Chapter 173 The Old World

The Investigation Corps' Second Team conducted a three-day special training in Guburg.

The upcoming "Maze Mission" is crucial.

A total of twelve extraordinary individuals will leave the fortress, cross the northern border, and arrive at the [Old World]... This special training will also select the most suitable candidates for the final departure.

Gu Shen participated fully in these three days of training.

He is a "newcomer" in the truest sense. His mastery of Source Armor, his survival knowledge outside the fortress, and his experience in exploration missions are all virtually zero... However, Gu Shen's performance surprised all the members of the Investigation Corps.

This young man is very strong.

Even in a fair competition, he could squeeze into the final list of "twelve."

The three days passed in a flash.

Today is the day of departure.

Gu Shen put on the silver-white "Tier 4 Source Armor" of the Investigation Corps. As A Liuer said, when truly heading to the "battlefield," the warriors would wear a special Source Armor that was one tier higher than their own strength.

Tier 4 Source Armor can withstand the power of extraordinary individuals above the tenth layer of the Deep Sea Zone.

Its source energy driving force is more powerful, and the material is more durable.

This investigation team going to explore the maze has two squads: a main squad and a sub-squad. In the twelve-person configuration, except for Li Chen, the spiritual assistant who awakened the [Source Eye], everyone else is a Tier 3 extraordinary individual.

The main squad is led by Yuan Yuan, who is responsible for clearing the way ahead.

The sub-squad leader is named Su He. This is an unassuming middle-aged man who hides his strength. He looks ordinary, but his strength is very powerful. Gu Shen estimates that Su He's strength is at the peak of the ninth layer of the Deep Sea, only a line away from breaking through to Tier 4.

Gu Shen was naturally assigned to the "sub-squad."

Although he did not fall behind in the special training these days and performed excellently, the Investigation Corps still placed him in a "protected position."

This is an important figure who needs "protection."

Gu Shen didn't say anything and silently accepted this arrangement.

For him... this is the first time to go to the [Old World]. There is no need to be careless. Following this experienced team can be considered a successful mission if he can return smoothly.

As for the clues of the "cane shavings," anything can happen in the [Old World].

Hopefully, they can be found.

But if they search the entire maze and gain nothing, then it can only be said to be the arrangement of fate.

Above the giant wall.

Stood twelve figures, with giant boats floating in the clouds above their heads.

Further away from the giant boats.

There is a sky-shielding barrier, pieced together from tens of millions of transparent floating plates. This is the direct barrier between the Guburg Fortress's giant wall and the [Old World].

This is an epic and magnificent source energy defense shield.

Humans have never given up exploring the world outside the giant wall.

Moreover, with the development of technology, the Northern Continent is trying to push forward little by little outside the fortress. In a world where order has collapsed, being able to extend outward... is like a big tree, spreading its branches underground. The more it extends, the greater the hope of survival.

This huge protective shield, like a large umbrella, covers the top of the fortress.

Therefore, it is called the "Umbrella Defense Line."

The furnace deep underground in Central City continuously burns "energy" to support this huge defense line.

Yuan Yuan narrowed his eyes.

He said softly, "The Second Brigade, Special Operations Team, of the Investigation Corps, all members are in position. Please open the 'Source Energy Shield'."

"Received."

Zou Hai's calm voice came from the Guburg Fortress channel.

"Buzz buzz buzz--"

The floating source energy plates in the distant sky began to roar. Flying snow flowed backward, and a huge suction force was born outside the giant wall. The tidal force of the black hole was enough to make people feel terrified, even though only an extremely narrow gap was opened.

Compared to it, humans are really small creatures.

It is hard to imagine that the defenders of Guburg Fortress can hold this position without retreating half a step for hundreds of years.

At this moment.

There are tens of millions of visible particles above the giant wall, reversing and surging in the boundary where order has collapsed.

Gu Shen took a light breath and looked at the unknown world where the flying snow was flowing backward. He knew that from the moment the "Umbrella Defense Line" was opened from the Guburg Fortress, the Source Armor entered a "consumption state." The mask isolates the turbid atmosphere of the [Old World] and purifies it into breathable clean gas. In addition, this exoskeletal armor can automatically reduce or increase gravity according to the environment, but all effects require "burning source energy." Due to technical limitations, the complete burning time of an energy core is about thirty days.

This operation has sufficient energy.

Enough to support the team's round trip.

Every extraordinary individual of the Investigation Corps standing on the giant wall looked very solemn. Even if they had participated in dozens of exploration missions, every departure from a human base could mean eternal farewell.

Yuan Yuan's voice slowly echoed in the central channel.

"Maze Thirty-Eight... the twentieth exploration mission, officially begins!"

Twelve Source Armors spewed out snow-white streams of air.

In an instant.

They swept out from the giant wall.

In just a few seconds, twelve figures rushed out of the "Umbrella Defense Line." The floating plates of Guburg Fortress began to quickly close, once again blocking the fragmented order of the [Old World] outside.

[Deep Sea] cannot be linked in the [Old World].

Communication between the two sides was interrupted at this moment.

The command room of Guburg Fortress was instantly silent.

Zou Hai was in charge of this operation, but the eyes of all the commanders subconsciously looked at the person next to Vice-Adjutant Zou.

Lin Lin remained silent throughout the entire process, watching the team leave the fortress.

Because of the "Hong Zhong" incident, the Second Team of the Investigation Corps and Guburg had friction. Due to the support of the corps commander, Lin Lin obtained full handling rights for the aftermath of this incident.

He once again rejected the request of the Second Team of the Investigation Corps to retrieve the "hero's" body.

And this decision made both sides very unhappy.

Before the Maze Mission began, Yuan Yuan did not communicate with Guburg in any way.

And at this moment, communication was cut off.

Lin Lin looked at those increasingly blurred figures on the screen, and said softly, in a very low voice, "I wish you a triumphant return."

The "Umbrella Defense Line" closed again.

The drifting snow of Guburg returned to stability, and the world became peaceful and calm again.

Zou Hai rubbed his head.

For some reason...

Perhaps it was because he had seen Gu Shen off... He always felt that the ominous premonition in his heart had returned.

…

…

With a "boom"!

It seemed to be the sound of shattered stone chips hitting the breathing mask.

Those were probably just nail-sized stone chips.

The slight impact, however, produced a violent roar.

And when Gu Shen pressed the button on the side of the mask.

All the noisy sounds from the outside world were shielded. The sound of stone chips hitting the mask was no longer violently ear-piercing, but became very ethereal, like a dream.

Although he was in the midst of turbulence, the surrounding environment... suddenly became quiet.

Fortunately, he could still hear his companions' voices in the central channel.

"All members, report your status."

"Main squad, Li Chen, all normal."

"Main squad, Mo Hongyi, all normal."

"..."

"Sub-squad, Jiang Yu, all normal."

"Sub-squad, Gu Shen, all normal."

Gu Shen was the last to complete the report.

Yuan Yuan's commanding voice sounded in the central channel: "Very good... all members, prepare to descend."

Gu Shen turned back and looked. The honeycomb-like fragments of floating plates, under the blowing of the magnificent drifting snow, gradually became transparent, and eventually only a vague outline remained.

No wonder it's called the "Umbrella Defense Line."

Looking back from the [Old World], it really looks like an umbrella.

A giant umbrella covering the human world.

At this moment, Gu Shen felt a powerful force around him, squeezing the Source Armor... The Investigation Corps' survival manual mentioned that this was the tidal force from the [Old World].

This force can have a terrible corrosive effect on the skin and shells of organic organisms.

The Source Armor can block it to a great extent.

In fact, even without the Source Armor, one can leave the fortress, as long as one's own strength is strong enough... Tier 4 extraordinary individuals can release their domains to resist the "tidal force."

But the tidal force of the [Old World] operates all the time and never stops.

Extraordinary individuals need to consume power to release their domains.

If it is a long journey, maintaining the release of the domain will consume a huge amount of energy.

Except for the God Thrones and their apostles, almost no one can do this... so some special fortress missions must be completed by special beings who possess the "power of the Tinder."

"Countdown... three, two, one, coordinates have been sent, everyone begin to descend!"

Twelve figures streaked through the long sky filled with flying snow and stone chips, like peregrine falcons drawing arcs.

Danger exists everywhere in the [Old World].

After humans arrived in the Five Continents, they explored for six hundred years and only mapped out a very small portion of the area. People believe that in that dark map, there is a "land of hope," so exploration will never stop... But every step forward for the human race means that individuals will sacrifice for it.

Gu Shen landed on a "ruin."

Because the years were too long.

He couldn't tell what material the "stone" under his feet was made of, but when he looked down, he vaguely saw worn and weathered bones in the gaps of the layered ruins... To find this safe "landing point," countless people had given their lives.

And the route that follows.

Every step is taken on the bones of predecessors.

Gu Shen's expression was a little complicated.

A hand gently rested on his shoulder.

He looked up and saw the leader of the sub-squad, Su He.

This taciturn middle-aged man exuded a reliable aura that was reassuring.

"I know what you're thinking... Everyone who sets foot on the soil of the [Old World] probably has the same thoughts."

Su He glanced at the skeleton in the gap and said softly, "Remember, for those who come later, we are also the predecessors who sacrifice blood. These were the words an elder said to me when I first stepped into the [Old World]."

Gu Shen silently remembered these words.

"It's your first time leaving the fortress... no need to worry, just walk forward with peace of mind."

Su He smiled and said, "I'll be at the rear."

…

…

(I had something to do tonight, so the update was a little late. Sorry.)