With four aircraft carrier fleets moving as one, everyone was filled with confidence. They charged straight for the Liaoyuan, a stark contrast to their previous timidity.
Aboard the Liaoyuan’s fleet, the crew remained calm, awaiting orders from their superiors.
"Captain, what are our orders?" a soldier beside Long Zhan asked in a low voice.
"We’ll execute a fighting retreat," Long Zhan replied grimly. "We can’t let them enter this region of the sea so easily."
"Yes, sir!" The Liaoyuan’s fleet immediately sprang into action.
By now, Lu Jiamei had finished explaining Ren Yuanyang’s situation. "The Leader’s breakthrough must be at a critical juncture," she concluded. "We can’t wake him for the time being!"
Ji Yizhi’s brow furrowed. "But they’ve already pushed into the Seventh-level Wind Sea Region. Old Long can’t hold out for long!"
"Have them retreat for now!" Lu Jiamei replied instantly. "If the enemy reaches Peach Blossom Base before the Leader finishes his Cultivation, I’ll be forced to interrupt him and evacuate him by speedboat!"
"No! Since Master’s breakthrough is at such a critical stage, it’s even more important that I buy him more time!" Long Zhan immediately shook his head.
Wang Jun thought for a moment before speaking. "Minister Lu, could you give us the precise coordinates of Peach Blossom Base?"
"Of course," Lu Jiamei replied with a nod.
The location of Peach Blossom Base had already been discovered by Xi’an Base. It was just that Bao Mu wanted to conquer the base for himself, so he hadn’t revealed its location.
Now that the enemy was practically at their doorstep, Lu Jiamei saw no reason to keep the location of Peach Blossom Base a secret any longer. She immediately sent the coordinates to the group channel, adding, "Speedboats from Xi’an Base have been spotted near our base before. They know where we are."
Wang Jun was taken aback. He hadn’t known that Xi’an Base had already found Peach Blossom Base. He had originally planned for Long Zhan to retreat in a different direction to draw the Xi’an Base fleet to another location.
The Seventh-level Wind Sea Region was vast. If they could lead the enemy in another direction, they could buy Ren Yuanyang more time!
"The fact that they know your base’s location complicates things," Wang Jun said with a slight frown.
Ji Yizhi spoke up. "Even if they know the location, Old Long can still retreat in a different direction. As the art of war teaches, make the real seem illusory, and the illusory seem real! They only know where Peach Blossom Base is; they don’t know the details of the situation. If Old Long retreats in a different direction, they’ll very likely follow. After all, their target is probably the technology from Peach Blossom Base that strengthens crop seeds! In their eyes, Old Long’s retreat is likely a feint to cover the evacuation of the base’s technical personnel!"
"Exactly!" Wang Jun agreed. "Old Long, begin a slow retreat to the west. Don’t head directly toward Peach Blossom Base! Feign resistance at first, then after half an hour, break off the attack and commit to a full retreat!"
Long Zhan understood what they meant. He was to put on an act to make Xi’an Base believe he was buying time for Peach Blossom Base’s evacuation.
"Understood!" Long Zhan acknowledged, immediately commanding his fleet to begin a slow westward withdrawal. They continued to fire as they retreated, attempting to stall the advance of Xi’an Base.
"Hahaha! Weren’t you all so tough before, chasing us all over the sea? If you’ve got the guts, then stop running!" Mike was in an excellent mood seeing the Liaoyuan fleet’s reaction.
Bao Mu’s previous frustration vanished as well. In all his prior clashes with Peach Blossom Base and the Aircraft Carrier Base, he had been on the losing end. But now, he was the one chasing the Aircraft Carrier Base’s fleet, and Peach Blossom Base was about to fall into his hands. He, too, was overjoyed.
After nearly thirty minutes of pursuit, the aide beside Bao Mu approached him with a frown. "Sir, the enemy carrier is not retreating in the direction of Peach Blossom Base! Should we continue the chase?"
Hearing this, Bao Mu was completely stunned. "They aren’t retreating toward Peach Blossom Base?"
"Based on their current heading, no, they are not," the aide confirmed, shaking his head.
Bao Mu’s brow furrowed. He immediately commanded, "All ships, cease pursuit!"
Confused, Mike and the other commanders halted their fleets and immediately began asking for an explanation.
"Sir, why are we stopping the pursuit?"
"It’s not like they have other fleets coming to reinforce them, is it?"
Bao Mu explained, "They aren’t retreating in the direction of Peach Blossom Base!"
"Isn’t that normal? Peach Blossom Base can probably move, can’t it?"
"Our scout team has located Peach Blossom Base. There’s a large forest there. Do you think they would abandon that forest so easily?" For the first time, Bao Mu revealed the intelligence his scouts had gathered.
Mike and the others were stunned.
"What? A large forest? How is that possible? All of Blue Star is nothing but a vast ocean now!" Mike voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
Bao Mu sent an image and replied, "I know it sounds unbelievable, but our scouts saw it with their own eyes. Perhaps this is why Peach Blossom Base is located in the Seventh-level Wind Sea Region, and why they haven’t moved despite knowing we’ve found them!"
Mike’s brow tightened. "So what’s our move? Head for that forest? Or continue pursuing the Liaoyuan’s fleet?"
Bao Mu hesitated.
’If Peach Blossom Base really has evacuated, then even if that forest held something important, they would have certainly taken it with them or destroyed it!’
’But what if they haven’t?’
Just then, Long Zhan’s fleet ceased its attack and began retreating at full speed!

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