The extraordinary journey begins with the Ouroboros Stele.

Chapter 72 Spirit

A few days later, at the Red Whale Security Group, in the first-floor preparation hall.

The huge preparation hall is nearly a thousand square meters, and Lin Ye leans against a marble pillar.

In the open space ahead, the combat team leader who had been cleaning up the corpses of Nuoshe God Cult members in the narrow alley that day was assigning tasks to his team members.

Everyone was fully armed and wearing black bulletproof vests; their weapons and equipment were even more advanced than those of the police superintendent.

Lin Ye flipped through the mission information in his hand.

The mission is to escort a batch of antiques to Iron Piano City, where they will be handed over to an auction house called "Twilight Rain".

The combat team leader in charge of this mission is named Ye Chu, and he is twenty-nine years old.

Like him, he was also in the practice stage, but his progress was faster, and he was almost ready to complete the opening of the acupoints.

His assigned task was... to be a bystander.

Yes, that's right, just passing by.

Generally, a mission like this, which involves escorting antiques, is usually handled by a team of three to five members.

But this time the employer offered a high price, specifically requesting an entire combat squad to escort them.

He just happened to choose this task, which resulted in a serious overstaffing and made him completely unnecessary.

"Da da da".

Footsteps sounded, and Su Zhenzhen walked in from outside the hall, carrying a black briefcase, and headed straight for Lin Ye.

"Advisor Lin, here is your equipment."

"A bulletproof vest, a tactical pistol, and a stimulant."

Lin Ye took the suitcase and opened it directly.

The black bulletproof vest has a layer of metal armor on the surface and an inner lining that looks like some kind of plastic.

The tactical pistol is similar to the pistols issued to police superintendents, except that the caliber is much larger.

It's about the size of a quail egg; he'd believe it if you told him it could hunt elephants.

The final stimulant surprised him somewhat; the metal casing encased a glass syringe containing a pale green liquid.

There is a string of words on the metal shell: "Coastal Research Institute".

"Was it developed by the teacher? Or by the senior apprentice?"

After putting on the body armor, he put the stimulant into the slot on his belt and then took out his tactical pistol.

The gun body is painted with a red whale pattern and feels cool and slightly heavy to the touch.

"Advisor Lin, body armor can protect against close-range shots from ordinary sniper rifles, but it cannot withstand the shockwave from a master of shock."

"Stimulants can block out pain sensations within ten minutes and significantly constrict blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and ensure blood supply to the heart and brain."

"This tactical pistol is a special supply from the police department's combat advisor. It is a G-level weapon and is capable of killing anyone who is not a secret warrior."

Lin Ye looked at the tactical pistol in his hand with some surprise.

He knew about weapon ratings; they were based on the power of modern firearms.

The most representative G-tier weapons are the standard sniper rifle and the high-explosive grenade.

According to the information he had previously consulted, G-level corresponds to a master of earthquake-level strength.

Of course, this does not mean that weapons below G-rank cannot harm a master of the Earthquake rank.

Rather, it means that weapons below the G-level are basically unable to attack the body of a level 3 expert.

It's not just about the defense of shock force, but also the terrifying reaction speed of a shock level master. Even if the enemy's bullet has already left the barrel, there is still a certain chance to dodge.

If a master of the Earthquake level doesn't use their Earthquake Force defense and doesn't dodge, even weapons below the G level can kill them.

G-level weapons, on the other hand, are weapons that can inflict effective damage even on a master of the Earthquake level when using Earthquake Force defense.

Of course, the premise is that you can hit them.

Above that are the F-rank corresponding to Secret Warriors and Divine Servants.

The most famous F-class weapons are the anti-material sniper rifle and the heavy machine gun.

Secret warriors or divine servants can unleash terrifying destructive power comparable to or even surpassing that of such weapons with their bare hands.

And this is only from the perspective of destructive power; the methods of the secret warriors and divine servants are even more complex.

The actual harm that can be caused by the existence of this level is incalculable.

Most importantly, although the power of an anti-materiel sniper rifle is comparable to that of a Secret Warrior, it is almost impossible to kill a Secret Warrior with it.

Lei Long had revealed some information about the secret martial artists to him.

Beings at that level are extremely sensitive to threats, and can even project their sense of threat into something akin to a domain.

That thing is called "spirit".

He recalled the feeling he had when he faced the Nuo Snake God Cult's attendant that night; the terrifying sense of threat seemed to emanate from the air around him.

The feeling that every cell in my body was frantically warning of danger far surpassed the oppressive feeling brought by the giant half-human spider in "The Flowing Shadow: Dark Predator".

He knew very well that the Divine Servant was far beyond the capabilities of a master of the Earthquake level; he wouldn't even be able to put up a few resistances.

Thinking of this, he shook his head and looked back at the tactical pistol in his hand.

With a G-class weapon in hand, he was confident he could contend even with a level-3 expert.

After all, even though a master of the Earthquake level has the protection of the Earthquake Force, they are still just a mortal.

Getting hit by a G-class weapon will leave you either dead or crippled.

"After the mission, does this pistol need to be retrieved?" he asked.

Su Zhenzhen looked at Lin Ye and couldn't help but smile. Men, they really are all the same.

"No need, these are specially supplied items."

"However, there is a dedicated maintenance department in the armory on the first floor of the group, where weapons can be stored normally."

"You can withdraw the money yourself or by swiping your card."

Lin Ye nodded after listening. "Professional."

After saying that, he raised his gun and aimed it.

"Then I wish Consultant Lin a successful first mission," Su Zhenzhen said with a smile.

"Everyone! Let's go!"

Ye Chu's voice came, and the eleven-member combat team ran out of the hall in neat little steps.

"Let's go over there too," Lin Ye said, holstering his tactical pistol on his belt.

Stepping out of the lobby, a black heavy truck was parked on the road inside the group, with two off-road vehicles painted with the Red Whale logo in front of and behind it.

A young woman in a black suit stood at the front of the car and handed over the vehicle to Ye Chu.

After a while, a combat team member led the woman in the suit to Lin Ye.

"Consultant Lin, we need you to be on the train this time to protect Miss Jiang."

The woman in the suit extended her hand generously, a smile on her face, exuding a heroic air.

"Hello, Jiang Muyu, Muyu as in evening, and rain in the sky."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow slightly. Jiang Muyu, Muyu Auction House.

So this must be the auction house owner. No wonder he's so wealthy and powerful, hiring the entire combat team.

He reached out and shook hands. "Lin Ye, the 'Ye' in 'crocodile'."

Jiang Muyu's eyes brightened slightly. Lin the Crocodile?

"I'll leave the rest of the trip to Consultant Lin."

Lin Ye nodded and said nothing more. Su Zhenzhen then left.

About ten minutes later, a figure ran out of the group's building.

"Senior brother, here's your talisman."

Yan Yi handed over the necklace, and Lin Ye took it with some surprise.

"Thank you, I forgot when I was changing."

After putting it on, he looked at Yan Yi.

"Don't relax these next few days. Just swipe my card if you need anything."

In the past few days, Yan Yi has made great progress under the group's systematic training methods.

In addition, he also gave me special lessons to help me regulate my Qi.

I estimate that it will take less than two or three months to complete the Qi Circulation through the Ten Fingers and step into the second level.

"I understand, senior brother. I'll wait for you to come back."

Yan Yi stared directly into the forest, a resolute quality emanating from her eyes.

"drop--!!!"

The heavy truck started, and Ye Chu made a hand gesture, pointing to the truck bed.

Lin Ye raised his hand in response, then looked at Yan Yi, "I'm leaving, you can go back now."

Yan Yi nodded without saying anything, then turned and walked into the building.

After she left, Lin Ye walked towards the truck bed, and Ye Chu also sat in the passenger seat of the truck.

The off-road vehicle in front of the heavy truck started and drove off first.

"Was that... my junior sister?"

Jiang Muyu's teasing laughter rang out as she stood on the carriage and reached out her hand, gesturing for Lin Ye to get on.

Lin Ye smiled, gripped the edge of the carriage, and with a little effort, leaped onto the carriage.

Jiang Muyu shrugged indifferently and turned to walk into the carriage.

"Clang~ Clang~"

The carriage gradually closed, and the interior lights came on, illuminating everything.

Directly in front is a projection screen, through which you can see the outside view via a camera.

In addition, there are two small rooms inside the carriage for people to rest.

The distance between the coast and the iron piano is not short, and the car doesn't travel very fast, so it usually takes one to two days to get there.

After a slight tremor, the vehicle began to move.

"What would you like to drink? Juice? Milk?"

"No alcohol allowed during the mission!"

Jiang Muyu asked with a smile, but Lin Ye shook his head, "No need."

His gaze passed over the two small huts and landed on the huge metal platform at the front of the carriage.

There were many antiques on it, mostly bronzes, still covered in dirt and dust, obviously they had just been dug up not long ago.

There was also an iron frame welded to the carriage, on which some wooden boxes were placed.

"May I take a look at these antiques?"

Jiang Muyu poured a glass of hot milk and looked at Lin Ye with some curiosity.

"You even know how to appraise treasures?"

Lin Ye nodded calmly, "I understand a little bit."

He stepped forward, raised his hand, and picked up a bronze artifact, a bronze bell the size of a human head.

【Ingredient Name: Yi Hou Yong Zhong Gong Yin Qi】

[Ingredient Category: Qi]

[Ingredient Tier: Mortal Tier]

Edible part: the whole body

[Effects of Consumption: Slightly increases Intelligence attribute and slightly increases musical talent.]