"Nothing is unattainable before me," Gu Ya said calmly.
It took the four-person team two weeks to circumnavigate half the planet before reaching the Kingdom of Bai Di Yun Sheng, situated on its fjords.
With no time to tour the country, built on towering cliffs and dotted with fjords, they hurried to find the National Museum.
"What does this mean?" Gu Ya looked ahead in bewilderment. Countless people, holding yellow holographic lights, were advancing in single file along the rope bridges on the cliffs.
The entire fjord was illuminated by the yellow lights from the dozens of layers of rope bridges crisscrossing it, resembling millions of yellow dragons, a truly spectacular sight.
"Pilgrimage," Shen Jingming said faintly. "It's a local tradition. Colloquially known as 'walking the bed,' it's held on specific days each month. Everyone in the country must hold a light and go out for a night of pilgrimage. After the ceremony, they rest in the home they reach."
"What god do they worship?"
Shen Jingming calmly replied, "Not a god, but themselves. Ever since humans could increase cosmic mass through processing quasi-matter, some countries began to venerate humanity itself. They blindly believe that humanity is the god of this universe."
"Good heavens, it's a complete loop..." Gu Ya exclaimed in awe.
"The most stable form of quasi-matter is pure energy, like light, which has no mass. But humans can process this energy to materialize it."
"Imagine if someone could easily turn light into bread, houses, and cars; how astonishing and terrifying that would be."
"Thus, after the advent of quasi-matter processing technology, certain countries and people in the world began to venerate humanity itself, deeming themselves gods."
Shen Jingming continued his explanation.
Gu Ya asked softly, "But when the comet arrived over three hundred years ago, it brought solid quasi-matter, which has mass, doesn't it?"
Shen Jingming followed behind Gu Ya and whispered, "Quasi-matter can exhibit characteristics of ten material states simultaneously. The solid state you saw was not purely solid."
"Furthermore, the mass it exhibited was not the traditional concept of mass as understood by humans, but a false mass caused by energy entanglement."
"Coupled with the fact that quasi-matter processing technology was very simple for human technology at the time."
"This is also why quasi-matter is called a 'universal material'."
"From the invention of hot quasi-matter energy weapons in Ongs Nation, Grand Palm State, to the first mech appearing in Xian Xia, it only took 11 years."
After listening to Shen Jingming, Gu Ya asked, "Did mechs appear because of the existing hot quasi-matter energy weapons?"
Shen Jingming was somewhat speechless. "Yes. You really should study history. After the invention of hot quasi-matter energy weapons, humanity's existing military forces instantly became obsolete and garbage."
"That's why mech weapons made from quasi-matter alloys were developed."
"The advantages of quasi-matter, such as its superior resistance to impact, vibration, and noise, as well as its surface smoothness, far exceeded any other material, allowing mechs to surpass ancient weapons like aircraft, artillery, and tanks."
"Hey!" Gu Ya joked, "You've said a lot today, are you tired?"
Shen Jingming said speechlessly, "Whether one talks a lot or a little depends on what one is discussing."
The group followed the pilgrimage procession slowly to the plaza in front of the National Museum. Around the disc-shaped monument, ten layers of pilgrims were gathered inside and out.
Suddenly, dozens of brilliant fireworks exploded in the southwestern sky, illuminating the night sky with exceptional beauty.
Taking advantage of others watching the fireworks, the four quickly blended into the shadows and sprinted towards the National Museum.
"Wait!" Shu Feizhang called out to everyone, calmly saying, "To avoid repeating our previous mistake, I'll ask you again."
"Besides the Screen Glass Cosmic Projector, the Rack-type Energy Focusing Ring, the Ultra-Micro Quasi-Matter Energy Battery, the Chickpea Hoop Energy Device, the Large Ice-Breaking Drilling Equipment, the Cosmic Star Source Code, the Ancient Text Analysis Table, the Subterranean Text Translation Table, the Universal Magnetic Induction Device, and the Wave Rate Sensing Device, what else do we need?"
Mu Ye Xingchen lowered his gaze and looked askance at Shu Feizhang, coldly saying, "I only know these. As for whether we can find and open a path to the underground, I haven't tried."
Shu Feizhang's face darkened further, his eyes filled with anger as they reflected the distant light.
"Little Shen, do you really not remember how you got to the surface?" Shu Feizhang turned his attention to Shen Jingming again.
Shen Jingming nodded silently.
As the captain, being clueless about his subordinates' knowledge troubled Shu Feizhang greatly. He had not expected this mission to be so challenging and difficult.
After a long pause, Shu Feizhang sighed, "Let's take it one step at a time. First, let's get the Screen Glass Cosmic Projector."
Gu Ya nodded and said, "You guys keep watch. I'll be back soon."
Hei Yang had already finished deciphering the National Museum's code. With a slight wave of his hand, Gu Ya caused the museum's main door to automatically open a gap.
Gu Ya flashed inside.
Seeing Gu Ya enter successfully, Shu Feizhang breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "The Kingdom of Bai Di Yun Sheng is an important strategic partner of Xian Xia in the Western Hemisphere. To rashly break into their highest-level national museum and steal their property is a serious violation of law and discipline. It could even affect bilateral relations."
"You two keep your mouths shut. The higher-ups must absolutely not know, or we'll be in deep trouble."
Shen Jingming and Mu Ye Xingchen both glanced towards the distant monument, responding to Shu Feizhang with a tacit silence.
Gu Ya walked alone through the National Museum, a holographic lamp following behind him to illuminate his path.
The extremely quiet environment echoed only with the sound of Gu Ya's footsteps.
The entire hall was enclosed in brown tones, giving it a solemn and majestic appearance.
After passing a huge relief stone pillar, he encountered a bionic cleaner.
The bionic person smiled slightly at Gu Ya and gestured towards the depths of the museum.
Along the way, he encountered dozens of bionic people, all smiling and pointing the way for Gu Ya.
This was all thanks to Hei Yang, who had previously modified all the bionic people's programs.
Reaching the underground level minus thirteen without any obstruction, Gu Ya walked to a window and realized they were still on a cliff face.
Outside, crowds formed dozens of long lines, slowly advancing on the rope bridges on the cliff face, stretching for tens of kilometers and disappearing out of sight. The entire grand fjord was illuminated.
With no time to sightsee, Gu Ya pushed open the last small door and entered the secret item storage room.
"There's quite a lot of good stuff!" Gu Ya exclaimed.
In an inconspicuous corner, Gu Ya found the Screen Glass Cosmic Projector.
It was only the size of a palm, resembling an open cigarette case, and locked within a transparent glass cover.
He easily opened the glass cover, took it, and weighed it in his hand. He then replicated it and stored it in his [Void Package], turning to leave.
However, he found a bionic person standing not far behind him, its dead-like eyes staring at Gu Ya unblinkingly.
Although he knew the bionic person wouldn't do anything to him, Gu Ya playfully said, "I didn't steal it!"
"Gu Ya..."
Xu Jie's voice came from the bionic person.
This was far more startling than seeing a ghost. Gu Ya immediately became alert.
"Did you see the Wall of Truth?" the bionic person asked softly.
Gu Ya said coldly, "I saw your big head, you ghost!"
A flash of crimson streaked out, and the bionic person's head was severed, falling steadily to the ground, where Gu Ya stomped it flat.
As it died, the head flickered rapidly, saying, "It... is beside... beside us..."
"I don't care about any Wall of Truth. I'm not interested in knowing," Gu Ya said sinisterly.
As he was about to leave, Gu Ya suddenly stopped in front of a glass case over ten meters high.
A massive stone tablet was placed inside the glass case, inscribed with obscure patterns, similar to those in the third district of Fan City.
He ordered Hei Yang to record these patterns. If Xu Jie wasn't lying, then this hidden undercurrent in human history was definitely not a good thing.
Gu Ya summoned his exoskeleton armor and flew back along the same route to the museum entrance.
As he pushed the door open and emerged, the scene before him shocked him.