readbooksol Chapter 305 - 298: Heading to the Xirang Research Institute
Chapter 305 - 298: Heading to the Xirang Research Institute
Shi Ming had always suspected it. The Sub-Blade Storm, a terrifying regional disaster that didn’t exist during the Land Era, was likely a fusion of three powers: ice, life, and space-rending.
The power of ice came from the unique environment at the mountain’s peak.
The power of life came from the Life Holy Hall Origin leaking from the Creation Celestial Pillar.
As for the Breaking Sky Power—Shi Ming had originally thought it came from the traversal ability of the "Jianmu."
Now, he had a new suspect.
Combined with the black box prompt from the Eye of the World, he was now all but certain. The "horrifying thing" nourishing itself on the corpse of the Creation Celestial Pillar could wield the Breaking Sky Power. The Sub-Blade Storm was, in all likelihood, its handiwork.
’If my judgment is correct...’
’It’s been lying dormant here for at least thirty years! Thirty years... it completely eroded the Creation Celestial Pillar from the inside, causing the great beast to fall. Then it took over its body to absorb nutrients. Now, even the unconscious leakage of its power can generate such a persistent, terrifying Sub-Blade Storm. Its true body, buried deep within the mountain, is something even Ah Jian perceives as ’horrifying’!’
A sense of urgency washed over Shi Ming.
’I have to get stronger, and fast!’
’The Dragon-Slaying Plan is more urgent than ever!’
...
...
...
Perhaps their unshielded probing had disturbed the horrifying thing. A sudden storm disrupted their plans. Using the power of the "Jade Sea Cangwu," the three of them swiftly retreated from the summit of Mount Everest, then headed in another direction, making a beeline for the Xirang Research Institute located at the edge of the snowline.
It was their closest supply station.
The safest shelter on the entire mountain.
It was also a research institute that Da Yu had poured all its resources into building at the end of the Land Era.
The name Xirang was taken from the classical text *Huainanzi*:
"Yu then used the self-replenishing soil to stem the great flood."
In contrast to the stark white of the mountain, this building seemed to possess an unusual warmth. Although its exterior didn’t much resemble a research institute or a shelter, it looked more like a sentry post standing before a desolate wasteland, a bastion at the edge of the world. The entire structure covered an area of about 800 square meters. Compared to the research institutes of the Land Era, which often spanned tens of thousands of square meters, it seemed tiny. But in an environment like this, it was a miracle of architecture!
Most of its mass was hidden within the mountain, with only a curved facade of special material exposed to the elements, covered in marks of erosion.
This made it look like a battle-scarred behemoth.
But only those who had been inside knew the true depth and power of this behemoth.
The Xirang Research Institute had two S-class Awakened stationed there year-round, carrying out a special mission assigned by the Jiuzhou Platform.
The nature of their mission was a matter of wide speculation, with countless different theories.
Spies from the Lighthouse had once infiltrated it but failed to uncover a single thing.
But this didn’t mean the Xirang Research Institute was closed off to the outside world, operating in isolation. On the contrary, it maintained an open policy and was considered a Holy Land for science and academia in the Wandering Era. Moreover, for the past thirty years, adventurers and captains who came to explore Mount Everest, drawn by its renown, could receive a degree of humanitarian aid here. This had earned the Xirang Research Institute an excellent reputation across the Endless Ocean.
"Phew... we finally made it."
The three of them reached a corner of the institute’s structure, slightly out of breath.
Rong Bing brushed off the thick layer of ice and snow covering him and put away the artifact, "Jade Sea Cangwu." Below the snowline was a relatively safe area. The ice and snow began to dissipate, revealing the brown rock base of the mountain. The Sub-Blade Storm rarely blew this far down, and no other sea beasts dared to run wild or settle here. Thus, there was no longer a need to maintain such high alert.
"That was a real thrill. The storm came out of nowhere. I was hoping to earn a few extra contribution points, but nope, mission aborted. When I get inside, I’m definitely going to chew out the storm monitoring department. How could they let an oversight like this happen?"
"The Sub-Blade Storm is bizarre and unpredictable. Anomalies are part of the contingency plan."
"Fair enough, but it’s still a shame. By the way, Shi Ming, this must be your first time at the Xirang Research Institute, right? How about we let our local host, Tour Guide Jiuyuan, show you around?"
"I’d be honored."
Li Jiuyuan was the third S-class Awakened of the Xirang Research Institute. He was also the only one who spent his years aboard the King-level Wandering Ship, Da Yu. Unlike the other two S-class Awakened, his mission wasn’t a secret: he was to help Dr. Chongwen decipher the text on the great stele’s holographic projection and, at the same time, use his idealism-based powers to give buffs to the warriors from Da Yu who were on missions!
A support-type player.
"Hahaha, I’m much more familiar with this place than either of you."
"Let’s go inside first."
Li Jiuyuan extended his right hand. The lines on his palm seemed to resonate with the structure of the Xirang Research Institute. A moment later, a hidden door appeared in the structure built into the mountainside, opening a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
The three of them stepped inside and were immediately met with a long-lost warmth.
Inside the protective shield was a small, semi-subterranean, three-story building—the true body of the institute. A brightly colored flag fluttered in front of it, and people could be seen bustling about within. The moment Shi Ming’s group stepped through the shield, the researchers assigned to greet them sprang into action.
The long-dormant Eye of the World finally stirred again.
As long as the information was completely unrelated to the horrifying thing in the mountain, it could most likely display normally.
[A research institute built on land. It truly is remarkable!]
[Aside from the unaffiliated ships drifting precariously on the Endless Ocean, this institute must have the highest concentration of "chipless" individuals! They have spent their entire lives without ever setting foot on a Wandering Ship, confined to the only remaining piece of land, and are therefore not bound by "the net."]
[They have three research projects, all of which are secret!]
[But the Eye of the World thinks you might be very interested:]
...
[Project 1: A method to counteract the "Unceasing Water."]
[How can the Unceasing Water, which fills the Endless Ocean and the artifact "Jiuzhou Platform," be controlled? Perhaps solving this problem could bring the Wandering Era to a definitive end. Although the sunken and collapsed continents would not rise again, there would undoubtedly be far more foundations on which to survive.]
[Project 2: A method to break "the net."]
[The fish who escape the net are trapped in a tiny space. The fish within the net roam the Endless Ocean. If you were a fish, which life would you choose?]
[Project 3: Research on the man-made artifact "Xirang."]
[Thirty years ago, the six great King-level Wandering Ships proposed six world-saving conjectures: "Genesis Ark," "Xirang Reclamation," "Sea Suppression," "Celestial Evolution," "Vault of Heaven’s Reflection," and "Deep Sea Capsule." Now, with the passage of time, one wonders how many of the great King-level Wandering Ships still hold to their original aspirations.]