Family heirloom, then turned into a demon girl

Chapter 279 Mission: 06-6 Kuimen Plan
Late at night, the tugboat Moniach rocked in the storm. Such heavy rainfall was unusual in what should have been the dry season of autumn. The water level in the reservoir was gradually rising, and the night watchman in the watchroom was anxiously contacting all the remaining vessels in the reservoir to confirm their safety.

Today is the day for the "Kuimen Project," the day Kassel College dispatches specialists to dive underwater to search for dragon remains. This isn't a job that should be exposed to the public, so it's scheduled for the night. Unfortunately, the weather isn't ideal for diving. Rising water levels mean the divers will need to dive deeper, experiencing greater pressure, and the rocking of the ship above will also create significant difficulties for support.

But Ye Sheng and Jude Aki still went into the water. The members of the Moniach received news that another expedition team without mixed-blood background was planning to dive soon. Every minute of hesitation would increase the possibility of the dragon clan's secret being exposed to the world.

They didn't look back.

The two men submerged in the water, searching for the city's shadow bit by bit within the meager visibility afforded by their diving lights. They finally stopped before a deep fissure running through the mountain. The crack stretched for hundreds of meters, yet barely one man wide. In the sonar image, it was as straight as a knife's mark. The Moniach deduced that this might be the legendary bronze city forged by the Dragon King Nord, hidden within the mountain, its elasticity having been breached by a small earthquake.

Ye Sheng stopped in front of the crack and held his ears: "Professor, we have arrived at the target location and are ready to enter the crack to explore."

"Received. Agree to continue exploring."

Mans Rundstedt responded briefly.

Ye Sheng took Shutoku Aki's hand and swam slowly toward the fissure, tens of meters deep and deep enough to be called a canyon. He gently touched the splintered rock, and the sharp edges clearly revealed the fissure's recent history. Ye Sheng continued his report, "We've entered the fissure. The rocks here are very sharp and haven't been smoothed by water. We can confirm they were formed very recently."

"We came here by chance." Shude Aki couldn't help but sigh, "If it weren't for this crack, I can't imagine how I would have found this city."

"We haven't confirmed yet that this is the city." Ye Sheng reminded her with a chuckle.

But he had to admit that Shude Aki was right. The crack was forty meters deep. If the Bronze City was really in it, even with the technical level of Kassel Academy, it would not be possible to accurately locate it.

Unless you use the Word Spirit. That's why Ye Sheng is the commissioner of this operation.

They dived another 40 meters, from 50 to 90 meters, and the water pressure nearly doubled. But Ye Sheng and Shude Aki were the best diving partners in the Executive Division, well-trained and experienced. Gradually, they adapted to the gradually increasing pressure within their diving suits and slowly reached the deepest part of the crevice.

The spotlight illuminated the dark underwater world. A bronze gate, like the seal of hell, lay across the wounded earth. Ye Sheng and Jiude Aki were both silent before this gate.

A moment later, Ye Sheng reported: "Reporting to the Moniach, we have arrived at the bottom of the rift and confirmed the existence of a bronze building. We infer that it is the palace of Norton, the 'Lord of Bronze and Fire'."

His words were brief and precise, but the trembling, fluctuating tone of his voice suggested he wasn't calm. Ye Sheng added, "Professor, this may be our greatest discovery of the century."

"Are you sure?" Professor Mance's voice trembled. Discovering a Dragon King's palace was something no modern dragon slayer had ever accomplished. Anyone who accomplished this feat deserved to be recorded in history books.

"Absolutely. I can't imagine anyone other than the king creating such a stunning structure. But we haven't found the entrance."

"Selma, picture!" Mance shouted behind him.

"I saw it, Professor. That terrible wall is greater than the crack. It can only be described as a miracle."

Selma immediately projected the footage she'd been monitoring onto the large screen in the control room. Embedded deep within the rock, a strange human face appeared on the bronze wall. Its face was green, its fangs fanged, its hideous expression ferocious, its expression half laughing and half crying. The moment he saw the image, Mans concluded: Ye Sheng was right. It was the living spirit guarding the gate, the ultimate alchemical artifact, capable of creating only a handful of alchemists in their known history. Ye Sheng and Shutoku Aki had only made a "reconnaissance" of the area this time. Without the key, they couldn't open the gate.

"Prepare to surface." He picked up the intercom and gave his instructions: "The Maritime Administration recommends that we abandon ship temporarily. The helicopter will arrive soon. Today's underwater operations have concluded."

"I understand." Ye Sheng responded after a moment of silence.

He really wanted to enter the palace right now, but the professor was right. There was no rush. The rift had been there for some time, which meant it had stabilized and wouldn't disappear easily. It would be better to wait until the storm was over, when it was safer and more prepared, to enter.

The lifeline connecting the two people underwater began to be recovered little by little. Professor Mans returned to the rear warehouse alone and made a phone call.

Just as Ye Sheng, as the leader of the diving team, had to report to him at all times, Professor Mans also needed to keep the president informed of the situation here: "President, the 'Kuimen Project' is progressing smoothly. We have successfully discovered the bronze city deep underwater."

As the person who knew the most about dragon history in the entire academy, Principal Ange immediately understood what city Mance was talking about: "Is it really bronze and fire?"

He pondered for a moment and asked, "When are you planning to officially take action? Do you need reinforcements?"

"Within two days. It's stormy here now, and the weather is terrible. We have to wait until the rain stops before continuing the operation." Mans replied, "No reinforcements are needed. Ye Sheng and Yaji are the best underwater operators in the executive department. They are the most suitable candidates."

"Is the key okay?" Ange asked again.

"He...just fell asleep."

Mans turned his head and glanced at his side, where a baby was sleeping soundly in the cradle.

"Take good care of him," the principal instructed. "He is necessary in order to enter the Palace of Bronze and Fire."

"receive."

Mans gently rocked the cradle, turned around and walked out of the rear warehouse. When he came out, he saw Ye Sheng and Shude Aki returning to the deck.

"Hey, professor." Ye Sheng raised his hand.

Mance also raised his hand, and a slight smile appeared on his serious face.

"Welcome back, my students."

(End of this chapter)