Chapter 291: Solving Olympiad Math in Acid Rain?

Cheng Shuili raised her hand and rubbed her brow; this Instance was really uncomfortable.

Now there are two options before the few of us: one is a warehouse with a very clear destination, the other is to find the third team that entered this Instance, exchange information, and share resources.

Most importantly, these two choices are actually not contradictory.

Cheng Shuili presented the options to everyone; aside from Mo yu mi ji, those with voting rights unanimously agreed to go to the warehouse first, since the map shows the Instance's area is vast, aimlessly searching for other players would likely be unrewarding.

Cheng Shuili of course agreed as well.

After the group rested, they quickly donned raincoats and headed toward the warehouse.

The next acid‑rain peak will occur in two hours, meaning that if they don't find a new shelter while traveling or exploring, they must return here before the two hours are up.

Cheng Shuili sighed, gripping Night Hunt and taking the lead at the front.

Qi Wan Yi and Ailin each held a weapon behind the formation, and from afar the group looked formidable.

The acid rain had eased a bit, but the drizzle still fell, and…

Although Cheng Shuili hadn't seen the peak‑time acid rain with her own eyes, looking at the scarred, even more bizarre world after this acid rain's rampage, she could roughly guess the peak's power.

The acidic corrosive smell in the air, mingling with the earthy scent of evaporating rainwater, formed a strange odor that tightened the throat.

The already dilapidated buildings were further mottled by the rain, the walls covered with dark water stains and pits that looked as if gnawed.

The ground gathered murky puddles, and occasional bubbles rose from the water, emitting a faint "pop" sound.

Cheng Shuili stepped through a puddle, her boots emitting a faint "sizzle"; she didn't even furrow her brow, her gaze silently scanning the rain‑mist shrouded street ahead.

"Stay close, watch your footing and surroundings."

Her voice wasn't loud, yet it reached each person's ears clearly.

"If you still want your shoes, try to avoid the puddles as much as possible."

Jiang Tang carefully skirted a larger puddle, and upon hearing that, instinctively tightened her raincoat.

She strained to recall the map's details, squinting at the buildings ahead; although the structures were quite ruined, their layout suggested they were the same as the surrounding ones.

Leading the way, Cheng Shuili naturally noticed that she hadn't stopped, but was guiding everyone straight toward the destination.

After passing a chaotic street, the outline of a low yet sprawling building gradually became clear.

It appeared sturdier than the surrounding houses, its walls of thick concrete, few windows—those that existed were tall and small, set with stout iron bars; the glass had long vanished, leaving only dark openings.

The walls were speckled with uneven acid‑rain corrosion marks, like some hideous skin disease, yet the overall structure still stubbornly stood.

The only entrance was a pair of heavy, rust‑stained double iron doors.

The doors themselves looked extremely heavy, but more striking was the massive iron lock spanning the center.

That thing was larger than an average hand, the iron chain as thick as an adult's wrist, plainly telling everyone that brute force could not break it.

When the group drew near, they saw a fairly conspicuous screen on the wall.

It roughly displayed an Olympiad math problem, with the hint clearly stating that the key was hidden at the location of the problem's result.

As for why it says "roughly" an Olympiad problem…

Cheng Shuili had been working for several years, and now being asked to decipher this, she really felt no better than an elementary student.

Everyone saw the question on the screen, and for a moment they kept looking at each other; the few who had been chatting along the way finally fell silent.

In the end, Xinxue pushed Jiang Tang forward: "I recall Jiang Tang is a university student… right? This kind of problem should be fairly easy for a college student, shouldn't it?"

Jiang Tang's face showed difficulty; seeing everyone's gaze on her, she frowned and said, "Never mind that I'm a medical student, I only took a bit of advanced calculus in my freshman year. Besides, we've been in this damned place for a month, who still remembers this stuff?"

"Besides, the acid rain is still falling… the system is absurd enough to make us calculate while we get soaked?"

Qi Wan Yi silently added, seeing the others' eyes turn back, she quickly waved, "I'm a chef… I didn't even finish high school, you wouldn't expect me to do the calculations, would you?"

That definitely couldn't have her do it.

Before Cheng Shuili could say anything, Ailin said, "I've failed math since childhood; my poor grades almost caused me to fail enlistment…"

The few here were busy passing the buck, while Moyu Miji, standing nearby, grew increasingly alarmed; he had originally thought these people were just a random group, or perhaps all girls huddling together for warmth.

So what happened?

A chef, a medical student, a soldier, and one who hasn't disclosed their occupation yet, yet can blend in, obviously aren't lacking.

Add a supremely powerful Lao Da…

What kind of team is this, really?

Moyu Miji couldn't help but shiver… Fortunately, after being restrained he softened, and up to now has been very honest, saying only the truth.

These people are definitely not ordinary!

Especially this person called "Lao Da"… she is definitely not "good", so who could it be?

Moyu Miji fell silent for a moment; actually there was a person with a particularly high suspicion. This person's suspicion had always been high, only they didn't dare think about it.

How could a player be so unlucky to hit Number One right after entering the Instance, get easily subdued by Number One, have their weapons confiscated, sign a trade contract and become a hostage? Ha—if it were a past life, they could have just bought a lottery ticket!

Moyu Miji tried to find humor in the misery, comforting himself, when he saw the mysterious Lao Da suddenly move.

She first stood before the iron doors, and from thin air produced several sheets of toilet paper, using them to grip the massive iron lock, lifting it to glance at the keyhole. Then, under everyone's puzzled gaze, she exhaled, and somehow conjured a key out of nowhere, and then…

Huh?

Just like that, she easily slipped the key in?

Moyu Miji frowned, wondering what use inserting it would have; the key wasn't for the iron lock, even if it fit it wouldn't open it.

Moyu Miji was still puzzling over the operation when he saw her gently rotate the key in her hand, and immediately, that seemingly indestructible iron lock responded and opened.

It opened.

It opened?!! What?