System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 694: Chapter 694: The Tunnels of the Past

The atmosphere inside the command bridge of the flagship was dead silent, the heavy air thick with anticipation as the elite leaders gathered around the central table.

”That toxin running through their pathways is an exceptionally strange, high-tier poison,” Ethan began, his gravelly voice carrying an clinical weight that instantly drew every eye in the room. ”In reality, it should be physically impossible to manufacture or synthesize an agent of that specific caliber within this frontier sector.”

The Vice Sect Leader narrowed his eyes, leaning forward against the runic terminal. ”Why exactly do you calculate that to be the case, Master Ethan?”

”Because to successfully refine that specific compound, one requires pure, unadulterated miasma harvested from a subterranean depth of at least five thousand years,” Ethan explained, his amethyst eyes calm and precise. ”That is a baseline condition that simply cannot be replicated by standard human hands or modern cultivation labs. In the ancient texts, that specific toxin is less of a poison and more accurately classified as a tomb curse. It is an energetic anomaly widely known among specialized tomb-hunting syndicates, but entirely alien to normal cultivators or military sects.”

He paused, letting his words sink into the heavy silence before delivering the final calculation.

”Furthermore, looking at the deep, saturated concentration embedded within their meridians, they didn’t just stumble into a trap,” Ethan added. ”They were in, continuous physical contact with the source for an extended period. Depending on the purity of the origin point, they must have been exposed for at least a full month—and potentially up to an entire year.”

The Vice Sect Leader’s expression violently shifted, a dark glint flashing across his old eyes as he processed the logical map Ethan had laid out.

”If your medical metrics are accurate, Ethan...” the Vice Leader muttered, his voice dropping into a tense register. ”Are you suggesting that the local branch accidentally uncovered an ancient, sealed relic site, and they are currently paying the brutal physical consequences of extreme, long-term tomb poisoning?”

”Exactly,” Ethan replied firmly, offering a slight nod. ”I cannot provide an hundred-percent diagnostic guarantee without a full chemical analysis of the origin site, but I am almost entirely certain of this.”

”We will have to wait until Branch Leader Koma and the disciples regain full consciousness before we can verify the coordinates,” the Vice Sect Leader stated, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face as he tapped his fingers against the console. ”If your hypothesis is correct, then it appears our frontier branch stumbled upon something of unfathomable, world-shattering value. For them to dare risk the safety of the entire sector just to keep that relic site a total secret... they must have unearthed something truly magnificent. And that, perfectly explains the aggressive, sudden movements of the Thunderdragon Sect. They aren’t launching a border war; they are hunting for that exact vault.”

”Excellent work, Doctor Ethan,” the General praised, a look of profound respect on his face as he turned to the command console. ”I will transmit these diagnostic deductions to the high command immediately. If your structural calculations are accurate, then the Thunderdragon Sect has not merely deployed an isolated scouting cell. They must have mobilized a primary branch of their heavy army to seize this relic.”

The General’s expression turned grim as he looked at the tactical mapping arrays. ”We should prepare our personnel for immediate, high-intensity combat. However, our current force composition consists only of this Impenetrable-class heavy transport flagship and three Invictus-class dreadnoughts. If the enemy has already integrated massive reinforcements into this sector, our current firepower will not be sufficient to hold the line.”

”Deploy the Northern Strike Branch immediately,” the Vice Sect Leader ordered, his tone shifting into a cold, military register that brooked no delay. ”We need to locate the exact coordinate of whatever they found and secure it for our pavilion, or thoroughly destroy it before the enemy can extract its value. Master Ethan, according to your medical expertise, how dangerous do you calculate a exploration into the source of this miasma to be?”

”If we execute the extraction rapidly, the immediate environmental risk to a healthy cultivator can be entirely minimized,” Ethan replied, his amethyst eyes calm and precise. ”However, I must formally apprise you that the physical vessels of Branch Leader Koma and the two young disciples are currently beyond common salvation. The medicinal paste I applied will only sustain their basic life functions for a limited window of time.”

He stepped closer to the tactical terminal, his gravelly voice dropping into a dangerous, clinical register.

”To successfully develop a permanent cure and restore their collapsed meridians, we will be forced to enter the depths of those exact ancient ruins to harvest a fresh sample of that highly concentrated, five-thousand-year-old miasma,” Ethan explained. ”In the laws of alchemical inversion, the true cure is always hidden inside the core of the toxin itself.”

The Vice Sect Leader frowned deeply, his fingers tightening against the edge of the terminal. ”Is there any specific preparation we must execute before we cross the threshold, Ethan? Should we distribute specialized runic armors or high-tier defensive talismans to the vanguard?”

”No,” Ethan replied instantly, a cold, clinical certainty in his gravelly voice as he shook his head. ”There is absolutely no physical armor or spiritual talisman in existence capable of blocking a five-thousand-year-old tomb curse. However, there is a distinct structural condition we must fulfill: the exploration team deployed into the core must consist almost entirely of women.”

The General blinked, thoroughly caught off guard by the medical restriction. ”Women? What is the logical baseline for that requirement, Doctor?”

”The unique energetic matrix of this specific tomb miasma has a significantly weaker chemical effect on a female physical vessel due to its naturally higher yin baseline,” Ethan explained smoothly, his amethyst eyes locking onto the Vice Leader. ”In fact, it is highly probable that this exact biological divergence is the sole reason Branch Leader Koma and the two young disciples managed to survive down there for so long while the rest of the male garrison anvanished without a trace.”

The Vice Sect Leader let out a long, slow breath, his gaze shifting toward Heidy, who stood like an immovable shadow behind the young doctor. ”I understand perfectly. General, adjust the vanguard roster immediately according to Master Ethan’s precise parameters. We move out the moment the coordinates are secured.”

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From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

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Sword mastery levels

Sword Intent.

Sword Aura.