Relics of the Black Wind

"I'm in."

Message sent, Chen Guan's eyes flickered with eager anticipation. The Black Wind Ruins sounded like a great plot point, which meant more screen time.

Moreover, traveling with the 49 Squad guaranteed a certain level of safety. Thinking back to the last time, even though he died once, he had at least leaped into the ranks of the ten-thousandaires.

The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Chen Guan had already acquired a taste for this; he had no fear of death, only a burning desire for popularity points in his eyes.

If dying once could earn him ten thousand popularity points, Chen Guan would immediately smash his head against the concrete floor, doing it eight or ten times right off the bat.

The daydream ended there. Soon, An Changqing replied: "Tomorrow after class, Tianshu Building Room 101, the squad will gather to discuss the specifics."

Chen Guan replied with a simple "Okay," then turned off his terminal and began preparing for the expedition in three days.

...

Three days passed in a flash.

During this period, he continued his regular cultivation. In three days, his injuries were basically healed, and his physical and mental strength had returned to their peak.

His control over the gray energy was still difficult, but he had made a sliver of progress compared to the beginning. At the very least, he could barely gather it at his fingertips or the edge of his scythe for a brief moment. Although the consumption was huge and the effect was unclear, it was still a good start.

He also used his points on hand to exchange for some practical supplies from the academy's resource library.

[Class C - Spirit Spider Silk Soft Armor]

Properties: Thin, light, and close-fitting, with decent defense. It can effectively resist sharp weapon cuts and partial energy impacts. It can be worn under the combat suit as a second line of defense.

[Class C - Gale Boots]

Properties: Built-in miniature wind-element runic array. Once activated, it slightly increases movement speed and jumping ability, enhancing the agility attribute. It can be used for dodging or pursuing at critical moments.

At the same time, he restocked his inventory from the system shop with [Minor Stamina Recovery Potion x3], [High-Efficiency Styptic Powder], and [Antidote], dedicating himself to letting technology change his life. Anyway, he didn't need to worry about any bad news from the bodybuilding circles.

As for his contribution points, he didn't touch them for now, planning to save them for a more crucial moment.

In terms of weapons, Chen Guan found time to visit the Equipment Research Building. He used his remaining points to hire a senior student skilled in material processing to melt down the Hundred-Forged Fine Gold he had obtained previously. They reinforced the blade and the connecting joints of his scythe, making it sturdier and more durable, barely counting as a minor upgrade.

The Black Iron Coffin remained his core equipment. The spider silk lining worked well and needed no modification.

After class on Wednesday afternoon, Chen Guan carried his coffin and arrived at Room 101 of the Tianshu Building on time.

Pushing the door open, he saw An Changqing, Su Yuehe, and Long Ao were already there. Even though Chen Guan was the most punctual, he ended up being the last to arrive.

An Changqing stood in front of the podium, using his terminal to project a slightly blurry map that marked the general location of the Black Wind Ruins and the surrounding terrain.

Seeing Chen Guan enter, Su Yuehe smiled and waved her hand. "Good afternoon, Chen Guan."

"Good afternoon."

After the incident last time, Su Yuehe had dropped the formal suffixes, and they had started calling each other directly by their names.

Long Ao sat alone, leaning against a desk by the window. Dressed in a tight black outfit, he had his arms crossed over his chest, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the door open, he didn't even lift an eyelid; he just gave a soft snort through his nose as a greeting.

It really lived up to the comments' stereotype: Long Ao never opened his eyes.

"Chen Guan is here." An Changqing nodded in greeting. "Have a seat first, let's briefly go over the situation."

Chen Guan sat down in the empty seat next to Su Yuehe and carefully leaned his coffin to the side.

"The Black Wind Ruins are located deep in the Forgotten Mountain Range, about eight hundred kilometers northwest of the academy."

An Changqing began his introduction. The projected map zoomed in, showing a winding mountain range shrouded in mist. "The ruins are ancient, and their specific origins can no longer be traced. In history, there have been multiple outbreaks of spiritual energy tides, occasionally washing out ancient artifacts or fragments of inheritances. However, the internal structure of the ruins is complex, with many lingering ancient restrictions and dangerous creatures. It is enveloped year-round by a peculiar bone-corroding black wind that can erode spiritual energy and vitality. The danger rating fluctuates between C and B."

"Recently, the Superpower Association monitored that the spiritual energy fluctuations in the eye of the wind in the core area of the ruins are abnormally active. It is suspected that a high-value ancient relic or a complete inheritance is about to emerge. The Association has listed the ruins as observation level and allowed registered squads to apply for exploration. However, it comes at our own risk, and we are not allowed to go within a hundred meters of the core of the wind's eye."

An Changqing switched the projection, displaying an even blurrier image that looked as if it had been interfered with. The outline of a dilapidated ancient tower could vaguely be seen, surrounded by thick black air currents.

"Our target is the ancient tower area on the outskirts of the ruins." An Changqing pointed to the ancient tower in the image. "According to past experience and recent intelligence analysis, the ancient tower area is relatively safe."

"Our mission is to explore the ancient tower area, gather intelligence, and obtain valuable ancient items or information as much as possible. If we encounter an irresistible danger, we evacuate immediately. Safety comes first."

As usual, An Changqing emphasized the safety issue first.

"In terms of team composition, I'll be in charge of the main attack and tactical command. Yuehe will handle reconnaissance. Long Ao is responsible for the heavy assault and covering the rear. Student Chen Guan," An Changqing looked at Chen Guan, "you have outstanding defense and formidable strength. You will be responsible for frontal containment and protecting Yuehe."

Chen Guan nodded inwardly. This allocation was very reasonable and fully utilized the advantage of his built-in turtle shell.

With two big shots like An Changqing and Long Ao around, he probably wouldn't have much chance to make a move. If those two couldn't solve something, he probably couldn't either.

"I have no problem with that," Chen Guan replied.

"Neither do I," Su Yuehe raised her hand.

Long Ao still had his eyes closed and just coldly spat out two words, "That works."

Chen Guan looked at him. Long Ao and Li Yan might actually have a lot in common; both were tough guys who treated their words like gold.

"Good." An Changqing put away the projection. "Tomorrow morning at six o'clock, we gather at the west gate of the academy and take the academy's specially approved Cloud-Piercing Shuttle to the camp on the outskirts of the ruins. Everyone, check your equipment tonight and rest up. Meeting adjourned."

Leaving the classroom, Chen Guan returned to his dorm room to make his final preparations. He spent some time in deep meditation to adjust his condition to its absolute best.

As the night deepened, Chen Guan stood by the window, looking out at the brightly lit campus, his heart full of anticipation.

He turned around, walked to the bed, and looked at his true body sleeping in the coffin. He said softly, "Tomorrow, I'm heading out again. Wait for me to bring back good news. I will definitely wake you up."

The bullet comments remained omnivorous and started shipping them as a couple.

[Oh, the debt of gratitude! The debt to the person in the coffin can never be fully repaid.]

[Daily question: who exactly is the person in the coffin?]

[I refuse to believe these two don't have some special relationship.]

[Fast forward to the person in the coffin waking up, Chen Guan confessing his love, them having a wedding, and their child being named Chen Cai.]

[Leopard leopard cat cat, I am born.]

Chen Guan massaged his forehead. These bullet comments really saw romance everywhere.

Looking at his rising popularity points, he silently swallowed the sarcastic retorts on the tip of his tongue.

Earning a living, there's no shame in it.