Chapter 23:Scholars

In the following days, Zhang Yujun and Chen Zhao searched nearby for suitable nodes to set up the formation. During this process, she noticed that Chen Zhao was using the Heavenly River Profound Sand to cultivate his true method.

She didn’t mind at all. Instead, she actively cooperated with him, as this benefited both sides—the Heavenly River Profound Sand could also be nourished this way.

At the same time.

Youlong City announced its merger into Weiqing City. This instantly drew everyone’s attention. In other places, city lords friendly with Youlong City sent people to inquire about the truth of the news.

Xi En appeared publicly, met these people, and stated that it was all his voluntary decision.

Naturally, no one believed him.

Any city lord with some strength knew Xi En’s personality and ambition. It was impossible for him to willingly give up his foundation—something must have happened.

For a time, Weiqing City became the focus of all sides.

The commotion that had occurred in the city couldn’t be concealed. Soon, all sorts of rumors spread.

That source energy was actually an experimental product.

Aliens lived in the sky, and humans had always been under their watch.

Xi En had once been beaten until he knelt and begged for mercy, barely escaping with his life.

…

These rumors were a mix of truth and falsehood, hard to discern. Most people didn’t believe them much, but one piece of news drew everyone’s serious attention.

The source energy tidal wave that had once brought humanity near extinction had reappeared, and the time until its outbreak was running out—possibly in the very near future.

Xi En appeared again, confirming the news, and together with Mo Qing, established related countermeasures.

They stated they welcomed anyone to seek refuge and face this crisis together.

Some didn’t believe it, while others immediately packed their bags and set off for Weiqing City.

Bild was one of them. He was a scholar from Ega, the City of Wisdom, with decades of experience in source energy applications.

On the steel train from Youlong City to Weiqing City, Bild wiped his slightly fogged glasses, put them back on, and looked out the window at hordes of wandering corpses.

They were very sensitive to the train’s noise. Once detected, they would chase until their limbs shattered and they could move no more.

Bild observed their movements, seemingly lost in thought.

At that moment, two people sat across from him—a middle-aged man and a little girl. The man looked somewhat pale and kept coughing, while the girl was very pretty and cute.

Bild snapped back and proactively extended his hand: “Hello, you two. Bild, university professor.”

The man glanced at him and lightly shook hands: “Xu Cheng, once a teacher too.” He pointed to the little girl: “This is Lily, my daughter.”

Xu Cheng smiled faintly as he spoke.

They had just returned from Youlong City. Lily had met her biological mother and completely severed ties there. From now on, Lily was his daughter.

“What a cute little girl.” Bild smiled, took a small bracelet from his leather bag, and handed it to Lily: “This is for you.”

Lily accepted it. The moment it touched her hand, a cool sensation spread through her body, followed by continuous warmth. Her source energy activity surged dramatically.

“This is?” Xu Cheng also sensed the bracelet’s effect, eyes widening in shock as he looked at the old man.

Bild explained: “One of my research achievements. It’s equivalent to a miniature source energy activator, capable of raising a source energy user’s ability strength to a certain degree.”

Xu Cheng carefully examined Bild upon hearing this. Seeing the old man’s open expression with no trace of malice, he said: “This is too precious.”

“It’s nothing. I quite like this little girl. Besides, to me, it’s not much.” Bild shook his head. Unlike Youlong, Tianying, and Weiqing’s focus on self-development, Ega emphasized source energy popularization and application—and he was one of the top figures in that field.

Seeing this, Xu Cheng didn’t refuse further: “You’re heading to Weiqing City? I have some connections there. If you need any help, just say.”

Bild looked at him with newfound respect upon hearing this. Weiqing City was exactly his destination—having a local guide would be perfect.

“To be honest, I plan to seek refuge in Weiqing City, bringing my technology with me.” Bild paused, adding weight to his words.

“Weiqing City needs people like you right now. I can introduce you to the current administrative officer.” Xu Cheng smiled.

“That couldn’t be better.” Bild was genuinely pleased. Making this decision had taken great resolve—not everyone could leave their homeland over vague words.

Xu Cheng and Bild chatted a bit more, getting acquainted.

When Bild asked which rumors about Weiqing City were true, Xu Cheng smiled and said he wasn’t sure either. But to Bild, this came off as mysteriously profound.

He firmly believed in the source energy tidal wave’s return because his own theories had calculated its arrival time.

When he told those around him, they all called him crazy.

Thinking of this, Bild couldn’t help a soft sigh. But soon, a scene outside the window caught his attention.

Towering pillars piercing the sky.

Some atop mountain peaks, some on plains, others not far from the train.

Passing by, he could even see every detail on the pillars, including the patterns.

His face nearly pressed against the glass, trying to see clearer.

Only when the train entered a tunnel did Bild reluctantly pull back. He turned to Xu Cheng: “What were those pillars just now? They couldn’t be built by human hands.”

Xu Cheng hesitated, exchanging a glance with Lily before cautiously saying: “I can’t tell you much about this. If you’re interested, I can introduce you to Weiqing City’s Executive Department Minister Su Qi—he’ll give you the answer.”

Bild instantly realized he might have touched Weiqing City’s core.

And this… might be exactly why he’d come.

He nodded and quietly awaited the train’s arrival.

Three hours later, carrying his leather case, he stepped onto Weiqing City’s ground. Looking around, the infrastructure was far inferior to Ega’s, but everyone’s face carried a relaxed expression—a sense of security he’d never experienced.

Bild exhaled softly. Led by Xu Cheng, he arrived at a building—Weiqing City’s Administrative Hall.

The guards at the door greeted them warmly and led them to Su Qi’s office.

Facing his former student, Xu Cheng didn’t linger. He simply conveyed the intent and left Bild alone with Su Qi.

Entering the office, Bild’s first impression of Su Qi was youth—and a slight incongruity. He soon pinpointed it: the source energy on Su Qi.

His eyes brightened—he’d come to the right place.

Su Qi was in a good mood too. In this short time, he’d investigated Bild’s background: “Professor at Ega University, chief scholar in source energy applications, one of the first batch to research source energy. Welcome to Weiqing City, Professor Bild.”

Bild didn’t care for titles: “I came here only to seek some truths.”

“May I tell you?” Su Qi asked interestedly.

Bild adjusted his glasses: “I want to know if the source energy tidal wave is man-made, if source energy is truly an artificially synthesized product, and if our planet… is an experimental field to advance source energy perfection… These questions have plagued me. I hope to find answers here.”