The goods in the estate were quickly sent off in small batches—only two or three at a time. They were mixed in with other models of telescopes and secretly spirited away by several individuals.
Taken away as well were the copies of originally made newspaper sheets, which had been placed inside along with the telescopes.
Printed on it was a half-length portrait of a man with a weathered face and closed eyes, appearing serene and aloof, along with numerous descriptions of his appearance and a brief textual introduction.
The last young man on a bicycle left the estate.
Soon, these figures entered the city, finding people near various small telescope sales depots. They took out the long-focal-length telescopes from among them and began demonstrating.
As the new batch recipients grew familiar with the zoom adjustments of the long telescopes, the paper sheets that had come with them were solemnly taken out from someone’s jacket pocket.
“This information must not be disclosed. Please remember. “
“Who is this gentleman? ” the person receiving the paper asked after glancing at it. Their focus fell not only on the exquisitely drawn portrait but also on the accompanying introduction beside it.
“Ya? Griner, the founder of the Octagon Fund? “
“Octagon Fund? ” A salesclerk sitting behind a counter, wearing a stylish cloth cap, half-rose from his stool to look over. “Did our trading association once have a fund? “
The deliveryman who had arrived on the bicycle swept his gaze across the room.
“Yes, it did exist for a while. ” A piece of paper was handed over. “Griner was a very powerful man. “
……
Feilü Inn.
Among the crowd that had finished their discussions, Cheng Yunze had already taken the lead and stepped away to leave, heading back to the Track of Fate in search of the departing “Science Demon ” train and figuring out a way to secure more Chronos for Yang Zicang.
The remaining group were chatting and strolling merrily between the first and second floors. “Friends from Fog Nation, ” a figure quickly descended from upstairs, looking at the crowd gathered around the Tivi screen.
Grand President Begmann approached with a smile, then his tone turning solemn: “Ladies and gentlemen, ah, I have some earth-shattering news. “
Everyone looked toward the owner of the voice. “What is it, Mr. President? ” Scientist Mortov also stood up.
“It’s Chairman Yang Buchen, ” the Grand President scanned the room, his tone carrying a hint of gravity.
“Just now, I went upstairs to ask him if I could share my room with Mr. Mortov, and I saw him discussing with the rising young star of our Hellfire Sect plans to investigate the truth of Doom Iron Vine. “
“Was that regarding the matter discussed earlier at door 202? “
“Once things are wrapped up here, the next step should likely be to find an opportunity to figure out exactly what that thing is, ” the people here murmured in discussion.
Zhao Xuemei, who had been chatting downstairs with Mortov, Manager Sherry, and the others, stood up and looked toward the President.
The President, supporting himself with both hands clasped on the cane pressed before him, let out a sigh and began to speak:
“No, ladies and gentlemen, they plan to go down immediately. “
“Oh, so it’s immediately… “
“What did you say? “
The people here suddenly looked up, their mouths snapping shut in unison.
After a moment’s thought, one of them, only just snapping back from the lingering joy, finally said:
“Wait, Chairman Yang is going now? Why the rush? And currently, there’s no way to get down below the Earth’s crust quickly! “
“That’s precisely one of the reasons, gentlemen, ” the Grand President said, his brows slightly raised. “Even if I told them we have an old mineral tunnel in our country leading underground, that’s still not enough… for the depth they require. But Yang Buchen and Mr. Edgar have already decided to go. “
This immediately sparked a lively discussion among the crowd before the counter.
“Decided?! “
“How are we supposed to go down now? Isn’t the train hidden somewhere at the moment? “
One person slapped their thigh in alarm. “Oh my. For such trouble to be brought upon the esteemed President. “
The Grand President let out a hearty laugh, tilting his head back slightly. “No worries, no worries. Everyone is so warmhearted! Since I’ve come here, I’m also a member of this inn. How could I ever trail behind? “
“Oh my, Mr. President, ” someone said as they walked over and guided him to a sofa, pressing him down to sit. “Don’t be so eager in the future. “
“Chairman Yang wants to go down. We might need to find some special-ability science demons to get him deep into the Earth’s crust under this volcano. “
As their conversation trailed off, they noticed some people running upstairs upon hearing footsteps. Following suit, they saw Yang Zicang and King Christ are indeed coming down the stairs, heading towards Room 209, where the Phoenix-Perching Tree resides.
“Chairman, do you really intend to head into the Earth’s crust under this volcanoright now?“
“That is indeed my plan. For now, I intend to first try to find some clues about the main body of the Underground Demon Metal, then discuss the subsequent course of action. “
“I see. But it seems hard to find a way down right now. “
“The Science Demon Train isn’t here either. It’d be difficult to find another train like the President’s, wouldn’t it? “
“That’s pretty obvious, ” a person in the group moving down the corridor said to the one who asked in a complaining tone, “But making a plan to go down right now is clearly too urgent. “
Yang Zicang walked silently at the front, and amidst the inquiries and some doubts from those beside and behind him, he stepped into the spacious room.
Wang Zhi and the Phoenix-Perching Tree were happily chatting by the table.
Seeing Yang Zicang and the others approach, Wang Zhi looked over and said with a grin to the Phoenix-Perching Tree, whose flames crackled dully:
“Look, your caretaker’s so popular. What’s there to complain about? From now on, everyone will consider you a venerated one. “
The scarred tree eyes of the Phoenix-Perching Tree shifted to look over, and then it heard a wave of discussion spreading over, shaking its flames.
“President, it’s only a little past 4 PM now. Should we wait until evening for your Science Demon Train to return, or should we go now and see if we can get in touch with anyone, and look for other ways to go down? “
“I think for this operation to explore the main body of the Doomsday Demon, maybe we should discuss it with everyone before perfecting the plan. “
“Won’t it leak information? “
“But time really is too tight right now, Chairman Yang. Whether it’s everyone or the various departments of Blackbrook Consulting, everyone is already operating at maximum capacity. It’s difficult for us to find a second train like the Science Demon’s within such a short time. “
A crowd surged forward like a tide, spreading and encircling the young figure who had paused by the table, their gazes fixated on him from both sides.
The flames of the Phoenix-Perching Tree flared slightly as it let out a sharp chirp:
“Just going deep underground, you guys don’t think that’s such a hard task to accomplish, do you? “
Everyone’s eyes snapped towards it.
“What are you talking about? ” Wang Zhi stared at it and asked.
Yang Zicang met the Phoenix-Perching Tree’s gaze directly, looking back at it.
The fiery stump, standing nearly as tall as a person, continued: “Give me your timeline, and also give me that kind of protection, and I’ll go down there to help you find what you’re all looking for—the true form of that doomsday demon. “
A slight twitch flickered across Yang Zicang’s face.
Lin Site walked in from the room’s entrance, followed by Xu Aiyuan and Zhao Xuemei.
A faint smile curled the corners of Yang Zicang’s mouth as a silver-white halo spun out from his chest. He said to the Phoenix-Perching Tree, completely unbothered by the fact that nearly everyone present was fromDragon’s Domainand the Mudao natives:
“You will never know whether you’ve actually secured the investment ofHeroic Flash. “
A streak of silver light flashed, expanding and enveloping the Phoenix-Perching Tree by the table.
The tree eye blazing with flames gazed down at the small quadrilateral shapes flickering across its own body.
“Ha! ” A slight sneer of contempt rang out. “Whoosh! ” Then came a high-pitched metallic screech.
With a deep rumble, everyone nearby instinctively recoiled two steps from the intense heat, raising their arms to shield their faces from the billowing orange-red flames approaching.
A massive, spreading ball of fire erupted from the wood, surging up toward the ceiling of the room with a dense, sharp whistling sound.
“Boom—! “
It swept toward the doorway. As the crowd quickly adjusted their gaze, the enormous bird-shaped flame was already racing away, leaving only a few magnificent tail trails still lingering within the room.
These long, dense tail trails swiftly slid with the flames out into the corridor beyond the door.
The few people by the doorway were driven back by the wave of heat. Linsite stretched out an arm to shield the two ladies behind him, tilting his head to the side.
“My god! What was that! “
“I’ll get the door for it! “
A figure dashed out through the doorway, chasing after the phoenix’s flaming traces, their body blurring into a streak as they ran behind it.
Following him out were several figures shrouded in writhing, distorted shadows.
Boom! The corner of the corridor, now cramped for the flames, roared as the fire hurtled through, bursting with thunderous echoes.
Thud, thud, thud!
Several figures shot forward like arrows, chasing after its trail.
In the room, Kim Clayton and the others chased to the doorway, looking at the dissipating hot airflow in the corridor.
As the crowd surged out of the room, Yang Zicang placed one hand on the ember-glow phoenix wood stump. Following fast— his form was encased by gathered wave energy and materialized inside the slowly materializing Room 302.
……
Outside this still-standing room at World Ark headquarters, beneath the gentle breeze and golden sunlight shifting their clothes,
a few men in front of machines including Ang Pailisi suddenly felt a wave of heat surge quickly from a room a dozen paces behind them.
BOOM!
The air at the doorway wobbled — a fierce streak of flame soared out.
Several people nearby, and even the Vhan-Tzark militia soldiers stationed farther out, quickly turned or twisted their heads to look.
They then saw a bird-like silhouette spread long, exquisite twin wings towering skyward that shimmered into clarity within an expanding wall of fire.
“What is that! “
Popers Bindo, who had been issuing directives to his retinue a few steps away, took two steps, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked up.
Many craned their necks wanting to witness that flaming form.
Soldiers in various uniforms beside the trucks all changed expressions as they stared at the strange object that burst out of the lodging door—
It suddenly hovered nearly a hundred meters in the air, let out a cry, and then plummeted vertically with a boom, crashing into the ruined landscape below.
Boom!
Ang Pailisi was immediately steadied by someone beside him who held his shoulders. The phoenix-shaped flame struck the ground, and the surging blast, carrying smoke and dust, rolled into a fierce wind that shook the canvas flaps violently.
Humming… roaring…
Everyone felt their footing unstable for a moment. Amid the figures rushing through several doorways, they looked toward the ground where the anomaly had now subsided.
……
The phoenix-al flames sped and wove through the earth—through soil, rock, tunnels, and veins of ore—moments later vanishing beneath its invisible touch.
The deeper “it ” went, the more it felt the instinct to root into the earth calling out to itself.
The deeper it delved into this soil, the more it felt a throbbing excitement and exhilaration within its heart, yet these very elements were themselves repelling its flames that burned all around.
“Swoosh! “
The phoenix’s cry resounded through the fire spreading beneath the earth.
Another explosive crack rang out. The flame, having ignited some pocket of gas, raced downward with even greater speed! Downward! Plunging through subterranean streams and spiraling along hidden passages and tunnels, it rushed headlong into the depths.
Within the underground caverns this raging fire swept through, the eternal darkness that had reigned for ages was illuminated for the first time—perhaps the only time—only to fade back into gloom in an instant.
……
Yang Zicang’s figure appeared at the doorway of the room.
Outside, a crowd was buzzing with hushed discussion. Upon seeing his arrival, several immediately approached him. Two Demon-Blood Warriors dispatched by the Soldier Army swiftly drew near, their bodies radiating an overwhelming aura, enveloping the area within several meters around Yang Zicang as they took their positions close by.
Yang Zicang cast a glance at them, then swept his gaze over the ruins, the throng outside the rubble, and the buildings in the distance.
It’s been so long, and still that man hasn’t shown up here,he thought to himself.
About one kilometer away from this place.
The round-eyed middle-aged man, who was gazing toward the legendary site of the World Ark headquarters, had his eyes fixed entirely on the spot where the firebird had earlier shot into the sky, trailing long, graceful plumes of radiance before plunging back down in a swift descent.
A few nearby people had approached, ｛gathered｝ gesturing and pointing as they talked among themselves, facing in that direction across the open space.
Having listened to their conversation for a while, Hong Haocheng turned and walked in the opposite direction. “Is that the legendary flamingo? ” Along the way, residents were all heading toward this direction.
“Its tail is really strange. “
“I just heard a term called ‘Phoenix.’ Isn’t that some kind of divine bird some Fogfolk have mentioned? “
“I’ve never heard of it. When did you ever hear about something like that? “
“It was mentioned once in a story my grandmother told me when I was a child. “
……
Many vines spread across the ground.
On the former Fogfolk leased land of Hydrapower City, vines that had burst up from underground hung some people’s withered bodies on metal branches like tattered leather shirts.
Several figures in armor modified by the Evil Nightmare carefully moved through the dilapidated, riddled buildings now devoid of life. The beams of two flashlights swept across the dimly lit rooms.
“I heard those rooms with the Silver Coins are all deep inside the secret chambers. “
“That’s probably not somewhere we can reach quickly. “
“Brothers, I once heard a Fogfolk say that a certain archive room held many ancient records—so many they can’t be read by the ordinary public, and we wouldn’t be able to understand them anyway. “
He turned to the others and said: “So if we go find them, we could haul them out and make a huge profit. “
“This… Do you know where they are? “
“At least not here, oh. ” One person said to another walking in a nearby corridor. He pointed to the wall beside him, covered in marks from crawling vines.
The group looked over—inside the abandoned room, rows of storage cabinets pierced with holes were exposed.
Suddenly, the distant buzz of an airplane grew louder, approaching from afar.
They tensed up and quickly hid in the room, ducking their heads beneath the window, watching a small black dot that swiftly swept under the evening clouds vanish into the distance.
The shadow of a burning flare with a faint flicker of fire was thrown, landing far off on the ground.
“Shit, I thought they were coming for us. ” The man in the strange outfit, with the unsettling mask fastened over his face, said while clutching his chest.
“We’d better get further inside quickly. It’ll be dark soon. “
Several of them patted each other on the shoulders and back as they ventured deeper into the abandoned building. Every time they passed a room, they would go in and rummage through the cabinets inside, and indeed, they found some items of considerable value.
For example, one person nearly jumped up when he discovered a leather wristband inlaid with three emeralds and made of real gold.
Suddenly, they all stopped in unison, glanced left and right, and then exchanged looks with each other.
“Did any of you hear that? “
“It sounds like an auditory hallucination, like a muffled sound coming from underground. “
“Really? ” A thin man who was still in the corner rummaging through an iron cabinet containing several boxes of special medicine turned his head and asked in doubt.
One person shrugged helplessly at him, indicating he wasn’t too sure.
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