150: Son of the Tower

Above the mission objective, an unusual light flickered.

Qin Jin scanned it, and after confirming, his wristband vibrated slightly, and new information appeared.

[All participants' factions have been selected]

[Civilization Ruins map fully open]

[Fixed evacuation point has changed, now automatically opens at a fixed time daily]

[After a participant chooses to evacuate, they will enter a 60-minute cooldown period, during which they cannot enter the Civilization Ruins]

[After a participant is eliminated, they will enter a 120-minute cooldown period, during which they cannot enter the Civilization Ruins]

"Faction assignment, Civilization Ruins open."

"This is the full scope of the team competition finally unfolding."

"Next, this entire Civilization Ruins will become utterly chaotic. Even if they are in the same faction, different ideas will lead to different courses of action."

"Elimination has a greater penalty than evacuation, but for players confident in their own strength, there will be more time to gain points within the ruins."

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

Through the mental seed, Qin Jin's voice sounded.

"Everyone."

Qin Jin's expression was calm as he looked towards the center of the city.

"The Saints and the Divine Children are both our targets."

"Currently, we cannot determine what level their combat power is set at."

"You mean..."

A response sounded on the mental plane.

"The faction assignment has just finished. What follows is the most chaotic time in the entire Civilization Ruins. I'll take this opportunity to test their capabilities."

Qin Jin's eyes lowered slightly: "If their strength is insufficient, then we'll directly speed up this team competition."

"If their strength is strong enough, then my actions might attract other teams with similar intentions to ours."

Qin Jin looked towards the center of the city.

Everything in the Civilization Ruins is based on the team competition, so... the Divine Children and the Saints must have an upper limit to their strength and the possibility of being defeated.

This was also one of the reasons he hadn't made a faction choice.

Even though he couldn't yet determine the exact combat power of the opponents, Qin Jin had ample confidence in his own strength and the trump cards he hadn't yet unleashed.

"That's right."

Shi Luoshu's voice sounded: "Qin Jin, which one are you going to test?"

"The Divine Child."

Qin Jin replied: "Putting aside the participants, the Divine Child's side currently has the upper hand. The mutated Divine Child is very likely stronger than the Saint."

"I've already seen the Saint, but I haven't seen the Divine Child's true form yet."

Upon hearing his words, Shi Luoshu said: "In that case, pick a few people to go with you."

"I'll handle the test for the Saint."

"No need."

Qin Jin's figure had already shot out.

"It's faster if I act alone."

"After all, this is still primarily an attempt."

Qin Jin's expression was calm: "Analyzing from the previous point acquisition channels, I can confirm that our Wuyuan is ranked high, very possibly currently first."

"We already have an advantage, Senior Shi, I suggest that, apart from you, the others gather and fight together to gain points, solidify our advantage, and also ensure a fallback."

After leaving that last sentence.

Qin Jin voluntarily disconnected from the seed and rapidly approached the city center.

Below.

The combat mechanical bodies and Contaminator in battle, upon his approach, subtly shifted their attention, preparing to attack him.

Qin Jin's thoughts stirred.

Within his Spiritual Void, wind-attributed spiritual energy surged forth, adhering to his body, concealing him.

With the enhancement of wind spiritual energy, his speed increased further.

Now, within the Civilization Ruins, even after being eliminated, one could re-enter after two hours. This gave Qin Jin fewer reservations and prompted him to propose a new plan.

As he moved forward, his heart stirred, and Qin Jin raised his wristband, focusing his gaze on the option above.

That was the option connected to the Industrial Zone [Saint's Home].

"The option didn't disappear because of the faction choice."

"Is it because this ability is provided by an acquired item...?"

The wind blew past.

Qin Jin's figure moved forward, quickly disappearing from sight.

...

Civilization Ruins.

Inside a hollowed-out architectural ruin.

Several figures gathered here.

If Qin Jin were here, he would instantly recognize several familiar faces.

Gu Xiwun and Yuan Shen were both first-year general-level students he had encountered during academy missions.

And the muscular man he had met during a recent special exploration.

Tian Ce Academy.

The group gathered here, seemingly waiting for others.

During academy missions, the glasses Gu Xiwun wore had special functions. Now, because all team competition equipment had been confiscated, out of habit, he wore plain glasses.

At this moment, a somewhat incomplete map was spread out before him, and he was carefully observing and recording.

On the other side.

A figure stood in front of the muscular man, speaking with a tone of confirmation: "Captain, are you sure?"

This muscular man was Dragon Cloud Safety, a third-year student sent by Tian Ce to participate in this competition, and the captain of this small team.

When asked, he was stretching his body and nodded: "Sure."

"Once everyone arrives, just follow the plan. Haven't you been boasting about mastering a more advanced ability ahead of time? Now's your chance to show it."

"I understand."

"But..."

"No buts."

To the side, Gu Xiwun's calm voice sounded.

"Since we chose this path, now is the best opportunity to act."

"Once the participants become familiar with the factions and delve deeper into the Civilization Ruins, attacking will mean facing more than just local creatures."

"What about the other one then?"

Yuan Shen's gruff voice sounded: "Even if we successfully deal with one, the other will definitely be prepared, and the difficulty will increase dramatically."

"At that time, we will have new teammates."

Gu Xiwun's voice was steady: "The team competition ends at a fixed time. According to the rules, if your own faction fails, you only lose out on extra points, with no other penalties."

"When one side no longer has point rewards, to avoid being outscored by the other faction, a situation of ebb and flow, what do you think they will do?"

"Hmm..."

Yuan Shen scratched his head, acting as if he understood: "I get it."

Gu Xiwun turned back and looked at the man who was talking to the muscular man.

"Senior Lu Ming, putting everything else aside for a moment, when you use your ability later, it won't harm us, will it?"

"Of course not!"

The one called Lu Ming was none other than the only Spiritual Energy User in Tian Ce's current competition lineup!

Among the seven major academies, Wuyuan was the purest martial arts academy and did not have a spiritual energy department, while the other academies all did.

Lu Ming's voice was solemn: "Spiritual energy itself is extremely stable. After I mastered this ability through spiritual energy enlightenment, although I cannot yet determine the final destination and it's random, it definitely won't harm you."

"That's enough then."

Dragon Cloud Safety finished stretching and patted Lu Ming's shoulder: "Sometimes, to accomplish something, you also need a bit of luck."

"Coincidentally."

"My luck has always been good."

The Tian Ce group waited there, and before long, other Tian Ce students, either alone or in groups, arrived.

Fourteen people gathered.

At this moment.

The fourteen people huddled together, with Lu Ming standing in the very center. As spiritual energy surged, his eyes glowed.

In mid-air, dormant spiritual energy was awakened. Under his control, it spiraled down from above, drawing on the ground, gradually forming a complex spiritual energy array.

Sweat seeped from his forehead.

The other Tian Ce students around waited quietly.

Time passed.

The spiritual energy array took shape.

The moment it formed, the spiritual energy burst forth with brilliant colors, various hues intertwining. The array below flickered, and light enveloped everyone from Tian Ce Academy.

When the light dissipated.

Their figures had already vanished from their original spot.

At the same time.

Another location in the Civilization Ruins.

The Tian Ce Academy group appeared.

The moment they appeared, Lu Ming's face turned pale due to extreme exhaustion, and his legs went weak. As he was about to collapse to the ground, someone next to him quickly supported him.

Spiritual Energy Teleportation!

As a fundamental force of the universe, spiritual energy is extremely mysterious, and Spiritual Energy Users can master various arcane abilities through it.

"Xiao Qi, confirm the surrounding landmarks."

"Gu Xiwun, cross-reference with the map."

Dragon Cloud Safety's orders were given.

Before long.

Gu Xiwun's voice sounded.

"The general direction is correct. We've closed the distance to the city center."

"Very good."

Dragon Cloud Safety nodded, reassuring: "Lu Ming, although your spiritual energy teleportation isn't perfected and it's random every time, it seems our luck isn't bad."

Supported by the person next to him, Lu Ming offered a weak smile.

"Yuan Shen, Lu Ming is in your care."

"Confirm the direction and continue moving."

He walked at the very front, seeing Yuan Shen carry Lu Ming on his back, gradually picking up speed.

"Charge."

"After preparing for so long, it's time for a lightning strike."

"Lu Ming, recover well. Next, we'll still need the assistance of spiritual energy."

...

Like a passing breeze, Qin Jin's aura completely vanished.

After the Civilization Ruins were fully opened, all restrictions were gone. As Qin Jin delved deeper into the city center, the number of mechanical bodies began to decrease, while the number of Contaminator surged.

Overall, the radiation zone of mechanical bodies was from the outer city to near the Industrial Zone, while Contaminator occupied the entire inner city.

Time passed...

Night fell.

Most of the Contaminator were disoriented, their auras concealed, and with the cover of night, Qin Jin moved without attracting any attention.

The night deepened.

This was the first deep night Qin Jin had spent in the Civilization Ruins.

Continuing forward, the surroundings were no longer architectural ruins but complete buildings. Compared to the Industrial Zone, this area was more complete, though... many places seemed unused.

In the deep night, after Qin Jin ascended to the rooftop of a tall building, his gaze swept forward, focusing on a particular spot.

There...

A tall tower stood.

Around the tower were spiral-shaped, staircase-like decorative structures, encircling the entire tower. The night was deep, yet inside this tower, and in the countless buildings in front of it, no lights were on.

"Divine Child faction."

Qin Jin's gaze swept over, thinking of the biological starship he had encountered: "They seem to have abandoned some technology."

"Is it because of the Divine Child's influence?"

Thoughts flashed, and Qin Jin leaped down from the rooftop. Wind spiritual energy accompanied him, and he plunged towards the spiral tower.

According to the information he obtained from the Saint, the Divine Child's true body was located in the spiral tower.

In front of the spiral tower was a large plaza. Here, no Contaminator could be seen; they only appeared further away. In Qin Jin's opinion, this might be because the Divine Child's dwelling place was not to be trespassed upon.

Upon entering the plaza and approaching the spiral tower, Qin Jin clearly heard breathing sounds.

Each inhale and exhale echoed far.

"Is this the Divine Child's breathing?"

"Perhaps the Contaminator don't approach here precisely for this reason."

"The Contaminator' power comes from the Divine Child. This special rhythm of breathing might instead affect them."

With a shift in thought, Qin Jin stepped onto the exterior of the spiral tower and rapidly ascended.

This spiral decorative structure resembled a staircase but had no actual stairs. Its surface was incredibly smooth. However, Qin Jin, stepping upon it and activating his power to adhere, climbed steadily and firmly.

The breathing grew clearer and clearer.

He climbed all the way to the top floor. Under the night sky, Qin Jin looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the tower's top floor into the interior.

If the Pure Ones' civilization still existed, this tower would likely have many technological features.

But now, it was merely an ordinary building with a peculiar appearance.

Looking inside, the top floor of the tower was a large open space. In the central area, a small figure floated in mid-air, its chest rising and falling, and the sound of breathing emanated from it.

This figure.

It was precisely the Divine Child Qin Jin had seen before!

However, the moment his gaze fell upon it, Qin Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.

At a glance, the Divine Child, resembling a Pure One infant, was sleeping peacefully. Chains pierced through its bones and coiled around various parts of its body, connecting to the void.

This appearance.

It was clearly the [Divine Child] from the war between humans and mechanical bodies, before it had mutated.

"Has the Divine Child recovered from its mutated state?"

"But the Contaminator are irreversible?"

"Or is there some deeper information?"

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

Qin Jin's eyes lowered slightly.

"Perhaps, with the full opening of the Civilization Ruins, deeper information will also be uncovered?"

"However..."

"That no longer concerns me."

He always acted on his thoughts. At this moment, the Divine Child's form surprised him somewhat, but having rushed all the way here, with the arrow already on the string, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

Qin Jin closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, the scene of the Spiritual Void was reflected in his pupils.

In an instant, the Sky Thunder Body activated. In the quiet night, thunder suddenly erupted above the spiral tower, illuminating the surroundings. The moment the Sky Thunder Body activated, Qin Jin, like an arrow released from a bowstring, shot forward, thunder shattering the floor-to-ceiling window ahead, and burst into the top floor of the tower!

The moment he entered the tower, his speed did not decrease, and he swiftly charged towards the [Divine Child]!

Its slumber was abruptly disturbed.

The Divine Child opened its eyes, revealing scarlet pupils. Its small body twisted, and the chains rattled. Before it could make any move, a fist, imbued with thunder, slammed into its body!

The fist struck the Divine Child.

Qin Jin's power erupted, and his body moved forward with the punch. The Divine Child's small body, propelled by the thunderous punch, was sent hurtling towards the other end of the top floor. In an instant, it crossed the distance, directly hitting the floor-to-ceiling window on the other side, unstoppable. Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the window shattered, and the Divine Child's body was blasted outwards.

At the broken window opening.

Brilliant thunder illuminated all directions, and faintly, a human figure could be seen.

In this quiet night, such a huge commotion suddenly occurred. The Contaminator, who had been resting around the plaza, were startled and collectively tried to ascertain the source of everything.

At the same time.

Qin Jin stood before the shattered floor-to-ceiling window, a breeze rustling, and looked out.

In mid-air.

There was a scorched mark on the Divine Child's abdomen. At this moment, the chains wrapped around its body, accompanied by a slight tremor, suddenly shattered, and its appearance began to change.