The United States and the Soviet Union

Although he was deeply displeased by The Ancient One’s coercive methods, circumstances were stronger than he was, and Alex could only choose to yield.

"Fine, I agree to take you as my master!"

The Ancient One looked at the unwilling Alex. Her slightly pale, sword-like brows furrowed gently as she said somewhat listlessly, "As the saying goes, forcibly picked melons are never sweet. Since you are unwilling to cultivate with me, then leave."

As she spoke, The Ancient One dispelled her spell, closed her eyes again, and ignored Alex.

Alex twisted his body, staring hesitantly at The Ancient One. After wavering for a while, he cautiously backed away. Though The Ancient One’s spell was powerful, it could not truly restrain Alex’s movements. In his view, once his Energy Control reached a certain level, he could completely replicate the effects of The Ancient One’s Wind Bind spell.

With that in mind, seeing that The Ancient One had chosen to give up, Alex naturally did not linger. After backing away several steps, he immediately turned and sprinted toward the valley entrance.

When Alex disappeared around the bend, The Ancient One slowly opened her eyes from meditation and sighed. "Fated to meet, but not fated to be together. What a pity."

Alex had no idea that The Ancient One was still muttering about him. He raced all the way to the valley entrance and charged out without hesitation.

To Alex’s surprise, he did not enter the strange Illusion Formation at all. He simply ran straight out of the valley.

Outside the valley, Crystal stood off to the side in boredom, a trace of anxiety on her delicate face. When she saw Alex emerge, she rushed over impatiently, wrapped her arms around him, and cried out in a choked voice, "Alex, you finally came out!"

Alex gave an awkward laugh and freed himself from Crystal’s arms. He looked up at the sky, which had already gone completely dark, and asked, "Crystal, how about we head back first and continue tomorrow?"

Crystal let go of Alex with a flushed face. Upon hearing his words, she surprisingly did not hesitate and actually nodded in agreement.

Alex did not think much of it. Taking her with him, he Teleported directly back to the Floating Temple.

The moment they appeared, Emma immediately came looking for them. Without a word, she grabbed Alex and ran outside.

Crystal stood stunned for a while before coming back to her senses. After hesitating briefly, she chased after them all the way to the Floating Temple’s main hall.

"What happened?" Alex let Emma hold onto him without struggling, matching her pace as he asked in confusion.

Emma turned toward Alex, about to explain, when she suddenly noticed Crystal chasing after them from behind and froze.

Surprised, Alex turned around as well and spotted Crystal, feeling somewhat awkward.

After a moment of stunned silence, Emma quickly recovered. Pulling Alex along, she rushed into the main hall at a rapid pace. Howard, Nick Fury, Natasha, and Carter were seated inside, each with a rather grim expression.

Seeing their faces, Alex’s heart tightened, and he began to worry.

Just as Emma and Alex sat down, Crystal also rushed into the main hall. Seeing everyone, she was slightly startled, then obediently stood to one side, her unblinking eyes fixed on Alex.

Nick Fury and the others gave Crystal a strange glance but did not pay her much attention. They turned to Alex, and Nick Fury lowered his voice. "According to reliable intelligence, Sebastian Shaw intends to provoke a war between the United States and the Soviet Union, using it to start World War III!"

Since the end of World War II, ideological differences had led the American-led capitalist bloc to impose harsh economic sanctions on the Soviet Union. Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had fallen into a Cold War standoff, with both sides constantly contending against each other. The global situation was extremely tense; the slightest misstep could trigger World War III.

Alex’s expression changed. Scenes from the movie "X-Men: First Class" surfaced in his mind. In the film, Sebastian Shaw secretly controlled a Soviet general, first instigating the Cuban Missile Crisis, then sabotaging the American and Soviet warships later on. If not for the young Professor X and Magneto stopping him, World War III might truly have erupted.

What astonished Alex even more was that Sebastian Shaw had still taken this step despite losing the White Queen and the Red Devil.

As thoughts raced through his mind, Alex did not forget to say, "We have to stop him, with everything we have!"

"The intelligence we have is scarce and highly imprecise. We simply cannot make timely arrangements." Emma knew Sebastian Shaw’s ambitions well and naturally would not let her act recklessly. "The Sage has lost Sebastian Shaw’s trust. She did not receive even the slightest information about this plan."

Alex frowned and turned to look at Nick Fury.

Before Alex could ask, Nick Fury took the initiative to explain, "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s agents in the Soviet Union have all been purged. We know nothing about the current situation there, and we have no clue about Sebastian Shaw’s specific plan."

Wang’s already grim expression darkened further, his brows knitting tightly. He knew what would happen next, but he did not know how to stop it. Was he supposed to imitate the young Professor X from the movie?

Nick Fury and the others did not know what Alex was thinking. Seeing his expression, they assumed he was considering a solution and could not help asking, "Alex, do you have any ideas?" During World War II, Alex had come up with most of the plans for the entire team, and they had kept up that habit ever since.

Alex had been recalling the story from the movie. Just as he thought of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Nick Fury’s voice snapped him awake, and he blurted out, "The Cuban Missile Crisis!"

"Hm?" Everyone looked at Alex in surprise. Just as they were about to ask, Nick Fury abruptly stood up, a hint of wild delight appearing on his dark face.

Following Nick Fury’s lead, Carter and Natasha also realized it one after another. Only Emma and Tony remained utterly confused.

"A few days ago, we received intelligence that the Soviet Union appeared to be planning to deploy missiles in Cuba." Prompted by Alex’s words, Nick Fury immediately recalled the earlier report. Connecting it with Sebastian Shaw’s actions, he linked the two events together. "Deploying missiles in Cuba would severely threaten the security of the United States. America would never agree to it."

As soon as Nick Fury finished, Carter added, "At that point, all Sebastian Shaw needs to do is stir things up a little, and it could very likely trigger a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. World War III would not be far off!"

"Then what is the situation on the Soviet side now?" Alex had also realized that the key lay with the Soviet Union. Sebastian Shaw was provoking the Soviet Union as well. As long as they could persuade the Soviet Union to abandon its missile deployment in Cuba, Sebastian Shaw’s plan would fail.

Hearing Alex’s question, Nick Fury shook his head with a bitter smile and helplessly reiterated, "We have been completely cut off from all information coming out of the Soviet Union."

Even though I rushed, I was still late. Sorry!