Chapter 340: Marching into the Underground District
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 340: Marching into the Underground District
"Still no word?"
I watched the staff at the research base as they continued to work the communication equipment. Beside me, the base supervisors were pacing frantically, practically stomping their feet in anxiety.
"I’m afraid so. Those Dream Demons must be lurking somewhere, having completely severed our connection to the surface."
"I see..." I nodded, beginning to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Then try other methods! Quickly!"
"I’m sorry, but this is our primary link to the surface. As for wireless options—setting aside the thick geological layers between the Underground District and the surface—the ley line energy backlash triggered by the external energy tides would cause massive signal interference," the technician explained patiently.
In short, aside from the initial distress signal sent out, no specific details regarding the situation in the Underground District could be transmitted upward.
Their only option was the most primitive one: using the main trunk elevator that connected the surface to the Underground District to send people up.
They were already planning to evacuate the base's most vital scholars, technicians, and high-ranking officials to the surface to ensure their safety. However, they were currently in the dark about the situation above. If the surface was still in a state of upheaval, sending people up would be no different from delivering a package to the enemy's doorstep. This uncertainty left them paralyzed with indecision.
Furthermore, the main trunk elevator wasn't something that could be used on a whim. Every operation required maintenance and inspections. After all, the depth between the Underground District and the surface was a staggering distance.
The middle sections of the elevator shaft couldn't even be manually cleaned; the system relied entirely on the various inscriptions carved into it during its construction—runes for anti-corrosion, rust prevention, solidification, shape memory, and more.
Unless absolutely necessary, this passage was not used as frequently as a civilian elevator. At the very least, those in the Underground District who understood the technical difficulties involved practiced a certain level of restraint. That didn't mean the people of Ninglan New City on the surface shared that concern.
However, the Underground District tacitly permitted the surface dwellers to descend frequently. After all, there was a saying that Beyonder machinery stayed "new" through regular use; mechanical systems could just as easily fail if left idle for too long. Besides... if an accident did occur, it was the surface people who would be trapped.
"I apologize, Scholar Xiao Han, for letting you see the Underground District in such a pathetic state."
"Why apologize to me? You should be responsible for your own safety. Also... this is the information pried out of those Dream Demons. However... I suggest you don't look at it now. Better to discuss it during your high-level meetings. You all love meetings, don't you?"
"Yes, you're quite right." The supervisor in charge of coordinating with me nodded quickly. As he took the paper documents from my hand, he showed no desire to open them immediately. As for my jab about their love for meetings, it was a simple fact; many issues were difficult to resolve by a single person without a collective discussion.
As for me, although I had previously stated I would observe Ninglan Qiuyu's actions without interfering in his choices, that didn't mean I would go back on my word regarding the sharing of intelligence gathered from the interrogations.
There were some things the Underground District deserved to know. If Ninglan Qiuyu intended to unify the surface and the underground, he would become an autocrat without any checks or balances. I didn't believe for a second that the scholars of the Beyonder Research Base would be able to conduct their research as freely as they did now under that guy's interference.
In truth, I had my own selfish motives. I liked the academic atmosphere here. Sometimes, one cannot act solely on objective facts; my own preferences mattered too. For instance... I hoped the scholarly environment here would endure. The key to that, naturally, was ensuring these base supervisors didn't end up with Ninglan Qiuyu as their ultimate superior.
The high-ranking officials of the Underground District also understood what Ninglan Qiuyu's behavior implied. Even if they knew the truth, they would ultimately have to weigh their interests. The Underground District could not survive independently of the surface; they required a constant stream of supplies and resources. As long as their interests aligned or complemented each other, they wouldn't care how despicable the other party's methods were. At most, the information would become a bargaining chip in negotiations between the Underground District and the new City Lord.
Moreover, once Ninglan Qiuyu became the City Lord, even if this information leaked to the surface, he had plenty of ways to dismiss it as mere rumors and slander.
Seeing the supervisor prepare to leave, I followed him. They were going to have a meeting, and I intended to sit in. I doubted they had the courage to refuse my presence. If those fools tried to do something stupid, I could step in to mitigate the damage. Most of the time, however, I would remain silent; I wasn't much for conversation.
Even among the base's high-ranking officials, there was an information gap compared to the lower levels. Most of their decisions were driven by self-interest. Even if the sky were falling, as long as there was time for a meeting, those people would spend it fighting for the last scrap of personal gain. This was an eternal human trait. Truly selfless people rarely reached high-ranking positions, and even if they did, people changed.
My presence would at least force these fellows to show some restraint. Furthermore... I could directly communicate the interpretation of the intelligence gathered from the Dream Demons. If there were any discrepancies in the written report, I could correct them on the spot.
* * *
"Alright, Ninglan Qiuyue, now is not the time for such grief. The more dire the situation, the more we must remain calm." Tan Han was currently comforting Ninglan Qiuyue.
Not only Tan Han, but the leaders of the other Transcendent Academies were also drawing closer. They had already gained a rough understanding of the situation.
Similarly, they were quite curious about the so-called Underground District. They hoped the turmoil would settle quickly; otherwise, their return home would remain a distant prospect.
Many others stepped forward to offer comfort. After all, they were peers of the same age. They could empathize with the pressure she was under, and some even felt a slight sense of relief that they weren't in her shoes.
Ninglan Qiuyue knew very well that these Outsiders were helping because they were all in the same boat with shared interests. It didn't mean they would willingly allow themselves to be driven like slaves. This time, she still needed their assistance.
By subtly guiding the pity of these Outsiders, she could make them volunteer their strength for her. Ninglan Qiuyue could tell that the world the Outsiders came from was peaceful; she saw a certain fledgling ignorance in the eyes of many. However, she also knew she couldn't appear too weak, as that would be counterproductive—there were plenty of clever people among the Outsiders.
"I understand... Thank you all for being willing to help our Ninglan New City..."
"It's nothing. We're just looking out for our own interests. Our consciousnesses have been trapped here for too long; we have no idea what's happening at our academies in the outside world."
"Now that you mention it, we really have been trapped here for a long time. I hope the academy hasn't given up on us..."
At those words, they were reminded of their own predicament and began to worry.
However, everyone present was an elite from their respective Transcendent Academies. Those without sufficient strength had already been settled elsewhere to prevent them from becoming a hindrance.
Before long, they adjusted their mindsets. Since worrying wouldn't help, they focused on the task at hand.
Once the City Guard was fully assembled and ready, the Transcendent Academy groups were also prepared.
They soon arrived at the massive elevator leading to the Underground District. This area was usually strictly guarded by the City Guard, resembling a high-security military zone. That description wasn't far off; the Beyonder Research Base below was the premier hub for the research and innovation of Beyonder Arts, as well as the largest producer of Beyonder weaponry.
Because massive amounts of supplies needed to be transported back and forth at regular intervals, the elevator was primarily designed for cargo. Its size was immense, and it featured a multi-layered design that allowed several platforms to ascend or descend simultaneously.
To complete such a gargantuan engineering project, the elevator structure had become a prominent architectural landmark on the surface of Ninglan New City.
Most residents of Ninglan New City didn't know exactly what it was, and over time, they simply grew accustomed to its presence.
As the massive, multi-layered elevator platforms began to activate, the sound of clashing metal unique to heavy machinery filled the air. It was a novel experience for those present, even if the sound was harsh and noisy.
"I apologize. Because the elevator platforms have limited space and the situation in the Underground District is unclear, we need to send down a large number of reinforcements. For now, I must ask you Outsiders to interleave your positions with the City Guard..."
Though this had been expected, many Outsiders were still uncomfortable with the idea of physical bodies "passing through" their own. Even though they were in a dream state while the others were in reality—meaning there was no actual physical contact—it was still unsettling. Most people didn't enjoy the sensation of having someone else's body overlapping with theirs.
The girls, in particular, were quite sensitive about this. A brief moment of it might be a novelty, but maintaining such a state for an extended period was genuinely off-putting.
However, given the special circumstances and the fact that they were descending in batches, most Outsiders didn't voice their objections.
They followed the City Guard onto the elevator platforms, ready to descend and finally cut loose.
They had been prepared to fight to the death earlier, only for the conflict to end abruptly with the announcement that Ninglan Township Castle had changed hands. For those itching to test their strength, it had been a frustrating anticlimax.
Upon arriving here, they had discovered that their power had increased significantly, and they naturally felt the urge to show it off. When the Outsiders first arrived in Ninglan New City, this desire had led to many embarrassing incidents and caused no small amount of trouble for the locals.
While they were marching toward the Underground District with such fanfare, a group of people had gathered in the distance. Judging by their robes, they were the members of the Wizard Academy who had been missing for some time.
Initially, the Wizard Academy had established a direct connection with the City Lord. As the only "Pure Human Race" among the Outsiders, the City Lord had granted them special treatment. They hadn't expected the old City Lord to be such a staunch human supremacist; compared to those who differed from normal humans, he felt a much stronger kinship with those of his own race.
In principle, the old City Lord had never trusted the other Outsiders because they weren't "pure" humans—at least not in appearance. Those with wings, pointed ears, scales, or beast-like features made the old man very suspicious.
Even the members of the Wizard Academy knew the old City Lord was wary of them, though it wasn't as blatant as his treatment of the other Transcendent Academies.
Recently, the combat-capable members of the Wizard Academy had joined forces with the old City Lord to eliminate most of the confirmed Dream Demons. They hadn't expected that, in the end, the old man's physical condition would fail him. The old City Lord had then severed contact with them.
He had left only a single message: that he would pass the position of City Lord to his son.
It had all happened so suddenly that it completely disrupted their plans.
Ultimately, they chose not to side with Ninglan Qiuyu. They opted for neutrality, stepping back to observe the situation from a broader perspective.
The Wizard Academy had already received word of Ninglan Qiuyu's current move and was watching from afar.
They scoffed at the maneuver. How was this any different from when Ninglan Qiuyue brought the main forces of the Underground District to the surface, leaving the underground vulnerable?
They had witnessed the cunning of the Dream Demons firsthand. Even if they stepped forward to warn the others, they doubted anyone would listen. Thus, they chose to stay and guard the surface of Ninglan New City alone, ensuring the surface base wouldn't be hit by a diversionary strike from the Dream Demons.
"Boss Ian... are we really not going to follow them?"
"We wait. We are the final insurance—the insurance for the surface. Besides... I feel like there's something wrong with that Ninglan Qiuyu." The young man addressed as Ian was Ian Garland. He was the one who had voluntarily taken on the Sleep Curse, and he was also one of the "Sons of Luck" that the Wizard Academy had kept hidden during the previous Dream Exchange Competition.
He himself was unaware of this fact. To keep him hidden during the last competition, the Wizard Academy had provided him with substantial resources as compensation.
"Listen to the boss. We aren't the type of hot-headed fools who rush off to their deaths. We are wizards."
"Fine, fine... I just want to go back soon."
* * *
Meanwhile, in the Underground District.
The discussion among the high-ranking officials of the Beyonder Research Base was heated. Although they were initially somewhat restrained by my presence as an outsider, they soon began arguing over conflicting philosophies. Then, finding common ground in their shared interests, they sat back down to negotiate. It was quite the performance.
Just then, there was a knock on the conference room door.
Everyone stopped what they were doing. This was a top-level base meeting; barring specific emergencies, interruptions were strictly forbidden.
"Come in," one of them finally said. Since very few things were allowed to interrupt a meeting, everyone tacitly shielded the contents of their discussion.
The man who had spoken went forward to conduct a brief inquiry, after which the messenger withdrew.
The others looked at him, curious about what information could have interrupted the proceedings.
"Ahem. That messenger just brought us some good news. The main trunk elevator connecting us to the surface just received a request for a multi-layered descent. We've established contact through the elevator's integrated system. Reinforcements from the surface have arrived."
"Really?"
Instantly, looks of excitement and relief spread across their faces. With reinforcements here, the Underground District would no longer have to live in fear of being dominated by the Dream Demons.
"The meeting is temporarily adjourned. Let us go and welcome them."
With that announcement, the meeting came to a halt. However, many eyes turned toward me. They were all shrewd individuals; although the base wasn't far from the main elevator, without protection, the Dream Demons lurking in the shadows could pick them off in an instant. While the probability was low, people tended to scare themselves when facing the unknown.
"In that case, I'll naturally come along to see for myself," I said, standing up.