309: Ice coffin, watching someone die without helping? (Two chapters in one

“There’s no other better way now,” Lin Yang sighed.

If there were another way, he wouldn’t be thinking of going to the Black Axe Federal Empire again.

“It’s too risky, Commander Sir. Besides the Apocalypse, we only have this one spaceship available. This spaceship has already been exposed on Mi Star. Once it enters any technological planet within the Black Axe Federal Empire’s star system, I’m afraid it will be immediately locked onto,” Lin Mu reminded.

“That is indeed a problem,” Lin Yang frowned.

The Apocalypse certainly cannot appear. This spaceship also cannot continue to appear within the Black Axe Federal Empire’s line of sight.

“Currently, the Black Axe Federal Empire is the only advanced civilization nearby. If we don’t go to the Black Axe Federal Empire, we’ll have to detour and sail in the opposite direction. If we’re lucky, we might find other civilizations. If we’re not…”

Lin Yang was a bit annoyed. The bounty hadn’t been claimed, there was no activity at all, and now they couldn’t go to the Black Axe Federal Empire. Without a star map, finding other technological civilizations in the vast universe would rely solely on luck.

As for buying a new spaceship to go to the Black Axe Federal Empire, that was temporarily unfeasible too.

There were no other civilized planets nearby. To buy a spaceship, they would first have to go to a planet within the Black Axe Federal Empire.

Even if they wanted the system to help hack into the Black Axe Federal Empire’s network information system, the distance was too great.

“Commander Sir, for your safety, I believe taking a detour is the better option. Although it might take some time to find other technological civilizations, the bounty might be claimed at any time. It’s better than risking entry into the Black Axe Federal Empire. We’ve been Overseas for so long; there’s no need to take risks to save a little time at this critical juncture,” Lin Mu said again.

“Alright, turn around. While searching for other technological civilizations, we’ll wait for the bounty to be claimed,” Lin Yang also understood this principle and dismissed the idea of re-entering the Black Axe Federal Empire’s star system.

Subsequently, the three left the uninhabited planet and piloted the spaceship into the dark universe.

“What a pity. If I had national treasure value, I’d only need to get a little closer to a technological planet of the Black Axe Federal Empire for the system to hack into their network information system,”

After completely moving away from the Black Axe Federal Empire’s star system, Lin Yang couldn’t help but mutter.

The previous forced space jump had consumed all his national treasure value, which now affected even the use of system functions.

Otherwise, the system could have remotely invaded without even needing to enter a technological planet of the Black Axe Federal Empire.

In the universe, darkness is an eternal melody. When one is in it, even the passage of time cannot be perceived.

Inside the Apocalypse, Lin Yang glanced at the time. It had been nearly ten days since they left the Black Axe Federal Empire’s star system.

Adding the few days they waited on that uninhabited planet, roughly half a month had passed.

However, throughout this entire half-month, the bounty still hadn’t been claimed.

And they also hadn’t detected signals from any other technological civilizations. They drifted in the universe like wanderers, not even knowing where they were.

“The Cosmic Mercenary Corps is truly a rip-off! The information on this star map is so scarce, and there’s no specific route map, yet they charge so much! They’re simply black-hearted merchants!”

Lin Yang looked at the star map of the Black Axe Federal Empire’s vicinity, which he had purchased from the Cosmic Mercenary Corps a few days ago, and couldn’t help but curse.

The Black Axe Federal Empire belonged to a peak Level 4 technological civilization and had a branch of the Cosmic Mercenary Corps within it, so it naturally had information records within the Cosmic Mercenary Corps.

Initially, Lin Yang overlooked this point. A few days ago, he suddenly thought of purchasing a star map of the Black Axe Federal Empire’s vicinity to search for other technological civilizations.

But the frustrating thing was that this star map only marked the name of a technological civilization called “Yunlu,” without even coordinates. It merely informed them that, besides the Black Axe Federal Empire, there indeed existed another Level 4 technological civilization in this part of the universe. Other than that, there was no effective information whatsoever.

Yet, the price was comparable to a peak Level 4 technological weapon.

How could this not make one angry?

“Commander Sir, star maps are high-value items in the universe. Our authority is too low, and within the Cosmic Mercenary Corps, the grading of various items is extremely detailed. To purchase a comprehensive star map, we need to raise our mercenary rank,”

Lin Mu comforted him.

“Although this star map is indeed a bit of a rip-off, at least it confirms that there’s another Level 4 technological civilization called Yunlu nearby, which is not bad.”

“Without even coordinates, you call that not bad?” Lin Yang was still a bit indignant. The Cosmic Mercenary Corps was simply a crooked merchant!

“At least it confirms that our decision to take a detour earlier was correct. We’ll eventually enter the Yunlu technological civilization’s star system,” Lin Mu said.

“No coordinates, no route map, who knows how long it will take,” Lin Yang was speechless.

He had never seen such a rudimentary star map!

To upgrade the star map and get more detailed information, not only did it require money, but it also required raising their mercenary rank. This Cosmic Mercenary Corps was truly cunning and black-hearted, even more detestable than capitalists!

And the most hateful thing was that a rookie mercenary who had just passed the mercenary assessment could only post one bounty mission at a time, and it couldn’t be canceled within a month.

To post multiple bounty missions simultaneously, one had to raise their mercenary rank.

This blocked his path to bounty a star map near the Yunlu technological civilization!

His personal account had posted a bounty for purchasing information on high-level mercenaries, and Lin Mu’s personal account had posted a bounty for information on the Black Mountain Empire and the Red Thunder Empire.

As a result, neither of them could now bounty information on the Yunlu technological civilization.

“Commander Sir, I am constantly refreshing the Cosmic Mercenary Corps’ internal system for transaction information. Once there’s any related information about the Yunlu technological civilization, I will contact you immediately,” Lin Mu said.

“That’s the only way for now,” Lin Yang nodded.

Now that they couldn’t post bounty requests, they could only continuously refresh other people’s transaction information, waiting for someone from the Yunlu technological civilization to appear and make contact.

As for posting general information to find people from the Yunlu technological civilization?

Sorry, the Cosmic Mercenary Corps restricted information posting for rookie mercenaries. Only after completing at least three mercenary missions would they have the authority to post general information…

Passing the rookie mercenary assessment only granted access to the Cosmic Mercenary Corps’ internal system. To gain free speaking privileges within it, there were numerous rules and restrictions.

Being able to post even one bounty mission was already considered the Cosmic Mercenary Corps’ consideration for new mercenaries.

Suddenly—

“Commander Sir, do you feel a little cold?”

Cang Miao walked out of the training room and looked at Lin Yang.

“Cold? What do you mean? You feel cold?” Lin Yang was a bit bewildered by the question.

The Apocalypse had a constant temperature system inside!

“Yes, I feel a little cold,” Cang Miao nodded.

“Did you set the training room temperature too low?” Lin Yang scrutinized Cang Miao.

These days, Cang Miao trained in the training room except for eating and sleeping. Sometimes, he would be drenched in sweat from training, so Lin Yang gave him the authority to adjust the training room’s temperature freely.

After all, high-intensity training naturally required a slightly lower temperature to ensure comfort.

Cang Miao shook his head: “Commander Sir, I did not set the training room temperature too low, and the cold I feel has become even clearer after leaving the training room.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean by ‘clearer after leaving the training room’?” Lin Yang was even more confused.

“Commander Sir, the training room has special thermal insulation materials. The cold I felt inside was only slight, but in other parts of the spaceship, that coldness is more intense,” Cang Miao explained.

“Hmm? You mean the spaceship’s temperature control system might have a problem?” Lin Yang frowned.

“Possibly, I’m not entirely sure, but I just feel colder and colder,” Cang Miao said.

“Colder and colder?” Lin Yang first checked the operating status of the spaceship’s various systems, then looked at Cang Miao: “The system hasn’t reported any malfunctions, and the temperature control system also shows everything is normal. You feel colder and colder, could you be sick? Are you having a fever?”

Lin Yang felt it was incredible. Could someone with Cang Miao’s physique actually get a fever?!

He stepped forward two paces, wanting to check Cang Miao’s condition.

“Commander Sir, I shouldn’t get a low-level illness like a fever. Are you sure you don’t feel cold?” Cang Miao was also surprised to see Lin Yang not feeling cold.

“I’m not cold!” Lin Yang shook his head, then turned to look at Lin Mu: “What about you? What do you feel?”

Although Lin Mu was a mechanical Life, he could still perceive temperature.

“Responding, Commander Sir, the temperature is indeed dropping, and the rate of decrease is gradually accelerating.”

Lin Mu’s answer made Lin Yang’s expression change: “The temperature inside the spaceship is dropping?”

“Yes, Commander Sir, but this decrease has just begun, and it shouldn’t be the spaceship’s interior getting colder, but rather the external temperature becoming very low, which then affects the spaceship’s interior,” Lin Mu checked the spaceship’s condition and made a judgment.

“The external temperature is dropping? We are currently sailing in the universe. Could we have encountered some ultra-low temperature star?” Lin Yang’s expression became serious.

Being able to affect the temperature of a cosmic starfield would not be a small problem.

“The spaceship’s detection range hasn’t detected any abnormal planets or conditions, but the temperature is indeed continuously dropping,” Lin Mu replied.

“I…” Lin Yang was about to speak when he suddenly shivered, and an inexplicable chill instantly swept through his body.

“Achoo…”

The next second, Lin Yang couldn’t help but sneeze, expelling a large mouthful of cold air, and shivered as he said: “Cold, so cold, what on earth is going on?!”

One second he was fine, the next he suddenly felt as if it were the dead of winter, making him shiver from the cold.

Lin Mu, seeing this, immediately adjusted the temperature inside the spaceship, but the effect was not very obvious.

Cang Miao, meanwhile, quickly retrieved a thermal suit for Lin Yang: “Commander Sir, you should put on clothes first.”

Lin Yang didn’t delay, immediately putting on the thermal suit, and only then felt a little better: “This is truly strange. How could it suddenly be so cold, even affecting the spaceship’s constant temperature system.”

“Commander Sir, it seems we’ve encountered trouble. This low temperature can penetrate the spaceship. I’m afraid there’s something ultra-low temperature in this star system. According to the current rate of temperature drop, it won’t be long before the spaceship’s flight might be affected,” Lin Mu, after further calculations, spoke gravely to warn him.

“Can we avoid it?” Lin Yang asked.

Lin Mu shook his head: “The detection system hasn’t detected any abnormal presence. We currently cannot determine which direction the low temperature is coming from.”

“Big trouble, huh?” Lin Yang grumbled.

“It seems so,” Lin Mu shrugged. In the universe, such inexplicable and bizarre situations were what they feared most.

“How about we find a nearby planet to land on and check the situation? Continuing to sail is too dangerous,” Lin Yang said.

Now that the source of the low temperature hadn’t even been detected, continuing to fly was too risky.

Although temporarily finding a planet to land on also carried risks, at least inside a planet, it was safer than in the universe.

“The environments of nearby planets are extremely harsh,” Lin Mu waved his hand, and the surrounding planet conditions appeared in a three-dimensional display.

“Just pick one,” Lin Yang glanced at them, waving his hand indifferently.

Anyway, after they landed, they would still live inside the spaceship. Whether the planet’s internal environment was suitable for survival was not important at all.

“Alright, Commander Sir.” Lin Mu, seeing this, directly chose the closest planet and prepared to land.

However, the next second, the sharp, synthesized mechanical voice of the Apocalypse suddenly rang out on the spaceship:

“Warning! Warning! Unknown level energy object detected ahead! Please make way!”

This sudden warning made Lin Yang and the others look towards the front of the spaceship.

In front of the spaceship, in the dark universe, a crystal-clear ice coffin had appeared at some unknown time.

The ice coffin was directly blocking the Apocalypse’s path.

Visible cold white mist continuously emanated from it.

“This is… a coffin??” Lin Yang and the others exchanged glances.

An ice coffin suddenly appearing in the universe, to be honest, made one’s heart tremble a little.

“Commander Sir, there’s a person inside the ice coffin!” Cang Miao’s eyesight was excellent, and he saw at a glance that there was a person lying inside the ice coffin.

“I see him!” Lin Yang said, speechless. He wasn’t blind; the ice coffin was transparent, so of course he could see the person lying inside.

“Then, Commander Sir, should we save him?”

Cang Miao spoke again, his words startling, and made Lin Yang jump again.

“Save him?? What do you mean? Is the person in this ice coffin not completely dead yet?”

“Yes, Commander Sir, the person inside seems to be alive. I can feel it,” Cang Miao, however, nodded seriously.

“You felt it? You’re not joking? How can you feel it from such a distance?” Lin Yang’s eyes widened involuntarily.

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling,” Cang Miao scratched his head, replying with a simple and honest look.

“…” Lin Yang couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Lin Mu, however, also suddenly said: “Commander Sir, after detection, the person in the ice coffin indeed still has some Life signs. This ice coffin has an extremely low temperature. It seems to be a type of freezing technology, keeping this person from dying within it.”

“Really not dead?”

This made Lin Yang even more serious.

“Yes, would you like to rescue him?” Lin Mu also asked.

“This…” Lin Yang immediately hesitated.

Suddenly encountering such an ice coffin in the universe, with the person inside still alive, seemed abnormal no matter how one looked at it.

He didn’t want to get involved.

But if he didn’t save him…

“Save my ass, bypass this ice coffin, let’s speed up and get out of here!” Lin Yang said.

With something so bizarre, no normal person would possibly try to save him, right?

This wasn’t just anything, it was a coffin!

What good person would lie in a coffin for no reason?

“Uh…”

Lin Mu and Cang Miao were both stunned by his words.

“What are you two still standing around for? Hurry up and get out of here! I don’t want to get into any bad luck!” Lin Yang said faintly, then prepared to change direction and bypass the ice coffin.

But, the next second, the system’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

“Detecting a special characteristic Life form. Rescuing this Life form will grant the Host a certain reward.”

Lin Yang’s hand movements immediately paused.

Then, under the astonished gazes of Lin Mu and Cang Miao, Lin Yang turned around and slowly said: “Lin Mu, put on your flight mecha and go drag this ice coffin in.”

“Uh… Commander Sir, didn’t you say you weren’t going to save him?” Lin Mu was a bit slow to react.

“When you’re Overseas, how can you just stand by and watch someone die? I’m not that kind of person!” Lin Yang said righteously, “Life is at stake, hurry up!”

“…” Lin Mu and Cang Miao immediately exchanged glances.

—

This chapter is two chapters combined into one, not just one update, okay!

Thanks to Brother Mo Yi Ran for the reward. I wish you all the best and great wealth, bowing to you!

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