Were they planning an ambush? As Zhou You extended his spiritual senses, detecting the Zhu family's team, something felt off.

The surrounding magnetic field seemed to be shifting. Glancing at Shao Qi, who stood confidently by the map, Zhou You grew curious about his strategy.

He trusted Shao Qi. Without certainty, Shao Qi wouldn't risk leaving the children at Lizhi Mansion. Zhou You wondered about Shao Qi's trump card.

He soon found out. As the Zhu family's forces entered the trap, blue dots on the map sprang to life. Shao Qi grabbed Zhou You, retreating just in time to see a soldier in camouflage bury a pitch-black box into the ground. The very air seemed to shift.

Having cultivated internal energy, Zhou You was sensitive to changes in ambient spiritual energy. At that moment, it felt as if the energy was sucked away, though it was invisible. He turned to Shao Qi, "What's that black box?"

With a triumphant smirk, Shao Qi replied, "It's a formation, augmented with advanced technology, that can alter magnetic fields, turning the targeted area into a vacuum. Without air, how long can one survive?"

"That powerful?" Zhou You had heard of such theories, but expanding a vacuum to such a vast area was beyond his imagination.

In a blink, the clear night erupted into a fierce gale, pushing out massive amounts of gas and dust from the encircled area, resembling a tornado that sent everything into disarray.

Both Zhou You and Shao Qi, experts in internal cultivation, held their ground against the wind. Soon, they witnessed a startling scene.

"What's happening? Why are the cars floating? Why do I feel like I'm levitating?"

"Ah... What just happened?"

Vehicles carrying soldiers suddenly lifted off the ground, floating and turning chaotically. Many soldiers fell out, and a thousand or so were suspended in mid-air, some flailing wildly like they were dog-paddling. Others, surrounded by a faint glow indicating the outward manifestation of their internal energy, quickly stabilized themselves.

Many others hadn't cultivated any internal energy. Unless they were exceptionally strong, they could only flail helplessly in mid-air. The weapons and equipment, having entered this vacuum-like space, became uncontrollable and floated haphazardly.

Zhou You captured the scene on camera, noticing drones hovering above. He suspected this spectacle would be broadcasted soon.

He turned to Shao Qi and asked, "Should we take down those drones?"

Without more than a casual glance upward, Shao Qi replied, "No need. This technology is mature enough to be introduced to the world. This battle is meant to test its capabilities."

"But this is extreme. Humans can't survive long in a vacuum. Their blood would boil and bodies explode. If it reaches that point and the footage gets out, even a marshal like you won't withstand the public outcry."

Zhou You saw some of the weaker soldiers beginning to bleed, their eyes bulging in terror. The scene was horrifying, with some frantically tearing at their clothes and others banging their heads against vehicles, their screams echoing non-stop.

Time seemed to slow down for Zhou You, who could barely watch. Suddenly, whatever Shao Qi did made the vacuum-like area dissipate. People and objects began to fall like raindrops, crashing heavily onto the ground, some unlucky ones pinned under vehicles or weapons.

But with the resilience of warriors, such impacts didn't kill them. They gasped for air, still reeling from the shock, with some running in panic.

Deputy Commander Li Ninghai was possibly the calmest among all. As soon as the vacuum disappeared, he kicked a vehicle aside and hid behind it, carefully observing his surroundings. Though his breathing was rapid, he managed to maintain a calm facade.

Then a broadcast sounded, "All units, surrender or the vacuum field will be activated again in one minute."

After just one repetition, many voices cried out, "I surrender! Please... don't kill me!"

"We surrender!!!"

Amidst the cries for mercy, Deputy Commander Li shouted, "No surrendering! Those who surrender will die!" He shot down a few junior officers, but it was futile; he couldn't possibly shoot them all.

"It's over," he murmured.

They might not be afraid of death, but a death like this had no meaning or value. Soldiers began to remove their gear and kneel, begging for mercy. Deputy Li threw his gun to the ground, stepped out with his hands raised and yelled, "I surrender, but I have a condition!"

Shao Qi took a step forward, looking at him dismissively and scoffed, "What makes you think you can make demands?"

"It's really you! Who are you? What just happened?"

Shao Qi didn't answer any of the questions but gestured for over a hundred armed soldiers to approach.

Recognizing the insignia on their uniforms, Deputy Li paled, "The Flame Squad? You... are you under Marshal Shao's command? Shao... Shao Qi, could you be..."

There might be many with the surname Shao, but only Marshal Shao would be associated with the Flame Squad and possess such a weapon.

So from the beginning, they were outmatched and outclassed, and they had naively thought they were the superior force.

Shao Qi commanded, "Bind Li Ninghai. Everyone else, strip off your uniforms and leave your weapons. Return to your homes and await further notice. I won't take your lives, but as soldiers aiding the enemy, you will face consequences."

The soldiers were frightened out of their wits. Hearing they could safely go home was unbelievable. And did that mean they could retain their ranks?