Cooperation

By the time the plane landed at a hidden military airfield somewhere in the northwest, it was already dusk.

The setting sun had dyed the Gobi Desert a dark red, and the snowy peaks of the Qilian Mountains in the distance shimmered with golden light.

The cabin door opened, and a wave of dry, biting-cold air rushed in.

Zhou Qing was the first to descend the gangway. His gaze swept over the apron, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

On the runway, aside from several off-road vehicles Li Guohua had arranged to receive them, there were also three specially modified black off-road vehicles parked there.

Beside the vehicles stood seven or eight people.

The one in the lead was a middle-aged man of about forty, dressed in a crisp black Zhongshan suit. He had a crew cut, a firm, resolute face, and eyes sharp as an eagle's. His aura was deep and steady; he was impressively at the perfected stage of Refining Essence into Qi.

The people behind him included both men and women, all dressed in matching black combat uniforms. Their auras were tough and capable, their eyes alert.

Although most of their cultivation ranged from the early to middle stages of Refining Essence into Qi, their movements carried an obvious military style and a tacit sense of coordination.

"Bureau of Civil Investigation," Zhao Tiezhu said in a low voice behind Zhou Qing, a trace of tension in his tone.

Sun Bu'er pushed up his glasses and said nothing.

Hu Sangu curled her lip, the bone beads on her wrist clacking softly together.

Long Aotian stood slightly behind Zhou Qing to one side, his expression calm, as if he had expected this all along.

The man in the Zhongshan suit took two steps forward, his gaze sweeping over Zhou