98: Chapter 98 Exclusive Mission

"Pull off something big?"

Wang Pingan looked at Mentor Murphy, who had suddenly become mysterious, and a question mark slowly appeared on his forehead.

Wasn't this old man just acting indifferent and annoyed by his presence a moment ago?

How had his attitude done a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in just a few hours?

And what was this about "pulling off something big"?

By the sound of it, it was like he was planning to rob a bank.

"Mentor, what is this about…" Wang Pingan asked with some hesitation.

"Follow me."

Mentor Murphy didn't offer any further explanation; he simply beckoned to Wang Pingan.

Then, he turned and walked back toward the control room he had come from.

Although Wang Pingan was full of doubts, he followed him anyway.

He wanted to see what kind of trick this eccentric old man was playing.

The two returned, one after the other, to the control room piled high with blueprints and instruments.

Mentor Murphy walked to the massive experimental table and slammed his thermos down onto it.

Then, he waved his hand sharply.

"Authorization confirmed: Murphy, highest level."

Whoosh!

In an instant, all the lights in the control room turned red, signaling the highest alert level.

The thick alloy door closed silently, and several gates descended from within, completely isolating the room from the outside world.

A visible, pale blue energy shield appeared on the walls surrounding the room.

This setup made it look like they were about to launch a nuclear missile.

Wang Pingan couldn't help but feel his heart rise into his throat.

"Kid, sit."

Mentor Murphy pointed to the chair opposite him.

Wang Pingan sat down as instructed.

Mentor Murphy took a deep breath, and a flush of fanatical excitement, completely at odds with his age, appeared on his wrinkled face.

He turned on a holographic projection device in front of him.

Hum—

A massive, sci-fi-looking 3D star map instantly appeared in the air between them.

This star map was countless times more precise and complex than the one Wang Pingan had seen at the mission center.

Countless galaxies and nebulae drifted slowly against the dark cosmic background like sparkling diamonds.

"Kid, look here."

Mentor Murphy extended his thin, withered finger and tapped gently on the vast star map.

The image on the star map began to zoom in rapidly.

It finally locked onto a desolate and silent unknown star region located at the edge of the Milky Way.

In the center of that star region was a massive nebula emitting an eerie, dark red light.

The nebula was shaped like a terrifying vortex, constantly spinning and filled with an aura of destruction.

"This is the source of a 'Subspace Storm' that our Sky Dome Observatory discovered just a month ago."

Mentor Murphy's voice became somewhat low, carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement.

"A 'Subspace Storm'?" Wang Pingan's heart skipped a beat.

He had seen records of this term in the library at the Special Recruitment Camp.

It was an extremely rare and dangerous cosmic disaster.

It was a spacetime distortion phenomenon caused by an unstable "overlap" between the higher-dimensional "subspace" and the three-dimensional universe they inhabited.

Wherever the Subspace Storm passed, all matter would be torn into its most basic particles by the violent spacetime turbulence.

Even high-level martial artists of the seventh or even eighth rank would have a slim chance of survival if they were caught in it.

"Correct."

Mentor Murphy nodded, his cloudy old eyes gleaming with excitement.

"But danger is often accompanied by opportunity."

"According to my calculations, at the core of this Subspace Storm, it is highly likely that a legendary natural wonder has been birthed."

He tapped the star map again.

A 3D model of an object appeared before Wang Pingan.

It was an irregular crystal that appeared dreamlike, with a seven-colored glazed luster throughout its body.

Inside the crystal, it seemed as if countless stars were being born, dying, and flowing.

A mysterious and profound aura, one that transcended time and space and seemed not to belong to this dimension, emanated from the crystal model.

【Ding!】

【Detected simulated data for the ultra-high-tier energy item 'core of spacetime'!】

【This item is a cosmic wonder formed by the pure primordial power of spacetime when a subspace collides with the real universe!】

【Contains an extremely vast, primordial power of spacetime!】

【After absorption, you can acquire innate abilities related to 'space' or 'time'!】

【Convertible pay-to-win points: ???】

A series of golden system notifications, filled with shocking implications, flooded Wang Pingan's mind!

Those last three question marks made him feel as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat!

Even the system couldn't estimate its value!

What… what the hell kind of treasure is this?!

Wang Pingan's breathing stopped for that instant.

He stared fixedly at the model of the "core of spacetime," feeling the blood in his entire body burning!

He knew this was the real big deal he had been looking for, the one that could make him "rich overnight"!

"How about it, kid? Tempted, aren't you?"

Mentor Murphy looked at Wang Pingan's stunned expression and revealed a smile like an old fox, one that said "everything is under control."

"The value of this 'core of spacetime' is immeasurable."

"Not to mention within our Xuanyuan University, even looking at the entire Human Federation, it would be enough to cause countless old monsters to fight over it frantically!"

"As long as we can get our hands on it, never mind credits or resources."

"We could even directly apply to the Federation Academy of Sciences for an independent, top-level scientific research project!"

Mentor Murphy became more and more excited as he spoke, his small, thin frame trembling slightly from agitation.

Wang Pingan forcibly suppressed the wild joy and excitement in his heart.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down.

He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

To obtain such a precious treasure, the price to pay and the risks to face would definitely be beyond imagination.

"Mentor."

Wang Pingan's gaze became incredibly sharp.

"Why did this mission come to me?"

"With your status and authority, finding a few powerful helpers shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"Why did you choose me, a freshman who just enrolled?"

This was the crux of the matter.

When Mentor Murphy heard his question, the smile on his face faltered slightly.

He looked at Wang Pingan deeply, and a flash of approval crossed his cloudy old eyes.

"You kid, you really aren't just a brute who only knows how to fix things."

"Your brain is actually usable."

He was silent for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.

After a long while.

He spoke slowly.