One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 379 The Seriousness of the Situation

As the commander of this operation, Nie Lingfeng naturally began to report.

He didn't have a manuscript or look at a notebook. He sat in a chair, leaning slightly forward, his hands resting on his knees, his voice soft but each word clear and forceful. He began his story from receiving the mission and entering Ussuriysk, all the way to climbing out of the pipes and breathing the fresh air above ground.

He didn't hide anything at all.

From the hostage crisis in Snow Ridge Town to the standoff between various forces in the underground hall of the chemical plant; from Bald Bear's auction to the three duels in the arena; from discovering the cave entrance to entering the "Styx" base; from the carrion beetles, rippers, shrieks, and shapeshifters to the later tyrant and the lair guardians; from being locked onto by the will of the "Mother Nest" and Xiao Yun's abnormal reaction to the intervention of the Eagle Kingdom and the Sakura Kingdom; from Nie Lingfeng's earth-shattering ice seal to finally escaping...

The entire process was clear and well-organized, highlighting the key points. It did not exaggerate its own achievements, conceal its own mistakes, or exonerate or smear the enemy. It simply stated the facts.

He vividly presented the true appearance of the "North Star Council's" base, known as "Styx," and the terrifying "mother nest" called "Nidhogg" incubation facility to the company's senior management. The mutilated corpses in the incubation tanks, the metal rooms embedded in the rock walls, the pulsating blobs of flesh dozens of meters in size, and the scene of hundreds of "eyes" lighting up simultaneously—all these images appeared vividly in the minds of his listeners through his description.

During the presentation, no one interrupted him. The only sounds in the conference room were his voice and the occasional rustling of papers turning.

When he mentioned that Xiaoyun was locked onto by the will of the "mother nest," Chen Duo subconsciously hugged Xiaoyun tighter in her arms. As if sensing something, Xiaoyun snuggled closer to her, softly hummed in agreement, and then fell into a deep sleep again.

When he recounted how he covered the retreat at the pipe entrance, freezing everything in his path with a single strike, Zhang Chulan lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously clenching his trousers. He would never forget that scene: Nie Lingfeng standing alone outside the pipe, his back to them, his black robes fluttering in the cold wind, the icy blue light of his blade illuminating half of his pale face. That was the first time he felt Nie Lingfeng might die.

When he mentioned that the "Mother Nest" might still be slowly recovering while frozen, a chill ran through everyone present. General Li tapped his fingers lightly on his knee twice, the irregular rhythm betraying his unease.

"...That's the situation."

Nie Lingfeng concluded. His voice lowered slightly at this point, as if he had used too much strength and needed to catch his breath.

"Although I've temporarily frozen the 'Mother Nest,' based on the information provided by Bald Bear—who is now under the company's control and undergoing further interrogation—and what we've observed, that thing's resilience is astonishing. Freezing it probably won't kill it completely. When we left, there were already tiny cracks beneath the ice."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Moreover, it seems to have a special 'interest' in Xiaoyun, for reasons unknown. The 'Polaris Council's' global reach probably extends beyond just this one base. Its ambitions and methods far exceed our previous estimates."

That concludes the report.

A long silence fell over the meeting room.

There was only a slight hum from the air conditioner—the sound was always there, but it became particularly noticeable when everyone was silent, buzzing like a bee trapped in a glass bottle.

And the suppressed breathing of everyone. Chairman Zhao's breathing was steady, the intervals between each inhale and exhale almost equal, as if controlled by a metronome. General Li's breathing was slightly heavier, his nostrils dilating slightly with each exhale. Zhang Chulan's breathing was the shallowest, as if he dared not exhale too deeply, afraid of breaking the silence.

a long time.

Chairman Zhao spoke slowly, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity. His speech was much slower than usual, each word sounding as if it had been carefully considered before being uttered.

"The North Star Council... Nidhogg... I never imagined that these forbidden projects, which were only mentioned in snippets in top-secret files, would actually exist and have developed to this extent."

He looked at the general with a look that only those who had worked together for many years could understand—not seeking his opinion, but confirming a fact.

"Old Li, what do you think?"

General Li's face was ashen. Not from fear, but from anger. The muscles in his jaw bulged slightly, a reaction to his clenched teeth.

He said in a deep voice, "This kind of thing must not be allowed to exist in the country, or even in the world. It must be completely eradicated."

He lifted his hand from his knee and made a cutting motion—not an exaggerated swing, but just a light downward cut with his fingers, but the sense of decisiveness was stronger than any gesture.

"I suggest that special forces be mobilized immediately, in coordination with the company's superhumans, to conduct a complete lockdown and thorough search of the area to confirm whether any similar bases or experimental facilities remain. At the same time, border controls should be strengthened to prevent infiltration by the parliament or other forces."

"Blockades and searches are necessary."

Chairman Zhao nodded. He tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, a very slow rhythm.

But then the conversation took a turn.

"But the threat posed by the 'brother hive' cannot be dealt with by conventional forces. Moreover, it is frozen in ice, and a hasty attack could backfire. We need a more comprehensive and targeted plan."

He paused, his gaze falling on Nie Lingfeng.

"And, even greater power is needed."

Chairman Zhao looked at Nie Lingfeng: "Little Nie, how are you feeling? Can you still...?"

"Chairman Zhao."

Nie Lingfeng interrupted him. His tone was calm but firm, without any disrespect, simply stating an objective fact.

"I need time to recover. This injury is quite serious, especially the last blow, which has taken a toll on my strength. In my current state, I don't stand much of a chance against the 'Horse Nest' at its peak."

His voice was calm and utterly flat. If someone else said this, it would sound like an excuse, but coming from him, it was stating a fact that didn't need discussion. Like "The weather's bad today," there was no emotion, no implication, just the literal meaning.

"I need at least a month to fully recover, and perhaps... make another breakthrough."

He paused, glancing at Chen Duo, who was tightly holding Xiao Yun beside him. Chen Duo was looking down, her chin resting on Xiao Yun's head, her fingers gently and rhythmically patting the blanket. She seemed unaware that Nie Lingfeng was watching her, but her fingers paused slightly when he said "one month."

"Chen Duo also needs time to consolidate her cultivation, and... Xiao Yun's condition also needs to be observed and stabilized. She seems to have some unknown connection with the 'Mother Nest,' and this must be clarified."

Upon hearing this, Chen Duo nodded silently. She didn't speak, but her fingers stopped clapping and simply rested quietly on Xiao Yun's back.

Xiaoyun buried her face in Chen Duo's arms, not daring to look at those "important people." Her little hand reached out from under the blanket, clutching Chen Duo's collar tightly, her knuckles white. Her breathing was faster than usual, as if she were nervous or afraid. But if you looked closely, her eyes were closed—perhaps she was just pretending to be asleep.

Chairman Zhao pondered for a moment. He stopped tapping his fingers on the table, then brought his index and middle fingers together and rubbed them back and forth along the edge of the table. This was his habitual gesture when he was thinking; those who knew him well knew that when he started rubbing the edge of the table, it meant he was making a decision.

After a moment, he nodded.

"Alright. Sharpening your axe won't delay your work. You've done a great job this time and worked hard; you definitely need a rest."

There was a warmth in his tone that he hadn't shown before. It wasn't just politeness, it was concern. It was like the feeling you get when an elder in your family says, "Get some rest."

"Xiao Nie, Chen Duo, you two focus on recovering and taking good care of Xiao Yun. The company will do its best to provide the best medical care and resources. I've already made arrangements for the sanatorium; it's in the suburbs, quiet, and with good security. You can settle in there for now, and let me know if you need anything."

"As for the follow-up handling of the 'mother nest' and the council—"

Chairman Zhao looked at the others present. His gaze swept across each person's face, as if to make sure they were listening attentively.

"I will immediately convene a meeting with the Ten Elders. This matter is beyond the scope of what the company can handle alone; it requires the cooperation of all the major sects in the world of supernatural beings."

"A meeting of the Ten Elders?"

Zhang Chulan's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the first time he'd heard this name, but every time he did, he felt his heart skip a beat.

That is the true power core of the supernatural world. It consists of ten of the most influential sect and family leaders or elders, and they rarely gather together, sometimes not even once every three to five years. They only convene on matters concerning the safety and survival of the supernatural world. The last meeting of the Ten Elders was eight years ago—because the Quanxing demons caused chaos and almost overturned the order of the entire supernatural world.

This time, because of the "Mother Nest" and the "North Star Council," the Ten Elders will reunite once again.

"That's right."

Chairman Zhao's expression was serious. His face was almost expressionless, but that "lack of expression" itself was an expression—meaning that things were so serious that he didn't want to make any unnecessary expressions.

"The plans of the 'Polaris Council' have already threatened the stability of the entire world of supernatural beings, and may even affect the world of ordinary people. This matter must be made known to the Ten Elders, and we must discuss countermeasures together. At that time, it will probably be necessary for the major sects to send elite disciples down the mountain to assist the company in carrying out a thorough cleanup operation."

He looked at Nie Lingfeng.

"Xiao Nie, take good care of your injuries. Once the Ten Elders' meeting has concluded, we'll probably need you to take the lead in this cleanup operation."

This statement was made very softly, as if stating a fact that had already been established. It wasn't a discussion, nor a request; it was a notification.

Nie Lingfeng nodded without refusing.

There was no reason to refuse. Faced with an entity like the "mother nest," he truly had an inescapable responsibility. Moreover, Chairman Zhao had already made his point so clear; to refuse further would be hypocritical.

"Alright, that's all for today's meeting. Everyone has worked hard, go and get some rest."