Chapter 164 Source Energy Craft

"Every \[Source Energy Craft] has its corresponding number..."

"To leave the Northern Continent, you must have permission from Central City..."

Gu Shen silently repeated these two sentences in his heart.

Regarding the identity of "073," after this year of interaction, there weren't so many mysteries anymore. This guy's surname was likely "Lin," and he held an extremely high position in the Northern Continent.

There were only a handful of people who could drive a \[Source Energy Craft] to the Eastern Continent for trade.

In theory, finding the travel records for the corresponding date... could lock down "073's" identity, but Gu Shen had no intention of doing so.

This year's trade.

It wasn't just a material exchange between Hua Zhi and the Northern Continent.

It was also a trade of trust.

For Gu Shen, who "073" was didn't matter. What mattered was that he was a member of the Gu Wen Hui, and he was willing to provide assistance.

"Time is of the essence... let's depart."

Gu Shen snapped back to reality.

He pointed at the giant craft suspended in front of him and said with a smile.

A'Liuyer nodded with a smile, she raised her head, and a silver light flickered in her pupils.

A wisp of spirit, transmitted out...

The huge airship descending from the distant sky emitted a muffled roar.

The Northern Continent's \[Source Energy Craft] are linked to the owner's spirit... Through the \[Deep Sea] network's authentication and recognition, various commands can be issued. Even if no one is in the cockpit, it can still execute simple commands such as soaring, hovering, and landing.

It's just that for more complex operations, the pilot's precise control is required.

"Rumble rumble rumble--"

Gu Shen finally understood why Source Energy Crafts couldn't land without the permission of the various continental parliaments.

Because the commotion of this "big guy" was truly alarming.

Just like a giant whale.

In the roar, the top of this desolate small mountain constantly vibrated with layers of turbid dust.

"Swish swish swish!"

The next moment.

A'Liuyer's \[Frost Kill] domain expanded, and the rolling dust transformed into pure ice crystals.

The stern of the \[Source Energy Craft] rotated open, and layers of automatically extending ladders descended to the top of the mountain.

"Please board the ship."

A'Liuyer flicked her cloak, bowed slightly, and made a polite inviting gesture.

Boarding a craft is called "boarding a ship" in the Northern Continent.

Gu Shen's expression was a little strange.

Boarding a Source Energy Craft, was it this complicated... No wonder "073" didn't land.

"Under normal circumstances... we wouldn't 'board a ship' like this."

A'Liuyer explained with a smile, "As weapons of significant strategic importance, \[Source Energy Craft] are usually not used casually. Often, a medium-sized Source Energy Craft can be equipped with a fully manned team of three hundred people. Boarding personnel all wear the 'External Armor' developed by Grand Duke Casting Snow... This armor is also powered by \[Source Energy], providing considerable lifting ability. Generally, below three hundred meters, Northern Continent soldiers can choose to 'board the ship' on their own. The sides of the ship can be freely opened, like fins, providing large-scale combat landing entrances."

Perhaps... this was the reason why \[Deep Sea] chose this structure.

Compared to the traditional wing structure, the hull structure could quickly unleash the ship's combat power.

Gu Shen could already imagine what a medium-sized \[Source Energy Craft] would look like upon arriving at the battlefield. With both sides of the hull open, the three hundred warriors on board could be completely unloaded in a maximum of thirty seconds.

Gu Shen boarded the Source Energy Craft.

The area here was more spacious than he had imagined. Apart from the cockpit, there was only the combat readiness area.

"As an \[Apostle], I usually don't use \[Source Energy Craft] to travel." A'Liuyer said apologetically, "This Source Energy Craft was temporarily borrowed from Grand Duke Casting Snow. I'm afraid you'll have to sit in the co-pilot's seat."

"It's okay."

Gu Shen shook his head with a smile.

He noticed that there were rows of spare red armor suits hanging inside the Source Energy Craft.

"This is the External Armor."

A'Liuyer introduced, "'External Armor' is the full name. People in the Northern Continent don't call it that. Soldiers usually call it Source Armor... Depending on the level of backup energy, Source Armor also has corresponding levels. Hanging here are third-order Source Armor, which can withstand the release of third-order transcendent beings' Source Material."

Gu Shen nodded... It seemed that the Northern Continent's research in this area was mature enough.

He did indeed sense the presence of hidden energy in these hanging External Armor suits.

Source Material was compressed and then stored in close-fitting combat suits.

Was this the wisdom of war?

Gu Shen walked around the Source Energy Craft and finally stopped, pausing in front of a suit of armor, he asked softly, "A'Liuyer, can I try it on?"

"Of course."

A'Liuyer smiled and said, "'External Armor' has great extensibility, anyone can put it on, you can try it."

Gu Shen chose the "third-order Source Armor" in front of him.

He gently pulled it. It felt a bit like "rubber," but it was indeed surprisingly flexible. Probably even a three-hundred-pound fat man could put it on.

"After putting it on... there are two 'fastening' methods."

A'Liuyer said, "The first is to make the mental energy in contact with the energy core, here is the mental link left by \[Deep Sea], \[Deep Sea] will automatically adjust the size of the armor... In addition, you can choose to manually buckle, the button is on the forearm."

Gu Shen did not use his mental energy.

He gently pressed the button on the inside of his forearm.

"Chi..."

Source Energy circulated, and the External Armor seemed to inflate, slowly shrinking from an ill-fitting loose size, completing the "fit" in just a few seconds.

"No wonder it's called External Armor..."

Gu Shen tried to move his wrist.

It was very easy.

His entire body had been liberated.

It really felt like his second set of bones.

"It can withstand the explosive force of a third-order transcendent being, so it's called 'third-order Source Armor'..." Gu Shen tried to throw a punch, and the punch stirred up a slight roar, creating a sonic boom inside the Source Energy Craft.

A'Liuyer narrowed her eyes slightly.

Although she was a visitor with good intentions... she was still very curious about this "inviter" named by the Empress.

The Northern Continent had also heard about the Qingtomb Cemetery incident.

This famous "S-level" adjudicator of the Tribunal had almost single-handedly turned the tide and resolved the great disaster in Nagano.

So, what was the true strength of this S-level?

"The seventh layer..."

A'Liuyer's expression remained unchanged, but she had an answer in her heart.

Gu Shen's aura didn't seem strong... Of course, she had seen Gu Shen's file and knew that this young man had only started on the path of transcendent cultivation for about two years. Being able to cultivate to the seventh layer of the deep-sea area in such a short time could be called a genius among geniuses.

However, this level of strength didn't seem to match his widespread fame.

In the Northern Continent, people with such high prestige—

Must possess incredibly powerful strength!

In the Source Energy Craft, Gu Shen, who was constantly punching, constantly shifting, and testing the External Armor, suddenly stopped.

He said silently in his heart: "In the calculation method of the third-order Source Armor... does the maximum explosive force it can withstand also include mental energy?"

The next moment.

He extended two fingers and pressed them to his forehead.

"Buzz--"

Summon Blazing Fire!

The flame in his mental sea burned rapidly, about to ignite at Gu Shen's forehead, when it was instantly met with the "golden band" interception of the Fighting God's Fire—

At this moment, a crisp collision sound rang in Gu Shen's forehead.

A "clang"!

Gu Shen didn't successfully summon his mental energy, but the power carried by the Blazing Fire was not completely stopped by the golden band.

This power crashed against the External Armor!

"Crack..."

A'Liuyer's pupils contracted.

She saw that after the young man pressed two fingers to his forehead.

The next moment, a harsh roar sounded from his body...

With a "boom," the extremely tough third-order Source Armor bulged and eventually shattered into pieces of tattered cloth.

"What... what's going on?"

A'Liuyer couldn't understand this scene.

Her gaze remained fixed on Gu Shen. As an apostle whose strength had reached \[Title], she seemed to see an extremely terrifying power descending on Gu Shen's forehead in that instant.

Was it the divine power of the Fighting God's Throne?

The one that broke the third-order Source Armor... didn't seem to be this power?

Then, was it Gu Shen's own power that broke through the Source Armor? What power was that?

A'Liuyer looked at Gu Shen meaningfully.

The latter's expression didn't change, he just calmly looked at the mess on the ground.

"The third-order Source Armor... can withstand the impact of third-stage transcendent beings, but it doesn't seem to be able to withstand instantaneous powerful bursts."

Gu Shen frowned and said, "Most of my Blazing Fire was intercepted by the 'Fighting Golden Band', and only a portion of the power was released. This power is probably only at the mid-level of the ninth layer, which theoretically should still be within the resistance range, yet this Source Armor shattered?"

He looked up and saw A'Liuyer's complex expression.

"Sorry..." Gu Shen said awkwardly, "I didn't expect to break this thing. I'll pay for the compensation for this Source Armor... Also, I'm a little curious, what is the highest quality Source Armor in the Northern Continent?"

"This Source Armor... doesn't need to be compensated."

A'Liuyer smiled wryly and said frankly, "Compared to you, this is really not an important item. Currently, the highest-level Source Armor developed in the Northern Continent is the seventh order."

"Seventh order?!"

Gu Shen was shocked by this number.

Something didn't seem right...

Sixth to ninth-layer transcendent beings use the third order.

Tenth to twelfth layers use the fourth order.

The fifth-order Source Armor is worn by Title-level individuals.

Then what are the sixth and seventh orders...?

"Because the power of transcendent Source Material is stronger than we imagined... a transcendent being's potential and explosive force often exceeds the Source Armor's load limit." A'Liuyer said sincerely, "Geniuses like you often wear a higher-order Source Armor to ensure their safety."

Was that so... He should wear a fourth-order Source Armor.

Then it seemed to make sense. Title-level powerhouses wore sixth-order Source Armor, and the seventh-order Source Armor was reserved for the top powerhouses among Title-level individuals... This Source Energy Craft actually had nearly a hundred spare third-order Source Armor suits hanging on it.

Even the elite team under a Northern Continent general wasn't likely to have so many "third-order transcendent beings" in one Source Energy Craft.

Third-order transcendent beings weren't simple characters... From the moment they stepped into the sixth layer, they were gradually comprehending the existence of domains.

This was a "mid-level combat force" that no force could ignore!

If these Source Armor suits... were for second-stage transcendent beings, then they were indeed exceptionally sturdy.

After all, Gu Shen's physical strength couldn't break them apart.

The Source Energy Craft started.

The giant whale "slowly" ascended, spewing clouds, and headed towards its destination in the Northern Continent.

...

...

Northern Continent.

Gu Fort Fortress.

Late at night, in a clean white sickroom, machines hummed, and the brilliance emitted by a healing-type sealed artifact enveloped the room.

Lying on the bed was a withered-looking man.

His expression was extremely tired.

He slowly opened his eyes.

"Mr. Hong Zhong, you're awake."

Outside the sickroom, many people were waiting. Sitting at Hong Zhong's bedside was a tall, burly man with a fierce, beast-like face, but his voice was exceptionally gentle.

"You... are..."

Hong Zhong extended his dry palm and rubbed his forehead.

It was still scalding hot.

The world seemed to be spinning, and he felt as light as a piece of grass, likely to be submerged by the waves at any moment.

"My surname is Zou, Zou Hai, I am Brigadier General Lin Lin's adjutant."

Zou Hai said slowly, "You have been unconscious for three days..."

Originally, the military was preparing to conduct a final mental assessment for this lucky "survivor," but Hong Zhong suddenly lost consciousness.

This time.

The Book of Life and Death had shown abnormalities again.

His "mental trace" had disappeared, but strangely, his vital signs still existed... This man lying on the bed, his heart was still beating, and theoretically, as long as nutrient solution was supplied, he could continue to live.

No one had encountered this situation before.

This was the first case.

So, the mental analysts at Gu Fort Fortress could only choose to wait.

Three days later, they finally waited for the "patient" to wake up.

"Mental... assessment..."

These words seemed to pull Hong Zhong back to the real world.

He seemed like a lone ghost wandering outside the real world, just returning from sleepwalking. His haggard face was so pale that it had no color. After hearing Zou Hai's name, he slowly repeated the murmuring sound.

"Zou... Zou Hai..."

The memories in Hong Zhong's mind became vivid again.

"I recognize you... Adjutant Zou."

This was Brigadier General Lin Lin's right-hand man in Gu Fort Fortress. He had met Adjutant Zou once before the investigation corps set off.

"Cough..."

Hong Zhong coughed violently.

Rushing memories surged in like a tide. This man who had been lying withered for three days suddenly remembered his "mission" at this moment. He suddenly became excited and grabbed Zou Hai's palm.

Hong Zhong sat up. He gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse as he said, "Maze 38 mission... the investigation was successful, the seventeenth exploration route is correct, I... I saw the 'Oasis'!"

His emotions were exceptionally agitated.

On the side of the bed, the hanging bottles and cans, nutrient solution, and glucose, all shook violently.

Adjutant Zou's expression was a little complicated.

He gently extended a hand and closed it over Hong Zhong's palm, signaling him not to be agitated.

This emaciated man looked like he might collapse at any moment, but after being unconscious for three days, the first thing he said upon waking up was to explain the important discovery of this mission... How could anyone doubt the loyalty of such a dedicated investigator?

This was an old soldier.

He had been in the investigation corps for nearly twenty years.

"What about the others?"

Zou Hai asked softly.

But with just this soft sentence.

It was as if a heavy hammer had struck.

The room fell silent... Hong Zhong, who had struggled to sit up, suddenly fell into a daze. This sentence had struck him.

"I... I don't know..."

Hong Zhong's mind was blank.

For some reason.

A wave of sadness welled up in his heart.

He stared blankly down, watching tears fall on the sheets.

Hong Zhong murmured, "I can't remember..."

Regarding the "Maze 38" mission, he couldn't remember anything clearly.

Those memories had turned into shattered light, fluttering in the air.

Piece by piece, like a mirror.

As long as he tried to recall them, these memories would flash with holy light, piercing into his mind.

Zou Hai sat silently in front of the bed. He didn't speak again.

A six-person investigation team was the optimal solution given by \[Deep Sea] for exploring the maze mission. The old world snow mountain canyon located in the northern part of Gu Fort was already broken, and it was not easy to have too many people exploring.

But this elite team, in the end, only Hong Zhong returned.

For the investigation corps, what was most important was not only the "investigation results," but also every person who could return alive.

In the old world, there were too many strange things.

One person's "oral account" was really difficult to become strong evidence.

"We need to know... the process."

After a long time, when Hong Zhong's mental state had recovered and stabilized, Adjutant Zou spoke again. His rough and fierce face had a hint of apology, and he said softly, "You don't need to be nervous, we will ask sufficiently reliable mental-type transcendent beings... to do an examination for you."

In this situation.

A "mental assessment" was necessary.

It wasn't that the official was ruthless... but the investigation corps in the past had paid a huge price for the mistake of "trust" in similar incidents.

"You... don't you trust me..."

Hong Zhong's originally stable spirit tightened up again.

He nervously grasped Zou Hai's hand, trying to grab the tall man who was preparing to get up and leave. Then he reached out his palm and groped on his body, murmuring, "I have evidence... I have evidence... I saw the 'Oasis', and I even saw living people in the 'Oasis', I have evidence..."

"We have already submitted the wood chips upwards."

Zou Hai turned around.

He said softly, "Rest well... prepare to receive the 'mental test' tomorrow."

After speaking.

He turned around and left.

The door to the sickroom closed, returning to silence.

...

...

"How is his condition?"

"Very serious."

"Very serious?"

"What he said is exactly the same as when he first woke up... In this mental state, I suspect he can't withstand the mental assessment at all."

Zou Hai looked at the flickering candlelight in the study and the figure projected by the firelight, and said with some distress, "Brigadier General, this is the video from inside the sickroom."

Lin Lin stopped writing.

He looked up and stared at the projected video.

The emaciated man woke up, first with great confusion.

Then came a passionate announcement...

Finally, he took out evidence.

He watched the video calmly... not one video, but two. On the left and right were videos from three days ago and three days later. Both videos started playing from the moment the man woke up, and the entire process was almost exactly the same.

Sitting in front of the bed was the same man.

Zou Hai.

Adjutant Zou, the closest observer who had witnessed everything, shook his head and said, "This is really a pitiful guy. He has burned his blood for the investigation corps. All his companions sacrificed themselves, and after a difficult return, he still has to suffer doubts... If there was no such thing as a 'mental assessment', everyone should believe that what he said is the truth."

After Hong Zhong returned to the fortress, he was taken over by Gu Fort Fortress.

Since then, the treatment and subsequent investigations... were also fully taken over by Lin Lin.

The transcendent beings under the White Lizard of the investigation corps had repeatedly proposed to transfer the mission, but Lin Lin refused.

"He is indeed a pitiful man."

Lin Lin stared at the two videos and said without emotion, "I also hope that what he said is the truth... but before passing the 'mental assessment', I will not let him go, nor will I believe a single word of his."

"..."

Adjutant Zou nodded with a complicated expression.

He knew that this was the right decision!

The leaders of the investigation corps had more or less old feelings with "Hong Zhong"... Before the official documents were passed, it was best to keep him detained in Gu Fort Fortress.

"However, Brigadier General, the second team captain of the investigation corps... has repeatedly requested to take him back."

Zou Hai rubbed his eyebrows.

"You also know that those guys in the investigation corps are not easy to mess with..." He said helplessly, "I'm under a lot of pressure here."

"Since the person is awake, give him a comprehensive 'mental assessment' tomorrow."

Lin Lin's expression was as usual, and he said lightly, "Tell Zhong Yuan, the second team captain of the investigation corps, if he passes the 'mental assessment', take him away immediately, don't stay for a second longer... If he doesn't pass, the remaining things don't need him to worry about, Gu Fort will handle it for them. If he doesn't agree, report directly to Central City, I accept all dispatching from Central City."

"... Understood!"

Adjutant Zou nodded slowly after hearing these words.

He saluted and prepared to leave. Before opening the study door, he thought of one more thing.

"Brigadier General, there may be a 'guest' arriving at Gu Fort tomorrow."

Lin Lin frowned.

"Guest?"

How could there be a guest in a place like Gu Fort?

"It was arranged by Grand Duke Casting Snow..." Zou Hai opened his mouth with some trepidation. He knew that there were some names in Central City that it was best not to mention to the Brigadier General, and Grand Duke Casting Snow was one of them.

Before he could finish speaking.

"Tell him to get lost."

Lin Lin didn't even raise his head, and said in a cold voice, "Whether or not Gu Fort has guests is not up to Casting Snow to decide, it's up to me!"

"Sir..."

Adjutant Zou's expression paused slightly. The Brigadier General seemed to have misunderstood the origin of the guest... He wanted to say something more.

"Go down."

Lin Lin waved his hand, obviously not wanting to continue this topic.

And the next moment.

A low rumble sounded in the sky above Gu Fort Fortress.

Lin Lin raised his head.

This was the sound of a \[Source Energy Craft]. More importantly... this was Gu Fort Fortress. As the person in charge, he was stationed in the fortress. Without his permission, none of Gu Fort's Source Energy Craft could be mobilized.

And as an outsider, the only possibility that wouldn't trigger Gu Fort's defense system was one.

This was a \[Source Energy Craft] authorized by Her Majesty the Empress.

Zou Hai glanced at the message and said respectfully, "Brigadier General, that guest has arrived earlier than expected... he's already here."