Chapter 158

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Chapter 158: Title

"This is the Special Bureau headquarters. I’m Liang An, Chief of Information Section 2. Did you instruct Xiao Tianji to contact us?"

Jiang Nan’s voice tensed slightly through the receiver. "This is Jiang Nan speaking. Yes, that was my request."

"Would your organization consider live-streaming the competitive matches from the Heavenly Law Battleground?"

The speakerphone in the Special Bureau office captured collective gasps. Liang An and his team exchanged glances – the voice sounded improbably young for someone proposing such an undertaking. Moreover, casually suggesting coverage of the sacred Battleground? This required serious consideration.

After a beat of silence, Liang An responded professionally, "We’d be honored to arrange coverage."

Unaware of the bewilderment he’d caused, Jiang Nan’s enthusiasm bubbled through the line. "Perfect! Could the broadcast commence immediately when the Battleground activates? Time’s critical – the platform will open within hours."

Liang An’s fingers flew across a tracking console. His brow furrowed as coordinates flashed – the signal originated from the Pacific’s heart, precisely matching the Battleground’s legendary coordinates. The boy wasn’t bluffing.

"You realize we’ve barely three hours for preparations?" Liang An’s cursor blinked rhythmically on the geolocation map.

The sudden dejection in Jiang Nan’s voice made Xi Ning gesture urgently. "If it’s impossible, I’ll have to contact—"

"Feasible!" Liang An cut in, shooting a confirming nod at his deputy director. "Logistics-wise, how should our team approach? Must we await the official opening?"

"Dispatch aircraft… there’s landing provisions here." Jiang Nan’s uncertain murmur suggested he was consulting some holographic interface. "Multiple crafts could… yes, the sand table indicates adequate space."

"Can we maintain constant communication?"

"Within operational limits," Jiang Nan hedged, clearly preoccupied.

As the call disconnected, Xi Ning steepled his fingers. "The broadcast logistics, Liang An?"

"Tight schedule, Deputy Director, but manageable." The Section Chief already stood, gathering documents.

"Proceed. We’ll handle analysis."

The meeting room buzzed with theories until Liang An’s abrupt return. With a phone swipe, he projected fresh data onto the central screen. "Initial findings on Jiang Nan’s number. Full dossier pending."

Lin Jing squinted at the profile. "Twenty-eight. Yun City resident. Marked as ordinary citizen… and blank cultivation records? The nationwide population cultivation survey wrapped up last quarter – how does an unregistered civilian access the Battleground?"

Tang Tong’s pen spun like a tiny propeller. "Either our survey missed something," she mused, "or we’re witnessing extraordinary circumstances."

"Could he be the ‘individual’ you’ve been speculating about?" Tang Tong inquired, her lips curving with enigmatic amusement as she gazed at him.

Lin Jing responded impassively, "Uncertain."

During the initial phases of the Spiritual Energy Awakening, Lin Jing had proposed a wholly unsubstantiated hypothesis – that current phenomena originated from a singular entity. However, this conjecture became increasingly untenable as events unfolded.

Had Spiritual Energy not defied conventional scientific understanding, the "alien civilization technology" proponents wouldn’t have crumbled so rapidly. After all, were ancient peoples to witness twenty-first century technology, they’d likely deify modern humans. Divine status stems from capabilities surpassing contemporary mortal limitations.

Cui Ming stroked his chin contemplatively. "Could Jiang Nan have connections to Xiao Tianji?"

"Given his thoroughly unremarkable profile that blends into the masses," Tang Tong countered, "I discern no plausible association with a cultivator of Xiao Tianji’s caliber."

"Judging by Xiao Tianji’s demonstrated attitude thus far," she continued, her gaze shifting to the silent Lin Jing who remained deep in contemplation, "we barely register on his perception. Frankly, one might count on fingers the number of beings he truly acknowledges."

Rapping her knuckles against the table, she prompted, "Chief Lin? Any insights?"

"Indeed." Lin Jing inclined his head fractionally. "Regardless of Jiang Nan’s relationship with the Heavenly Law Battleground, one objective remains evident – he seeks to amplify the Battleground’s influence."

"Yet his personal capabilities prove inadequate. Contacting Xiao Tianji likely stems from lacking alternative strategies."

"Coordinating a live broadcast within two hours?" His tone carried pragmatic certainty. "No entity beyond Zhongxia’s official channels possesses such operational capacity."

Tang Tong’s eyebrows arched in dawning comprehension. "You suggest he avoided direct contact fearing our dismissal of his claims."

"By employing Xiao Tianji as intermediary," Lin Jing affirmed with a nod, "he gains indirect credibility."

"The preference for Zhongxia over foreign nations?" He spread his hands. "Instinct drives men to seek kin in adversity."

For Jiang Nan, raised within Zhongxia’s borders, government authorities naturally constituted kinship.

Their discourse fractured beneath abrupt percussive impacts against the doorframe.

"Now who?" Tang Tong muttered irritably.

Xi Ning’s admission summoned the door’s gradual opening, revealing not their anticipated visitor but… an apparition.

"Salutations, comrades!" The specter in athletic wear flashed a vulpine grin, canines glinting. "Missed my charming presence?"

Though radiating youthful vitality incongruous with spiritual entities, the figure proved familiar – this phantasm had held provisional status in the Supernatural Phenomena Division during the Special Bureau’s formative years.

Cui Ming surged upright, strides carrying him across the chamber. His palm connected with solid musculature indistinguishable from living tissue, though an ambient chill permeated the space around the visitor.

"Zhan Yuan? In flesh?"

The specter cheerfully punched Cui Ming’s shoulder. "In essence, Section Chief! No need for existential crisis!"

"How breached security?" Cui Ming whirled toward Song Fei.

The Bureau’s headquarters, shielded by intricate formations and Zhongxia’s dragon-vein fortified national fortune, repelled even powerful demons lacking proper clearance.

"Formations remain operational," Song Fei asserted.

Zhan Yuan snapped his fingers. "Explains the exclusive access! Your mystical barriers play favorites!"

"As for how I was able to enter, it’s probably because I’m currently considered an underworld ghost messenger? Though technically a temporary contractor, I still hold an official ghost position."

Lin Jing interjected abruptly, "You didn’t come here alone as a ghost?"

"Of course not. With the Heavenly Law Battleground opening soon, the higher-ups emphasized participation. That’s why all ghost cultivators above Tier Two were deployed to the human realm."

"Staying underground’s been suffocating lately – endless infrastructure projects down there. Finally getting some fresh air up here…" Zhan Yuan kept rambling, clearly starved for conversation during his underworld confinement.

The meeting room occupants grew increasingly uneasy. Blue Star’s chaotic situation already teetered on overwhelming, and now this Battleground might introduce unknown races beyond humanity.

—Their intelligence suggested numerous hidden factions coexisting on Blue Star.

Now even spectral cultivators were joining the fray.

Tang Tong pressed, "How many accompanied you? Where are they now? Please tell me they’re not wandering unsupervised."

The previous ghost messenger incident had already caused public unrest. The thought of hundreds of spirits roaming freely made her temples throb.

"Three hundred ghost cultivators currently stationed outside the Special Bureau’s perimeter. Rest assured, they’re under supervision."

"Only three hundred?" Tang Tong’s eyebrows shot up. Given daily mortality rates, she’d expected underworld populations to exceed millions.

"Ghost cultivation demands rare aptitude and grueling effort. Most prefer residing in the underworld until their Ghostly Life expires before reincarnation. Three hundred’s actually impressive."

Zhan Yuan added, "Their combat capabilities are decent though – average Tier Eight cultivation, seventy in Soul Condensing Realm, and about a dozen reaching Tier One…"

Seventy Soul Condensing practitioners represented significant power. Cui Ming exchanged glances with Xi Ning.

"Deputy Director, how should we accommodate them?"

Xi Ning paused before deciding, "The Battleground activates in two hours. Escort them to the activity room on Level -1 until then."

Zhan Yuan studied Xi Ning with interest – this deputy hadn’t been present during his previous surface visits. The underworld’s ongoing expansion projects lacked human realm network access, explaining their unfamiliarity.

Cui Ming performed introductions: "This is Deputy Director Xi Ning."

"Greetings, Deputy Director." Zhan Yuan complied politely, mentally comparing him to the stern Director Yan.

"What’s your planned duration in the human realm?" Xi Ning inquired, secretly hoping for a brief stay.

"Seven days per the judge’s decree."

Xi Ning’s brow furrowed. "Beyond Battleground engagements, what other activities are planned?"

"Apologies if this seems intrusive, but we require full disclosure."

Zhan Yuan scratched his head. "The judge forbade disturbing living beings. We’re restricted to Battleground-related matters exclusively."

Xi Ning blinked, surprised by the underworld’s stricter regulations compared to surface policies.

"Standard underworld protocol?"

"Affirmative. Family reunions only occur when relatives descend. Even then…" Zhan Yuan sighed. "With expanding ghost populations and constant residential zone developments…"

"Locating familiar souls grows increasingly difficult amidst the multitudes."

Xi Ning’s cheek twitched. Massaging his temples, he instructed Cui Ming: "Escort our guest for refreshments. We’re curious about underworld affairs."

Turning to Zhan Yuan with earnest expression: "Please share what you comfortably can about netherworld operations."

The ghost cultivator flashed a toothy grin. "You flatter me, Deputy Director. I’ll gladly oblige – Cui Ming assisted me greatly during my early post-death period."