The Ancient Gods' Whisper

"Ding, exploration mission updating."

"System updating. You will participate in Mission Code 045, exploring the Sea of Eternal Life. You have been assigned to the third squad. Please report to the military district by 8:30 tonight."

"The journey will be dangerous. Please prepare in advance and return safely."

Gu Jianlin wore a long black trench coat, sunglasses that shielded against wind and sand, and had his collar pulled up to cover his mouth and nose. On his back was a heavy travel bag filled with food and emergency supplies.

In truth, he could have simply stored everything in the Wedge's space.

But if everyone else was fully equipped and he came empty-handed, it would have been too suspicious.

So he played along, carrying a travel bag while storing his Mythical Weapon in the Wedge's space along with an extensive amount of food, weapons, countless daily necessities, changes of clothes, and even a large bed—everything exchanged from the resource depot in Dawn City.

If anything went wrong in the Sea of Eternal Life, these supplies could last several people for three months.

Gu Jianlin strolled through the military camp with a sense of curiosity. The place felt like a restricted military zone, with armored vehicles parked along the roadsides and helicopters roaring as they landed and took off from their pads.

Trucks transporting supplies rumbled past, kicking up swirling clouds of dust.

Soldiers in military uniforms, nano warriors, were busily hauling cargo. Lighthouses scanned the area with blazing beams of light, and the entire camp was on high alert.

Here, outside the city, lay the military defensive lines. Their primary purpose was to transfer supplies and combat the invasion of living corpses and monsters.

In the desolate Ancient God Realm, the bustling signs of civilization were particularly striking.

A short time ago, the guild hall in Dawn City had released a data packet and brief guide concerning the Sea of Eternal Life. The lucrative merit rewards it offered had attracted over a hundred investigators, prompting the formation of more than a dozen squads. Each team was slightly disguised and spread out on their way to the destination.

Just then, ahead of him, a petite figure carrying an oversized backpack appeared.

She looked like a clumsy monkey hauling her heavy luggage on a pilgrimage to the West.

Gu Jianlin stayed silent as he walked up to her and lifted her heavy backpack for her.

"Eh?"

Ji Xiaoyu looked up in shock. "How did you recognize me?"

This guy was wearing goggles and a gas mask, as flamboyant as ever.

"Life Rhythm."

Gu Jianlin casually asked, "How did you recognize me?"

Ji Xiaoyu thought for a moment. "I could feel that fierce aura emanating from you!"

What a load of rubbish!

Gu Jianlin suddenly felt like he no longer wanted to carry her bag.

Their relationship had never been particularly friendly, but things had shifted ever since they had jointly beaten up a superior.

When people share a common enemy, their bond often grows stronger very quickly.

It was a peculiar phenomenon.

Besides, this Little Princess was merely spoiled and undisciplined. A good thrashing here and there would straighten her out; deep down, she wasn't bad at all.

She was actually rather innocent and kindhearted.

"You're on the third squad as well?"

Ji Xiaoyu widened her eyes and asked.

Gu Jianlin nodded. Since they were part of the same team, it made sense they'd be grouped together.

Along with their Guardians.

"By the way."

He suddenly remembered something dreadful and looked towards the backpack in his hands. "What's in here?"

It should just be normal supplies, right?

Please let it just be supplies!

However, Ji Xiaoyu flashed an evil grin. "Haha, of course it's my Emperor-grade poisons!"

Gu Jianlin's hand trembled, nearly dropping the bag.

This was one of the few things that truly terrified him in the Extraordinary World.

At the top of the list was the Old Monster.

The second was this Little Princess's poisons.

Following Taixu's instructions, a massive transport truck appeared ahead of them.

Gu Jianlin's two older female companions were waving at him from atop the vehicle.

"You're here?"

Today, Chen Qing had merely applied light makeup and ditched her regular suit-and-skirt ensemble. Instead, she was dressed in a sleek camouflage uniform, her long hair neatly tied behind her head. She looked like a cold but strikingly beautiful female instructor.

Lin Wanqiu was seated in the vehicle, her makeup still alluring and radiant. Her long, wavy hair hung freely, and her snug-fitting camouflage uniform accentuated her perfect figure. She wore suede military boots on her feet.

She didn't speak but gave the young man a meaningful look.

These were Gu Jianlin's two Guardians, here to join the mission.

Chen Qing was now a Fourth-Order Spiritualist, fulfilling the team's required support role.

Lin Wanqiu, on the other hand, was a Fourth-Order Holy Mother, a reliable healer with steady offensive capabilities.

As for Lu Zicheng, he had already ascended to Fifth Order and could no longer serve as a Guardian. He was now pushing for a Ministerial position and likely attempting to climb to Sixth Order after this mission—a pace that was truly astonishing.

"Sister Chen Qing, Captain Lin."

Gu Jianlin nodded slightly and gestured toward the playful monkey by his side. "This is Ji Xiaoyu."

Logically, Ji Xiaoyu should also have her own Guardian.

"Where is your Guardian?"

Ji Xiaoyu shouted, "Come out now!"

As her voice echoed, a pair of miserable-looking twin brothers, burdened with hefty luggage, stepped out.

Gu Jianlin blinked. "Didn't you kidnap some unlucky Alchemist?"

Ji Xiaoyu placed her hands on her hips and sneered.

The twin brothers gave a wretched smile, one that was more pained than if they were crying. "Yeah, that's us."

"Since the Poison Master Sister isn't here for this mission, I had to bring them. Both of these guys are Fourth-Order Alchemists, the only ones capable of identifying the ingredients necessary to craft an antidote." Ji Xiaoyu huffed.

She then started ordering the Alchemists around, hauling them into the truck's cabin. She began analyzing a map and planning routes to gather herbs along the way.

Gu Jianlin noticed this and was somewhat surprised. This little troublemaker actually had the antidote in mind all along.

"Taking along two Alchemists—does that weaken our offensive capabilities?"

He placed his own backpack on the truck and casually asked.

"There's no need to worry about that."

Lin Wanqiu explained, "As far as the second echelon is concerned, the Little Princess ranks among the strongest. Add you, the hidden trump card and real number one, and our offense is pretty solid. Moreover, to be on the safe side, headquarters also sent along two prodigies."

Chen Qing noticed the boy's troubled expression and added, "This time they're true prodigies, not the fake ones from before. One of them is Commander Lu's daughter, Lu Qingqing. She recently inherited some sort of legacy within the Immortal Palace, and her strength has skyrocketed. As a Fourth-Order Ruler on the Overlord Path, she's already a rare match for anyone."

"The other is from the Sword Tomb, a Sword Sect disciple and a Fourth-Order Sword Spirit."

She added, "His name is Zhou Yiming, and he's Thunder's senior apprentice brother."

Gu Jianlin felt much more at ease hearing this. With such an arrangement, the offensive lineup was essentially complete.

Each of the two would likely bring along two Guardians.

Meanwhile, another transport truck had arrived, and from its cabin, someone called out, "Sister Wanqiu, looking forward to working with you."

Four Guardians stood next to the truck, two of them familiar faces.

"Li Yijie? Wang Jingchuan?"

Chen Qing narrowed her eyes and warned, "Xiao Gu, stay alert. Do you remember Captain Wang Bolin, who was killed by Mr. Jing? Plenty of people from the Peak City District had close ties to him. They may not dare act overtly against you, but if they find any leverage, they'll never let it go."

"Oh, so it's them."

Lin Wanqiu put on a facade of indifference, but inwardly, she was highly vigilant. These two were from the Judgement Court faction, and they had recently been probing into her affairs. A few times, she had narrowly avoided being exposed.

Gu Jianlin nodded in understanding.

From atop the other transport truck, a young man with white hair and a sword box strapped to his back spoke into a radio: "Greetings, everyone. My name is Zhou Yiming, the deputy commander of this mission, following the Sword Sect Path. I will serve as an output unit."

"I am the mission commander, Lu Qingqing."

Stepping forward was a tall girl with short, chestnut-colored hair. She wore a sharp and efficient gray trench coat that couldn't hide her striking figure. At her waist hung two crimson pistols, and she carried a sniper rifle on her back.

Her beauty was fiery yet intimidating. Speaking in an even tone, she said, "I'm on the Overlord Path, assigned to output and reconnaissance roles. Although our squad has exceptional combat power, we lack experience. As a member of the Lu Family and someone raised in the Dawn Combat Sequence training camps, my battle and command experience match anyone's in the top ten of Omega."

"You're all talented individuals, but I hope none of you act on your own. A team must function as one—work together, support each other. We're a squad of thirteen, and my hope is for everyone to return safely."

She paused. "That's all."

"Thirteen?"

Gu Jianlin frowned. Four Omegas and eight Guardians made twelve.

But he could sense an extra entity through its distinct Life Rhythm.

And this presence was completely unfamiliar.

Click.

The metal shutter on the truck's cabin slid open, and from the passenger seat emerged a face Gu Jianlin didn't recognize.

Almost theatrically, she tore off a Human Skin Mask.

That familiar face was as adorable as ever.

"Surprised? Caught off guard?"

Lu Zijin cheerfully swung her twin ponytails, a sly grin on her delicate, impish face. "It's me!"

Gu Jianlin stared in shock before lowering his voice. "Minister Lu?"

No way. He couldn't have guessed that the soon-to-be Seventh-Order Holy Realm powerhouse, Minister Lu, would be hiding in their squad.

"Looks like this plan worked—if even you didn't notice, then no one else will suspect."

Lu Zijin smiled faintly. "My presence in the vanguard is completely unexpected."

Gu Jianlin was silent for a moment before realizing the rationale.

This stemmed from distrust within the Ether Association.

After all, the association harbored a traitor, and no one knew who it was.

In that scenario, being openly visible was risky.

The best course of action was to even deceive those on your side, hide within the exploration vanguard, and strike unexpectedly. By the time the enemy realized it, they'd already have reached the target and begun advancing.

The Ether Association knew nothing.

The You Ying Group knew nothing.

Granted, this required the trustworthiness of their squad.

"Why us, though?"

Gu Jianlin felt immense pressure. How'd their squad end up harboring a powerhouse?

Well, a currently non-combatant powerhouse.

"I've already taken the secret medicine. I'm in a weakened state—it's up to you to protect me, isn't it?"

Lu Zijin's bright eyes twinkled mischievously as she said with a smile, "I don't trust anyone else. Only you."

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