Chapter 163 Going to the Mountains
The cleanup operation inside the base lasted for a week.
Qin Li's office lights stayed on all night. People were constantly being brought in and taken away.
“Li Kai’s deputy has confessed. This is their smuggling list with the ‘Commerce Alliance’.” The adjutant handed over the document. “It involves weapons, medicines, rare metals, and three batches of unregistered energy cores.”
Qin Li glanced at them: "Those who comply will be arrested individually. Those who resist will be executed on the spot for treason."
"The General Staff has cleared out seven, the Logistics Department five, and the Communications Center two," the adjutant reported in a low voice. "General Luo is under a lot of pressure; some old guys are pleading for leniency."
"Plead for mercy?" Qin Li threw the list on the table. "Tell them, either hand over the person themselves, or I'll bring the military law department to arrest them. Choose one."
The adjutant stood at attention: "Yes, sir!"
There was a knock on the door, and Shen Yan walked in.
"The two warehouses in the East District have been cleared out, and the seized supplies have been handed over to the Quartermaster Department." Shen Yan sat down and took the water glass that Qin Li pushed towards him. "'Merchant Alliance's' supply lines in the Northwest have basically been cut off, but a minor leader escaped and may have gone south."
“The south is 'Free City's' territory, they wouldn't dare to pursue us openly.” Qin Li rubbed his temples. “Has the Shen family made any moves?”
"Not for now. It's been very quiet in the capital area lately; communications monitoring shows they're reducing their personnel." Shen Yan paused for a moment. "But it's too quiet; that's not normal."
Qin Li nodded: "They are preparing for something bigger. The situation in the Northwest has stabilized for now, but Ruan Ning cannot continue fighting continuously; he needs to rest and recuperate."
“She doesn’t mention it herself,” Shen Yan said.
“That’s why she needs it even more.” Qin Li looked out the window, where the energy shield above the base rippled slightly under the blazing sun. “The temperature is getting higher and higher, and cases of heatstroke among ordinary people have increased by 30%. It’ll be cooler in the mountains.”
Zhou Min placed a base weather report on the table: "In the coming week, daytime high temperatures will exceed 45 degrees Celsius. Soldiers in the city wall fortifications have collapsed from heatstroke."
Lin Yan wiped her knife: "You could fry an egg on the training field floor."
The fire lay in the shade, its tongue lolling out, its golden fur appearing somewhat dull in the high temperature.
Ruan Ning sat in the chair, a small wisp of swirling ice mist forming on her fingertips, but it quickly melted away with the room temperature.
Shen Yan pushed the door open and came in: "Qin Li's side is basically under control. He suggested that we go out and avoid the situation for a while, and also give the base some time to cool down."
"Where to?" Lin Yan asked.
"The Qilian Mountains. The temperature in the mountains is at least ten degrees lower, the vegetation is lush, and the wood-type energy is active." Shen Yan looked at Ruan Ning.
Ruan Ning asked, "When are you leaving?"
“Tomorrow morning.” Shen Yan paused. “Qin Li also said that there might be clues related to the ‘Primordial Era’ in the mountains. The pre-apocalyptic exploration report showed that there were abnormal energy readings in that area, but it was listed as ‘undevelopable’ at the time.”
Ruan Ning stood up: "Prepare your equipment, travel light."
Zhou Min asked, "How long will it take?"
"It depends." Ruan Ning walked into the inner room. "It could be a week, or it could take longer. Tell Qin Li that if there are any unusual movements inside the base, he should contact them immediately via the emergency channel."
Deep in the Qilian Mountains, two hundred kilometers from the base.
The temperature in the mountains was at least ten degrees lower than outside. The trees were unusually lush, and some plants had clearly mutated, with leaves that shimmered with a metallic sheen.
The fire was at the very front, its ears perked up and its nose twitching from time to time.
Shen Yan held a modified energy detector in his hand, and the values on the screen fluctuated slightly.
“The radiation levels here are higher than in normal areas, but they are very stable, like some kind of residual energy.” Shen Yan adjusted the frequency. “It doesn’t seem to be naturally formed.”
Zhou Min squatted down and touched a purple moss with thick leaves: "The plant has very high activity, and the concentration of wood-based energy is more than three times that outside."
Lin Yan surveyed her surroundings warily: "This is a good place for you to cultivate."
Ruan Ning didn't speak. The jade pendant around her neck had been faintly warming up for half an hour, and the temperature increased the deeper one went.
She raised her hand and pressed it against the pendant, probing inward with her spiritual energy, and the cool fluctuations were more active than before.
“Eastward,” she suddenly said. “The energy reaction is over there.”
Shen Yan looked at the detector: "The readings in the east are indeed rising. But the terrain shows that there is a cliff over there."
"Let's go take a look."
The group followed Ruan Ning eastward. The trees grew denser, vines tangled, and Lin Yan had to use her knife to clear a path. The fire roared, spewing out small bursts of flame that burned away a patch of poisonous thorny bushes blocking their way.
After walking for about twenty minutes, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
In a secluded valley, at the bottom lies a partially collapsed concrete entrance, resembling an old-fashioned air-raid shelter or small bunker. Thick, mutated vines have grown over the entrance, almost completely sealing it off.
The detector emitted a rapid beeping sound.
"The energy source is right here!" Shen Yan stared at the screen. "The readings are off the charts... This is definitely not ordinary radiation."
The pendant around Ruan Ning's neck had become scalding hot and was even vibrating slightly.
She walked to the entrance and reached out to touch the vines. Greenery appeared in her palm, and her wood-based powers surged.
As if drawn by something, the vines crawled back to both sides, revealing a rusted metal door. There were no markings on the door, only an old-fashioned mechanical combination lock, which was now rusted shut.
Shen Yan stepped forward to inspect: "The lock cylinder is completely rusted, but the door frame structure is still sturdy. Forcibly breaking it open might be risky; I don't know if there's any support inside."
"Move aside." Ruan Ning placed her hands on either side of the door crack.
She closed her eyes, her mental energy mixed with wood-based supernatural power, like countless tiny roots, spreading and perceiving inwards through the crack in the door.
“It’s empty inside. The space is huge. About thirty meters deep, there are strong, regular energy pulses.” She opened her eyes. “The metal door has broken latches inside, and the hinges are rusted shut, but the overall structure is not at risk of being overloaded.”
"How do I drive it?" Lin Yan asked.
Ruan Ning looked at Shen Yan: "Can your metal-based ability simultaneously vibrate all the corroded parts inside and pull them outward in an instant?"
Shen Yan frowned and estimated: "The area is too large. I can only hold on for thirty seconds at most. And I need to control the force precisely, otherwise I might tear the door frame off as well."
"Thirty seconds is enough. Zhou Min, use your mental power to help him pinpoint the location. Lin Yan, get ready, be on alert as soon as the door opens. Da Huo, retreat." Ruan Ning quickly assigned the tasks.
Everyone took their places.
Shen Yan placed his hands on the metal door and closed his eyes. Zhou Min stood beside him, her mental energy covering the door, clearly transmitting every rust spot and every structural weakness inside to Shen Yan.
"start."
With a low shout, Shen Yan unleashed his full power!
Buzz—
A dull, metallic groan echoed. A grating creaking sound emanated from the inside of the heavy iron door, as rust flakes fell. The door trembled violently.
One second, two seconds...
"Now—Pull!"
Shen Yan's arm muscles bulged, and he suddenly pulled backward!
Clang! Boom—
The entire metal door, along with part of the door frame, was forcibly pulled outwards by a large section, tilting and falling to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The entrance was pitch black, and a cold wind carrying a faint smell of ozone rushed out.
The fire roared at the cave entrance, its fur standing on end.
The pendant around Ruan Ning's neck vibrated more and more violently, almost breaking free of the chain.
She took out a flashlight and went in first, followed closely by the others.
The passageway was wide enough for two cars to drive side by side. The walls were thick concrete, and the ceiling had old, long-broken lighting wiring. The ground was covered in a thick layer of dust.
After walking about twenty meters, a downward slope appeared ahead. The feeling of energy pulses grew stronger, and there was a faint static electricity in the air that made my skin tingle.
"What kind of place is this?" Lin Yan asked in a low voice.
"It doesn't look like a military facility, nor does it look like a civil defense fortification." Shen Yan scanned the wall with a detector. "The concrete is mixed with special materials that can shield most signals and energy from leakage. The construction standards are very high."
At the end of the slope stood an even heavier alloy door. The door was ajar, with a crack through which a faint blue light shone.
Ruan Ning pushed open the door.
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