The copy has 0 error tolerance, and the last words on the ground are all wrong for me.

Chapter 562 Special Energy Field

The Central Research Institute cannot be approached during the day; it can only be entered at night.

Upon hearing this news, Wu Chang's heart stirred. The rules of the Central Research Institute were clearly not known to all players. If he could take advantage of the information gap and stake out the vicinity of the Central Research Institute during the day, he should be able to mark many players.

The Central Research Institute is located near the northern part of the city, and it's not long since dawn, so there's still time to act.

While he manipulated his true self to make arrangements, his main body accepted the task given to him by Mason.

“Mr. Mason, I will do everything in my power to retrieve the experimental data and will never allow it to fall into the hands of the Conservative Party and the military!”

Mason was very satisfied with Wu Chang's statement, as one's stance is extremely important at all times and under all circumstances.

Sean's ability to so quickly distinguish friend from foe, and to realize that the data itself was not the primary concern, but rather preventing the data from falling into the hands of the Conservative Party, demonstrates that the other side is indeed a smart person.

"After we go out, I will show you around the interior of Jacques University and introduce you to the group of Conservative mercenaries."

"They're all here for the money. They'll cooperate with you throughout tonight's operation, but you have to be careful. They're just a bunch of dogs chasing profits. If they can betray the Conservative Party for profit, they'll naturally betray us for even greater profit."

“Unless they show sufficient sincerity, these people can only be used, never trusted.”

Mason's sharp criticism of players made Wu Chang, a fellow player, somewhat unhappy, but he had to admit that players are a group that pursues maximum profit and has no sense of contract or loyalty.

Leaving aside Loki, who is inherently evil, even a positive character among players, a hero recognized by the Abyss game's official team, would kick Mason aside at the right time and join the camp that best suits his interests or style of doing things.

He silently mourned for the players in the Civil Rights Party camp for a second, then continued to try to get information out of Mason.

His actions of leveraging alumni connections and actively taking sides had already earned Mason's initial approval. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he seemed to treat Mason as one of his own, and asked without any guile:

“When the anomaly first broke out and Calais still had a signal to connect with the outside world, I contacted my mentor Brown. He told me to come to Jacques to find Professor Eugene, saying that if I found him I would be safe.”

"Mr. Mason, is Professor Eugene also at Jacques University?"

Sean's mentor, Brown, like most intellectuals, was a staunch civil rights scientist and a friend of Mason.

If Wu Chang himself had asked Professor Eugene for information, Mason would not only have refused to answer, but would have also become suspicious of him. However, by bringing up Brown and stating that their trip to Jacques City was due to Brown's statement, everything suddenly seemed reasonable.

Mason hesitated for a moment, then said:
“Professor Eugene is not here. He has lost contact with us since the outbreak of the anomaly. I’m not sure if he was affected by the anomaly, but I do know that he is still alive and in Jacques City.”

“We have been trying to contact him during this time, hoping that he can continue his previous research and end this farce, but he has not contacted us on his own initiative.”

“Our men found several traces in Jacques that seem to indicate Professor Eugene’s activity. If you can handle this matter well, I will put you in charge of finding Professor Eugene.”

Wu Chang immediately pledged his loyalty, saying:

"I will not let Mr. Mason down!"

While Wu Chang, posing as Sean, was discussing the Lullaby Agreement with Mason, Wu Chang himself was also busy.

Given the tense atmosphere in Jacques, his high-profile fireworks display last night naturally attracted a lot of attention.

Among them were humans and flesh-and-blood monsters.

According to his perception, at least six or seven flesh-and-blood monsters of the Origin level or above were attracted by the fireworks and came to the vicinity of the City Hall. However, the presence of the mystical array prevented them from getting close, so they did not take any further action.

Aside from the flesh-and-blood monsters, the main attraction was the players.

These players didn't recognize the Mystic Knights' emblem, nor could they figure out Wu Chang and the others' backgrounds. Most of them were in a wait-and-see state, like flesh and blood monsters.

Some players mustered up the courage to try and hug his leg, but they were all too ordinary and showed no special qualities, so he kept them outside.

He's here to conquer the dungeon, not to carry a boss for free. If he happens to run into someone, or if the other party is valuable enough, he doesn't mind taking them along, but he doesn't want either. He doesn't need a mere leg accessory.

Fortunately, not all those attracted were passersby. God Tongue, Clay Doll, and White Horse from the Mystic Knights, as well as the Shadow who used the Shadow of Union, all followed the fireworks to the City Hall stronghold.

Whether it was the ranked player with God's Tongue or the slightly weaker White Horse, they all breathed a sigh of relief and felt completely deflated after seeing peace.

They were just ordinary players. Before encountering peace, their pace of clearing dungeons was the same as other players of the same level. However, they were immediately assigned to a Gamma-level, near-out-of-control dungeon as soon as they were promoted to the Realm of Reason. This was a considerable challenge for them both physically and mentally.

Gamma-level dungeons are as difficult as world dungeons. Given their strength, it wouldn't be surprising if they died mysteriously in some corner of Jacques City.

Once inside the instance, they were under constant tension, seething with anger. They dared not vent their anger on Peace, so Shadow naturally became the scapegoat.

Everyone was denouncing his "Shadow of Union," suspecting that there was something wrong with his items. His illegal team-up method had angered the Abyss Game Administrator, which led them to enter the Gamma-level dungeon.

Shadow hadn't encountered this situation either, and he himself suspected it was a problem with the United Shadows. He didn't dare to argue, and could only stand at attention and take the beating, apologizing incessantly.

They weren't talking about anything confidential, so they didn't keep it to themselves. They were arguing noisily, but the three tank crew members standing nearby were dumbfounded.

What do you mean? Judging from what these guys are saying, they really just ascended to the Realm of Reason, and sleepless nights are their initial experience?
Tank and his companions were seasoned veterans. Although their levels weren't high, they had spent over two years in the Realm of Reason. Unable to return to Earth, they could only linger in the taverns of the private space after the dungeon ended, having heard and seen all sorts of outrageous things.

But today's events are so outrageous that they've never heard of them before.

Putting aside how absurd it is that the initial dungeon is ranked at the Gamma level, the strength of this group of people is questionable.

Of the eight players, four possessed the power of the source, while the other four were somewhat lacking, but still very close.

Back when they were still in the Desolate Realm, these newcomers could easily rank in the top fifty of the combat power list, not to mention monsters like He Ping. If it weren't for the faint aura of reason on He Ping's body, he would have suspected that the other party was a max-level player.

Is the current version so advanced that top players are already teaming up? Or has the game's numerical design changed, causing the power scaling to collapse?

The emergence of the Arcane Knights has put the three tanks in a state of crisis due to being outdated. If they don't work harder, these veteran players will be relegated to the bottom of the meta.

Beyond the crisis, Tank also felt that not relying on his status as a veteran Abyss player and lingering around Peace was the best decision he had ever made in his life.

While the Arcane Knights stood aside, Wu Chang looked at the God Tongue and the others, and began to ponder the current situation.

The appearance of Veronica and White Horse shows that the Shadow of Union has indeed taken effect, sending the entire Arcane Knights into a gamma-level dungeon. So, the only ones who haven't returned are Cold Mountain, Maga, Killing Intent Wave, and Booker.

Aside from Booker's somewhat lacking strength, which is a bit worrying, Leng Shan and the others are all Origin-level players. Placed in a Gamma-level dungeon that is on the verge of going out of control, their strength is above average. As long as they don't do anything reckless, they won't be in danger for the time being.

As long as the flag of the Mystic Knights flies atop the City Hall clock tower, they'll find us sooner or later.

Having finished gathering everyone, he began to arrange their actions.

Nowadays, many people are watching them, and if they go out in large numbers, they will inevitably be targeted.

Based on the information he obtained from his main body, he first arranged for his shadow and the clay puppet to act together near the Central Research Institute, to record and check the identities of the players, to keep an eye on the Root-level players, and other members of the Arcane Knights who might appear.

He then used the Heavenly Gang Escape Technique to collect supplies in the surrounding area and select a suitable vehicle.

The others remained at the base, recovering their strength through food and safe sleep.

With the God Tongue as the head chef, everyone's stomachs were completely saved. The God Tongue's primal power allows him to identify and process edible food. The food he processes not only tastes impeccable but also increases satiety, maximizing the use of all resources.

The ample supply of food allowed everyone's spirits to recover quickly, and they soon returned to their best condition.

Time flew by, and it was late at night. According to Mason's intelligence, the energy field surrounding the Central Research Institute would only disappear between midnight and 6 a.m. each day. At 11 p.m., Wu Chang led his men out of the city hall to the Central Research Institute to meet up with Shadow and the others.

As soon as he left the city hall, he felt at least ten pairs of eyes watching them from all around.

Their previous actions were too high-profile, making them the target of attention for many players. They were in the open, while their opponents were in the shadows, wanting to follow them and get some benefits.

Wu Chang did not drive them away, but let them follow behind him. If they wanted to follow him and get some soup, they would have to have enough strength.

As the driver, he took the tour bus he had found in the city during the day and drove everyone to the Central Research Institute.

As night falls, the city of Jacques comes alive, with the streets even more bustling than during the day.

As if summoned by some force, not only the players, but even the flesh-and-blood monsters are approaching the Central Research Institute.

These flesh-and-blood monsters have an extremely strong hunting instinct; anyone who gets close to them will be treated as prey.

Players have only two paths to get through these fleshy monsters and reach the Central Research Institute.

One option is to parachute directly from above; the other is to conceal one's presence and carefully advance while remaining at the edge of the perception range of different flesh-and-blood monsters.

Wu Chang chose the third option: to rush through by speed.

In terms of driving skills, even ace pilots with bio-networks cannot compare to his master-level mechanical proficiency; the bulky bus is incredibly agile in his hands.

Guided by his inspiration, he dodged all the crimson monsters. Even though he couldn't dodge some of them in time, his speed was fast enough that the fleshy monsters only realized what was happening after he had passed by.

He could force his way through the horde of fleshy monsters, but the players following behind them weren't so lucky.

When the flesh-and-blood monsters, who had just realized their prey had escaped and were preparing to hunt down Wu Chang, saw new prey approaching, they would immediately shift their targets and attack them.

Originally, he wanted to hide in the shadows and let Wu Chang clear the way to gain some advantage, but he didn't expect to become a tool to help Wu Chang divert fire.

Throughout the journey, the sounds of battle behind Wu Chang and his group never ceased. Wherever they went, the fighting continued, as if a chaotic circle centered on them was constantly shifting.

When they arrived at the Central Research Institute, they got out of the car and looked back. In the northern part of the city, they could see at least seven or eight different colors of extraordinary energy bursting out, which was quite a lively sight.

Wu Chang shook his head slightly, thinking to himself that the players in the Dao Realm were too careless. Then, following the marks left by the shadow, he saw the shadow and the clay puppet at the edge of the Central Research Institute.

Besides them, a considerable number of players have already gathered here; at a glance, there are no fewer than a hundred people.

If we include them, the players behind them, and the main body that is on its way, the number of players entering the Sleepless Night instance is probably close to three hundred.

Surrounded by people, a four-sided pyramid-shaped white barrier could be seen. The barrier was composed entirely of white light, and this barrier was the special energy field that Mason mentioned.

The energy field appears to be only a thin layer, fragile enough to shatter at the slightest touch, but in reality, it is exceptionally sturdy and cannot be shaken in the slightest no matter how the players attack it.

During the day, Shadow and Clay Doll also tried to pass through the special energy field, but whether they transformed into energy bodies or used the summoning of life to smuggle themselves through, they could not pass through that white barrier.

Wu Chang and the others arrived at exactly 11:30, half an hour before the special energy field surrounding the Central Research Institute disappeared.

The players who arrived early were already exhausted and gave up on crossing the special energy field ahead of time. Although they would give warnings, most of the later arrivals did not believe it and insisted on trying it themselves before they would give up.

Before Wu Chang, two other players had just attempted to force their way into the energy field: a berserker wielding a one-handed battle axe and a Taoist priest skilled in using talismans for attacks; both were at the Origin level.

The berserker swung his axe over thirty times, but couldn't even touch the edge of the energy field. Each time, the axe blade would deviate from the energy field by ten centimeters, striking empty air. As for the Taoist, he cast a lightning-summoning talisman, but not only did it fail to damage the energy field, he was also struck by the lightning that bounced off the energy field, suffering minor injuries.

With the two giving up, it was Wu Chang's turn to step forward.

The onlookers, seeing another newbie defiant and a newbie who hadn't been promoted for long, immediately showed a look of disdain in their eyes.

They didn't believe Wu Chang had a way to pass through the special energy field, but they didn't stop him. Instead, they remained quiet and waited for Wu Chang to make his move.

Anyway, people love a good show, and if they see someone else make the same mistake, then they're even.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wu Chang reached out and touched the energy field. The moment his palm touched the white barrier, he sensed two familiar auras: the mental power of the Mind Traveler and the power of order from Eileen's Sword of Order.

The source of this special barrier is a mixture of two abilities, just one step away from achieving divinity, and it is also blessed by the fortune of the plane. No wonder other players cannot break through it.

He can stop others, but he can't stop him.

In terms of the quality of his abilities, his Mind Traveler ability is more than one level higher than the mental power of a special energy field; mental power cannot stop him.

His title of "Breaker" and his status as the natural enemy of the power of order allow him to break through the framework of order.

As for the final luck, his title "Luck Raider" allows him to convert 10% of the luck he gains in a dungeon into permanent luck upon dungeon completion.

He defeated Emperor Zhaoning and Anrong in the world instance, and then broke through the Heavenly Gate. In the end, he accumulated 600 points of dimensional luck, of which 60 points were converted into permanent luck. Combined with the previous 30 points, his permanent luck reached 90 points.

With 90 points of luck, he is far from being a chosen one of the world, but he is much stronger than ordinary prodigies. At the very least, he is a powerful figure who can drive regional change.

In terms of sheer luck, those who condense a special energy field are slightly inferior to him.

If we compare the will of the plane to a teacher, and all living beings to students.

If a student with a score of 0 tries to disrupt the learning of a student with a score of 80, the teacher will definitely not stand idly by. But if a student with a score of 90 disturbs the other student, the teacher will consider it a normal discussion about learning.

He sensed the depth of the special energy field with just a touch, and turned back to notify Jianxing and the others to come quickly.

The onlookers were waiting to see Wu Chang make a fool of himself, but they found that this newcomer from the Realm of Reason was exceptionally cunning. When he saw the two people in front of him suffer a setback, he chickened out and pretended to be an expert by touching the energy field before running away.

This greatly disappointed everyone, and some even called out to Wu Chang, urging him to try punching the energy field, just in case he could break through it.

Seeing that Wu Chang ignored them, the group felt bored and began to discuss whether the next hothead would be a physics major or an energy major, and whether he would get injured when trying to break through the energy field.

But they had barely exchanged a few words when the newcomer who had run away earlier returned, bringing with him a group of newcomers just like him, which piqued everyone's interest once again.

What does this mean? Does this guy think it's not enough to embarrass himself alone, so he wants to call his teammates along?
The crowd lowered their voices again, watching the newlyweds' movements.

The newcomer, just like before, reached out to touch the special energy field. But this time, unlike before, the moment his hand touched the energy field, a door-shaped passage opened up for him.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape.

No, buddy, are you serious?

Wu Chang snapped his fingers, first teleporting the Arcane Knights and the Tank Trio to the other side, and then he stepped into the passage, entering the other side of the special energy field. He didn't forget to touch the energy field again to close the passage he had opened.

After doing all this, he led the members of the Mystic Knights toward the Central Research Institute.

The players watching from outside the energy field fell silent. Only one thought remained in their minds: the newcomer was quite polite, knowing to close the door behind him.

After a brief silence, the players rushed to the special energy field like madmen, touching and manipulating it like perverts, trying to find a way through.

(End of this chapter)