Crisis Premonition, [Thought Palace] Sounds the Alarm

Huo Yuhao stood by the window, frowning as he gazed into the distance.

Over the past few days, his [Thought Palace] had become unusually active, like an alert cat with every hair standing on end. The feeling was strange, as though an invisible pressure were closing in.

"It's happening again," Huo Yuhao murmured, closing his eyes.

Inside the [Thought Palace], streams of data cascaded like waterfalls. The neatly arranged information suddenly began flashing red, and a warning symbol that had never appeared before emerged at the center.

[Warning: External threat detected]

[Threat Level: Moderate]

[Source: Unknown]

Huo Yuhao's eyes snapped open. This was new—his [Thought Palace] had actually evolved a danger-warning function on its own!

"Interesting." He rubbed his chin. "Looks like the Thought Palace is continuously growing."

He swiftly mobilized the [Thought Palace] for an in-depth analysis, attempting to identify the precise source of the threat. Data streams raced through his mind, forming one concrete information node after another.

[Analysis complete]

[Conclusion: Someone is investigating your identity and background]

[Evidence: 1. Dormitory searched (abnormal dust distribution beneath the bed)]

[Evidence: 2. Class notes examined (inconsistent ink dryness)]

[Evidence: 3. Movements recorded (followed by the same person at least three times)]

"Tch, I got targeted that quickly?" Huo Yuhao sneered, not particularly surprised.

Ever since he had set a record in the entrance test and proposed the theory of Networked Soul Tools, he had expected to draw certain people's attention. He just hadn't expected them to move so quickly—or so discreetly.

Just as he was considering countermeasures, the [Thought Palace] issued another warning.

[Warning upgraded: Threat Level raised to High]

[New intelligence: Investigator's identity confirmed]

[Analysis result: Investigator is directly affiliated with an Imperial secret department]

"An Imperial secret department?" Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted. This was far more serious than he had anticipated.

He could deal with the attention of ordinary academy factions, but what did an Imperial-level investigation mean? It meant he had caught the eye of the highest levels of power!

Huo Yuhao strode to his desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, and began writing rapidly. This was his habit—giving form to his thoughts helped improve the operating efficiency of the [Thought Palace].

"Why would the Empire take an interest in me?" He wrote down the question, then listed the possible reasons:

1. The theory of Networked Soul Tools had attracted the attention of higher-ups

2. A recommendation from the Light of Truth Organization

3. His mother's identity might have been exposed

4. A background investigation by the White Tiger Duke's Manor

When he reached the third point, the pen in Huo Yuhao's hand suddenly stopped. His mother's identity! If the Empire was investigating him, they would very likely dig up information about his mother. And once her true identity was discovered...

"This is bad." He abruptly stood and tore the paper to pieces.

The [Thought Palace] immediately conducted a crisis assessment:

[Crisis prediction: Based on current trends]

[Within 72 hours, life safety will face a severe threat]

[Recommendation: Activate emergency plan immediately]

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He needed a plan—a meticulous plan.

First, he needed to prepare escape routes. He already knew the academy's terrain like the back of his hand, including every underground passage and secret exit.

Second, he needed to prepare weapons for self-defense. Although his Martial Soul and soul skills were already quite powerful, he needed more trump cards against Imperial agents.

Lastly, and most importantly, he needed to find out who was pulling the strings behind all of this.

"Let's start by investigating the nearest threat," Huo Yuhao muttered.

He quietly opened his dormitory door. After confirming that no one was in the corridor, he quickly went to the room next door. It belonged to his roommate, Li Tian. Li Tian was often absent from the dormitory, claiming he had gone home to visit family, but Huo Yuhao had always felt that something was off.

Using the x-ray vision of his Spirit Eye Martial Soul, Huo Yuhao easily saw through the door. The room was far too tidy to be a student's residence; it looked more like a temporary office. A small soul tool communicator sat in the corner, while several documents lay spread across the desk.

"Just as I thought, there's a problem." Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes.

He focused, pushing the Spirit Eye's abilities to their limit as he tried to make out the contents of the documents on the desk. The blurred words gradually became clear:

"Surveillance Target: Huo Yuhao"

"Mission Level: S-Class"

"Reporting Department: Imperial Special Operations Division"

Huo Yuhao sucked in a sharp breath. Li Tian was actually an Imperial agent! And not a low-ranking one, either!

Just then, the [Thought Palace] suddenly issued a new warning:

[Multiple Threat Detection]

[Analysis Result: At least three different factions are monitoring simultaneously]

[Faction 1: Imperial Special Operations Division (confirmed)]

[Faction 2: Light of Truth Organization (highly likely)]

[Faction 3: Unknown (abnormal activity patterns)]

"Three factions?" Huo Yuhao felt his scalp prickle.

The situation was more complicated than he had imagined. Not only was the Empire watching him, but the Light of Truth Organization had not been idle either. A third, mysterious faction had also joined the game.

Huo Yuhao swiftly returned to his room, locked the door, and began considering his options. Conventional methods were clearly no longer viable. He needed something more aggressive.

"Take the initiative." He made up his mind.

Rather than passively waiting for danger to arrive, he might as well strike first. And the greatest bargaining chip in his hand was the pendant his mother had left behind.

Huo Yuhao took the pendant from his clothes and felt the faint pulse emanating from it. It had reacted to the underground laboratory last time; perhaps that was the breakthrough he needed.

"It's time to uncover the truth." Huo Yuhao put the pendant around his neck and began preparing his equipment.

He took a small box from beneath the bed. Inside were miniature soul tools he had secretly crafted over this period of time. Though their grade was not high, their strength lay in their element of surprise.

"Three days..." Huo Yuhao glanced at the moonlight beyond the window. "That's enough."

He took out a map of the academy and began marking key locations. If he wanted to infiltrate the underground laboratory, he would need to avoid every surveillance point and patrol. According to the calculations of the [Thought Palace], the best time to act would be midnight tomorrow, when the guards changed shifts and the surveillance system would have a brief gap.

"It's settled, then." Huo Yuhao put away the map and lay on the bed, pretending to fall asleep.

He could sense that someone was monitoring the room through some means. But it did not matter. Let them watch—watch him spend a peaceful night asleep.

In reality, the [Thought Palace] was operating at high speed, simulating every detail of tomorrow night's operation and calculating every possible accident and response.

"Come on, let's see who the real hunter is." Huo Yuhao murmured inwardly, the corners of his lips curling slightly upward.

Outside the window, a black shadow silently flashed past and vanished into the night.