Wen Xiang Yuan's Battlefield

Zhu Xi Ning couldn't help but chuckle. She pressed her forehead against Nan Yue's and fell asleep in that position.

On the other side, Gu Xiang Kai was also observing Zhu Xi Ning, feeling relieved once he saw the two of them asleep.

"Old Zhu might act a bit strange during missions, but it doesn't seem to have any lasting effect on her."

Jiang Siyan closed his eyes and answered softly, "Her physical condition is excellent."

Gu Xiang Kai leaned back on his air mattress, resting his hands behind his head.

"That's good then. Don't they find it uncomfortable to sleep like that? Does it make them feel warmer?"

He shifted his gaze toward Jiang Siyan beside him.

Without opening his eyes, Jiang Siyan simply rolled over, turning his back to Gu Xiang Kai.

Gu Xiang Kai was speechless. "I didn't mean it like that!"

Nan Yue and the others slept for fifteen hours. After waking up, they ate some instant food and dry rations before engaging in their own activities.

Jiang Haoyu sheepishly asked Zhu Xi Ning to accompany him to the edge of the corridor to record data for further research.

Chi Yu followed them.

Gu Xiang Kai stretched his limbs in an open area, while Yin Qian was busy with his skincare routine.

Jiang Siyan lay on his air mattress, resting with his eyes closed, while Nan Yue listened to Fu Xi Ming arrange the work for Sharp Blade.

During the few days Nan Yue had been away, Wen Xiang Yuan hadn't reached out.

It made sense.

Usually, Wen Xiang Yuan would only send word after Nan Yue entered another mission, or perhaps even after that one was completed.

They couldn't help with the situation in the Federation, and they couldn't even obtain information from there.

Everyone needed at least three to four more days of rest before they could enter a pollution world again.

Nan Yue could only pray that the distance between the two city states wasn't too far.

"Fu Xi Ming, if the three-month limit is reached and we haven't opened the path between the two city states, can we let the third batch of the New World Squad take over?"

This was how their communication had been for the past two days; Nan Yue or Fu Xi Ming would speak to the other whenever a thought occurred to them.

They were inseparable, their voices so constant it was as if they could hear each other's every breath.

"Yes, that's exactly the plan. The third group of the New World Squad consists of eight teams, specifically to take over for you and the second group in case the distance between city states is too great."

Fu Xi Ming's response came quickly. "If all city states are distributed equidistantly, then the first group's success will serve as a template for everyone else."

Nan Yue knew what she was going to say and picked up the thread. "But it's also very likely they are distributed irregularly."

Fu Xi Ming sighed. "There are hundreds of digital city states alone; our task is incredibly daunting. Relying solely on the teams from Sharp Blade won't be enough."

"I've already had He Jiu Chen post a recruitment notice on the forums, while also sending invitations to scavengers within the Top 100 who aren't part of Sharp Blade."

While not everyone might accept, with Dongfang Yuelai's ability, there was no immediate concern about leaks causing a panic.

"Whether they join the New World project or not, I hope the truth about the world can be gradually revealed to everyone in a controlled manner."

As for the extent of that disclosure, Fu Xi Ming hadn't decided yet. For scavengers in the lower city states, simply staying alive was already a luxury.

Their abilities weren't yet sufficient to carry the secret of the truth into a pollution world and return safely.

Countless people would suffer a mental stability collapse upon learning the truth, leading them to seek their own deaths during the purification project.

"Anyway, let's take it slow."

Fu Xi Ming was not one to dwell on pessimistic emotions; she managed her worries well.

"You don't need to worry about this. These are my problems to consider."

Fu Xi Ming's tone was casual yet exceptionally firm.

"You just focus on opening the corridor. Leave the rest to me."

Nan Yue smiled. "It seems that collaborating with you was the most correct choice I've ever made."

Jiang Siyan, lying nearby, lifted an eyelid and looked over. It was a subtle movement, yet it made Nan Yue feel strangely guilty for some reason.

"One of them," she added.

On the other end of the earpiece, Fu Xi Ming let out a laugh, as if thinking of something.

...

Federation, Wen family.

Wen Xiang Yuan was dressed neatly, eating breakfast in the dining room. Beside her was a folder containing the Wen Group's documents from the previous year.

She flipped through them casually. She had received these documents three days ago and could now recite them from memory.

Previously, she had thought that managing a family and a corporation would be difficult. She had never received much formal education, and she saw how much Wen Gan Ting struggled with it.

But now she realized it wasn't complicated for her at all.

Or rather, she enjoyed accepting such a challenge.

Her meeting with the President's nephew, Bai Rong, had been postponed until this afternoon, and she had barely closed her eyes for two nights.

She intended to firmly grasp the opportunities and power Lan An had given her.

Lan An had to die, of course, but she wasn't like Wen Gan Ting, who made his intentions so obvious before his wings were even fully fledged.

She would obediently be a compliant and clever granddaughter.

Even though she knew it was a facade, and Lan An knew it too.

But that was how the game of power was played, wasn't it?

They laid their cards on the table, yet each held their own hidden ones, calculating every move back and forth.

Wen Xiang Yuan closed the folder with an expressionless face.

Back when she was in the Wen family, she hadn't known her own capabilities.

She hadn't wanted to be someone valued only for her appearance and reproductive potential.

Later, after entering the world of the Scavenger Purification Project, she had always relied on her special identity to navigate the purification missions.

After meeting Nan Yue, she had made great progress, but compared to those scavengers born for the purification project, she was still lacking too much.

She had always been protected by Nan Yue from behind.

She wanted to do something too.

Something for Nan Yue, and something for herself.

Now she knew that she wasn't without talent.

The Wen family was her battlefield.

No.

Wen Xiang Yuan finished the milk in her glass and set the crystal cup down, watching Wen Gan Ting storm into the dining room in a rage.

The Federation would be her battlefield.

"Brother, you're back from your business trip?"

Wen Gan Ting's handsome face was currently distorted, revealing a hint of malice.

"Wen Xiang Yuan! What did you do?"

Wen Xiang Yuan put on an innocent expression. "What do you mean, Brother?"

Wen Gan Ting took two steps forward, his voice fierce.

"That old fossil Lan transferred a portion of the group's equity to your name; now your shares are equal to mine."

Wen Xiang Yuan blinked. "We both share the Wen family bloodline, don't we? Isn't this only right?"

Wen Gan Ting almost laughed from pure anger. Not only that, but Lan An had also allocated some of the Lan family's influence to Wen Xiang Yuan.

This was a blatant signal that he had changed his choice for the next wielder of power in the Wen family.

He had chosen Wen Xiang Yuan.

This was a massive slap in Wen Gan Ting's face.

"Bullshit! The Wen family is mine! You're just a woman who doesn't understand anything!"

As he spoke, Wen Gan Ting reached out to grab Wen Xiang Yuan's hair—his most habitual move—while raising his left hand to slap her beautiful face.