This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 154 Inner Space
There is a place with good conditions but no one comes. Why?
Of course it's because it has some unspeakable secrets.

The facilities of the previous civilization would not be truly safe. Han Jiangxue could not fail to understand this. She was just asking what kind of danger there was here.

As for whether Nie Weiyang knew the answer—in Han Jiangxue's opinion, he had close ties to the upper echelons of Gushi, so it was normal for him to know more. She was just asking anyway, and even if she didn't get an answer, it wouldn't matter.

"Pre-civilization research facilities have a strange peculiarity: if someone spends too long inside, their spirit may briefly escape their body. Once the institute senses this, the internal space enters a state of alienation, creating two distinct states: inner and outer space. This phenomenon is similar to the concept of the inner and outer worlds."

Nie Weiyang said.

"Those whose spirits leave their bodies may die or become lost in illusions. Horrific phenomena from the inner dimensions of the institute may also temporarily descend upon the human world, using the institute as a hunting ground to kill all living things.

"Under these spatial changes, living people might be in the same room but not see each other, or they might be able to see each other but not hear anything... Most often, someone who was just by your side disappears in the blink of an eye. This is because one of them has entered the inner space.

"Such changes are marked by light and shadow. For us, light is safe, while darkness is completely different. Those who hold the light source are more likely to be pulled into the inner space.

"Fortunately, the monsters' perceptions are disrupted by the laws of the material world, so they are not insurmountable opponents.

"Furthermore, their range of activity is limited to the designated research institute area. Even if the physical world is connected to the outside world, they will not cross this restricted area. If you want to end it, it's very simple: you only need to temporarily shut down the research institute's mainframe on any level. Of course, it will automatically restart after 24 hours. Even if it is damaged, it will automatically repair itself."

Han Jiangxue listened quietly, her eyes blank, as if the information had not entered her mind at all, and as if every word was engraved in her memory.

"So, the former civilization research institute is a source of danger that won't spread. If used well, it can also be used to hide people and things and avoid danger?" she asked.

"Yes," Nie Weiyang said, "but this brings up another characteristic of the institute—if any of us stay here for too long, we'll start to feel sleepy, lose our focus, and eventually fall into a trap."

Han Jiangxue was slightly stunned: "A research institute actually has such characteristics?"

"I don't know. After all, it has nothing to do with us." Nie Weiyang answered frankly, "Our position here is as experimental animals."

After hearing these words, Han Jiangxue fell silent.

...It's true... Today's human population has a maximum human content of 50%, and is not judged as Homo sapiens by the security agencies of the previous civilization. In that research institute, the only place left for them is experimental animals, right?

"A few months ago, it was hard to imagine that we had become so inhumane." Han Jiangxue muttered.

"It's okay," Nie Weiyang said, "Bloodline isn't the only criterion for measuring human nature. Too many people, even without alien blood, aren't truly human. The ultimate criterion for determining whether someone is human is ultimately their heart."

Han Jiangxue nodded in agreement.

"Players from all countries are very strong." She said seriously. This sudden answer made Nie Weiyang stunned for a moment and he almost couldn't react.

These days, the system announcements occasionally pop up some prompts from all over the world, ranging from various regions in China to all seven continents, and even from the North and South Poles.

For example, a snow monster was killed at a scientific research station in the Arctic, someone had a conflict with a primitive totem on a prairie in Africa, a witch gathering in Europe was disturbed by witchers, a church ruin with strong martial arts ethics in a big country in the north stood up and became the boss, a cowboy boss appeared in the Americas, and the challenge required a gunfight... and so on.

The last one even has a one-on-one duel mode, and the result of the duel will be recorded in its file. Now, thousands of its gunmen have died, but every day there are still people who rush up to seek death, persisting, unremittingly, and undeterred by wind and rain. It is truly amazing, so much so that some underground casinos have even opened related gaming tables, and a group of people gather in the underground space every day to watch system announcements like watching TV.

As for why there are still casinos in this world, don’t worry about it.

This planet is truly a vibrant land, in every sense of the word. The people still living on it today, those who once lived alongside it on that blue planet, those who transmit ideas, culture, and internet information in the 21st century, are doing all sorts of things around the world.

So, how many of them are doing similar things?

Han Jiangxue thought as she and Nie Weiyang searched the interior of the institute. It was deserted, and all the infrastructure looked as if it had been in operation yesterday. But the deeper they went, the more they felt the different atmosphere, like walking from a path of life into a dead end.

Soon, the air was filled with heavy darkness and depression.

Han Jiangxue didn't have the logical thinking to break the oppressive atmosphere, and Nie Weiyang didn't like to talk. The two of them just moved forward under the light until they saw another light with dim shadows flickering in it.

Nie Weiyang reflexively waved to Han Jiangxue, asking her to follow closely behind him, while he walked towards the direction where the light came from, holding a shining spear.

A strange emptiness spreads between light and shadow, which is the atmosphere that everyone who enters this space will feel.

The emptiness in the soul spreads, gnawing at emotions and hopes, and constantly shaking people's minds.

But in Nie Weiyang's headphones, the originally soft and gloomy music changed its tone, and the drumbeats became heavy and powerful. He leaned on the ground with his spear and looked at the scene in front of him.

"Dang——" The sound of metal collision echoed throughout the space, and they walked out of a dark passage.

Ahead lay a brightly lit hall, with three passageways connecting it, forming a cross. Rows of computers lined the hall, but all had black screens.

A figure rushed from a computer to a distant passage. Nie Weiyang recognized who it was and shouted, "Qiao Xing?!"

Qiao Xing seemed not to hear anything and disappeared into the darkness. Nie Weiyang's heart sank, and he subconsciously grabbed Han Jiangxue's shoulder to make sure she was still there.

In such an urgent and dangerous situation, his actions were faster than his perception and thinking, but he still came up empty-handed.

At this moment, Han Jiangxue disappeared.

Nie Weiyang wasn't surprised by this. What really surprised him was that, in his field of vision, the light and darkness remained unchanged. After all, he was the one holding the light source. If anyone had to enter the inner space, it should be him.

……How is this going?

Was it some unknown change that occurred in a place he didn't know about, or—from the very beginning, when they entered the institute, they fell into the inner space?!

Nie Weiyang cautiously scanned his surroundings, not extinguishing the light on his spear as he slowly entered the hall. Two blurry circular symbols on the floor and ceiling stared at him silently. As he approached, neatly arranged computers began to flicker, the darkness receding, revealing green noise.

Soon, they turned on, and several blurry logos appeared, flickering slightly.

The music in his headphones faded. As noise flickered, the boundary between light and darkness began to blur, and a void descended. In the distorted space, all the screens turned toward Nie Weiyang, facing him one after another. He looked around. The foggy world was vast and broad, like a boundless, gentle heart. Countless green screens showed him the same snowflakes, as if endless tombstones were facing him. And he looked closely. They were engraved with the same words:
【142°12.2′E，11°19.9′N】

　The plot is moving too slowly. Let me think for a moment...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)