Delegation Leader Xie immediately submitted an application report for the operation, requesting that the Federation verify the matter itself.
The Federation government reacted swiftly, stating that they attached the utmost importance to the matter and would dispatch personnel to conduct a thorough investigation. At the same time, they declared that this was internal Federation business that they would handle on their own, requiring no outside interference.
Unsurprisingly, someone on the inside leaked the news to the Primordial Sect immediately.
Once informed of the situation, the Primordial Sect finally learned who was targeting them. They concluded at once that the Great Shun General Affairs Bureau must have planned and arranged this at the delegation's recommendation.
In fact, this actually put them at ease, as going through official procedures was the thing they feared least.
Considering previous events, they saw it as the delegation's counterstrike and warning in response to the snooping incident. And indeed, under the heavy restrictions imposed by the Federation, it was the most potent retaliation the delegation could muster.
Understanding this, they breathed a sigh of relief.
You are on my turf, relying on my own people to investigate me—naturally, nothing will ever come of it, nor would I ever permit you to probe into my affairs.
Even though they had rivals within the Federation, the delegation was ultimately an outside party. The resources and power the sect could mobilize were vastly greater; burying the incident would be no trouble at all.
Over the next few days, several members of congress from the West Coast indeed seized upon the issue and refused to let go.
Yet that was the extent of it. Matters involving fissures could never be disclosed to the public, so no public uproar could be stirred. The noise was confined strictly to the upper echelons of government, keeping its momentum negligible. Moving forward, they could easily drown out and reduce attention to the issue by continually tossing out other agendas.
As for the delegation, they managed to offer some token placations.
After "verification," the Federation's foreign affairs department determined this to be a "mistaken rogue operation." They arrested, transferred, or dismissed the personnel involved, extended a formal apology to the delegation, and promised a certain amount of compensation.
Of course, this was all just surface posturing. After all, they had to manage public sentiment and preserve the dignity of the Federation's government departments. With foreign delegations watching, they could not afford to act humble or servile, merely promising behind closed doors to cede certain benefits to Great Shun.
As for the most crucial matter—the existence of the fissure—over ten days passed without a single word or substantive reply. Whenever the delegation made inquiries, the only answer was that the investigation remained ongoing, with departmental officials repeatedly emphasizing that this was an internal Federation affair and urging them not to pry any further.
Chen Chuan was very calm when he learned of this. He had known from the start that expecting the Federation to uncover anything was out of the question.
However, giving notice and not giving notice were two entirely different things. Now that the procedure had been followed, according to the agreements established between nations and the International Investigation Delegation, in incidents involving foreign incursions, if one party lodged a complaint and the relevant country or region failed to respond within the prescribed time limit, the International Investigation Delegation possessed the authority to intervene and take action.
Naturally, this shared similarities with requesting international intervention; having such a regulation on paper did not mean one could act with complete impunity, as it could sometimes trigger unpredictable repercussions.
Darrow's earlier hesitation had stemmed precisely from this concern.
In Chen Chuan's view, however: I gave you the explanation you needed. Since you refuse to give me one in return, I will take it with my own hands.
Now, the time had come.
Furthermore, after so many days, the other side should have largely lowered their guard.
Before taking action, he first gave Delegation Leader Xie advance word. Acknowledging the situation, Delegation Leader Xie sent a formal notice to the First Delegation, informing them of what their side intended to do.
This notification immediately sparked a debate within the First Delegation.
Chu Zhixian frowned and said, "The fissure is internal Federation business. There is no need for us to stir up additional trouble. If an incident were to occur in our homeland in the future, would we allow the Federation to step in and interfere? This will set a terrible precedent."
Tu Haisheng countered at once, "Deputy Delegation Leader Chu, it is not that we are looking to stir up trouble. The Primordial Sect provoked us repeatedly, and the Federation has turned a blind eye to our rightful demands, constantly dodging and stalling. We must strike back."
"Irrational," Chu Zhixian said. "This isn't about petty spite; it's diplomatic exchange between two nations. Even if a counterstrike succeeds, so what? This is Federation soil. We'll only invite trouble upon ourselves. Right now, negotiations must take precedence over everything else."
Tu Haisheng replied sternly, "Deputy Delegation Leader Chu, having dealt with the Federation many times, you should know very well what works best here. If you don't fight back, are you just going to wait to be targeted over and over again?
"I believe Section Chief Chen's approach is entirely correct. It is precisely because of his counterstrikes that we can project sufficient firmness at the negotiating table.
"The Federation also bears the responsibility of being a gracious host. If they fail to be a good host, we don't mind playing the unruly guest.
"And speaking of these negotiations, does Deputy Delegation Leader Chu remember that it was the Federation who initiated them in the first place? Since we agreed to respond, shouldn't they be the ones making greater concessions? Why on earth should we be the ones groveling and compromising?"
Chu Zhixian said, "Even so, there must be moderation. The Federation just apologized to us. There is no need for us to be so overbearing."
Tu Haisheng said in a deep voice, "That's because we weren't the ones targeted—the Second Delegation was."
Jiang Hongzhi spoke up at this moment: "This is a matter where the International Investigation Delegation requested our assistance. We have always maintained good relations with the International Investigation Delegation, and the Second Delegation has the authority to decide how to act. Filing a report with us was merely their sign of respect.
"Negotiations are indeed a duty we must fulfill, but the dignity of our nation and our delegation members will always come first. We must be treated with respect."
He turned to his assistant. "Reply to the Second Delegation. Tell them we acknowledge their report, and we support any and all actions taken within a reasonable framework."
The assistant nodded solemnly and immediately went out to send the dispatch.
Over the past few days, Chen Chuan had been touring the city almost daily. Today, he had taken Chaoming on a boat ride along the Yidu River to watch the sunset.
Just then, Delegation Leader Xie's voice sounded through his boundary credential: "Section Chief Chen, the First Delegation has responded. Two minutes ago, I submitted the report for the international investigation operation to the Federation government. Be careful out there."
Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan replied with a word of thanks and stood up from his seat, looking out toward Great Kirkland Lake. Now they had the justification and the procedure had been followed; it was time to move.
He took up the Xuejun Saber from beside him. As if sensing his mood, the blade vibrated faintly, and the red cloth tied to its hilt fluttered.
He turned to Gui Zihan and said, "Team Leader Gui, after I leave, you'll be in charge of defense here."
Gui Zihan nodded solemnly.
Light blossomed around Chen Chuan as he slowly rose into the air.
The moment he moved, the airship and security personnel tailing him overhead noticed. They immediately sent a warning through their field equipment:
"Mr. Chen, martial artists are not permitted to deploy their abilities in the vicinity of the Federation capital, nor are martial artists allowed to travel by any means other than designated transit. Please halt your current actions immediately.
"Repeat, please halt your current actions immediately—"
Chen Chuan paid them no heed. With a flicker of his figure, he vanished from their sight in an instant.
A moment later, sonic booms rumbled through the sky like rolling thunder, and the river water surged violently in waves.
Tension gripped the men. Their captain roared toward the rear, "Quick, radio headquarters!"
In truth, keeping tabs on Chen Chuan would require a Throne martial artist at the very least. But how could that be possible? Nor could they place him under house arrest. The watchers tailing him were symbolic at best.
Although superiors had ordered them to keep close watch on the delegation members these past few days—especially this one—they hadn't believed Chen Chuan would actually do anything rash. This was the Federation's capital, after all; nobody would dare make a brazen move here.
Yet now that Chen Chuan had truly sprung into action, panic gripped them instantly. Merely contemplating the destructive potential of someone of his caliber made their scalps prickle with dread.
In barely an instant, Chen Chuan arrived over Big Conch Island. Looking down, he saw a small hill named Mount Luo.
Having scouted the coordinates in advance, he knew this was where the seed had originated.
Delegation Leader Xie had submitted the report two minutes ago, and the Primordial Sect had been notified almost simultaneously.
They were bewildered, shocked, and furious—they hadn't expected Great Shun to actually dare strike. Still, over all these days, they hadn't sat idly without precautions.
Not only had they arranged several rituals here, but they had also dispatched a formidable expert to guard the site.
Sweeping his gaze across the terrain, Chen Chuan spotted a sealed, hidden entrance. The seed had been wrapped in purple qi, so even after all these days, the traces it left behind remained vividly clear in his perception.
The trail snaked all the way into the mountain's interior; the fissure was evidently housed in the belly of the hill.
At this moment, he sensed numerous people lurking in hidden sentry posts around the area, observing him.
He ignored them, ascending slightly higher into the air. The sentries watched him nervously, bewildered as to what he intended to do. From their vantage point, the setting sun was sinking slowly directly behind Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan extended a single hand, aiming toward the cavern entrance. A faint gleam began to flicker in his palm.
The onlookers were puzzled, but those who truly understood what was happening turned pale with horror.
The very next instant, at the precise moment the sun dipped below the horizon, a flash of light burst forth—bright enough to illuminate the entire sky and turn night back into day.
The orb of light slammed straight into the mountainside. Almost simultaneously, observation posts across Center City detected the radiant flash, and shrill alarms warning of a hazardous field erupted nearly in unison.
Chapter 1194