Chapter 409: Cooperation

The sheer volume of information contained within these crystals was overwhelming.

After a moment of silence, Jie Ming suddenly let out a soft laugh. “Truly worthy of myself—always thorough in my work.”

Using his consciousness to idly nudge the crystal that recorded the battle where he had triggered light transformation, Jie Ming began considering how to warn his next-loop self about the trap regarding his physical strength.

“It’s troublesome. This loop’s me has already exposed my physical strength, so… I need a way to let the next-loop me see this information directly.”

The requirement sounded simple, but it was actually quite difficult.

Because judging from his actions in this loop, although he could detect that the loop had occurred, he never had enough time to examine the contents of the crystals.

After thinking for a moment, Jie Ming began searching for materials within the Cave Heaven.

He found a piece of silver-white high-density alloy, quickly shaped it with alchemy into a half-meter square metal plate.

Then he began inscribing words on its surface.

First, he carved a large “3” to remind his next-loop self how many loops had already passed.

After finishing the main content, he added a smaller line beneath the “3”: a record that his physical strength had been exposed, along with a rough summary of the previous battle.

Afterward, Jie Ming placed the plate marked “3” next to the one marked “2.”

Judging from his previous actions, before the battle just now, the only information he had been able to see were the words on these metal plates.

Therefore, these plates were the primary tool for conveying the most critical information.

With everything done, Jie Ming took a deep breath and pulled his consciousness back to the real world.

The battlefield had been largely cleaned up.

Wizards were constructing temporary camps, treating the wounded, and replenishing energy.

Sporadic sounds of combat could still be heard in the distance, but the overall situation was already under control.

Jie Ming stood up and walked straight toward the largest metal fortress in the center of the camp—the newly established legion command headquarters.

The guarding wizards recognized him. “Wizard Jie Ming? Lord Frost is inside, but…”

“I have urgent intelligence,” Jie Ming interrupted. “It concerns the life and death of the entire legion.”

The guards exchanged glances and stepped aside.

Yes—Jie Ming intended to hand this information directly to the command headquarters.

Rather than dealing with everything alone, it was better to let the entire expeditionary force participate.

Inside the tent, Lord Frost stood before a three-dimensional tactical map, brows tightly furrowed.

The map was marked with dense red and blue points, the front lines jagged and interlocked.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up. “Jie Ming? Is your battalion finished resting?”

“Lord.” Jie Ming dispensed with pleasantries and directly produced dozens of recording crystals.

He had carefully selected these crystals—containing key intelligence without exposing his own special circumstances. “Please take a look at these.”

Lord Frost accepted the crystals, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

But the moment his mental power probed the first one and he saw the “memory imagery,” his expression changed dramatically.

He rapidly browsed through all the crystals, then raised his head, eyes sharp as blades.

“These images… the timestamps show they were recorded ‘after the start of this loop’s battle,’ and the contents are clearly combat processes we have not yet experienced. So…”

“Yes, exactly as you’re thinking. These recording crystals are messages left for me by my previous-loop self.”

“You possess an ability that can transcend the influence of the time loop?!” Lord Frost was visibly shocked.

Jie Ming had already prepared his explanation. “My master is an eighth-tier alchemy grandmaster.”

He offered no further details.

Lord Frost’s astonishment deepened, but this time it was not directed at Jie Ming’s ability itself, but at the fact that “this kid actually has an eighth-tier wizard as his backer.”

As for resisting the influence of a time loop—every eighth-tier wizard could achieve that effortlessly through law solidification. And if the master in question was also an eighth-tier grandmaster of alchemy, creating some artifact capable of resisting it would be child’s play.

As for the wizard principle of equivalent exchange—even between master and disciple, resources had to be purchased with money—well, that was true, but it didn’t mean loans were off the table.

Even if the loan would be astronomically expensive, ordinary wizards didn’t even qualify to borrow in the first place.

“So.” Lord Frost did not press further about the nature of Jie Ming’s ability. He tapped one of the crystals. “You’ve brought this intelligence seeking cooperation?”

“Yes.” Jie Ming nodded. “I believe you won’t let me suffer a loss.”

In truth, Jie Ming could have relied on this intelligence to continuously avoid the enemy’s traps and seek personal benefits in countless ways.

Although each loop would reset everything, it would also yield more intelligence. In theory, with sufficient patience, he could harvest ever greater rewards.

But for Jie Ming, he was far more interested in the time loop ability itself.

Discovering and cracking a mechanism of this level was definitely not something a mere fourth-ring wizard like him could accomplish alone.

Since that was the case, cooperation with the military department was the better path. He wasn’t lacking in military merits anyway—why not see if he could use this achievement to earn the right to participate in researching the time loop?

Lord Frost understood Jie Ming’s intentions and nodded with satisfaction. “If the intelligence you’ve provided is genuine, I will personally petition Lord Starforger Altreus on your behalf. When the time comes, regardless of the true nature of this time loop ability, you will be granted access to participate in its research.”

Then he fell into thought, studying the intelligence in the recording crystals.

He turned back to the tactical map, tracing his finger across its surface:

“Underground nests are traps… the true main force teleports directly from the earth veins… time reversal is related to population count, but they themselves are controlling it…”

Suddenly he stopped. Clutching the recording crystal, a contemplative look appeared on his face. “Interesting. So the next battle is fought like this? It seems these insects truly love relying on intelligence provided by the time loop…”

He walked to the edge of the fortress, pushed open the door, and gazed toward the direction in which the Sickle-Skull had retreated:

“They think they have unlimited opportunities to try and fail. But they don’t know… that death itself can leak intelligence.”

“Notify all commanders above sixth-tier: meeting in one standard hour.” Lord Frost ordered his adjutant, then looked at Jie Ming. “Will you attend as well?”

Jie Ming shook his head. “Thank you for the kindness, my lord, but there’s no need.”

He knew his place. With his current strength and insight, he could offer nothing useful in a meeting of this level. It was better to honestly serve as an intelligence provider.

“Understood.” Lord Frost nodded.

“Then return and prepare for battle in advance. This time, we will use their ‘loop’ to hunt them in return.”

Jie Ming saluted and withdrew.

As he stepped out of the tent, the setting sun was sinking below the horizon, dyeing the entire battlefield blood-red.

He clenched his fist.

The next loop of war… would arrive very soon.

And this time, they were the ones with the intelligence advantage.