After the meeting dispersed, the Female Ci Wang, holding a white scepter, led Gu Ya into the forbidden area behind the tower-like structure.
Gu Ya followed the Female Ci Wang alone.
The two walked in single file, maintaining a safe distance of several meters, unhurriedly along the alleys of the high mountain.
The walls of these mountain alleys were adorned with lifelike murals of past Ci Wangs.
Gu Ya observed that the Ci Wangs of ancient times resembled mutated creatures, with three diamond-shaped eye sockets arranged horizontally on their faces. Their foreheads bore patterns of mechanical structures, and their long, slender arms could coil around their torsos.
As they approached the depths of the alley, the appearance of these Ci Wangs became more human-like. They had even abandoned their third eye, evolving their diamond-shaped eyes into human pupils.
The Female Ci Wang said faintly, "Godly powers, our evolutionary history spanning millions of years is a history written in blood and tears at every stage."
"We love Kungai more than humans do."
Gu Ya replied calmly, "This is your home planet after all; humans are the outsiders."
The Female Ci Wang's expression was serene as she said, "The distant past cannot be changed. As Ci Wang, I constantly wish to lead the Dunsa Xin people to find more suitable land for survival."
"The second generation of Godly powers once said that in the future, a young man would appear and reclaim all that was promised."
"Every one of us Dunsa Xin believed he was here to destroy us."
"But your arrival has shown me another future for the Dunsa Xin."
As she spoke, the two reached a grotto at the deepest part of the alley.
The walls here were exceptionally smooth, etched with numerous mechanical patterns and some incomprehensible text.
"This is the internal structure of the chip that activates the exclusive space, and its driving mechanism."
"There is an ancient Dunsa Xin proverb: The good are rewarded with goodness, the un-good are met with struggle."
"I am revealing Dunsa Xin's most guarded secrets to you, hoping you can understand my intentions. I, and on behalf of all Dunsa Xin people."
Gu Ya nodded, recording everything on the stone wall with the [Stellar Blueprint], and said lightly, "Alright, I understand everything now. I'll just take it back to study at my own pace."
The Female Ci Wang glanced at Gu Ya with some surprise, then immediately understood, a smile appearing on her face. She chuckled softly, "As expected of a Godly power."
Emerging from the grotto, the two walked towards the light at the entrance of the cave.
The light shone upon the Female Ci Wang, and in the sacred radiance emanating from her, Gu Ya saw another meaning: desolation and burden.
The Female Ci Wang asked faintly, "That man named Mu Ye Xing Chen... how... how is he?"
Gu Ya smiled and replied, "A dying man, but I will save him."
The Female Ci Wang nodded faintly, saying nothing further.
Three days later, Gu Ya and his four companions, along with three Dunsa Xin high-ranking diplomats, arrived at the cross-spatial matrix channel through which they had originally traveled.
Gu Ya now understood the reason and principle behind his body's compression.
The underground world was extremely scarce in resources, and their original large physiques could not be sustained.
Thus, the ancient Dunsa Xin people used spatial technology to compress the entire underground world, scattering these resources across the globe to form the current appearance of the underground world.
Those Dunsa Xin travelers, on the other hand, carried multiple missions, venturing to the surface at great risk.
Their first mission was to bring back resources, intelligence, and technology for the underground.
Second, they brought back surface humans and integrated with them to synchronize their genetic lines. After all, the underground humans, through tens of thousands of years of evolution, would have long evolved into a different race without external intervention.
Third, they were to bring back surface viruses, bacteria, and fungi, so that they could adapt to all surface environments.
They tirelessly and diligently carried out these tasks, all for the day they could return to the surface.
Their efforts over tens of thousands of years finally received a response at this moment.
If the high-ranking officials of Xian Xia promised to allow the underground people to settle in Xian Xia, it would be beneficial to both Xian Xia and the Dunsa Xin people.
"Are you ready!" a Dunsa Xin diplomat shouted.
Everyone nodded.
As the diplomat activated the bulky device on his arm,
Gu Ya suddenly felt a powerful tearing force erupt from within him. This sudden dizziness did not last long, and his surroundings visibly began to shrink.
His clothes ripped, mountains diminished, rivers gradually became streams, and streams faded into obscurity.
When everyone regained their senses, they were all naked on the ground, like eight towering mechs.
Gu Ya immediately produced eight sets of close-fitting clothing and frost-resistant suits, distributing them to everyone.
Zhen Li and a female diplomat, with their backs to the others, donned their clothes and frost-resistant suits, their expressions filled with delight.
"The principle of the cross-spatial energy matrix is to use spatial channels to traverse three-dimensional worlds. This was simple for the ancient Dunsa Xin," a male diplomat explained earnestly. "But for us now, understanding its principle is extremely difficult."
Gu Ya nodded. If he could decipher the Dunsa Xin's exclusive space technology, energy channels would not be a problem.
He had already instructed Hei Yang to begin research.
As the ground beneath their feet lit up, white light surged into their minds. The warm air suddenly turned frigid, and a fierce blizzard swept over them like a charging army.
Everyone immediately felt the biting cold, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Gu Ya quickly summoned an ice house to shield everyone from the wind and snow.
Shu Feizhang was the first to rush out of the ice house. He returned shortly, shouting, "The blizzard has buried our mechs! They're frozen in the ice! I don't know if our mechs can still be activated!!"
With so many difficulties overcome, this final step was naturally not a challenge for Gu Ya.
He left everyone in the ice house and went out alone. One minute later, he reappeared at the entrance, shouting into the wind and snow, "I've pulled the mechs out of the ice. They're in good condition and can be activated!"
...
In a warm conference room, Ye Ying was lecturing the members of Aviation Eagle Squad Three on tactics.
"The key to the 'Two-Five' defensive counter-attack tactic is to use the mid-tier combat mechs to open the path, while the high-tier combat mechs at the rear quickly surge past to encircle and annihilate the enemy. This tactic is suitable for multi-person squads to target and eliminate enemy high-tier mechs."
"When encountering an enemy high-tier mech..." Ye Ying called out coldly, "Li Fang, pay attention to the lecture!"
Li Fang was staring intently at the doorway, his mouth stretched wide towards the back of his head!
Tao Na and Qiao Weiwei turned to look at the doorway and instantly their faces lit up with joy.
Liu Feng jumped up from his seat and shouted excitedly, "Ye Ying! Look who's back!"
Ye Ying remained calm and composed. She knew perfectly well it was Gu Ya.
As soon as Gu Ya entered the airspace, he had sent a message reporting his successful return.
However, this was the squad's study time, a matter of military discipline that no one could violate.
"Gu Ya," Ye Ying said calmly, without even looking at him, "there isn't a seat for you here at the moment. Please go to the room opposite and fetch a chair to join the lesson."
Gu Ya could not be bothered by this. Now that he was back, he was the boss of the team.
"I declare class dismissed! Do whatever you want! Everyone stay away!" Gu Ya instructed.
Without even time to turn off the holographic projections, the team members swiftly exited the classroom.
Liu Feng nudged Gu Ya sharply in the ribs with his elbow, then grinned mysteriously and quickly ran off.
Ye Ying, annoyed, tried to call the team members back. Unwittingly, as she turned, she bumped into Gu Ya's embrace.
Gu Ya lifted Ye Ying's long hair, playing with it affectionately. "You've become quite spirited since becoming captain."
Ye Ying pushed Gu Ya's hand away and reprimanded in a low voice, "I have a 72-hour tactical lecture assignment this month."
"Then I'll be your student, and you can lecture only to me."
"You're so annoying," Ye Ying pouted and began packing up the holographic teaching materials.
Gu Ya embraced Ye Ying from behind and whispered, "I'll be very annoying to you tonight."
Ye Ying did not struggle, enjoying Gu Ya's affection. The months of longing had finally brought her beloved back.
"Alright..." Ye Ying pulled Gu Ya's hands away and asked, "How long are you staying this time?"
"I don't have any immediate external missions. I want to resolve domestic matters first," Gu Ya stated calmly. "Put the team's affairs aside for a moment, and come with me to Xian Xia City."
Ye Ying nodded, agreeing to Gu Ya's request, and whispered, "Let's go see Zeng Lang together."
"What's wrong with him?" Gu Ya asked, perplexed.