Chapter 110: The Oriental Azure Dragon

One hour ago.

Xie Liu flew between the towering skyscrapers, his reinforced steel wire from the propulsion belt whipping him through the gaps between buildings. The city ahead receded rapidly. His gaze was sharp, his movements fluid and unhesitating. After the final takeoff, he scaled the building ahead, its facade overgrown with weeds.

The wire around his waist retracted steadily. After waiting a few seconds, Xie Liu turned and slipped past the crumbling water tank, revealing the city’s true visage.

It had once been a beautiful metropolis. Through the veil of mist, the spires of distant towers could still be glimpsed, yet the place was unnaturally silent. No birds sang, no voices stirred, only the endless sea of weeds blanketing every street.

“Xu Xiong, scan the city’s layout,” Xie Liu said, pressing his palm. The red-and-blue glow shifted to cool blue. He spoke to the device, and a faint electromagnetic hum brushed over his scalp.

“Any luck?” he asked after several seconds. Xu Xiong’s reply came instantly.

“From the surviving structures, this was once the Southern Hemisphere branch of the city, built on an island in the southern sea. A seismic tsunami three hundred years ago wiped it out.” Data flowed into Xie Liu’s mind. The palm light resumed its rhythmic red-blue flicker. Xie Liu nodded. “So this was once a research base for new energy, right?”

“Correct. It specialized in nuclear and electric storage systems. They achieved efficient conversion and storage of nuclear power and developed the first pulse batteries.”

Xie Liu’s eyes sharpened with calculation. “Search for every research institute in the area. We need every pulse battery that still exists.”

“Three hundred years is a long time. Can anything survive?” Ye Ling’s voice carried doubt.

Xie Liu gave a cold laugh and shook his head. “You underestimate the sealing technology of the old Fantasy City. Not even a thousand years would erase those reserves.”

After his words ended, Lin Yang materialized beside him. He stepped forward, boots quiet on the rooftop, and stared at the horizon. “Our priority is the airdrop. We must secure it before anyone else arrives.”

Xie Liu pointed toward the red beacon rising slowly in the distance. “That’s a small square. I don’t know which team will claim it, but a fight is inevitable.”

Lin Yang smiled, his features as delicate as a girl’s yet radiating quiet confidence. “We’ll win, though.”

Xie Liu pressed his lips together and shook his head slightly. No one could guarantee victory; their only duty was to strive for it.

“Xie Liu, the laboratory’s location has been pinpointed. It lies in the academic district behind the square. Scans indicate it’s underground. When the tsunami struck, they had no time to evacuate; they only salvaged data and samples.” Xu Xiong’s three-dimensional imaging materialized before them, building a living model. “There should still be large caches of pulse batteries and energy-transfer stations.”

The group exchanged heavy sighs. On the rooftop, the two exchanged a grim glance. One of them spoke. “It looks like we can’t avoid the fight. Let’s move for the airdrop.”

Gong Hou descended on his makeshift flyer and landed beside them. The three elite forces of the Destiny Team had gathered.

“Six teams remain, including ours. The Silver Flash, God-Slayer, and Magic Scorpion squads each have tenth-level operatives. They’ll probably ignore the airdrop. Tian Yu and Cang Long have the highest chance of reaching here.” Xie Liu closed his eyes for a moment, then continued. Gong Hou sheathed his blood-red scythe and landed near Lin Yang, brow furrowed. “Who do you think will arrive first—both, or one?”

“The flames we saw in the town belonged to Tian Yu’s fire-walker projection. They left the settlement and entered from the opposite side of the city. Northwest direction.” Xie Liu’s gaze turned that way. “Their arrival is unlikely, so we’ll almost certainly face Cang Long.”

“I’m not certain they’ll come, but we must treat them as the primary threat.” The others nodded in agreement.

“Xu Xiong, transmit every eighth- and ninth-level operative from Cang Long.”

The data arrived in Xie Liu’s mind.

“Captain Chu Feng—ninth-level time acceleration, up to sixfold. Captain Chen Chong—eighth-level speed amplification, up to fivefold.” Xie Liu studied the names, then scanned the list further: eighth-level body reinforcement, eighth-level mental reinforcement, ninth-level strength reinforcement, eighth-level recovery, eighth-level calculation, ninth-level defense.

Cang Long possessed no combat specialists—only reinforcement abilities.

“How is that possible?” Xie Liu murmured, stunned.

Xu Xiong’s tone turned grave. “That is Cang Long’s strength. Almost every high-level operative is a reinforcement user. Their BUFFs are not limited to themselves; they can be applied to allies, though the potency is diluted. Still…”

“You can’t overcome sheer numbers.”

“Give a normal person fifty reinforcements and he becomes superhuman.” Xu Xiong’s voice betrayed reluctant admiration. “That’s why they’re the strongest—mutual buffing turns every member into a superman.”

“Wait.” Xie Liu cut him off. “That logic has a flaw. With so many overlapping super-ability fields, wouldn’t they interfere? You know the Third Law of Inkben.”

Xu Xiong hesitated. “Indeed, heavy overlap can trigger interference. But Cang Long has a countermeasure.” He sent an image. “Nangong Yuting—fifth-level super ability.” The handsome young man’s portrait appeared. “His power is subtle but specialized. It falls under the spiritual branch. We call it Harmonic Resonance.”

Another image followed. “This is the city’s test for such abilities. First chapter.” Countless ECG-like waveforms crossed and tangled in chaotic color patterns.

“These are ten different abilities acting on the same object. Now watch this.” Another image. “This is the post-resonance fluctuation.”

Xie Liu studied the lines, which maintained their trajectory despite color changes, and exhaled. “Confirmed. Cang Long fields three operatives: Chu Feng, Chen Chong, and Nangong Yuting. The remaining three…” He turned to Gong Hou. “Any thoughts?”

“Six slots limit full reinforcement. They specialize. Time acceleration and speed boosts both enhance velocity, so they need unmatched reflexes.” Gong Hou indicated the eighth-level neural reinforcement. “Beyond speed, strength is mandatory.” He pointed at the ninth-level strength slot. “And the last member should be eighth-level body reinforcement. It’s versatile. If others fall, he alone can prevent a catastrophic drop in power.”

Ye Ling had been listening silently. At first nothing felt amiss, then a chill ran through her. In mere minutes they had ruled out every enemy, mapped the exact number and abilities of those they would face.

How?

She had grown used to following this group through chaos, yet every step was flawless.

Calm analysis, exhaustive data, perfect knowledge of self and opponent. That was why Xie Liu’s team always chose the correct action. They were undefeated for a reason.

Suddenly Ye Ling understood. They had survived by eliminating stronger teams—not through luck, but because every move had been calculated in advance.

This was a terrifyingly capable unit.

While Ye Ling pondered this, Xie Liu and his companions moved. They leaped from the rooftops and split into three directions, racing toward the distant red beacon that slowly faded.

Across the square, Chu Feng and Chen Chong materialized on another high tower. They watched the beacon vanish. Chu Feng’s voice was low. “We lost Wang Tong. Without his ninth-level boost, we’re left with full-body reinforcement. This is disadvantageous. What do you suggest we do about the airdrop?”

“It’s right here. Why leave it?” Chen Chong replied. “I suspect we’re about to face the Destiny Team.”

Chu Feng tightened his grip on his sword, brows furrowing into a deep crease. He said nothing more.