Chapter 100: The Ruins

Zuo Zhicheng wanted to put those strange questions aside. “If this really was an American launch silo, then something should have been left behind.”

Thinking this, Zuo Zhicheng checked the entire launch silo again. All the electronic equipment had long since failed. The so-called launch silo couldn’t be opened either. Besides, even if it were opened, they were still underground and would just be buried under endless rocks and soil.

“It’s a cold launch silo, with five layers of walls…” Zuo Zhicheng walked while scanning the surrounding structure with his Night Vision Eyes. “Silo shaft, equipment room, safe room, control room…”

Zuo Zhicheng suddenly stopped. “It should be right here.” He was clearly very familiar with the architectural structure of this kind of launch silo. He pried open a hidden panel and directly took out the small box inside.

The electronic lock on it was broken. Zuo Zhicheng directly opened the box. But when he saw what was inside, he sighed with disappointment. Apart from a tactical knife that was still usable, all the other firearms were no longer functional.

“At least this proves this launch silo has been abandoned for a very, very long time…” Zuo Zhicheng thought about it and eventually only took the dagger in his hand. Then he put the entire box back, and closed the panel again.

Next, he searched one more time. After confirming that nothing was left behind in the entire launch silo, he returned to the Underground Palace.

As soon as Zuo Zhicheng appeared again, everyone else gathered around him.

“How was it?”

“Is there a way out?”

“No.” Zuo Zhicheng shook his head. “Inside… it’s a strange place.” Zuo Zhicheng’s eyes seemed a bit puzzled, but Qingyue Qiu beside him became excited and asked, “What kind of place is it?”

Zuo Zhicheng gave a general description of the launch silo’s structure. He saw Qingyue Qiu’s face, which had always remained cold, actually showed a rare hint of a blush. She was clearly very interested in this matter.

“I want to go in and see.” Saying this, she didn’t care about the others’ reactions and hurried in first. Tang Yuan, Tang Xianghui, and the others could only follow Qingyue Qiu inside.

However, when she saw that everything in the entire launch silo had been cleared out and nothing was left behind, Qingyue Qiu showed a disappointed expression.

Liu Changding, however, looked excitedly at the surrounding floors, walls, steel doors, and various facilities he couldn’t understand at all.

“Incredible, truly incredible.” Liu Changding touched the ground and said, “How did they do it? How could a civilization from thousands of years ago achieve this kind of technology? This will be a world-famous discovery!”

Qingyue Qiu didn’t say anything, but Zuo Zhicheng could clearly sense the disapproval in her eyes. He asked her, “Is this the place you were looking for?”

Qingyue Qiu nodded. “At this point, since this Super Ancient Ruins truly exists, we don’t need to hide it from you anymore. Similar Super Ancient Ruins exist all over the world. They hide technologies that surpass their time. Every discovery often means a step forward in human technology.”

“It’s a pity the things here seem to have been taken away by those Amariken people.” Qingyue Qiu sighed. “But just these remaining building materials, and various structures with unknown purposes, are enough for us to study.”

“Super Ancient Ruins?” Liu Changding said in surprise. “What is that? Why have I never seen it in any records?”

“Because they don’t exist in the records of any dynasty. Only Taoist Priests and a very few top researchers and rulers truly understand their significance.”

“However, precisely because of this, many ancient kingdoms, peoples, and powerful individuals have discovered them. By our current dynasty, finding an unopened Super Ancient Ruins is very difficult.”

As everyone knew, the ancient years belonged to the Age of Gods and Demons. All sorts of unimaginable things happened every day. The appearance of such an epoch-making building was common knowledge for Qingyue Qiu, who herself practiced Dao Arts. For Tang Xianghui and the others who were seeing and hearing about it for the first time, it was unbelievable.

But for Zuo Zhicheng, after hearing Qingyue Qiu’s explanation, his frown deepened.

“How can you be sure this is a Super Ancient Ruins, that this kind of thing was left over from ancient times? And what do you plan to do with this place?” he asked Qingyue Qiu.

“I don’t know what era these ruins are from either. But they have indeed existed for so long that no dynasty has any record of building them. Perhaps they are relics left by the gods and demons of ancient times.” Qingyue Qiu said coldly. “As for how to use it, naturally we will use it ourselves. The building materials here are very useful to me. But according to our agreement, the things meant for you have probably all been taken away. So, how about this: I’ll give you an extra half share of the Spiritual Energy Food outside.”

‘She doesn’t know? She doesn’t know what the other ruins are like? Are they NASA too? Or…’

Thinking this, Zuo Zhicheng smiled. Qingyue Qiu naturally didn’t know he had hidden a case of damaged firearms. But with the technology of this era, repairing such things would probably be very difficult. And if there were ruins elsewhere, these few guns wouldn’t amount to much. Perhaps the Great Qi Dynasty’s muskets and cannons were developed with reference to guns from the ruins.

“Better think about how to get out.”

Hearing Zuo Zhicheng’s words, everyone fell silent. However, Qingyue Qiu and the others were, after all, warriors who had faced life and death. The silence was only temporary, and they soon started thinking of solutions.

“Outside, the main problem is those monsters guarding the way. I think we should just burn them all to death.”

Tang Yuan was cut off halfway by Qingyue Qiu. “No. These ruins are too important, and there’s also the Spiritual Energy Food. We absolutely cannot just burn it.”

Tang Xianghui asked, “Miss, how many more Shadow Guards can you create? Why don’t we use the Shadow Guards to protect us, wrapping us all the way out?”

Qingyue Qiu knew that at this critical moment of life and death, it wasn’t the time to hide one’s strength. So she explained her Dao Arts.

It was only then that Zuo Zhicheng learned that the Life Grove Qingyue Qiu possessed was called White Haze. Zuo Zhicheng, having translated the Daoist Canon, had coincidentally read about this Life Grove. It was a Life Grove that could absorb Spiritual Power every moment while breathing. Its location was in the human lungs.

Although it was called Spiritual Power, Zuo Zhicheng guessed it was probably something that converted air into something like hydroxide ions, which could combine with other substances to produce a strong alkali.

According to Qingyue Qiu, she had already reached the Leakless level. The White Haze Life Grove had already covered her entire body. But even with the power stored in this state, it was only enough to create twelve Shadow Guards.

Zuo Zhicheng glanced at her in surprise. He hadn’t expected Qingyue Qiu to be so deep and unassuming. Twelve Shadow Guards, even if they became too numerous to command effectively, would still pose a great threat to him if used in some narrow terrain.

But relying solely on 12 Shadow Guards was indeed not enough for their group to get out. Besides, there was the river outside; the Shadow Guards alone wouldn’t be enough for that.

Over the next half hour, the group thought of several more methods, but none were truly good ideas.

It was at this point that Zuo Zhicheng slowly said, “I do have an idea. It depends on whether you are willing or not.”