199: Chapter 199 View from Afar

The next morning, Li Xin rose early.

The sky had not yet fully brightened, and dew still clung to the stone path in the courtyard.

He stood before the second-floor window and took a look; the direction of the temple was hazy, and the light at the top of the tower was still on—a faint, orange-red speck blurred in the morning mist.

When he went downstairs, Ravi was already busy in the dining room.

On the dining table were fried eggs, toast, fruit, yogurt, and a pot of hot tea.

"Mr. Li, did you sleep well last night?"

"It was alright." Li Xin sat down and poured a cup of tea.

Ravi stood nearby, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up.

"Last night, there were people wandering outside the courtyard again, holding those handheld detectors, walking a circle along the perimeter wall.

The security guard shone a flashlight at them, and they ran off, but they came back this morning."

"The same group?"

"Yes, from the black market.

They have been watching closely lately, perhaps because the sacrificial ceremony is approaching, and they think there might be an opportunity."

Li Xin didn't respond, lowering his head to eat his toast.

After finishing breakfast, he changed into a plain cotton and linen outfit and put on a sun hat, looking like an ordinary study tour tourist.

Liu Mo was waiting at the courtyard gate; seeing him come out, he opened the car door.

"To the temple," Li Xin said.

The car didn't drive fast.

The morning in India had not yet fully awakened; there were few people on the streets, and occasionally a breakfast shop would be open, emitting white steam.

Dogs lay by the roadside; the car drove around them, and they didn't even lift their heads.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the parking lot outside the temple.

Liu Mo parked the car and followed Li Xin inside.

There weren't many people in the visiting area.

A few local elderly people were sitting on the stone steps, fingers twirling prayer beads, muttering under their breath.

A priest dressed in orange-yellow robes stood at the entrance; seeing Li Xin, he pressed his palms together and said something.

Li Xin replied with a sentence and walked inside.

The entrances to the first five secret chambers were all sealed, but one could see inside through the railings.

The stone chambers were not large, their walls made of black stone worn smooth by time, and the floors were empty, containing nothing.

The authorities had erected a sign listing the cultural relics unearthed in 2011, densely packed in several rows.

Li Xin stood outside the railings and watched for a while without speaking.

Liu Mo followed behind and whispered, "They are all empty; not a single piece was left."

Li Xin nodded and continued walking forward.

Reaching the perimeter of Chamber B, a hemp rope cordon had been set up, and the iron pillars were covered in greenish-black mold spots.

The air was noticeably cooler than outside, a cold that seemed to seep from beneath the ground, carrying a damp, earthy smell.

Li Xin stopped outside the cordon and did not go inside.

He looked at the tightly closed stone door.

The door was made of old stone, with lead seals stuffed into the cracks, and the court's seal was still attached, the paper already yellowed and the writing blurred.

The System operated silently in his consciousness.

The energy field beneath Chamber B was still the same—heavy and stifling.

But today, there was something more than yesterday; a faint layer of ripples floated on the surface of the energy layer, as if flowing slowly.

He stood there without moving, his hand resting on the railing.

"Sir, do not approach the Forbidden Ground."

An aged voice came from behind him.

Li Xin turned around; a white-haired old priest stood behind him.

He was wearing orange robes, twirling prayer beads in his hands, his face deeply wrinkled, but his eyes were clear and bright.

"I am just looking from the outside," Li Xin said.

The old priest walked to his side and looked at the stone door.

"Outside is fine, but you cannot enter inside.

A Mortal cannot step foot into the Divine Realm."

"How many years have you guarded this place?" Li Xin asked.

The old priest thought for a moment.

"Fifty years.

I have been here since I was a child, and now that I am old, I guard the door."

"Is there really a Treasure Trove underneath?"

The old priest glanced at him with a calm gaze.

"There is, but it is not something a Mortal can touch.

Anything guarded by the gods will bring retribution to whoever touches it."

After speaking, he didn't wait for Li Xin to ask anything else and turned to leave.

Li Xin stood there for a while, then also turned and walked out.

When he reached the parking lot, a white SUV drove in and stopped not far from him.

The car door opened, and a blonde man stepped out, wearing sunglasses and holding a stack of paper documents.

He saw Li Xin, paused for a moment, and then walked over.

"Are you here to visit?"

Li Xin nodded.

"Yes."

The blonde man extended his hand.

"My name is Oliver, from the European geological survey team.

We are conducting scientific surveys of the rock strata beneath the temple.

Are you interested in learning about it?"

Li Xin shook his hand.

"No need, I'm just looking around casually."

Oliver didn't give up and smiled.

"You live nearby, don't you?

I don't think you came with a tour group."

"I rented a courtyard to stay for a while."

"Oh?

Which location?" Oliver's tone was casual, but his eyes were very focused.

Li Xin pointed in a direction.

"Over there, not far from here."

Oliver looked in the direction he pointed and nodded.

"The environment over there is indeed good, quiet, and suitable for a long stay.

Are you not afraid of danger staying in India alone for so long?"

"What danger is there?" Li Xin smiled.

"The Indian people are warm, I'm used to the food and the living conditions; there's nothing I'm not used to."

Oliver also smiled, but didn't press further.

He exchanged a few polite words and turned to leave.

Liu Mo walked over and whispered, "He was looking at your hands just now."

Li Xin didn't speak and opened the car door to get in.

On the way out of the courtyard, Liu Mo glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"That man, Oliver, is very vigilant.

When he asked where you lived just now, he was probing."

"I know." Li Xin leaned back against the seat.

"He won't be able to find anything."

When they returned to the villa, it was nearly noon.

Ravi was standing in the courtyard; seeing them return, he came to greet them.

"Mr. Li, lunch is ready."

Li Xin nodded and walked into the dining room.

On the table were several local dishes: curry fish, rice, vegetables, and a bowl of soup.

He sat down and ate slowly.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Mo walked over with a tablet.

"Boss, information on Oliver's team has been found."

Li Xin took the tablet and scanned it.

Oliver Schmidt, German, 42 years old, PhD in Geology.

He has previously conducted several large-scale archaeological explorations in North Africa, backed by a private foundation.

This time in India, nominally he is conducting rock strata research, but in reality, it is a private commission.

"Can't find the client?" Li Xin asked.

Liu Mo shook his head.

"Can't find it.

The accounts use offshore companies, routed through several layers."

Li Xin returned the tablet to him.

"Just keep watching them; no need to dig deeper."

After eating, he went upstairs and sat in the study.

Outside the window, the hot wind was still blowing, and the coconut leaves rustled.

He closed his eyes, and the System in his mind was running data.

During the day, the Divine Realm is violent, the suppression is strong, and the energy fluctuations are chaotic, making it unsuitable for action.

It is even more chaotic at dusk, with various energies churned together, making it difficult even for the System to lock on.

Late at night is slightly better, but there are still fluctuations.

One o'clock in the morning is the only stable window of the entire day.

When the Divine Realm alternates, the energy barrier is loosest, and the suppression is weakest.

The System arranged this data neatly and clearly.

Li Xin opened his eyes and looked at the sky outside the window.

It was getting dark, and the temple in the distance began to light up, the orange-red light brightening bit by bit.

He picked up the pen on the table and wrote a time on a sticky note.

One o'clock in the morning.

After writing, he folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket.

Ravi walked in carrying tea.

"Mr. Li, the sacrificial ceremony starts at seven tonight and will last until the early hours.

Would you like to close the windows?

It's noisy outside."

"No need to close them," Li Xin said.

"Just leave them open."

Ravi nodded, put down the tea, and retreated.

Li Xin stood before the window holding the teacup.

In the distance, the sound of chanting could be faintly heard—low, deep, as if emerging from beneath the ground.

It wasn't one person chanting, but many, their voices layered together, buzzing, making one feel sleepy listening to it.

He took a sip of tea and remained still.

The System background popped up another line of data.

[Detected: City-wide large-scale chanting and prayer ceremony tomorrow]

[Hundreds of thousands of believers' faith energy converging on the temple]

[Will temporarily double-reinforce the Divine Realm barrier and increase suppression intensity]

[Original early morning Extraction window suppression increased by +30%, output shrinkage, fluctuations intensified]

Li Xin stared at that line of text for a few seconds.

Three hundred thousand units of faith energy had doubled the reinforcement of the Divine Realm barrier.

The original early morning window was the optimal one, but now with thirty percent more suppression, the output would shrink by at least thirty percent.

He put down the teacup and sat in the chair for a while.

He was calculating in his mind.

If the output shrinks, then run an extra round.

If the fluctuations intensify, then extend the window and select the time period with the most stable energy.

If the risk increases, then release more noise during the cooling period to mislead the European team's equipment elsewhere.

The problem could be solved, but every step had to be perfect.

He stood up and walked to the window.

The sky outside was completely dark.

The temple lights were on, conspicuous in the night.

The chanting grew louder and louder, audible throughout the entire district—low, rhythmic, like a giant heart beating.

Liu Mo knocked and entered.

"Boss, the black market gang has withdrawn.

There are many people for the ceremony tonight, so they don't dare stay outside the wall, fearing being seen by the inspectors."

"What about the European team?"

"They are still there.

Their equipment is set up on the hotel roof, running twenty-four hours a day, scanning constantly."

Li Xin nodded.

"Let them scan."

Liu Mo didn't say anything more and retreated.

Li Xin stood at the window, looking at the temple in the distance.

The System was still running in his consciousness; the energy field of Chamber B was like a sleeping beast, heavy, oppressive, and eternal.

The world revered the gods, revered the Restriction, and revered the thousand-year seal.

No one knew that someone was standing in a villa a thousand meters away, already planning how to hollow out everything they had guarded for eternity.

He sat back in the chair and picked up the teacup.

The tea had gone cold; he didn't drink it again.

One o'clock in the morning.

He still had to wait.