Chapter 2 The Second Bronze Door

Aver pushed open the second bronze door.

The snowfield faded, the scene simulation dissipated, revealing the true interior of the great ship.

"Here is the gravity training room, here is the starship deck, here is the meditation room."

Wherever Aver went, the ice and snow melted. This internal space, blocked by air walls, was the true face of the Initial.

However, Gu Shen preferred to call it the Ice Sea Ruins.

Along the way, he saw the traces left by this "ancient civilization" six hundred years ago... Although the exact age was unknown, it was certain that the Initial had been dormant under the Ice Sea for longer than the history of the Five Continents.

There were many life pods storing the bamboo-armored robots.

There were countless spare robots here.

Gu Shen watched nervously. If so many robots were to be revived, it would be a terrifying disaster.

"Don't be nervous."

Aver seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. It controlled the entire Initial, monitoring every corner of it at all times. Even the slightest change in Gu Shen's expression did not escape its notice.

"Not all of these robots are 'combat types.' Besides, with your ability, it's not impossible to kill them all... is it?"

Aver looked back meaningfully.

Gu Shen fell into a brief silence. In fact, he didn't know why Aver would give him such a high evaluation.

After the Ice Sea's revival.

His strength had indeed greatly increased.

With the blessing of two Great Accomplishment Domains, he had already joined the ranks of titled powerhouses.

But frankly speaking, if all the robots in this [Ice Sea Ruins] were to awaken, it would be really difficult for him to kill them all...

Perhaps these robots had a fatal weakness.

In Aver's simulation, would he discover the weakness in this kind of combat situation?

Gu Shen didn't think too deeply.

He asked, "So, for so many years, you've been the only one on the Initial?"

Aver calmly said, "I'm glad you're willing to see me as a 'person,' but from any perspective... I can't be considered human. I'm just a wisp of spirit, or rather, just a piece of code."

Gu Shen had already realized this.

Aver's existence... was somewhat similar to Chu Ling's.

This was just a fragment of thought sealed in the depths of the Ice Sea, with a clear enough self-awareness to communicate with humans without any obstacles.

But it had no life.

Gu Shen asked again, "What I mean is, in these years... has there been anyone else on the Initial?"

"..."

Faced with this question, Alfred chose silence.

"What about the Initial's master?"

"Where are the people who built this starship, and the other living beings?"

"Why do you know the customs of 'Nagano'?"

No matter how Gu Shen asked, Aver didn't answer anymore.

It just walked slowly at the front.

Finally, it led Gu Shen and Gu Xiaoman to a magnificent bronze hall.

"This is the end of the starship. For six hundred years, you are the only 'outsiders' to have come here. If you want to know the answers to the questions you just asked, then push open the door."

"The answers are all behind the door."

The bamboo-armored man bowed.

After saying this, the red light in his eyes dissipated, and the robot's posture suddenly changed from gentle to stiff, as if its soul had been instantly extracted and removed.

Gu Shen knew that Aver had withdrawn its spirit.

He held his breath and placed his hand on the giant door of the bronze hall.

"Rumble..."

Accompanied by a low rumble of thunder, the giant door of the bronze hall slowly opened.

...

...

"Lord Osmond, we are about to reach the [Ice Sea Ruins]. The Guang Ming Bi Lei and the Source Tower fleets still refuse to communicate."

"Refuse to communicate? Then don't communicate! What's the point of talking to those bastards!"

The Central City source energy艇 fleet was flying over the Ice Sea.

Osmond, the Eye of the Third Legion, was in the control room of the Central City warship fleet. He sat astride in front of the central screen, his mental power spread out. The commanders of all thirty-five source energy艇 fleets had established a stable connection with the main ship. This was an unprecedented grand expedition in human history.

The Five Continents! A total of seventy-one source energy艇, sailing from the northwest border and the Upper City port, crossed the Inner Sea, passed over the Holy City, and arrived over the Ice Sea!

Grand and majestic.

But it is worth mentioning that...

After the end of the World Conference, the Storm Church's source energy艇 quota did not expand at all. This seemingly pessimistic conference result did not have a significant impact on the Holy City.

Because they ultimately only dispatched one source energy艇, which was still a product of the old Red War era.

The commander of this source energy艇 was just an unremarkable archbishop from the Holy City's seats, named Anila.

The Storm Church's move, although unexpected, was not entirely unreasonable.

In such a large-scale southern "plundering" operation.

Sending ten source energy艇 and one source energy艇 was actually no different.

The Guang Ming Bi Lei and the Source Tower had already formed an alliance, and Central City and Nagano had also completed their merger... They were the plunderers.

And the Storm Church, the weakest party, could only be plundered.

At most, they could only eat the benefits brought by seizing the opportunity.

The seventy-one source energy艇 had clear camp divisions. The situation between the two major alliances was becoming increasingly tense. This exploration of the [Ice Sea Ruins] was even more fraught with tension. The peace at the World Conference was only false... After leaving the jurisdiction of the Five Continents' laws, the two sides completely cut off contact.

Approaching the [Ice Sea Ruins] area, the source energy艇 fleet stopped advancing and hovered outside the mist.

Now what they had to do was wait for the vanguard team in the Ice Sea to return from the ruins.

According to the original plan, the vanguard team would land, complete the exploration of the initial area according to the rules, and then withdraw from the Ice Sea. The final "exploration mission" would be taken over by the Five Continents fleet. This was an unprecedented southern exploration. If there were indeed sufficient resources and traces of ancient civilizations, then everyone would go crazy for it.

"Lord Osmond, is that the [Ice Sea Ruins]?"

Beside Osmond, there was a lazy, suspended figure.

The former captain of the Investigation Corps' First Team.

Lu Zhe.

After being promoted to Titled, Lu Zhe no longer served as the captain of the First Team.

He was now the vice-commander of the Investigation Corps.

Before Lu Zhe's promotion, there had never been a "vice-commander" position.

According to Lady Ziyu, the Investigation Corps didn't need a vice-commander.

But now... it was clear that Lady Ziyu was preparing to cultivate Lu Zhe as her successor.

Osmond squinted his eye, looked at the island that appeared in the mist, and smiled softly: "Yes... this is the Ice Sea Ruins that scared the 'Storm Godseat' into a peeing mess."

From this perspective.

The Ice Sea Ruins looked like the broad spine of a whale.

Lu Zhe smiled cooperatively and said, "Don't you think that the part of the [Ice Sea Ruins] that is exposed above the sea looks like a large ship?"

"Oh?"

Osmond became interested. He raised his eyebrows and said: "Many people think it looks like one... Maybe this is a large ship left behind by an ancient civilization."

But this didn't make sense.

Six hundred years ago.

Humans were fleeing from north to south.

Even if there was an ancient civilization... appearing in this extreme south, it could only be a branch different from human civilization.

"Now we just have to wait for the 'vanguard team' to come out of the ruins."

Osmond said in a deep voice. He seemed calm, but in fact he was a little nervous.

This was the first time they had engaged in such a large-scale contest with the Source Tower and Guang Ming Bi Lei after the merger!

If they wanted to explore the [Ice Sea Ruins], then the information brought back by the vanguard team would be crucial—

It could be said that whoever's vanguard team came out first would have the advantage!

The seventy-one source energy艇 hovered quietly in the Ice Sea. Each force was waiting for its vanguard team to return...

But compared to the anxious waiting of the two major alliances.

The atmosphere inside the Storm Church's old source energy艇 was very calm.

From top to bottom, every church believer was sitting quietly in their seat, appearing exceptionally calm.

The source energy艇 was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

A woman in a deep blue robe stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the pale mist of the Ice Sea, her eyes deep.

Behind her, a believer reported in a low voice: "Lord Anila, there are seventy-one source energy艇 in total... The number is correct, consistent with the results of the meeting. Currently, both major alliances are waiting for the vanguard team. No team has withdrawn from the [Ruins] yet."

Anila hummed softly.

She looked at the Ice Sea, not in a hurry at all, and just asked calmly: "Has the Great Deer Sage not appeared yet?"

"No..."

The believer said in a low voice: "We have not detected any fluctuations in the [Tide] authority either... The Sage must still be in the ruins."

"Our vanguard team may not be the first to appear."

Anila sighed regretfully, her voice indifferent: "Are those things that the Godseat told us to prepare ready?"

She turned to look at the ship.

"Swish—"

The believers moved in unison, each of them taking out a small conch shell from their sleeves.

As the conch shells were taken out, the space inside the old source energy艇 showed faint signs of distortion!

These were clearly authority items containing "divine power"!

Every Godseat could refine their own "seed power" into authority. The Godseat was not worried about the damage of the authority items. Due to the conservation of source matter, these authority powers would eventually dissipate and return to the void, and then be absorbed by the seed.

But the power of authority was limited. Giving out some would reduce it...

It was impossible to mass-produce "authority items."

So these conch shells were not real authority items, they could only be considered fakes, similar to the tridents and silver foil that Storm Church believers carried on their bodies.

The Storm Godseat injected divine power into these conch shells, one-time divine power.

Compared with the real authority items, the power of these conch shells was pitifully small. Even when combined, they would not have too much destructive power.

But...

In the [Ice Sea Ruins], the power of these authority fakes would be extraordinary.

This [Ruins] had a natural resistance to authority.

The information given by the Storm Godseat was that if "seed power" was sensed in the periphery, it was likely to trigger a time fluctuation barrier... but in fact, he also hid a very important piece of information, that was if divine power was used to attack the [Ice Sea Ruins], even if it was just a slight test, it would provoke a very fierce counterattack!

This was also the reason why he had stayed in the [Ice Sea Ruins] for a full seven days.

Inside the source energy艇 of the Southern Continent, with the removal of the authority fakes, nearly a hundred believers were exuding a murderous aura.

They were the most loyal believers of the Storm.

They were also the most fearless life-givers on the sea.

To die in this sea was their highest glory... so as long as Bishop Anila gave an order, they were willing to immediately dedicate everything they had!

The intention of the Southern Continent from the beginning was not to explore the [Ruins].

It was to trap and kill the fleet coalition.

Whether it was the Source Tower Guang Ming Bi Lei, or Central City Nagano... as long as they went south with them, they would all be buried in the Ice Sea!

"Let's wait a little longer."

Anila looked at the Ice Sea and said expressionlessly.

This time, the Holy City wanted to create an unprecedented and absolutely shocking riot.

From beginning to end, in the plan, the Great Deer Sage was used as bait to lure the fish.

From the moment he set off from Yuan Ting Island.

The Great Deer knew his mission, to deceive the Five Continents vanguard team and the ship fleet to the Ice Sea Ruins... He arrived first, and left first, and then launched the [Tide] authority, leading the ship fleets of the major forces away from deep-sea monitoring, causing them to be completely annihilated.

The Ice Sea Ruins, from beginning to end, was a blood-stained feast.

It was just that the attendees did not know it yet.

Anila murmured softly.

"If the first team to sail out of the [Ice Sea Ruins] is not from the Church, we will start acting immediately."

...

...

(ps: Today I got three stars in Glory! I must update! Asking for monthly tickets! Asking for monthly tickets! If I can take the daily chart today! There will be another update tomorrow!)