After the "turbulent" movie night, Lam Minh's life returned to a rare state of peace. He still went to class, still dozed off, and still had to deal with Quynh Nhu's comical and frustrating attempts to "collect her debt." At the same time, he quietly used his accumulated Immortality Points to grind in the "Foundation Establishment Simulation," even though every session ended with him getting his face stomped. His combat skills and experience against Foundation Establishment cultivators increased significantly, but the points he earned were far too meager compared to the 20,000 he needed.
He needed a real opportunity.
That opportunity came in the form of a call from General Khang, with a mission even more dangerous than he could have imagined.
"Lam Minh, I have a top-secret and extremely dangerous mission," General Khang's voice over the phone was incredibly grave. "It's beyond Blacklight's capabilities, but we have no other choice. And I believe you are the only factor that can create a miracle."
"Yes, sir. I'm listening."
"Our intelligence has confirmed that a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Madakaros has infiltrated the wall through a micro, unstable space gate in the Sac Forest area, Can Gio. It's in hiding, and its target is likely critical infrastructure. The problem is, it's extremely cunning. It never reveals itself, making it impossible for our forces to pinpoint its location for a heavy weapons strike."
Lam Minh held his breath. A Mid-stage Foundation Establishment! This was a terrifying threat. Such an existence could easily slaughter an entire battalion of fully equipped soldiers. Conventional firearms were almost useless; only anti-tank missiles or heavy artillery could injure it.
"Our plan is to use an elite Blacklight team as 'bait' to lure it out of hiding," General Khang continued, his voice heavy. "When it appears, our heavy firepower units, already in ambush, will open fire simultaneously. This is a suicide mission. The survival rate for the bait team is almost 100%."
"So... what's my role in this, sir?" Lam Minh asked.
"I want you to go with the bait team," General Khang said directly. "As a 'specialist consultant.' I know you have a kind of extraordinary 'intuition.' I need you to help the team pinpoint its exact location, to buy even just a few seconds for the firepower units to aim. I know this is an unreasonable and dangerous request, but..."
"I accept," Lam Minh interrupted without a moment's hesitation.
The other end of the line was silent for a moment. "Do you... understand what you're saying? You could die."
Lam Minh chuckled lightly. "General, since being born in this era, any of us can die at any time. If my presence can increase the chance of success by even 1% and reduce casualties for our soldiers, I'm willing."
Of course, that was just the surface reason. In his mind, he was screaming: "A Mid-stage Foundation Establishment! In the real world! If I die at its hands, I'll get at least 4000-5000 points! Enough to break through to Early Foundation Establishment! This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!"
At a secret assembly point near Sac Forest, Lam Minh met up with Quynh Nhu's team again. The atmosphere was extremely heavy. Everyone knew this was a one-way mission. They were writing their final letters to their families.
When Quynh Nhu saw Lam Minh arrive, she walked over, her voice hoarse. "You shouldn't be here. This isn't a joke."
"I know," Lam Minh replied, looking straight into her eyes. "It's precisely because it isn't a joke that I have to be here. Don't worry, I have a way to stay alive."
Seeing the confidence in his eyes, Quynh Nhu said no more. For some reason, his presence made her feel a little more at ease.
The team began to advance into the dense jungle. They didn't move stealthily, but deliberately made noise, turning on their detection devices at full power, playing the part of a searching patrol.
They were a delicious piece of bait, hanging themselves out to dry.
Lam Minh walked in the middle of the formation, his spiritual sense expanded to its limit. He could feel the deathly silence of the forest. And then... he felt it.
A powerful, cold, and murderous aura, hiding in the canopy of a giant ancient tree, about 200 meters away. It was observing them, like a leopard stalking its prey.
"He's in the tree, 1 o'clock," Lam Minh whispered into the comms. "He's waiting for us to get closer."
Quynh Nhu signaled for the team to slow down, her hand gripping her rifle tightly, her heart pounding.
"Keep moving forward," Lam Minh said. "We have to lure him to the ground. He's too fast; if he's in the trees, our firepower will have a hard time locking on."
The team gritted their teeth and continued to walk, heading straight into the tiger's mouth.
When they were only about 50 meters from the tree, the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment creature lost its patience. It roared and leaped down like a black shadow.
BOOM!
It landed on the ground, creating a small crater. Its aura was so overwhelming that the entire Blacklight team felt it was hard to breathe, their limbs stiffening. This was an absolute suppression based on power level.
"FIRE!" Quynh Nhu screamed, trying to overcome her fear.
All team members opened fire at once. But their special-made bullets bounced off the faint qi armor surrounding the creature, unable to cause any damage.
"Useless!" the creature sneered through a psychic wave. It swung its hand, and an invisible wave of force swept out.
BAM! BAM!
Two Blacklight members were sent flying, crashing into tree trunks and losing consciousness.
Quynh Nhu and the two remaining members tried to shoot while retreating, but their speed was too slow. The creature just leisurely walked towards them, its eyes like it was watching dying ants.
"That's enough," Lam Minh suddenly stepped forward, blocking Quynh Nhu. "The bait has done its job. It's time to end this."
"Lam Minh! Are you crazy? Get out of the way!" Quynh Nhu yelled.
But Lam Minh didn't listen. He looked straight at the Foundation Establishment creature and flashed a provocative smile. "Hey, three-eyes, your real prey is over here."
The creature narrowed its eyes. It sensed the Peak Qi Refining aura from Lam Minh. A slightly larger ant, but still an ant.
It ignored the others and charged straight for Lam Minh. It wanted to crush the one who had just dared to provoke it.
"Right on schedule!" Lam Minh cheered internally.
He didn't defend, didn't dodge. He spread his arms wide, preparing to embrace the most glorious death yet.
The creature's claws were right in front of his chest.
In that instant, Lam Minh yelled into his comms.
"COORDINATES 274-991! FULL FIREPOWER! NOW!"
Those were the exact coordinates where he and the Foundation Establishment creature were standing.
Quynh Nhu and the firepower units awaiting orders were all stunned.
He... he was using himself as a targeting beacon!
There was no time to hesitate.
From hidden positions around the forest, a barrage of missiles and artillery shells was launched simultaneously, creating a rain of fire that descended upon the exact coordinates Lam Minh had shouted.
The entire sky lit up. A world-shaking explosion engulfed everything.