Chapter 85: Thunder in the Soundless Place

Pure Land's school became the most lively place in the camp. The children's bright reading voices, their curious questions about Luo Ya runes, and even occasional roughhousing, intertwined into a rare "daily" movement.

That day was the "Practical Skills" class, and the instructor was... Wang Hu.

When this silent, taciturn, wall‑thickly built man stood before a group of half‑grown children, the atmosphere froze. The kids stared at the door‑panel‑like battle axe on his shoulder, daring not to breathe.

Wang Hu scratched his head, seeming unsure how to start, and finally forced out, "Today, I'll teach you... how to open cans."

The children: "???"

Wang Hu produced several rust‑spotted, different‑model old‑era cans: some with pull tabs, some requiring a key to unwind, and the oldest, fully sealed tin cans.

"Survival starts with being able to eat," Wang Hu said succinctly. He first demonstrated the pull‑tab and key‑unwinding methods, his motions surprisingly meticulous. When it came to the old tin can, he grabbed a nearby multitool, found the slot, and pried hard—

With a light "pop," the can lid opened perfectly, the edge neat, no crumbs falling into the food.

"Wow!" the children exclaimed, their gazes at Wang Hu instantly filled with admiration.

"Strength must be applied to the right spot," Wang Hu sheathed the multitool, pointing to his head, "here, more important than here." He then pointed to his bulging biceps.

The unconventional "Can‑Opening Lesson" somehow acquired a philosophical flavor from Wang Hu. After class, a group of kids gathered around him, chattering with questions, and the braver ones tried to touch his battle axe. Though Wang Hu still wore little expression, his eyes softened, even permitting the youngest girl to tap the icy blade with her fingertip.

"Sure, Da Hu!" Zhang Yang suddenly appeared, slinging an arm around Wang Hu's shoulder, winking, "Didn't expect someone with your thick brows and big eyes to be good at coaxing kids! Next time teach them how to use a heavy machine gun to dismantle a Guardian Mech, okay?"

Wang Hu glanced at him, saying in a gruff tone, "First master the basics, open cans."

Elsewhere, Kaiwen's "Luo Ya Technology Primer" class was full of "magical" flair. He used Luo Ya rune projections to construct various complex energy flow models in the air, attempting to explain to the trainees (including some adults) the basic principles of "order barriers" and "rule‑level contamination."

"... so you can think of it as us taking the Ark's big bulb 'Prometheus' and coating it with a layer of logically chaotic 'virus paint'!" Kaiwen gestured wildly, "Its original directive was 'eliminate everything that doesn't meet Standard A,' and we changed it to 'turn everything into a twisted aberration that meets A, meets B, and even a bit of C!' That's what we call a rule‑level 'troll' behavior!"

The trainees below listened in stunned silence; most didn't understand, but looked like they thought it was "awesome." Only a few with technical backgrounds had eyes that grew brighter.

Su Yu's "True Knowledge Vision and Perception Training" class was much quieter. She guided the trainees to close their eyes and sense the "subtle aspects" of the surroundings—air flow, energy afterimages, even the faint emotional ripples of others.

"Perception isn't limited to the eyes. Sometimes the inner 'seeing' is more real," Su Yu's voice was gentle yet penetrating. She noticed that several trainees seemed innately endowed with a faint psychic sensing potential, which made her see the possibility of forming a special perception squad in the future.

Chen Mo occasionally visited the school; he didn't teach concrete skills but spoke of history, the rise and fall of Luo Ya civilization, the philosophy of the "Resonance" organization, why they oppose the Ark, and why they must rebuild order on this wasteland. His lectures often sparked the deepest contemplation and yearning for the future among the trainees.

Pure Land's internal development progressed steadily amid the clattering of books and seemingly ordinary teaching. The Sparks of knowledge were quietly passing on.

The tranquil days were shattered by an unexpected message.

Han Qing, his face solemn, approached Chen Mo: "Our No. 3 reconnaissance team sent northwest to track the 'Observers' signal sources has lost contact. It's been 24 hours past the scheduled return, communications are silent, and the emergency beacon hasn't responded."

The atmosphere in the control room tightened instantly. The No. 3 recon squad was Han Qing's elite unit, led by veteran Zhao Ming, experienced and well‑equipped, making an unexplained loss of contact impossible.

"What was the last transmitted message?" Chen Mo asked gravely.

"They reached the edge of the designated recon zone, the outskirts of a ruin called 'Silent Valley.' The signal last showed they were preparing to enter the valley for scouting, then it cut off," Han Qing displayed a map. "'Silent Valley' was recorded in the old era as a strong signal‑shielding area, but our equipment, reinforced with Luo Ya technology, shouldn't have failed completely.

"Did those 'Observers' do it?" Zhang Yang snarled, "I'll lead men to flatten that damned valley!"

"Calm down." Chen Mo stopped him, "The situation is unclear; rash action could cause greater loss. Han Qing, what's your take?"

Han Qing pointed to the valley's terrain on the map: "'Silent Valley' has complex terrain, easy to defend, hard to attack. If the enemy can silently swallow Zhao Ming's squad, their strength is not to be underestimated. A full assault isn't the first choice. I suggest I lead the 'Ghost' unit (my infiltration specialists) to infiltrate first and ascertain the situation."

"That's too dangerous," Su Yu worried, "Even Zhao Ming's team..."

"Precisely because it's dangerous, we must go," Han Qing said calmly, "We need to know what we're facing. Whether enemy or friend, and what their purpose is."

Chen Mo pondered briefly, then nodded, "Approved. But remember, your mission is reconnaissance, not combat. If you detect any anomaly, withdraw immediately. Su Yu, try using True Knowledge Vision to remotely sense that area and see if anything appears. Kaiwen, mobilize every monitoring device you can, aim at 'Silent Valley,' and analyze any energy or signal irregularities."

The order issued, Pure Land resumed efficient operation.

Su Yu focused her mind, attempting to project perception toward the distant "Silent Valley," but the place seemed shrouded in a dense fog; her vision was heavily interfered with, only vaguely sensing a cold, pure "order" force, starkly different from Luo Ya's gentle inclusiveness, bearing an absolute exclusivity.

Kaiwen's side also stalled; all probe beams aimed at "Silent Valley" vanished like stones sinking in the sea, yielding no effective feedback.

"This is haunted; that place is like an information black hole!" Kaiwen irritatedly scratched his scalp.

Time ticked by anxiously. Han Qing's "Ghost" unit had already set out, and per protocol they would attempt a brief safety signal transmission every six hours.

In the first six hours, the safety signal returned on time, a brief code: "Reached perimeter, no anomalies detected, preparing to infiltrate."

In the second six hours, the signal was delayed five minutes, its content: "Found debris of a non‑Ark‑standard reconnaissance unit, technology level extremely high. A strong interference field exists within the valley; communications will be extremely difficult."

After that, no further signals returned.

Han Qing's squad also lost contact.

Two elite squads in a row disappearing in "Silent Valley" cast a pall over Pure Land's interior. Speculation and unease began to spread. Could the opponent be a threat scarier than the Ark?

Chen Mo knew they could wait no longer. He had to go himself.

"I'll go with you!" Zhang Yang immediately stepped forward.

"Me too!" Wang Hu hoisted the battle axe.

Su Yu and Kaiwen also volunteered to accompany, their abilities potentially crucial in the unknown environment.

Chen Mo looked at his companions, offering no refusal. He left Hui Jin to hold down Pure Land, overseeing internal stability and defense, then personally assembled a rapid‑response squad of the most elite warriors, equipped with the latest Luo Ya technology weapons and armor.

Before departing, Chen Mo placed his hand again on the ancient Luo Ya Stele. This time, he clearly felt a faint Resonance, not emanating from the stele itself but as if traversing space to connect with some distant existence. It was a sense of "order" that was of the same origin yet entirely different.

"Let's go."

The convoy left Pure Land, racing toward the northwest's Silent Valley. The nearer they approached the valley, the stranger the surroundings became. Radiation readings were normal, mutated creatures absent, even the wind seemed to have vanished—a true "complete silence." An intangible pressure weighed on everyone's mind.

Upon reaching the valley entrance, the group disembarked, advancing slowly in tactical formation. Scattered at the entrance were some metallic‑gleaming, non‑Ark‑standard mechanical debris, just as Han Qing's final transmission described.

"These fragments... the structure is so precise, as if cast as a whole, with no welding or rivet marks," Kaiwen examined the debris, marveling, "This craftsmanship outclasses the Ark by eight streets!"

Suddenly, Wang Hu at the front raised his fist, signaling a halt. His keen intuition sensed danger.

Within the front fog (not water vapor but a visual shield formed by some energy disturbance), faint, orderly footsteps arrived.

The fog cleared, revealing the figures inside.

There were about ten warriors clad in streamlined, fully covered silver‑white armor. Their armor glimmered with a cold sheen, movements synchronized like robots, weapons in hand that were gun‑like yet not, their tips gathering a heart‑pounding energy. The leader stood, his height comparable to Chen Mo, his helm bearing a simple cross‑shaped observation lens, with no markings.

Most startling was that behind this squad, Han Qing and his "Ghost" members, as well as the previously missing Zhao Ming squad members, all stood there unharmed, their eyes hollow, as if trapped in place, unable to move or speak.

"Intruders, state your identity and intent," the lead silver‑armored warrior emitted an electronically synthesized voice, devoid of emotion. The language, rapidly translated by Kaiwen's portable device, turned out to be an ancient tongue, cognate with the Luo Ya language but more concise.

Chen Mo felt a jolt, stepped forward, and using the translation just heard from Kaiwen, attempted a reply: "We come from Pure Land, seeking our missing companions. Who are you?"

The silver warrior's cross‑shaped observation lens flickered, seemingly scanning Chen Mo and the others. "Pure Land? No record in the database. According to the Silent Codex, Article 7, anyone who enters the Order Domain without permission must undergo inspection and purification."

"Purification?" Zhang Yang flared at the word, "Purification again? Are you in league with those Ark bastards?"

"Ark? Inefficient, chaotic imitators." The silver-armored warrior's tone carried an undisguised contempt, "We are the 'Blade of Order', inheriting the will of the 'Judgers', guarding the wall of absolute order."

"Judgers? Another unfamiliar name! But hearing it, it seems related to the Luo Ya civilization?"

"We mean no harm; we only wish to bring back our comrades." Chen Mo attempted to negotiate.

"They have touched core secrets; they must undergo memory purification before they can be released." The silver-armored warrior showed no flexibility, "As for you, you likewise must undergo inspection to determine whether you pose a threat to 'absolute order'."

Before his words even fell, ten "Blade of Order" warriors simultaneously raised their weapons, energy light blazed!

"Damn it, if we can't talk, we fight!" Zhang Yang roared, the heavy machine gun already bellowing to life!

However, an astonishing scene occurred. When the dense bullets struck the silver-armored warriors, it was as if they hit an invisible wall, emitting a tinkling sound, all deflected! Their shields seemed even more condensed and absolute than the "Order Bulwark."

Wang Hu roared as he charged forward, his battle-axe tore the air with a fierce whistle, he fiercely chopped toward the leading warrior!

That warrior neither dodged nor evaded, simply raising one arm; the armor on his arm instantly deformed, extending a smooth energy shield.

"Clang!"

The battle-axe struck the shield, bursting out blinding sparks! Wang Hu's blow, capable of cleaving a mech, was actually steadied by the opponent's single arm, not even moving a step.

"Strength is decent, technique crude, energy utilization efficiency low." The silver-armored warrior coldly remarked, the weapon in his other hand already aimed at Wang Hu.

"Definition: in this area, kinetic energy is null!" Su Yu shouted, the True Knowledge Vision fully activated, attempting to twist the fundamental physical rules of the opponent's weapon.

The silver-armored warrior's weapon light merely flickered slightly, then returned to normal. "Low-dimensional rule interference is ineffective against high-order shields."

Even Su Yu's ability had little effect!

Kaiwen attempted to fire an interference pulse, but it was easily dispelled by the opponent's shield.

The strength displayed by this "Blade of Order" warrior squad far exceeded everyone's imagination! They seemed to represent a kind of "Order" power more extreme and stronger than the Ark.

Chen Mo took a deep breath, knowing he had encountered an unprecedentedly strong foe. He slowly drew his sidearm blade enhanced by Luo Ya technology, the blade lighting up with familiar blue Luo Ya runes.

When he channeled the trace of "Order" power within him that resonated with Luo Ya civilization, the leading silver-armored warrior showed the first noticeable reaction. His crosshair reticle focused on Chen Mo's blade, and the cold electronic tone also carried a barely perceptible fluctuation.

"Luo Ya's... resonater? Impossible... the 'Seed' project has long been terminated."

"Seed project?"

Chen Mo caught that keyword.

It seems that this silent thunderclap has finally split a thread of historical mist, revealing a larger, more terrifying corner of the iceberg behind it.