Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 147 The Second Interdimensional War Part 1 (Burst Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets at the End of the Month)
In the modern world, the Logistics Coordination Department of Zhurihe.

In the office late at night, the only sound was the rustling of turning pages.

Li Weiguo picked up the cup of strong, bitter tea on the table and took a big gulp, the bitter liquid washing away his tired nerves.

He has been working here for fourteen hours straight today.

He had already finished reviewing a top-secret document on the table, codenamed "Bird-Walking Plan".

After he finished processing it, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

The eagles, with their keen sense of smell, made a mistake.

Like cats drawn to the smell of fish, they've recently focused all their reconnaissance efforts on the decommissioned military equipment they've deliberately released.

To make the play more realistic, they even held a serious rehearsal these past two days, which greatly attracted the attention of the eagles and the neighboring family.

Right now, the Eagles' expert team is probably staring at a pile of scrap metal, racking their brains to analyze what the University of Tokyo wants to do with these retired and outdated troops, and what strategic objectives they want to achieve.

Thinking about this, Li Weiguo found it somewhat amusing.

The real dragons had already quietly bared their fangs deep underground, unseen by them.

He turned his attention to another document, titled "Survey Report on the First Phase of the Zhurihe Underground Water System Project".

That's what they say about the project, but the reality is that it requires building water and oil transport points, allowing other regions to 'grow massive amounts of oil'!
Once this passage is completed, people on the Zhurihe side will no longer have to worry about being spied on from the sky.

They will also have an underground artery that leads directly to the other world, increasing the efficiency of transporting supplies and personnel by dozens of times.

This is a truly grand undertaking.

Li Weiguo picked up the pen and signed his name in a flourish.

He then opened the logistical supply list for the other world.

The great battle on the front lines ended a long time ago, and it's unusually quiet there now.

This worried Li Weiguo, so he has been urging the replenishment of logistical supplies recently.

The research teams and experimental groups in the other world are eagerly awaiting their input.

These scientists called three times a day, urging for experimental samples, and their words became increasingly harsh with each call.

The latest application report is a provocative one, stating in black and white: "If the soldiers on the front lines don't bring back a few live elves, we're going to collectively apply to go to the front lines and do it ourselves!"

Li Weiguo shook his head with a wry smile. "These lunatics."

A new round of ammunition and supplies has been replenished, and new equipment specially modified for the otherworld environment has begun to be deployed in small batches.

The warhead of the long-range rocket is filled with special explosive ammunition designed for the other world.

While the individual soldier exoskeleton remains largely unchanged, stronger isolation and shielding devices have been installed.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

The application for a major battle, jointly signed by several departments, has been submitted three days ago.

Unfortunately, there has been no approval from higher authorities to date.

Just then, the secure phone on the table rang shrilly.

Li Weiguo's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly picked up the microphone.

A steady and powerful voice came from the other end of the phone, without a single wasted word.

"Mission approved, we're ready to proceed!"

Li Weiguo's tense body instantly straightened up, as if injected with an electric current, sweeping away all his fatigue.

"Please rest assured, sir, we will definitely complete the mission!"

The phone call ended, and silence returned to the office.

Li Weiguo put down the microphone, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked at the faint morning light on the distant horizon.

The machines of war will roar once more.

This time, it's time for those natives of that other world to truly experience what "greater and more profound truth" means.
-
Command Center in another world.

Inside the space constructed of concrete, metal, and glass, sophisticated equipment is in operation.

In the vast command center, there was only the low hum of the equipment and the command and dispatch personnel moving around, processing various kinds of information.

Su Mingjin's figure was reflected on the huge electronic sand table.

She had just returned from the office and, after seeing all the commanders' options, gently placed a document in the center of the command table.

"Clap."

A soft sound made both Brigade Commander Fu and Brigade Commander Man catch their breath.

"Operation Authorization Letter"

Su Mingjin's words were concise and to the point, and the two men's gazes were instantly drawn to the bright red seal above the document.

"General Manager Li and the higher-ups have given their approval." Su Mingjin's voice echoed in the quiet command center. "Now that the roads in the far north are clear and the oil exploration team has assembled, they are safe for the time being. Our next target is the forest land in the south."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the two military officers who were already unable to contain themselves.

"The mission requirements are very simple—we need to carry out a large-scale capture and collection of the local protozoa, plants, and usable crops for the research team to study."

Before he finished speaking, Brigade Commander Fu stood up abruptly, his military boots making a heavy thud on the floor. His eyes gleamed, like a tiger that had been starving for three days finally spotting its prey.

"General Su! Our soldiers are already eager to fight, please give the order!"

Although the brigade commander next to him wasn't as exaggerated, he also straightened his back abruptly, his eyes filled with the same burning fighting spirit.

"President Su, we have prepared more than ten contingency plans for this moment!"

Commander Fu rubbed his hands together excitedly, spittle practically flying out of his mouth.

"The newly deployed equipment, along with the specially supplied tranquilizer munitions, have all arrived. The First and Third Assault Brigades will be able to complete the re-equipment of all personnel within three days!"

He held up three fingers, decisive and resolute.

"Just give the order, and in three days! We'll have it in full bloom!"

"Commander Fu, please sit down first."

Su Mingjin raised her hand and pressed down lightly, signaling him to calm down.

"I know everyone's been holding back for a while. You've got the fighting to do."

Her tone was calm and gentle, yet it carried a convincing power.

"This operation is no small matter. If we deploy, the General Staff estimates that the entire forest could become our battlefield. Everyone knows about the last beast tide!"

Remembering the previous beast tide attack, which forced them to deploy weapons of truth, everyone wore expressions of fear.

During the last beast tide, the weapons of truth were released in a concentrated manner due to the enemy's overwhelming concentration, resulting in heavy casualties.

If the enemy launches repeated attacks frequently and continuously, it will severely deplete the soldiers' willpower.

If we get bogged down in a long war of attrition, even an iron man couldn't withstand it.

Seeing the serious expressions on the faces of the commanders, Su Mingjin said, "The capture is only the first step. We also need to guard against a possible counterattack from the beast tide. That will be the real battle."

She pointed to the flashing light strip on the sand table that represented the logistics routes.

"Modern warfare is about steel and logistics. Having enough guns and ammunition is our greatest advantage. We absolutely cannot afford to fall into a strategic passive position!"

Everyone straightened their backs!

"President Su, please rest assured, we are well prepared and will not poke a hornet's nest with a fire poker!"

Due to insufficient logistical supplies, quite a few eventually surrendered.

To say nothing of the distant past, the lesson of Tumu Fortress almost led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty.

A recent example is the classic joke about how catching hundreds of thousands of pigs took many days.

During World War II, the hundreds of thousands of Soviet troops were surrounded and, without logistical support, quickly collapsed.

There are just too many examples like this!
The pioneering team is not afraid of a full-scale attack from the enemy, but they are afraid of continuous and uninterrupted harassment and attacks.

Commander Man was amused by Commander Fu's words, as were the others.

The tense atmosphere in the command center immediately eased.

"What General Su said is true. If the logistics can't keep up, even the most outstanding soldiers will go hungry. We have made all sorts of arrangements!"

Looking at the commanders with high morale, Su Mingjin smiled and said, "Alright, seeing how eager you all are to get started, I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

Su Mingjin opened a new interface on the command table, and several combat plans marked with different code names were projected in front of everyone.

The complex tactical arrows and resource allocation diagrams can be overwhelming for non-professionals.

"Everyone wants these proposals, but the final decision hasn't been made yet. Should we proceed cautiously and steadily, or strike decisively? You're all experts here, so please cast your votes!"
-
The reclamation team's barracks, located two kilometers away.

"The wind is howling! The horses are neighing! The Yellow River is roaring..."

A resounding song pierced through the wind and snow as a fully armed elite company marched in perfect unison back from the distant training ground.

The white breath they exhaled condensed into wisps of mist in the frigid air, only to be quickly dispersed by the wind.

This is the unit that served as the opposing force in the previous exercise; each and every one of them is a top-notch soldier.

They carried out a month-long defense mission in the other world. Apart from frequently encountering ignorant undead creatures and some birds in the early stages, they haven't even met a decent opponent yet.

After returning to camp and resting for ten days, these soldiers were so bored they were practically falling apart.

To maintain their combat effectiveness, the troops train constantly to keep them in top physical condition.

"Beep-beep-"

A sharp whistle shattered the tranquility of the camp.

The soldiers, who had just rushed into the barracks and were about to take off their wet and cold training uniforms, paused for a moment, then immediately rushed out again and quickly lined up in the snow.

The company commander stood at the front of the formation, his breath puffing out thicker than anyone else's. He patted the snowflakes off his hands, his eyes brimming with barely suppressed excitement.

"Comrades, a new mission!"

One sentence made everyone in the queue below perk up.

"Just received orders: target is the forest on the southern border!"

A slight commotion arose in the group, and everyone's eyes began to light up.

"This time, our brigade commander really nailed it, getting us a main attack mission! Go capture some big guys to study! We might be the first to taste this alien-modified land cuisine." The company commander grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Aren't you excited?"

"happy!"

The soldiers responded with heartfelt roars, filled with a long-suppressed excitement and wildness.

"Haha, I'm so happy too! The brigade commander started swearing after he got the mission!"

The company commander smiled.

"However, while everyone is happy, let's be clear from the start: this operation is a matter of honor for our unit."

"This time, we're not doing a drill, nor are we just standing guard. We might be facing a battle where we're surrounded on all sides. A battle that's like stirring up a hornet's nest!"

"Alright, that's enough! The newly issued tranquilizer darts are to be collected from the armory in five minutes, and the crew must be fully equipped within one hour!"

"Meet in the intelligence analysis room in two hours. Everyone, keep your eyes wide open and see what kind of magical creatures we're going to be dealing with this time!"

"Company Commander! Is this the new equipment that General Su and the others mentioned before?" A bold soldier in the ranks couldn't help but shout.

"Nonsense! Otherwise, would we send you to stir up a hornet's nest?" The company commander glared. "This time, the logistics are plentiful, and the ammunition is unlimited! The only problem is that you won't have the strength to fight!"

Upon hearing this, a burst of suppressed laughter and excited chatter erupted from the group.

"Great! My big gun has been itching for a long time!"

"Catching animals? I love it! It's much easier than fighting people!"

"Easy my foot! You forgot what the data said: there are beast tides in the forest. We absolutely cannot let them get close."

With anticipation and a touch of tension, the soldiers quickly dispersed and rushed towards the armory. A massive war machine, starting from its most basic gears, began to roar.
-
At the same time, in the maintenance workshop of the drone unit.

The smells of engine oil and metal mingled together as the unshaven Qin Longlong tightened a special screw, installing a new signal range extender module under the belly of a uniquely shaped drone.

"Qin Longlong!"

"Here!" He straightened his back instinctively and answered.

"Stop fiddling with your precious thing, come to the meeting room, the captain has a mission!" His senior colleague, Lao Liu, passed by and patted him on the shoulder.

Qin Longlong's heart skipped a beat. He put down the wrench in his hand, wiped his hands quickly, and hurried after him.

When he arrived, the conference room was already full of people, mostly technical engineers like him, and a few ace pilots from the drone flight control team.

The commander of the drone unit stood in front of the projection screen, his expression serious.

"Comrades, we train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for one day. Over the past month, everyone has worked overtime to carry out more than thirty technical upgrades and targeted modifications to our existing drones. Thank you for your hard work."

He first acknowledged everyone's contributions, and Qin Longlong and the other engineers all showed a hint of pride on their faces.

"Now, it's time to test the results."

The captain pressed the remote control, and a huge map appeared on the projection screen, with an endless expanse of green covering the entire southern continent.

"Our new mission is the southern forest of the new world, after the drones arrive in the forest. I think I don't need to elaborate on how complex the environment there is."

"Tall, dense tree canopies can severely interfere with signals, and the peculiar magnetic field environment is a graveyard for drones. Not to mention those... native big guys."

Several high-resolution reconnaissance photos flashed across the screen: giant beetles the size of basketballs with bony carapaces, large snakes covered in scales and with wings, and predators whose fur changed color with the changing colors of their fur...

"In this mission, the technical department will serve as an accompanying unit, cooperating with the front-line assault troops." The captain's words made Qin Longlong's heart skip a beat. "You will not only ensure the normal operation of the drones, but also collect data in real time on the battlefield to verify the reliability of our new technology."

As expected, they're going to the front lines of the physical battle!
Although he was mentally prepared, Qin Longlong still felt his mouth go dry when those three words actually hit him.

He's an engineer; his battlefield should be in front of blueprints and workbenches, not amidst gunfire.

However, he is willing to go if the military needs him.

The captain's gaze swept across the entire area, seemingly seeing through the thoughts of these tech geeks.

He suddenly smiled, his tone softening: "What? Scared? Don't forget, the tools in your hands are the eyes and ears of the frontline soldiers. The more information our drones gather, the less blood our brothers will shed."

He paused, then emphasized, "To ensure stability during this operation, everyone must follow along!"

"This operation is codenamed Hunting. We are not only the eyes of the hunter, but when necessary, we are the hunter ourselves. Our newly mounted weapon systems, as well as the ammunition provided from the rear, are the fangs we have prepared for everyone."

Qin Longlong's eyes lit up when he heard about the ammunition support from the rear.

He took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

Since there's no escaping it, let's see just how much trouble the eyes and fangs we've crafted ourselves can stir up in that unfamiliar world!
-
Not far from the aircraft camp is a residential complex specifically designated for "special advisors".

There's no pungent smell of engine oil here; instead, there's a faint scent of sandalwood.

Master Chen was grappling with his high-tech equipment.

"Ouch... slow down, slow down, these old bones of mine!"

With a soft "click," the last latch of the passive exoskeleton locked, firmly securing his fifty-something-year-old body.

Master Chen wore a soft, stab-proof and bulletproof inner lining, covered by the latest all-in-one thermal combat uniform, and topped with a multi-functional helmet that integrated communication, noise reduction, and bulletproof protection.

Master Zhou helped his senior brother fasten the last button, suppressing a laugh as he said, "Senior brother, you'll have to get used to it! This thing looks cool, but wearing it feels like wearing an iron turtle shell; it's quite complicated."

"so rude!"

Despite cursing, Master Chen couldn't help but walk to a makeshift mirror and look at himself from left to right.

The heavy equipment made his movements a little stiff, but he still tried to straighten his back, and a satisfied smile appeared on his old face under the helmet: "Hey, I have to say, he really does look like a celestial being descended to earth!"

Master Zhou smiled and shook his head, then turned to get his own set of equipment, his eyes full of eagerness.

"Junior brother, you don't need to touch yours."

Master Chen's voice suddenly turned serious, losing its previous joking tone.

Master Zhou paused, his hand holding the helmet hanging in mid-air. He turned around, his brows furrowed: "Senior brother, what does this mean? We agreed to go together."

"For the sake of Wudang's legacy."

Master Chen spoke each word with immense weight.

He stepped forward and pressed down on Master Zhou's shoulder.

“You and I both know what kind of place we’re going to this time. In case… I mean in case, we can’t let the incense of Wudang die out in our hands. You have to stay and watch those kids practice their skills to improve our introductory textbooks for Taoism.”

Master Zhou's expression changed instantly. He flung Master Chen's hand away and raised his voice eight octaves: "Senior brother! If anyone should go, it should be me! This iron body weighs almost ninety pounds. Can your old bones handle it? My kung fu is better than yours. If something happens, I can carry you on my back."

"Nonsense!" Master Chen scolded. "Compete in martial arts? Are we going there to compete with those things? We're going to verify whether the techniques passed down from our ancestors are effective over there!"

"Your skills are too shallow. Take a Fiery Talisman for example, how long does it take you to chant the incantation and make the hand seals? How long would it take me?"

"By the time you get the fire going, they'll have already trampled us into mincemeat!"

Master Zhou grew anxious. He immediately assumed a boxing stance and performed a short, powerful set of punches on the spot, creating a whooshing sound: "Senior brother, look! My body can definitely handle this! I can test the talismans too!"

Master Chen looked at him like this, shook his head, and sighed deeply.

He didn't argue anymore, but carefully took out a palm-sized, antique jade box from a hidden pocket closer to his body.

The jade box was opened, revealing a plaque made of a special material. Master Chen's voice was low, carrying an undeniable solemnity.

“Junior brother, your cultivation is still shallow, while I am the senior brother.”

He raised his eyes and stared intently at his junior brother.

"If I go this time, I'll leave Wudang in your care!"

Master Zhou stared at the sect leader token that Senior Brother Chen had given him, his mouth agape, unsure of what to say.

That's not just a token; it's the root of Wudang, the heaviest burden on the shoulders of successive sect leaders.

Senior brother is right. If something happens to him, the Wudang lineage will be in danger. Only someone of his age and seniority can shoulder the responsibility.

Seeing his junior brother's distraught appearance, Master Chen carefully put away the jade box and handed it directly to him.

He patted his combat uniform, making a dull sound, and chuckled, his previous imposing demeanor completely gone.

"Junior brother, don't look like the sky is falling."

Master Chen turned around and pulled out an object with an incongruous style from an inconspicuous equipment box.

It was a ruggedly designed shotgun, its dark muzzle exuding an unreasonable and menacing aura.

"No matter how good your kung fu is, you're still afraid of a kitchen knife." Master Chen slung his gun over his shoulder and winked at his dumbfounded junior brother. "Besides, the ones we're going to deal with this time are all defeated opponents."

Master Zhou opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

He simply couldn't reconcile the old man in front of him, carrying a shotgun and dressed in an industrial combat uniform, with the ethereal and otherworldly Wudang sect leader.

"Senior brother, you...you brought this?"

"Why not bring them?" Master Chen retorted, expertly pulling back the bolt of his gun with a crisp "click." "You think our talismans are omnipotent? Take that Fiery Talisman for example. By the time you finish chanting the incantation and making the hand seals, and throw the talisman, the flames take forever to ignite. In that time, someone could have already stomped eight holes in us!"

He patted the iron thing in his hand: "This thing is good. It's all about equality. It doesn't matter what kind of demons or monsters you are. If one shot doesn't work, just fire another. It's simple and direct!"

Master Zhou was stunned by this twisted logic, but he had to admit in his heart that his senior brother was right.

Their esoteric methods, after testing, showed excessive delays, making them more like laboratory theories and far less reliable than modern weapons.

He sighed deeply, giving up the argument completely, but the worry on his brow remained undiminished.

"Senior brother, I understand. I won't go, but you must bring someone with you, otherwise I won't feel at ease."

Master Chen initially wanted to shake his head, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded and asked, "Who do you think should go?"

Master Zhou immediately said, "Let Wang Ye go with him. That kid is clever and quick-witted."

"No way," Master Chen refused decisively. "Wang Ye is a rough gem. He's quick-witted and can grow with careful nurturing. He shouldn't be allowed to go to a place like that and become ambitious. Sending him there would be a waste of his talents."

He pondered for a moment, then looked at Master Zhou: "Let Chen Chen come with me. That boy is steady, bold yet meticulous, and is best suited for the meticulous work of checking and filling in the gaps. Our main purpose in going there this time is to act as researchers, testing whether the ancestral artifacts are effective over there, and incidentally providing talismans to the soldiers. We don't need to be the ones charging into battle."

Hearing his senior brother say this, Master Zhou finally felt much relieved.

Chen Chen is one of the more outstanding disciples of the next generation of Wudang. He is reliable and trustworthy. With him by my side, at least I can have someone to look after me.

"Alright, then Chen Chen will go with you."

Master Chen smiled with satisfaction. He slung the shotgun over his back, and his outfit suddenly became a mismatched mix, exuding both the majesty of a celestial soldier descending to earth and the fierceness of a bandit entering the mountains.

He straightened his back, which was fixed by the exoskeleton, and patted Master Zhou on the shoulder.

"Alright, stop looking so gloomy. With the elite troops in front of us, we're just technical advisors, we're perfectly safe."

He turned and walked towards the door, paused, and waved without looking back.

"I'm off to get used to the gear!"
-
Deng Dakang's laboratory.

Deng Dakang has compiled all the latest experimental data.

The projector's light shone on Deng Dakang's face, making him look unpredictable.

He was popping a small mint-flavored dessert into his mouth, crunching it down with a satisfying crack. The cool sweetness seemed to calm his highly active brain for a moment.

The final results of the densely packed data on the screen were not good.

In other worlds, the speed of various experiments becomes extremely slow when the technology is advanced.

Until he saw the main force about to move out,

His eyes lit up, and he then accessed the internal communications system and dialed Gong Pengfei.

"Old Gong, come to me."

A few minutes later, Gong Pengfei, dressed in a black special operations uniform, walked in.

His steps were still as light as ever, but his eyes were no longer sharp, and he exuded an aura of a loser.

The base's top interrogation experts were not in good condition due to the female elf's ineffective interrogation work.

"Professor Deng."

Deng Dakang pointed to the newly brought-up combat sand table, where a red dot was flashing amidst a vast expanse of green.

"The main force is about to launch a hunting operation in the forest. You've seen the mission briefing. This is an opportunity for you."

He paused, then looked at Gong Pengfei: "That female elf prisoner hasn't spoken. I estimate that her psychological defenses will be at their weakest when our artillery fire starts and destroys a large amount of forest. You can take that opportunity to talk to her."

A flicker of emotion finally appeared on Gong Pengfei's dejected face.

He did indeed expend a great deal of effort on that elf, using both soft and hard tactics, but the other party was like a stone that could not be warmed.

The timing that Deng Dakang proposed was indeed cunning, and it was also the best point to break the ice.

"Thank you," Gong Pengfei said succinctly.

"Don't thank me yet." Deng Dakang coughed, rubbed his hands, and put on a slightly embarrassed smile. "Um... Expert Gong, I've run out of elven blood here."

Gong Pengfei frowned.

"We're at a critical juncture in some of our biological data analyses, just one final comparison away, and then the samples are gone. You know how that feels, right? It's like having your pants down..."

“Professor Deng, please get to the point,” Gong Pengfei interrupted him.

“I need a new blood sample, at least fifty milliliters.” Deng Dakang’s tone became serious. “Expert Gong, this is crucial to whether we can discover the key blood to understand the elves!”

Gong Pengfei fell silent.

He knew that Deng Dakang was telling the truth, but he also had his own concerns.

“Forcibly drawing blood will completely destroy the fragile trust we’ve painstakingly built with our target, making it difficult to speak to them again.” He shook his head. “I believe that capturing new Pokémon during this extermination operation is the best course of action.”

"Capture them? Easier said than done!" Deng Dakang immediately retorted. "Do you think elves are like rabbits in the forest, easy to catch one brood at a time? They are very good at hiding. By the time the soldiers catch a new one, it will be too late."

He took a step closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of grievance, "Old Gong, can you bear to see us poor research dogs in the biology group staring blankly at empty petri dishes every day?"

Gong Pengfei's lips twitched as he watched the man's dramatic performance.

"Professor Deng, calm down."

Deng Dakang's expression froze for a moment, then returned to its smiling face, as if the performance had never happened.

"Alright, let's get down to business." He tapped the table. "If you help me get the blood sorted out, I'll give you something good."

Gong Pengfei raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

Deng Dakang grinned like an old fox: "I'll apply for more interrogation work with other races in the future. Haven't you been complaining that the elf has too strong a will?"

Gong Pengfei's breath caught in his throat for a second.
-
In a private room at a top-tier club in Shanghai, in the modern world.

Lin Li swirled the whiskey in his glass, the ice ball making a crisp sound as it collided with the glass.

Outside the private room lies the glitz and hustle of the city.

In the air before him, a semi-transparent light screen, visible only to him, was silently displaying the real-time progress of the other world.

On the screen, Deng Dakang was giving a passionate performance to Gong Pengfei, all for the sake of fifty milliliters of elven blood.

Seeing this, Lin Li couldn't help but smile slightly.

Professor Deng is quite something; he's practically shameless when it comes to getting research samples.

He lightly swiped his finger in the air, and the screen switched to a new analysis report.

"I always thought it was a pure world of swords and magic..."

Lin Li muttered to himself, a playful look on his face.

At first, the fanatical believers in the gods, the cold god's servants who manipulated the dead, and the classic species like elves and giants made him subconsciously categorize that world into the old-fashioned Western fantasy framework.

But who could have imagined that after the pioneering team painstakingly dug open that ancient, vitrified ruin, everything would become shrouded in mystery?

The report's analysis of the materials of the metal fragments in the lower layer of the ruins points to a scientific smelting technology similar to that of Earth.

They didn't know why civilization was burned.

A civilization capable of using high-energy weapons to scorch the earth into glass coexists with elves and necromancers in the same world.

This rollercoaster-like discovery left Lin Li feeling somewhat bewildered.

"What are the gods like in another world? How thick are their health bars?"

He raised his wrist, and the tattoo with the infinity symbol "∞" was emitting a barely perceptible glow.

My mind was completely absorbed in it.

"Otherworld Exploration Progress: 18.5%"

"Almost there, just 1.5 percent away." Lin Li tapped the sofa lightly with his fingertips, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Now that we've reached 20 percent, it's time for something new, right?"

He pulled up the latest version of the map compiled by Li Weiguo.

"Speaking of which, what exactly is the algorithm for this exploration level?"

Lin Li rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

It's definitely not just about geographical area.

The pioneering team advanced 300 kilometers north, 160 kilometers south, and 180 kilometers west, centered on the time portal.

The east received the most attention due to the discovery of oil fields and savage tribes, but that was about all the effort was put into it.

This small territory, even when combined, is less than the neighboring Xinjiang province.

Lin Li clearly remembered that the intense heat that hit him when he first arrived was completely different from the extreme north where the pioneering team was now located.

This proves that the world was much larger than Earth.

If we rely solely on area to calculate the degree of exploration, I'm afraid I'll never see 100% in my lifetime.

"Either the oceans in that world far outnumber the land, or..."

Lin Li's gaze deepened.

"The far north itself hides countless secrets. The surge in exploration progress is directly linked to these secrets!"

He recalled the ruins containing shards of glass that the exploration team had just discovered.

Even with only preliminary excavation, the exploration progress has already jumped a little.

What's in that ancient giant battlefield ruin?

What about the captured female elf?

How much exploration is there in the secrets of her mind?

Lin Li's gaze returned to the initial image, settling on Gong Pengfei's face, which was etched with misfortune.

Keep up the good work, interrogation expert!
Lin Li was thinking this when the knocking sounded at the door.

"Hello, sir. You've rested for an hour now. Would you like me to serve you again?"

"Come in!" Lin Li said.

The door was then opened, and two technicians dressed in JK uniforms arrived.

"Huh? Why did you change your clothes?"

"This is what you asked of me, brother!"

"Oh, come on then!"

"Okay, this time, will you take the initiative, or should we?"

"I'm sure it's you guys." Lin Li replied speechlessly.

He came here to enjoy himself, not to be an honest farmer tilling the land.

The two technicians dressed in JK uniforms smiled slightly to cover their embarrassment, and then one of them started peeking around and getting busy again.

Lin Li leaned against the pillow, squinted his eyes, and pondered the layout of his silly animation.

"The casual remark about aliens descending into another world actually came true. It seems that once I've accumulated enough source energy, I'll have to go and explore that other world!"

Lin Li thought to himself, then watched the JK technicians perform.

A few streets away.

Zhong Mengyao kicked a tree repeatedly with her little leather boots.

"Young lady, please don't kick it anymore! The leaves are almost all fallen!"

"Mind your own business!" Zhong Mengyao shouted angrily, then stormed off to the nearby milk tea shop to order milk tea.

"Rogues, filthy scoundrels, they're all shameless scoundrels!!!"

"There is nothing good about men!"

A young man with dyed yellow hair strolled over in front of the bubble tea shop, followed by two scantily clad young women.

Hearing Zhong Mengyao's mutterings to herself, his eyes lit up, and he leaned closer.

"Beautiful lady, you can't say that. There are good men out there, like me."

Zhong Mengyao looked up, her gaze sweeping over his tight clothes, her brows furrowing even more: "Get out."

"Hey, don't be so impulsive." The blond guy grinned and tried to move closer. "Let's be friends. I'm the kind of person who's very caring..."

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a sudden tightening of his wrist, and an irresistible force came through him.

Zhong Mengyao twisted her hand and then raised her knee.

The blond-haired man's body was like a broken shrimp; he was thrown into the air, his body tumbling through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

boom!
With a muffled thud, the blond-haired man clutched his stomach, his face turning a deep purplish-red.

The two young women were about to step forward when Zhong Mengyao's icy gaze froze them in place, rendering them unable to move.

"Beautiful lady, your milk tea." The shop assistant's hands were trembling as she held the milk tea.

The frost on Zhong Mengyao's face melted instantly, and when she turned around, she had a sweet smile on her face: "Thank you!"

She took the milk tea, took a sip, and turned to leave.

Only then did the two young women dare to run over and help the blond-haired man up.

"Brother, are you okay?"

"Cough...cough! I'm fine." After a while, the blond-haired man straightened up, looked at Zhong Mengyao's back, and tried to save face, "I'm just being a gentleman. A good man doesn't fight with a woman. If we really fought, I'm an eighth-degree black belt in Wing Chun. Do you think she could withstand one punch from me?"

"That's right, that's right, my brother is so generous!"

"That is."

……

More than an hour later.

Zhong Mengyao changed to a glass of unsweetened lemonade, leisurely leaning against the railing on the street, watching the red and blue police lights on at the entrance of the club in the distance.

A long-awaited smile appeared on her face.

Watching young girls in JK uniforms being hooded and loaded into police cars, she felt extremely happy.

My phone vibrated; it was a text message.

"The other party had a recharge record on their club card, but the amount spent was very small. They weren't caught for the extra few hours. They probably paid in cash for the extra time; by the time our people went in, he had already paid and left."

Zhong Mengyao's smile gradually froze.

She took a deep breath and replied quickly with her fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work!"

She put away her phone and watched the last police car drive away, a surge of anger welling up inside her.

That bastard!

She raised her foot and kicked a lone aluminum can hard on the side of the road!

boom--! ! !
A deafeningly loud bang.

A piercing pain instantly spread from her toes throughout her body. Zhong Mengyao was in so much pain that tears almost welled up in her eyes, and she hugged her foot and bounced around on the spot.

"Ugh—who was the jerk who put a soda can over the bollard?!"

(End of this chapter)