"Senior Ye?"
Li Wuxin looked at Ye Ling in surprise. After hearing Ye Ling's words, he thought Ye Ling had come specifically to help the Dragon Department out of trouble. He was already preparing to give up, but he never expected Ye Ling to invite him to see the Dragon Department!
Wasn't Ye Ling's action clearly indicating he was here to cause trouble for the Dragon Department?
However, Li Wuxin quickly reacted and gladly accepted, "If Senior invites, this junior will respectfully accept the offer."
The Dragon Department had recently sent people to trouble the Demonic Palace, and Ye Ling had responded forcefully, personally killing a high-ranking official of the Dragon Department.
Ye Ling's actions had shaken the highest levels of China. Li Wuxin brought his troops over precisely to investigate the Dragon Department's sudden provocation of the Demonic Palace.
Now that Ye Ling had come to their doorstep, it was impossible for him to be here for the good of the Dragon Department!
With this thought, Li Wuxin naturally sided with Ye Ling without hesitation.
The Demonic Palace was currently at its peak, already a global superpower. China, as the birthplace of the Demonic Palace, absolutely could not afford to offend it.
If the Dragon Department was courting disaster, the Azure Flame Army had to stand with the Demonic Palace and express China's stance!
Long Fei naturally knew that Ye Ling was here to cause trouble. His expression turned quite unpleasant upon hearing Ye Ling's words.
However, he dared not refuse Ye Ling outright and could only force a wry smile, saying, "If Emperor wishes to inspect the Dragon Department, I naturally welcome it. However, the Dragon Department is currently conducting a top-secret national experiment, so it's truly inconvenient..."
Ye Ling interrupted with a smile, "We are all on the same side, Minister Long. Surely you won't refuse to give me this face?"
"Regarding your Dragon Department coming to trouble my Demonic Palace before, I still haven't received an explanation."
Although Ye Ling spoke with a smile, as if joking, the threat in his tone was almost palpable.
Long Fei was not foolish. Since Ye Ling had made his intentions clear, he could no longer pretend ignorance. He could only laugh and say, "Haha... So Emperor is here about the Yun Shanhe matter."
"It's strange, I don't know what possessed Yun Shanhe to dare to trouble Emperor."
"I was originally planning to thoroughly investigate this matter. Since Emperor has come in person, to resolve any misunderstandings, I must set an example."
Saying this, Long Fei stepped aside and respectfully said, "Emperor, please."
"Minister Long is indeed reasonable." Ye Ling chuckled and stepped through the entrance of the Dragon Department base.
Bai Qiao Xin Mo followed closely behind. As she passed Long Fei, she even secretly made a face at him.
Seeing Ye Ling and Bai Qiao Xin Mo enter, Li Wuxin naturally did not want to miss this excellent opportunity to investigate the Dragon Department and quickly followed, entering the Dragon Department base together.
Long Fei watched the backs of Ye Ling and the other two, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes. He subtly touched the watch on his wrist and pressed a button.
After this small action, Long Fei's smile returned to his face as he chased after Ye Ling, saying with a smile, "Emperor, please allow me to lead the way!"
The Dragon Department headquarters base was built in the mountains. If viewed from the sky, only a pure black disc could be seen in the jungle, not very large.
But once inside the disc, one would discover a world within a world!
The Dragon Department headquarters base was entirely built underground, with over thirty floors. Each floor was five thousand square meters, with a height of over ten meters, all constructed from alloy.
The entire Dragon Department headquarters housed tens of thousands of employees!
Within the Dragon Department headquarters base, apart from the combat personnel on missions outside, the vast majority were research and administrative staff without cultivation.
More importantly, for the sake of secrecy, most employees working at the headquarters base were not allowed to leave the base without permission. Therefore, many employees brought their families to live in the base.
Within this underground base, there were even facilities like hospitals, schools, and shopping malls!
As soon as Ye Ling stepped into the base, he felt as if he had entered a small society, bustling with activity.
Long Fei led Ye Ling into an elevator, pressed the button for the seventeenth basement level, and then introduced, "Emperor, this base was built with an allocation of five hundred billion from the state. It is equipped with complete facilities and can withstand a nuclear strike. We have five dedicated satellites for the Dragon Department, capable of covering every corner of the globe."
"This can be said to be the foundation of our China. Over the years, countless villains have attempted to invade, and thanks to its existence, China has enjoyed peace and prosperity."
Along the way, Long Fei emphasized the importance of the base to Ye Ling as much as possible, aiming to keep Ye Ling restrained and prevent him from acting rashly.
Li Wuxin couldn't help but feel envious seeing the environment around the Dragon Department base, but his gaze quickly turned cold, and he snorted at Long Fei, "Hmph! The Dragon Department enjoys such excellent treatment from the state, yet secretly harms the nation's interests. Are you truly worthy of the state?"
Compared to the Dragon Department living in such a luxurious base, the soldiers of their Azure Flame Army were mostly stationed in remote border regions. Not only were their living conditions harsh, but they also had to fight against rogue cultivators from overseas every day.
Compared to the Azure Flame Army, the Dragon Department was simply heaven!
Long Fei retorted, "General Li, we must speak with evidence. Our Dragon Department acts with integrity and has made great contributions to the nation. How have we wronged the country?"
"If you continue to slander the Dragon Department here, even with Emperor present, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Li Wuxin coldly demanded, "What is your explanation for offending the Demonic Palace?"
Long Fei's face turned red with suppressed anger, and he said sternly, "As I said, it was a misunderstanding!"
Seeing that Li Wuxin and Long Fei were about to fight in the elevator, Bai Qiao Xin Mo immediately fanned the flames, saying, "Yun Shanhe was just a nobody. If he dared to capture me, it must have been at the instigation of someone in your upper echelons. You, Long Fei, as the... woo woo!"
Bai Qiao Xin Mo's words were cut short as Ye Ling sealed her mouth with spiritual energy, rendering her unable to speak.
Ignoring the resentful Bai Qiao Xin Mo, Ye Ling smiled and said, "Let's not argue about this. I believe Minister Long will give me a reasonable explanation."
Long Fei's face turned ashen, but he dared not retaliate. He could only bow to Ye Ling and say, "Emperor is indeed reasonable. Once this matter is clarified, I will definitely give Emperor an explanation!"
"Those who are guilty, I will not let any of them go!"
"I believe you, Minister Long."
Ye Ling responded with a half-smile, then asked, "By the way, where is Wang Liren? I've lost contact with him."
"Liren is missing?" Long Fei looked genuinely surprised. "When did this happen? How come I don't know anything about it?"
Ye Ling gave Long Fei a deep look and then said, "Never mind, let's go directly to the lowest level. I have some things I want to see."
After entering the Dragon Department base, he had already scanned the entire base with his divine sense.
Ye Ling had already investigated other parts of the underground base. Only the lowest level was protected by a barrier, preventing Ye Ling from scanning it with his divine sense.
"Emperor wants to go to the lowest level?" Hearing Ye Ling's request, Long Fei looked hesitant and somewhat reluctant.
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, "What? Is there something unspeakable there?"
Long Fei immediately said, "Emperor misunderstands. It's just that the lowest level contains all of the Dragon Department's top-secret projects, and it's inconvenient for outsiders to visit. Of course... if Emperor wishes to go, it is possible, but it requires several secret orders to enter the lowest level. I alone cannot grant access, so I need to prepare some procedures. I hope Emperor can understand."
Long Fei knew that with Ye Ling's cultivation as a Red Dust Immortal, he could not stop Ye Ling, and the Dragon Department's secrets would be exposed sooner or later.
Rather than refuse Ye Ling, it was better to find an excuse to delay.
Ye Ling seemed not to see through Long Fei's intentions, narrowing his eyes and smiling, "That's natural. Whatever procedures are needed, I hope Minister Long will handle them for me."
"That's easy!"
Long Fei smiled. As the elevator stopped at the seventeenth basement level, he said to Ye Ling with a smile, "I have arranged for someone to receive Emperor. Please wait in the living area on the seventeenth basement level for a moment. I will come to notify Emperor after I have completed the procedures."
As the elevator doors opened, two stunning women in suits were already waiting outside.
Bai Qiao Xin Mo, whose ability to speak had been restored, quickly sized up the two women outside the elevator and said to Ye Ling without reservation, "Master, those two don't look like good people. Can we not follow them?"
The two women in suits outside the door heard Bai Qiao Xin Mo's words, and their expressions turned awkward, but they still maintained their smiles and did not react.
Long Fei's mouth twitched, and he said to Bai Qiao Xin Mo, "Little girl, what are you saying? These two comrades are elites of our Dragon Department, not bad people."
Bai Qiao Xin Mo: "Why don't I believe you... woo woo!"
Bai Qiao Xin Mo's mouth was once again sealed by Ye Ling, and she became even more aggrieved, like a deflated balloon.
Ignoring the protesting Bai Qiao Xin Mo, Ye Ling smiled at Long Fei and said, "Minister Long, please excuse my disciple. She is rather rebellious. You don't need to take it to heart."
Long Fei waved his hand and smiled, "I understand. Young people are energetic and always speak their minds. I won't take it to heart."
"Then Emperor... I shall take my leave now to prepare the procedures?"
Ye Ling: "Please do."
Long Fei: "Thank you for your understanding, Emperor."
Long Fei bowed and then took another elevator, leaving in a hurry.
The two women in suits stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Ye Ling, and said, "Emperor, please follow us."
Ye Ling chuckled, "Lead the way."
"Yes."
The two women in suits replied in unison and then led Ye Ling and the other two into the living area.
The seventeenth basement level of this underground base was more than ten meters higher than other levels, resembling a small city with various buildings.
Not only were there streets and roads on this seventeenth basement level, but Ye Ling even saw schools and hospitals!
Soon, the two women in suits led Ye Ling and the three into a reception room and respectfully said, "Guests, please rest assured here. The Minister will be here shortly."
After saying this, the two women withdrew from the room and closed the door.
After the two women left, Li Wuxin couldn't help but ask Ye Ling, "Emperor, don't you think something is wrong with this Dragon Department?"
Ye Ling asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Li Wuxin said, "In this vast living area, why haven't we seen a single person on our way here?"