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"Has it stabilized?"

Everyone was intently watching the data table; those who had made it to the upper echelons, all had at least some knowledge of data and could understand the alerts.

Since the red warning appeared, the operation of the entire equipment had evidently begun to slow down, and the energy output was also slowing.

This seemed to indicate...

"We did it!!"

Finally, amidst the rapid breathing of many people, the expert in charge of the entire equipment control trembled with excitement!

As soon as the voice rang out, everyone crowded around.

"We’ve gained control. The decomposing data has come to a halt in a specially designated space within the equipment. We have three hours to install or remove certain programs from the other party!"

"Three hours?" Zhang Zhengyuan’s voice trembled for the first time, "Is that enough time? Load the disassembly program!"

"We have enough time!" the expert replied excitedly. "Although the data is vast and complex, with our current computer’s computational power, we won’t be able to parse the opponent’s genetic structure but installing the disassembly program will take at most one hour!"

"Good, good, good!" This time, not only Zhang Zhengyuan but several other executives also started clapping and laughing.

"First, quickly check the disassembly program inside him," Zhang Zhengyuan immediately ordered.

No matter who had implanted Chen Qing, he wouldn’t allow any power to control such a high-potential asset in secret. Before making Chen Qing public, he had already had special agents from the military take control over all the disassembly devices in the Huazhong District!

The disassembly program required a supercomputer; it wasn’t something that could disassemble a program in the Virtual World on a whim.

As long as surveillance was in place, now nobody could use a disassembly program to deal with Chen Qing in advance.

Zhang Zhengyuan was confident; his own direct reports all came from the Green Cloud Sect of Zhu Xian, and no family could control them.

"Yes, General, scanning now..." The expert, rubbing his palms together, was also quite excited. This project was an opportunity that came once in millennia; many scientists wouldn’t get a chance to work on such a project in their entire lives.

If he succeeded, the position of chief expert would undoubtedly be his!

About a quarter of an hour later, the expert who had been giving commands suddenly froze, his expression turning strange.

This detail was naturally caught by the higher-ups closely monitoring him. Someone quickly asked, "Is there a problem?"

A wave of tension swept through the crowd. At a moment like this, they feared any complications, even though they had just gained control, but if Chen Qing lost control again, that would be disastrous!

"There’s no disassembly program..." The expert carefully scrutinized the data report, his face showing puzzlement as he slowly spoke.

"What did you say?" Zhang Zhengyuan was startled, disbelief coloring his face for a rare moment: "None?"

"How is that possible?" Hou Tianhua, who had wheeled himself over in his wheelchair, also wore a look of disbelief.

The origin of Chen Qing had always been a topic of great concern to them. Someone had been prepared since the dawn of the Digital Life Era, erasing the data traces of designers like Pu YunChuan and recently, quietly integrating into the sensitive Demonic World project.

Accomplishing any of the above required immense power and resources. Just the act of secretly inserting Chen Qing into the system without Zhang Zhengyuan and his own knowledge, Hou Tianhua thought, could be accomplished by no more than a handful of forces within Huazhong!

Not just Zhang Zhengyuan, he too was eager to uncover the shadowy figure.

The absence of the disassembly program was a significant lead. The program originated from Digital City, so it was bound to leave traces. By deciphering the disassembly program, they could follow the vine to find the man in the shadows.

But...

He had never anticipated this—none at all?

Zhang Zhengyuan and Hou Tianhua exchanged glances and could see the surprise in each other’s eyes.

A being like Chen Qing wasn’t controlled by a disassembly program? Had the person gone mad?

What would happen without a disassembly program?

The players from the ancient times in the Demonic World had already given the answer—it was impossible to maintain control, and that included any Virtual World.

Once a player gained the upper hand, they would never easily compromise with traditional political families, after all, why should they?

Just like Zhang Zhengyuan, with power and momentum on his side, what did his humble origins matter? What could these aristocratic families do to him? Unless they were willing to shut down the Virtual World!

The disassembly program had become standard for new players exploring the virtual realm; nobody wanted to raise an uncontrollable tiger.

"Are you sure?" Zhang Zhengyuan spoke up.

"I’ve checked twice, there can’t be any mistake!" the expert solemnly shook his head, "Chen Qing’s program is very clean, with no disassembly programs inside."

"This is really..." Everyone’s faces grew strange, and for a moment, no one knew what to say—what on earth was the person who secretly put something in Chen Qing’s home thinking?

However, since things had come to this point, agonizing over it was useless. The pressing concern was to resolve the current issues at hand.

"Let’s not worry about that for now, begin implanting the program!" Zhang Zhengyuan said sternly, "Check if there’s anything else hidden on his person. If the disassembly program can’t be implanted, send him back immediately!"

Almost everyone agreed with this point, considering Chen Qing’s capabilities, if he went out of control, once he completely crossed over here, they feared... that he would be calling the shots!

"Alright!" The expert nodded, obviously understanding the severity of the situation, and immediately began the implantation procedure with his team of research staff.

An hour wasn’t a long time, but the wait felt excruciatingly long with everyone’s nerves on edge.

Compared to before, the situation was now much safer.

Chen Qing’s data was completely under the control of the device.

Even if the implantation failed, he could still be safely sent back, so there were essentially no worries about what came after.

However, having paid such a high price to bring Chen Qing over, nobody wanted their efforts to be in vain.

The value of Chen Qing had already been made known to the other four districts of the Federation. If they couldn’t succeed this time, not only would the initial investment be lost, but Huazhong’s reputation would be completely gone as well.

Over the years, many had realized that Huazhong District’s overall strength had actually surpassed that of the North America District, but in terms of prestige, many still saw the North America District as the representative of the Federation.

If Huazhong could now take the lead in this project and turn it into something the entire Federation relied on, then Huazhong would truly become the number one district of the Federation.

Before the Digital Life Era, Huazhong was only one step away from replacing North America as the world trade center, but unfortunately, the chaos came first. This obsession had now persisted until today, and no ruler would give it up.

Chen Qing... was the key link!

"It’s done!"

Just when everyone’s spirits were becoming somewhat distracted due to the long wait, an exciting voice emerged!

At that moment, Zhang Zhengyuan could no longer restrain himself and leaped to the forefront, personally inspecting the data results.

On the display, a few shining Chinese characters read: Implantation successful!

Rejection rate zero, data recombination imminent!

"Good!"

Zhang Zhengyuan’s face was flushed with excitement as he was the first to cheer!

The next second, all the high-ranking officials who had been watching burst into applause.

This step was as significant as breaking through the core lithography technology of chips in the past, and it meant completely freeing themselves from Western sanctions; being in control of Chen Qing meant leading the entire Federation!

"Data is recombining... Everyone, take note, Chen Qing is about to arrive!"

"Retreat..." Zhang Zhengyuan calmly commanded, "Upload the disassembly program to the data center immediately, make three backups, and the expert team should evacuate right now!"

"Yes!" The expert clearly understood the gravity of the situation, too. In the case of such a remote-controlled weapon, the ones responsible for pressing the buttons naturally had to stay well away.

And so, under the protection of the military, the expert and his group promptly left the scene, while the remaining Huazhong District leadership held their breath in anticipation of Chen Qing’s arrival.

The equipment operated, and under intelligent control, the final deployment was swiftly completed. As the intelligent system announced the completion of recombination, from within a massive, twisting data vortex, a figure dressed in ancient white garments slowly emerged.

"We finally meet, Mr. Chen Qing!" Hou Tianhua, maneuvering his wheelchair, moved to the forefront, and was the first to speak with a smile.

The young man in white garments who emerged looked steadily at the old man in the wheelchair and also revealed a smile, "Ah, you’ve come too, Mr. Speaker!"

This statement made Hou Tianhua’s face stiffen, and even Zhang Zhengyuan’s expression changed!

Because they both knew... Chen Qing, by all accounts, was not supposed to recognize Hou Tianhua!!