Peacock and Kathlyn’s desire for soil increased but it had not yet reached the level of addiction. However, this did cause their focus to stray and agitate their mind. Phecda had no choice but to isolate them for now. At the same time, GOA’s The One was given a new, important mission. A batch of large cleansing stones was being moved to the life circle around the desert wasteland. The Ancient Seal department members would place them strategically at 7 different spots. At the Mysterium World, cleansing stones would be placed at the same corresponding seven spots. The locations were provided by Mysterium. They used the wasteland’s ritualistic energy to chart out its border. They did not initiate the life circle mission before but they did now.
Since the solution offered by Mysterium was to apply the Ancient Seal Technology and not something completely unknown to Phecda, the higher-ups were able to come to a consensus easily. The other reason Phecda chose to believe Mysterium was the video of Gu Jun, even though neither party knew exactly what meant. The last reason was because Gu Jun and Captain Yu were both last seen at Mysterium World’s Australia.
“That was the place where I was born.” Kathlyn said confusedly. It was also the location where Gu Jun and the land’s travellers landed when they returned from Dreamlands for the first time. With this layer of connection, Elder Tong and Yao Sinian believed Gu Jun was carrying out his own mission, it probably had to do with the Ancient Seal technology too. The mysterious signal, the split cross, everything could be connected.
Phecda and Mysterium had their own responsibility to fulfil, they had to end the ritual, shut down this desert wasteland and weaken the enemy. Due to the locust radiation (possibly the manifestation of the ritualistic energy) both parties did not send any agents into the field, instead they continued the communication through drones. Phecda was given directions on what to do, this was one of the ways to utilize cleansing stones. 7 stones formed a circle to initiate a regional cleansing to interrupt the ritual. Each cleansing stone had to be operated by a member with high spirituality. This was the problem for the Phecda World. Mysterium sent out The Icebreakers which was familiar with this operation. Even without Captain Yu, they knew how to operate this mission.
The One sent out 14 people, 7 as back up but everyone would attempt this for the first time. Mysterium sent over a copy regarding their unearthed stone statuettes and the details for Branching Seal Cleansing Net.
This Ancient Seal Technology was unique in the sense that it contained no spell or incantation, it was instead operated through inexplicable arrangement of lines and placements. The users had to commune with the stones mentally and use their mental power as a fuel to activate the net.
Even if Phecda replicated the lines and arrangements perfectly, there might be some hiccups due to the inexperience of the users. The perfect analogy was no matter how hard they trained, no one at the Ancient Seal Department was able to replicate cleansing stone and assessment stone that were to Gu Jun’s quality. Regardless, The One had no option but to push forward. On the way to the desert wasteland, the One practiced on each other so they would at least be familiar with it when they arrived.
Lou Xiaoning, Deng Ximei, Malachite, Helen Claire, Sam Watt, Karina Sokolova and Ivan Nikilov, these 7 members from Phecda, FBM and Russian Bureau of Safety each took their place next to a cleansing stone. They were all briefed about the latest situation. They knew about the other world. There were 7 agents taking their places in the parallel world.
“I’m ready.” Lou Xiaoning said as her voice travelled down the channel. “I’m ready too.” Deng Ximei added.
According to Mysterium, the successful formation of the cleansing net required the unity of everyone’s mind. Just like their team’s name, they needed to be thinking like one to succeed, any stray thought would cause a negative result. Phecda could have sent out an all-Phecda team but The One was the team compiled from the best agents in the world. They had been training for some time already. This was a test and also an opportunity for world unity.
The readies reached the command central. Elder Tong watched closely. The other members at the frontline could only see within their limited field of vision. The people at the command central could watch all 7 locations clearly. The desert wasteland was relatively quiet. Above the area, drones from both worlds were still hovering. But they could barely see beyond the border. It had been decided by both parties that the Icebreaker would slow down their speed and try to complete the connection within 3 minutes, in other words, the One had to form the connection within the same time limit.
“Good luck to all of us. Let us begin.”
Every agent pressed their hands against the cleansing stone. The drone from Mysterium initiated the mission. Deng Ximei emptied her mind and allowed it to be filled with lines she saw from the copy. They passed through her body into the stone. Her mind was clear and her guard was down. She allowed her mental power a free reign. The people around the 7 agents were on guard duty. At the same time, people at the command central watched with bated breath.
The cleansing stone adjacent to Deng Ximei was the first to light up. Then it was followed by Lou Xiaoning and Sam Watt. Their stones glowed a faded yellow. In the past, the cleansing stones would only respond to those with mental corruption. Phecda had no idea they could be used like this as well. Mysterium was not lying…
Soon, all 7 stones lit up. Everyone sighed in relief. The One was in unity. It was now 11 am but even the sun was blinded by the light that burst from the stones. The drones overhead captured everything from above. In the 2 cubic km space, the 7 lights joined to form a large ancient seal.
“It works, we have succeeded.” Elder Tong mumbled nervously. The One used 2 minutes and 36 seconds to complete the seal, it was under the necessary 3 minutes!
Deng Ximei, Lou Xiaoning, Malachite… all members of the One were suspended in strange status. They could see the invisible objects inside the desert wasteland. The locust radiation was exposed to their eyes. The electromagnetic waves carried the parasitic DNA codes and they manifested as strange bugs in the air. They spread, transmitted and twisted…
Now was the time to chase away the darkness and end the ritual!
Deng Ximei’s eyes widened and her hair floated on the wind as she channelled her full focus. It was then that the surface of the desert wasteland started to tremble. It felt like a minor earthquake erupting.
‘Fuck…’ Lou Xiaoning cursed internally. ‘I knew it wouldn’t be so simple.’
The seven members of the One felt a resistance to the cleansing. The opposing force gushed forward from the desert wasteland that they attempted to seal away with the Ancient Seal net.
Deng Ximei’s brows furrowed. The illusions returned to her. She saw something breaking through the ground…