Chapter 1 Qimo's Research

Qi Mo was indeed immersed in countless lines of code.

Except he wasn't researching some experiment... but conversing with an existence from another world.

"I've successfully boarded the ship. Can you tell me what the next step in your plan is?"

The host that Qi Mo cherished, even willing to get soaked in the rain to protect, was the one that [Source Code] had successfully infiltrated. At this moment, Chu Ling was using the closed sea link to conduct this secret communication that no one knew about.

"Besides letting the 'Divine Infant' grow, you have another task—"

Chu Ling's reply appeared on the linked screen in code form.

"Research the 'solar flares' on the survivors."

Qi Mo's expression turned solemn.

He only learned about "solar flares" after boarding the ship.

[Source Code] didn't say much, only instructing Qi Mo to remember to explain the task to the Chengxin Society, that there might be refugees arriving from the Lingxi area before the countdown, and that he must bring them back.

Qi Mo asked seriously, "Excuse my boldness, but what are these 'solar flares' you speak of? And why study them?"

"The Guang Ming Bi Lei church in the West Continent is studying the power to achieve 'immortality'," Chu Ling said. "'Solar flares' may be related to this research... I can't disclose more information for the time being."

Qi Mo wanted to say more.

At that moment, the hull of the boat shook.

"Rumbling..."

This was the sound of the source energy boat taking off. The countdown ended, and the source energy boat abandoned its last base and chose to set sail and return.

At the same time, Chen Mei pushed the door open and entered.

"Mr. Qi Mo, we only found two survivors in the Lingxi area, but the good news is, both of them have been brought back. Do you want to start the experiment now?"

"Okay, wait a moment."

Qi Mo got up to leave, and he subconsciously looked at the screen.

The codes were no longer jumping; [Source Code] had disconnected the link.

After Chen Mei left.

Qi Mo quickly lowered his voice and asked, "Miss Chu Ling? Are you still there?"

"Buzz—"

In the quiet lounge, there was a very light tremor. The code on the screen resumed flowing, and that string of code flowed across more than one screen. There were scrolling subtitle prompts and digital photo albums in the source energy boat's lounge. These were new generation instruments linked to the [Deep Sea] network, something Qi Mo had never heard of in his twenty years of living in the Sangzhou Grotto.

When he boarded this source energy boat, he noticed these changes.

Twenty years away from the world.

The outside world has made breakthrough technological advancements.

Even though he had been engaged in research, he needed some time to adapt... and at this moment, all the instruments he could see with scrolling subtitles were flowing with a string of code.

This was Chu Ling's explanation for the sudden disappearance just now.

As well as her response to Qi Mo.

"I am everywhere."

……

……

"Source energy boat number one, successfully ascended."

"Number two... successful."

Fisher stared at the main control screen. So far, this operation had gone smoothly. There were no unexpected accidents of enforcers being left outside the source energy boats. Now, the remaining task was to leave the Sangzhou Grotto.

Thick mountain ash obscured the view.

The icy sea's gale wrapped around it, sweeping in.

He couldn't see anything, only the occasional flashes of thick lightning in the dark sky.

"Trust Bai Xiu."

The control door of the main boat opened automatically. Mu Wanqiu, in a red armor, walked in, removed her helmet visor, and let out a deep breath of frustration: "Follow the lightning. His [Lei Jie Xing Zhe] will guide the direction."

The fish gills on the sides of Fisher's face opened and closed like blades.

He said softly, "How is Bai Xiu planning to board the ship?"

"..."

Mu Wanqiu shook her head in silence, "I don't know, but someone like him always has a way."

Fisher chuckled wryly.

"In that case... I won't be polite with him."

After squinting and pondering for a few seconds, Fisher pushed the joystick to the end. The main boat suddenly accelerated, crashing towards the end of the sea of lightning. The sound of wind breaking collided with the protective shield, bursting out with an ear-splitting roar. Even inside the red and silver wrapped cockpit, the deafening noise could be heard.

As the main boat accelerated, the remaining nine source energy boats immediately followed.

Fisher followed his intuition, looking towards the far end of the sea of lightning, where a humanoid god, composed entirely of lightning, was swiftly moving.

The speed at which lightning appeared in the sea of lightning was getting faster and faster.

This meant that the [Lei Jie Xing Zhe] could keep up with the speed of the source energy boat.

"Very good..."

Fisher didn't hide his disdain: "I don't want to stay in this godforsaken place for even a second longer."

Fish creatures have a natural warning system for the sea.

When he came to this area, he immediately felt a strong discomfort.

"Your mission is completed once you get these people away from the Sangzhou Grotto."

Mu Wanqiu said calmly: "But after the mission is over, don't rush to leave the Southern Continent. Hover in the coastal airspace and wait for me for a while. I need to borrow the miniature艇 carried by the main boat."

"You want to borrow the miniature艇?"

Fisher was stunned, then frowned: "What are you going to do with that thing? You want to come back?"

"... Hmm."

Mu Wanqiu said softly, "There's still someone who hasn't left."

"What a joke."

Fisher said unhappily: "Didn't we agree beforehand that no matter who it is, anyone who doesn't have time to board the ship will be abandoned. Take a look behind you, the Sangzhou Grotto is about to explode!"

Behind the main boat, countless mountain ash billowed.

The dust from the dome erupted.

It was as if a large hand was pushing the fleet forward. When they came, this force was a hindrance.

When leaving, it became an assist.

This was actually a good thing, but at this moment, anyone who looked out the window and saw the scene of the [Tanya] core area would feel a burst of unease... This last push was more like a call from hell.

In a dark and pitch-black area, the core area was burning with erupting flames.

It was as if a black pillar of fire, thousands upon thousands of meters high, pierced through the top and stood in this sea.

That was the spectacle formed by countless mountain ash spirals, and also the best proof of [Tanya's Revival]. So much mountain ash was constantly spewing out, which showed that the inside of the island was about to be hollowed out.

Most importantly...

The Storm Church launched the [Tide] at this moment!

If they didn't escape now, they really wouldn't be able to!

"This person is different."

Mu Wanqiu looked back at the scarlet [Tanya] and said slowly, "Must be saved."

"Who?"

Fisher was busy and overwhelmed, but he couldn't help but sneer and sarcastically said: "I don't believe there is such an important person on this island who hasn't left yet."

"Gu Shen."

After Mu Wanqiu spoke, the main boat's cockpit was silent.

Fisher was instantly silent.

The living fish widened its eyes, looked at the woman in red armor, and said in disbelief: "What did you say, Gu Shen... Gu Shen didn't board the ship?!"

Everyone boarded the ship!

"Yes, he was not in the city when the evacuation mission began." Mu Wanqiu also felt a little absurd, she sighed softly, and said: "Now he should be in the core area of [Tanya], the place you just said 'is about to explode'."

"My god..."

The living fish felt a burst of dizziness. If he wasn't still in charge of commanding the fleet to leave the Sangzhou Grotto, he would want to personally steer the source energy boat back.

"Why didn't you say earlier that such an important person didn't board the ship?!"

Fisher said angrily.

Gu Shen was one of the few friends he truly recognized in his heart, and was also the main reason why he agreed to take on this rescue mission.

Due to the urgency of time, Fisher didn't have time to check the specific situation of the S12 area...

He didn't know at all that Gu Shen was not on the boarding list.

"Does it matter?"

Mu Wanqiu's answer was very calm.

She looked at the somewhat out-of-control living fish, and although there was no expression on her face, she felt a trace of relief in her heart. Being able to have this reaction showed that Fisher had Gu Shen in his heart.

"The mission given by the legion is to let us send these local transcendents away from the Sangzhou Grotto... Ten source energy boats, nearly five thousand people on board."

"If I told you that Gu Shen didn't board the ship, would you let these five thousand people stay and wait?"

Mu Wanqiu's few words made the living fish calm down instantly.

Fisher gritted his teeth.

"..."

The lives of these five thousand people were very important and could not be delayed in the slightest. Many people had worked hard to send these people off the island, even if it was just for those who died in the fight against the beast tide... He had to ensure that this mission was completed.

"So you see, this is basically meaningless information."

Mu Wanqiu returned to the original topic, "My mission is to coordinate you to complete the mission... After the mission is completed, I will drive the miniature艇 back to [Tanya] alone. The mountain ash will cut off communication, and the large force will not be able to accurately meet us when they return."

"This is the best solution."

After Mu Wanqiu finished speaking, the control door behind her opened again.

A figure in white, bathed in lightning and still crackling, walked in.

Fisher looked back at the young man in white with a complicated mood.

[Lei Jie Xing Zhe] completed the final navigation. Currently, the fleet is in the final voyage of leaving the island, and the signal with [Deep Sea] has gradually recovered, which means that the most dangerous period has passed.

I have to admit it.

In this rescue mission, Bai Xiu contributed greatly.

This young S-level from the Northern Continent truly completed the feat of "one person is an army".

The enforcer team of hundreds of people from Chengxin Society was not as lethal as him alone.

This level of combat power was really shocking.

At least in the Northern Continent... it was unique!

Fisher couldn't find anyone comparable among his peers today. Even [Judge] Mu Wanqiu, who was also S-level, couldn't achieve such an amazing performance as Bai Xiu.

"The final voyage shouldn't be dangerous."

Bai Xiu said: "After leaving the mountain ash, the fleet can leave the icy sea area... I don't think the guidance of [Lei Jie Xing Zhe] will be needed next, right?"

"No need, thank you."

Fisher thanked him very sincerely.

But then.

Bai Xiu made a request that he didn't know how to respond to:

"If I remember correctly... the Northern Continent miniature艇 can accommodate up to four people."

The rainwater on Xiao Xiu's body hadn't dried yet, and he didn't plan to dry it. After confirming that the mission was completed, he said, "Miss Mu, if you want to take the miniature艇 back, please take me with you."

"..."

Fisher, who was driving the main boat, was silent again.

"No, I don't understand. What's so good about that place? Why are you rushing back?"

Fisher didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He felt it was ridiculous and absurd.

He tried to straighten his face and warned seriously: "The underground research institute in Central City has done a simulation experiment: If [Tanya] really explodes, the power will be equivalent to several [Child] dropped in Frozen Lake superimposed together... and Tanya mountain ash can destroy the flow of origin, which also means that even if [Lei Jie Xing Zhe] unfolds 'elementalization', it will not be able to offset the damage."

Bai Xiu's expression didn't change much.

The living fish said word by word: "In other words, you will be blasted into powder in an instant."

This was a very serious warning.

But the expressions on Mu Wanqiu and Bai Xiu's faces didn't fluctuate.

It was as if...

This wasn't an explosion.

It was just a game for children.

Bai Xiu spoke first, "I know your kindness, but I want to ask you a question: Without a source energy boat... how would Gu Shen leave the island?"

"He..."

The living fish was speechless at once, and said hoarsely after a few seconds: "It's difficult to leave the island."

The core area was the center of the explosion.

"Then the question is very simple." Bai Xiu said calmly: "Neither the Northern Continent nor the Eastern Continent can accept the ending of Gu Shen 'unable to leave the island'... then someone must pick him up. When returning to the Sangzhou Grotto, how do you find a line of sight in the mountain ash?"

Fisher stopped talking.

Because the answer was obvious.

The most accurate navigation in the Sangzhou Grotto was the [Lei Jie Xing Zhe] who could fly to the top of the sky!

"So, this time returning, I am needed no matter what."

Xiao Xiu lowered his eyes and said: "If it's convenient for you, you can open the miniature艇 permissions now... I can carry out the mission alone. Although I have never driven a source energy boat, this thing shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"???"

Mu Wanqiu widened her beautiful eyes.

This guy didn't even want to take her with him!

But Fisher showed a look worth considering, because Bai Xiu's words just now moved him.

Most importantly...

It would be too late for Mu Wanqiu to turn back after the mission to leave the island was completely completed.

Rescuing Gu Shen should be done as early as possible, preferably now.

"For most people in the Northern Continent, driving a source energy boat is not difficult."

Fisher was still a little hesitant in the end. He asked uncertainly: "But you are from the Eastern Continent, you have never touched a source energy boat... Can you drive it?"

After hearing this, Bai Xiu's originally slightly shrunken eyebrows now relaxed.

"I think there should be no problem. Because something that is not difficult for most people must not be difficult for me..."

Xiao Xiu's tone was very flat.

It was as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

He calmly uttered four words: "I am a genius."

Since the age of four, he has been carrying out missions alone. In fact, this arrangement is the most correct.

Using the word genius to describe Bai Xiu is actually an insult to Bai Xiu.

Because countless geniuses in this world cannot even see his shadow.

He perfectly completed every single mission assigned by Nagano and the Bai family, without a single failure.

Every time, the mission completion rate was 100%.

"Okay... I will open the miniature艇 permissions now."

Fisher finally made up his mind and made a decision!

Out of personal feelings and also out of the righteousness of the two continents, he decided to start the extra rescue mission of "carrying Gu Shen" back without authorization... This kind of mission should have been reported to the superiors, but the [Deep Sea] link has not been fully restored yet.

Time is of the essence.

After seeing the terrifying ability of [Lei Jie Xing Zhe], the living fish decided to believe Bai Xiu once.

He took a deep breath and earnestly instructed: "Bai Xiu, you can set off now. The Northern Continent fleet will wait for you for thirty minutes outside the northern waters of the icy sea... This is the research institute's estimated disintegration time of the 'Sangzhou Grotto'."