Chapter 1355 - 688: The Shocked People of Spirit Jade Island

"Mr. Liang!"

Wang Ling’Er was overwhelmed with joy, her eyes instantly reddening.

Only heaven knows how she had been yearning day and night, hoping someone would come to rescue them.

If it were just her, with Wang Ling’Er present, she could easily leave this place.

But there were too many of them, and as the leader, she needed to be responsible for everyone.

She wanted to save everyone and leave here alive.

But once they got out, they would encounter the terrifying mutant beasts on Abyss Island.

They had tried several times and encountered multiple crises even before exiting the interior of Abyss Island.

The pressure on her was immense!

At the moment she saw Liang Yuan, she suddenly felt at ease.

Liang Yuan was much stronger than her, and he was the only one she believed could rescue them.

She never expected he would actually come!

When they had been trapped here for so long, and when she felt almost hopeless, he came.

However, being the leader of the faction, she quickly suppressed her inner excitement and emotions, stepped forward gracefully, extended her hand, and exclaimed joyfully, "Mr. Liang, I never thought you would really appear here."

Liang Yuan shook her hand and said with a smile, "When you left Yangshan to search for the Floating Island, I was worried."

"Later, I specifically went to the estuary at Linjiang, and when I didn’t see you near the Floating Island there, I knew something might have happened to you."

"I had people searching for a long time but didn’t find any news of you. I didn’t expect you to be here."

Wang Ling’Er smiled bitterly, "I also didn’t expect the giant turtle to suddenly lose control. Indeed, my Spirit Control ability is still too weak, unable to control creatures like the giant turtle."

Liang Yuan sighed too. The cooperative model between Wang Ling’Er and the giant turtle initially seemed fairly mutually beneficial.

The giant turtle needed Wang Ling’Er and her group to help clear the mutant barnacles and excess mountain and soil from its back to lighten the load.

Wang Ling’Er also needed the body of the giant turtle as a carrier, a place to survive and stand.

However, the relationship wasn’t one where either side controlled the other, but both had autonomy.

This easily created a problem; when their wills conflicted, the giant turtle would lose control, not driven by her will.

For instance, this time, evidently, the giant turtle acted without her command and independently dove to Abyss Island.

This led to the tragedy that occurred.

This also reminded Liang Yuan that without absolute confidence, it’s best not to easily entrust one’s life to another party.

Upon learning that Liang Yuan had been searching for them all this while, even personally going to the Floating Island downriver at Linjiang’s estuary to look, everyone on Spirit Jade Island was deeply moved, expressing their gratitude to Liang Yuan.

After exchanging pleasantries, the emotions of the group on Spirit Jade Island settled significantly.

Wang Ling’Er led Wang Yu’Er, Jiang Ziyin, and Ling River to invite Liang Yuan to a nearby tent for a discussion.

Inside the tent, Wang Yu’Er asked, "Mr. Liang, Ye Nan didn’t go into detail earlier. How did you meet?"

Ye Nan took the initiative to explain how he was rescued by Liang Yuan, and also spoke of the large number of merfolk and exotic fish beasts in the ancient tomb.

Wang Ling’Er, listening to this, queried in confusion, "Merfolk and exotic fish? Aren’t those Transformation Ability Users?"

Ye Nan shook his head, "Definitely not. I can feel it; they are certainly not human, but they possess intelligence."

"Mr. Liang suspects these creatures might have mutated and evolved from other aquatic species."

"What? Aquatic species evolving into merfolk and exotic fish?" Ling River, nearby, was taken aback.

Subconsciously, everyone believed that transforming into merfolk and exotic fish, abilities related to humans, should only belong to humans.

Hearing such news was indeed shocking.

Beside them, Jiang Ziyin, hearing this, suddenly had an epiphany, a slight smile appearing on her face.

"It really is possible. From a biological viewpoint, a large portion of the genes in humans are actually found in nature’s organisms."

"The mutation genes for merfolk and exotic fish should result from specific genetic mutation and evolution in humans."

"This set of genes might also exist in other organisms."

"During this great flood, not only humans are undergoing evolutionary mutations, but other organisms are also rapidly mutating and evolving. Perhaps among them, this particular gene was just activated."

Among the group, she was a biomedical doctor with a profound background in viruses and genetics.

Her theory brought a sense of revelation and intrigue to everyone.

However, Liang Yuan had long speculated in this area, so he wasn’t shocked.

Wang Ling’Er couldn’t help but ask, "So they’ve taken that ancient tomb as their nest?"

Ye Nan nodded, "It should be. I didn’t see as many merfolk and exotic fish elsewhere, only in the ancient tomb and in the museum atop the tomb."

"Moreover, after capturing us, they didn’t hurry to kill us, but periodically took some of us out of the dungeon. We have no idea where they went."

Liang Yuan said sternly, "These merfolk are not simple, and that ancient tomb is indeed problematic."

"What?"

"Mr. Liang, what do you know?" Wang Ling’Er and the others promptly looked at Liang Yuan.

Liang Yuan recounted the events he experienced in the ancient tomb.

Wang Ling’Er was surprised, "There’s an altar in the ancient tomb?"

Jiang Ziyin also found it incredible, "It shouldn’t be. If they evolved purely from mutant beasts into merfolk and exotic fish, it would only be because some of their genes overlap with humans, resulting in this commonality."

"But the culture of altars is clearly something that only appears in the history of human civilization. How could they have such activities?"

Liang Yuan couldn’t understand this point either.

He said in a deep voice, "So I think there might be a major issue with this ancient tomb. The gathering of this group of Merfolk and mermaids there is probably not a coincidence."

"Mr. Liang, do you want to investigate further?"

Wang Ling’Er immediately picked up on Liang Yuan’s implied meaning, guessing his intentions.

Liang Yuan nodded slightly, "I do have that thought."

"But there’s no rush right now. Since we’re already on Abyss Island, there’s no need to hurry away."

He looked around and said, "Do you know what Abyss Island essentially is?"

Wang Ling’Er and the others looked at each other, all shaking their heads in confusion.

Liang Yuan said, "Actually, Abyss Island is the same as a Floating Island. Its predecessor should be a Floating Island that became overwhelmed and eventually sank to the bottom of the water."

"That’s why it formed the Abyss Island we see today."

"You’re saying this used to be a Floating Island?"

Wang Ling’Er and others were stunned, clearly not expecting this.

Liang Yuan once again revealed shocking news to them.

"Not only that, but all the Floating Islands we’re encountering now actually formed after falling from the sky’s Floating Islands."

"According to military observations, Floating Islands, Floating Islands, and Abyss Islands are actually formed from the corpses of certain gigantic Mutant Beasts."

"That’s why they have these peculiar structures like Brain Core, Heart Core, and the paths of blood, Brain Lake, heart chambers. These are merely internal body structures of the giant corpses."

"Ah—"

"A Floating Island is a giant corpse?"

"What kind of creature has such a massive body?"

"Mr. Liang, is this reliable?"

"Mr. Liang, has the military already explored the situation above the cloud layer?"

...

Liang Yuan’s words stirred up a storm among everyone in the tent, causing them to draw in cold breaths and immediately bombard him with questions.

Liang Yuan didn’t conceal anything and recounted the events he encountered in the military’s Celestial Abyss.

Furthermore, he said, "Frankly speaking, the military is already attempting to explore the Floating Islands above the clouds."

"If the land gets submerged in the future and even Floating Islands can’t survive, perhaps humanity will find a way to enter the Floating Islands above."

"And this exploration isn’t only happening in the Guangfu Military District. It’s likely that forces worldwide with certain levels of technological capability are attempting to explore as well."

Liang Yuan thought about the images captured by drones at the military base, showing the cloud layer above.

Above the endless sky, numerous giant Floating Island corpses hovered in the void, clouds drifting, resembling celestial Grotto Heavens.

Liang Yuan still remembered the footage showing aircraft flying and exploring those Floating Islands.

Even though they were torn apart by a giant Mutant Beast, this was enough to indicate that some organization or force had already managed to enter the cloud layer ahead of time.

Such technology far exceeds that of the Guangfu Military District.

Liang Yuan suspected that it might be forces from areas with higher elevations in the central region, or even the northwest with higher terrain.

This bombshell of news exploded like a bomb in the hearts of Wang Ling’Er and others, momentarily silencing them, thoughts swirling in their minds.

This news was truly earth-shattering.

For a long time, even Jiang Ziyin, who had been a staunch materialist, couldn’t help but smile wryly, "Is this still the Blue Star I know?"

Wang Ling’Er looked at her and said, "It hasn’t been for a long time. The Great Flood happened, Mutant Beasts emerged, and humans got superpowers."

Jiang Ziyin shook her head slightly, "Those can still be explained using science, but Floating Islands, gigantic corpses comparable to a city—these things are beyond my imagination."

"If these are real, then where did these bodies come from? How did they suddenly appear in Blue Star’s sky?"

This question was also everyone’s doubt.

Liang Yuan sighed, "This question is probably related to the flood. To understand it, we must personally go above the clouds, step out of Blue Star, and observe the cosmic stars."

Liang Yuan thought of the colossal Milky Way spanning the sky, from which relentless streams of water poured down.

Those streams of water were the root source of the flood!

But no one knew where these water flows originated.

To find out, one must step out of Blue Star and head towards the stars to witness the source of this Milky Way.

He suddenly recalled Ling Yurong saying she was immortal, vowing to leave the starry sky during this flood apocalypse.

Perhaps she also wanted to uncover the truth behind this flood.

It’s just unknown if Ling Yurong, in the peak of her revival cycles, has ever entered the Floating Islands above the sky.

Then Liang Yuan shook his head, thinking he’d gone too far in his thoughts.

It’s best to focus on the present.

Liang Yuan looked at the crowd and said, "These are all things of the future. Now that we know Abyss Island was once a Floating Island, it surely has Brain Core and Heart Core."

"Ladies and gentlemen, since it’s a former Floating Island, it must contain abundant resources. Now that we’re here, we should try to acquire as many of these resources as possible before leaving."

As soon as he said this, everyone’s eyes lit up.