First Joint Operation

An alarm blared throughout the City of Origin, sharp and urgent, piercing everyone's nerves like a drill.

Inside the Hall of Civilization, the powerful figures left behind were instantly alerted and converged before the central light screen. When they saw the red alert representing the highest threat level, and the data displayed on the screen showing abnormal spatial fluctuations from the edge of the Primordial Era world, everyone's expressions changed.

So soon?

Had the nightmare known as "Gestalt" returned so quickly?

"What's all the panic about!"

Chen Ran's steady voice, amplified by the formation, echoed simultaneously in the research center and the Hall of Civilization. He had already rushed back with the elites of the Intercepting Sect and the Heavenly Origin Sect.

He strode to the main control console and rapidly manipulated the light screen with his hands, retrieving more detailed data.

"The energy level isn't high, and the range of spatial distortion is very small. This isn't a main fleet, not even an explorer warship."

"This should be... an autonomous reconnaissance probe."

Chen Ran quickly made his judgment.

The image on the light screen, strengthened and magnified by multiple formations, finally captured the blurry silhouette of the source of the anomaly.

It was a black, diamond-shaped metallic object, about ten feet in size. It emerged from a tiny spatial ripple and floated silently in the Chaos, a crystalline structure on its surface scanning the Primordial crystal wall system.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it was just a small thing.

But then, a new problem presented itself.

How should they deal with it?

"Hmph, it's just a metal fly. Let me go and cleave it with my sword!" a hot-tempered sword immortal from the Intercepting Sect immediately volunteered.

"Absolutely not!" Taiyi Zhenren of the Heavenly Origin Sect immediately retorted, "Its origin is unknown. Destroying it rashly might alert the enemy and draw their main force. In my opinion, we should capture it with swift action and study it carefully!"

"Capture it? Easier said than done! This thing is slippery. What if it escapes, or sends a message before being captured? Wouldn't that be even worse?"

"That's still better than destroying it and getting no intelligence at all!"

Inside the hall, an argument broke out once more.

They were accustomed to acting independently, accustomed to solving problems in their own ways. It was almost impossible for them to reach a unified opinion in such a short time.

"All of you, shut up!"

A clear, cold reprimand echoed through the hall.

It was Nuwa.

She had been sitting silently at the main seat from the beginning. But now, with a gentle word, an invisible saintly might enveloped the entire scene, silencing everyone.

All eyes turned to Nuwa, awaiting the Saint's decision.

However, Nuwa's gaze fell upon Chen Ran.

"Chen Ran, what do you think we should do?"

Her words carried the weight of a mountain.

She, a Heavenly Dao Saint, was handing over command of this operation to Chen Ran, a member of the Human Race, in front of all the powerful figures of the Primordial Era.

This represented her unconditional trust in Chen Ran.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate frowned but remained silent. Grand Supreme Elder observed his nose and his heart, as if in meditation. Lord of the Heavens watched Chen Ran with interest, wanting to see what this young man was capable of.

Chen Ran took a deep breath. He knew this was Nuwa establishing his authority for him, and the first major test for him from the entire Primordial Alliance.

He did not refuse and walked to the center of the hall.

"Thank you for your trust, Empress."

His gaze became sharp and firm, sweeping over everyone present.

"The proposals of all of you have merit, but also flaws."

"My order is this: we must capture it, and we must ensure it's foolproof, preventing it from leaking any information."

"To achieve this, I will need everyone's cooperation."

His voice, transmitted through the SkyNet system, instantly reached every corner of the City of Origin and the strongholds of every faction.

"Human Race First and Second Fleets, depart immediately! Head to the target area and deploy the 'Four Symbols Locking Heaven Array' to seal off that chaotic space and cut off all possible escape routes!"

"Fellow Daoists of the Intercepting Sect!" Chen Ran looked at Zhao Gongming and the others, "I need your 'Ten Ultimate Arrays'! Not for killing, but for deception! Deploy the Ten Ultimate Arrays on the outer perimeter of the Human Race fleet to disrupt heavenly secrets and shield against any information leakage!"

"Fellow Daoists of the Heavenly Origin Sect!" He looked at Guang Chengzi again, "The enemy may self-destruct. I need you to refine a treasure that can instantly suppress space and seal energy in the shortest possible time. I will transmit the blueprints to you now!"

"Four Seas Dragon Clan, heed my command! Please mobilize the waters of the Four Seas immediately and deploy the 'Myriad Waters Returning to Origin Array' within the inner side of the Primordial crystal wall system as a final safeguard against any energy shockwaves impacting the Primordial Era!"

"Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi of Wuzhuang Temple! Please use the Book of Earth as a guide to stabilize the earth veins and solidify space!"

One command after another was issued by Chen Ran, clear and swift.

He showed no favoritism, assigning tasks based on each faction's strengths and specialties.

The powerful figures who were named were all taken aback.

They hadn't expected Chen Ran to devise such a meticulous and interconnected operational plan in such a short time.

This plan would unite everyone's strength into a single force.

"What are you waiting for!" the Lord of the Heavens was the first to react. He shouted, "Did you all hear that! Proceed with the plan!"

"Yes!"

The disciples of the Intercepting Sect were the first to turn into streams of light and rush out of the Hall of Civilization.

Guang Chengzi gave Chen Ran a deep look and nodded to his junior brothers behind him, "Let's go, light the furnace and refine treasures!"

The Dragon Kings and Zhen Yuanzi also received their orders and departed.

An unprecedented joint operation, involving all the myriad races of the Primordial Era, thus began in a somewhat hasty and clumsy manner.

Inside the Hall of Civilization, only Chen Ran and a few Saints remained.

On the light screen, points of light representing various forces were departing from the City of Origin, rushing towards the lonely probe at the edge of Chaos at astonishing speed.

This was the first time the Primordial Era world had bared its fangs at the universe.