441: Funeral Song of the Dark Night, not joking is the biggest joke (two in one)

"Team Leader, what exactly did the encrypted message say?" Que Tian was very curious.

"You'd never guess where the Mingye Clan's base is!"

Lin Yang exclaimed again, and in Que Tian's astonished expression, he revealed the contents of the encrypted message:

"The Mingye Clan's base is inside a ruin!"

"What? In a ruin??" Que Tian was immediately shocked, finding it hard to believe: "How is that possible? Ruins are incredibly dangerous, those who enter all die. How could they build an experimental base inside a ruin?"

"I can't believe it either, but the intelligence in the encrypted message states exactly that!" Lin Yang sighed.

When he finished reading the encrypted message just now, he was also greatly surprised.

The Mingye Clan's base was actually in a ruin within the Unknown Space!

This was simply an earth-shattering piece of news!

"That team member from the Fourth Team said that after he separated from us, knowing he wouldn't live much longer, he simply accelerated the spaceship's journey, rushing towards the depths of the Unknown Space. He wanted to see more secrets in the depths of the Unknown Space before he died."

Lin Yang spoke, giving Que Tian more information.

"However, he didn't see the secrets of the Unknown Space's depths. Instead, after several months of accelerated travel, he discovered a place where many Life forms gathered. That place was a ruin, and there he unexpectedly found Mingye Clan members entering and exiting the ruin."

"Ah? How did he discover it? Can it be confirmed?" Que Tian subconsciously asked.

"The message didn't mention how exactly it was discovered."

Lin Yang shook his head.

"Presumably, there wasn't enough time to elaborate. As for whether it's confirmed..."

"The message said he couldn't be 100% certain, because once inside the ruin, information definitely couldn't be transmitted out. He only saw Mingye Clan members entering and exiting the ruin, so he deduced that the Mingye Clan's base was inside that ruin."

At this point, Lin Yang sighed:

"During this time, to prevent the warship from being detected by the Mingye Clan, he used his companion's body and himself to attract more Life forms to attach."

"Those new Life forms could block signal sources. After attracting a large number of Life forms to attach, the warship safely escaped the ruin's entrance area and began its automatic return journey along the route he had previously set."

"The message he left said he couldn't be sure if the spaceship and this message would ultimately be received by the Human Alliance, but this was the only thing he could do."

Upon hearing this, Que Tian also sighed with emotion: "He truly is a respectable person."

Lin Yang nodded.

Although the information left by the other party wasn't extensive, one could infer that the current situation on the spaceship was likely arranged by that team member before his death.

He had done everything he could.

The various hatches leading to the power room were completely locked, likely to minimize damage to the power room.

Shutting down the spaceship's other Systems and functions was probably also an attempt to avoid detection by the Mingye Clan.

"It's hard to imagine the struggle he went through when he decided to use his companion's body as a lure." Que Tian sighed again.

Sometimes, sacrificing oneself is easy, but using the body of one's companion is a great psychological test.

Lin Yang nodded slightly, remained silent for a moment, then said: "Their sacrifice won't be in vain. For now, let's transmit this news."

With that, he opened the team communication device to transmit the information and simultaneously transmitted the spaceship's flight path map, so that other teams could know the approximate location of the ruin.

Now that the spaceship was next to the Stone Statue, the new Life forms' ability to block signal sources couldn't take effect, allowing the Fourth Team's spaceship to successfully send messages outward.

Tens of minutes later, replies were successively received from all other teams except Vermillion Bird.

They all indicated that they had received the relevant information and had reported it to the Human Alliance Headquarters.

"After all, the professional communication equipment on the spaceship is more convenient." Lin Yang sighed.

The communication devices built into his and Que Tian's personal combat suits could only send messages to the linked Vermillion Bird ship, not contact other teams.

This was also why the two of them hadn't called for help from other teams before.

The communication equipment configured in this type of single-person combat suit only served an auxiliary communication role.

The primary function of the combat suit was combat, so it only had a built-in communication device module.

Although it could allow for fuzzy conversations with other more professional equipment within a certain distance through wartime authorization, it couldn't actively contact other team warships without a direct link and at an extremely long distance.

Otherwise, the two of them wouldn't have suffered here for several months without being able to contact other rescue teams.

However, as the saying goes, fortune is intertwined with misfortune.

It was precisely because the two of them couldn't contact other teams and didn't receive timely rescue that they are now here, waiting for the Fourth Team's warship to return.

If they had contacted other teams and been rescued in time, it would have been virtually impossible to see this returning Fourth Team warship now.

Although this warship might be discovered by others at some point in the future.

But the time wasted, and the price paid by other teams for continued exploration, might all double.

"Fate is indeed strange."

Que Tian understood Lin Yang's meaning from his sigh, and immediately also exclaimed.

Then, Que Tian looked at Lin Yang and asked: "Team Leader, you just said we were going to do something big, what did you mean?"

According to the current situation, they could use the Fourth Team's warship to leave this area, and they had also learned the location of the Mingye Clan's base.

This reconnaissance mission could be said to be already concluded.

But Lin Yang just said he wanted to do something big, which left Que Tian a bit puzzled.

"Logically speaking, our mission could indeed end here."

Lin Yang also looked at Que Tian and said:

"But after we return, judging by the current situation where Alliance Headquarters is short-staffed, we will definitely have to re-enter with the Alliance Headquarters personnel to eradicate the Mingye Clan base."

"You shouldn't have a different opinion on this, right?"

"No." Que Tian shook his head, "We are familiar with the situation here, and we are the primary witnesses who discovered the Fourth Team's warship and classified content. We also possess not-so-weak strength. The Alliance will definitely have us come back in with them."

"Exactly! So, instead of returning and coming back, which would waste a lot of time, it's better to use this time to do something big." Lin Yang's gaze was deep.

Que Tian was startled, then seemed to understand something, and said incredulously: "Team Leader, you don't mean for the two of us to break into the ruin, do you?"

"Hehe, that's right! We're going to the ruin!" Lin Yang laughed.

"...How is that different from seeking death?" Que Tian was speechless. "That's a ruin!"

Ruins, whether in the records of the Taixuan Ancient Dynasty or the Alliance Headquarters, were places where all who entered died, with no chance of survival.

Lin Yang was now suggesting that the two of them break into a ruin?

Was he not insane?

"Hehe, precisely because it's a ruin, that's why we have to go!"

Lin Yang laughed again, and in Que Tian's puzzled expression, he calmly explained:

"It's well known that entering a ruin means certain death, yet the Mingye Clan built their base inside a ruin. It's clear that this absolutely has the help of that high-dimensional Life form."

"Since, with the help of that high-dimensional Life form, the Mingye Clan can be safe and sound inside the ruin, that means that ruin is currently safe!"

"No matter how that high-dimensional Life form achieved it, since the Mingye Clan can be safe inside, then we can too!"

Hearing this, Que Tian's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but say: "That logic holds, but Team Leader, even if the ruin is safe inside, the two of us can't possibly be a match for so many Mingye Clan members!"

"The Mingye Clan built that base in the ruin, so that base must be a super important, large-scale base. The security and all other aspects of its power must be extremely strong, and it might even have some power and means granted by that high-dimensional Life form. If the two of us go in, it's a bit like seeking death."

After he spoke, Que Tian seemed to think of something and quickly added:

"Let me clarify first, I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to die meaninglessly and without value!"

"..." Lin Yang immediately gave Que Tian a strange look, "I know you're not afraid of death, but I didn't say the two of us are going to deal with the Mingye Clan members in the ruin!"

"Huh? Team Leader, what do you mean? If not us two, then who?" Que Tian was a bit confused by Lin Yang.

Lin Yang didn't say much, but instead pointed to the Stone Statue next to the warship.

Que Tian was startled.

Lin Yang leisurely said: "The character ' 鎮' on the Stone Statue's chest is almost erased. Don't you want to see what happens after it's completely erased?"

"..." Que Tian was silent.

A moment later.

"Team Leader, I have to say, you're incredibly bold."

Que Tian spoke, his eyes very strange.

Lin Yang actually wanted to use the Stone Statue to deal with the Mingye Clan members?

This idea was a bit too audacious!

That was the Stone Statue!

The eerie Stone Statue!

Using the Stone Statue?

"Team Leader, aren't you afraid that after the Stone Statue opens its eyes, it'll take you out first?" Que Tian said again.

A strange and powerful existence, who would be willing to be used?

And to be used by an ant weaker than itself.

If the Stone Statue truly had a spirit... Que Tian even started imagining the scene where the Stone Statue, in its fury after opening its eyes, would simply turn Lin Yang into people-shredded fragments with a single glance.

Using the Stone Statue, this was too bold!

"Ahem, what 'using'? Don't put it so harshly, this is called cooperation!"

Lin Yang glanced nervously at the Stone Statue, made a shushing gesture to Que Tian, then whispered:

"According to various records within the Alien Management Bureau, if we leave the Unknown Space and then re-enter, we might not encounter the same Stone Statue again. This Stone Statue can deter Life forms, which can help us pass through the Life form gathering area in the ruin. This is a rare opportunity."

"As for whether it will take me out first after opening its eyes, to be honest, that's not currently within my consideration."

"Ah? Team Leader, that's not even within your consideration, then what are you considering?" Que Tian was stunned.

If he wasn't even considering his own Life, what else was worth considering?

"The main problem I'm considering now is to confirm whether the Stone Statue will follow me into the interior of the ruin." Lin Yang said softly.

"This... Team Leader, are you really sure you want to do this?" Que Tian became serious.

He could tell that Lin Yang wasn't joking.

But for this matter not to be a joke, in Que Tian's eyes, was the biggest joke.

If they really did this, they would most likely not survive!

So, without waiting for Lin Yang to answer, Que Tian said:

"Team Leader, why don't you reconsider? Even if the Stone Statue enters the ruin with you, and the ruin can accommodate it, what if this Stone Statue also fears the power of that high-dimensional Life form and dares not destroy the Mingye Clan base? At that time, if the Mingye Clan seals the entrance, it will be like catching a turtle in a jar."

Que Tian seriously raised the question.

Just as he said, he wasn't afraid of death, he just feared dying without value or meaning.

There were simply too many uncertainties regarding the Stone Statue now, and he didn't want Lin Yang to take such a risk.

Lin Yang paused at this, then replied: "I know your many concerns. These are indeed very objective problems. However, if we don't try, how will we know if it will work?"

"If it fails, it's death!" Que Tian reminded again.

"What if I said I'm confident I won't die?" Lin Yang looked at Que Tian.

"What confidence?" Que Tian's eyes narrowed.

"I can't explain too much to you, but I am confident that I will enter the ruin and come out alive. So, for this operation, I won't require you to come with me."

Lin Yang slowly said.

"I can send you out of this area first, contact other teams to pick you up, and then I'll go to the ruin alone to test it."

"...Team Leader, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should." Que Tian was silent for a moment, then spoke in a strange tone.

"What is it? Just say it." Lin Yang was puzzled.

"You're simply a lunatic!" Que Tian let out a long breath. "Is it worth fighting so hard for a bit of contribution and merit?"

He didn't understand!

"Uh..." Lin Yang was a bit speechless.

Lunatic?

He wasn't crazy!

The reason he was like this was because after learning the location of the Mingye Clan's base just now...

The System suddenly popped up a mission.

"Nether Night Dirge (Epic): Destroy the Mingye Clan's human gene recombination and modification base within the Unknown Space ruin, to prevent more human kin from being harmed."

"Mission Success Reward: Will reward a massive national treasure value, a large amount of achievement points, and corresponding special items, based on the degree of destruction and the time of destruction. The earlier it is destroyed, and the higher the destruction degree, the better the reward!"

"Mission Failure Reward: None."

"Note (1): This is a special limited-time acceptance mission. Host, please choose to accept within twenty-four hours. Overdue will be considered abandonment, and this mission will not reappear."

"Note (2): This is a free mission. Due to the high difficulty of the mission, it is not necessarily required to complete. Host may choose whether to accept based on the situation."

"Note (3): If the mission is accepted, it will last for six months. After six months, corresponding rewards will be issued at the same time according to the completion degree."

"..."

This mission came suddenly, catching Lin Yang completely off guard.

And it was a timed mission!

Six months was not enough time to even transmit the news, let alone wait for the main forces of the Human Alliance Headquarters' reinforcements to arrive.

Therefore, Lin Yang could only choose to accept the mission and take a gamble.

After all, the System hadn't given a mission in a very, very long time.

And the rewards for this mission were particularly generous!

Massive national treasure value, a large amount of achievement points!

For the System to use terms like "massive" and "large amount" to describe them, it was enough to prove that once completed, the national treasure value and achievement points obtained would definitely be unimaginably high.

For Lin Yang, who was currently severely lacking national treasure value, this was an irresistible temptation!

Furthermore, this was the first time the System had given a mission difficulty when giving a mission!

Epic-level!

Not only did it give a mission difficulty, but it was Epic-level right from the start!

This was enough to highlight the special nature of this mission!

Of course, Lin Yang wasn't the kind of person who would be blinded by mission rewards.

The mission rewards were indeed generous.

But the Epic-level difficulty still made him hesitate.

What truly made him determined was...

"Host, the System has detected a special mission. This mission is a special trigger mission from the System's underlying rules, extremely rare. Host, please be sure to accept and complete it, and you will receive unimaginable rewards!"

"The System will fully assist you in your mission attempt. The System can activate a medium-distance instantaneous jump for you to ensure your safety!"

The System's voice also sounded after the mission appeared, and it seemed very excited.

It even directly stated that as long as Lin Yang accepted the mission, he could consume a small amount of existing national treasure value to perform an absolutely safe jump, ensuring that he would not encounter any accidents during the Stone Statue experiment.

This left Lin Yang with no reason to refuse!

It was also why he just said he was confident he wouldn't die!

A suddenly appearing special mission, and a rare mission triggered by the underlying rules.

And the System's super-privileged assistance with instantaneous jump!

How could he not take a gamble?