Chapter 172: Welcome Back, Sir

Chapter 172: Welcome Back

The Mechanical Cult is retreating.

Current reports confirm that nearly six hundred survivors remain, about four hundred of them artillerymen and support staff, and roughly two hundred are the guard brigade fighters we have already encountered.

In addition, there are at least a hundred or so scattered and fleeing personnel; the drones cannot achieve full tracking.

The threat level is assessed as low; the verification program may proceed.

I won't go any further; I'll keep the cannons here to guard you, it will be relatively safer.

Understood.

After receiving Lei Jie's message, Chen Jian gave a brief reply and then turned toward the location marked on the map by Lingxi as the entrance to Facility 011.

Beside him, Zeng Yi also heard Lei Jie's report; he switched his smart visor to the drone view, examined carefully, and confirmed a second time:

The Mechanical Cult really has withdrawn—I had thought they would seize this chance to storm the ruins and wrest the treasure vault from us; now it seems their devotion to the so‑called Holy Trinity is no more than that.

Quite the opposite.

As he walked forward, Chen Jian shook his head and said:

For them to have come this far, they are already terrifyingly strong.

A force of nearly three thousand was whittled down to seven hundred, and only about a hundred of those are scattered or fled.

Do you realize how staggering those numbers are? Even a truly modern army would struggle to maintain such cohesion.

Not every army can fight down to a single survivor under the banner of religion; that is genuinely frightening.

He paused, then continued:

Moreover, their combat effectiveness in this battle has been quite impressive.

I suspect that, according to their original plan, they intended—once the Blood‑Seeker had reconnoitered and the guard brigade cleared the way—to push the artillery formation within visual, direct‑fire range—say, within five kilometers.

At that distance they could unleash four or five rapid salvos to crush the beast.

They field twelve rifled cannons, sixty shells, plus additional smoothbore guns, large‑caliber weapons, and rocket launchers for close‑quarters; they might actually win.

The only wildcards are the toxic fog and spores; those are lethally potent against them.

But even at five kilometers, the concentration of the fog can be controlled.

And tonight the wind is strong; all conditions are met.

They are cautious, and they are meticulous.

Regrettably, they are far behind.

Yes, far behind.

Zeng Yi nodded thoughtfully.

In that instant he keenly perceived the distinction between his own “Huaxia Army” and the other powers that roam this land.

Military capability is only one facet.

Perhaps in many other respects they share an equally advanced nature?

Thus, judging a faction's strength may well rest on this single yardstick alone.

He said nothing more, merely trailing Chen Jian's steps in silent accord.

A few minutes later, Chen Jian located the final reference point and finally fixed the position of Facility 011.

Like Facility 095, the underground entrance had been completely buried.

But it was evident that, being at the heart of the monster's lair, the accumulation of humus here far exceeded that at 095.

What on earth shall we do?

If we have to dig by hand as last time, how long will it take?

He was pondering whether to ask Lei Jie to fire a couple of shells here—to at least soften the ground—when Lingxi's voice crackled in his earpiece.

“According to radio traffic and fuzzy positioning data, you have arrived above Facility 011.”

“Confirm entry into the verification protocol?”

“Verification protocol confirmed.”

Chen Jian answered instantly, and Lingxi continued:

“Understood. Retreat to a distance of two hundred meters and ensure a solid overhead cover.”

Huh?

Retreat two hundred meters? And find a shelter?

What does that mean?

You want me to man the guns?

Befuddled, he stepped back, and just as he reported reaching the designated spot, the ground gave a slight tremor.

Immediately after, a deep, violent explosion roared up from below.

“Boom!”

In the next instant, a torrent of sediment was hurled skyward.

Like a fountain erupting from the earth, soil, fungi, and rotting matter were blasted hundreds of meters into the air, then fell back in a grotesque, nightmarish rain.

The heavens seemed to pour a deluge of filth; at that moment Chen Jian finally understood why Lingxi had insisted on finding cover.

When the cascade of debris settled, a massive cavity lay exposed on the ground.

Ji Xing stared dumbfounded at the sight, then asked:

“Is there a giant cannon inside??”

“Forget it, just a directional charge.”

Chen Jian exhaled a long sigh and replied:

“The engineers who built this facility likely anticipated the entrance might be buried, so they installed an internal activation sequence.”

“But after three centuries, it’s astonishing it still works—perhaps it was only just hauled out of the structure.”

“Let’s go in.” As he said so, Chen Jian headed straight for the passage.

The others followed close behind; after marching several hundred meters they finally passed the remaining soil layer and set foot on solid ground.

Continuing onward, Chen Jian saw the lights once more.

“Elevator.”

“We must descend further.”

“Come on, all aboard.”

Chen Jian was the first to step onto the lift; after a brief pause, the four of them descended.

The lift moved swiftly—easily over two meters per second—but they still spent close to two minutes to reach the bottom level.

That meant the deepest point of this underground complex lay at least two hundred and forty meters down.

The figure may not seem large, yet for an underground bunker it already represents an astonishing depth.

This installation could not have been erected on a whim; it must have originally served a decidedly crucial purpose.

Chen Jian grew ever more curious about what lay within, and likewise about the nature of the so‑called verification method.

At last, he stood before the final gate.

The airtight door swung open, and a small control panel descended.

A gentle male voice resonated.

“Greetings, everyone, I am Fuxi.”

“Please remove your helmet and visor.”

“Rest assured, this place is safe.”

Chen Jian did not pause to marvel at Fuxi’s intellect; he obediently lifted his helmet, and the instant his face was exposed, he keenly sensed the hidden camera completing its scan.

“Life‑sign identification complete.”

“Iris scan complete.”

“Identity verification complete.”

“Apologies, there may be a logical inconsistency here.”

“All verification protocols nullified.”

“I must activate a contingency plan beyond the original scheme.”

As Fuxi’s words faded, Chen Jian furrowed his brow slightly.

All verification protocols nullified?

Why?

You merely ran an unknown electronic device over me once.

Could it be because of the Saint‑blooded one at my side?

That seems unlikely as well.

Back at 095, I spoke of the Saint‑blooded before Lingxi, and it fully grasped the concept without any odd reaction.

Yet at 011, here with Fuxi, it fails?

Logically, it makes no sense.

Chen Jian remained perplexed, but meanwhile Fuxi spoke again.

“Please enter your identity information on the screen.”

Chen Jian stepped forward while the others lingered a few meters away.

He looked at the display; only a single field awaited input.

Identity number.

After a moment’s hesitation, he entered his own ID number.

The correct identity number.

He thought that would be the end, yet Fuxi pressed on:

“May I ask whether you know where you come from?”

Chen Jian blinked, then replied:

“I know.”

“Understood.”

Fuxi continued:

“May I ask whether you know how you arrived here?”

“.I don’t know.”

Upon uttering those words, a tempest rose within Chen Jian’s heart.

This Fuxi AI has already confirmed my status as a time‑traveler??

Why??

Can it truly comprehend what a traversal is??

Chen Jian’s eyes widened, but before he could question, Fuxi spoke once more.

“Understood.”

“Referencing the data returned from the 095 installation, and after comprehensive consideration, my conclusion is: verification passed.”

“Welcome back, Chen Jian Zhong.”

(End of chapter)