"Then, thank you in advance." Nie Xuan drained his cup and asked, "What are your plans next?"

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, "In what aspect?"

"You should have a fixed place in other zones, right? Zone 014 won’t be peaceful for a long time; have you considered moving your family to another zone temporarily?"

This is actually a thought shared by many elite players. Nowadays, it’s convenient for ordinary people to relocate as well. Protecting one’s family to the utmost is only natural, and the government does not intervene much.

"It’s not time yet." Xu Huo replied coolly.

Nie Xuan did not object. Indeed, to him, most zones aren’t safe either, and outstanding capabilities don’t always bring good fortune.

"There’s one more thing." He continued, "Earlier, you entrusted the Special Defense Department to help find clues about the Seventeenth Hospital." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Players from the Special Defense Department occasionally obtain some lagging information, but when they try to investigate again, most of the events are long past."

"However, recently someone discovered a player who once operated the Seventeenth Hospital. Over a decade ago, this person had established a mental hospital named the Seventeenth Hospital in a zone under a Rank-B Wormhole Point, but it was shut down ten years ago due to too many deaths in the hospital."

"The person who set up the hospital later moved to another zone, doing some shady dealings for the local government. I’ve looked at the data; their methods are similar to those used in Zone 014, using a position of authority to prompt parents to forcibly intervene with their children, possibly relating to the person you’re looking for."

Nie Xuan handed him the recorder, "It’s all in here."

Xu Huo accepted it and kept it safe.

After his encounter with Zheng Yuci, he still had a Wisdom Sphere given by Zheng. The clues inside could likely be closest to Doctor Zhang’s whereabouts. Unlike Chang Bei’s indirect methods, Zheng Yuci was another extreme, fearing no threats and preferring to face them directly, so the appearance of Doctor Zhang’s address in the Wisdom Sphere wasn’t surprising.

But this is no longer the most pressing matter for him.

What he needs to do now is first unlock the seal of the Water Rubik’s Cube on his body, and second, find the "Gourmet" to obtain a more advanced Perfect Evolution Potion to increase his Evolution Rate.

"I’ll take a look when I have time."

Nie Xuan nodded, glancing at the much cleaner lake surface, indicating, "Shall we go down and take a look?"

Without a word, Xu Huo set down his things and disappeared from the lakeside.

The two of them dived underwater, slowly descending along the cliffside. After passing a naturally formed stone wall, the ruins were further below.

The ruins weren’t exposed directly and required exploration into the cliff’s depths. At this time, there were no military players working below, only some fully automated equipment in operation.

Xu Huo was also receiving data sent back by the Mechanical Being.

"A thousand meters ahead is the first Folded Space, estimated to already occupy the entrance. As we get closer, our equipment will be affected," Nie Xuan conversed with him via earpiece, "To measure, we’ll have to rely solely on our handwork."

Xu Huo gestured with his hand and then checked the Mechanical Being’s data.

His Mechanical Being was also modified by the Eye of Platinum, with little difference from the highest-grade investigation equipment used by the military now, so the results were similar. There was definitely Folded Space within the ruins that was unstable, typically maintaining at least a dozen at the same time. It was unclear whether the folded spaces were of the same kind.

The military’s elite essentially stumbled in the second Folded Space, located less than two kilometers from the entrance.

The first two kilometers comprised the first Folded Space, which appeared like a flat mouth. To enter the ruins without damaging them, one can’t avoid it. However, tunneling through other places was also nearly impossible since the ruins were part of the Folded Space, and the military didn’t have such weapons.

Though records indicate most players went missing beyond two kilometers, military analysis suggests the first Folded Space was equally dangerous. Those whose limbs petrified might not have actually entered the second space; only their blurred perceptions led to inaccurate judgments.

Xu Huo and Nie Xuan reached the entrance, staring at the narrow crevice filled with green stone spots like a beast’s mouth. In the murky lake water, they exchanged a glance before slowly stepping inside.

Despite the props providing cover, they immediately sensed pressure from all directions upon entry.

It wasn’t the water but the Spatial Power distinct from the outside.

Movement inside wasn’t as easy as outside, so their pace was slow enough to clearly see humanoid stone statues placed near the entrance.

Military investigation records originally suggested many corpses should be floating nearby, frozen by the low water temperature and preserved for decades or even centuries. Later, to facilitate operations, they were removed one by one. As for the humanoid statues, they initially were deep within the ruins. Afterwards, due to power fluctuations, some statues happened to be ejected, piling up at the entrance without handling.

Xu Huo examined closely; those humanoid stone statues didn’t contain any special power and weren’t the cause of the military players’ petrification.

’Let’s go further.’ Nie Xuan moved over, patting his shoulder and pointing inside.

Xu Huo nodded, not lingering further.

As the depth increased, the instruments they carried began to malfunction, starting with the communication system they used to talk, followed by the detectors, and then the lighting equipment. The Mechanical Being also ceased functioning, leaving them with only the lighting props as usable.

Though the lighting props’ range was very limited, they soon saw what appeared as "light being cut off" scenarios.

Just ten meters away from them, the light from the lighting props appeared blocked, folding at the intersection to divide bright areas near them from complete darkness on the other side. It looked as though something blocked it, but they knew nothing substantial was there.

It was a bit fragmented, like a film being split in half, with one half blacked out.

Nie Xuan tried prodding the Spatial Ray, but it too reached its extreme at the boundary line, seemingly unable to extend further.

Xu Huo also noticed, raising his hand to point to the side, gesturing for him to circle around.

Yet, just as they turned, a faint presence suddenly swept past their side!

Reflexively, they separated while simultaneously pulling back to distance themselves, keeping maximum vigilance on their surroundings. But that instant felt like an illusion; there was nothing in the water, not even a stray fish.

It occurred to them that these were the extraordinary powers within the Folded Space, fast and extremely subtle, hence the military’s players couldn’t detect them.

As Xu Huo decided to advance, the same sensation attacked from behind. Instinctively, he controlled the Spatial Ray, and the barrier formed by the Water Rubik’s Cube quickly intercepted the force. However, the power wasn’t deceitful, mixing with currents to push him deeper into the ruins!