Start with push-ups to gain experience

Fang Cheng walked through the bustling crowd on the main street and turned into a secluded alley.

The alley was much quieter than the outside, with all sorts of small shops crammed on both sides.

The uneven signs are scattered along the street, and there is a faint smell of engine oil in the air.

Based on his memory from six months ago, Fang Cheng stopped in the middle of the alley.

Ahead was a shop facing the street. Looking up, there was a wooden sign with five crooked characters written on it: "Xinglong Welding Shop".

However, the shop's metal roller shutter door was tightly closed at the moment, covered with a thin layer of dust.

Fang Cheng stepped forward and tried knocking on the roller shutter door with his finger.

"Bang, bang."

The clanging sound of the thin sheet metal echoed in the narrow alley.

After waiting for a long time, there was still no movement inside.

Fang Cheng raised his wrist and glanced at his watch; the hands were just past 4:30.

Thinking to myself, I figured the small business owners on this island were always casual about closing time, so they probably closed up shop early.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned around, intending to come back and take another look the next morning.

"Young man, are you here to see Ah Xing?"

Suddenly, a greeting with a local accent came from the right side of the alley.

Fang Cheng turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw that it was the owner of the grocery store next door who had spoken to him.

He was a middle-aged man wearing a tank top and holding a large palm-leaf fan.

He was sitting in the middle of a pile of plastic basins, enjoying the cool air, while the television next to him was still playing the news.

Fang Cheng stopped in his tracks and asked politely:
"Uncle, may I ask who this Ah Xing you're talking about is?"

The grocer pointed with the handle of his palm-leaf fan to the tightly closed roller shutter door and replied:

"It's Li Axing, the owner of this welding shop. You're looking for work with him?"

"Yes, I want to have something custom-made by him."

Fang Cheng walked to the front of the general store and casually asked:
"Is he closing early today?"

"Closed down? His shop closed last month."

The boss fanned himself, shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, and spoke with a hint of teasing in his tone:
“A while ago, people demanding payment for goods were camped out here every day, but we couldn’t catch them. If you’re looking for someone to do work for, then forget it.”

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered, and he pressed on:
"It's closed down? Did he move away?"

No, not at all.

The shopkeeper used a palm-leaf fan to swat the mosquitoes off his leg and said with a smirk:
"Before Ah Xing left, he boasted that someone who really wanted to meet him invited him to work at a resort in the mountains."

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, and he asked:
"When you say 'True Dream,' are you referring to that organization that specifically teaches tourists to experience meditation?"

"Yes, it's them."

The boss nodded and sat up a little straighter.

"I heard they're going to build something big over there, like a deep-sea probe or a submarine or something."

"And it's not just him. All the skilled welders and blacksmiths in town have been monopolized by the Zhenxiang Association, making it impossible for the neighbors to find anyone to install security windows now."

Upon hearing these words, Fang Cheng's heart stirred.

He was certainly familiar with this organization; in fact, he was quite familiar with it.

Six months ago, he joined a tour group to Yong'an Island with the initial goal of learning meditation through the True Thought Association.

In retrospect, it was thanks to that opportunity that he was able to successfully master meditation, thereby unlocking Qigong skills and allowing his strength to take a qualitative leap.

I really thought we would fight tooth and nail on the island with the Noah organization over the ancient remains in the deep sea.

That night, after completing his cultivation in the trench, he also helped them by killing a high-ranking member of the Noah organization.

"Build a submarine?"

After a moment's thought, Fang Cheng followed his boss's lead, his face displaying just the right amount of curiosity:
"Can private individuals manufacture this kind of thing?"

"Hey, I heard this is being spearheaded by the provincial government, some kind of deep-sea exploration plan."

The boss got carried away with his conversation, waving his palm-leaf fan even more enthusiastically.

"The provincial industrial university and Zhenxiang Society have joined forces to carry out a scientific research project with the goal of creating a world-class detector. It is said that this device can reach depths of 10,000 meters below the seabed."

"I don't understand the specific high-tech aspects, but the wages are really high."

“Master craftsmen like Ah Xing can earn over 100,000 a month! When he heard that number, he locked up the shop that very night and happily took his two apprentices up the mountain.”

At this point, the boss glanced furtively to his left and right, then suddenly leaned closer and deliberately lowered his voice:

"If you ask me, there's definitely something fishy going on here."

"With so much funding allocated from above, those officials in the county must have skimmed a lot off of it. Otherwise, why would they be so generous as to pay us workers such high wages?"

Fang Cheng leaned against the nearby shelf, pretending to chat casually:

"I really wish we were a local organization. Why would they collaborate with a university on this kind of deep-sea exploration project?"

The shopkeeper switched the fan to his other hand, and, shaking his head, said:
"How could a rough man like me possibly understand the thoughts of those cultured people?"

"But I've heard the old guys who drink tea talking about it privately, and they're pretty sure there's a shipwreck treasure hidden under the sea around here. The university students are technically skilled, and Zhen Xiang would probably be familiar with the sea conditions around Yong'an Island, so it's a perfect match between the two sides."

Seeing that Fang Cheng was listening attentively, the boss became even more enthusiastic and puffed out his chest as he introduced:
"Young man, are you a tourist from out of town? Don't be fooled by the fact that Yong'an Island is just a resort island now. Hundreds of years ago, this was a famous pearl-picking port and a major trading hub."

"At that time, there were countless official ships coming and going, as well as merchant ships from foreigners. The sea conditions in this area were complex, and there were at least eighty or a hundred ships that sank to the bottom of the sea due to storms."

"If you're a good swimmer, you can rent some equipment from the island's diving club and try your luck. You might actually find some antique treasures."

Fang Cheng smiled, ignoring the topic of diving, and instead steered the conversation back to the Truth Club:

"From what you're saying, sir, you really think you're quite capable in this area?"

"They're more than just capable; on Yong'an Island, I dare say they're practically half an official entity."

The boss slapped his thigh, his voice rising several decibels:
"Let me put it this way, the town's police station has to ask real masters to take a look at some serious cases they can't handle, or strange things they find in the sea. They're rich and powerful, with strong connections."

At this point, the boss sighed, a hint of regret on his face:

“My eldest son graduated from a prestigious university. He is arrogant and ambitious, and he is eager to get into the True Dream Society.”

"As it turns out, when they recruit core members, they don't look at diplomas at all; they specifically test people's meditation talents."

“My son doesn’t have the talent, and he doesn’t want to go in and become a low-level laborer doing odd jobs, so in the end he had to give up…”

The boss talked on and on, as if he had finally found someone to listen to the complaints he had been holding in for so long.

Fang Cheng stood quietly to the side, nodding in response when appropriate.

Only after the other person picked up their teacup and took a sip to moisten their throat did he straighten up: "So that's how it is. Thank you for telling me all this, Uncle."

"Don't mention it, you're just resting anyway."

The shopkeeper put down his teacup, waved his palm-leaf fan, and leaned back in his chair.

Fang Cheng smiled and said goodbye, then turned and walked out of the alley.

He did not look for any other shops.

Since even the general store owner knows that Zhenxiang will transfer all the best craftsmen in town, going to other small workshops would be a waste of time.

As he walked back to the beach, Fang Cheng's gaze gradually turned cold.

The real reason why Zhenxiang would go to such great lengths to unite universities and recruit craftsmen to build a deep-sea probe is definitely not just for the so-called deep-sea exploration. It is very likely that he is after the secret that was revealed in the trench half a year ago.

It seems that we don't have much time left, so we must be careful and retrieve the items before their probe goes underwater.

As for the issue of radiation from those ancient remains, the lack of lead boxes is indeed a problem.

But then I remembered that I had come here on Wendi Pan's private yacht.

The interior of the "Poseidon" was extremely spacious, with separate engine rooms and sealed compartments in the lower deck.

We'll give Pan Wendi a heads-up and temporarily store the salvaged remains in the yacht's engine room, using the ship's metal hull and bottom structure for initial isolation.

Once the yacht returns to Dongdu, we'll have a batch of lead boxes custom-made at the processing center and shipped directly back to the headquarters of the Guanzhao Association.

Having determined the alternative, Fang Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, his steps becoming lighter.

At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun grew even stronger, and the brilliant orange-red glow seemed to ignite most of the sea surface.

Gazing at the beautiful scenery on the horizon, Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he quickened his pace.

It's getting late, I need to hurry and buy some cold drinks before heading back to the beach.

....................................

Inside the spacious underground cave, the damp air carried a faint smell of the sea and a pungent odor of sulfur.

Several high-powered searchlights hanging on the rock face cast a cold white halo, clearly illuminating the trapezoidal altar in the center, which was built of volcanic rock.

At the top of the altar, the "Stone of Truth," pieced together from the bones of countless ancient monsters, has now completely lost the dreamlike, deep blue luster it possessed half a year ago.

The surface of the monument is a withered grayish-white color, with several fine cracks spreading along the edges, as if it could weather and collapse at any moment.

Zheng Hongxin stood quietly below the altar with his hands behind his back.

Compared to six months ago, the acting president of the True Thought Association looks much older and more tired.

The exposed skin on the neck had an unhealthy grayish-brown color, and a few dark green fish scales were faintly visible among the loose skin.

His breathing was somewhat heavy, and with each exhale, a bellows-like noise came from deep within his chest.

Chen Jiandong stood to the side and behind, watching the old man's back, a trace of worry uncontrollably showing in his eyes.

"Teacher, the energy of the stone tablet is waning faster and faster."

Chen Jiandong took half a step forward, his deliberately lowered voice echoing in the quiet cave.

Zheng Hongxin slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the gray-white bone monument, and exhaled a long breath.

"The great tide of two hundred years has passed, and we have ultimately failed to collect enough high-quality ancient remains to nourish it."

He turned around, his slightly cloudy eyes looking at Chen Jiandong:
"The spiritual energy of the stone tablet is fading faster than expected. If we can't find a way to break this deadlock, the foundation we truly want to build may be severed in this generation."

Chen Jiandong looked at the mutated scales on Zheng Hongxin's neck that couldn't be completely hidden, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty:
"Your body... is it also nearing the point where it can no longer suppress the backlash from your bloodline?"

Zheng Hongxin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he raised his withered hand and pulled up the collar of his robe to cover the ugly scales.

A brief silence fell over the cave.

Only the monotonous "plop" sound of a few water droplets falling from the rock face could be heard.

Chen Jiandong lowered his gaze, his brows furrowing into a knot, his tone tinged with resentment:

"If the president were still alive, how could those lunatics from the Noah Organization have dared to run wild on Yong'an Island during last year's sacrificial ceremony? Even if they had the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard, they wouldn't have dared to openly storm our headquarters building."

Upon hearing the word "Chairman," Zheng Hongxin straightened his somewhat hunched back a little.

He turned his head and looked into the dark crevice deep within the cave that led to the ocean.

"The president has not perished."

Zheng Hongxin's tone became calmer, carrying an unwavering certainty:

"Although the bloodline connection is very weak, I can sense that he is still alive, but is trapped somewhere at the bottom of the trench."

Is that underwater secret realm in the abyss really that important?

Chen Jiandong clenched his fists, his face full of confusion:
"Is it worth it for the guild leader to abandon the entire guild and risk his life to go on this adventure alone?"

Zheng Hongxin turned around, stepped to the first step of the altar, and pressed his withered fingers on the rough volcanic rock.

"You don't understand, that's the legendary origin of the merfolk."

The old man looked up, gazing at the enormous white bone stele:
"We people have gained superhuman strength through our bloodline, and we are also destined to bear the curse of our bodies gradually becoming distorted."

"The president insisted on going there in order to find the source of the curse. It is the only way out that concerns the future of our True Hope Society and the lives of all its members."

Chen Jiandong fell silent.

He knew very well that if the curse could not be lifted, they would all eventually become mindless sea monsters.

"How is the deep-sea exploration project, which is being undertaken in collaboration with the industrial university, progressing?"

Zheng Hongxin sighed deeply, turned around, and brought the topic back to the present reality.

Chen Jiandong composed himself and immediately reported:

"The main structure is nearing completion of welding. However, the environment at the bottom of the abyss is too extreme, and the probe's pressure chamber and power system still need repeated demonstrations and debugging."

"At the current pace, it will take at least four months before we can launch the first deep-sea submersible test."

Zheng Hongxin nodded, his two gray eyebrows scrunched up together.

"More than four months... I hope it's not too late for everything."

He hesitated for a moment, then said with a glimmer of hope:
"If that probe can successfully descend to the bottom of the trench, we might be able to pinpoint the exact location of the secret realm and bring the chairman back."

This is their only lifeline, something they have no other choice but to cling to.

"Teacher, in six months, this year's sacrificial ceremony will be here again."

Chen Jiandong looked around the empty underground palace and said hesitantly:
"We narrowly escaped disaster last year, but what if the Noah Organization sends people here again this year..."

"Noah's side shouldn't be making any major moves in the short term."

Zheng Hongxin interrupted him, his expression more composed than before. (End of Chapter)