Chapter 2326: Spatial Evolution Beyond Dimensions
Shangguan Jing and Jiang Qiao hadn't yet reached any conclusion when a change occurred on the lake's surface. As an ultra-powerful energy wave surged up from beneath the water, the previously calm lake suddenly erupted into massive waves—because of precautions against flying mutant species emerging from the lake, a barrier had been set up between the lakeshore and the military command center using instruments. Now, with the lake water rising, thousands of waves crashed against the barrier like an unstoppable army.
The thunderous roars were incessant. Although the flickering barrier hadn't cracked, no one could guarantee that if the waves continued pounding like this, it wouldn't cause more severe consequences.
So, half a minute later, troops stationed elsewhere along the lake began a rotating bombardment of the surface.
A few minutes later, the waves on the lake subsided, and large amounts of dark liquid surged up, accompanied by a heavy bloody smell that covered a vast area of the lake water.
"I wonder what kind of mutant species is underwater," Jiang Qiao's assistant said, wiping cold sweat. "With a size like that, it's probably bigger than a whale."
"It's not as big as a whale," Xu Huo said. "It's just that there are many of them. They look somewhat like pythons, over a dozen mixed in the water."
The waves weren't entirely caused by them; the main factor was the energy fluctuations deep at the bottom of the lake.
"The monitors placed outside the ruins have all been destroyed again," Jiang Qiao said, arriving with the latest information. "With such a big commotion, there might be a new folded space appearing underwater."
Records about folded spaces mentioned that when a new space appeared, energy fluctuations would peak, startling the creatures beneath the lake and causing waves to rise. The purpose of the bombardment was twofold: first, to offset the energy impact, and second, to eliminate the mutant species brought out.
"In this situation, can we still go underwater?" Jiang Qiao didn't bring up the previous attitude of the military personnel but asked with slight concern instead.
"Going down to take a look should be fine, but if you want to investigate thoroughly, it's probably not possible," Xu Huo said.
It was an extremely unstable place to begin with. Once people entered, it was impossible to predict whether chain reactions would occur. The best approach was actually to leave it alone and wait for it to stabilize on its own.
"Alright then, let me know when you think it's suitable," Jiang Qiao said cheerfully.
Now, the lake surface and underwater were filled with fish carcasses and blood, clearly not a good time to go down. Xu Huo released the robots and instruments he had brought back into the water.
Although the robots he obtained weren't specifically designed for exploration, they were certainly more detailed and comprehensive in data collection than ordinary people.
Since they had to wait anyway, Xu Huo simply found another spot to fish.
Secondary evolved species might be stronger, but not necessarily smarter. Even though the lake had just been bombed, many fish had already gathered again, seemingly coming from very deep areas. They probably preferred shallower waters after evolution and would actively swim toward the shore.
Ignoring the fish jumping around at his feet, Xu Huo focused on his fishing rod. Soon, he pulled one up.
No one came to join him, but Jiang Qiao was watching his movements from a distance. Seeing him fishing as if nothing had happened, he remarked, "He really has nerves of steel."
"How could he not?" Shangguan Jing said coldly from the side. "This isn't his mission."
"Don't be so petty, man." Jiang Qiao had a decent relationship with him. "Although you lost face in front of Xu Huo last time, he doesn't hold a grudge against you. Are you going to hold one against him?"
"This has nothing to do with holding grudges," Shangguan Jing said. "Right now, everyone is preparing for the upcoming game. Someone with his exceptional strength should be doing something."
Jiang Qiao chuckled. "There's no 'should' about it. Besides, how many favors does the Special Defense Department owe him? We've already written a stack of IOUs. The more players like him who are easy to deal with, the better."
Mentioning those players who got pushy, Shangguan Jing's face darkened even more. "I'll deal with them when this is over."
"Calm down..." Jiang Qiao glanced at Xu Huo again and suddenly paused. "Team Leader Nie is back?"
There were now two people at the fishing spot.
"You recovered quickly." Nie Xuan appeared silently behind Xu Huo and lifted the fishing net, only to find that the bottom had been bitten through, and the fish splashed out with a loud sound.
He casually threw the net back and met Xu Huo's gaze. "These fish don't taste good."
Xu Huo didn't say much and simply cast his bait back into the water. "I heard from Team Leader Wu that you only left recently. I didn't expect you back so soon."
"This instance didn't take much time." Nie Xuan had rushed over after receiving Xu Huo's message. "Urgent matter?"
"Sort of." Xu Huo flicked a Space Ray, and the barrier automatically released by the Water Cube immediately severed his connection to spatial power, forming a membrane-like seal over his body. "This thing."
Seeing this, Nie Xuan's expression changed slightly. "How did you get this?"
"Fell into a trap." Xu Huo briefly explained the existence of the One-Third Game. "Now, part of the Water Cube should be inside my body. Targeted spatial instruments and items might be somewhat useful, but not enough to break the Water Cube's blockade barrier. That's why I came to you to think of a solution. How did you solve the problem with your leg?"
"By chance," Nie Xuan said. "You must still remember Lawrence Li, who appeared in Hai City during the Super Item incident."
Xu Huo nodded. "Your leg was injured by him."
"Exactly. His spatial power is different from ordinary spatial power. I later looked into some cases similar to mine. Even if some of them successfully evolved, their bodies didn't undergo major mutations."
"As the intensity of evolution increases, the body seems to slowly revert."
"I'm different. My wound grew from small to large, and both legs gradually crystallized, no longer human legs."
"Later, I encountered Lawrence Li."
Nie Xuan paused here, meeting Xu Huo's gaze. "He sealed the gradually spreading spatial power in my legs, allowing me to maintain my current state."
"He didn't say much, but from the information he revealed, his spatial evolution has reached a level beyond dimensions. He was also very surprised that I survived being stabbed by him. According to his estimation, if left unchecked, by the time I died, I would have completely transformed into a human-shaped space entity, eventually decomposing into spatial power, or changing in another direction, becoming a strange spatial point."
"You should be familiar with the wormhole hypothesis. It's like a space tunnel. My body acts as an entrance and exit."
"Beyond dimensions?" Xu Huo thought of the scenes described in the One-Third Game materials, as well as the state of the Water Cube and Chaos Space in the center of Buliucheng—those seemed like true beyond-dimension locations. "Can spatial power evolve to that level?"