Center City, Government Affairs Hall.
Chen Chuan sat in the Security Section's main office, illuminated by the glow of the field screen before him. By now, the members of the Security Decision-Making Group were all present.
Before arriving, he had already submitted a drafted report, so the group members were fully apprised of the battle's outcome and the new problems they were about to face.
Qi Weizhao said with great solemnity, "Section Chief Chen, thank you and your colleagues for your hard work and dedication. The Government Affairs Hall and the Defense Department will grant them appropriate commendations, and I will submit the report to the capital shortly afterward."
Chen Chuan replied, "On behalf of my colleagues still carrying out defense duties on the frontline, I thank the Administrator."
Qi Weizhao continued, "Additionally, regarding that 'ancient scourge' at Jiaoshan, Section Chief Chen only mentioned it briefly in the report. At present, we remain somewhat unclear on the specifics."
Chen Chuan said seriously, "That brings me to another matter. Whenever anything concerning this ancient scourge is mentioned, we should avoid preserving it in written or digital records as much as possible."
The security group members were all somewhat surprised, with only Commissioner Liang seeming to realize something at this moment.
Chen Chuan explained, "The existence of this sort of ancient scourge is inextricably tied to the thoughts and minds of people. The more weight the world accords it, the greater the likelihood of its resurgence."
He paused. "Even our mere discussion of it right now accelerates its return, though fortunately only to a miniscule degree. However, if it is recorded on paper or in data files, it will exert a continuous influence. Once accepted and acknowledged by more people, that will undoubtedly strengthen its presence."
Yao Zhiyi remarked at this point, "I recall that upon the dawn of the New Era, many shrines and temples where malevolent spirits were worshipped by the common folk in the Old Era were torn down, and the historical records documenting them were destroyed alongside them. It must have been out of fear that such things, given half a chance, would flare back to life from the ashes."
Chen Chuan said, "Precisely for that reason. In addition, handling this matter requires the assistance of a specialist, so I would like to invite Director Lei to sit in and offer his recommendations."
Qi Weizhao conferred with the other members present, and all voiced their agreement. A transmission was dispatched to the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, and after a wait of roughly ten minutes, Director Lei's figure likewise materialized on the field screen.
Once he arrived, Chen Chuan laid out in detail the subsequent events they had encountered, the full sequence of developments, and Lan Shengu's assessment.
Upon hearing this, Qi Weizhao and the others grew exceptionally grim.
Jiaoshan was not far from Yangzhi City, like an ulcer on Jibei Dao's flesh. With that ancient scourge residing there, it was indisputably a massive hidden danger.
Qi Weizhao asked, "Director Lei, you are the specialist here. What is your opinion on handling this matter?"
Director Lei pondered for a moment before replying, "Consultant Lan's recommendation is sound in broad strokes. The Esoteric Cult Disposal Bureau will assemble and dispatch our most experienced personnel to Jiaoshan as soon as possible to erect a protective ritual perimeter. However, the populace of Jiaoshan must be evacuated without delay.
"Having lived there for so long, their bodies may already harbor divine taint from that ancient scourge. Any one of them could serve as a vessel for its power. Therefore, before the ancient scourge is neutralized, everyone must be isolated from the outside world to prevent its power from spreading further."
In the Old Era, one could have simply "disposed of them on the spot," simultaneously eliminating the trouble and dispensing with any need for follow-up care. In the New Era, however, such methods were unacceptable.
Qi Weizhao nodded solemnly. "These people must be properly accommodated."
Chen Chuan said, "I have another proposal here, submitted to us by Administrator Zhu via the newly established Skyline field before I departed. It concerns the resettlement methods for the residents of Jiaoshan."
He transmitted it to everyone present through his boundary credential.
Qi Weizhao reviewed it. It contained detailed explanations on how to split up and relocate the populace, how to distribute them across various regions, how to help them become self-sufficient moving forward, and how to appease and monitor them.
Moreover, it did not rule out the use of force. Those villagers were not guaranteed to evacuate Jiaoshan meekly; reasoning with them was impossible, as they simply would not listen. Yet in truth, relocating them away from the mountain was the only way to save them.
He nodded inwardly. This Zhu Xian was indeed a veteran bureaucrat; his planning showed extensive foresight, and he had a skilled hand in managing concrete affairs.
Furthermore, his immediate use of the Skyline to transmit the document was an unmistakable gesture signaling his eagerness to align closely with the Government Affairs Hall.
After finishing the review, he looked toward Director Lei once more. "Director Lei, do you have anything to add?"
Director Lei said, "Section Chief Chen's report mentions that there is a demographic in Center City that has long been purchasing 'divine blood.' In the past, vast amounts of this substance entered the Lower City and various corporate laboratories, and extricating it completely now will likely prove difficult.
"My recommendation is that we establish a lasting, effective inspection mechanism, granting the Examination Bureau authority to conduct regular inspections of corporate laboratories, shut down illicit facilities, and trace the primary supply lines."
The Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau already possessed investigative authority, but previously it was confined to targeted inspections specifically authorized by the Government Affairs Hall. Granting them long-term inspection powers would invest the bureau with sweeping authority.
Yet under the current circumstances, it was necessary.
After brief deliberation, the group members approved the delegation of this authority.
Once that matter was settled, they moved to the next major agenda item.
Qi Weizhao said, "Both Longyou Dao and Shannan Dao have sent letters of intent requesting integration into the Skyline."
He looked at Chen Chuan. "This time, Section Chief Chen defeated an army of the former imperial household and slew the General of Eastern Subjugation. Shannan Dao provided us with assistance at the outset—their coordinated offensive allowed our covert intelligence departments to track Suo Kuo's movements.
"Their secondary offensive pinned down a portion of the former imperial household's forces, preventing them from dispatching reinforcements toward the Holly Plain. This enabled Section Chief Chen to wipe out their high-tier forces in full. It is ample proof that strengthening ties between our two regions yields decisive advantages when confronting enemies."
The group members fully agreed. This triumph went far beyond merely wiping out a portion of the former imperial household's high-tier strength. Significant though that victory was, it was secondary to the most crucial takeaway: the coordination between two Daos.
In the past, such cooperation was virtually nonexistent. Though the various Center Cities maintained contact, each looked out solely for its own interests, with no concept of mutual aid or collaboration.
Now, however, things had changed. This had been a qualified, remarkably fruitful military partnership. And that was achieved even before the Skyline was established; once the Skyline was connected, the benefits gained through mutual coordination would be vastly greater.
If several Center Cities joined in, the footholds the former imperial household had extended into each Dao might very well collapse. That would allow them to seize more convergence zones and secure greater resources.
Those territories had been developed by the former imperial household over a long period. Once driven back, those lands could be quickly taken over and put to use.
Beyond doubt, following this development, such a broader trend would become ever more unstoppable.
At that moment, Qi Weizhao tapped his boundary credential and sent a dossier to all the members of the Security Decision-Making Group.
Chen Chuan looked through it. Shannan Dao showed a remarkably strong desire to join. Although there were internal disagreements, it was a stroke of fortune that Bai Gu, the representative figure of the Traditionalist Faction, had previously been defeated by him. While higher authorities intended to dispatch another fighter over, the matter had yet to be finalized.
He had heard Mr. Zhuan mention that the leadership of the Purist Faction seemed to have exerted their political leverage to stall the higher-ups' pace. As long as Shannan Dao seized this window to join the Skyline, once they boarded this express train, backing out would be impossible.
As for Longyou Dao, their attitude was the most proactive, and their accession was the most certain.
This was because Longyou Dao was almost entirely dominated by the Implant Faction, one of the five major factions. Once a faction of that scale signaled its will, the matter was essentially settled.
None of the group members raised any objections to the accession of these two Center Cities, and both vital motions were swiftly passed.
After the meeting concluded, Chen Chuan returned to his villa first. He placed the phoenix-wing hammer into his collection room, gazing at it for a while before walking out with a sense of satisfaction.
As for the longevity gold lock Suo Kuo had entrusted to him, there was no need to go in person. When the time came, he could entrust it to the negotiation team heading to Longyou Dao, who could see the matter through on his behalf.
He had a meal with his aunt's family. Not lingering long, he made brief preparations and boarded an airship once again, picking up Director Lei and several capable subordinates along the way before heading toward Jiaoshan together.
Before the fissure was thoroughly sealed and the containment of the ancient scourge was properly resolved, he could not simply step away from his duties as Section Chief of the Security Section.
Upon returning to Jiaoshan, with the help of the personnel dispatched from Center City and the rear lines, it took five days to transport away every scrap of salvageable supplies on the plain. As for the remaining scattered materials, they were detonated and incinerated on the spot.
Next came the evacuation of Jiaoshan's inhabitants. Under the conditions offered by Jibei Dao Center City and the backing of military force, the residents began migrating away village by village. They boarded the prearranged airships and departed for their respective temporary resettlement sites.
On this occasion, the newly established Circum-Ocean Pharmaceutical Company, formed by the two Daos' Center Cities, would conduct physical examinations on these villagers and provide medication at cost.
Chen Chuan recalled that the Purist Faction's branch also held an investment in this pharmaceutical company.
Over the course of the next twenty-odd days, the esoteric ritual along the outer perimeter was completed, and the vast majority of Jiaoshan's populace was finally evacuated.
In truth, a few stubbornly resistant individuals remained hiding in the mountains. They had no way of attending to those stragglers; after all, Jiaoshan was vast, and its caves and tunnels were far too numerous and intricate to comb through within a limited timeframe.
Nor could they allow the fissure to remain open indefinitely for the sake of a handful of people—to say nothing of the substantial resources consumed each day by stationing so many personnel here.
By this point, Lan Shengu and Director Lei had entered the secret vault and begun carefully dismantling and neutralizing the esoteric ritual within. Based on their assessment, with adequate preparations, completing the process would likely take only one to two days.
Chen Chuan arrived before the secret vault. He had kept only Zhalnike and one other person by his side; Hu Kan, Xu Chan, Mr. Zhuan, and the others had already departed ahead of them.
Standing outside the secret vault, he kept his gaze fixed within, awaiting the outcome, ready to respond to any situation that might arise at a moment's notice.
Chapter 1039