Chapter 120, Three Groups in Parallel
Group 3, Mohe District, the northernmost part of Heilongjiang Province.
This is the point on the national map that is closest to the north in terms of latitude.
The three groups that arrived here were all hindered from moving forward by the thick snow.
Even so, led by the experienced researcher, the accompanying comrades still followed the planned order and went to the various points on the map one by one.
Among the marked sections, several categories were further subdivided.
What impressed these young comrades the most was the ice coffin hidden in the snow.
Yes, when they heard the news from the team leader, the team members were so excited that they temporarily forgot about the biting cold.
"This is the first time I've ever actually seen a complete ice coffin. I wonder what's inside?"
Comrade Shi rubbed his fingers, which were red from the cold, unable to hide his excitement.
"Yeah, I'm curious too. We're all so good here, how many amazing things do you think the first group must have?" Someone lamented that they didn't make it into the first group.
But it doesn't matter, they'll meet up at Kunlun eventually anyway.
Yun Shilan, wearing a thick hat, gestured for them to understand, "Alright, time is short, and the task is important!"
"Yes, Vice Captain, we understand."
"Yes, don't worry!"
Before leaving, Yun Shilan, who had been promoted to deputy captain, told them to take precautions and to consult the accompanying military doctor if they had any problems.
That's right, the couple continued to travel together on business trips.
Now we're working in the same place again, and even though the conditions are harsh, our hearts are burning with enthusiasm for working hard together.
With the cooperation of the team and the local people, the group soon arrived at a frozen lake after several twists and turns.
The lake was completely frozen, and everything in sight was a vast expanse of white.
A careful inspection revealed signs of sweeping, but snowflakes quickly covered the area again in a thick layer.
"This is it."
"Comrade Guan, this is where the ice coffin at the bottom of the lake was discovered. You see, you have to stand on it and look down when the sun is at its strongest at noon, right?"
With a signal from the person next to them, everyone in the group saw it.
The once deep lake surface became crystal clear after being frozen.
You can see right down to the bottom, where something looks exactly like a coffin.
"Hey, why can't I see anything in there?"
“Yes, not to mention the inside, the surrounding area doesn’t look like ice at all. The texture is obviously different from the surrounding area. I can even see the broken bowls and jars buried next to it, but this is clearly not right.”
After listening to the description, Captain Guan had a better understanding of the situation.
I was thinking about what materials and textures might produce such an effect.
They then dispatched members of their team to cordon off the area and gather more clues through investigation and questioning.
This was the first time they had heard of the rumors surrounding this frozen lake, but the local people might not be so sure.
As for how to get it out, we'll have to think about that carefully.
At the same time, the second group was on site.
Compared to the glaciers, plateaus, and Mohe where temperatures drop to tens of degrees below zero, the second group, Xia and Yuan, who traversed grasslands, deserts, and Gobi, had a much easier time.
Xia Mingjiang, having been there before, volunteered to serve as the deputy leader of this operation, responsible for cooperating with the team leader.
Yuan Fang had heard many stories about Luo Yin's family from her.
When you actually ride on a camel's back, the joy and excitement are impossible to hide.
Unfortunately, a sandstorm from the north swept across the land, filling her ears, nose, and mouth with dust.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey~"
"Watch out, everyone! Another storm is coming!"
The experienced leader beside the group controlled the lead camel, and after slowing down, everyone used their bodies to block the approaching storm.
Countless dust and mud swept in, striking the bodies of people and animals.
Many people were stunned by the blow, and the camel, in pain, instinctively shook its head.
The people on the back gripped the handles tightly, causing the animal to feel pain again. The old hand on the handle knew something was wrong as soon as he heard the sound!
"Be careful not to scare the animals."
"What?"
Hululu~
As if it were intentional, the storm has returned.
The veteran leader sees things more clearly than ordinary people, and these two storms alone have allowed him to discover many anomalies.
The wind is much stronger than in previous years, and there's a lot more sand and dust. Could something have happened over there?
"Oh no, team leader, something terrible has happened!"
With his shout, the team leader, who was almost falling backwards while being swept away, was finally pulled back by someone with sharp eyes.
The weary travelers finally escaped this calamity more than half an hour later.
"You mean the upstream water source might be gone?"
"How is that possible? We didn't receive any news!"
Everyone looked at the old leader in shock. "That's impossible. The water that irrigates this grassland comes from glacial meltwater from the west and snowmelt from year-round snow. If there were any unusual activity, we would have known before we set off."
"That's right, fellow villager, you must have misunderstood something."
The old man stammered a few words in the local dialect before switching back to Mandarin.
"No, what I mean is that the water upstream of this area may have dried up, otherwise there wouldn't be so much sand and dust."
"You mean the current wind direction and intensity are unprecedented?"
The senior officer nodded. "Yes, it's very serious!"
He looked at everyone seriously.
"And this is the place you're going to."
He pointed to a mark on the map and began to speak.
The team leader took a look and indeed found it to be their final destination, a shallow area known as Wild Camel Beach.
It is said that the most complete land-based shipwreck was discovered here.
Based on their current main tasks, in addition to cooperating with the other two groups to collect data from the two provinces, they have a lot more freedom than the other two groups, one of which is to protect and excavate nearby cultural relics.
In contrast, the environment for the preservation of cultural relics is much better in the drier northern regions.
As for Wild Camel Shoal, they absolutely must go there.
"We're still going back here, folks!"
"Okay, fine!"
Time passed quickly, and all three groups were busy.
The progress of each person's assigned task was gradually shortening until Old Xia returned from abroad with his team.
After completing the overseas project, Xia Ming only slept briefly on the plane before heading to the research institute.
After a full day of meetings with Elder Yu, he quickly led the remaining people directly to Kunlun.
Led by Elder Chen through winding paths, the group, who had little hope, actually discovered a pristine land within the Kunlun Mountains, a region of perennial glaciers.
Everyone present had a strange expression on their face.
No one showed any joy or happiness.
Instead, everyone became cautious and wary of their surroundings!
Xu Cheng, three researchers, Ganda Gyatso, Huo Sen, Luo Yin, and the two most skilled comrades unconsciously turned their gazes toward Old Chen across from them.
He seemed to be the most composed, or rather, the most peaceful, among those present.
Even the usually quiet young master Ganda looked deeply shocked at this moment.
Professor Xu Cheng's hands trembled so badly that he couldn't even take a few photos.
"Alright, there's nothing new here. You guys get ready, we need to keep going."
"ah?"
Chen Dong completely ignored everyone, or rather, he didn't care.
"By the way, just a heads-up, all the equipment and signals will disappear if you go any further in. If you see anything, remember to keep your mouth shut."
"Little master, especially you shouldn't kneel down in worship, it could cause an avalanche!"
A completely unexpected joke left those in the audience, who were supposed to understand it, somewhat bewildered.
However, no one claimed not to understand the deeper meaning behind the words.
The final truth is about to be revealed.
The group followed a blind man; who knows what rumors would circulate if outsiders saw them. After passing through the misty forest, the temperature suddenly changed again.
Then, a deluge of snowflakes began to fall on our heads.
The sudden change from hot to cold caused many people to pull their clothes tighter, and their body temperature quickly began to drop. After just a few breaths, they felt a freezing sensation all over their bodies.
It made a creaking sound when I walked, and later I couldn't even feel it anymore.
Everyone present sensed something was amiss, but remained silent and no one asked any questions.
No one knew where that road led, nor what awaited them—death, or death after getting lost.
They even forgot what they were thinking at the time; all they could see was the figure at the very front.
They walked on, heads down, for as long as the wind and snow blew.
Until someone couldn't take it anymore and collapsed to the ground with a thud!
Gradually, it seemed as if they were being pulled back to their senses, "Thump~" "Thump~"
"Oh no! Someone has fainted! Stop immediately and help them!"
The cries of alarm were followed by the wails and anguish of many more.
They all realized that they or their teammates had suffered frostbite and trauma to varying degrees.
Chen Dong, the leader, seemed to snap out of his reverie, stiffly pointing in a direction, "Over there!"
The remaining people, besides staying behind to provide treatment, actually sent people to check on the situation.
We discovered that there really was a snow cave that had been sealed off for many years, and judging by its size, it could be used as a temporary refuge.
Soon everyone carried the unconscious colleagues inside.
Then came treatment and emergency care. Luo Yin's condition wasn't that serious, but when she opened her eyes and saw herself lying in a snowdrift, surrounded by cold air, her feelings were still complicated.
She has never suffered so much in her life.
By moving their limbs, they gradually regained feeling in their frozen bodies.
They then realized that although the place they were staying in was cold, it was much better than the barren outside.
And it seems that Captain Xu and Old Chen are talking about something outside?
Before they could eavesdrop, the people who had fainted nearby gradually regained consciousness, and Master Ganda walked in from outside.
Then the remaining comrades took the rest of the people with them.
"Everyone's awake, so let's discuss the next steps!"
Team Leader Xu's expression was serious, his emotions deep yet unusually solemn.
"Our vanguard has now penetrated deep into the Kunlun Mountains. I'm sure everyone is aware of how arduous this operation has been. However, our repeated investigations have revealed that what was originally hidden here has changed direction over time. Our only hope for survival is to take the initiative and risk everything!"
"Everyone is aware of the perilous situation, so I won't say much more. Now, let Old Chen explain the arrangements."
When faced with a life-or-death situation, he had no more grand principles to offer.
Because he believed that everyone involved in the plan, whoever they were, had prepared for the worst.
“My plan is simple. We lost our way after the Misty Forest, and the only way now is to go back there and retrace our steps in other directions. But this will directly prolong our time in the mountains, and the dry food we have is not enough to support us on the way back.”
After telling the truth, Chen Dong quickly stood aside.
He awaited the discussion and comments from the remaining people, after all, he was truly out of options.
Who could blame him when this place could even counter his feng shui techniques?
As expected of a sacred place!
He should have called a few more people to see what those old guys were calculating; the map was a dead end.
If it weren't for the fact that Chen Dong is one of the top young, promising, and still mobile feng shui masters in the country, he really wouldn't want to participate!
However, those old guys who enjoy the honors just by talking about it naturally also suffered heavy losses.
Chen Dong wiped the several treasures in his pocket and, with a heavy heart, tossed them over one by one.
"Here, one for each of you." The comrades who instinctively took the gifts were all puzzled by his intentions.
Looking at the things in their hands, some were pitch black, some were oddly shaped, and some were completely indistinguishable.
Many people looked puzzled and disgusted. They wanted to give the Death Choice back to the other person, but the next second they held on tightly and couldn't take it away even if they tried.
"It'll save my life!"
As soon as Mr. Chen finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene immediately became tense.
Countless gazes, some eager and some doubtful, turned to him.
But soon everyone put their things away.
Let's go!
When they were leaving, Luo Yin learned from the conversation that they had been resting there for a day.
No wonder she always felt that the day was passing so slowly.
When I was rushing along the road, I felt that time was slow, but when I returned by the same route, I didn't feel that the journey was long. Instead, I had the illusion that it was not so long.
These things were, of course, not taken seriously.
It was just a minor incident!
Upon returning to the same spot and seeing the misty forest, even the most composed person couldn't help but show a look of relief.
Team Leader Xu specifically discussed it with Old Chen and indicated that they should stay here today.
This was to determine the direction they should take next and to quickly restore their physical strength.
They specifically went to the innermost natural hot spring.
The natural warmth all around made everyone unconsciously move closer together, and one after another they began to get closer and closer.
"Be careful, don't fall." After giving these two reminders, Captain Xu led Old Chen away.
As for Luo Yin, she has just taken the pills that Master Ganda gave her.
The next moment, as if sensing something, my body felt warm and cozy.
"Two people, come here!"
Hearing the noise, Luo Yin ran over in the direction of the gaze.
"Young comrade, come here and hold this for me."
Team Leader Xu handed her a stack of documents, which Luo Yin immediately took, while glancing around.
She heard footsteps approaching from the side and saw that it was two other researchers.
It seems that the remaining skilled fighters were instructed by Old Chen to go to the hot spring?
"Hmm?" Go down to the hot spring?
"Could you please find all the information about the Unfrozen Spring for me?" he instructed himself, then turned to the other two comrades. "You two come with me and draw up a topographical map of the surrounding area and the terrain below."
"good!"
"clear."
Unfrozen spring!
Luo Yin acted quickly, finding a secluded corner and skimming through all the messages.
She soon discovered that the contents were all-encompassing and covered a wide range of topics, much of which were confidential information that she had no access to.
Logically speaking, she shouldn't have been allowed to see it.
Oh no, is this considered a leak?
Luo Yin quickly closed the document and looked around warily.
Fortunately, no one was looking at her for the time being, but this was really hot to handle!
But she soon stopped caring about that, because it seemed that the people who had gone down to the hot springs earlier had discovered it.
Luo Yin quickly stepped forward and found several people emerging from the hot spring.
They waved to the shore every now and then, and there seemed to be something flashing in their raised hands.
"Found it!"
They were all experts in the team. The hot spring pool in front of them was very large, oval in shape, with the largest diameter being at least ten meters.
At this moment, they are swimming from the center outwards, watching the small black dots get closer and closer.
She was standing in a very remote spot, with people in the other three directions.
Upon noticing Chen Lao and Xu Dui's positions, Luo Yin subconsciously took a few steps back.
Clearly, she was somewhat frightened by the situation, especially with Old Chen present.
However, their curiosity remained piqued; what exactly did they discover?
Before she could ponder for long, with the help of others, they successfully climbed ashore.
Having just climbed out of the warm water, they were immediately urged to change their clothes.
"Quickly get the fire going, go change it!"
"Change your clothes first."
"Wait, take this first."
Hosen and another bespectacled comrade handed what they were holding to Captain Xu.
Everyone's eyes followed them to that thing.
Two irregularly shaped pieces of decayed bronze, each about the size of a palm.
"Is this bronze?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise, clearly recognizing the object.
"There are bronze fragments at the bottom of this hot spring. Could they be lost artifacts?"
Suppressing his excitement, Captain Xu looked at his companions on both sides.
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