Chapter 1922: Chapter 1922: Seeking Immortality at the Yellow Springs (3)
Chuzheng watched as they busied themselves, installing the game pod and going through various tests afterward.
At this moment, Xing Qiao showed the nervousness and anxiety typical of a child: "Uncle Hu, will uncle wake up?"
Hu Shuo sighed: "Young Master Xing Qiao, we will do our best."
With the game pod confirmed to be connected, the question now was who would enter the game.
After some discussion, it was decided that Ruan Liang, one of the core members responsible for this project, would enter the game pod.
He knew the game well, making him the best candidate.
This also posed a risk, what if he got trapped inside and couldn’t get out?
Therefore, everyone felt somewhat heavy-hearted as he entered.
Ruan Liang was rather relaxed: "Don’t look so down, wish me luck!"
The game pod door slowly closed, various lights coming on in sequence, indicating it was in working mode.
The game pod, connected to external imaging, showed a mist projected into the air once Ruan Liang entered.
The mist gradually dispersed, sinking...
Everyone’s hearts were in their throats, watching the screen nervously, not daring to take a breath.
At the bottom was a tiny line: ’Data retrieval 39%...’
46%...
57%...
89%...
98%...
Just two more digits to go, but when the number jumped to 99, it stopped.
Many closed their eyes in prayer.
The mist suddenly darkened, leaving only a patch of darkness.
Red text flickered in the center.
Data retrieval failure...
Data retrieval failure...
Everyone was stunned at first, then quickly rushed over, pressing the emergency button to help Ruan Liang out of the game pod.
The display showed exactly what Ruan Liang saw, he sighed: "We’ve found the key, yet why can’t we get in?"
No one could answer this question.
"Should I try again?" someone suggested, "Maybe because the game is now closed, it automatically rejects certain people?"
Everyone looked at each other for a moment, it wasn’t impossible.
So another person lay in the game pod, yet when the data retrieval jumped to 99, once again it darkened, and data retrieval failed.
This group worked hard for so long, the result being such an unsatisfactory ending, they took turns trying.
Even Su Tiyue and Hu Shuo ventured inside, all resulting the same.
"I... I’ll give it a try." Xing Qiao volunteered.
"Young Master Xing Qiao, the game is unstable, you’re still young, don’t take risks." Hu Shuo was the first to disagree.
Xing Qiao calmly argued for himself: "I have a blood relationship with uncle, wasn’t it said during testing that if there is kinship, brainwave patterns could be similar? You might not allow it, maybe I can?"
Xing Qiao’s calmness was unlike a child’s, the room’s atmosphere silent and oppressive, no one spoke for a while.
Chuzheng, the mentor, leaned idly against Xing Jue’s game pod, seemingly indifferent to the current situation.
With maturity beyond his years, Xing Qiao successfully convinced everyone.
"Xing Qiao."
Before he entered, Chuzheng finally spoke to stop him.
"Mentor." Xing Qiao obediently addressed her, eliciting Su Tiyue’s astonished look.
Previously he merely entered Wenxian Road, why was he calling her mentor now?
Who is Chuzheng?
How did she take Xing Qiao as a disciple?
"If something happens to you, it will be a problem for me." Chuzheng’s tone was indifferent: "You must take responsibility for your choices."
Xing Qiao’s slender figure stood straight, his small face serious and earnest: "I will."
Chuzheng nodded, indicating he could proceed.
Xing Qiao wasn’t a clueless child, he matured early, knowing more and staying calmer than typical kids.
Such people... it’s been a long time since she encountered one.
After Xing Qiao entered the game pod, clearly everyone was more tense than before.
Beneath the thick mist, the data retrieval numbers flashed quickly, everyone focused intently as it hit 99.
Data retrieval 100%...
Everyone gasped simultaneously, success!!
Success!!
We truly got in!!
The mist dissipated rapidly, and beneath it, the distinctly modern-style buildings came clearly into view, buildings they were very familiar with, having seen countless times.
Seeing them again, for some reason, felt like it had been ages.
"What’s going on?"
The screen appeared stuck, no longer moving.
Their excitement was deeply stifled.
[Please enter the key...]
These few words appeared on the screen.
"Why do we still need to enter it? Wasn’t it already cracked?" Hu Shuo grabbed Ruan Liang’s arm.
Ruan Liang was puzzled too: "I don’t know either... I’ll try entering it again."
Ruan Liang swiftly moved to the workbench, quickly pulling up a screen and rapidly entering the key.
[Key error, remaining chances 2...]
[Please enter the key...]
The word ’error’ startled Ruan Liang, who dared not to act recklessly.
"Let Young Master Xing Qiao come out first." Hu Shuo made a swift decision.
Without a new key, it was indeed best not to have Xing Qiao remain in the game.
The game was problematic after all when the game pod opened, Xing Qiao’s complexion was poor, as if he had endured torment in a place lacking oxygen.
He breathed lightly, taking a while to recover.
Strangely, after Xing Qiao left the game pod, the display did not vanish.
"What does this mean?"
"Could it be that a key must be entered? What happens if we don’t enter it?"
"What’s the key?"
"We only have two chances left, we can’t just try randomly."
Xing Qiao, supporting himself on the game pod, coughed slightly, feeling unwell, unable to help and without speaking, prepared to leave the game pod.
He tripped over something on the floor without noticing and stumbled.
Chuzheng squinted, reacting faster than anyone, quickly rushing over to catch Xing Qiao.
Xing Qiao’s head barely missed the sharp object on the ground, his expression somewhat blank as Chuzheng helped him up.
With lingering fear, Xing Qiao looked at the ground before gradually recovering.
After all, he’s still a child, encountering such matters, who could truly remain calm?
"Thank you, mentor..."
Chuzheng withdrew her hand, her voice emotionless: "Keeping your little life safe is thanks enough."
"..."
The others, realizing what happened, hurriedly gathered around Xing Qiao.
Chuzheng stepped back a few paces, her wristwatch flickering momentarily.
Xing Qiao glanced sideways, puzzling for a moment. He looked intently, but the watch was still.
"Look!"
Someone suddenly shouted, everyone looked up to see on the screen the key input display.
The key was hidden with asterisks, extending ceaselessly.
"Who’s entering the key?"
Everyone looked around, the operation desk was empty.
Ruan Liang rushed to the console, but after trying a few things, he shook his head at everyone; he couldn’t operate anything anymore.
[Entering key...]
These words now seemed particularly stark.
The key was long, taking forever yet still going on.
Chuzheng glanced twice, moving aside from the game pod.
[Input interrupted...]
[Abandon this attempt? 10, 9, 8...]
