Chapter 5371
Chapter 5368: Current Intelligence Hall
Intelligence Hall.
The main hall occupied the central portion of the complex, its architecture combining the grandeur of an imperial palace with the disciplined functionality of a military command center.
Vast black-stone pillars rose toward a vaulted ceiling, their surfaces engraved with formations that concealed the hall’s true defensive capabilities. Fine lines of silver and violet light flowed through the engravings, connecting the pillars to the formations beneath the floor. These formations did not merely reinforce the structure, but could also isolate individual sections, suppress sound, detect hostile energy that wasn’t marked, and prevent unauthorized soul senses from penetrating the hall.
The flooring was polished obsidian interspersed with translucent jade panels. Beneath the panels lay a network of formation channels that carried energy throughout the complex. When the Intelligence Hall entered a state of heightened alert, these channels would illuminate, forming intricate patterns resembling a web of stars.
At the center stood a massive three-dimensional projection array. It displayed the territories the intelligence network monitored, with different colors representing allied forces, neutral territories, hostile organizations, and regions where information remained incomplete.
There weren’t many of these anyway.
The projection was not a perfect map of the universe. Rather, it was a constantly updated representation assembled from countless reports, observations, intercepted communications, and the deductions of intelligence officers.
Small projections hovered above individual stations, allowing officers to examine particular regions without interfering with the central display.
Davis, Mingzhi, and Nightveil sat before a large vertical tower structure.
Its black crystalline surface was divided into numerous vertical segments, each embedded with intricate formation patterns. At its center ran a narrow channel of luminous energy, while countless tiny runes revolved around the structure like stars caught in an invisible current.
It seemed to replicate the functions of messaging talismans, but on a much larger scale and with greater security.
Mingzhi kept channeling energy from the structure’s source, finally allowing it to connect to another pylon so far away. Then it linked with another pylon. These links continued all the way until it connected to the destination where Mingzhi had fine-tuned it to link.
*Bzzz~*
Static noises emerged from the tower.
Mingzhi couldn’t tell if the spatial storm interference was high or if there were other factors hampering them from connecting with the person they wanted to. Either way, they needed to have patience if they wanted to talk to someone thousands of quadrillions away.
"What’s going on?" However, Davis had little clue as to what Mingzhi was doing.
He wasn’t running the Intelligence Department, so it was hard for him to see what was happening at a glance. He could only make assumptions. He panned his gaze around and saw that there were many darkness spirits and humans around, moving to and fro or having their eyes focused on the scrolls or projections before them.
’Certainly, the Intelligence Department has grown because the scale of coverage has also increased...’
"As I told you, we got Jiayi Crystalveil yesterday using one of our agents and told her to come to our secret branch that operates as another entity under the guise of a business, intelligence broker, or something unique to the region. She should come by at any moment and activate the pylon structure on the other side, but I guess she might be running late or got caught by the Celestial Transcendent."
Mingzhi’s lips curled as she continued, "So when you hear a man’s voice on the other side, don’t be surprised."
Davis scoffed silently.
As if he were afraid of the Celestial Transcendent unless he brought his true body.
He responded, "I doubt the Celestial Transcendent would interfere. I have sent Exawelese Skylov to her, so unless that bird got slaughtered, we don’t need to worry that Jiayi Crystalveil is being spied on anymore.
"Hopefully~" Mingzhi giggled, "Something tells me you have high hopes for that merchant. Have you fallen for her?"
Davis cast a gaze at Nightveil, who appeared to be slightly interested as she paused at what she was doing before continuing to work, her pace slightly faster.
He returned his gaze to Mingzhi, "Desire."
He left her with one word, making Mingzhi’s gaze flicker, "I see."
She nodded a few times before agreeing, "I see. Well, she’s classy and rich, and can hold a dialogue with the mightiest while still being a lass in terms of cultivation, so I can understand. What else do you find interesting in her?"
"Depends on how she performs. If she takes my side like Jillian Hayden did a few more times, then I would want to protect her as well. But it’s a pity, perhaps because I’ve got so many women and my Heart Intent has reached a level of possession and dominance, it rarely ever feels like love towards new women and instead feels like lust. This is why I had intentionally distanced myself from these complicated relationships for the past few months."
"Mhm~" Mingzhi hummed in response, contemplating his words as she thought to herself what she would feel if she reached Level Three Obscure Intent.
It can’t be sleeping around to know the hearts of men, right?
She couldn’t help but shiver, "Fuc- I’ll stay here. Level Three Obscure Intent is so dangerous."
Davis gazed at Mingzhi as he knew exactly what he was thinking, "It shouldn’t be that simple. We have already established how different yin Heart Intent and yang Heart Intent work."
"Right..." Mingzhi nodded worriedly, "It’s as you said. We seriously need to study more about Heart Intent. I’ll start investigating the way to get into such sects carrying the legacies of Heart Intent."
"Hmm." Davis nodded perfunctorily.
He was not that interested since he had his hands full at the moment, and already had at least half of Sky Word Emperor’s legacy techniques using the Sky Word Language.
They discussed more as Davis comforted Mingzhi, telling her not to worry and that he would discipline her should her Heart Intent act up. Nightveil remained as silent as ever, simply doing her work like the other staff, but she was swamped with more work since she was like the Vice Head.
The Intelligence Department was on an expansion spree, setting up disguised shops near all three neighboring Upper Realms such as the Sacred Tiger Upper Realm, Forgeheart Peak Upper Realm, and the Beast Autarch Upper Realm.
However, links to the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm have already been established.
Currently, Mingzhi was trying to contact Jiayi Crystalveil in the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm because the other party seemed to have arrived there.
*Bzzz~*
"Can anyone hear me? Is this working?" Suddenly, the airy voice of a woman emerged.
Mingzhi, Davis, and the others reacted as she stepped up and smashed the pylon with her energy.
"Yes, we can hear you. Standby. Each message can require anywhere from ten minutes to twenty minutes to travel back and forth from where we are. The line is also secure, so don’t hesitate to send a long message filled with your wants and needs. Discard the greetings. Each sound takes an enormous amount of energy to be sent. We have nearly endless energy here, but the branch doesn’t. I suppose I don’t need to waste my breath explaining to someone who already knows. I have Code Coffin here with me. You already know our wants and needs. Answer us briefly."
Mingzhi sat back down after she finished sending the message through the pylon.
It shuddered as arcs of lightning danced around all of its vertical structure. Soon, it became silent and didn’t consume more energy than normally fed, making the others understand the message had been delivered or lost in the confines of spatial storms.
They would know when they got the message from the other side or run a resonance link check to see if the pylons were still connected to each other and if there was any unusual spatial or other kinds of storms.
"Hello. Code Purplecoat Rider here. The competition is in two weeks. I can accept who-knows-what resources in this timeframe and conduct an auction. The agreed profits will be given to Code Cool Arachnid. Also, Code Purplecoat Rider thanks Code Coffin for the bird. The bird is very useful and cooperative. I have more freedom thanks to the bird. Code Purplecoat Rider will not forget this favor."
A message returned nearly seventeen minutes after the initial message was sent.
Still, Davis looked flabbergasted at the codenames.
Codename Coffin? Was that supposed to be him, the Divine Emperor of Death?
Code Purplecoat Rider couldn’t be any more obvious to him, with the purple robe belonging to him and Jiayi Crystalveil riding on his coattails. He was a bit amused since it seemed like she didn’t appear to be modest or humble at all with her words.
It was so unprofessional, but they seemed to be working its charm as people would be enticed to participate in something that includes them.
"Code Purplecoat Rider, I have something to say to you."
Davis slapped the pylon, sending a message that moved across continents, floating in the vast space, and finally made it to an Upper Realm, making a heart flutter.
Mingzhi’s gaze flickered, wondering if Davis was at the junction where he wanted to relax comfortably and reward himself.