The atmosphere immediately fell silent.

"Have you checked everywhere?" Ye Zong asked in a deep voice.

"We've checked everywhere, but we're missing the smallest nuclear bomb, a kiloton-level one!" Major Qi said solemnly.

Chen Shouyi breathed a slight sigh of relief at this, fortunately, the yield was not large. A kiloton-level nuclear bomb's power could only destroy a village.

Next, the soldiers individually interrogated the researchers one by one. Unfortunately, the research team had only arrived here two days ago, and the nuclear airship, being one of the most advanced strategic weapons for the Great Xia Country to deter other worlds, had a complex internal structure and a vast space. Without blueprints and professional personnel, entering it would result in getting lost.

After being captured by the Barbarians and brought here, all of their work was still in the exploratory and familiarization phase, with no one having touched the nuclear weapons in the nuclear weapon compartment or knowing the whereabouts of the nuclear bomb.

Without finding any clues, Major Qi decisively ordered the convoy to return immediately.

This deep incursion behind enemy lines was extremely dangerous, and there was no time to waste. The missing nuclear bomb couldn't be retrieved in a short time, and compared to the lost small-yield bomb, recovering the twenty-four nuclear bombs was obviously more important.

Moreover, among them were two ten-million-ton-level hydrogen bombs. Should they fall into enemy hands, it would certainly be disastrous for the entire Jiangnan Province and even the whole of Great Xia Country.

...

The convoy slowly drove away from the village.

A large number of black dots kept hovering in the sky.

Yet they dared not descend to court death again. The combat power Ye Zong had displayed was simply too terrifying; without divine intervention, it would be nothing but a futile sacrifice.

Chen Shouyi leaned against the truck bed, glancing at the group of researchers who had been huddled silently in a corner since boarding the vehicle.

Many were in low spirits.

Understandably so, as those who can live without worries being on their own are a minority; the vast majority have families, whether it's parents or spouses and children.

This farewell is probably the last they'll see of them.

Perhaps, in some people's eyes, humanity already had no hope left. The power displayed by the Barbarian God was overwhelming, so much so that it led one to despair. With humanity's technological might, there was simply no competing against it. In their hearts, this departure was seen not as a rescue, but a return to the flames.

Passing by the Giant, the Giant was still convulsing, making great noise, turning the entire field into a mud pit.

"Thanks to Director Ye this time, otherwise we might have been annihilated!" Luo Jingwen exclaimed, recalling the moment when the Giant charged at them, he'd nearly lost all hope.

Yet, unexpectedly at the last moment, the situation turned around, and one arrow annihilated the Giant.

"Indeed!" Sun Mengyuan also remarked.

"I was just lucky. If I hadn't hit it then, I would have been the one dead. I'm still scared thinking about it." Ye Zong humbly laughed, without the slightest trace of arrogance one would expect from the strong.

At over forty years old, someone like him no longer wore pride on their face.

Chen Shouyi glanced at his watch; it was already 3:30 AM, about two hours before dawn.

The vehicle continued its journey smoothly, not encountering any resistance along the way. By 4:15 AM, the convoy finally entered Luohu City. Seeing the large amount of defensive forces covering the rear on either side of the road, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the weight on their minds gradually eased.

Seeing the convoy return safely, soldiers in the distance couldn't hold back their cheers, which echoed throughout the night sky!

The warbirds following overhead, under pressure from a large number of anti-aircraft guns, scattered and fled in panic. One of the warbirds was hit by anti-aircraft fire and rapidly plummeted, getting hit by cannon fire mid-air and its body being shredded into bloody fragments, with feathers flying everywhere.

The convoy didn't stop and continued forward, soon leaving Luohu City.

Seeing the occasional trucks appear on the highway, Chen Shouyi breathed a sigh of relief; they were finally safe.

The inside of the vehicle was quiet, with many people beginning to rest with their eyes closed.

He crouched down and spoke to Shell Lady, hiding in a dark little hole: "Little one, you can come out now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shell Lady hurriedly ran out. Chen Shouyi caught her, feeling her tiny body trembling in his palm, and carefully placed her in his inner pocket.

Today had thoroughly terrified her.

...

At eight o'clock in the morning, Chen Shouyi and the other two got off at the Hedong City entrance of the highway.

The convoy didn't even pause in Hedong, heading straight for the Capital City.

Xiao Changming watched the departing convoy and sighed, "I just realized we're like frogs at the bottom of a well, this really was an eye-opening experience!"

"Yes, there's no comparison, they're just too strong," Lei Ruiyang also sighed.

In this mission, the three of them had barely participated, almost completing it without any effort.

"Let's go!" Chen Shouyi watched the convoy for a while in silence, then said, taking the lead to move forward.

...

By the time he got home, it was already 10:30.

After greeting his parents and sister, he went to his bedroom, arranged his luggage, and then took Shell Lady out from his embrace.

"Big Giant, we've finally come back," Shell Lady said as she looked at the familiar environment, regaining her vitality, a look of relief on her face.

"Are you hungry?" Chen Shouyi asked.

"Yes, I am!"

He immediately took out some honey and prepared a spoonful for her using warm water.

Shell Lady went over and took a few sips, then, suddenly remembering something, looked up: "Big Giant, where's my reward?"

"I haven't forgotten,"

Chen Shouyi stood up, walked to the cabinet, opened a drawer filled with Crystal Balls, picked one up, and placed it in front of Shell Lady: "Here you go!"

Shell Lady hugged the Crystal Ball with delight: "Giant, you're really nice!"

She ate and played, and after a while, yawned. Her nerves had been taut these past two days, and she hadn't slept well. Now, as she relaxed, she was overcome with drowsiness and soon fell asleep on the Crystal Ball.

Chen Shouyi carefully picked up her body and placed her on the bed. Having returned, he retrieved the Crystal Ball and placed it in another drawer of the cabinet, which was filled with her collection of Glass Beads and Crystal Balls.

After finishing everything, he sat on the bed, quietly contemplating:

"Judging by my assessment, my strength has now reached that of a true Martial Artist, though with significant flaws. My strength is somewhat weaker, akin to a great Martial Artist, but my agility has surpassed the Martial Artist Level, thus reducing my long-range attack power. However, in close combat, I should be on par with an ordinary Martial Artist."

Thinking of this, he felt a spark of inspiration, lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and entered the Memory Space.

He chose the memory from yesterday afternoon when he had a conflict with Sun Mengyuan to enter.

The reason for choosing this memory was that, over the past two days, it was the only instance where he met with a single Martial Artist; all other times, he was surrounded by a group, making a fight disruptive and prone to encirclement.

Additionally, Sun Mengyuan was one of the two weakest Martial Artists who had come from the Capital City this time.

ps: Writer's block today!

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