Chapter 274: Chapter 260 Jade Tiger

At the second gate, Zhou Leng encountered the same treatment, a phone call for verification.

The guard accepted Zhou Leng’s identity, but Zhao Nandi became curious.

While the third lieutenant was verifying the information, Zhao Nandi walked over and peeked at the light screen in front of the lieutenant.

The lieutenant recognized her and pretended not to see.

After verification, the two passed through the third gate.

Zhao Nandi glanced at Zhou Leng, her eyebrows glimmering: “What exactly are you hiding from me? It’s not just ordinary people, even those noble families in Xiong City may not be able to obtain so many identities and honors at your age.”

“I’m just lucky, encountered the Celestial Ladder, and met you, sister.” Zhou Leng didn’t want Zhao Nandi to investigate further.

“Hmph. No matter what opportunities you have, don’t delay the Divine Text. As for other things, like flirting, it’s understandable, after all, you are young.” Zhao Nandi said.

“I’ve always been serious about studying the Divine Text.” Zhou Leng said.

“Let’s go, the old masters are likely going to test you, show them your full skills and let them see my judgment.”

“I certainly won’t disgrace our school.”

Exiting the passageway, inside was like an ordinary excavation site, covered by a massive factory building.

This place was bigger and more spacious.

The ground at the bottom of the huge pit had pieces of fragmented blue-black stone slabs, enduring countless ages, the slabs remained hard.

Scattered throughout the bottom of the pit were many artifacts only seen in photos.

On the left and right sides stood the Ancient River Stele and the Ancient River Jade Stele.

Behind the stele were ancient broken walls, a ruined copper gate, old nameplates, half a large copper furnace, and many decayed wooden boards…

Inside the large factory, the lights were bright, filled with numerous surveillance cameras.

Some elderly experts with white hair and beards walked around everywhere.

No young people were in sight, only those of senior researcher level or above could enter.

Seeing Zhao Nandi enter, three old experts smiled and approached, hands behind their backs, not saying a word.

After Zhao Nandi introduced the three people to Zhou Leng, she ignored them and took Zhou Leng on a tour.

The two arrived before the Ancient River Stele with blurry inscriptions, and Zhao Nandi gave a brief introduction when an expert behind them suddenly pointed to a Divine Text.

“Xiaozhou, you should recognize this Divine Text, right?”

“It means disciple.” Zhou Leng thought this was the Divine Text he had confirmed, it was even on the high-level Divine Text examination.

“Why not child?”

“The Mysterious Master was very clear, because it needs to connect with the text before and after…” Zhou Leng was very helpless and reiterated what he had written.

Other Divine Text experts took turns asking questions, each trickier than the last.

Zhou Leng answered with ease, completely correct.

The experts exchanged glances and left with hands behind their backs.

Zhao Nandi smiled proudly, bringing Zhou Leng to the Ancient River Jade Stele.

“This is the jade stele you escorted, feel free to touch it, I got you covered.” Zhao Nandi winked at Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng carefully observed.

Sure enough, it was just like the memories in the dream, but the Martial Arts Traces in the dream were more numerous and clearer than those on the stele.

Zhou Leng reached out and slowly touched it.

In an instant, the scenes from the dream reappeared, the engravings on the jade stele in the dream were clear and deeply imprinted in his mind.

An indescribable feeling spread throughout his body.

Subsequently, the Sea Suppressing remnant map in the Will World gently shook, seemingly emitting a faint white light.

In his mind, the Cosmic Tsunami Map appeared once more.

These Martial Arts Traces were evidently engraved by a mysterious master imitating the wave patterns of another Sea Suppressing remnant map.

The illusion in his mind dispersed, and Zhou Leng withdrew his hand.

Comparing with the inscriptions in his memory again, none were wrong, and they were more numerous and complete than those on the jade stele.

“How is it?” Zhao Nandi asked in a low voice.

“I have a little insight.” Zhou Leng said.

Zhao Nandi said: “That’s great, tonight the two of us are on night duty, you sit here.”

“Can we do that?”

“Of course, we can.”

Zhou Leng understood that it was Sister Nandi who used her connections, otherwise the director would never agree.

Zhou Leng glanced at Zhao Nandi, his gaze gentle.

Zhao Nandi felt the disciple’s gratitude, and her heart warmed.

After Zhou Leng finished gaining insight, the two visited other places, and several additional experts came forward to test Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng answered fluently, even offering his own insights in some areas, prompting the experts to ponder.

Zhao Nandi glanced at Zhou Leng, thinking that some of the content was what the Mysterious Master had mentioned, with evidence increasingly pointing to Elder Song.

As Zhou Leng’s expertise spread, other experts no longer approached.

The two quietly toured the site.

They hastily used Marching Pills for lunch.

There was so much excavated here, the two examined it meticulously, unable to finish in a few days.

In the afternoon, a team entered.

Zhou Leng and Zhao Nandi did not look, continuing to examine the artifacts closely.

Some experts turned to see, showing surprised expressions, most went over except for a few minding their own business.

The director of the Ancient River Ruins Research Institute and the major of the garrison accompanied someone.

A Sea Siren hybrid.

Blood of Tyranny.

The Blood of Tyranny swept a glance at the edge of the pit, stopped momentarily at Zhou Leng’s back, then turned to look at the Ancient River Jade Stele, slowly walking over.

The crowd followed him to the Ancient River Jade Stele.

The Blood of Tyranny reached out to stroke the jade stele, showing a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

The others were puzzled, not expecting the Blood of Tyranny to have such a deep connection with the Ancient River Ruins, publicly displaying such intense emotions.

He seemed nothing like the terrifying Sea Siren who slaughtered everything.

The Blood of Tyranny stood before the Ancient River Jade Stele, hands lowered, quietly observing.

Zhou Leng turned around, catching sight of a tall figure out of the corner of his eye. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than the Blood of Tyranny.

“Sister Nan Di, I’ve met Senior Blood of Tyranny before, I should go greet him,” Zhou Leng said.

“Then stay behind me.” Zhao Nandi glanced at the Blood of Tyranny, her face turning pale as she positioned herself in front of Zhou Leng.

In the rumors of the Dragon Country, the Blood of Tyranny was a profoundly terrifying entity.

Slaughtering thousands or tens of thousands of Sea Sirens was like everyday business for him.

He was even regarded as the first Grandmaster.

The Human Race’s leadership had always attempted to win him over, but he consistently refused.

Zhou Leng approached, watching as the Blood of Tyranny was in deep contemplation, standing quietly.

Zhao Nandi glanced at the Blood of Tyranny, whose appearance was somewhere between human and Sea Siren, with bony fish fins growing behind his head, elbows, and knees.

Red hair and blue skin, exuding a powerful aura.

Though now calm, he seemed like a wildfire ready to ignite everything at any moment.

After a long while, the Blood of Tyranny turned his head towards Zhou Leng.

“Zhou Leng greets Brother Blood of Tyranny,” Zhou Leng cupped his fists as he greeted.

The rest of the institute staff quickly turned their attention over.

“I knew you would come, rather than participate in the useless Ten Realms Youth Battle,” the Blood of Tyranny remarked, then ignored Zhou Leng and continued staring at the Ancient River Jade Stele.

The current him was entirely different from his genteel persona in the Ancient River Illusion Realm.

Zhou Leng, with Zhao Nandi, moved on to explore other areas, further delving into the Ancient River Ruins.

The Blood of Tyranny contemplated for a long time, then took out a string of bright red beads from his Magic Spirit Bag, resembling crimson jade, and wore it on his left wrist.

The experts present observed the blood-red bracelet secretly. The beads were scarce, seemingly incomplete.

Some beads were damaged, showing cracks.

This bracelet had only about half the number of beads of a regular one.

The experts pondered for a long time but had no clues.

Zhou Leng, from a distance from the pit, watched a piece of broken armor with Zhao Nandi, suddenly turning his head towards the Blood of Tyranny’s direction.

The Ancient River Jade Stele and other structures obscured the Blood of Tyranny.

“What is it?”

“I sensed a slight change in the Spiritual Qi from the direction of the Ancient River Jade Stele.”

“Probably triggered by the Blood of Tyranny.”

“Very likely. Sister Nan Di, do you have any more information regarding the Blood of Tyranny and the Ancient River Ruins?”

Zhao Nandi shook her head, saying, “He is the Blood of Tyranny; if he doesn’t wish to speak, we find it very hard to get any useful information. All current information is speculation.”

Zhou Leng continued to look towards the direction of the Blood of Tyranny.

The Spiritual Qi fluctuation just now was different from the usual fluctuations.

In that brief moment, where the Blood of Tyranny stood seemed to become the center of the world.

Zhou Leng recalled the necklace that opened the Ancient River Illusion Realm, marveling at the Blood of Tyranny’s Qi Manipulation.

Until late into the night, the Blood of Tyranny departed.

Zhou Leng and Zhao Nandi took out sleeping mats, placing them in front of the Ancient River Jade Stele.

Zhou Leng sat on the sleeping mat, facing the Ancient River Jade Stele, quietly contemplating.

Zhao Nandi, tired from the entire day, lay beside Zhou Leng, flipping through Divine Text materials.

Until dawn, Zhao Nandi dozed off in a daze.

Zhou Leng sat in front of the Ancient River Jade Stele, repeatedly examining it, then closed his eyes to cultivate.

The True Qi of the Sea Suppressing Technique within him was being drawn by an invisible force, accelerating its flow.

The external Spiritual Qi increased its penetration into his pores, merging with his body and meridians.

Approaching sunrise, the Sea Suppressing Technique accelerated faster and faster.

A strange sensation arose in Zhou Leng’s heart, and once more, the Cosmic Tsunami Map appeared in his mind.

The sea supports the stars, waves surging to annihilate the world.

Rumble, rumble…

The earth-shaking sound echoed in his ears, and the Cosmic Tsunami Map in his mind vibrated tremendously.

At the same time, some of the engravings on the Ancient River Jade Stele in front of Zhou Leng began to emit a faint glow.

Martial Arts Traces flickered continuously.

The mysterious power stirred the Spiritual Qi in the world, the lights flickering on and off all around.

In the surveillance room in the distance, a large amount of static appeared on the screens.

Hiss, crackle, bang…

A myriad of light bulbs either went out or exploded.

Countless cameras and numerous electrical devices short-circuited and failed.

Zhou Leng sat steadily in front of the Ancient River Jade Stele, unmoving.

The other night watchpersons gasped quietly, and Zhao Nandi turned over and stood up.

She scanned the surroundings, finding it pitch-dark, about to grab Zhou Leng and leave, but her hand stopped close.

Zhou Leng was still cultivating.

Zhao Nandi frowned slightly, standing beside Zhou Leng, surveying all around, eyes vigilant.

“Zhao Nandi, it’s dangerous there, come to the entrance!” someone shouted from the edge of the pit.

Zhao Nandi pointed at Zhou Leng, then at her own mouth, and repeatedly gestured with her hands, indicating her concern for Zhou Leng’s cultivation, unable to speak, unwilling to leave.

The person sighed lightly and turned towards the entrance.

Zhao Nandi continued to watch the surroundings, suddenly looking between Zhou Leng and the Ancient River Jade Stele.

A piece of ancient jade shaped like a tiger-leopard slowly floated up from the ground.

The ancient jade was dim, with shallow white and black patterns, and several tiny notches on the edges.

Zhao Nandi looked at the flashing Ancient River Jade Stele, then at Zhou Leng, remained silent for a moment, and glanced around.

The lights had failed, and the cameras likely had too.

There were six night watchpersons in total, the other four were at the entrance, away from the pit’s edge, unable to see here.

She bent down to pick up the Jade Tiger and placed it in her pocket.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep