utter their real identities.

'Kestrel' snarled, "We have to stop them. No way can we let those bastards succeed. The Old Lands are nearly stripped bare—everything of value shipped off to New Star, locked away by research institutes and tycoons."

Anger simmered beneath the surface. The entire Old Lands, including Qingcheng, had been mined underground countless times. Discovering anything new was a rare stroke of luck.

Wang Xuan, still new, couldn't help but ask, "Won't blocking them spark retaliation? Could this escalate into a full-scale conflict?"

Aoki shook his head, voice steady, "No. Even in decline, the Old Lands aren't puppets to a few wealthy families who could start a war. Besides, Old Lands and New Star still share roots. Trust the organization—we've ventured far beyond the stars. We're not afraid of them."

Black Tiger added, "These tycoons are sneaky thieves, stealing in the shadows. We block them, and it'll seem like nothing happened once things settle."

But there was no denying the danger ahead. Conflict could get brutal, and casualties were expected.

Wang Xuan fell silent. This wasn't the exploration he had imagined—he'd thought it was just uncovering lost places in deserted lands.

"High-energy weapons are set up inside the mountain," Aoki said through the comms. "Teams two and three will neutralize them."

"Got it. Team four's on standby."

The operation was no mere expedition—it was a small-scale battle involving multiple squads.

Aoki's calm voice hinted he understood Wang Xuan's thoughts: "We're chasing something even the ancient alchemists would have coveted. If it's connected to the Immortals, its value is beyond measure. That's why this must be flawless. Multiple teams will act simultaneously."

"Old Mu, focus. Prepare the electromagnetic pulse—take down the palace's robots and weapons."

Old Mu stayed aboard the ship, tasked with extraction and disabling any large-scale threats left behind.

"Do they have countermeasures?" Wang Xuan asked.

Aoki's face was serious, "Relax. We're professionals. After this, you can study every step of our plan."

Qingcheng Mountain was evergreen, dotted with stone steps and winding paths. Ancient Taoist temples hid in cliffs and dense groves.

Legends wrapped this place in mysticism—one of Taoism's sacred paradises.

But after decades, perhaps centuries of mining, the underground was a tangled web of tunnels. Finding anything new was a miracle.

Aoki led—silent and agile like a mountain tiger—through the forest. The others—Black Tiger, Kestrel, Kite, and 'Little Wang' (Wang Xuan's code)—followed closely. They were all skilled practitioners of ancient arts, formidable fighters.

Soon, they reached their target: a hidden entrance to the underground palace nestled at the foot of a small, remote hill at Qingcheng's edge. No wonder it was missed before.

Machines tirelessly dug into the mountain, hauling out tons of earth and rock. The faint outline of the underground palace was visible far inside.

Aoki motioned for caution. They waited outside, biding their time until the Zhou and Ling families breached the palace and retrieved the treasure. Then they'd ambush at the exit. Entering prematurely was too risky.

The hum of machines was broken by the clang of stone doors forced open.

"They broke through! The palace is huge!" shouted voices echoed inside.

"There's an altar! We found it—a golden box is on it!" Cheers rose.

Unable to contain themselves, many guards rushed inside after the foul air cleared, eager to witness the legendary artifact rumored to hold Immortal relics.

Black Tiger, Kestrel, and Kite—practitioners devoted to the old ways—breathed heavily, eyes bright with anticipation.

Only Aoki remained stoic, silent as a shadow, waiting for the decisive moment.

"Enough." He keyed the comm to Old Mu: "Go!"

Simultaneously, teams two and three attacked the high-energy weapons buried nearby.

One by one, the palace's robots malfunctioned. Some toppled, sparks flying wildly. These machines were impervious to conventional weapons and packed with energy arms—lethal on their own.

Boom!

A shockwave rumbled through the mountain. The high-energy defenses were neutralized.

"Are they all dead?" Wang Xuan asked, grim.

"No. Mostly stunned. The weapons are the priority," Aoki replied evenly.

Another explosion sealed the palace's entrance—rocks and earth collapsed, trapping everyone inside.

Anger and frustration roared faintly from within. No reinforcements came.

Aoki ordered, "Teams five and six, move up and wait for the right moment."

"Are we just gonna suffocate them?" Wang Xuan felt a chill. This wasn't the exploration he imagined.

Black Tiger shook his head, "No killing. Once they lose oxygen and pass out, we'll dig them out."

Aoki sighed, "I wish we could find a legacy stronger than the old alchemists' techniques. Otherwise, even the best practitioners are fragile against modern weapons."

He voiced a deep frustration shared by many—traditional arts felt powerless in this new era.

Suddenly, Aoki snapped upright, alert.

"They're breaking through the mountain in the opposite direction—trying to escape!"

He ordered teams two, three, and four to encircle.

Black Tiger scoffed, "How far can they dig? This is solid mountain."

"Don't forget—Qingcheng's tunnels are a spiderweb. They might break through somewhere else. Chasing them will be a nightmare."

Boom!

The entrance burst open. The path cleared. Backup teams arrived.

Wang Xuan readied himself—blade on back, energy gun in hand. This weapon could stun or kill, depending on the power. He chose the stun setting, still inexperienced.

"Move fast! They haven't broken through the inner mountain yet!" Aoki commanded, firing a wide energy blast.

Sounds of thudding bodies echoed.

Suddenly, Aoki lunged forward, and Wang Xuan felt his hair stand on end—he fell down instinctively.

Beside him, Kestrel's chest erupted with a glowing hole. The suit couldn't stop it; blood sprayed everywhere.

Kestrel collapsed instantly—no cry, just silence.

Wang Xuan's world shook. This was his first kill witnessed. A life extinguished in front of him.

Despite his maturity, his heart slammed. That was a real person, one moment beside him, the next drenched in blood.

Was choosing this path reckless? This was nothing like what he imagined.

He had parents waiting at home. He could not die here.

He forced himself calm. Survival was the first rule.

"We haven't killed anyone yet. They cracked first. No regrets." Aoki growled, cranking his gun to lethal.

With terrifying skill, he slashed through the dark, weaving between deadly energy beams.

Wang Xuan gasped—Aoki was a true master.

Blade flashed. Aoki charged, cutting down enemies with his alloy sword.

"Charge!" Black Tiger, Kite, and other squads rushed in.

Wang Xuan followed, firing stun blasts, knocking several foes down.

Though new to the gun, close-range bursts hit their marks.

He stayed cautious, darting along walls, hiding behind rocks, narrowly avoiding deadly beams.

The beams vanished. The fight turned brutal—hand-to-hand.

"Master Aoki, I'm facing a super skilled opponent. His new technique is unstoppable!" Black Tiger shouted, blood covering him.

A glowing palm slammed into Black Tiger, raining radiant sparks and blood.

Aoki roared, rushing to clash fiercely.

Suddenly, a section of mountain wall shattered—revealing a hidden tunnel.

The opponent, clutching a golden box, turned and fled down the passage.

The team gave chase.

Kite called to Wang Xuan, "Your shooting is shaky. You almost hit us. Stay back, don't follow."

Wang Xuan nodded, grateful for the warning.

The palace fell silent, bodies scattered—some dead, others stunned.

Hiding behind a giant.