The group stopped, and the unusual smell in the air grew stronger.

Lu Zhaoming was the first to enter the experimental base, his every step steady and rhythmic.

The walls inside the base were covered with strange symbols, which was unsettling.

"Hey buddy, look at these symbols. They look like some kind of code, or maybe a password?" Lu Zhaoming asked the blacksmith.

The blacksmith stepped forward, carefully examining the symbols, and frowned: "These symbols look quite complex; they're probably traces left by some kind of psychological suggestion device. However, their specific function will depend on your 'Doomsday Judgment System' to decipher them."

Lu Zhaoming nodded slightly and activated the system.

In an instant, the system interface appeared before his eyes. The analysis results showed that these symbols were closely related to psychological suggestion devices, which could interfere with the brain and control a person's will.

He casually asked Liu Gang, "Do you know anything about these things?"

Liu Gang's expression was one of pain, as if he were being cut by an invisible knife. He held his head in his hands and whispered, "I... I can't remember."

Lu Zhaoming had already made up his mind, but he remained outwardly calm.

They continued deeper into the core area of ​​the base.

Suddenly, a man in a white robe emerged from the shadows, holding a small instrument and wearing a cold smile.

"Judge Lu is indeed clever, but unfortunately, he's a step too late," the Ghost Doctor said sarcastically, flicking his wrist to press a button.

Liu Gang suddenly knelt down, his whole body convulsing, and he let out a painful roar.

Xiao Dao rushed forward to support his brother, his eyes burning with anger: "What did you do to him!"

Lu Zhaoming quickly stepped in front of the two, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring directly at the Ghost Doctor: "Ghost Doctor, where is the antidote?"

The Ghost Doctor calmly explained, "Liu Gang's brain has already been implanted with a signal receiver. If I want, I can make him my puppet at any time. Your only way out now is to cooperate obediently."

A smile appeared on Lu Zhaoming's lips, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "Cooperate? You think I'll believe you?" He quietly activated the system's newly added time-delay function, and time seemed to freeze at that moment.

During the brief pause, Lu Zhaoming quickly finished installing the jammer made by the blacksmith.

After the jammer was activated, Liu Gang's symptoms were significantly relieved, but he remained extremely weak.

The Ghost Doctor's expression changed drastically as he realized he had miscalculated. He hurriedly ordered the white-robed soldiers hidden in the shadows to launch an attack.

Dark figures surged in from all directions, but Lu Zhaoming was prepared. He directed the blacksmith to detonate the pre-arranged traps, successfully trapping most of the enemies.

However, the Ghost Doctor escaped in the chaos, leaving behind only a threatening message: "This is just the beginning!"

Lu Zhaoming clenched his fists, turned to look at Liu Gang and Xiao Dao, and secretly plotted his next move.

Just then, Xiao Dao's gaze also fell on his brother.

The group stopped, and the unusual smell in the air grew stronger.

Lu Zhaoming was the first to enter the experimental base, his every step steady and rhythmic.

The walls inside the base were covered with strange symbols, which was unsettling.

Lu Zhaoming clenched his fists, turned to look at Liu Gang and Xiao Dao, and secretly plotted his next move.

Just then, Xiao Dao's gaze also fell on his brother.

[Event Occurred]

Xiao Dao's anxious gaze, which was almost glued to Liu Gang, finally caught a glimpse of movement.

Liu Gang coughed, the sound as dry as sandpaper scraping rotten wood, and struggled to open his eyelids a crack.

The air was still filled with the smell of burnt electronic components and an indescribable metallic odor, like a limited-edition signature perfume from the previous battle—it was enough to give you a headache.

"Brother! You're awake! Is this okay? Is this okay?" Xiao Dao darted over like a rabbit, his voice filled with seven parts relief and three parts lingering fear, afraid that his brother would suddenly "whoosh" and ascend to heaven on the spot, or start performing performance art again.

Liu Gang swayed as he propped himself up, hissed, and felt like his head was in a concrete mixing plant, buzzing and spinning.

Looking at Xiao Dao's tearful face, which was almost as pitiful as a waterfall, the blacksmith's rough concern that seemed to say "I thought you were alright," and Lu Zhaoming's calm yet scrutinizing eyes that hinted at "I knew it would turn out this way," a wave of shame rushed from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.

"Ahem... I'm so sorry, everyone, I've... I've dragged you down and caused you trouble again..." His voice sounded like a deflated balloon, all listless and dejected.

Well, Lao Liu is an honest man. When it comes to taking the blame, he's second to none.

Lu Zhaoming slapped him on the shoulder, not too hard, but very steady: "Stop, Lao Liu. If you take the blame for this, you'll be more wronged than Dou E. That old devil doctor is cunning and treacherous, hiding this kind of trick. Who can guard against a thief for a thousand days?" His tone was relaxed, but his eyes were shrewd. "Now is not the time to play the 'I'm suffering' card. The most important thing is to completely remove that damn 'remote control' in your head, otherwise we'll have to play extreme heart-pounding games every day. Even the strongest hearts in our team can't withstand that kind of torture."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhaoming heard a soft buzzing sound in his mind, almost inaudible, followed by a flash of light before his eyes.

The interface of the "Doomsday Judgment System" popped up with a "whoosh," and the blood-red characters flashed wildly like they were dancing in a disco:

【warn!

warn!

An unidentified high-energy signal source has been detected rapidly gathering!

Coordinates: XXX, YYY!

Threat level: Unknown, but it looks like it won't be low!

Host, please be aware, the big one is coming!

The surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees suddenly, carrying an invisible electric current that made one's hair stand on end and crackle.

Lu Zhaoming's eyes sharpened, and he abruptly turned to the direction indicated by the system. There was a distant outline of ruins, half-hidden by sand and dust, which did not look like a resort.

A faint smile, yet with the smirk of a wolf cub spotting new prey, curled at the corner of his lips: "Heh, it seems today's warm-up wasn't enough; it wasn't satisfying."