Chapter 137 The Tumultuous Island

Lu Cheng was indeed a genius.

But he was an unacknowledged genius… Central Continent stole the "Lion's Roar Technology" and then claimed it for their own.

Fortunately, the flag he left behind still stood tall in Dadu.

The Flower Banner.

Central Continent was the center of the five continents, known as the "Continent of Freedom"... it was indeed very free. Adam could actually make such remarks in the laboratory, but the appearance of this phenomenon might be related to the fact that this man was missing a screw in his head.

While fighting the Empress Birdwing Butterfly, Gu Shen's spirit enveloped the entire F Zone.

Including the high points of the outer wall.

So he actually heard Adam and Shen Li's conversation clearly…

"Gu Shen, this guy's brain doesn't work well."

Shen Li also quietly tugged at Gu Shen's sleeve, transmitting her voice, "This guy named Adam is a bit sick in the head."

"Yeah."

Gu Shen nodded, indicating his agreement.

It was just that being sick was still being sick…

Although this guy had also awakened an extraordinary ability, his spiritual aura was weak, probably just at the beginner level.

How could an extraordinary person of this level see through his "true realm"?

Because of the "Grave Spirit," Gu Shen now harbored the idea of interacting with these strange researchers with caution. Could this guy be the second Grave Spirit?

"By the way, the three of you, next… you're planning to enter the 'Sangzhou Grotto' through the F Zone, right?"

Adam stared at the main screen and suddenly spoke.

"…"

Gu Shen and Bai Xiu exchanged a look.

The meaning of their early departure… was precisely this.

A mere extraordinary creature was not enough to trigger a world conference… The real intention of this conference was the four continents' Supreme System's prying into the current progress of the Awakening Act experiment.

Of course, the various continental forces had other plans as well.

What did a butterfly amount to?

"Although the Empress Birdwing Butterfly's mission is over, extraordinary individuals from the four continents will continue to arrive at the Sangzhou Grotto… From the moment the Holy City Research Institute sent out a distress signal, the four continents' rescue mission officially began. You will enter the Sangzhou Grotto under the pretext of completely eliminating the threat."

Adam said slowly, "You are the first, and soon others will come as well."

"What, do you want to stop me?"

Gu Shen did not deny it. He nodded and said calmly, "There are many entrances to the Sangzhou Grotto. Besides your Upper City Research Institute, I have many other options."

"Stop you?"

Adam laughed. "Am I sick?"

Gu Shen looked seriously at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with the words: You really are.

"Alright… please come with me."

Adam led Gu Shen to his exclusive office, which was relatively private.

Gu Shen glanced at the [Sky Eye] in the corner.

He flicked his finger to knock the camera askew, and at the same time, he used the Qingzhong Array Pattern to completely isolate the sound here.

"Even the Storm Church people outside can't stop you, so why should I stop you?" Adam said seriously, "I want to ask you for a favor. If you're going in, take me with you."

Gu Shen pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Adam, smiling slightly, "Weren't you in a hurry to leave earlier?"

"Yes."

Adam said, "The reason I wanted to leave earlier was because I wanted to live… If the base is breached by unknown creatures, I'll probably die a miserable death."

"Oh? Because of the Black Silver Bomb?" Gu Shen asked with a smile.

"Yes."

When Gu Shen said "Black Silver Bomb," Adam's expression did not show the slightest surprise. He clasped his hands together and explained, "The Vermillion Bird Envoy planted a 'Black Silver Bomb' in me. He is a relatively violent person. If there are any accidents in the Sangzhou Grotto experiment, I won't have a good ending."

"Then you shouldn't come with me even more."

Gu Shen said lightly, "You should wait for him in the laboratory, and then offer him the data from these past few years. That way you can live, and you can live very well."

"I can live better by going with you."

Adam said, "I want to continue the experiment, but not in the hands of the Vermillion Bird… The World Conference is over, and all four envoys of the Source Tower will go south. They will be here soon. If I'm not mistaken, what they really care about is not the 'Awakening Experiment,' but the new master of the 'Wine Tinder'."

"The new master of the Wine Tinder?"

Gu Shen, Bai Xiu, and Shen Li all looked serious.

Especially Xiao Xiu.

He had been checking documents and writing in the room. Now, he stopped his actions, turned around, and silently stared at Adam.

"This shouldn't be a secret, right?"

Adam chuckled, "Can't the three of you bigwigs guess that the owner of the Wine Tinder will be chosen from among the envoys… This time, Mr. Tianshui asked the four of them to go south together to see who is more compatible with the tinder. When the young leaders of the four continents step into the Sangzhou Grotto, the 'plunder' of the natives will begin. The envoys' mission will most likely be to take as many resources from the Sangzhou Grotto's mainland as possible."

Because of the Awakening Act experiment.

A large number of extraordinary creatures appeared in the Sangzhou Grotto, and the natives also underwent "extraordinary awakening." Some of them were gifted, while others were mediocre. Southern Continent did not care about these people, but Upper City did. In addition, the concentration of extraordinary source matter also affected the island's vegetation, and there might be "Spirits of Vegetation" and "Extraordinary Sealed Objects."

Everything on this island was a resource!

"Tianshui, the Crown Bearer, created a complete system of divine officials after training the Wine God."

Gu Shen went to Central Continent once.

The system of divine officials was not complicated. It was a division of extraordinary individuals' strengths based on merit points. The more missions, the more difficult the missions, the higher the merit, and the higher the Star Envoy level.

Entering the Source Tower for cultivation was just the first reward.

After that.

Being able to possess rewards bestowed by the Source Tower, being able to settle in Upper City, being able to regularly enter the Source Tower to enjoy resources, and listen to the divine voice… and finally, being able to own a set of residences within the Source Tower.

Divine officials poured in, first stationed on the fringes of Central Continent, maintaining治安 (zhì'ān - public security). Some were not strong enough, and no matter how hard they tried, they could not squeeze into Central Continent. As they got older, they naturally lost their ambition.

Some were talented enough and dazzling enough to quickly reach the top.

The more resources, the more positive feedback, the faster the cultivation speed… became!

The system of divine officials allowed the Source Tower to harvest the "geniuses" it needed to the greatest extent, while also preserving the integrity of the entire Central Continent's extraordinary system, allowing extraordinary individuals at every stage to have room to shine and motivation to cultivate upwards!

"The highest level of the system of divine officials is ten stars. The 'divine officials' who reach ten stars, if they are young enough, will face a very tempting choice…"

"Either serve the divine throne and become an apostle."

"Or give up the 'relic' and become an envoy."

Hearing this, Shen Li frowned: "It doesn't sound like there's much difference?"

"No. The difference is huge."

Adam was very patient. "Envoys are also known as 'divine children' in Upper City. The status they enjoy in the tower is higher than that of apostles. Except for relics, they can have everything… but they may also lose everything."

"Star Envoys who reach the top in the system of divine officials are all qualified to challenge the 'divine children'. Once a 'challenge' is initiated, the 'divine children' must accept the challenge. If they are defeated, the title of 'divine children' will be stripped and transferred to the victor."

Raising Gu.

The Source Tower's so-called "system of divine officials" was a large-scale Gu-raising!

"So, the 'divine children' have a higher status than the 'apostles' because they always represent the highest genius combat power of the Source Tower…"

"Few 'divine children' can sit in this position forever."

"Before being defeated, they can choose to resign from the name of 'divine children', but because they refused the tinder in the first place, the divine throne will not offer an invitation, and they will no longer become apostles."

This was a gamble.

Shen Li frowned and asked, "So, once you choose to be a divine child, there's no turning back?"

"In a sense, that's right."

Adam said, "It's just that the divine children of all generations are young geniuses. If they reach a certain age, the Source Tower will give the divine children another choice… continue to retain the title, or accept the god's re-grace. As far as I know, no divine child will refuse the god's second invitation."

Becoming a divine child and enjoying more resources.

What they were pursuing…

Was their own ultimate power and the one-in-a-million chance of becoming a god for mortals!

The Source Tower had two divine thrones…

They were both willing to see the young people under their command desperately climbing for that one-in-a-million probability.

Why did the Sky Divine Throne take back the Wine Tinder from Qingzhong?

Because there were four divine children.

Even if the Wine God Throne's old disciples did not have suitable candidates… each of these four divine children could take on the position of "new master"!

With this ambition driving them.

The Source Tower would never fall.

…

…

"Alright. Let's circle back."

Gu Shen stretched out two fingers and lightly tapped on the table, "Why do you want to come with us?"

"I said it before, I can live better by going with you."

Adam shrugged and said frankly, "I want to continue my experiment…"

"Don't do a matryoshka doll."

Shen Li leaned over fiercely and said sternly, "Explain clearly, what kind of experiment are you doing!"

"I'm researching 'Source Matter Studies' and the 'Origin of the Old World'," Adam said slowly. "I suspect that the ancient island of Sangzhou Grotto was a volcano 600 years ago. The Awakening Act experiment has stimulated the rapid wandering of 'Source Matter Factors' in the void. The number of black spots along the coast of Southern Continent has rapidly disappeared because of the appearance of a large number of awakeners… all of them gathering the source matter on Sangzhou Grotto. This experiment successfully activated the creatures on the island, and may also activate the entire volcano. Since the subsequent impact is unknown, I hope to be able to enter the volcano to investigate. 【Deep Sea】 did not open permissions before, but after the World Conference, 【Deep Sea】's control over the project was stripped by the Supreme Council. This is my only chance."

Shen Li looked blank after hearing this.

Gu Shen understood.

This guy wanted to find a chance to sneak into the Sangzhou Grotto.

"You have the same chance to do this by following Vermillion Bird."

Gu Shen stood up, preparing to leave, "If you're not willing to tell the truth, I'm afraid I can't take you with me."

"Alright."

Adam confessed, "Researchers shouldn't care about things outside of the experiment, but because this bomb seriously threatens my physical and mental health… I hope to go with you. That way, Vermillion Bird will most likely die in the Sangzhou Grotto, and the bomb on me can be removed."

"???"

Shen Li was even more confused after hearing this.

What this guy said didn't make any sense at all!

But the next moment, Adam gouged out his own eyeball. He stretched out a hand, like taking out a marble… and just gouged it out, placing it on the table. The jade-green, amber-like eye pupil seemed to have its own life, and just stared at the three people outside the table.

"Sealed Object…?"

Bai Xiu narrowed his eyes.

He didn't even realize it was a fake eye!

Adam, who had taken off this eye, looked as usual, one of his eye sockets empty and scary.

Gu Shen sat down again, staring at the eye.

He had always felt puzzled.

With Adam's strength, how could he see his true realm?

It wasn't until Adam said, "If I go with you, Vermillion Bird will most likely die in the Sangzhou Grotto…" that Gu Shen realized that this guy might be carrying some kind of destiny-divining object.

"This eye… where did you get it from?"

Gu Shen stared at Adam.

"Before the Awakening Experiment was fully launched, I went to a 'live volcano' alone and picked up this eye." Adam said calmly, "This eye is an amazing Sealed Object. It will periodically tell me a lot of bizarre news, such as the fact that you don't really want to leave, but if I don't tell you about the existence of the 'eye', you will eventually leave."

Bai Xiu and Shen Li, who were seeing a "destiny object" for the first time, had complicated expressions.

Although there were all kinds of strange things in the world.

But the effect of this eye was a bit too outrageous?

"…"

Gu Shen stared at Adam, looking puzzled.

Every destiny-divining object should have side effects.

So what was the side effect of this eye?

Adam put the fake eye back in, looked at Gu Shen, and then said with a smile, "I know what you want to ask. To use it, you must wear it in the 'correct' position… if you really want to use it, um, I suggest you dig out your own eye."

"The side effects should be more than just these."

Gu Shen frowned and said, "Keep talking."

Adam looked strange, hesitant to speak.

He closed his mouth, but only persisted for less than ten seconds.

"The biggest side effect is that whatever you see, you can't help but say it out loud."

These ten seconds turned Adam's face red, and finally he blurted out what he wanted to say: "Vermillion Bird knows I'm half blind. If he sees 'this eye', whether he can use it or not, he will definitely take it away. And before he takes it away, I will definitely say all those harsh things… obviously I will die a miserable death. So I want to go with you, I have no choice."

"Then have you ever thought that I'm not a good person, and I'll take this thing away too."

Gu Shen said expressionlessly.

"No."

Adam shook his head and said, "Compared to Vermillion Bird, the three of you are definitely good people. I've already said the reason before… if Vermillion Bird was the first to arrive, he wouldn't waste time dealing with the 'Empress Birdwing Butterfly' at all. He would go straight to the inland of Sangzhou Grotto, scavenging for resources and dividing up territory."

"So, being willing to keep order is already the greatest kindness."

Adam looked directly at Gu Shen. He saw the light in this guy's heart, so he dared to get close and say these things.

Finally, he said sincerely, "If you are interested in this eye, I can give it to you after the experiment is over. I don't care whether this half eye can see or not, I just want to complete my experiment."

"… Okay."

Gu Shen stood up, "Deal."

Taking Adam away was not difficult.

The point was that Vermillion Bird had planted a "Black Silver Bomb" on this guy…

After pondering for a moment, Gu Shen winked at Shen Li, who smashed the camera with a punch.

Then Gu Shen grabbed Adam and swaggered out…

"Sorry, I'm borrowing Upper City's 'researcher'."

Gu Shen said calmly, "You can understand this as 'kidnapping'. Where is the F Zone entrance? Help me open it."

The tall and sturdy Adam was dragged on the ground, reaching out his hands to his colleagues in the laboratory, making a gesture that he was being coerced, but his body was trembling and his face was red, obviously being suffocated by the side effects.

But this torture did not last long.

Gu Shen walked very fast, and the F Zone passage opened very quickly.

A familiar figure opened the entrance for him.

"Mr. Gu! I was born in Sangzhou Grotto!"

Vias stood at the entrance, mustering his courage to say, "If you need it, I want to go in with you!!"

"… Bang!"

Gu Shen waved his hand and threw Adam in first.

He looked back at Vias. He remembered that this fourth-order individual had desperately tried to help him in the previous butterfly storm.

Although "overestimating his ability," the starting point was good.

"Come along… remember to keep up."

…

…

(ps: Thank you to Alliance Leader Maple's Reward! This chapter is close to 5k words, I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day~)