Embers Ad Infinitum

The afternoon sun shines on the ruins of the city full of fresh green, and the surroundings are so quiet that even the faint sound of wind is so obvious.

Countless collapsed buildings are like rough tombs, one after another, one after another.

This is the most severely damaged old world relic that Jiang Baimian has ever seen.

Of course, she has not been to those cities that were directly covered by large-yield missiles when the old world was destroyed, and few people in the dust are willing to go to such places. On the one hand, the radiation pollution in the corresponding areas is extremely serious, and until today, there is no such thing. Complete decay, on the other hand, means the damage is so exaggerated that it is difficult to gain anything.

Jiang Baimian, who was standing next to the jeep, withdrew his gaze and said to Long Yuehong and others:

“There’s nothing to dig here, just go to the Second Food Company.

"Don't be careless on the road and be well prepared. Don't think that you won't be attacked just because there are no people here and there are not even a few ordinary wild animals.

"Intelligence shows that very powerful 'high-level Heartless' occasionally appear in this area."

Many ruin hunters suspect that during the "sweeps" carried out by multiple human forces against the ruins of Tieshan City, the "careless ones" were not completely eliminated, and some of them retreated to the nearby mountains. Among them, the "higher careless ones" In the past ten or twenty years, some have evolved to compete with those who have awakened at the "spiritual corridor" level.

Jiang Baimian was quite skeptical about this, because the "unintentional ones" lacked intelligence and were unlikely to be able to get through the fearful islands in the "Sea of ​​Origins".

Except for a few places such as the ruins of Tieshan City, humans have never encountered "advanced mindless people" who can compete with those awakened at the "soul corridor" level.

Therefore, Jiang Baimian believed that either the groups of ruin hunters who met the "higher careless ones" in the ruins of Tieshan City were not strong enough or knowledgeable enough, and blindly led them to the "soul corridor" based on the special abilities displayed by the other party. Depending on the level, it may be that what is powerful is not the "Higher Heartless Ones" themselves, but the specialness of similar places, such as the Buddhist Holy Land here.

Thinking of the "career woman" Liu Lu that Shang Jianyao met in the psychological shadow of room "522", Jiang Baimian was more inclined to the latter possibility.

——"Professional woman" Liu Lu was active in the "Tieshan City Second Food Company" in the chaotic era. After Shang Jianyao used the ruins of the steel plant medical records to cause a mutation, she revealed that she had suffered from "unintentional disease" for a long time. Her original appearance, and the ability she had shown before, could indeed compete with the awakened ones at the "soul corridor" level, and was even stronger. Shang Jianyao fainted twice without any resistance and was sent back to the starting point. .

When the team members all nodded to indicate that they remembered, Jiang Baimian added in a deep voice:

"Even if the probability of that kind of 'higher careless person' appearing is very low, it is difficult for us to encounter it, and we have to pay attention to the changes around us.

"The Eighth Research Institute may have organized a new and stronger team of special agents to come over and 'silence' them."

Her silence refers not only to killing herself and others, but also to destroying the "Tieshan City Second Food Company", a Buddhist holy place.

Compared with the rumored special "high-level unintentional ones", the Eighth Research Institute was obviously a more realistic and more likely enemy to encounter. Long Yuehong did not dare to neglect and immediately suggested to put on the equipment now.

Shang Jianyao was very pleased, looked sideways at Gnawa and said:

"Lao Ge, you can try that 'Chameleon' bionic smart armor.

"An intelligent assassin who can blend into the environment at any time and is difficult to detect in advance is so powerful that it sounds like cheating."

Then what should I wear... Long Yuehong wanted to interrupt and ask, but Gnawa's heart was "thumping":

"Sounds pretty good..."

Fortunately, there was no suggestion that the smart robot wear a military exoskeleton device... Jiang Baimian nodded in agreement first, and then joked:

"In our group, smart people also have the right to wear equipment."

Gnawa moved his metal neck up and down, very satisfied with this statement.

Jiang Baimian then said to Long Yuehong:

"You wear that 'Black Marsh Iron Snake' bionic smart armor."

The right palm of this equipment also has special treatment, allowing Long Yuehong's mechanical palm to stretch out.

Jiang Baimian originally planned to use this bionic smart armor herself, relying on its super defense to bully enemies into using "space illusion" and other abilities at close range, but later she discovered that there was a serious problem:

She might be lost...

In comparison, a military exoskeleton device with automatic navigation function is more suitable for her.

Jiang Baimian is quite fortunate now. Before leaving "Pangu Biology", he considered that different scenarios have different usage requirements. Long Yuehong could not be limited to the "Chameleon" bionic smart armor, so he asked the company's people to do more research on the "Black" The "Swamp Iron Snake" armor has also been processed.

After that, Bai Chen put on the "M-45", a newer military exoskeleton device, Jiang Baimian used the "AC-45" model, and Shang Jianyao chose the oldest one, the "AC-42" - —He mainly exerts control from a distance and has little need for melee combat.

The "Old Adjustment Team" did not skimp on power and was ready to go to the "Tieshan City Second Food Company" fully armed. Anyway, it was only a few hours' drive from the "Underground Ark" Tieshan entrance. They were really about to reach the warning line. They can completely withdraw to replenish the battery.

"Open it." Jiang Baimian, who was in the passenger seat, glanced at Shang Jianyao, who was sitting next to him blankly.

Originally it should have been Long Yuehong's turn to drive, but since Shang Jianyao had "come" here and was familiar with the terrain, Jiang Baimian asked him to "go into battle" again after only resting for an hour and a half on the way.

Shang Jianyao responded with a serious look:

“The starting point is wrong.

"When I broke into the psychological shadow, I appeared in the middle of the city."

"I knew it..." Jiang Baimian said in a tone that Shanren had expected.

She held her tactical backpack in front of her and took out the map of Tieshan City that she drew with the help of a large amount of intelligence:

"You first see which section is familiar and then go directly there."

Shang Jianyao immediately said:

"The environment wasn't right either. Most of the buildings hadn't collapsed at that time."

Now he lacks adequate reference.

Before Bai Chen could take the initiative to suggest, "I'll do it," Shang Jianyao already smiled:

"For such a challenging thing, that guy just pushed back and blocked me!"

Okay, there's internal strife again... If it weren't for Lu Chi's price, Jiang Baimian would really like to push this bastard out of the car and do it himself.

The jeep started slowly and drove in the general direction.

Shang Jianyao complained while driving:

“The road here is too difficult to walk, and I don’t know how long it’s been since anyone passed it.

“I really want to interfere with matter, lift the car directly, and drive it five centimeters above the ground, so there is no friction.

"It's a pity, it just can't be done."

The honest one? Jiang Baimian looked back and was amused when he saw Long Yuehong sitting between Bai Chen and Gnawa.

After that, the "Old Tune Team" spent nearly two hours finding their way in this ruined city. This was a very boring job. If it weren't for Shang Jianyao's gags and his own crosstalk, Jiang Baimian and others It won't feel easy.

Finally, they arrived at their destination and saw the seven-story building that was quite ancient but still standing.

On the surface of the building, green has begun to spread, but it has not been completely covered, and yellow remnants are still exposed in some places.

At the entrance of the lobby on the first floor, the signboard "Tieshan City No. 2 Food Company" has long since disappeared. I don't know who chopped it into firewood and burned it.

If Shang Jianyao hadn't assured him that this was the Second Food Company, Long Yuehong would probably have suspected that he had gone to the wrong place.

He looked up and looked outside. He saw the rocks were messy and the weeds were overgrown. He couldn't help but sigh:

"No one has been here for a long time."

Hearing these words, Jiang Baimian's expression suddenly became solemn.

"Don't, don't say it!" Shang Jianyao tried to stop Long Yuehong with a look of "fear" on his face.

Just as Long Yuehong was about to reply to this guy, Jiang Baimian said in a deep voice:

"The Salvation Army group set out two days ago."

"This..." Long Yuehong's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

Based on the distance from Hongshiji to the ruins of Tieshan City, the "Salvation Army" group should have arrived long ago and explored the Second Food Company several times.

Why is this place still so deserted?

Bai Chen said tentatively:

"Are they lost?

"There are no signs here."

This is a very large urban ruin, so it’s normal to not find a destination you haven’t been to for a day or two.

"It's possible." Jiang Baimian nodded and said as he opened the door and got out of the car, "Anyway, be careful."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Shang Jianyao swinging his tactical backpack in front of him and unzipping it.

"What are you going to do?" Jiang Baimian was immediately alert.

Shang Jianyao laughed:

"Take out the little jade Buddha."

"Don't..." Jiang Baimian took a breath.

She calmed down and added:

"We'll do a normal search first, and then we'll see what changes the medical records and the little emerald Buddha can bring."

It’s so exciting from the beginning, who can bear it?

"Okay." Shang Jianyao retracted his hand regretfully.