A faint smile touched Zhao Rui’s lips as he nodded. "Alright."

"Zhao Zhenren, you’re refreshingly straightforward."

After speaking, Professor Hao turned and invited Zhao Rui aboard the helicopter.

The massive rotor blades roared to life. The helicopter quickly ascended and disappeared over the horizon.

"I wonder which is more comfortable, riding in a helicopter or flying on your own?"

Professor Hao asked with a smile.

Although the Demon Sound had already taken root in him, his words and actions were no different from normal, as long as the topic didn’t concern Zhao Rui’s safety or related matters.

"This is my first time in a helicopter. It’s not bad."

Zhao Rui said casually.

Professor Hao just smiled and said no more.

The helicopter soon flew toward a mountainous region inland, then disappeared into a valley.

A short while later, Zhao Rui and the others disembarked from the helicopter.

The first thing he saw was a massive cave base.

"This way, please."

Zhao Rui frowned slightly. A base this large was already beyond his wildest imagination.

He was just about to control Professor Hao and probe for information before making his next move when he suddenly heard a familiar voice from nearby.

"Have you gotten this careless?"

"Elder Ge?"

Stunned, Zhao Rui turned his head. On a cliff outside the base stood an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, smiling down at him.

It was none other than the founder of Mingcan Courtyard, Elder Ge, Coach Ge, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Ah, you. Half curious, half cautious, but still too reckless."

A teasing look appeared on Elder Ge’s youthful, white-haired face. He was about to poke fun at Zhao Rui when his gaze suddenly fell upon Professor Hao, and his eyes glinted sharply.

He couldn’t help but give a wry smile. "Where in the world did you learn this Demon Skill?"

"From Gui Xu. You’re still the impressive one, Elder Ge. You saw the problem at a glance."

He had indeed learned it from someone from Gui Xu, so Zhao Rui wasn’t lying.

"Enough with the flattery."

"Let’s talk inside."

After speaking, Elder Ge casually tapped a finger on Professor Hao’s forehead, then turned and walked toward the base.

Professor Hao, as if completely unaware of what had just happened, followed behind him with a few soldiers, walking slowly inside.

"Come on. Are you, a great Zhenren, actually afraid of this old man?"

"Of course not! I just didn’t react in time. What technique was that you just used, old sir? You’ll have to teach me later."

Zhao Rui said with a cheeky grin.

"We’ll talk about it later."

When they reached the entrance of the base, the security system identified Elder Ge, and the main gate slowly slid open.

The group then strode inside.

Once inside the base’s passageway, Zhao Rui looked around. The walls were constructed from some kind of special material, and the whole place resembled a large tunnel.

There were also many unusual rooms on all sides. Inside, whether brightly lit or dim, staff members were busy at work.

"This place is...?"

Zhao Rui asked in surprise.

"This is a secret research base in Central Plains Province. We mainly study the chain reactions between True Qi and matter, as well as active substances from different space-times."

Elder Ge explained as they walked.

"I don’t quite understand."

Zhao Rui said frankly.

"To be honest, I don’t really understand it either. You just need to know that the research being done here concerns the future of the Central Plains."

Zhao Rui was instantly filled with a sense of profound, albeit incomprehensible, awe.

They continued down the passageway until they reached a corner, where several enormous elevators suddenly came into view.

At this point, the few soldiers stopped and stood guard.

Meanwhile, Zhao Rui and the others took an elevator down into the underground section of the base. The elevator descended for what felt like dozens of stories before coming to an abrupt halt.

As the elevator doors opened, a massive space was revealed before Zhao Rui’s eyes.

The brightly lit space was filled with all sorts of precision instruments, and countless researchers scurried about like ants, busily working.

It was as if a sci-fi world had materialized right in front of him.

"We use True Qi for cultivation, and they use True Qi for research. We both have the same goal: to break through humanity’s limits."

Elder Ge glanced at the researchers with a hint of reverence and continued, "They are the true unsung heroes."

Zhao Rui nodded. He was right. No matter the era, scientists were a group of people who dedicated themselves quietly.

Through their research, day in and day out, they changed entire societies and the course of human development.

In the pursuit of the Three Thousand Great Daos, they were far purer than Martial Artists.

"Elder Ge, so you’ve been here all this time. No wonder you don’t come back to the university often."

"You think I wanted to? This is great. Now that you’re here, I can finally get out."

"Huh?"

This time, Zhao Rui was truly shocked.

"Well, it seems I can’t count on you after all."

Elder Ge feigned a disappointed sigh.

"I’m afraid I can’t handle such a huge responsibility."

Zhao Rui chuckled, giving a high-sounding excuse for not wanting to stay.

Elder Ge shot him a look and shook his head slightly. "I didn’t expect you to progress so quickly. When I heard them say the Qingcheng Sword Sect had produced a ’Zhao Zhenren,’ I didn’t realize it was you."

"It’s just a minor reputation. Compared to you, Elder Ge, I’m still a long way off."

"What, is the name of our Dongqi University not famous enough? Not worthy of you using it to make a name for yourself?"

Hearing this, Zhao Rui couldn’t help but scratch his head. "It’s plenty famous. It’s just that when I’m hanging around a bunch of old Monks and old Daoists all day, it feels weird to say I’m a student from Dongqi University."

"Haha!"

Elder Ge couldn’t help but smile at his words.

"Come, let me show you something that will truly shock you."

After speaking, Elder Ge turned and walked toward the other side of the passageway.

After a few minutes’ walk, Elder Ge led Zhao Rui to the front of a sealed room.

Professor Hao stepped forward to interface with the staff. After his biometric information was identified, Elder Ge led Zhao Rui inside.

"I only have permission to bring one outsider in. You’re the only one."

"..."

"You saying that puts a lot of pressure on me."

"Somehow I doubt that."

Elder Ge said with a smile, reaching out to push open a sealed door inside.

An intensely cold aura immediately washed over them.

Professor Hao immediately stopped in his tracks, waiting outside.

Seeing Elder Ge walk in, Zhao Rui immediately strode in after him.

The space inside wasn’t large, but what Zhao Rui saw was utterly shocking.

Because inside, researchers dressed in what looked like spacesuits were tinkering with an oval-shaped metal sphere.

This thing wasn’t a Divine Weapon or some sharp tool; it was an oval-shaped flying vehicle.

"This is...?"

"An Alien!"

"An Alien?"

Zhao Rui froze. ’Since when were aliens involved?’

’What about Gui Xu?’

’What happened to the Martial Dao we agreed on?’

As if sensing Zhao Rui’s confusion, Elder Ge said, "This is the thing we brought back from Gui Xu."

"From within Gui Xu?"

Zhao Rui’s heart trembled. A strange set of clues in his mind seemed to be connecting.

"Mhm. Let’s talk outside."

With that, Elder Ge led Zhao Rui out. The two of them didn’t linger.

Although the chill was trivial to both Elder Ge and Zhao Rui, the area involved too many secrets, so Elder Ge couldn’t let Zhao Rui stay for long.

After coming out, Elder Ge led Zhao Rui to another room where staff were also busy working.

In the center of the room was a longsword, its blade covered in a dense array of various sensors.

Countless signal sources were being transmitted from the sensors to computer monitors.

This, at least, seemed much more normal.

At least it was related to the Martial Dao.

"Old Ge, and this is?"

Just then, the door to an adjacent research lab opened. An elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair walked out, pushed up the glasses on his nose, and asked the question.

"My disciple! Zhao Rui, from Dongqi University."

"Oh? A Martial Artist?"

"Mhm. This is Academician Zhang, also one of the people in charge of the base."

Elder Ge made the introduction.

"Hello, Academician Zhang."

Zhao Rui greeted him politely. ’People who do scientific research are worthy of respect in any era. They use their frail bodies to explore infinite mysteries and obtain endless Energy.’

’It’s the same as us martial practitioners; we’re all trying to break through our own limitations.’

’If you were to categorize them using the Levels of Martial Artists, these academicians would all be considered Martial Arts Mount Tai and Beidou Level figures.’

’True God-level masters!’