Lin Yuan lay in a pool of blood, his consciousness hazy, and waves of excruciating pain surged through his body as if countless knives were slicing him repeatedly. He tried to struggle, but found himself completely numb, even lifting a finger felt like an insurmountable task. In the blur, he heard Zhou Haoran's anxious calls and Zhao Yunfei's panicked shouts. The cold ground was gradually soaked with warm blood, and he knew he was gravely injured.
---
After an unknown period, Lin Yuan finally regained consciousness, the cold ceiling of the alliance's secret medical bay coming into view. Zhou Haoran stood by his bedside, sporting two large dark circles under his eyes. Upon seeing him awake, the excitement in his eyes was evident despite the bloodshot veins.
"Lin Alliance Leader, you finally woke up! If you hadn’t, I would have thought you really went to meet Marx!" Zhou Haoran's usual humor resurfaced, but his voice carried an unmistakable fatigue and concern.
Lin Yuan moved his throat, his voice hoarse. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Not long at all, just three days and three nights." Zhou Haoran yawned and handed him a cup of warm water. "You really did it; you took care of that Test Subject but almost became one yourself."
Lin Yuan took the cup and slowly drank a few sips, the moisture soothing his throat significantly. He recalled the scene before he lost consciousness—the Test Subjects and that sudden Shockwave.
"What happened to that Test Subject?" Lin Yuan asked.
"It's been dismantled into pieces long ago, but..." Zhou Haoran paused, his expression turning serious. "We uncovered a shocking secret from its body—oh no, from the mouth of that Heiyao Taoist you incapacitated."
Lin Yuan's heart raced as he gestured for Zhou Haoran to continue.
"He said that the Obsidian Empire has planted spies within our alliance." Zhou Haoran lowered his voice, glancing around cautiously. Despite being in a highly confidential medical area, he remained exceptionally wary. "And this spy holds a significant position, capable of accessing our core research findings and operational plans."
Lin Yuan furrowed his brow tightly; the pain in his body seemed to fade away with this news. A spy? He had considered various conspiracies from the Qi Gong Association but never imagined they would infiltrate the alliance directly. This meant that every move they made could be under enemy surveillance.
---
**Overconfidence Leads to Doubt for Zhao Yunfei**
“Professor Zhou, is this news confirmed?” Lin Yuan asked in a low voice, a hint of cold seriousness in his tone.
“That Heiyao Taoist is quite stubborn. If it weren't for Zhao Yunfei using his 'mind interrogation' tricks, we probably wouldn't have gotten anything out of him,” Zhou Haoran said, his expression somewhat complex when mentioning Zhao Yunfei. “This kid usually seems carefree, but he can really pull through when it matters.”
Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open, and Zhao Yunfei walked in, looking energetic with a smug smile on his face, twirling a small compass in his hand.
“Hey, Lin Alliance Leader, you're awake? I knew you were tough!” Zhao Yunfei joked as he entered, then his gaze fell on Zhou Haoran. “Lao Zhou, don’t downplay my contributions. If it weren’t for my 'emotional resonance,' that Taoist wouldn’t have spilled the beans!”
Lin Yuan looked at Zhao Yunfei, a subtle glimmer of scrutiny flashing in his eyes. “What do you think about the spy situation?”
Zhao Yunfei shrugged nonchalantly. “What can I say? We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. But if it’s someone from our alliance… that’s hard to say. After all, we’re all fighting for the future of Spiritual Energy Revival; who would betray us?” He paused, pride creeping into his tone. “As for the people around me, that’s even less likely. My connections are forged through countless trials; they’re absolutely reliable!”
He patted his chest confidently. However, this excessive self-assurance made Lin Yuan’s heart sink. In situations like this, the more someone tries to appear open and selfless, the more likely they are hiding something. Lin Yuan subtly shifted his gaze away, quietly noting Zhao Yunfei's behavior in his mind.
---
**Han Lingyun's Probe, Lin Yuan's Vigilance**
While Lin Yuan was contemplating potential spy candidates, Han Lingyun entered the hospital room holding a bouquet of flowers. Dressed in a well-tailored professional outfit that accentuated her curvaceous figure, she exuded an air of elegance with just the right smile.
“Lin Alliance Leader, I heard you were injured and came to visit,” Han Lingyun said with a warm and magnetic voice, though Lin Yuan sensed an underlying chill hidden within.
She placed the flowers on the bedside table and casually glanced at Lin Yuan’s complexion as if assessing his condition.
“Thank you for your concern, Han Consultant,” Lin Yuan replied politely.
Han Lingyun smiled and focused her gaze on him. “In this secret realm operation, Lin Alliance Leader showcased remarkable prowess and thwarted the Obsidian Empire’s schemes; it’s truly commendable.” She shifted her tone slightly. “However, I’ve also heard about the spy situation. Internal pests like this pose a constant threat to the alliance if not dealt with. If you need assistance, I’m willing to lend a hand; I do have some channels in intelligence.”
She spoke, yet her gaze frequently met Lin Yuan's, as if her deep-set eyes concealed some form of scrutiny and probing. Was her concern for Lin Yuan genuine, or did she have ulterior motives? When she volunteered to assist with the investigation, was it to clear her own suspicions or to better control the situation? Alarm bells rang in Lin Yuan's mind; Han Lingyun's demeanor was even more suspicious than Zhao Yunfei's excessive confidence. He felt a wave of unease, not from physical pain, but from a heightened awareness of the unknown and potential betrayal.
---
**Fragments of Memory, Elusive and Confusing**
Taking advantage of Han Lingyun's proximity, Lin Yuan discreetly activated his Cellular Devouring ability. He attempted to read the fragments of memory from Han Lingyun and Zhao Yunfei, hoping to uncover some clues. However, both had set up formidable mental defenses; Lin Yuan's devouring ability crashed against an invisible wall, leaving him with only vague images and sounds.
In Zhao Yunfei's memory fragments, a blurred image resembling the Obsidian Empire emblem flashed by, but it was fleeting and impossible to capture in detail. Meanwhile, Han Lingyun's memory fragments were even more bizarre, featuring several faces of high-ranking officials from the alliance engaged in a serious discussion, their expressions grave and the atmosphere tense. Yet again, these snippets were like phantoms—elusive and difficult to grasp.
This deepened Lin Yuan's sense of foreboding. It seemed that both individuals were far from simple. The emergence of these memory fragments did not clarify the identity of the spy; instead, it complicated the situation further. Who was the spy? Who was merely a pawn being used?
---
**Internal Strife in the Alliance, Storm Clouds Gathering**
Indeed, news of the spy spread rapidly within the alliance like a plague. The foundation of trust began to crumble; once-close colleagues now scrutinized each other with suspicion. Ongoing critical research projects were forced to pause as no one dared share important data for fear of it being stolen by the spy. The atmosphere within the alliance grew increasingly tense, thick with oppression and distrust.
Lin Yuan understood that if he could not quickly identify this traitor, the alliance would plunge into greater crisis and might even collapse from within. He had to act swiftly; otherwise, all efforts would be in vain.
---
**Su Jiu'er Warns, Spiritual Energy Fluctuation Anomaly**
Lin Yuan, still recovering from his injuries, sought out Su Jiu'er for assistance. He knew her thoughts were meticulous and her perception of Lingqi was exceptional.
"Lin Yuan, you finally made it," Su Jiu'er said upon seeing him, a hint of barely perceptible worry flashing in her eyes. She asked no further questions but directly handed him an intricately designed metallic device.
“This is the ‘Spirit Wave Fluctuation Analyzer’ I recently developed. It can detect abnormal frequencies in a person's Spiritual Energy Fluctuation,” Su Jiu'er explained. “True spies often hide the deepest. They may not be the ones you suspect, but rather those you have never guarded against. They disguise themselves so perfectly that you would think it impossible for them to be a threat.”
Lin Yuan took the device, and Su Jiu'er’s words struck him like a revelation, awakening him to a harsh truth. Indeed, the most unexpected individuals could pose the greatest threats.
Su Jiu'er gestured for Lin Yuan to activate the device and then pointed at the values displayed on the screen. “This instrument can analyze even the slightest differences in a person’s Spiritual Energy Fluctuation. A normal Spiritual Energy Fluctuation is stable, but if someone deliberately hides or disguises their Lingqi, abnormal frequencies will appear.”
Lin Yuan aimed the device at Zhao Yunfei and Han Lingyun. The readings showed that Zhao Yunfei's Spiritual Energy Fluctuation had some minor fluctuations but was generally normal. However, when he pointed the device at Han Lingyun, the screen's curve suddenly spiked violently, emitting a piercing alarm and flashing red lights frantically!
“What… what’s happening?” Lin Yuan was shaken. The device indicated that Han Lingyun's Spiritual Energy Fluctuation was alarmingly abnormal—this was not a frequency that a normal Cultivator should possess.
Su Jiu'er’s expression grew more serious. “This means that her Lingqi has been tampered with, or… she isn’t truly using her own Lingqi at all, but merely mimicking it.”
---
**Han Lingyun's Meeting: Identity Will Be Revealed**
Lin Yuan’s suspicions reached their peak in an instant. He decided to investigate Han Lingyun secretly; perhaps she could lead him to uncovering the true spy. Observing her closely, he noticed that she had been frequently engaging with high-ranking members of the alliance, seemingly probing into Lin Yuan's background and actions. Even more shocking was that Han Lingyun appeared to be investigating him as well!
It seemed she had sensed Lin Yuan’s movements. That very night, Han Lingyun took the initiative to arrange a meeting with him.
“Lin Alliance Leader, there are some matters I believe we need to discuss privately,” Han Lingyun said calmly, though her eyes sparkled with an elusive light, as if everything were under her control.
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