6kv Chapter 111 The Anchor Seeker
Chapter 111 The Anchor Seeker
Chapter 111 The Anchor Seeker
"I'm willing to join."
Rowling did not hesitate.
This not only provides access to more core secrets and high returns, but also offers an excellent opportunity to verify and improve one's own response unit capabilities.
"Very good! The team is still being formed, mainly composed of senior explorers from the analysis department and combat wizards skilled in environmental adaptation."
"You will need to sign a confidentiality agreement and receive some basic training in exploration and heritage knowledge."
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"Meet here in three days for a mission briefing and equipment distribution."
Luo Lin did not waste the three days.
They used the remaining battle merits to exchange for some advanced exploration tools and life-saving items.
At the same time, we should make the most of the time to digest the information provided by Soria regarding ancient sealing science, the basic characteristics of the scorching hell, and astral mineralogy.
More importantly, based on the description of the Star Core Ember, he began to consciously adjust the sensing frequency of the [Myriad Star Cyclone] and the Echo Unit, trying to make them more sensitive to special minerals or energy convergence points related to star power.
This requires meticulous calibration and experimentation.
Three days later, Rowling returned to the analysis department.
The team members included Soria himself, Stoneclaw, a second-circle wizard skilled in geological exploration and underground structure perception, Stoneclaw, a second-circle ranger wizard proficient in wilderness survival, tracking, and combat, and Rolin.
Squad codename—Anchor Seekers!
mission target:
Infiltrate the Iron Wasteland, avoiding the main activity areas of the Ash Ring. Follow the subtle hints in the ancient logs to find possible secondary ruins or clues, and try to explore other areas of the wasteland for traces of the Star Core Ember or its substitutes.
The task has a time limit of twenty days.
This time, it's not about intense infiltration and sabotage, but rather a search and exploration that tests patience, observation skills, and expertise.
For Rowling, this was an excellent test of applying his research capabilities to real-world missions.
Armed with new equipment and supplies, and filled with anticipation for unknown ruins and mysterious materials, Roland once again set foot on the teleportation array leading to the Iron Wasteland.
The scorching heat of the Iron Wasteland remains as intense as ever.
This time, however, Rowling chose a more circuitous and secretive route with the Anchor Seekers.
The target is not the core area of the Scorched Rift, but rather several outer areas of the wasteland that Soria deduced from his reinterpretation of the ancient diaries, suggesting the possible hiding of secondary ruins or clues.
Soria rode a ibex that had been magically and physically modified and was heat-resistant, always holding a leather diary and a crystal plate that constantly displayed complex terrain lines.
She was responsible for planning routes and interpreting the cryptic references in the diary.
The Wizard of Stone is like a moving rock, often stopping to insert his palm or a specially made copper staff into the scorching ground and close his eyes to sense it.
He could hear the rock structures, lava flows, and even the echoes from some energy anomalies several miles underground.
The Stoneclaw Wizard is responsible for guarding and clearing the way. He is agile and knows the wasteland environment like the back of his hand. He can always find hidden fire scorpion nests, unstable geothermal vents or wandering elemental creatures in advance.
He rarely spoke, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
Luo Lin walked in the middle of the group, adapting to the high temperature while maintaining a precise perception of the [Myriad Stars] and the Echo Unit.
He focused his main energy on two things:
One approach is to attempt to capture unique energy fluctuations in the environment that may be related to the ancient seals or star core embers described in the log.
Secondly, by comparing the data fragments of the Scorching Hell received by the echo unit with the surrounding environment, we can search for possible, faint leaks of otherworldly energy.
This leak point may not be the main passage, but it could indicate a weak point in the seal or the location of a secondary site.
Exploration work is tedious and meticulous.
For several days, the squad trekked through the complex terrain on the outskirts of the wasteland, avoiding the known patrol routes of the Ash Ring, and explored several locations that Soria had speculated about.
Some were abandoned ancient quarries, and some had long-dead warning runes, but nothing was found.
They endured the scorching heat and sandstorms during the day, and at night they would find a secluded place to camp and take turns keeping watch.
They also encountered several attacks from the Wilderness Spirits, which were quickly dealt with by Stoneclaw and Stoneheart.
Luo Lin used these encounters to test his newly tuned ability to more acutely perceive the weaknesses of fire-attribute creatures' energy nodes, assisting his teammates in killing them more efficiently.
Although no major discoveries have been made yet, Rowling is not discouraged.
He meticulously compiled the daily exploration data, environmental parameters, and energy fluctuation records.
These seemingly scattered pieces of information may, at some point in the future, be pieced together to form crucial clues.
The Wizard of Stone would occasionally share the diagrams of the underground structures he perceived, comparing them with the topographical maps of Soria's crystal plates, in an attempt to find traces of artificial construction that did not conform to the laws of natural geology.
And so, ten days passed in the search.
That afternoon, the group arrived at a peculiar area surrounded by huge black basalt pillars.
The ground here is relatively flat, but the temperature is higher than the surrounding area, and there is a faint smell of burning metal in the air.
Soria's eyes gleamed slightly as he compared the diary entries with the map.
"The log mentions that before setting up the main seal, the explorers established a temporary observation point near the Obsidian Forest to study the energy tidal patterns at the weak points in space."
"Based on the description, it somewhat matches the terrain features here."
"The Obsidian Forest? These pillars look more like basalt." Stoneclaw examined the towering black rock pillars.
"Ancient names may have been different from those of today, or they may have undergone geological changes over a long period of time."
"Mr. Shi En, could you please sense the underground area of this region? Are there any unusual cavities or energy channels?"
Soria explained.
Shi En nodded, walked to the center of the area, plunged the bronze staff deep into the ground, and closed his eyes.
After a moment, he frowned slightly: "About fifteen meters underground, there is an irregular small cavity, not large, like a naturally formed cave."
"But the rock structure surrounding the cavity shows faint signs of being repeatedly eroded and reinforced by energy; it is very ancient and does not appear to have formed naturally."
"Furthermore, there is an unusual, directed branching pattern in the vicinity of the volcanic veins."
There's a chance!
Everyone's spirits lifted.
"Can we find a path into that cavity?"
"A natural fissure or entrance?"
Soria pressed for an answer.
Shi En changed his position and sensed again, then circled around several rock pillars before finally stopping next to a particularly thick rock pillar with a tiny crack at the bottom where it connected to the ground.
"Here, at the junction of the base of the rock pillar and the ground, there is a very hidden narrow fissure extending downwards. It is mostly blocked by weathered gravel and mineral crystals, but it seems to be empty behind it, possibly leading to a cavity below."
Stoneclaw stepped forward and carefully cleared away the surface rubble and crystal layer, revealing a dark, downward-sloping crevice that could only allow one person to pass sideways, from which hot air carrying the smell of sulfur blew out.
"I'll get off first."
Stone Claw spoke succinctly, lighting a cold light stick and throwing it down. After confirming the depth and air conditions, he slid sideways into the crevice first.
A moment later, his voice faintly came from below: "It's safe, you can come down."
"There is a small cave."