Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

When the stone pillar completed its thirteenth pulse, "Zhang Qiling" did not immediately open his eyes.

He maintained a seated posture in the darkness, his breathing slowed to an extreme degree, allowing his consciousness to sink deeper.

It's not about sensing the seal, but about perceiving the subtle folds left by "time" itself here.

Nine years. The only measurable "time" in this space is the pulsation of the stone pillars, 13,140 times, like a giant heart beating in the darkness.

But there are other things besides that.

The cycle of mushroom growth, decay, and regeneration is shortening.

The low-pitched frequency band deep within the crack is slowly shifting.

Even the ever-present smell in the air, a mixture of rock and decay, seemed to have been infused with a faint, indescribable scent of "newness."

He opened his eyes and saw "Zhang Qiling" walking back from behind the stone pillar, holding a few mushrooms from the ninth year in his hands.

The dark golden mushrooms have changed shape again.

The edges of the mushroom cap curl up, like a closed flower bud.

The surface has interwoven spiral patterns that almost form a rune-like pattern.

The center point is pure white, like solidified starlight.

Zhang Qiling took his share, but did not handle it as he usually would.

He extended his left index finger, the tip hovering above the mushroom.

A highly condensed, almost invisible aura emanated from the fingertips and slowly seeped into the mushroom.

The dark golden mushrooms became transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It eventually transformed into a small ball of pure, pale golden liquid, which floated in his palm.

He withdrew his breath, and the liquid fell, condensing into a perfectly round golden bead the size of a fingertip.

The beads are warm to the touch, and there is a shimmering light flowing inside.

He put the bead in his mouth, and it instantly turned into a clear stream that slid down his throat.

The energy it brought was purer and more powerful than ever before.

It's as if, in a concentrated form, the energy contained within the mushrooms, which originates from the same source as this place, has been maximized and purified.

Zhang Qiling witnessed the whole thing and nodded silently.

They also began processing the mushrooms in their hands.

His technique was slightly different, and his aura was sharper.

The formed beads are dark gold in color and have distinct edges.

The energy that melts upon entering the mouth also carries a touch of sharpness.

In nine years, their control over their own power and their understanding of the rules of energy in this space have reached an unbelievable level.

Each meal becomes a subtle form of self-cultivation and testing.

After breakfast, the two walked side by side to the crack.

The crack, now in its ninth year, is nearly a hand's width wide.

The vitrified edges extend inward, forming a smooth, inwardly concave "pipeline".

Dark red light surged and flowed within the pipes, emitting a low rumble several times stronger than before.

The sound was mixed with even more noise.

Howling, muttering, crying, laughing hysterically...

It was as if countless fragments of chaotic consciousness were being washed out from behind the door.

Occasionally, a dark red beam of light would gush out from deep within the pipe.

It twisted and exploded at the pipe opening, turning into specks of light and dissipating.

It carries a strong corrosive energy.

Zhang Qiling stretched out his hand, palm facing the cracked pipe opening.

A beam of dark red light shot out and struck his palm.

Without a sound, the beam of light seemed to disappear into thin air.

It was absorbed, decomposed, and annihilated by a thin, almost invisible barrier in his palm.

He frowned slightly and withdrew his hand.

The skin on my palms turned a very faint red, which faded after a few seconds.

"It's stronger."

Zhang Qiling nodded and extended his hand as well.

Another beam of light shone down, but he did not absorb it.

Instead, he made a grasping motion with his five fingers, forcibly confining the beam of light to a range of about a foot within his palm.

It coalesced into a restless, dark red sphere of light.

He stared at the ball of light, a dark current seeming to surge deep within his pupils.

It's as if they're analyzing its composition.

A moment later, he clenched his fist, and the ball of light vanished silently.

He shook his hand, and wisps of white smoke rose from his fingertips.

"With more impurities, one gets closer to the source."

The two retreated to the stone pillar.

They did not meditate, but stood side by side.

Gazing at the increasingly surging dark red light deep within the crack.

The true "critical point" may only be reached with one last pulsation of the stone pillar.

Perhaps dozens more times.

But time is indeed running out.

"The last year."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"Um."

They could feel that outside the door, those familiar, faint but resilient "lines" were also stretched to their limit.

Outside the gate. West of Lin'an City, Wushan Residence.

The spring chill of the ninth year was particularly biting.

But an old plum tree in the corner of the courtyard was in full bloom, its fragrance drifting in through the window cracks.

Behind the counter, Wu Xie had not found any ancient books laid out in front of him.

Instead, it was a brand new hardcover notebook.

The above is a countdown schedule accurate to the day.

From today until the tenth anniversary of our agreement.

What preparations should be made each day, what equipment should be checked, and who should be contacted?

It's written very clearly.

Next to it was the wooden carving that was now completely finished.

It shimmers with a warm and serene glow in the morning light.

Fatty Wang brought in a large bowl of freshly mixed filling.

Flour stuck to the apron.

"Pork and cabbage, three delicacies, red bean paste, and jujube paste."

"I'm going to make enough dumplings for the whole year today and freeze them!"

"When the guys come out, their first meal must be dumplings."

"May you be reunited with your family, and get rid of all this bad luck!"

Wu Xie looked up from the schedule.

Watching the fat man's busy back, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

Without saying a word, he simply picked up a pen and ticked the box next to "Check the diving equipment list" in today's plan.

His demeanor is more composed than it was eight years ago.

Like a piece of jade that has been repeatedly polished by time and unspoken thoughts.

Gentle and reserved.

Only the fire deep within his eyes never went out.

Instead, it is tempered and refined during the long wait, becoming even more serene and brilliant.

The levitating live-streaming ball rested on a plum branch.

The camera captures the warm indoor lighting.

The rising steam from the flour.

A profile of someone focused on writing.

And that busy, round, plump figure.

In the live stream, the chat messages also carried a countdown-like feel.

"It's been nine years!"

"That fat guy can actually wrap so much filling!"

"This is the last year..."

"My heart is racing"

The study in the old Xie family mansion in Beicheng.

In the center of the whiteboard and the relationship diagram, there is a huge, complex, multi-dimensional model that is presented by holographic projection and is constantly rotating.

The core of the model consists of two nested, slowly rotating phantom images of a "door" and an "eye".

It was surrounded by countless flashing data streams and projection lines.

Xie Yuchen stood in front of the model, his eyes sunken.

But his mind was in a strange state of excitement.

He had just hung up a call with a South American occultist who studies ancient energy totems.

Fingers flew across the virtual keyboard.

Input the last key parameter into the model.

Huo Xiuxiu brought in ginseng tea.

In the center of the model, between the two phantoms, a previously blurry point of light suddenly lit up.

It stabilized into an extremely complex three-dimensional "key" phantom composed of countless tiny runes.

Although most details are still blank, the outline is already clearly visible.

"It's done?" Huo Xiuxiu's voice was tense.

"The coordinates are 80% locked, and the manifestation form of 'Yang Key' has been basically deduced."

Xie Yuchen's voice was hoarse, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"At that exact time on the appointed day."

"At the peak of the energy field formed by the specific tides and lunar phases of the eye-shaped island."

"The 'Yin Key'—which is the core of the seal where Xiao Ge and the others are located—"

"It will resonate with a 'resonance point' in the outside world that we have not yet fully determined."

"This 'point of resonance' is very likely related to 'people'."

"It's related to the 'agreement' itself."

"It might even be related to... the 'Ghost Seal'."

"The Ghost Seal in Wu Xie's possession may be more than just a key."

"Furthermore, it's the fuse that locates and triggers the 'Yang Key'!"

Huo Xiuxiu took a deep breath.

"So, our going to pick them up is itself the final step in completing the manifestation of the 'Yang Key'?"

"Very likely."

Xie Yuchen turned off the projector and rubbed his throbbing temples.

"But there's still one last bit left."

"Regarding the specific location and triggering method of the 'resonance point'..."

"We must figure this out before we leave."

At Donghai Port, Captain Chen's fishing boat is undergoing its final comprehensive inspection before setting sail.

It wasn't just his ship.

On the other side of the dock, there were two medium-sized speedboats and a small supply ship.

They were all secretly purchased and modified through various channels over the past year.

Captain Chen was with several of his most trusted old men.

They inspected each ship's power, navigation, communications, and even the simple defensive equipment that had been added.

The sea breeze was biting, and his gray hair was blown into disarray.

His eyes swept over every detail like those of a hawk.

"Old Chen, this scene is just like the fishing season back in the day," an old friend laughed.

Captain Chen didn't laugh; he patted the cold gunwale.

"This time it's not fishing, it's to bring my family home."

"There can be no room for error."

Strategic interior of the villa's basement.

All the screens are frozen on the same complex, multi-layered interface.

That was the final version of the "full-process simulation diagram of the support operation".

It's precise down to the minute.

Aning stood in front of the picture, arms crossed over her chest.

The gaze moves slowly like a scanner, performing a final check of the logical loop.

Her figure remained upright and neat.

But the fine lines around her eyes are the marks left by long-term high concentration and stress.

After confirming that everything was correct, she pressed the control button.

All screens went dark.

All that remains is a ticking countdown on the central main screen, accurate to the second.

"764 days, 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 15 seconds."

She read the numbers aloud.

He turned and walked towards the equipment depot to conduct his umpteenth inventory and maintenance.

The picture frames in the living room were wiped spotless.

The smiles in the photos seem to come alive as the countdown ticks on.

In a remote cargo terminal warehouse on the southwestern border.

Jiang Xun Gu had just finished an encrypted call with an informant.

On the map spread out in front of him, the last few red dots had been completely erased.

The past nine years, especially the last three.

He was like the most patient hunter and the most ruthless cleaner.

This will remove the remaining tentacles of the Wang family, the Luo family, and other forces, large and small, that may pose a potential threat to the "picking up" operation.

Little by little, they were pulled out and crushed from the shadows.

For now, the water beneath the surface is clear.

He put away the map and turned on another encrypted device.

The screen displayed several hidden shipping routes and a few disguised container numbers.

These are several emergency evacuation routes and backup supply points that he prepared for the final operation by utilizing his past connections and methods.

Ensure the road ahead is unobstructed, but also leave room for retreat.

Eye-shaped Island, fifty nautical miles away.

A black rubber speedboat without any markings drifted like a ghost on the sea in the dead of night.

Hei Xiazi sat alone in the boat.

He wasn't smoking or drinking.

I simply gazed quietly at the blurry island silhouette in the moonlight in the distance.

He was holding a small, oddly shaped instrument.

The screen displays a constantly fluctuating and complex spectrum of data.

The speedboat bobbed gently with the waves.

The black bear stared at the island for a long time.

He looked down at the instrument screen again.

The value above fluctuates slightly and regularly within a certain range.

His usual cynical smile disappeared.

Instead, there was a deep, still calm.

And a sharp scrutiny in his eyes.

He suddenly raised his hand and gently pressed a button on the side of the instrument.

No sound.

But the spectrum on the instrument screen suddenly started to fluctuate violently.

Several values ​​suddenly spiked!

Meanwhile, fifty nautical miles away, above the Eye-shaped Island, the moonlight seemed to distort slightly for a moment.

A very brief, unnatural ripple appeared on the sea surface surrounding the island.

Hei Xiazi stared at the soaring numbers for a few seconds.

Until they slowly fall back down, close to the baseline.

He turned off the equipment and put it in his pocket.

Start the speedboat engine.

With a deep roar, the speedboat sliced ​​through the dark sea and headed towards the mainland.

He turned back and took one last look at the island, which had returned to silence.

An enigmatic smile curved at the corners of his lips.

"Door, door, wait a little longer."

He murmured to himself, his voice carried away by the sea breeze.

Someone's coming to knock on your door soon.

Inside the bronze door.

Both "Zhang Qiling" and "Zhang Qiling" felt something at the same time.

Look towards the direction of the bronze gate—though there are only rock walls there.

Just a moment ago, they clearly felt a very subtle but absolutely indistinguishable "fluctuation" coming from the outermost layer of the seal.

It felt like being subtly and delicately probed from the outside by an extremely fine needle.

The fluctuations subsided quickly, but the feeling...

The two looked at each other.

"He's here."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

It is possible to touch the outer edge of the seal so precisely and with such restraint without triggering a violent reaction.

Of all the people outside, only Black Bear could do it, and would do it.

"Testing the waters."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

It was a test of the seal's stability.

The "reaction" that exists behind the probe door.

Or something else?

In any case, this is a clear signal.

The people outside the door had already reached the edge of the stage where everything was being prepared.

We've begun the most direct contact.

【Ding. 】

A system voice sounded.

[Year Nine. Host, that was Black Bear just now. He ran to the door and circled around.]

"Know."

The countdown outside the door has already started ticking down.

Wu Xie is making dumplings that he's been making for ten years.

[Jie Yuchen, please finish the 'Yang Key' model soon.]

[A-Ning's deduction diagrams are textbook examples.]

Jiang Xun Gu's clearing operation is complete.

Captain Chen's fleet has assembled.

The system paused for a moment.

This is the last year.

"Zhang Qiling" has no response system.

He sat down cross-legged again and closed his eyes.

Zhang Qiling also sat down to the side.

The two connected in spirit, their minds sinking into the core of the seal.

It is no longer just about sensing and maintaining.

Instead, it begins a deeper kind of "calibration" and "warm-up" in preparation for the final moment.

The pulsation of the stone pillar continued in the darkness.

one more time.

Dark red light surged ceaselessly within the crack.

A cacophony of low humming and noise.

Inside the door was the final stillness before the storm.

Outside the door, the arrow was poised to be released, ready to be released at the last moment.

The tenth year.

Just a stone's throw away.