Chapter 119: Confidential Briefing on the Dossier
The armored transport vehicle drove into the inspection channel of the bastion's city gate.
The heavy alloy gates parted in two staggered layers. The outer gate closed and locked, isolating the murky winds of the wasteland, before the inner gate slowly lifted upward. This was the standard anti-rift-invasion protocol that the bastion had adhered to for twenty-five years, designed to prevent scaled beasts from sneaking into the city in the gaps between vehicles and personnel, and to block the trace amounts of illusion web spores drifting on the wind.
The lead lining of the transport cabin retracted, and the hum of the instruments softened slightly.
What met their eyes were the orderly yet oppressive streets inside the bastion. The tall buildings lacked the neon lights of prosperous cities from the old era; their exterior walls were mostly wrapped in reinforced steel plates, densely welded with psychic warning detectors and anti-air watchtowers. There were few pedestrians on the streets, most wearing standard combat uniforms or logistics workwear, walking with hurried steps. Rarely did anyone stop to chat. Since the rift cataclysm, relaxation and comfort had long become luxuries.
The transport vehicle drove straight through the city district. Instead of heading to the new recruit training camp, it turned toward the War Zone Intelligence Branch.
Lu Heng had reported in advance. The intelligence obtained from this mission was of a special tier, involving an unknown, high-tier illusion web matrix, and could not be processed through ordinary mission archiving channels.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop outside the Intelligence Branch building. The group disembarked one by one. After completing a series of procedures, including psychic inspection and temporary weapon storage, they were led to a private, sealed debriefing room. The four walls were lined with high-density alloy panels to block vibrations and psychic waves. In the center sat a long table equipped with recording terminals and a sample containment box, while a continuously operating psychic shielding device stood in the corner.
Before long, two officers in dark gray combat uniforms pushed open the door and walked in. The leader, bearing the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel, was named Shen Yanqiu. He was responsible for summarizing rift intelligence on the western front of the six major war zones and was Lu Heng's direct superior. Dark circles under his eyes bore witness to long-term sleep deprivation, yet his gaze was sharp. Upon entering, he swept his eyes over the five squad members, his gaze lingering for an extra second on Lin Yan.
"I received the summary of the mission brief in the car." Shen Yanqiu pulled out a chair and sat down, his fingertips lightly tapping the desk. "Let's get to the point. In Rift No. 79, aside from the two dual priests, is it confirmed that a higher-tier illusion web matrix consciousness exists?"
"Yes." Lu Heng sat up straight, projecting the images and signal maps extracted from the detector onto the wall's optical screen. "It never manifested a physical form. It lay dormant deep within the rock strata beneath the main trunk node, possessing the ability to project a domain-wide Sea of Consciousness stagnation field, capable of suppressing all Sea of Consciousness cultivators within its range. The dual priests relied heavily on it for energy supply and tactical deployment. It does not easily make a move; it leans more toward observing and screening intruders. The priests are more like executive units it sends outward."
Su Wan simultaneously pulled up the data logs, annotating the signal nodes one by one. "It made two moves. The first time, it released the Sea of Consciousness quagmire to trap our entire squad. The second time, it merely watched the dual priests surround and attack Lin Yan, without delivering the finishing blow. After Lin Yan destroyed the main trunk node, it transmitted an intent and marked him."
The optical screen switched, displaying the faint psychic wave records captured during Lin Yan's skirmish in the corridor. The waveform was completely on a different scale from the priests'—heavy and slow, like a colossal creature resting at the bottom of the deep sea.
Chen Ye sat quietly to the side, rarely interjecting. Being the most junior, his main responsibility in this debriefing was to corroborate the on-site conditions regarding the illusion and the coordinated attacks of the scaled beasts. He truthfully recounted his experience of being infected by the illusion, his voice still carrying a trace of unshakeable tension.
Old Guo added his observations from a practical combat perspective: "The priests' combat logic is very rigid, relying entirely on the illusion web network. Once the link is severed, their individual combat power drops significantly, and their adaptability is limited. The real trouble is the matrix. It doesn't need to move; it can control the entire branch rift relying solely on the fungal carpet veins. As long as the matrix doesn't die, the illusion web in this area will eventually grow back."
In the end, all eyes fell on Lin Yan.
Shen Yanqiu looked at him. "You were the closest to the matrix's consciousness and the only one who directly received its intent. Recount everything you perceived exactly as it was. No subjective speculation; only describe the images and intents you felt."
Lin Yan nodded slowly, organizing the fragments of perception lingering in his mind.
"There were no words; it was directly poured into my consciousness. I saw scenes of its long slumber underground, and countless intruders being dismantled and assimilated by the illusion web. The priests are servants it cultivated. It gave me a warning, telling me to leave. As I defeated the two priests, destroyed the node, and evacuated, it left an intent: We will meet again."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"It could understand my tactics; it understood my reasoning for cutting off the energy link. It does not act solely on instinct; it possesses extremely strong observation and learning capabilities. All its arrangements serve the ancient lizard progenitors' hunting in the shallow rifts."
After these words fell, the room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Yanqiu's fingertips gently tapped the desk, his brow furrowed in a tight lock.
"In the war zone's previous database, there were only fragmented records transmitted by scattered scouts. We always assumed that the dual priests were the highest command units in the shallow rifts. It seems now that we have underestimated the hierarchical structure of the ancient lizard progenitors. Above the priests, there is this matrix hub rooted underground, commanding an entire branch of the illusion web."
Another staff officer beside him spoke in a low voice: "In other words, our previous approach to clearing rift nodes must be completely adjusted. Destroying the priests is merely chopping off tentacles; as long as the matrix survives, it can cultivate new priests at any time."
"Exactly." Shen Yanqiu's expression was solemn. "This message must be encrypted and reported to the Western Front War Zone Headquarters, and shared simultaneously with the other five war zones as a warning. The illusion web system of the ancient lizard progenitors is far deeper and more complete than we estimated. They are not scattered, mindless beasts; they are a tiered, controlled system with a planned outward expansion."
He turned to look at Lu Heng. "For your squad to survive and bring back this intelligence this time is of far greater value than destroying a single resonance node. But the risks come with it—the matrix remembered Lin Yan. For any future rift missions within the Western Front's jurisdiction, especially in areas with illusion webs, the enemy is highly likely to set up targeted traps."
Lin Yan calmly met his gaze. "I understand. If we encounter it again, it will specifically set traps targeting my habits and my fighting style."
"Therefore, in the short term, you will not be assigned to lead a team deep into Rift No. 79 or similar high-illusion-web-concentration zones," Shen Yanqiu arranged. "The entire squad will rest and recuperate for three days, prioritizing the recovery of Sea of Consciousness injuries. After the rest period, Lu Heng, you will lead the squad back to regular wasteland patrol duties. Lin Yan, you will be separately assigned to the Sea of Consciousness Special Training Room, where war zone instructors will provide targeted supplementary training in psychic combat and illusion identification."
This arrangement was entirely reasonable.
Lin Yan was currently stuck at the threshold of the second tier of the Sea of Consciousness. While his physical body had a solid foundation in ancient martial arts, his shortcoming lay in his experience with psychic combat, especially lacking methods to deal with high-tier, matrix-level spiritual will. He had survived last time largely due to the element of surprise and his physical footwork, not because of overwhelming Sea of Consciousness strength.
The debriefing lasted for over two hours. They finalized the sequence of combat, casualty risks, sample analysis, and subsequent warning plans item by item. All recordings, videos, and data were encrypted and archived, separately filed under the special dossier for high-tier illusion webs of the ancient lizard progenitors.
When the debriefing ended and they walked out of the Intelligence Branch, the sky had completely darkened.
The lighting inside the bastion was a dim, cold white. Rows of lights were laid out along the streets, casting no warmth. The air was filled with the mixed scent of disinfectant and metallic rust. Faintly in the distance came the shouts and clashes from the training grounds, along with the horns signaling the changing of guard shifts on the city walls.
The squad members parted ways at the entrance of the branch.
Chen Ye had to return to the new recruits' dormitory to report in; Su Wan needed to stay behind to hand over and calibrate the detection instruments; Old Guo planned to go to the logistics department to requisition a new oscillation module. Lu Heng patted Lin Yan on the shoulder.
"Rest well. Don't force yourself to regulate your breath. Sea of Consciousness injuries are different from physical wounds; the more anxious you are to break through, the easier it is to leave hidden dangers."
"I know," Lin Yan nodded.
Lu Heng turned and left, leaving Lin Yan alone in the plaza.
He walked slowly along the street by himself, not immediately heading to the temporary quarters assigned to him. He looked up at the towering inner walls of the bastion. Carved densely upon the walls were the names of soldiers who had died defending the walls over the years. For twenty-five years, generation after generation had pressed forward one after another, desperately holding back the ancient lizard progenitors beneath the earth's rifts.
This war of attrition had no visible end.
Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the indifferent intent from the illusion web matrix still lingered faintly.
It had not pursued, nor had it launched an attack from afar. It was merely a mark, a premonition. The ancient lizard progenitors underground had noted him, the variable standing in their way.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.
He was only one final life-and-death tempering away from the third tier of the Sea of Consciousness. But he knew he could not rush. Cultivators who rushed their Sea of Consciousness advancement mostly sank forever into illusions and psychic shocks.
He turned his steps, heading toward the recuperation dormitory designated by the war zone.
Meanwhile, deep underground where no one could see, beneath Rift No. 79, in the dark, boundless core of the illusion web...
The two injured priests curled up within the fungal carpet. Their broken tentacles slowly absorbed the energy supplied by the matrix, repairing their wounds bit by bit. Using the low-frequency shrieks of the ancient lizard progenitors, they reported every detail of the recent battle to the matrix—Lin Yan's blade techniques, his method of tracking the fungal carpet veins, and his tactic of abandoning direct psychic confrontation to destroy the energy link instead.
The boundless illusion web rippled slowly, purple patterns flowing gently in the darkness.
The matrix accepted all the intelligence.
It was not enraged, nor was it eager for revenge.
Over its long existence, it had witnessed the rise and fall of countless human warriors. Since this human was special enough, it would simply wait patiently. It would wait for him to step into the rift again, wait for him to delve deeper underground with greater ambition, and then weave a bespoke illusion web trap just for him.
In the darkness, countless fungal hyphae buried deep underground continued to spread silently outward, beyond Rift No. 79. The encroachment of the ancient lizard progenitors would never stop just because a single node was destroyed.
End of Chapter.
The heavy alloy gates parted in two staggered layers. The outer gate closed and locked, isolating the murky winds of the wasteland, before the inner gate slowly lifted upward. This was the standard anti-rift-invasion protocol that the bastion had adhered to for twenty-five years, designed to prevent scaled beasts from sneaking into the city in the gaps between vehicles and personnel, and to block the trace amounts of illusion web spores drifting on the wind.
The lead lining of the transport cabin retracted, and the hum of the instruments softened slightly.
What met their eyes were the orderly yet oppressive streets inside the bastion. The tall buildings lacked the neon lights of prosperous cities from the old era; their exterior walls were mostly wrapped in reinforced steel plates, densely welded with psychic warning detectors and anti-air watchtowers. There were few pedestrians on the streets, most wearing standard combat uniforms or logistics workwear, walking with hurried steps. Rarely did anyone stop to chat. Since the rift cataclysm, relaxation and comfort had long become luxuries.
The transport vehicle drove straight through the city district. Instead of heading to the new recruit training camp, it turned toward the War Zone Intelligence Branch.
Lu Heng had reported in advance. The intelligence obtained from this mission was of a special tier, involving an unknown, high-tier illusion web matrix, and could not be processed through ordinary mission archiving channels.
The vehicle came to a smooth stop outside the Intelligence Branch building. The group disembarked one by one. After completing a series of procedures, including psychic inspection and temporary weapon storage, they were led to a private, sealed debriefing room. The four walls were lined with high-density alloy panels to block vibrations and psychic waves. In the center sat a long table equipped with recording terminals and a sample containment box, while a continuously operating psychic shielding device stood in the corner.
Before long, two officers in dark gray combat uniforms pushed open the door and walked in. The leader, bearing the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel, was named Shen Yanqiu. He was responsible for summarizing rift intelligence on the western front of the six major war zones and was Lu Heng's direct superior. Dark circles under his eyes bore witness to long-term sleep deprivation, yet his gaze was sharp. Upon entering, he swept his eyes over the five squad members, his gaze lingering for an extra second on Lin Yan.
"I received the summary of the mission brief in the car." Shen Yanqiu pulled out a chair and sat down, his fingertips lightly tapping the desk. "Let's get to the point. In Rift No. 79, aside from the two dual priests, is it confirmed that a higher-tier illusion web matrix consciousness exists?"
"Yes." Lu Heng sat up straight, projecting the images and signal maps extracted from the detector onto the wall's optical screen. "It never manifested a physical form. It lay dormant deep within the rock strata beneath the main trunk node, possessing the ability to project a domain-wide Sea of Consciousness stagnation field, capable of suppressing all Sea of Consciousness cultivators within its range. The dual priests relied heavily on it for energy supply and tactical deployment. It does not easily make a move; it leans more toward observing and screening intruders. The priests are more like executive units it sends outward."
Su Wan simultaneously pulled up the data logs, annotating the signal nodes one by one. "It made two moves. The first time, it released the Sea of Consciousness quagmire to trap our entire squad. The second time, it merely watched the dual priests surround and attack Lin Yan, without delivering the finishing blow. After Lin Yan destroyed the main trunk node, it transmitted an intent and marked him."
The optical screen switched, displaying the faint psychic wave records captured during Lin Yan's skirmish in the corridor. The waveform was completely on a different scale from the priests'—heavy and slow, like a colossal creature resting at the bottom of the deep sea.
Chen Ye sat quietly to the side, rarely interjecting. Being the most junior, his main responsibility in this debriefing was to corroborate the on-site conditions regarding the illusion and the coordinated attacks of the scaled beasts. He truthfully recounted his experience of being infected by the illusion, his voice still carrying a trace of unshakeable tension.
Old Guo added his observations from a practical combat perspective: "The priests' combat logic is very rigid, relying entirely on the illusion web network. Once the link is severed, their individual combat power drops significantly, and their adaptability is limited. The real trouble is the matrix. It doesn't need to move; it can control the entire branch rift relying solely on the fungal carpet veins. As long as the matrix doesn't die, the illusion web in this area will eventually grow back."
In the end, all eyes fell on Lin Yan.
Shen Yanqiu looked at him. "You were the closest to the matrix's consciousness and the only one who directly received its intent. Recount everything you perceived exactly as it was. No subjective speculation; only describe the images and intents you felt."
Lin Yan nodded slowly, organizing the fragments of perception lingering in his mind.
"There were no words; it was directly poured into my consciousness. I saw scenes of its long slumber underground, and countless intruders being dismantled and assimilated by the illusion web. The priests are servants it cultivated. It gave me a warning, telling me to leave. As I defeated the two priests, destroyed the node, and evacuated, it left an intent: We will meet again."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"It could understand my tactics; it understood my reasoning for cutting off the energy link. It does not act solely on instinct; it possesses extremely strong observation and learning capabilities. All its arrangements serve the ancient lizard progenitors' hunting in the shallow rifts."
After these words fell, the room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Yanqiu's fingertips gently tapped the desk, his brow furrowed in a tight lock.
"In the war zone's previous database, there were only fragmented records transmitted by scattered scouts. We always assumed that the dual priests were the highest command units in the shallow rifts. It seems now that we have underestimated the hierarchical structure of the ancient lizard progenitors. Above the priests, there is this matrix hub rooted underground, commanding an entire branch of the illusion web."
Another staff officer beside him spoke in a low voice: "In other words, our previous approach to clearing rift nodes must be completely adjusted. Destroying the priests is merely chopping off tentacles; as long as the matrix survives, it can cultivate new priests at any time."
"Exactly." Shen Yanqiu's expression was solemn. "This message must be encrypted and reported to the Western Front War Zone Headquarters, and shared simultaneously with the other five war zones as a warning. The illusion web system of the ancient lizard progenitors is far deeper and more complete than we estimated. They are not scattered, mindless beasts; they are a tiered, controlled system with a planned outward expansion."
He turned to look at Lu Heng. "For your squad to survive and bring back this intelligence this time is of far greater value than destroying a single resonance node. But the risks come with it—the matrix remembered Lin Yan. For any future rift missions within the Western Front's jurisdiction, especially in areas with illusion webs, the enemy is highly likely to set up targeted traps."
Lin Yan calmly met his gaze. "I understand. If we encounter it again, it will specifically set traps targeting my habits and my fighting style."
"Therefore, in the short term, you will not be assigned to lead a team deep into Rift No. 79 or similar high-illusion-web-concentration zones," Shen Yanqiu arranged. "The entire squad will rest and recuperate for three days, prioritizing the recovery of Sea of Consciousness injuries. After the rest period, Lu Heng, you will lead the squad back to regular wasteland patrol duties. Lin Yan, you will be separately assigned to the Sea of Consciousness Special Training Room, where war zone instructors will provide targeted supplementary training in psychic combat and illusion identification."
This arrangement was entirely reasonable.
Lin Yan was currently stuck at the threshold of the second tier of the Sea of Consciousness. While his physical body had a solid foundation in ancient martial arts, his shortcoming lay in his experience with psychic combat, especially lacking methods to deal with high-tier, matrix-level spiritual will. He had survived last time largely due to the element of surprise and his physical footwork, not because of overwhelming Sea of Consciousness strength.
The debriefing lasted for over two hours. They finalized the sequence of combat, casualty risks, sample analysis, and subsequent warning plans item by item. All recordings, videos, and data were encrypted and archived, separately filed under the special dossier for high-tier illusion webs of the ancient lizard progenitors.
When the debriefing ended and they walked out of the Intelligence Branch, the sky had completely darkened.
The lighting inside the bastion was a dim, cold white. Rows of lights were laid out along the streets, casting no warmth. The air was filled with the mixed scent of disinfectant and metallic rust. Faintly in the distance came the shouts and clashes from the training grounds, along with the horns signaling the changing of guard shifts on the city walls.
The squad members parted ways at the entrance of the branch.
Chen Ye had to return to the new recruits' dormitory to report in; Su Wan needed to stay behind to hand over and calibrate the detection instruments; Old Guo planned to go to the logistics department to requisition a new oscillation module. Lu Heng patted Lin Yan on the shoulder.
"Rest well. Don't force yourself to regulate your breath. Sea of Consciousness injuries are different from physical wounds; the more anxious you are to break through, the easier it is to leave hidden dangers."
"I know," Lin Yan nodded.
Lu Heng turned and left, leaving Lin Yan alone in the plaza.
He walked slowly along the street by himself, not immediately heading to the temporary quarters assigned to him. He looked up at the towering inner walls of the bastion. Carved densely upon the walls were the names of soldiers who had died defending the walls over the years. For twenty-five years, generation after generation had pressed forward one after another, desperately holding back the ancient lizard progenitors beneath the earth's rifts.
This war of attrition had no visible end.
Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the indifferent intent from the illusion web matrix still lingered faintly.
It had not pursued, nor had it launched an attack from afar. It was merely a mark, a premonition. The ancient lizard progenitors underground had noted him, the variable standing in their way.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging thoughts in his heart.
He was only one final life-and-death tempering away from the third tier of the Sea of Consciousness. But he knew he could not rush. Cultivators who rushed their Sea of Consciousness advancement mostly sank forever into illusions and psychic shocks.
He turned his steps, heading toward the recuperation dormitory designated by the war zone.
Meanwhile, deep underground where no one could see, beneath Rift No. 79, in the dark, boundless core of the illusion web...
The two injured priests curled up within the fungal carpet. Their broken tentacles slowly absorbed the energy supplied by the matrix, repairing their wounds bit by bit. Using the low-frequency shrieks of the ancient lizard progenitors, they reported every detail of the recent battle to the matrix—Lin Yan's blade techniques, his method of tracking the fungal carpet veins, and his tactic of abandoning direct psychic confrontation to destroy the energy link instead.
The boundless illusion web rippled slowly, purple patterns flowing gently in the darkness.
The matrix accepted all the intelligence.
It was not enraged, nor was it eager for revenge.
Over its long existence, it had witnessed the rise and fall of countless human warriors. Since this human was special enough, it would simply wait patiently. It would wait for him to step into the rift again, wait for him to delve deeper underground with greater ambition, and then weave a bespoke illusion web trap just for him.
In the darkness, countless fungal hyphae buried deep underground continued to spread silently outward, beyond Rift No. 79. The encroachment of the ancient lizard progenitors would never stop just because a single node was destroyed.
End of Chapter.