High-level martial arts: I can choose Hextech equips.

In the vast underground space, towering, massive copper pipes intertwine to form a mountain cliff.

Lin Shuxuan and his companion walked on the cliff, leaping over the crevices that led down to the Netherworld.

The magnificent, ring-like creations of Tianbang Star had already moved him deeply, but he never expected that Tianbang Star's underground also harbored wonders akin to hell.

This must have already dug through the earth's crust... Lin Shuxuan stared at the bottomless darkness underground and suddenly felt a sense of suffocation.

Standing here, the entire land seemed to be pressing down on him, heavy and oppressive.

He desperately wanted to breathe fresh air but couldn't; all he could smell was the metallic rust and stench of decay.

The underground space was empty, but it felt like being in a tomb.

"Where is the journalist who helped us uncover the truth?"

Amidst the empty footsteps, Lin Shuxuan asked a question.

He hadn't expected that besides Li Rufeng, there were other reactionaries on Tianbang Star who dared to expose the secrets of the masters.

"It's just ahead."

Following Li Rufeng's gaze, a lamp flickered gently in the distance.

Only upon closer inspection can one see clearly that the hunched-over person beside him is moving slowly, almost reverently, carefully adding oil to the pot.

"There's actually a settlement here?"

The building in front of us looked as shabby as a stain on a wonderland.

The suggested dwelling is built among the gaps in the crisscrossing copper pipes, pieced together from broken parts.

Lin Shuxuan noticed the black oil burning in the lamp, the source of which was self-evident, and his stomach clenched.

But thanks to the faint firelight, he could make out the faces of the people who lived there.

Its arms were thin with distinct joints, and most terrifyingly, its legs were covered with black mud that looked like living things, constantly churning upwards.

"This is..."

Lin Shuxuan had sensed something was wrong earlier; these stains were far too deep and stubborn, able to completely envelop a human body.

"It's ecological erosion."

As if sensing what he was thinking, Li Rufeng confirmed it.

"There is an undisclosed ecological zone on Tianbang Star, buried underground."

How could this be... Lin Shuxuan found it hard to believe. Tianbang Star was hailed as the center of civilization of the Federation, yet such filth was hidden in the shadows.

Why is the federal government doing this?

"Let me introduce you. This is a reporter from Xiamen. He is willing to help disclose the situation here."

Li Rufeng introduced a young man in a suit and tie who had previously been inside the settlement, leaning over a person lying on their back, asking what was being recorded.

She looks young, probably around twenty-five years old.

Looking at the suit the man was wearing, Lin Shuxuan felt the tightness in his chest ease a bit; the surrounding things were just too oppressive.

"This report aims to expose the chaos beneath Tianbang Star, aid suffering citizens, and urge the Federation to build shelters."

The reporter from Xiamen introduced Lin Shuxuan.

"I greatly admire your enthusiasm. With your help, I believe the report will be published soon."

Such heavy official tone... Lin Shuxuan sized up the reporter in front of him. Moreover, his surname was "Xia," a very subtle surname, differing from the Xia family of the nine clans of the Federation only in the radical.

He didn't seem to be trying to hide his identity; he just made slight attempts to conceal it.

"First of all, I must refute Mr. Li's speculation."

The Xiamen reporter brushed the stains off his suit.

"Ecology is highly contagious. If one person carries ecological factors in a confined space, it will quickly spread to others."

"The same applies to the ecology here, but the intensity fluctuations are not high. A more reasonable suspicion is that a citizen was infected by the ecology and, after a long period of no treatment, also infected the other citizens."

"The situation will improve quickly once shelters are built."

Li Rufeng merely sneered, offering no rebuttal. He whispered in Lin Shuxuan's ear:

"This person is just as annoying as Lu Xiaoguo, but no one else is willing to take this job, so let's just put up with it."

"Actually, I don't dislike the other person..." Lin Shuxuan asked the reporter.

"Is this what's called the Earth State City? Besides here? Are there other spaces where...citizens engage in activities?"

Lin Shuxuan did not forget that his purpose was to investigate the Star Orbit Society, but even in such a deep place, he still could not sense any trace of them.

"some."

The reporter from Xiamen nodded.

"This place was once called Dibang City. During the subsequent construction, the entire city was converted into the underground facilities of Tianbang City. Citizens who did not have enough assets to buy property or boat tickets, or who did not want to leave, stayed here."

What Piltover and Zaun... Lin Shuxuan arrived at a simple dining table surrounded by pipe valves.

There were some broken porcelain bowls and rice paste-like food on it.

"By modifying certain pipelines, the people here can steal... and obtain a small, consistent amount of food."

The Xiamen reporter introduced the event while taking photos as part of the report.

"This is unreasonable. With the Federation's technological level, rescuing these people would be a piece of cake."

Lin Shuxuan simply couldn't understand how the Federation, with its advanced technology, could build such magnificent wonders and help these people should be an easy task.

The higher-ups are absolutely aware of the situation here, but they just won't do anything about it.

The reporter from Xiamen did not answer, but after a long pause, sighed softly.

"There are very complex game strategies involved."

"But at least, we can get this group of people up here."

Lin Shuxuan scanned his surroundings and saw mostly people whose faces were obscured by stolen goods, their bodies hunched over, making it difficult to tell their gender; their age could only be judged from their physique.

Both the young and the old are represented.

If the garbage pit filled with human arms was considered the first underground level, then this place, beyond the manhole cover tunnel, would be considered the second level.

As a martial artist, Lin Shuxuan found it difficult to climb such a long pipe, let alone their bodies, which were extremely fragile due to the erosion of the ecosystem. It would be impossible for them to return to the surface on their own.

"It's good to have sympathy for them, but we must also remain vigilant."

A reporter from Xiamen warned:

"Ecological erosion makes them exceptionally resilient; if they harm you, treatment will be very expensive."

Indeed... Lin Shuxuan recalled the medical services at the military academy, which were incredibly expensive; after all, they were dealing with martial artists at the Transcendent Realm, and medical procedures were far more expensive than for ordinary people.

Lin Shuxuan was incredibly strong in combat and had never been injured.

After the reporter finished filming, Lin Shuxuan and his companion returned to the ground and prepared to go back to their dormitory.

With the sunshine and gentle breeze, the suffocating feeling dissipated.

Unfortunately, no trace of the Star Orbit Society was found.

With Li Rufeng and the reporter present, he couldn't explore as he pleased.

He still needed to reach the Transcendent Realm before conducting a thorough search in deeper areas... He didn't know how strong the star trails were here, and venturing in rashly could easily lead to his death.

But there is another possibility: the star track might have sensed that outsiders were exploring, so it concealed its whereabouts.

That time in the deep pit was the last chance to capture the other party.

If I had crushed a few heads back then, perhaps I could have used the Star Orbit Society's abilities to catch them... Lin Shuxuan quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea.

All lives are equally precious, and the sacrifice of a few should never be used to save the majority; he cannot do that.

The bell rang; it was a message from Ye Lingyue.