｛Because I am the Great Quadrilateral, I can quadruple amplify.｝

Yang Zicang’s body blazed with orange void flames, like a torch illuminating the pitch-black mouth of the cave.

Inside the cave lay several dry, withered skeletons, drained of all life.

A stifling odor assailed them; both sensed their own life force ebbing away. In an instant, He Yishu’s body erupted with orange flames—vestiges of Amplified Chrono, a power spanning over a hundred thousand years.

｛I neutralized 0.3R.｝

｛I neutralized 0.8R. I, the Great Quadrilateral, find this place smells terribly foul.｝

“There’s something over there. “

Ahead, a dark silhouette, initially resembling a rigid corpse tangled in seaweed. He Yishu stepped forward, brushing aside the moss with a hand, and revealed what lay beneath: not a dead body, but a half-blackened stone relief.

“Huh, that’s unusual. Come, listen to this. ” He Yishu lifted his hand from the relief. “There’s actually a recording inside. “

But Yang Zicang reached out and touched it.

｛I have come into contact with a residual, readable information entity.｝

｛I am consuming 10R of my principal to unfold the information field.｝

A faint wave of energy diffused, flowing into the young man’s hand. The sound of a mental voice followed.

｛This abnormal illusionary realm has been administered by the “Tsunami Great Surge Society. ” We have obtained the ｛Cangyu Fengji｝ Ring of Bloodline here. If you wish to purchase it, please touch the core of the magical formation array group below to contact us.｝

This was a message left who knows how many years ago.

The seaweed below had been wiped away by He Yishu’s hand, which was covered in a flickering Chrono-Void Flame, revealing a large circular pattern with a smaller circular magical rune nested inside.

Without a second thought, Yang Zicang immediately contacted Hua Mi, who had done considerable research on basic magical runes. She was in the cabin asking the others if anyone had heard village legends about the islands. The moment she saw it, she let out a scream.

{Heavens, this is the pattern group for collecting free-floating energy that I’ve been searching for ages! }

“Free-floating energy collection? “

{That’s right! Its outer ring looks like an electromagnetic coil that constantly converts energy, while the inner part stores message recordings and contact methods. How lucky… but unfortunately, it seems the core magical rune is no longer functional. }

The innermost pattern had suffered severe weathering and seawater erosion, showing a stark difference from the carvings on the outer ring.

He Yishu tried touching it with his hand, but there was no connection. By now, he too realized the precious function of this magical rune and attempted to record it. But after just two quick glances, he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

“Do we need to record it? ” Yang Zicang asked.

{Let me see… Hmm, no hidden mental attack runes here, it can be recorded. But you need to take a close look so I can get a clear view. Be careful, okay? I’ll try to sketch it directly from here. }

“Alright, I’ll give it a try. “

The rune might actually conceal lines that attack the mind—Yang Zicang silently filed this detail away. He Yishu also felt a jolt, realizing he had been too reckless just now. Still, obviously, this wasn’t a particularly complex pattern.

Yang Zicang began trying to memorize these intricate designs. A wave of sensation surged from the outside, enveloping his entire skull, warping his every thought until his whole consciousness felt twisted.

The phantom sound of the forest, long absent from within his ears, resurfaced.

The assistance of “Base Runes ” firmly anchored his mind onto a wavelength like a tree-lined sea, warding off the distorted discomfort brought by the magical patterns.

After waiting for a few minutes, the counterpart in the sensory screen relayed good news that the recording was complete.

{Now I’ve got my own energy-type rune too! Yay, this is awesome, Boss Yang. Love ya! You’re such a lucky star. }

“There’s a corpse up ahead, ” He Yishu called out from nearly ten meters away, continuing deeper into the cave. There stood a stone archway, seeming like something built to brace the cavern against collapse.

Yang Zicang glanced at the relief, then walked over and passed through the stone archway in the cave. A thick, musty smell mixed with the rust of metal hit him in the face. Piled up ahead were a heap of iron goods whose features were impossible to make out.

On the surrounding cave walls were traces that seemed to have been etched by corrosive liquid, while the ground was littered with shattered wooden crates and rusty iron nails. Some of the crates had spray-painted numbers on them.

“This must have been some kind of warehouse before. “

“Looks like the place where the navy stockpiled supplies. “

Just as they were cautiously groping their way forward, He Yishu’s foot stepped onto a metal plate half-buried in the mud.

“Take a look at this text… ” He Yishu crouched down and picked up something that looked like a unit identification plate.

On it was engraved the name of some old naval unit in two languages, with a date that traced back several decades.

“…Eighth Nation… Seventh Far-Sea Fleet—Year 368. “

“You can recognize all these characters now. ” He Yishu said with some admiration.

Yang Zicang took in his surroundings before fixing his gaze on this old military supply tag.

“Luckily, just in time. Those characters happened to be in that information book. “

“Hmm, three sixty-eight to this year is exactly sixty years. But this must refer to some date in the unit’s history. “

Just as they were carefully examining the items around them, an iron beam overhead suddenly let out a low hum.

With a heavy crash, several large crates suddenly fell from the top, where they had been tied with chains that had come loose.

As soon as the liquid inside touched the ground, it emitted a sizzling sound, and a strange, rank stench instantly spread throughout the space. He Yishu coughed twice, his face changing color as he raised his arm to cover his mouth and nose. “It’s a lethal poison! “

｛System: I have negated 55.9 N｝

“Who’s up there! “

Whoever was above clearly wasn’t planning to answer, but they did respond nonetheless. Whoosh of flames roaring to life at the exit was that reply.

“I’ve lost over forty years! They know how to deal with us! ” He Yishu said indignantly.

The impression that Fogfolk were incredibly hard to kill was already deeply ingrained in the populace of this world. However, being hard to kill doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Right before them was what was considered the most effective method: fire and poison!

｛System: I have continued to negate 55.9 N｝

Within a short span of just tens of seconds, they had consumed that much lifespan twice.

{Are you two alright? }

Hua Mi, who was still connected via the Telepathic Link, asked with concern.

“It’s nothing. This must be how the Island Lord is taking revenge on us, huh? But we have Amplified Chrono, so it shouldn’t be a big problem for now. “

｛System: I have negated 55.9 N.｝

Yang Zicang did a quick mental calculation this time. Roughly one minute had passed. Others might not immediately understand the significance of 55.9, but Yang Zicang quickly grasped it—that was the amount of his remaining lifespan.

In other words, every single minute, it felt as though he had “died ” once, losing years of his remaining life.

“If the attack is just like this, I feel like I could hold out for a very long time, ” He Yishu said.

“Yeah, attacks like this won’t trap us unless it’s a complete death zone. This level of trickery isn’t even enough to tickle us. “

“Haha. “

The man hidden in the passage above finally cackled hoarsely:

“The Fog Men truly are as troublesome as the legends say! But did you think this was everything? Don’t forget, we’re inside the ‘Land of Miasma Pollution’! “

The sound of heavy movement rumbled from above again, as if a pre-existing pulley mechanism had been activated, followed by the clang of an iron door.

“Ughaaah~ “

Harsh, rasping sounds erupted from every direction.

It sounded as if beings long hidden here had been awakened.

-｛The Distributor, February Di’an, is watching my every move closely.｝

“Haha, Fog Folk, learn your lesson in the next life—never meddle in others’ business again. “

As the voice finished speaking, subtle yet dense vibrations rippled through the surroundings, amplifying the eerie, chilling atmosphere.

Amid that triumphant laughter, rumble, rumble! A monstrous creature with twisted tentacles burst out from within the passage, chattering “He yo, he yo ” incessantly.

Half of a man’s torso grew within its form, followed by another creature nearly identical to the first.

-｛The Distributor, February Di’an, indicates that I am nurturing the precursor of brilliance.｝

Didn’t anyone state the obvious?

He Yishu casually pulled a rusted iron rod from a wooden crate. “Are those… humans… or octopuses? “

“Ah… yes, Fogfolk… ” The words of human language actually came from the mouth of the huge, writhing monster that had crawled out of the cave.

“More people for Lord Yunni to deal with? “

“Ha! After you kill them, remember to let me out for some fresh air. I haven’t been out to sea in a long time… “

Two more came charging out. Their massive bodies almost filled the entire passage. Faced with such an awe-inspiring and aggressive stance, Yang Zicang’s expanding “Silent Night ” detected traces of a presence from above.

Inside a crevice high in the cave wall, the man—who, according to his senses, seemed to be wearing a band performance costume and a gas mask—was peering down through a small eyehole.

“This time, if you kill those two, Lord Yunni will arrange a new place for you to live, don’t worry, ” said the man in the gas mask.

“Really?! “

This statement made the monsters tremble with excitement.

After the man above finished speaking, he pulled a latch, and a heavy rumbling came from the exit behind.

Yang Zicang and the other took a few steps back, and a flame suddenly erupted behind them.

Clang! Thump! The suckers on the monsters’ tentacles slapped against the ground and walls with deafening reports.

“Don’t even think about running. You’re not getting out, ” the monsters said. “This place was remodeled a long time ago specifically to deal with dimwits like you Fogfolk who stumble in here. “

“Haha, right, ” the man in the passage above was very satisfied with the shock of the two below. “Brothers, spray venom at them. No matter how tough these guys are, they’ll soon… um… “

As the man was speaking, he suddenly felt a chill on his chest!

A silver spear, appearing abruptly, had pierced through his chest.

“…D-die… how… could this… be… “

Thump!

The man collapsed to the ground, blood gushing out.