Chapter 361: The Traitor

After the meeting ended, Chen Xiao immediately contacted her Core group to accelerate preparations for the rescue operation. Time was running out; once Mo Rui arrived, surveillance within the Mysterious Organization would become even more stringent.

The following night, taking advantage of the headquarters' routine system maintenance, Chen Xiao led four trusted subordinates and successfully infiltrated the underground laboratory. The laboratory guards had been reassigned by her beforehand, leaving only a few ordinary personnel who were easy to deal with.

"Quick, it's right ahead." Chen Xiao commanded in a low voice, quickly unlocking the security lock and opening the door to a special cell.

Inside were two young people, a man and a woman, wearing obvious restraint devices that suppressed their Qi Luck Power.

"Don't be afraid, we are here to save you." Chen Xiao quickly removed their restraints, "You will be able to leave here soon."

Just as they were preparing to withdraw, an alarm suddenly sounded. The laboratory doors were sealed, and immediately after, Zou Ming's voice came through the speakers:

"Chen Xiao, I knew long ago that you had ulterior motives. Now, neither you nor those Houxuanzhe will be able to leave."

Chen Xiao's expression changed, and she immediately initiated the backup plan. She led everyone to a wall in the laboratory and quickly entered a string of codes; the wall slowly moved aside, revealing a secret passage.

"Run! This passage leads to the underground parking lot!"

However, just as they were about to enter the passage, Zou Ming arrived with a team of armed personnel. His eyes flickered with an eerie light, and he condensed extraterrestrial energy in his hands.

"Traitor!" Zou Ming roared, and an energy blast shot straight at Chen Xiao.

At the critical moment, a green figure suddenly appeared and blocked this fatal blow. It was an elite squad of the Green-Robed Person!

"Withdraw!" Li Yuan's voice sounded over the communicator, "We will cover you!"

In the chaotic battle, Chen Xiao successfully escorted the two Houxuanzhe into the passage, but she herself was caught in the wake of Zou Ming's energy and was severely injured. Seeing that Zou Ming was about to catch up, a Green-Robed Person stepped forward and engaged in a fierce struggle with Zou Ming.

"Go! Don't let our sacrifice be in vain!" that Green-Robed Person shouted.

Chen Xiao gritted her teeth against the pain, led the two Houxuanzhe to safety, and was picked up by another squad of the Green-Robed Person.

This incident became the fuse for the split of the Mysterious Organization. The more than thirty defectors led by Chen Xiao all defected to the Green-Robed Person's camp, becoming an important force against the extraterrestrial civilization. At the same time, they also brought a large amount of internal intelligence regarding the extraterrestrial civilization's plans.

At the secret base of the Green-Robed Person, Chen Xiao organized all the intelligence into a detailed report and sent it to Lin Xuan, Li Yan, and Ling Bo through special channels.

"The extraterrestrial civilization's plan is divided into three stages: the first stage, destroying the defense network and infiltrating Diqiu's energy system; the second stage, transforming Diqiu's environment to make it suitable for extraterrestrial life to survive; the third stage, large-scale immigration to completely occupy Diqiu." Chen Xiao wrote in the report, "It has now entered the early stage of the second phase. What is more dangerous is that the extraterrestrial civilization has dispatched an envoy even more powerful than Saide, the 'Star Domain Adjudicator Mo Rui', to take over the Diqiu conquest plan."

At the end of the report, she added a key piece of information: "According to my observations, although the extraterrestrial energy is powerful, it is not impossible to resist. What they fear most is the fusion of Qi Luck Power and the activation of the Heavenly Origin Instrument. As far as I know, Saide has already received the highest order to stop the assembly of the Heavenly Origin Instrument at all costs. This proves that your direction is correct—the Heavenly Origin Instrument is likely the key to turning the situation around."

After receiving the report, Lin Xuan immediately shared this information with Li Yan and Ling Bo through their mental bond. All three realized that time was running out. Finding the remaining Heavenly Origin components and Houxuanzhe, and completing preparations before the defense network completely collapsed, became the top priority.

Meanwhile, at the Mysterious Organization headquarters, Zou Ming stood before Saide, bowing his head to accept his punishment: "We had a traitor, and two Houxuanzhe escaped."

A flash of cold anger crossed Saide's eyes: "This is an unacceptable mistake. However, now is not the time to assign blame." He looked at the night sky outside the window, "Lord Mo Rui is about to arrive, and we must accelerate our actions. Those Child of Luck have already found two Heavenly Origin components; we must not let them collect the rest."

Zou Ming nodded respectfully: "As you command, I have mobilized all forces and am searching with all my might for the whereabouts of the remaining components and the Houxuanzhe."

"Very good." Saide turned and left, his figure merging into the darkness, "Do not let me and Lord Mo Rui down."

Saide stood on the peak of the Northwest Wasteland, overlooking the unique area below. Unlike the desolate yellow earth surrounding it, this area presented a strange ecological landscape—the plant forms were twisted yet vibrant, tiny glowing particles floated in the sky, and purple energy rivers flowed across the land. This was the first Yi Hua Qu he had created with his own hands, the forward base for the power of the extraterrestrial civilization.

However, the masterpiece that once made him proud now filled him with confusion.

A cold wind blew, and Saide's long white hair fluttered in the wind. On his handsome face, those eyes that were once full of determination were now reflecting contemplation and bewilderment. He reached out his hand, feeling the energy flowing within this area—twisted, powerful, and chaotic, exactly the same as the essence of the extraterrestrial civilization.

"Plunder and conquest, is this our path?" Saide whispered to himself.

Ever since his last confrontation with Lin Xuan, the doubts in his heart had taken root and sprouted like seeds. During that clash, he felt a unique quality in Diqiu's Qi Luck Power—a form of energy he had never seen on any planet conquered by the extraterrestrial civilization.

It was a power based on symbiosis and harmony, where different elements supported each other rather than competing. Lin Xuan's Qi Luck Power was not singularly powerful, but all-encompassing, as if the entire planet were giving him support. This way of operating was completely different from the singular, predatory style of the extraterrestrial civilization.

Saide closed his eyes, recalling his mission—to explore new worlds as a Pioneer and find suitable habitats for the expansion of the extraterrestrial civilization. At that time, he was full of honor, firmly believing that he was helping those "inferior civilizations" evolve.

But now, he was no longer sure of the legitimacy of it all.

"This planet has its own laws, and its life coexists in a harmonious way. Our arrival is not evolution, but destruction." Saide said to himself, "And the so-called 'screening' and 'elevation' are nothing more than preparations for colonization."

A golden light streaked across the sky from afar, interrupting Saide's thoughts. He immediately recognized it as Lin Xuan's aura; the other party seemed to be heading toward an ancient cultivation holy land.

After hesitating for a moment, Saide made a decision. He needed to talk to Lin Xuan, not as an enemy, but as someone who was confused.