The author of the book "The Book of the Dead"

Chapter 212 The Taoist priest disappears into the shadows, who will rule the world?
"Join the Imperial Hometown Scientific Expedition Team."

Zhu Hongtao extended an olive branch.

Zhao Hong was so engrossed in the story that he couldn't snap out of it for a long time.

It turns out that Master Zhu was a witness to the incident of receiving funds back then, and even made his fortune because of those funds.

Instead of immediately replying to Zhu Hongtao's invitation, he asked, "Who is the person who is claiming the balance? Could it be a legendary immortal or god?"

"I suspect it is the legendary Lingbao Daoist, an incarnation of the Jade Emperor of Xuantian, but I'm not entirely sure..."

After all, this matter is too fantastical. Not to mention others, even Zhu Hongtao would find it hard to accept without a complete chain of evidence.

“Seven hundred years of archives, we can announce to the public that it was a mistake,” Zhao Hong said. He realized that this was a hot potato that generations of people were unwilling to deal with, so he simply decided not to solve it.

The Efficiency Department is a temporary agency with immense supervisory power. In theory, it has only one superior, and no one else can interfere.

The greater the exposure, the better their personal safety can be guaranteed.

Zhao Hong thought to himself that this matter was still too bizarre.

He knew about martial arts and internal energy; China had its own secret martial arts organization. But matters of gods and magic were far too fantastical.

This also piqued Zhao Hong's curiosity.

"Grandmaster, what is the mission of the Imperial Homeland Expedition Team?"

In the dim light, Zhu Hongtao's eyes gleamed with wisdom.

"To organize the mythological threads, uncover the historical truth, and seek the source of China's prosperity!"

Zhao Hong was deeply moved; wasn't this the ideal he had held when he studied history? So he said, "I'm willing to join the expedition team!!"

History is a summary of the past, a summary of the future path of civilization from the perspective of ordinary people who indirectly experience thousands of years of events.

"If history itself is wrong, then summarizing the lessons learned from those mistakes will lead civilization to its demise," Zhu Hongtao stated, expressing his insight. "Technology has reached its limit, and people generally believe that gods and ghosts are illusory. But what if gods and ghosts are real? Wouldn't we be missing a correct path?"

Zhao Hong fell into deep thought.

Zhu Hongtao smiled without saying a word. He had been paying attention to this person for a long time, and after years of testing him, he had also come to acknowledge his abilities.

"Come with me!"

After winding their way through the maze, the two arrived at a heavily guarded secret room.

Here, Zhao Hong saw the world's most advanced robots, laser detectors, and all sorts of instruments whose names he couldn't recall.

Pupil scan, alloy door opens.

What comes into view is a woman in a white coat, exuding a heroic air.

"This is Zhu Yu, a theoretical physicist, and my granddaughter."

Zhu Hongtao introduced each person to the crowd one by one.

"Smith Lyon, head of the Einstein Light Laboratory, computer expert, artificial intelligence expert."

"Zhu Ming, biologist and PhD in paleontology."

"Xu Gao, materials chemist."

"Liang Jixue is an aerospace expert, physicist, and heir to the Penglai Royal Fashion Group."

"Li Jingtian is a master of internal energy."

"An expert in internal martial arts?" Zhao Hong looked at the handsome white-haired young man that Zhu Hongtao was pointing at, puzzled.

"Including you, the expedition team has a total of eight people."

"Come on, everyone, let's welcome the newcomer!" Zhu Hongtao said to the crowd.

clap clap!

Team members from all over the country applauded.

The welcoming ceremony was simple, after which everyone entered the group meeting.

The amiable Zhu Hongtao seemed like a different person, like a lion surveying its territory.

"Zhao Hong, I will handle your transfer order. You don't need to worry about anything else. Get to work immediately."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

"Job titles should be used instead of job titles."

"Captain, what exactly is my job?" Zhao Hong was completely confused.

“You have a photographic memory and are better at finding details in vast classic texts than we are.”

If history is covered up, then there will inevitably be loopholes.

True history cannot be completely erased; it may be revealed in certain subtle details.

"I see."

The next day, the truth was revealed: it was a misunderstanding, a loophole in the system when it was being upgraded from the old to the new system, and the funds had not been claimed.

The person in charge, Zhao Hong, resigned to take responsibility.

After that, Zhao Hong devoted himself to processing the vast sea of ​​ancient books.

Some rare books cannot be uploaded and can only be discovered little by little through human effort.

In the dead of night, Zhao Hong took a tired bath.

While drying his hair, he slowly walked to the computer and opened the League of Legends client.

"Run Away to the Moon" invites you to team up for duo queue...

As soon as I logged on, a message popped up. The two started a voice chat, and a strong male voice came from the other end, accompanied by the crunching sound of chewing potato chips.

The game entered the ranking interface, and each player selected their own position.

"Hong-ge, I heard you got fired? Now you're stuck at home?"

"There was nothing I could do, it was a mistake at work... But I didn't stay at home, I found a job at the library."

The two chatted casually about everyday things.

Zhao Hong briefly discussed history, which is public history. He was just chatting casually from an enthusiast's perspective. This kind of casual conversation happens countless times every second on the internet and does not fall under the category of classified information.

The person opposite said, "Historical details...why look for this stuff? But there is one detail that might pique your interest."

“The documents of a single civilization may be forged or hidden, but the points where civilizations meet have multiple witnesses, and we can start from this aspect.”

The reminder from netizens made Zhao Hong fall into deep thought.

“That’s a good idea.”

This online friend I've known for five years is no ordinary person. He's a genius, a history enthusiast, and very knowledgeable. He often offers novel perspectives from a layman's point of view, which frequently inspires Zhao Hong.

He had previously suspected the person's identity, and after conducting a private investigation through irregular means, he dispelled his doubts.

This person comes from an ordinary family, suffers from severe depression and uremia, and was a professional gamer and wrote light novels a few years ago.

After Zhao Hong offered to help him find a job and was refused, Zhao Hong, in the name of the foundation, pre-deposited ten years' worth of dialysis fees and actively contacted kidney donors to express his gratitude.

After going back.

Zhao Hong found a new approach.

……

In the Western Regions, three hundred miles outside Suyab.

The SUV, with its heavy engine roar, came to a stop.

A group of travel-worn men and women got off the car.

It was the Imperial Township Scientific Expedition Team and others.

As everyone gazed at the vast desert, they each felt a mix of emotions.

The once-prosperous Silk Road is now just a memory.

The Protectorate of the Western Regions was in charge of this area, and merchants from both the Han and non-Han ethnic groups came and went to exchange ideas.

This is a crossroads of civilizations.

"It should be here. Three hundred li west of the ruins of Suyab from the Tang Dynasty, there is said to be a small settlement," Zhao Hong said to the group.

Everyone took out various instruments and worked for half a day.

"found it!!"

Zhao Hong strode over and dug out layers of ceramics two meters underground.

"It should be the site of a workshop. The ceramics are of poor quality, these are scraps. The cloud and dragon patterns and the sacred fire pattern from the Western Regions, which were popular during the Tang Dynasty, indicate that it is an antique from the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty."

The group categorized the pottery. Antiques had no value to them; what mattered was the information they contained.

"Hey, there are words!!"

Zhao Hong found the half-broken jar, carefully brushed away the dust, pieced it back together, and upon seeing the words on it, he was struck dumb, speechless for a long time.

"what happened?"

Everyone crowded around to take a look.

The jar had five words written on it: Microwave Oven Only.

Zhu Hongtao looked up at the sky and sighed, then said with a wry smile, "A joke from our ancestors has caused us to break our backs."

The vast sky remains unchanged for billions of years.

The sun and moon alternate, shining upon people throughout the ages.

Upon seeing this artifact unearthed, the members of the scientific expedition team felt as if they were witnessing an all-knowing deity playing a wicked joke on them.

"Keep this safe, it's part of the chain of evidence," Zhu Hongtao said to everyone.

We are getting closer and closer to the truth, and one day the truth will come out.

The research team stayed in the vicinity for more than three months.

The discovery of the ancient and mysterious artifacts boosted morale, and the bond between Zhao Hong and his team members quickly strengthened.

Before leaving, everyone had a meal together and got quite drunk.

"Why did everyone come here?" Zhao Hong asked, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness.

Zhu Yu said solemnly, "For the sake of our ancestors' memories."

Liang Jixue, a seemingly carefree young master, put down his wine glass and laughed:

"For the lost glory."

Smith, head down, was working on an unknown mathematical problem on his microcomputer, and said without turning his head, "For the unknown problem."

"Essentially... we all have the same goal."

Everyone carries a heavy mission, coming here for a goal.

"Throughout the millennium, with the changing times, who has risen and fallen?"

(End of this chapter)