Embers Ad Infinitum

Jiang Baimian did not end his rest immediately, but patiently waited until the preset half hour was over, then turned sideways and said to Du Heng:

"Teacher Du Heng, I think it's almost time. We can move on."

Du Heng closed the "Brief Notes on Three Mysteries" in his hand and said with a smile:

"Very punctual.

"Actually, there's no need to be too hasty. I'm used to being lazy, and I'm not the kind of person who has a quick temper."

A smile appeared on Jiang Baimian's face hidden by the mask, and he said sincerely:

"Shang Jianyao has already made some gains in the dream, which gives me some confidence in future exploration."

As for what the harvest is, it is naturally difficult to say.

And because it was inconvenient to talk, it was reasonable for her and Shang Jianyao to use the communication system of the exoskeleton device to communicate privately without being secretive.

"Yes, yes." Shang Jianyao echoed proudly.

Du Heng dropped the book, stood up, and said with a smile:

"Then let's go."

He then turned his attention to the tightly closed silver-white double doors.

Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian, who were wearing military exoskeleton devices, walked over, stretched out their hands, and held one side of the door.

Amidst the heavy clanking sounds and intermittent harsh noises, the silver-white door opened back.

At this time, Shang Jianyao exclaimed:

"It turns out this is a password door!"

A door that requires a password to open automatically.

"Do you think I don't know?" Jiang Baimian replied angrily.

Lao Ge is not here, and it will be difficult to break into the Eighth Research Institute's system in a short time just relying on the auxiliary chip in her "electric eel" bioprosthetic arm and Shang Jianyao, an undergraduate-level "electronics expert."

In this case, it is better to try to see if it can be opened by force.

What Jiang Baimian was thinking was that if he couldn't push it, then he would directly use "laser launchers", "electromagnetic weapons", etc. to destroy the door after confirming that there were no traps. Who knew that the power of military exoskeleton devices plus biological prostheses was indeed Extraordinary.

Jiang Baimian did not discuss this matter with Shang Jianyao, because she could think with her toes that this guy would say, "Why don't we just use the nuclear bomb? This thing will open the door easily and leave no future troubles."

Shang Jianyao had forgotten about the door and looked forward.

It was a corridor large enough for two large trucks to run parallel to each other. The ground was made of concrete and laid with two metal guide rails. They shone with an icy color under the light from the top of the cave.

Apart from these, there was nothing in the corridor, and it was as quiet as if no human had come in for decades.

The heavy and depressing feeling in Jiang Baimian's heart became more and more intense, as if the source of the storm was right ahead.

"It's a bit dim." Shang Jianyao sighed.

Du Heng smiled and said:

"Problems in the Electromagnetic Environment."

He stepped forward, passed Jiang and Shang, and entered the corridor.

The patter of footsteps echoed far away, accentuating the deathly silence here.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao followed closely, heading towards the end of the corridor.

"It's okay, it's a bit windy." Shang Jianyao seriously evaluated the working environment.

Jiang Baimian nodded gently and said:

"It seems there is a way to the outside."

On the way, they saw abandoned rail trucks, a few robots standing quietly on the edge, and a few metal parts scattered on the ground.

"It seems that robots are relied on to maintain automated operations here." Jiang Baimian said thoughtfully, "But with the transfer of the Eighth Research Institute, most of the robots in good condition were taken away, and the work here has been Stagnated, well, I don’t know what they are transporting to the depths..."

It can be seen that the remaining robots are in the maintenance stage.

"Hey, there is no one." Shang Jianyao said disappointedly, "I have walked all the way here, and it turned out to be like this. It is so unreal, so fake, just like a fantasy!"

"It's not an illusion." Du Heng responded in a positive tone.

"Then what do you want it to be like?" Jiang Baimian asked casually.

Shang Jianyao said in a longing tone:

"Starting from near the entrance, fighting with the people of the Eighth Research Institute one after another, from weak to strong, and finally arrived here."

"This is just fantasy." Jiang Baimian sneered, "Facing an intruder like you, the strongest ones must join forces to attack."

Du Heng also smiled and said:

“If there is no conflict, that would definitely be the best.

"What we pursue is to conquer the enemy without fighting."

When they spoke, their voices echoed far away.

In this way, they walked forward for more than half an hour in this tunnel with only tracks, special trucks, robots, parts and oil stains.

Finally, the end of the tunnel appeared in their eyes.

There was an equally heavy iron-black double door.

In Jiang Baimian's opinion, the source of the storm was behind the door, which was the direct cause of the heavy, depressing and dark atmosphere in this area.

At this moment, Du Heng said in a slightly painful tone:

"I remember, that thing is behind the door..."

"Open it now?" Shang Jianyao was eager to try.

"You decide." Du Heng returned to normal and said with a smile, "If you don't dare, then you can go back to the place where you rested before, and I will drive it myself."

Jiang Baimian did not respond immediately. He switched to the communication system of the exoskeleton device and told Shang Jianyao:

"What's behind the door in your senses?"

"I don't know." Shang Jianyao answered simply.

"Describe the feeling." Jiang Baimian asked.

Shang Jianyao began to organize the language:

"How should I put it? It's similar to the feeling every time you raise your left hand towards me and let the electric light flash.

"Well, it's like there's a sea outside. We went directly to the bottom of the sea. Once we get out, we can see the Crystal Palace."

Jiang Baimian was almost not happy with the previous description, but the following words gave her an intuitive understanding:

The water pressure at the bottom of the sea is very strong.

"Is there anything else unusual?" she asked again.

"No." Shang Jianyao was very sure.

Jiang Baimian thought for a while and said:

"Hurry up and go to room '205' to confirm whether the door to the 'new world' in your dream can be opened. Well, don't go in. The main thing is to confirm, otherwise you will encounter changes later and you need to enter the 'new world' urgently." When you come to fight against danger and find that the door cannot be opened by ordinary methods, the joke will be too big."

"Okay." Shang Jianyao agreed without hesitation.

He turned to Du Heng and said:

"Teacher Du Heng, let me make some preparations and then open the door."

"Yeah." Du Heng nodded.

Shang Jianyao leaned on the military exoskeleton device and fell into a deep sleep standing like that.

…………

"Pangae Creatures", at the entrance to the underground building.

The red jeep driven by Bai Chen and Long Yue arrived at the inspection area.

Because the season was suitable, the road conditions were good, and they were not too afraid of common dangers, they entered the "fast lane" not long after heading south from Gerstburg, and returned to the company in less than half a month.

Looking at the metal gate in front of her, Long Yuehong sighed heavily:

"It's back again."

"Yeah." Bai Chen pursed his lips.

…………

"Soul Corridor", in room "205".

As soon as Shang Jian Yaofu entered, he stood in front of the dark door where reality and illusion coexisted.

He didn't hesitate, stretched out his hands, and pushed forward hard.

Rays of light shone into the dim corridor, and Shang Jianyao's eyes reflected a tower that pierced into the sky.

Surrounding the tower are various buildings with lights on, forming a small city.

Shang Jianyao felt the call of the tower and felt some kind of fatal attraction.

He forcibly took a few steps back, turned around and left room "205" without entering the "new world".

…………

After returning to reality, Shang Jianyao opened his eyes and nodded to Jiang Baimian, which meant that it was confirmed that the door to the "new world" could be opened.

Jiang Baimian took a breath, calmed down and said:

"Open the door."

While speaking, she also stretched out her palms covered with metal bones.

Shang Jianyao assumed the same posture.

The two began to exert force, and the heavy iron-black double door made a slight sound.

As the crack in the door became wider and wider, soft natural light entered the silent corridor.

Then, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian saw a tall tower.

It is located in the middle of a valley, surrounded by various buildings and roads connecting them.

These make up a small city.

After a brief silence, Shang Jianyao made a voice:

"'New World'..."

When Jiang Baimian heard this, his heart moved and he suddenly turned his head.

The next second, she saw Du Heng in a black robe shattering like a dream bubble and disappearing.

Just when Jiang Baimian's pupils were dilated, as if he was trapped in a hallucination, in the city in the valley outside, figures came out from different places. Their clothes were quite old, their eyes were dull, their eyes were dull, and they were shaking when they moved. , each one seems like a living dead.

Woo!

The wind blew into this valley and played a harsh instrument.

(End of Part 7)