Chapter 352: Lishan!

Time flows second by second.

The party passed a cross‑province bridge.

Along both sides of the bridge, many army‑green tents and temporary roadblocks have appeared.

A few guys in uniform, shouldering unidentifiable individual gear, stopped each vehicle for inspection.

The atmosphere is tense.

It's more unnerving than a traffic jam at a highway toll station.

Zhi He fished a black ID from his chest, flipped his wrist, and flashed it toward the window.

The sentinel's expression shifted, and without a word raised the bar to let them pass.

He didn't even let the car window be rolled down.

"We've already reached the border of Chang'an, right?"

"What's the situation with this display?"

"Preventing trouble before it happens?"

Su Ming asked casually.

Zhi He hesitated for half a second.

"Earthquake."

"Its frequency is at least three thousand times that of last month."

"But the magnitude isn't large, all below level three; ordinary folks would just think it's thunder."

He paused.

"However, the hypocenter depth… all concentrated at a single point."

Su Ming squinted slightly and didn't ask further.

A single point.

Where else could it be?

Ready to burst forth!

He closed his eyes, let his consciousness probe the Dimensional Reduction Warehouse, then glanced at the Bronze Fragment.

In his mind, the charred ink strokes that had been burned into his memory sprang up again.

"The Dragon Eater Will Awaken."

Whether it awakens or not is a later matter.

For now, first nail the coffin lid securely for the First Emperor, then worry about the rest.

…

The off‑road vehicle shifts from desolation to prosperity.

From prosperity back to desolation.

Lishan draws ever nearer.

In the distance, what can be seen is no longer that lush tourist spot.

The entire mountain range is shrouded by a visibly thick black haze.

The black haze churns continuously.

It's neither smoke nor fog.

It resembles a massive ink‑colored dragon coiled in a nest, wheezing half‑dead.

Oppressive.

Weighty.

Carrying the solemn killing and tyranny of over two thousand years ago.

That aura passed through several kilometers of air into the vehicle, and Su Ming even felt his temples throb twice.

"Chen Rang was right…"

Su Ming murmured softly.

Its weight surpasses that of the Wuhou Shrine…

Only strong, never weak!

The vehicle turned onto a dirt road that no navigation could locate.

On both sides of the road were clusters of pomegranate trees.

But they were not alive.

The trunks were blackened, as if scorched by fire then soaked in rain; the branches twisted, and no leaves remained.

The air was bone‑dry, carrying an indescribable earthy scent.

Five minutes later.

A temporary camp, tightly covered by camouflage netting and camouflage cloth, appeared ahead.

This is the final outpost.

It is ten kilometers from Lishan.

Half a step further—

…lies the absolute death zone.

The camp isn't large, but its layout is meticulously planned.

Three layers of outposts, loose outside, tight inside.

The hidden stakes are placed extremely cunningly, invisible to ordinary eyes.

But for the current Su Ming…

At a glance, he got the general idea.

If nothing goes wrong, eleven hidden stakes!

The car just came to a stop, and the camp gate opened from inside.

Five people were already standing at the doorway.

All in Pure One Suit gray‑black combat uniforms, with no rank insignia, no name tags.

On the left chest, each had an embroidered code.

Other than that, they were spotless.

When they saw the car, they instantly straightened, eyes flashing like lightning.

"These must be the tool‑team Chen Rang mentioned, the ones to go to the First Emperor's Tomb for me…"

Su Ming pushed open the car door and led Zhao Xinghe out.

The five's gazes, after looking at Su Ming and the other, each differed.

But…

No furrowed brows.

No questioning.

No whispering.

Not even an extra expression.

Just receiving information—

Mr. Su brought a little girl; that's a fact, just follow it.

The leading middle‑aged man strode forward.

He had a tangled beard, a gaunt frame, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk.

An old scar stretched from the left eyebrow corner to the ear root, lying horizontally across his face, looking like a centipede.

"Mr. Su!"

The man planted both feet and performed an extremely proper military salute.

His voice was neither meek nor arrogant, but the pace carried a veteran's sense of propriety—

knowing what should be said and what should be swallowed.

"I've heard of you!"

The other four followed suit, their movements orderly.

These people clearly understood the weight of the young man before them.

He's a god!

The stronger one is, the more one knows the value of this title!

To an absolute powerhouse, one must show absolute respect.

As for that little girl?

The boss wants to bring a pendant.

Then she is the team's grand‑aunt.

Anyone who dares to speak out will be seen as wishing for a longer life and will clash with Mr. Su.

And also will be at odds with the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau!

"Hmm."

Su Ming gave a faint nod, a smile on his face.

The tangled‑beard man lowered his hand.

"Mr. Su, my codename is Lao Gou; my sense of smell is innate and keen, I'm in charge of scouting and early warning for this trip."

"If there's any filth ahead, I'll sniff it for you first."

Standing to Lao Gou's left is a bespectacled youth.

He looks refined, with a demeanor like an associate professor of ancient history at a university.

"Codename Shu Chong."

"Knows some the art of the Hidden Gate, and has a passing knowledge of ancient trap mechanisms."

"Will serve as a living map for you."

Next to him, a short, stout, smiling man spoke up.

"Codename Tu Bo Shu, former Tomb‑Raiding Officer, feng‑shui site‑selection is his old trade."

He smiled so thinly that only a slit remained for his eyes.

"Mr. Su, wherever you dig, I'll dig there too."

"Rest assured, this time everything has been reported!"

The last two.

They looked like a pair of twins.

Broad‑shouldered, their muscles bulged the combat uniforms.

The two opened their mouths almost simultaneously, their tones and rhythm perfectly matched.

"Codename Zha Yao."

"Codename Lei Guan."

No extra character.

Chen Rang said so.

These two—

It's a humanoid C4.

Su Ming gave the two of them a glance.

Their gazes were both calm.

It wasn't restrained.

It was the kind that, after weighing life and death over and over hundreds or thousands of times, had been completely let go of…

Numb.

Once the road ahead reaches a dead end.

These two wouldn't spare another glance, nor think a second longer.

Pull the string, rush forward, and violently blast a slit for Su Ming.

Su Ming mentally tagged these two brothers and silently noted it.

His gaze swept over the five faces one by one.

Very good.

Their eyes were clean.

There was no worldly scheming that comes from long immersion.

Nor was there even a hint of resentment about why I should give my life for you.

Pure One Suit truly is the one who actually tucks their head onto their belt.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Su Ming's eyes narrowed slightly.

But he caught a detail.

Just now, Lao Gou, watching Zhao Xinghe, had his nose twitch slightly.

Then his fingers visibly stiffened!

In other words, his perception-like talent, when it came to Zhao Xinghe…

Smelled something?!

Su Ming quietly recorded this detail in his mind.

"For the upcoming mission, just call me by my name."

After saying that, Su Ming lowered his head and glanced at Zhao Xinghe beside him.

The little girl curiously sized up the several burly men before her.

"Her name is Xing He."

"From now on, she follows me all the way."

"She is special, and also very important!"

Su Ming's tone was flat, but every word left no room for negotiation.

"If anything goes wrong—"

"You don't need to worry about her; I take full responsibility!"