74. The Virus Rampages (Massive Release Tomorrow—Please Subscribe and Send Flowers)

While Ye Feng was wholly focused on restoring his energy, a major incident erupted in Huaxia: a devastating virus surfaced within the nation’s cyber networks. It destroyed all government departmental system data, with experts naming it “Annihilation.”

This virus broke out across the entire country. Despite the best efforts of the nation’s elite hackers, they were helpless against it. The Huaxia government was left with a massive headache, as most of the country's financial systems were paralyzed. Rival nations began to brazenly launch financial invasions. In just a few hours, Huaxia’s national power fell by five percent.

The government tried countless methods and enlisted the help of many foreign experts, but the virus was far beyond the software capabilities of the era. Even the GOD Organization couldn't immediately develop an antivirus or defense system.

...

The name Tai Aiguo might sound ridiculous, but no one would dare laugh if they knew his family background. For generations, his family had served the nation, making them true patriots. By his generation, he was the fourth in line. With such credentials, he could have easily become a central committee member, but Tai Aiguo was stubborn—he loved being a hacker and was quite skilled at it. His family had no choice but to let him join the Ministry of Defense.

To his credit, Tai Aiguo proved himself soon after joining. Within a few years, he successfully thwarted numerous hacking organizations, including several international heavyweights. After passing through layers of political scrutiny, he eventually became the nation's Minister of Cyber Defense.

Tai Aiguo had long realized that hackers could achieve nothing on their own; without the backing of powerful resources, one’s capabilities were limited. He learned this the hard way in his youth, when he and some friends invaded foreign government websites and were hunted across the globe by those countries’ hackers. It was nauseating.

Only later did he understand that no individual could surpass the power of the state. They truly controlled the net. So Tai Aiguo obediently joined the Ministry of Defense, gradually growing into an exceptional hacker and guardian of Huaxia’s cyberspace.

This “Annihilation” crisis rattled even Tai Aiguo, who had always been confident. His team of hackers was utterly ineffective—the virus’s creator was too clever, leaving countless false backdoors seemingly tailored against them. They estimated it would take at least ten days to develop an antivirus system, but Huaxia’s national strength was declining by the minute. In ten days, the nation could fall from a superpower to an ordinary country, or even a second-rate one.

Neither Tai Aiguo, the Ministry of Defense, nor the nation could afford such a loss. Now Tai Aiguo was at his wit’s end, even considering seeking help from the world’s foremost hacker, Summer Breeze. But Summer Breeze’s response was a blow: he too couldn’t handle the virus at present and would need five days to solve it.

This answer shattered Tai Aiguo. If even Summer Breeze, the top hacker in the world, couldn’t manage it, what hope was left for Huaxia?

...

Perhaps things were unfolding just as Ye Feng had imagined. That day, his cultivation progressed swiftly—after just over four hours, he completed seventeen cycles. Just as a nurse delivered his dinner, Ye Feng halted his internal energy circulation, planning to see if he could awaken Huaihuai and have his meal at the same time.

But disappointment was inevitable. Despite several attempts to call out to Huaihuai, there was no response. Ye Feng understood. He resolved to try another seventeen cycles that evening. Just then, he overheard several nurses chatting outside about the virus.

Curious, Ye Feng turned on the TV and watched the news. At last, he realized the hidden virus had erupted.

Watching the familiar news anchor claim the problem wasn’t serious and that the Ministry of Defense was handling it urgently, Ye Feng immediately sensed something was wrong. If it truly wasn’t serious, why involve the Ministry of Defense? Ordinary hackers could have handled it. Besides, according to Huaihuai’s previous analysis, once this virus was unleashed, it could bring all of China to a standstill—how could such a problem be trivial?

Originally, Ye Feng had planned to step in as soon as the virus broke out. With Huaihuai as his “cheat device,” no virus was insurmountable. Yet now, Huaihuai was in a deep sleep, and that was a real problem.

He no longer had the mood to repeat the seventeen cycles. Instead, he decided to push straight for advancement, trusting that the surge of energy from a breakthrough would surely awaken Huaihuai.

Ye Feng once again lay down, covered himself, and feigned sleep.

Soon, countless energy particles in the air gathered toward him, flowing into his body. Each tiny particle penetrated his skin and muscles, merging into the energy vortex within his meridians, slowly refining and circulating...

With the gentle night breeze, Ye Feng lay as still as a corpse on the hospital bed, utterly silent.

Energy particles surged from the lakeside, filling the space around him, merging quietly into his being, as if endlessly...

Within his body, the cycle of inner power continued, steadily and gently growing stronger with each revolution.

One cycle, two, three...

Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen...

But upon reaching the seventeenth cycle, Ye Feng didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He continued to push the internal energy, launching into the eighteenth cycle.

Bathed in warm golden moonlight, his delicate skin glimmered faintly. His handsome face was framed by arched brows, eyes gently closed, his expression calm and natural.

Within his meridians, the inner energy vortex moved slowly but resolutely, following the spine upward...

The energy accumulated from the previous seventeen cycles had not been in vain. The perfectly refined energy vortex surged upward, and in just over twenty minutes reached the major acupoint at the base of his neck. Only after passing through did a fine sheen of sweat emerge on Ye Feng’s forehead, though his face remained utterly calm. Now he understood that haste would only lead to failure. With abundant inner power and mental strength, there was nothing to fear.

Based on his last breakthrough, the segment from the base of the neck to the crown of the head would be the hardest. Once past this, success would be assured.

So Ye Feng was in no rush, gently advancing the energy vortex, confident that with ample reserves, he could pass this trial. Although the decision was made hastily, he had no choice. He refused to let Huaxia fall to second-rate status.

[Editor’s recommendation: Visit WebWave for a full collection of must-read novels. Bookmark now!]