Chapter 329: Living

With the soft click of the shutter, this image, destined to be passed down for centuries, was captured in Chen Ling's hand. No one but Chen Ling knew its true significance, nor could anyone imagine what the nine people in the photograph would become.

"Alright, let's go!"

The nine researchers didn't even glance at the photo; their minds were entirely focused on the mysterious meteor fragment. The aesthetic quality of the picture was utterly irrelevant to them.

After handing the camera to a military member, Chen Ling quickly followed the group.

Accompanying the research team into the mountains was a special operations squad of over thirty members. Equipped with advanced weaponry and communication devices, they formed a protective perimeter around the nine researchers and Chen Ling, their expressions grim as they cautiously surveyed their surroundings, all firearms already loaded.

Chen Ling checked the time; there were three hours left before the save point connection would be lost.

As they ventured deeper, the bright encampment behind them gradually vanished into the dark forest. A wailing cold wind and fine rain lashed against the transparent visors of their protective suits, blurring their vision.

Everyone walked with their heads down, the only sound in the quiet world being their own breathing within their visors.

"Radio signal test."

In the dead silence, Lu Xun's voice suddenly crackled through everyone's visors: "Report in numerical order."

As Lu Xun finished speaking, the team members reported their numbers one by one, according to the sequence on their protective suits. As the guide, Chen Ling was the last, number "10."

After confirming that everyone's signal was normal, Lu Xun spoke again:

"Everyone, watch your step, be careful not to miss a step or trip. Now, listen to me..."

"According to satellite positioning, the meteor fragment is located five kilometers deep within the mountain range. We estimate a two-and-a-half-hour trek. However, based on the previous two teams, our communication with the outside world will likely cease after twenty minutes of penetration at most. Whether our internal radios will still function is uncertain."

"No matter what happens, remain calm. Always keep an eye on your companions in front and behind you, and under no circumstances get separated from the main group."

"While it's important to test the various parameters around the fragment, your personal safety comes first."

Perhaps the oppressive atmosphere of the windy, rainy deep mountain was too much, as these scholars, accustomed to years of scientific research, were somewhat unaccustomed to it. They were fully focused on their footing, and only Su Zhiwei and another unfamiliar scientist responded with "received."

Chen Ling's gaze swept through his visor, scanning their surroundings, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

He found it strange; the Red Star fragment was, after all, an inanimate object. If that was the case, how did the previous two reconnaissance teams disappear? If they simply got lost in the mountains, they wouldn't have been gone for so long without reappearing.

The group continued forward in silence and vigilance. During this time, Chen Ling occasionally pulled out his phone to check the time.

This time, he wasn't checking his own disconnection time, but rather the time when this team would lose contact.

According to Dr. Yi's account, the Nine Lords' research team lost contact with the outside world ten minutes after they began their exploration. This meant something significant must have happened at that ten-minute mark.

"Guide Chen, is something urgent?"

Lu Xun, walking beside Chen Ling, asked, puzzled, upon seeing the phone screen repeatedly light up.

"...No," Chen Ling shook his head. "I just want to confirm if we've lost signal with the outside world."

Lu Xun looked even more perplexed. "Shouldn't there be no signal in these deep mountains to begin with? What kind of phone do you have, Guide Chen, that its signal is so good?"

Chen Ling fell silent.

Chen Ling was about to concoct another excuse when he suddenly seemed to sense something and stopped.

A low hum—!!

Half a second later, a piercing hum emanated from within everyone's visors. The radios screeched wildly as if alive. This was not the typical "feedback" sound from a microphone hitting a speaker; it was a fluctuating, changing, sharp cry, like the equipment itself was wailing.

Everyone simultaneously clutched their ears in pain as blood seeping from them. Chen Ling instantly slapped his visor, cutting off power to his earpiece, but the others weren't so fortunate.

The piercing shriek seemed to penetrate their very souls. The others were in too much agony to think or react quickly enough to switch off their earpieces. Seeing this, Chen Ling, without hesitation, ripped off their visors and threw them to the ground.

"Shoot!" Chen Ling shouted at the armed men beside him. "Shoot the radios!"

Chen Ling's shouts brought a few of them back to their senses. Dazed, they instinctively pulled their triggers.

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—

Bursts of fire spat into the night, and blinding sparks scattered across the ground. Within seconds of the barrage, all radio equipment was rendered useless, and the soul-piercing sound abruptly ceased.

Even so, everyone was bleeding from their orifices. Oddly, the nine researchers, who typically didn't engage in much physical training, exhibited the mildest symptoms, while several well-trained special forces members had been stunned into unconsciousness.

"Damn it... what was that just now? Electromagnetic feedback?" Lu Xun asked hoarsely, wiping blood from his nose.

"No, absolutely not," Yang Xiao said, his face extremely grim as he looked at the ruined communication devices on the ground. "Typical feedback is caused by positive feedback in the electrical signal loop, and the frequency shouldn't fluctuate on such a large scale. The sound just now definitely wasn't produced by that principle."

"Then what was it?"

"I don't know, but it must be some extremely unusual magnetic field... Deep within this forest, there's a powerful and unique magnetic field source that constantly affects all communication devices. Moreover, this magnetic field changes like a living entity, as if... as if it's roaring."

Yang Xiao was, after all, an expert in magnetic fields. Even though he was bleeding from his orifices, he calmly analyzed the cause of the recent phenomenon.

Chen Ling stared coldly at the wreckage of the communication devices on the ground. He knew Yang Xiao was right.

The current Yang Xiao was not yet Aurora Lord, so he naturally lacked the ability to perceive magnetic fields. However, a second before the electromagnetic roar, Chen Ling distinctly felt an unusual electromagnetic fluctuation. What was more important was that even he, who could control electromagnetic induction to a certain extent, couldn't eliminate this roar.

Deep within this forest, there was something constantly emitting a terrifying, living magnetic field!

Wu Tongyuan, walking at the very back, had turned deathly pale with fright. He tremblingly wiped his hand across his face, covering it in crimson. Immediately, he suppressed a scream:

"It's the meteor fragment!!"

"It must be the meteor fragment... It's alive! It's alive!!"