Chapter 176: Formulating the Plan

Shi Ji had already shocked everyone earlier, and after hearing Blade’s words, he jumped up once again.

The entire meeting room fell silent as everyone turned their attention back to Shi Ji.

To most of those present, Shi Ji was just someone Jing Xin had brought along to help. Those who knew him were aware that Shi Ji wasn’t even a hero. And yet, this same person had now contradicted Blade twice, not showing him the slightest bit of respect.

Only after the initial shock did everyone realize that Shi Ji was implying he, too, had fought against a Devil-tier anomaly. Among them, only Lin Xinyan seemed to believe him.

Jing Xin, seated nearby, stared at Shi Ji. She felt a headache coming on. Causing trouble earlier was bad enough, but now he had jumped into it again. 

Did he really think she was here to clean up after him?

Jing Xin suddenly regretted bringing Shi Ji to such an important meeting. He was causing far too much trouble.

Blade’s expression had already darkened because of Shi Ji, and being contradicted again made his displeasure peak. His face, already gloomy, now carried a faint trace of killing intent.

Perhaps others couldn’t sense it clearly, but Blade knew it well—Jing Xin’s student was deliberately challenging him. Did Shi Ji really think that just because Jing Xin had his back, he wouldn’t dare to make a move?

Blade said nothing more after that. His gaze stayed fixed on Shi Ji like a predator eyeing its prey, making everyone around feel uneasy. 

But Shi Ji? He was completely at ease.

Lin Xinyan also noticed Blade’s unusual reaction and subtly tugged at Shi Ji’s sleeve, giving him a look. She was trying to signal him to tone it down, to be less flashy.

Shi Ji understood Lin Xinyan’s message and knew that she was only worried about him. But this time, he had had enough, just like Blade.

The entire meeting room had fallen into an awkward silence. No one was speaking, and the atmosphere felt a bit tense.

Since it was already like this, Shi Ji didn’t mind adding a few more words.

“Yeah, I get it. Those Devil-class monsters are tough. But if we’re too scared to even face them, we’ve already lost before we start. Sure, maybe we’re biting off more than we can chew, but staying positive is way better than freaking out. Some of you might not be wrong, but your logic’s all messed up. We should be careful, sure, but before anything, get your attitude straight. Don’t just show up and rain on everyone’s parade.”

Shi Ji was driving home a simple point, one that anyone with common sense would understand. And even though it was obvious, there were always people who failed to apply it.

When Shi Ji accused Blade of being arrogant, it wasn’t without reason. He understood that Blade’s underlying message was about being cautious and careful. Blade was smart, but he didn’t know how to use that intelligence properly.

Lin Xinyan, realizing she couldn’t stop Shi Ji, eventually gave up trying.

The room remained eerily silent, the tension palpable.

After some verbal sparring, the chief finally stepped forward. The reason for stepping in now was simple. He couldn’t stand listening to Blade’s words any longer, and he appreciated Shi Ji’s comments, giving everyone some time to process them.

“Oh, there were a few minor issues earlier. Please don’t take them to heart. Let’s keep the bigger picture in mind. Now, let’s continue discussing our strategy.”

As the host, the chief had a responsibility to mediate conflicts, though whether this would actually help was another question.

According to the data they had, besides discovering the underground Devil-tier monster, another crucial finding was that the energy levels across the entire city had significantly decreased, almost to zero. This meant that, in the near future, there wouldn’t be a large-scale invasion of creatures. For the Star Alliance, this was an opportunity.

Instead of waiting passively, it was better to take the initiative. The Alliance laid out a plan. S-rank and A-rank heroes would join forces and head underground, aiming to eliminate the Devil-tier monster before it could surface.

No one dared to imagine the destruction a Devil-tier creature could cause if it rampaged through the city. It was beyond comprehension.

The peak-level spirit creature, Tisila, had already proven to be an extremely difficult opponent, but compared to a real Devil-tier creature, it was several levels weaker. The gap between them couldn’t be described with mere words.

The Star Alliance’s plan was a bold, risky move.

Given the complexities of underground combat, there were many challenges. To tackle these, the Alliance decided to collaborate with Alloy, an A-rank hero known for his expertise in high-tech equipment.

On the surface, Alloy seemed like just an A-rank hero, but those familiar with him knew that he had another identity. He was the richest man in Yinshuang City, owning numerous factories that produced high-tech equipment.

The plan was to use the gear provided by Alloy to forcibly dig a passage leading underground.

Based on the analysis, the Star Alliance decided to divide the heroes into several smaller teams, each led by an S-rank hero. One group included Black Dragon, Wind Fether, Darm Moon, Dark Star, Alloy, and Auntie Cai. The second group was made up of Blade, Rayger, Phantom, Equilibrium, Platinum, and Hong Yao. Finally, Jing Xin was teamed up with Lin Xinyan and Shi Ji.

Jing Xin’s group was noticeably smaller, with only three members. Besides Lin Xinyan, Shi Ji’s presence was also considered problematic. However, this arrangement came about because Jing Xin had insisted on it.

While only the division chief and Black Dragon truly understood Jing Xin’s full strength. Even Blade and Lin Xinyan, Jing Xin’s own student, had never seen her fight at her full potential.

With the approval of the chief and Black Dragon, the groups were finalized.

Since the digging equipment would take time to install and calibrate, the official operation was scheduled for the next day.

The meeting was classified as top secret, and before it ended, everyone had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

And with that, a meeting concerning the very survival of Yinshuang City came to a close.

As Shi Ji followed Lin Xinyan out, he didn’t notice the crisp 100-yuan bill lying quietly on the ground beneath his feet.

As they walked through the corridor, Shi Ji was leading the way when suddenly, someone kicked him from behind. 

Of all places, why kick his butt? Was it because it looked softer?

He turned around and saw that it was the short-statured Jing Xin trailing behind him.

She looked up at Shi Ji, her delicate face showing clear annoyance. Her small lips were pouting high, as if she were really angry.

“Hey, little girl, what’s with that look?”

The only response Shi Ji got was another attempted kick from Jing Xin, which he managed to dodge.

Lin Xinyan stood off to the side, genuinely impressed by Shi Ji. This guy feared nothing. He’d argue with the sky, the ground, and even the air.

She glanced back at Blade, who had been following them closely. Though his eyes were fixed ahead, it was clear he’d been eyeing Shi Ji all along. Given the tension between Shi Ji and Blade today, she knew she needed to stay on guard.

After leaving the Star Alliance, Shi Ji looked at Lin Xinyan and Jing Xin.

“Uh… I’ve got a friend in the hospital I need to check on. You two can go back first.”

Lin Xinyan hesitated for a moment. “How about I go with you?”

She was worried about Shi Ji, especially with Blade nearby.

“No need, I can handle it alone,” Shi Ji declined.

Before Lin Xinyan could say another word, Shi Ji was already turning away. He flashed a cheeky grin as he dashed off.

Lin Xinyan wanted to chase after him, but Jing Xin stopped her.

“Xinyan, don’t worry about that idiot.”

Jing Xin’s words made sense, but seeing Blade also heading in the same direction made Lin Xinyan uneasy.

Jing Xin understood Lin Xinyan’s concern completely. She glanced at Blade and then at Shi Ji running off into the distance.

“Relax. I already had a word with Blade. It’ll be fine.”