Embers Ad Infinitum

Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian stood at the end of the tunnel. In their eyes, they saw a small city clustered with tall towers and the "living dead" swaying out. In their ears, they heard the strong wind blowing through the valleys, streets, and countless people. The cacophony of movement between the buildings is as if a group of beginners are playing instruments there.

And Du Heng, who came here with them, was like a bubble that shattered and evaporated under the sunlight.

For Jiang Baimian, this is like a fantasy.

The next second, she and Shang Jianyao felt their heads throbbing and dizzy at the same time, and their souls seemed to be leaving their bodies.

They are all people who have had experience and know that this is a precursor to suffering from "unintentional disease".

And this is most likely a certain leader or a strong person from the "New World" trying to absorb their consciousness!

Shang Jianyao didn't hesitate, and he didn't have time to pinch his temples blocked by the helmet. His energy sank, his consciousness retracted, and he entered the "soul corridor" directly.

He ran out of his room "131", came to the outside of "205" without turning a corner, and pushed the door open.

The heavy and ethereal dark door stood quietly in the dream without any change, but it was no longer open.

Shang Jianyao stretched out his hands and pushed hard, and the door opened silently.

When streaks of light shone here, Shang Jianyao didn't care to look at the situation inside. He glanced at the towering tower-shaped building and suddenly rushed forward.

…………

When Jiang Baimian had a headache and was in a trance, his whole body suddenly gained an indescribable calm.

The intense dizziness and extreme headaches all disappeared, as if they had never appeared.

If it weren't for the veins on his forehead that were still twitching, Jiang Baimian would have suspected that he was hallucinating again.

Considering that she was worried about Du Heng being nearby, she did not let Shang Jianyao take out the "Angel of Life" necklace, "Six Senses Pearl" and the small jade Buddha. Now this situation should not come from Zhi Sui's blessing. She moved in her heart and turned her gaze He turned to Shang Jianyao beside him.

Shang Jianyao stood there, motionless, relying solely on the support of the military exoskeleton device to keep him from losing balance.

Jiang Baimian, who probably understood that he had entered the "new world" and had provided him with some protection, immediately stretched out his hand, "plucked" Shang Jianyao's body, and led him out of the tunnel, into the valley, and to the small outer areas of the city.

This is not the disorientation caused by "road fools", but Jiang Baimian remembered that Du Heng said that he suspected that there are major flaws in only the spirit or consciousness entering the "new world", and the body must also enter at the same time to be considered perfect. "New World" strong man.

However, as the two of them set foot in the small city, Shang Jianyao's body did not become lighter, disappear, or undergo other changes.

And all the "living dead" who staggered out from different corners of the city flocked here.

It wasn't until this moment that Jiang Baimian really saw their appearance clearly:

Each one's eyes were cloudy and bloodshot, and their bodies were slightly stooped.

"Heartless"!

There are a large number of "careless people" in this small city that is suspected of being a "new world" in reality!

However, the expressions of these "careless people" are not too distorted, and their eyes are dull, without the feeling of hungry beasts.

Because of this, Jiang Baimian thought he was a "living dead" like those in old world entertainment materials.

Looking more closely, she felt a thump in her heart.

Among those "unintentional ones", there are dozens or hundreds of people with relatively new clothes and smooth hair, which is in sharp contrast to the greasy and old-fashioned appearance of their companions around them.

Could it be that those members of the Eighth Research Institute who did not leave but took the elevator to the tunnel on the fifth floor entered here and became "unintentional people"...the last "sacrifice" of the Eighth Research Institute? As Jiang Baimian's thoughts flashed, he saw that the eyes of those "unintentional people" gradually changed, becoming vicious, hostile, and bloodthirsty.

It is like an outsider awakening the sleeping "gravekeeper" and will suffer the most violent attack.

Jiang Baimian assessed the situation and felt that it would be foolish to rely on a military exoskeleton device to fight head-on without knowing how many "high-level unintentional people" there were.

She plans to evacuate temporarily, and after Shang Jianyao has a preliminary understanding of the situation in the "new world" and can provide certain support or intelligence, she will hide her human consciousness, use a military exoskeleton device, and secretly sneak in here to confirm and " Name "the unintentional ones" who pose a threat, investigate the secrets of this small city, and cooperate with your companions in the "New World" based on reality.

As an experienced warrior, Jiang Baimian did not hesitate and took action as soon as he made a decision.

She pulled up Shang Jianyao's body again and led him back into the tunnel before the group of "careless people" came over.

That is to say, the tunnel was so close and visible to the naked eye that Jiang Baimian did not get lost.

As for whether this would affect Shang Jianyao's consciousness and body entering the "new world" at the same time, Jiang Baimian couldn't worry about it for the time being, because if she left Shang Jianyao's body in that small city, she would most likely end up being killed. Eat.

Literally eaten.

And she currently doesn't see any difference in bringing her body into the real "new world".

Therefore, Shang Jianyao's body must be moved out first for safety.

After Shang Jianyao established a firm foothold in the "new world" and obtained the corresponding information, she would make amends.

After returning to the tunnel, Jiang Baimian evacuated further away without haste, turned around calmly, and closed the heavy iron-black double doors again.

After doing this, she took Shang Jianyao all the way back. After getting lost several times, she finally left the main building of the Eighth Research Institute with difficulty and saw the jeep belonging to the "Old Tuning Team".

…………

"Pangu Creature", Room 14 on the 647th floor of the underground building.

Bai Chen and Long Yuehong completed the routine procedures and returned to the team office just like every time they came back before, waiting for the test results to come out.

Long Yuehong, who was sitting in her seat, looked around and said with a self-deprecating smile:

"I actually feel a little deserted."

"With only two people left, it will definitely be quite deserted." Bai Chen said truthfully.

Long Yuehong quickly stopped:

"You can't say that!

"It's so, so unlucky."

"Yeah." Bai Chen didn't get angry, nor did he joke, "It's not you who said that." He nodded solemnly, "They will definitely come back."

At that time, they might not have gone back to the underground building, they might have met on the surface... Long Yuehong didn't dare to say these words.

He subconsciously wanted to discuss whether the special status attached to that part of memory by Teacher Du Heng would work, but he rationally remained silent.

The room fell into silence once again.

…………

The tall tower that pierces into the sky is surrounded by brightly lit buildings. They are lined up one after another, squeezing out streets.

Shang Jianyao was bathed in darkness, standing at the entrance of a street on the edge of the city, and said to himself loudly:

“There are still many differences.

"The real tower is not that high, there are no lights around, and you can't see those 'zombie' here..."

As soon as he entered the "new world", he ignored the environment and directly used the connection between his consciousness and his body to let his spirit penetrate the barrier and return to the dust, adding a "protective shield" to Jiang Baimian's consciousness. .

After finishing this matter, he had time to look around.

"Yes, yes." Shang Jianyao echoed himself.

He then rubbed his chin and said:

"Sure enough, at the level of the 'new world', human consciousness can be directly extracted to replenish its own consumption.

"No wonder the strong men of the 'New World' can crush the awakened ones at the 'Soul Corridor' level even if they have not completely returned..."

Speaking of this, Shang Jianyao suddenly became excited:

"I wonder if I can just split into ten people in the 'New World' and act separately?"

He just tried as he said, and he kept mumbling for a while but he was still alone.

"It obviously feels possible, but it is restricted by some kind of power, and it becomes difficult to even manifest weapons..." The vicious Shang Jianyao looked at the tall tower in the center of the city again, "We must first Get permission from some being?”

The reckless Shang Jianyao urged:

"Do you plan to stand here all the time? Go to that high tower. On the way, you will meet Wu Meng, Flora, and Barnard and ask them about the situation in the 'New World' in detail."

This time, his suggestion was approved by most of Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao immediately stepped forward and walked into the street ahead.

In silence, a streetlight beside the road turned on, casting a yellowish light.

"Very friendly!" Shang Jianyao, the youngest person who values ​​emotions, praised sincerely. "They were afraid that I wouldn't be able to see the road, so they turned on the streetlight for me."

As he continued forward, another streetlight suddenly lit up, while the one behind him returned to darkness and silence.

"What is this called? This is called saving electricity!" Shang Jianyao applauded.

At this time, he saw a dim light shining from a room on the second floor in a three-story classical building with a reddish river style on the street.

And there was no sound there, a dead silence.