Chapter 299

The encounter in the Ice Tower Forest was like a brief nightmare, casually erased by Qin Feng but deeply etched into the hearts of every member of the Exploration Squad. The shadowy creatures known as Tomb Guardians, and Qin Feng's cryptic words, cast an even more mysterious and heavy veil over this mission. The team grew quieter, moved with greater caution, and each member struggled to process the information that surpassed their understanding.

Under the faint guidance of Xia Wan's bloodline sense and Qin Feng's seemingly casual yet precisely chosen route, the team passed through a canyon filled with jagged, bizarre rocks, resembling a natural labyrinth, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

It was a basin hidden among surrounding mountains. In the basin's center, instead of the expected ancient temple or strange architecture, lay a sight… profoundly incongruous.

It was a standardized, modern temporary forward base. Simple structures built of alloy panels, towering communication antennas, armed personnel patrolling back and forth wearing gear not of the New Era, and several heavily modified, desert-camouflaged all-terrain vehicles parked on the open ground. At the base's edge, even some geological survey equipment could be seen in operation.

A flag fluttered atop a pole at the base's center—a complex emblem composed of gears, wheat stalks, and oil derricks, beneath which were the initials: G. S. C.

"Global Strategy Corporation?" the Tactics Captain whispered, his voice filled with incredulous shock, "How could they be here? This is a top-secret zone!"

Global Strategy Corporation, a massive transnational conglomerate existing outside national entities, with deeply entangled influence, centered on energy, defense, and cutting-edge technology, its tentacles spread across the globe, known for its aggressive and ruthless methods, was a potential rival and troublemaker to the New Era in many fields.

"Is their target… also Jing Yi?" Xia Wan's heart sank. The situation had become complicated.

As the Exploration Squad hid behind rocks at the basin's edge, the door to the largest building in the G. S. C. base opened, and several people stepped out. At the front was a middle-aged white man dressed in an expensive custom suit, utterly out of place amid the harsh surroundings, his hair neatly combed, his face wearing a shrewd, merchant-like smile. Behind him followed several formidable guards and an elderly man in a white lab coat, seemingly a technician.

Standing opposite them was only one person—Qin Feng.

He had somehow detached from the Exploration Squad and appeared at the center of the base, as if he had always been there.

The G. S. C. personnel were clearly startled; the guards instantly raised their weapons, tensely aiming at this unexpected intruder.

The man in the suit, evidently the base's leader, showed a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly masked by his professional smile. He raised a hand to signal his guards to hold their ground, sized up Qin Feng, and spoke fluent but accented Mandarin: "Sir, arriving uninvited is not the way of a guest. I am the G. S. C. representative here; you may call me Hans. May I ask who you are?"

Qin Feng did not answer his question. His gaze did not linger on the guns pointed at him but settled directly on Hans's face, and he spoke calmly: "You will not find what you seek here."

Hans's smile slightly stiffened, then returned to normal. "Oh? Do you know what we seek?"

"Energy. An ancient energy core." Qin Feng's voice remained flat, directly exposing their intent. "There is none here. Only slumbering wills and sealed trials."

Hans's eyes flashed sharply; his smile faded slightly, becoming more piercing. "It seems you know much. Then let us speak plainly. This region, according to our 'understanding' with certain 'local authorities,' holds priority exploration rights. You and those behind you…" His gaze deliberately swept toward the direction where the Exploration Squad hid, "must leave immediately."

The threat in his words was unmistakable; his guards stepped forward in unison.

The Exploration Squad members hidden behind the rocks held their breath; the Tactics Captain's hand gripped his weapon, ready to intervene.

Yet Qin Feng remained calm. He even shook his head slightly.

"Your 'understanding' is invalid."

Hans's face darkened. "Are you declaring war on G. S. C.?"

"I have no intention of opposing anyone." Qin Feng looked at him, his gaze seeming to pierce through the soul. "But your activities here disturb the slumber of the Tomb Guardians and defile the peace of this land."

Hans seemed to recall the strange shadow creatures they had encountered; his expression shifted several times, then hardened again. "Those monsters? Merely obstacles to be cleared! G. S. C.'s will cannot be stopped!"

"Cleared?" Qin Feng repeated the word, his tone still flat, yet the air around them seemed to suddenly chill. "You lack both the ability and the right."

Hans, enraged by this utter disregard, forced down his anger and snapped: "Then there's nothing left to discuss! You must leave immediately—"

His words were cut short.

Qin Feng interrupted him with a proposal utterly unexpected by all:

"Let's make a deal."

"A deal?" Hans blinked, momentarily lost.

"You leave this place, and never return." Qin Feng spoke slowly. "In exchange, I will tell you the location of… an oil field."

"An oil field?" Hans's expression twisted into something bizarre—mixing absurdity with a hint of offended anger. "Are you joking? G. S. C. possesses the world's most advanced exploration technology. Do you think we need you to tell us where oil fields are?"

The guards and technician behind him also sneered in mockery. Exchanging a vague, nonexistent "oil field" for the exploration rights to a region clearly holding far greater value—whether ancient energy or something else? This was an insult to G. S. C.'s intelligence!

Yet Qin Feng's next words froze their smirks on their faces.

"Longitude °, latitude °, 1,742 meters below sea level, Tertiary strata, light crude oil, estimated reserves…" Qin Feng recited a set of coordinates precise to the second and a number that made Hans's pupils contract sharply, "…equivalent to 3.7 percent of your known global proven reserves."

The scene fell into dead silence.

Hans's facial muscles twitched. He whirled around, staring at his technical lead. The elderly man in the white lab coat had already pulled out a Tablet Computer and was trembling as he input Qin Feng's coordinates and data.

Seconds later, the man's face turned pale. He looked up at Hans, his voice dry and filled with awe: "Coordinates… the coordinates lie deep in the Public Sea. The geological structure… theoretically supports the formation of a major oil field! And… and that reserve estimation model… if… if it's true…"

He couldn't finish. But his expression said it all.

Qin Feng had not fabricated a location. He had revealed a potential super oil field—grounded in solid geological theory, with reserves so vast they could drive any energy company to madness.

How was this possible?! How could he know with such precision?! This exceeded the bounds of current scientific understanding entirely!

Hans stared fixedly at Qin Feng, searching his face for any sign of deception or mockery. He saw only bottomless calm.

Was this a trap? Or a higher-level exchange of information they could not comprehend?

Massive temptation and extreme suspicion clashed fiercely within Hans. Compared to the elusive, high-risk "ancient energy" in this region, a verified location and reserve of a super oil field was a far more tangible, instantly profitable, and strategically valuable prize for G. S. C.

Qin Feng watched his struggling expression and added the final words, like the last straw:

"Believe or not—the choice is yours. But every second you remain here, you waste time and resources that could be used to exploit that oil field."

"And," his gaze swept over the armed guards standing ready, his tone still flat, yet carrying invisible pressure, "the Tomb Guardians' patience is limited."

Sweat beaded on Hans's forehead. He recalled the indestructible shadow creatures, then glanced at the coordinates on the Tablet Computer that made his heart race. In the end, the merchant's instinct for profit and his deep-seated fear of Qin Feng's unknown power overcame his reluctance to abandon this mysterious region.

He took a deep breath, forcing a stiff smile, and bowed slightly toward Qin Feng:

"Sir… you are truly unfathomable. G. S. C. … accepts this deal."

He turned to his stunned subordinates and barked: "What are you waiting for?! Pack up immediately! Evacuate this area within one hour!"

G. S. C. personnel snapped to attention and immediately began dismantling the base.

The members of the Exploration Squad, hidden behind the rocks, stared in stunned silence.

A conflict that seemed inevitable—perhaps even a direct confrontation with a colossal force—had just been… casually resolved by Qin Feng with a single sentence and the coordinates of an "oil field"?

A deal… an oil field?

This maneuver was beyond their comprehension!

Xia Wan stared at the solitary, proud figure at the basin's center, her heart in turmoil. Master… he not only possessed extraordinary power and knowledge, but his methods for dealing with worldly powers were so… unconventional, striking straight to the core.

He traded what they most desired—energy—for the peace they required.

Perhaps this was the most efficient resolution possible when absolute power met absolute wisdom.