The streetscape of Mingdu sped backward beneath them.
The once prosperous, bustling, vibrant city was now shrouded in an invisible atmosphere of tension.
The number of Federation soldiers patrolling the streets had clearly increased. Their steps were uniform, their expressions solemn.
From time to time, deep roars swept across the sky. They came from patrol formations of the Federation's latest high-speed Soul Tool fighter jets, trailing pale blue energy wakes as they streaked over the city like vigilant hawks.
Clearly, the immense fluctuations that had swept the globe when Huo Yuhao awakened, along with the subsequent phenomenon of Asura's Eye tearing through the sky and flying away, had triggered the Federation's highest-level alert mechanism. All of Mingdu, and even a wider area, had quietly entered a state of partial combat readiness.
The Federation headquarters building stood in Mingdu's central district like a silent giant.
Its entire structure was built from a special deep-blue crystal that gleamed with a cold metallic luster, its lines harsh and its angles sharply defined.
The enormous Sun Moon Federation emblem at its peak reflected an imposing, icy radiance beneath the slanting afternoon sunlight, looking down over the entire city.
The moment they stepped into the highest council chamber on the top floor, an oppressive pressure far heavier than that outside bore down on them.
The long alloy conference table was already surrounded by people.
Aside from Lu Jun and his group, nearly all of the Federation's core leadership had arrived.
Several Deputy Speakers, Legion Commanders and chiefs of staff from the military's various war zones, the heads of the Intelligence Department, the person in charge of the Strategic Research Institute... every face was grave, every exchanged glance laden with silent concern and doubt.
Xu Tiandi sat upright at the head of the table, having changed