Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups-Chapter 1168 - 567: [The Ruins] 2

"We protected the scientific expedition team while collecting samples and exploring forward.

"About half a day’s time passed, deep in this primeval forest, unexpectedly discovering a city ruin that was astonishingly gigantic."

"Its appearance was clearly a modern metropolis that had undergone a destructive disaster, exuding a dead, eerie desolation."

The Professor paused, as if he could still see the scene at the time, and slowly described:

"Looking far, all were high-rise buildings broken in half, leaning crookedly against each other.

"The remnants of steel and concrete were covered with vines, like a giant web covering the entire end-of-days city."

"We rummaged through the ruins, picking up many gold utensils, as well as some ancient coins from unknown countries, though corroded beyond recognition, it was still apparent they were highly valuable."

"The mercenaries crazily stuffed them into their backpacks, even I couldn’t resist picking up two gold bricks."

"At that time I thought, even without the so-called opportunity, just relying on this gold, bringing it out would be enough to ensure my lifelong prosperity."

"In contrast, the people in the scientific expedition were frighteningly calm. They ignored the gold and focused solely on collecting soil samples and plant specimens, carefully recording, and also collecting the crystals from the brains of the monsters we killed."

"What happened then?"

Lin Chuqiao couldn’t help but ask, "Did you discover any remnants of technological civilization in that city?"

"No."

The Professor shook his head, unable to conceal his regret:

"At that time, it was getting dark, and the further we ventured into the depths of the ruins, the stronger the monsters we encountered were, and the environment became increasingly hostile."

"We continuously encountered flying lizards capable of spraying toxic mist, and some kind of humanoid terrifying monsters, the team suffered heavy casualties."

"Seeing that the ammunition we brought was almost depleted and the oxygen in our protective suits was running low, we could only flee in disgrace and retreated the original way."

"That trip, a team of nearly twenty, in the end less than ten came out alive, even several researchers from the expedition were lost."

The Professor sighed deeply, picked up the wine glass Xiao Shuai had just filled for him, and drank it all.

"However, I was fortunate amidst disaster."

He put down the glass, a gleam flashing in his eyes:

"On the way of escape, to fend off the monsters chasing us, I swallowed the crystal I previously dug out from an insect’s brain in a panic."

"At the time, I didn’t think much, just aimed to survive, needing to seek anything that could harness strength."

"I didn’t expect that after coming out, not only did all my wounds heal, but my spiritual power surged tremendously, allowing me to smoothly break through the bottleneck and advance to S-Class."

After hearing this, the others at the table, including Fang Cheng, fell into silence.

The night wind swept through the courtyard of Yunlin Cottage, the charcoal fire crackled with a "snap" sound.

Li Dingjian feeling enthusiastic, could not help but ask:

"Professor, where is the exact location of that ruin?"

"Since there are so many resources inside, can we organize manpower to salvage it too?"

"Given the current strength of the Illuminati, it should be much stronger than that mercenary team back then, right?"

The Professor looked at Li Dingjian, smiled bitterly, and shook his head:

"Crow, you’re oversimplifying things."

"Not to mention the level of danger inside, just the hurdle of the entrance, we can’t overcome."

Seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, clearly unfamiliar with these inside stories, the Professor patiently explained:

"As early as a hundred years ago, when these ruins first appeared, people might have still viewed them as the legendary Cave Heaven Blessed Land, Peach Blossom Spring."

"But as development and research deepened, countries soon realized it was a strategic level resource repository."

"The Borneo ruin I visited is now managed jointly by the local government and international financial conglomerates, heavily guarded by soldiers, not a single fly can fly in."

"How does that Otherworld compare to the Inner World we often talk about, or to the Secret Realm inherited by noble families?"

Following this, Lin Chuqiao also curiously asked.

"Essentially different."

Lin Chuqiao could not contain his curiosity beside him and spoke up.

"Essentially completely different."

The Professor answered without hesitation:

"The ’Inner World’ usually refers to the shadow side attached to the real world, a collection of negative energy."

"Most noble family Secret Realms are small independent spaces carved out by ancient powerhouses using special methods, with relatively singular rules."

"But the Otherworld..."

The Professor paused, his tone deepening:

"It’s a truly complete world, with its own ecosystem, even civilization relics, its size and level of danger outnumber the previous two tens of thousands of times."

Fang Cheng listened quietly, nodding thoughtfully.

The words previously spoken by the Masked Guest coincided with the Professor’s personal experience.

His inquiry wasn’t out of interest in studying ancient civilizations but rather to verify the conjecture in his heart.

That world full of monsters and opportunities was, for him, simply the perfect leveling arena.

The harsh environment that others view as a daunting path might just be his chance to break his physical limits and significantly enhance his strength once more.

Unfortunately, that guy the Masked Guest had bad luck; he died before he could explain clearly.

And after all, the dead can’t speak.

Fang Cheng couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret.

"Chairman."

The Professor seemed to see through his thoughts and looked up at him, speaking slowly:

"The Masked Guest may be dead, but his accomplice, Fire Dragon, is still alive."

"That guy just underwent surgery, and is still in a coma, not out of danger yet. When he wakes up, maybe we can pry his mouth open and find out something."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly; he had just had this thought.

"And moreover..."

The Professor paused, his gaze becoming deep, and continued to add:

"Based on the few words the Masked Guest uttered, coupled with the intelligence I’ve gathered over the past year, I suspect that the entrance to the relic he mentioned is very likely at West Mountain."

"West Mountain?"

Fang Cheng was taken aback upon hearing this.

"That’s right."

The Professor, with a certain tone, analyzed further:

"Chairman, you should remember the incident last November when an explosion at the West Mountain archaeological site triggered a wildfire?"

"At that time, the military acted with unusual swiftness, sealing off the mountain directly for a month as soon as the fire was out, and subsequently establishing a military lockdown deep within West Mountain, which hasn’t been lifted until now."

"They claimed it was for epidemic prevention, saying that mutant organisms were carrying infectious viruses, but that reason is just to fool the ordinary people."

"In our circle of mutants, the most guessed theory there is that a treasure is hidden beneath that Underground Palace, like the Golden Benba Bottle which flowed out from there."

"As per my judgment, there definitely lies the entrance to some newly discovered ancient relic."

After listening, Fang Cheng’s eyes revealed a trace of understanding, unraveling the various doubts that had long lingered in his mind.

The military’s large-scale actions, layer upon layer of lockdowns, clearly show that their aim is far beyond just an ordinary ancient tomb.

"Seems like, once that unlucky fellow Fire Dragon wakes up, I should have a good chat with him."

Fang Cheng’s lips curved slightly; he had made up his mind.

"Alright, let’s talk about these things later."

Li Dingjian saw the atmosphere getting somewhat heavy, and timely eased the situation:

"Tonight is the Illuminati’s team-building night, let’s not talk about these matters, come on, let’s keep drinking and eating meat!"

Fang Cheng chuckled, collecting his thoughts.

Indeed, seize the day, drink to the fullest.

He turned his head, looking at the lively scene before him.

The grill in the yard had burning charcoal, the lights illuminating the yard warmly and brightly.

Not far away, Pan Wendi and Fatty Hu lost a round of finger-guessing and were now being punished with push-ups, their grimacing expressions eliciting bursts of laughter from the surrounding people.

Even the girls at Bai Ling’s table occasionally glanced over, with a hint of teasing in their eyes, covering their mouths and giggling.

Fang Cheng looked at these vibrant faces, listening to the hustle and bustle yet friendly teasing, feeling touched somehow.

Except for Chen Xu’an who was far in Cui City, Tian Nan Province, all members of the Illuminati’s founding core were present tonight.

In this world veiled with mystery and filled with hidden dangers, he was the greatest support for this group of people, as well as the leader they willingly followed.

"Come!"

Fang Cheng suddenly stood up, raising the wine glass in his hand.

The originally bustling yard instantly quieted down.

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

Whether it was the still playfully wrestling Pan Wendi or the Professor who kept shelling soybeans, all looked in unison at the young man who stood in the main seat.

No unnecessary rallying, no need for pretentious grand speeches.

Fang Cheng surveyed everyone, the corners of his mouth lifting, raising his glass over his head, his voice strong:

"For every member of our Illuminati, from now on we’ll walk together, hand in hand!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone exchanged smiles, stood up together, raising their glasses, their voices resounding:

"Cheers!"

The crisp sound of glasses clinking rang out in the night sky.

Accompanied by cheerful laughter, like a prelude to a pledge, it marked the beginning of this emerging organization’s rise.