Chapter 71

"According to the rules, one should enter through the dead zone, activate the restoration program, and then enter the core area to shut down the chip. This isn't because the process is mandatory, but because it is the safest method. After all, although the dead zone is terrifying, the real danger lies in the defense systems and weapons inside. The super weapons inside can even directly kill those at the Inner Qi Realm, such as some weapons passed down in our tribe that we don't even know what they are, like high-compression plasma cannons, true Gauss particle weapons, and phase-shift mass bullets, which are said to be capable of killing those at the Inner Qi Realm. However, since they are just inanimate objects, with the speed and reaction time of those at the Inner Qi Realm, plus the premonition of death, there have been instances in history where people have managed to enter the terminal of the dead zone, and we have several times stopped the complete eruption of the ruins through the terminal of the dead zone."

"Troublesome."

Hao Qi stared intently at the elder of the Sutuka tribe who was explaining: "Don't talk about so many miscellaneous things. I want to know right now how to enter the core area!"

The Sutuka elder gazed at Hao Qi for a moment, then looked at the Su family members. He didn't see Lan Ling'er, and saw the anxious Zhang Heng and the expressionless Hao Qi. He seemed to understand something and said directly, "Alright, our tribe has maps of the ruins, but that's not enough. Since we are going deep into the core area, I will go with you!"

Hao Qi nodded silently and then looked at the Su family members, including Su Shiyun. The meaning was clear, and immediately, two Su family elders hesitated. According to what the Sutuka elder had said earlier, although the path to the core chip area is not densely packed with terrifying weapons, there are a large number of defense puppets, including not just quasi-Neili Jing puppets, but also Neili Jing and Neiqi Jing puppets. Especially the Neiqi Jing puppets, if encountered, would likely result in certain death for those who go. This left them no choice but to think deeply.

At the same time, Su Shiyun said directly, "I will go with you. Otherwise, just sitting here in despair, we will likely be trapped to death here."

Immediately, one of the Su family elders shouted loudly, "Third Miss! This is a matter concerning the future of the family. How can you agree so quickly!? We need to consider it carefully. Sorry, Third Miss will not go."

This decision was made for Su Shiyun. Hearing this, she turned her head sharply, looking at the elder's expression. Her hand gripped the hilt of her sword, her fingers turning blue from the grip, gripping and releasing, releasing and gripping again. The scene became tense.

Hao Qi looked at Su Shiyun's expression and then at the expressions of the Su family members at the Neili Jing level. He stood up suddenly, intending to say something, but Su Shiyun blocked him, looking at him with her clear eyes, full of pleading. Hao Qi immediately recalled the past at Yijian University, where although he had Lin Xiong's support and scholarships, he still struggled with hunger every day. Su Shiyun always provided him with spare ribs soup and bought him some meat dishes, never looking down on him. This kindness... He sighed and said to the Sutuka elder, "Let's just the two of us go. More people would only be a hindrance, so..."

At this moment, Zhang Heng shouted loudly, "What about me!? Hao Qi, Leader, where do you plan to leave me? If it doesn't work out with Lan Ling'er, are you planning to let me die of shame here!?"

Hao Qi looked seriously at Zhang Heng, his eyes already saying it all. He sighed and said, "If I die, in the future, when I travel the seven seas, I will find the origins of those heavenly materials and treasures for you. Besides that, is there anything else you want to do?"

Zhang Heng immediately laughed and took out his longbow from his back, pulling the bowstring, the sound crisp. He said directly, "There's so much I want to do, but being able to find the origins of those heavenly materials and treasures for me is already my greatest fortune. I have nothing else to say. Just take me along when you go."

Hao Qi nodded and signaled to the Sutuka elder with his eyes. The Sutuka elder, however, was staring at the Su family. After a few seconds, he suddenly said, "Do you Su family want to explore these ruins? If so, you must send three Neili Jing members to accompany us on this mission to shut down the core chip. Otherwise, please leave immediately. The Sutuka tribe does not need people with ulterior motives in our core."

The Su family members immediately became agitated. One of Su Shiyun's cousins immediately said, "You want us to leave now? Do you know there are thousands of puppets outside? Are you trying to get us killed!?"

"Exactly," the Sutuka elder said bluntly. "After I leave, the Sutuka tribe will only have two Neili Jing members, while you have five. Even if you have all taken the Jade Muscle Pill, we cannot take this risk. So either join us, and after the mission, we will allow you to explore, or if you do not join us and just want to take advantage, we will not allow you to stay here. Believe me, our chief is currently suppressing the Neiqi Jing puppet, but to drive or even kill you... it would be very easy. Do you want to try?"

Upon hearing this, the Su family members turned pale, and the two elders were both shocked and angry. They also realized that Hao Qi, whom they had relied on and believed to have a private relationship with Su Shiyun and might eventually join the Su family, was now standing on their enemy's side...

In the end, faced with the choice of certain death or possible death, the Su family wisely chose the latter. One Su family elder and one of Su Shiyun's cousins joined the team, along with Su Shiyun, making a total of three Neili Jing members from the Su family. Adding the Sutuka elder, Hao Qi, and Zhang Heng, six people entered the core area.

After leaving the square, the Sutuka elder led the group to a downward staircase. Behind him were two other Sutuka elders and over thirty Sutuka warriors. The Sutuka elder looked at the staircase, took a deep breath, and said, "From here down, it is the entrance to the core area. From there, we will encounter puppets of the Fierce, Mad, and Violent levels, as well as various defense systems and internal weapons. Although they are not as strong as those in the dead zone, they can still kill those at the Neili Jing level. So be extremely careful. Before we enter, I must remind you that this mission is fraught with danger. Our only goal is to shut down the core chip and stop the entire ruins from operating. If we encounter Fierce-level puppets, I believe you can handle them easily. If we encounter Mad-level puppets, we need to attack together and resolve the battle quickly, without any pause. Finally, if we encounter Violent-level puppets..."

Violent-level puppets, equivalent to the Neiqi Jing level, are incredibly powerful. No one present, including Hao Qi, had ever thought of facing a Neiqi Jing level opponent, at least not now. If the six of them encountered one, they would certainly die.

The Sutuka elder paused and continued, "If we encounter one, we must rush forward with all our might. No one should provide support, even if I am attacked. However, there is still a chance of survival... Lan Ling'er is going to the dead zone. She is different from us because she has information stored in the ruins' database, so no traps or defense weapons will affect her. Only puppets can attack her. The core chip will definitely send puppets to intercept her, making her more dangerous, but... we will have a slight chance because the puppets will be diverted by the core chip. With our speed and the vertical descent, we can enter the core area before Lan Ling'er. This is our only path to survival, so... thank you all."

The Sutuka elder solemnly bowed to the group. Even the two reluctant Su family Neili Jing members had to return the bow. Then, the Sutuka elder looked at the other Sutuka tribe members with a hint of longing, laughed, and bowed again before jumping into the staircase. His figure quickly disappeared.

Hao Qi also laughed, looked at Su Shiyun, and pulled Zhang Heng's arm, jumping down as well. Su Shiyun, with her lips tightly pressed, followed immediately. The remaining two Su family Neili Jing members sighed and followed, too.

As they descended the staircase, they saw layers of metal-constructed floors, each seemingly the same yet different. As they continued deeper, everyone, including Zhang Heng, felt a sense of foreboding, a sense of impending danger, and a premonition of death.

"We're here! Below is the core area!"

The leading Sutuka elder whispered, not stopping, and increased his speed, rushing into a different staircase. This staircase spiraled downward, and as they entered, many doors opened, and silver-white humanoid figures emerged. The Sutuka elder urgently whispered, "These are bio-bodies, specifically designed to house puppets. Silver-white are quasi-Neili Jing, red are Neili Jing, and blue... blue are Neiqi Jing. Be careful!" As he spoke, the Sutuka elder's hands formed claws, tearing a silver-white puppet into pieces. He was incredibly fierce, and in just a few seconds, he had destroyed over ten puppets without slowing down. The others followed closely, not daring to pause, rushing forward continuously.

On the other side, Lan Ling'er entered the dead zone passage. She was intelligent and had read historical documents from her family since childhood. She knew that her genetic information was stored in the ruins' database, so the internal weapons would not attack her, but the puppets were a different matter. The internal weapons were part of the ruins' defense system, controlled by the core chip, but the puppets, if not controlled by an external program, were inanimate objects and could only be controlled by the core chip. After the final battle of the ancient sects, one powerful sect used an intelligent virus, causing all core chips to "rebel." This is why the descendants of the ancient sects left the ruins. Therefore, the core chip would definitely send puppets to kill her.

This journey was fraught with danger, with only one chance of survival: the internal defense weapons. The highest command in these weapons is to protect the lives of those in the database. As long as she stayed near these weapons, the puppets would not dare to attack her, and if they did, they would be instantly killed. However, the internal defense weapons were not spread throughout the dead zone passage, and some areas were guarded solely by puppets. Thus, she would need to take risks and act opportunistically.

Lan Ling'er recalled the ruins' data from her memory, carefully observing the positions of the internal weapons, and then proceeded along the passage. As she moved forward, she suddenly saw five silver-white humanoid puppets and one red humanoid puppet standing in front of her.

These puppets stood there, neither approaching nor leaving, just standing still. Seeing this, despair appeared in Lan Ling'er's eyes...

Meanwhile, in the desert above the ruins, the battle was about to end...

"Seventh, Seventh Prince, save me! Save..."

The old man's voice was cut off as he was swallowed by the surging puppet crowd, blood splattering as he was torn to pieces. The others were pale, only following the young man in front of them.

"Where are the ruins?"

The young man, running at the front, raised his hand, and a tremendous force burst out, creating a small tornado in front of him. The tornado, only one meter in diameter, had a powerful pulling force, instantly tearing apart the puppets rushing toward him into bloody pieces and shredded metal.

A man beside the young man quickly said, "Right ahead, Seventh Prince. The place where my father entered is right ahead. After crossing this black sandstorm, you can see the ruins. They are underground, but my father left a mark and told me the location of the safe passage. From there, you can directly enter the core of the ruins, the safest way possible!"

"Life, Injury, Rest, Block, Scenery, Death, Surprise, Open. All ancient sect ruins have these eight directions. How could the royal family of the Ming clan not have records? Someone, carry this young master. I will lead the way, and we will enter the Open position!"

As he spoke, the young man roared, his muscles turning black, and his aura becoming more fierce and violent. His speed and strength increased significantly, and he charged into the black sandstorm. The others, not daring to hesitate, followed him, running toward the direction indicated by one of the men.

Open position...

Someone is about to enter again!