This wasn't ignorance, but a deliberate refusal to speak.
Fan Li and the others were shrewd individuals and immediately understood Li Chonglou's intentions.
"Alright, let's focus on completing the mission first," Fan Li said, proactively changing the subject and then beginning to plan their route.
Everything Xue Zhu had said was crucial. While many details were omitted, the fact that it wasn't just their teams hinted at a larger situation.
There was also that remark from Shan Gui.
Fan Li's expression grew solemn. "We don't know, nor do we need to know, about the power struggles above. However, we must remain vigilant. Therefore, I propose we split into three small teams."
Fan Li took out the map again and pointed to several locations.
"Wu Di, the three of you will form one team and be responsible for the entire route. Wang Liqiang and I will patrol from the bottom up, while Wen Ying and Wu Yin will patrol from the top down."
This was the most conservative approach. Splitting into three teams ensured that any discovery would be immediately known, and the distance allowed for the fastest possible support.
Everyone nodded, and then they began to act separately.
Unbeknownst to Li Chonglou, in the world above, Old Tie received extremely troublesome news.
"Li's Heavenly Dao power has been leaked?"
Old Tie, holding the phone, looked grave, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and anxiety.
The person on the other end was the publicly known leader of the General Bureau, a man with white hair. However, neither of them knew the source of the information.
They both understood the implications of the Heavenly Dao power leaking. As Shan Gui had said, anyone with ambition would gravitate towards Li Chonglou.
Not for any other reason than to seize his Heavenly Dao power!
While possessing Heavenly Dao power might impose certain arrangements from Heaven, it was also the only way to access peak power! The top tier of individuals wouldn't care who you were; they only cared if you had it.
"This is troublesome. Only you and I, and those above, know about this. Could it be..."
"I suspect it's the power of Metal," the man with white hair said.
Old Tie's expression froze.
The power of Metal, as the man with white hair referred to it, was one of the peak powers. There were seven publicly known peak power wielders in the General Bureau: three responsible for guarding the land of China, three for the underground world, and one whose whereabouts and specific mission had been unknown for years.
The power of Metal was one of the three guarding China.
"Why?" Old Tie asked, perplexed. In his understanding, peak power wielders generally avoided interfering in matters below to prevent karmic entanglement.
Regarding the internal spy investigation they were primarily conducting, as long as China remained, who cared if there were spies!
Let alone spies, even if China were comprehensively invaded, as long as it wasn't on the brink of annihilation, they wouldn't intervene!
"I heard that the lifespan of the power of Metal is nearing its end, and he is looking for a successor."
Old Tie was even more confused. "What does that have to do with Li?"
"Don't you understand? Someone below fears Li will seize his position, and this individual has a good relationship with the power of Metal. Don't you think he might use this opportunity?"
Understood. This time, Old Tie finally grasped the situation.
It was over. This time, it was truly over.
Upon realizing this, Old Tie felt a surge of powerlessness.
If it were anyone else, even members of the Three Societies or the Elders' Council, he would have confidence in helping Li Chonglou.
But when it involved peak power, he was also helpless! They were a group that even the Elders' Council heeded!
Not just him, but even the man with white hair. If any one of them spoke out, the publicly known leader of the General Bureau would have to step down the next day!
The man with white hair hung up. This time, he too was powerless.
Old Tie, however, fell into self-blame.
He was the one who had reported this matter upwards.
Initially, he thought that even if Li Chonglou received no merit, he would at least face fewer troubles. Based on past experience, individuals possessing Heavenly Dao power would, at the very least, receive secret arrangements from the Elders' Council.
But this time, it had been directly publicized!
Simultaneously, Li Chonglou, far away in the underground world, felt a growing sense of unease.
Everything had been going too smoothly, which was already cause for concern. Now, with this new development, Shan Gui's warning of caution, which was merely a possibility for others, had become an almost certain event for him!
This meant that under the influence of the Heavenly Dao power, members of other desperate teams would undoubtedly come to cause trouble.
The weakest among those participating in the desperate teams possessed peak fifth-layer strength. For squad leaders, it could even reach peak sixth-layer.
For example, Fan Li and the other three were on the verge of that breakthrough.
Above squad leaders were captains. Li Chonglou felt the most troublesome aspect wasn't this.
It was the information gap created by differing statuses.
At this moment, he had no idea about the level of importance that people at Xue Zhu's level placed on this mission.
In other words, he had no idea how much their interests were tied to this mission!
Without knowing this, it was difficult for Li Chonglou to gauge the strength of those who might come to cause trouble.
If it were only those below the seventh layer, he was confident he could handle them, even with a larger number. After all, after consuming the pills given by Master Jianwen, his soul had merged with Elder An's, allowing him to exhibit peak sixth-layer strength.
But he feared that not only would there be experts above the sixth layer, but they would also come with murderous intent!
He wasn't afraid of direct confrontation, but surprise attacks were another matter!
After the teams split up, Wu Di quickly noticed the peculiar look on Li Chonglou's face.
"Is something wrong?"
Wu Di recalled that Li Chonglou's reaction had become somewhat strange ever since Shan Gui mentioned the peak power.
It gave people an indescribable sense of gravity, as if something significant were about to happen.
Combined with Li Chonglou's deliberate evasiveness earlier, Wu Di couldn't help but feel a heavy heart.
Li Chonglou thought for a moment before finally speaking, "I have a feeling they are hiding something from us. My intuition tells me this patrol mission won't go smoothly."
"Brother Li, do you know something?"
Li Chonglou shook his head.
He couldn't reveal such things directly. Not only would it be troublesome to explain, but Wu Di and the other might also develop a different opinion of him.
At this moment, his priority was to turn all the experts he knew into his subordinates.
He needed to maintain these relationships.
Seeing Li Chonglou's demeanor, the other two didn't press further.
Wu Di sighed and said, "Brother Li, we are all in the same boat now. I hope you won't hide anything from us regarding matters of safety."
Li Chonglou nodded. "Of course."
Seeing that he still wouldn't disclose anything, Wu Di gave up.