Apocalypse: Last Traveler

The stone steps in front of the small temple have long been weathered smooth, making it difficult for one to find footing. Lu Xi'an had to give up on the steps and leap up from the edge of the wall instead.

This "wall" was the foundation of the old temple, and its edge was a row of large stones made of the same material as the steps, now rounded at the corners, unable to support anyone standing on them.

After Lu Xi'an jumped up, he stepped back a bit before squatting down to let Yao Wei pass up the mechanical dog, reaching out to catch it.

Then Yao Wei leapt up as well, far more nimbly than Lu Xi'an.

Lu Xi'an mused that there seems to be differences among Neo-Humans based on their years and experiences. Being a Neo-Human for just over a year, he definitely couldn't compare with the long-standing Yao Wei.

Looking at Chai Xin, she was even less capable. The place was so high she couldn't jump up at all. She wanted to find a spot to assist but couldn't find a handhold.

Finally, with no choice, she had to scramble up the stone steps using both hands and feet, grabbing onto weeds as she climbed.

Fortunately, since she became a Neo-Human, she was agile enough to climb the steps quickly. She even managed to take two steps up before relying on Yao Wei to pull her up with an outstretched hand.

Lu Xi'an said, "You could've just waited below."

Chai Xin laughed, "I wanted to come up and take a look too."

She gradually became familiar with Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei and realized that, despite their cold demeanor, they were actually quite approachable once you got to know them.

—Of course, that's their warmth for familiar people. When dealing with strangers, they're cold-hearted and quick to draw their guns if something goes wrong.

Fortunately, she was now considered a familiar face.

Though she knew they'd soon part ways, she was glad and happy about it.

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, of course, did not interfere with her and turned to look at the ruined temple.

The small temple was indeed very small, surrounded on three sides by walls, with only a small temple building on the side against the cliff.

The courtyard walls had completely collapsed, making any discussion of gaps moot. The three of them stepped over the broken bricks on the ground into the courtyard, immediately spotting the dilapidated building within.

The wall was half collapsed, with the roof cave-in, destroying the unknown goddess's statue inside, leaving it without an upper body.

Bricks and tiles were scattered everywhere. On top of them lay a haphazardly fallen three-sectioned square cone.

The pillar was silver-white and covered with dust, appearing metallic. The bottom layer was as thick as a bowl's mouth, about the height of an adult's arm. The middle layer was cup mouth thick, only half the length, and the top had completely turned into a square cone, also half the size of the middle layer.

Lu Xi'an immediately understood that the so-called tower referred to this.

But what's the use of this tower?

Lu Xi'an couldn't discern anything, and asked Gou, "Gou, take a look, is this tower still useful?"

Gou scanned the tower, its robotic eyes lighting up brightly.

Is it useful?!

The tower had fallen yet remained pristine, unconnected to anything—what use could it have?

Lu Xi'an couldn't comprehend and asked Gou again, "Is this thing dangerous?"

Gou's robotic eyes blinked twice, indicating no danger.

So, Lu Xi'an went over and picked up the so-called "tower."

Sure enough, this "tower" was quite heavy. If it had been his former self, he wouldn't have been able to lift it, but now it was effortless.

The base of the tower still had remnants of something that was used to fix it, indicating it was originally mounted on the temple. Yet with the temple collapsed, nothing could be fixed anymore.

But this tower was merely a metal structure, unconnected to anything, unclear of any purpose.

Lu Xi'an examined it closely and saw a line of small engraved characters at the bottom: Launch Tower (Sword Mountain - Northwest Ball - 07).

What does this mean?

It left people in a daze.

This thing seemed like a launch tower too, yet such a launch tower couldn't possibly emit any spores, so what was its purpose? And did it have any connection to the launch tower in Mengxin City?

Furthermore, what did the number in parentheses mean?

Sword Mountain was undoubtedly referring to Jianshan City, with 07 seemingly a mere numeric label, but what did the "Northwest Ball" in the middle refer to?

After researching for a long time without understanding, Lu Xi'an and then Yao Wei came over to look and also couldn't understand a thing.

Chai Xin joined the excitement but similarly had no results.

"Let's see if there are any other things then take this to ask Shu about it."

Lu Xi'an had no better idea so he suggested this.

Hence, the three of them rummaged through the temple but found nothing else, so they could only take the Sword Mountain Northwest Ball 07 launch tower and jump down from the wall to find Shu.

Behind the temple, Shu was still soaking in the pit.

He wasn't holding his breath underwater anymore; sitting on the edge of the pit, his two skinny arms coated in a greenish liquid were draped over the bank, soaking in the water contently, as if he were in a hot spring.

But upon closer inspection, that "hot spring" was a shade of green, feeling rather abstract.

The old man was enjoying it with his eyes closed, but hearing footsteps approaching, he opened his eyes, saw Lu Xi'an and the others, grinned, and said, "Old brother, old sisters, young girl, give me a bit longer.

"I've soaked my head sufficiently, but my body needs more time."

Lu Xi'an said, "No problem, keep soaking. I just wanted to ask you what this is for."

He said this while displaying the metal conical tower before Shu's eyes.

Shu looked perplexed, "This? What is this? I don't know."

Lu Xi'an thought perhaps the old man was confused again and tried to guide him, "Look, grandpa, it says right here, Launch Tower, Sword Mountain Northwest Ball 07. It should've originally been on top of the temple.

"This is a launch tower. Didn't you say you came here initially to guard this tower?"

"Ah… let me think…"

Shu stared carefully at the tower in Lu Xi'an's hands, pondering for a while before speaking, "Ah… I think I remember now. This was originally installed on the temple later on. I don't know when it was set up.

"Was I brought here to guard this thing? I had no idea. Later on, when the temple was sealed, I could only watch from the outside and even sleep in tents during night shifts..."

Lu Xi'an remembered something and asked, "Grandpa, when you came to guard back then, wasn't there a cold disaster? How did you dare live in tents?"

Shu grinned, "No worries, we were all seeded with fungi, capable of withstanding. During the cold disaster, we had to heat our homes initially, but later on, it was no longer possible.

"It kept getting colder, and we couldn't even leave our homes without freezing to death. Heating was no longer available. But one day, someone said there were fungi, and planting it meant survival, enduring hunger and cold, so we all planted it.

"Although it allowed us to endure, toughing it out was deeply uncomfortable. Surviving was too arduous! Many couldn't bear it and ended up leaping off the cliff."