"Strange. Contacting Golden Light City was never difficult before. Why haven't they answered at all this time?"
While He Changnian hesitated in Golden Light City, Li Chen was privately puzzling over the matter in Broad Cloud Peak's Inner Valley.
Heavenly Pivot analyzed the situation. "Master, there are only a few possible explanations. The likeliest is that Golden Light City is under attack. To prevent the enemy from detecting unnecessary ultrawave transmissions, they have temporarily concealed their Waymarker."
Li Chen said, "That's quite possible, but in that case..."
As he spoke, his expression suddenly shifted. "Hmm? We're connected?"
The communication channel abruptly recovered, and everything seemed to return to normal.
"Grand Artisan Li, you've been trying to contact Golden Light City. What do you need?" asked the Puppet Master responsible for communications in Golden Light City.
As Li Chen understood it, this was Golden Light City's "switchboard operator." Though the city was highly developed, it seemed to have branched off in the wrong direction on the technology tree and lacked the automated connection system he had under his command.
Li Chen had contacted them plenty of times before and was familiar with the arrangement. He said, "I need to see Elder He."
The Puppet Master in Golden Light City said, "He isn't available right now. If you need anything, you can tell me directly."
Li Chen said, "I'm afraid this isn't something you can decide. We've eliminated five Outer Dao Core Formation cultivators here and captured another Core Formation Expert."
The Puppet Master in Golden Light City blurted out, "What?"
He was clearly shocked. Someone capable of eliminating several Outer Dao Core Formation cultivators in one fell swoop and capturing an expert of the same level was no ordinary Grand Artisan.
Li Chen had not dealt with the matter on his