If this kind of incident happened in Jade Country, the safety of hundreds of thousands of citizens would be enough to make anyone spare no effort. The Space Gem must be protected, and the lives of these hundreds of thousands of citizens must also be protected.

But this is the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, where conditions do not allow for such measures. However, Wang Lan had now shown them a way to potentially achieve the best of both worlds. Time-space ability—that was the most elusive and powerful of abilities.

"How confident are you?"

"If the Time-Space Gemstone doesn't leave my hands, I'm one hundred percent confident. If they propose an exchange, I'll stay behind with the Time-Space Gemstone, and Princess Aier will leave with the nuclear bomb. Once Princess Aier is at a safe distance, I'll immediately use Space Movement to return."

"What if the other party doesn't agree to your terms?"

"I'll just bring Princess Aier back directly. Regardless, the Time-Space Gemstone cannot fall into Paradise Bird's hands. But... the moment they proposed the trade, they were already destined to lose. As long as we get them to agree to exchange both nuclear bombs simultaneously, they'll have to bring out both bombs. That way, even if the trade fails, we can pinpoint the location of the two bombs and implement a regional lockdown."

"The other side is bound to have thought of this."

"But they definitely won't expect me to have my Space Movement ability. We have the Time-Space Gemstone, they have nuclear bombs; both parties have bargaining chips. Overall, though, we have greater initiative than them. Because we represent Jade Country, their nuclear bombs can only threaten the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. They also understand that Jade Country would never allow them to seize the Time-Space Gemstone. If we agree to a trade, our goal will be to snatch the nuclear bombs, just as their plan will be to steal the Time-Space Gemstone. It's simply a matter of who gets the opportunity to act first."

After listening to Wang Lan's analysis, Longya and Jin Wenbing exchanged glances once more and ultimately nodded silently. Indeed, that was the case.

"Wang Lan, remember this: I know you sometimes choose to take risks, but this time you absolutely cannot. Your life is insignificant when weighed against the Time-Space Gemstone. We are willing to try to save the lives of the hundreds of thousands of citizens in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow; this is us fulfilling our humanitarian spirit. If there's even the slightest complication, if the Time-Space Gemstone is in any danger whatsoever, you must bring it back immediately."

"Yes!"

Wang Lan sent the two of them back once more. During the time they were discussing, King Cain had secretly sent people to search for the trio multiple times, but to no avail.

"King Cain, we can agree to make one final effort, but we hope you understand that an actual trade is impossible. It's merely a pretense, a way to see if there's an opportunity to retrieve the nuclear bombs. Moreover, once it's confirmed that there's no chance to grab the bombs, we will withdraw immediately. Regarding the fate of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, we can only offer our apologies."

"This... Alright then!" Cain wanted to argue further, but seeing Longya's resolute gaze, he could only give up reluctantly.

"Mr. Longya, may I ask a question?" Cain asked indifferently in a low voice. "If Jade Country faced the same situation, would you act the same way? Would you rather let hundreds of thousands of innocent lives vanish into smoke than agree to an exchange?"

"In Jade Country, such a situation would be impossible. Jade Country's national security agencies would not cooperate with terrorists, nor could terrorists possibly obtain nuclear bombs from Jade Country. Most importantly, terrorists would never even get the chance to propose an exchange."

"Alright then! We still hope your country will make the utmost effort."

"Certainly!"

To be on the safe side, the plan was formulated by Longya and Jin Wenbing. Only they, along with Wang Lan and Princess Aier, knew the detailed plan. No one else was privy to it.

The next day, Wang Lan and Princess Aier, bearing the Time-Space Gemstone, got into the car with the punk.

"Let's go. Where's the location?"

"Are the goods you're carrying genuine?"

"You guess!" Wang Lan snorted coldly.

"Don't expect to bluff us with a fake. We have ways to tell the difference. If you've brought a fake, exchange it for the real one now; otherwise, many people will die."

"Drop your compassionate act. What would a terrorist like you know about mercy?"

"I'm just making sure you haven't deceived us. Really, I don't want trouble, and I certainly don't want to die. If you have a fake, our leader will definitely recognize it. He'll detonate the nuclear bomb immediately, and then you'll surely kill me."

"It's real. Cut the crap. Where's the location?"

"Just follow my instructions. Make sure the car is gassed up, okay? It'd be bad if we broke down halfway."

Though the punk talked tough in front of Wang Lan, he was actually terrified inside. Even a casual scratch of Wang Lan's forehead would make him tremble. So timid, Wang Lan wondered. Why did this guy even get involved with Paradise Bird?

After driving around for an entire day, the car completed a long, 600-kilometer loop around the Kingdom of Ice and Snow.

"What are you really up to? If you want to trade, just get it over with. Don't keep driving us around in circles."

"A covert trade like this, of course, can't have too many onlookers. Do you want the whole world to know by tomorrow that you traded the Time-Space Gemstone, which can open the gates of time and space, with Paradise Bird?"

"Hmph!"

"Keep going north!"

As dusk approached, the SUV suddenly headed directly north. After about a hundred kilometers at breakneck speed, it arrived at the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

The car slowed to a stop, and Wang Lan and Princess Aier got out. They were on a protruding beach, surrounded by water on three sides, with dense forest and massive rocks all around.

"We meet again, Wang Lan?" a slightly hoarse voice sounded. Wang Lan felt his vision blur, and a familiar figure appeared before him.

"Wang Mingling!"

"It's been half a year. I've really missed you, Wang Lan..."

Wang Lan's aura surged around him. Although he didn't release any Star Energy Fluctuations, his presence overflowed like boiling water.

"In just half a year, you've grown to this extent. Truly worthy of being the Flame Emperor's son, a peerless genius. Even at my peak, I might not be able to defeat you easily now..."

"You're welcome to try."

"Let's not... I came here to trade today, and I have no plans to fight you," Wang Mingling said, his gaze shifting towards the package in Wang Lan's hands. "You actually brought the real Time-Space Gemstone... I thought you would bring a fake to deceive me and then try to snatch the nuclear bombs. I even prepared so many contingencies for that scenario... and it seems they weren't needed. You lot are truly arrogant, aren't you? Do you believe I can't snatch the Time-Space Gemstone from your hands, no matter what?"

"You can try, but I can't guarantee I won't accidentally kill you." A sharp gleam flashed in Wang Lan's eyes. Facing Wang Mingling once more, Wang Lan no longer felt the pressure he once had. His strength had greatly increased, enough to fight even a Titled Strongman, let alone this mere corpse puppet before him.

"Since you're so sincere, I'm naturally willing to trade fairly."

"The nuclear bombs?"

Wang Mingling gestured lightly, and someone behind him walked slowly over, carrying a briefcase.

"Why is there only one?"

"The second one is, of course, still in the place most threatening to you... Do you really think I'm so foolish as to bring both nuclear bombs? If you were to try any tricks, I wouldn't be able to escape."

"I said we would exchange all the nuclear bombs. Since you only brought one, the deal is off."

"I can tell you the location of the other nuclear bomb. Besides, each nuclear bomb has only one independent detonator. I can trade the detonator to you. This way, it's as good as trading both nuclear bombs. After all, we have no use for nuclear bombs... You can't eat them."

"But they can be used for terrorist attacks."

"Wang Lan, it seems I need to correct a misconception of yours. Don't lump us together with those aimless organizations, okay? They only know destruction, creating terror to satisfy their own desires. Our goal has never been to create terror; terror is merely a tool to achieve our goals."

"Hmph, you think you can deceive me?"

"How could someone as smart as you, Wang Lan, not know this basic common sense? Every nuclear bomb detonator has a matching special code. Don't believe me? Ask Princess Aier."

"That's right," Princess Aier confirmed, staring at Wang Mingling. "Each suitcase nuclear bomb has only one detonator, and even the manufacturer can't replicate another one. If the detonator is destroyed, the nuclear bomb can only be decommissioned. I need to verify that it's real."

"Of course." Wang Mingling ordered his subordinate to open the briefcase, revealing a metallic box inside that resembled an engine, with a few dim indicator lights on it.

"This is the nuclear bomb's detonation switch," Wang Mingling said, gently pressing the switch. The lights on the nuclear bomb suddenly lit up. "The signal is connected. All I have to do is press this button, and this nuclear bomb will explode immediately. How about it? The detonators for both are here. Hand over the Time-Space Gemstone, and I'll give them to you."

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!—

As Wang Mingling finished speaking, a sudden beeping sound erupted from the nuclear bomb.

The sound immediately made Wang Lan's scalp tingle intensely. Without any hesitation, he instantly activated his Phoenix form.

On the other side, Wang Mingling's expression was frozen in utter confusion. Looking at the flashing indicator lights on the nuclear bomb, he looked completely bewildered.

BOOM—

A thunderous roar spread out, as if to awaken the entire world.

BOOM—

Almost simultaneously, explosions erupted on the Arctic Ocean coast and from its seabed, sending a massive cloud of mist and debris surging skyward. Even from ten kilometers away, the rising mushroom cloud was visible.

Even thirty kilometers away, the terrifying roar could be heard.

"Shit—"

Hiding five kilometers away, Longya and the other Star Sea realm teachers from the academy were suddenly jolted violently by the sound. Staring at the terrifying smoke in the distance, despair was written all over their faces.

"Wrong... We were all wrong..." Longya muttered, his face contorted in pain. "Paradise Bird's goal was never the Time-Space Gemstone... They wanted to... bomb Wang Lan to death!"

"Captain, look out!" Wu Shaohua suddenly grabbed Longya, pressing him down into their cover. A deafening blast whooshed overhead, and the howling shockwave ripped a layer of turf from the top of their shelter, flinging it high into the air.

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