As Optmus Prime stated, this radiation is divided into two states, much like the Yin and the Yang we spoke of: if the Autobot radiation is considered Yang, then the Decepticon radiation is Yin. Consequently, when they are in close proximity, even if the other has transformed into a vehicle or some other mechanical weapon, they can still sense each other's presence. In other words, once our high-tech weaponry has been permeated by Autobot energy, any sneak attack plan is essentially nullified. Even if we locate the main Decepticon base, our only recourse will be a direct assault following a nuclear strike. This means, by the most conservative estimates, we would have to directly confront a thousand or more Decepticon robots—a battle we cannot afford to fight. Therefore…" "We must execute a diversionary operation."

Chu Xuan spoke these words while peeling and eating a banana, looking out at the assembled group.

Zheng Zha stared strangely at the banana in Chu Xuan's hand, wondering internally why this guy had switched back to bananas. However, these were secondary concerns; matters vital to the team's survival needed absolute clarity, so he pressed on, asking immediately, "Having someone act as bait to draw away the majority of the Decepticon forces from the vicinity of the AllSpark—I can understand that logic. That makes it even more critical that you and Xiao Honglu collaborate perfectly to devise the plan for this operation.

"There is also the matter of Optimus Prime…" Zheng Zha looked around at the others, chuckling awkwardly. "To be frank, when I watched the Transformers animated series as a child, and later the live-action movies, I've idolized Optimus Prime since I was young—right up until his death in the storyline. I never watched Transformers again after that, so I wanted to…" Chu Xuan waved a dismissive hand. "Actually, saving Optimus Prime won't be difficult. Radiation is a form of energy, and energy is precisely what we currently control best… Acquiring the One Ring, for instance. Your internal energy could be converted into radiation, perhaps even into the Decepticon radiation signature. It's just a pity we can't obtain the specific mode or form of that radiation."

"Uh… I see now."

Chu Xuan suddenly displayed a look of sudden realization, covering his forehead and murmuring to himself.

Zheng Zha hadn't seen Chu Xuan make such a gesture in a long time; usually, he absorbed all necessary information silently.

Such an expression of sudden epiphany was rare. Although Zheng Zha had no idea what new realization Chu Xuan had just grasped.

"This is the work of a Fifth-Tier Saint, identical to the mask you previously acquired—both created by Fifth-Tier Saints, though neither is a complete artifact. Come to think of it, the plot items we've obtained might all be such works. For example, the energy conversion of the One Ring. The Golden Mask allows someone who has unlocked the Fourth-Tier Gene Lock to experience Fifth-Tier strength momentarily. Then there's your Spear of Judgment, the Death God Bracelet—at their root, they are all weapons or implements focused on energy manipulation. What are the Fifth-Tier Saints trying to tell us…? Perhaps we have misunderstood the entire premise from the start! We have all been wrong! What if this 'Main God' space isn't a training ground constructed by the Saints to forge new ones…? Perhaps… it is the final sanctuary they built to leave behind their final testaments?" Chu Xuan then frowned. Even with his level of intellect, trying to deduce the truth with the minuscule amount of information currently at hand was beyond the scope of a mortal being. Only an omniscient, omnipotent entity like a god could manage that. But Chu Xuan, at least, required data points to extrapolate the truth, and this lack of information had stalled him completely.

"What is the Saint trying to tell us? The One Ring, the Spear of Judgment, the Golden Mask, or perhaps the cultivation that might be linked to the Saints' demise—what is it they wish to impart?" Seeing Chu Xuan's frown deepen, Zheng Zha quickly interjected, "Let's set that aside for now and focus on the immediate problem at hand. Since Optimus Prime's issue is resolved, our focus shifts to how to execute the decoy role. And since this requires being bait, the decoy will undoubtedly face extreme danger; insufficient strength makes accomplishing this task impossible. Perhaps I should take on this responsibility? With my strength, I should be capable of completing this mission…" Chu Xuan immediately refuted, "No. Your close-combat prowess is too vital for the assault phase. You will need to engage dozens, perhaps more, of the Decepticon robots in direct combat. Your primary objective is to defeat them and secure the AllSpark. Therefore, you cannot be the decoy. As for the selection for this mission…" (Damn it, it must be me again. That bastard Chu Xuan clearly harbors a deep resentment for me; he always seems to deliberately go against me…) As Luo Gandao was seething internally, Chu Xuan turned his gaze to Xiao Honglu. "I assign this decoy mission to you. You may select suitable members from the team. Excluding Zheng Zha, Zero Point, and Zhan Lan, you may choose three other team members. I won't concern myself with the process, but the attack must commence within one hour after the nuclear strike. You must lure away over seventy percent of the Decepticon forces. That is your objective. Therefore, regardless of the method, when our primary squad launches its assault, the number of robots guarding the AllSpark cannot exceed thirty percent of the total count. Do you understand?" These words carried the unmistakable tone of a military commander—disregarding the method, caring only for the final result. Xiao Honglu readily accepted the order.

Chu Xuan noticed Zheng Zha hesitating, about to speak, and stated firmly, "There's nothing more to discuss. As our team grows and our collective strength increases, a reallocation of roles becomes necessary. The formation of two cooperating squads within the Central Continent Team is inevitable. This structure will maximize the combat effectiveness of the team. This Transformers world presents little inherent danger, making it the perfect opportunity for us to integrate and synchronize… That is the basic situation. Zheng Zha, Luo Gandao, beginning this afternoon, you will undertake a five-day search operation. During these five days, I will also execute my own plan. On the third day, Zheng Zha, you must bring Zhan Lan back to this base, regardless of whether you have located the AllSpark's resting place or not…" As Zheng Zha agreed to Chu Xuan’s directive, a bitter smile played on his lips. Was this Transformers world truly without danger? The existence of tens of millions of robots, the location of the AllSpark, the sheer number of Decepticons, and their combat capabilities—any single factor could plunge the Central Continent Team into irreversible ruin. Perhaps the only advantage the team currently held was harnessing the "momentum" of this world: the US government, the military, and the unacquired nuclear arsenal—all this constituted the "momentum" Chu Xuan possessed, which was likely the critical factor he intended to leverage. The key lay entirely in how he intended to control this momentum.

On the other side, Xiao Honglu, having accepted the mission assigned by Chu Xuan, sank into deep contemplation, his heart fraught with anxiety.

(He assigned the task of creating the decoy to me. Could he have already sensed my plan? Impossible, surely? My plan hasn't even hinted at its shadow. No matter how miraculous he is, he shouldn't be able to detect it. So why is he doing this?) Regardless of his internal turmoil, on the second day, Zheng Zha departed with Zhan Lan, while Luo Gandao piloted his robot, and the two parties flew off in entirely different directions. The absolute requirement was to locate a large-scale gathering of robots within the five-day limit. Before leaving, Zheng Zha used the One Ring to convert a massive amount of Energon, completely infusing Luo Gandao's robot shell with Autobot characteristics. This way, as soon as he approached a major Decepticon assembly point, those robots would automatically prioritize attacking him, saving him the trouble of initiating low-altitude attacks in every city.

Regardless, time flew by swiftly. During this period, excluding the three who were out on assignment, the remaining nine members stayed within the human base. They engaged in no other activities, nor did the American military attempt to exert much control over them. On the contrary, as Chu Xuan handed over several small technological creations, the researchers within the base went into a frenzy. They obsessively studied the items Chu Xuan had provided—for instance, a piece of scrap metal that looked utterly mundane, yet was, in fact, a novel alloy utterly unlike any modern material. Humans were completely incapable of replicating this metal. It was a shard directly taken from Luo Gandao's robot: Unobtanium, an alloy impossible to replicate with humanity's current technological level. This development focused the US military's attention even more intently on Chu Xuan.

"And then? After all that effort, you only wanted the nuclear codes? Those are dynamic passwords; each one is single-use, and every warhead requires a new code. Can you guarantee you can steal every single one?" Zheng Zha asked Chu Xuan curiously.

Chu Xuan shook his head. "Of course, stealing all the codes is impossible. That's why theft isn't the method; it's about controlling the generation of the codes. Due to the extreme security surrounding nuclear weapons, stealing the codes externally is nearly impossible. But what about from the inside? The moment someone inserts the nuclear key to open the safe containing the weapon's passcode—that is when we make our move… Zhan Lan, Zhao Yingkong, commence the operation."

Jump to