Civilization Ruins (Please Follow, Monthly Votes)

Because of the relationship between their families, the two had often hung out together since childhood. Due to his mental age, Song Chi had naturally become the leader between them.

However, Shen Qing often refused to accept this because he was two years older than Song Chi, constantly insisting that he was the eldest. Over time, that was how he acquired the nickname "Daqing."

Knowing that Song Chao and Shen Wenjie's casual chat would take several hours to finish, and with noon approaching, Song Chi and Shen Qing could not be bothered to sit around doing nothing. They said goodbye to the two men and left the office together.

The moment they stepped out of the office, Shen Qing, who had just been shrinking timidly into himself, immediately seemed like a different person. Throwing an arm around Song Chi's shoulders, he headed straight for the first floor.

"Come on, it's been a while since we brothers met up. We've got to have a proper get-together today."

Compared with Shen Qing's excitement, Song Chi had more on his mind.

"Isn't it still your work hours? Let's wait until lunch."

Although Shen Wenjie had vouched for him, this was still a ducal law enforcement agency. It was better to be careful.

Shen Qing paused but did not refuse. He was currently at a critical point in his promotion, and while no one would make an issue of such a trivial matter, there was nothing wrong with being cautious.

The two waited another half hour or so. Only when it was time for lunch did they leave the Kindling Bureau in Shen Qing's Pentium Type II Flyer, heading straight for a famous nearby restaurant.

"You're doing pretty well. This car cost at least a million, right? When did you buy it?"

Pentium Kinetic Flyers were an automobile brand under the Morning Star Duchy's Pentium Consortium. Although the Pentium Type II was an outdated model from over a century ago, one still cost more than a million credit points.

While it could not compare to the Raging Tiger I Floating Land Mining Vehicle Song Chi had bought some time ago, which came with onboard intelligence, it was still not something an ordinary Zero Rank Kindling captain would consider buying.

It was not that they could not afford it. Rather, ordinary Zero Rank Kindling captains rarely spent money on a kinetic flyer that could only travel within a floating continent. After all, it cost a hundred strands of Zero Rank Floating Continent Essence—equal to the entire profits from one Alien Starfield Exploration.

Since Shen Qing had bought one, it meant that even after upgrading his Kindling Starship, he still had plenty of spare money on hand. Clearly, he had been doing quite well these past two years.

Shen Qing grinned smugly, his expression animated.

"Not bad. During an Alien Starfield Exploration a few months ago, I happened to come across the ruins of an alien civilization and got hold of a batch of good stuff. Aside from one blue item and one white item that I kept for myself, I sold all the other white marvels I had no use for. Made over ten thousand strands of Zero Rank Floating Continent Essence."

Song Chi raised a brow.

A classic curse from his previous life slipped out of his mouth by instinct.

"Holy shit!"

The ruins of an alien civilization—opportunities like that were not common. In fact, they were exceedingly rare.

The Shattered Star Sea was boundless, and the civilizations it birthed were as numerous as grains of sand. Over countless millennia, no one knew how many civilizations had vanished into the river of time for one reason or another. Yet among those extinct civilizations, traces of them remained, more or less. Worn down by the years, they gradually became civilization ruins.

However, although such civilization ruins were not few in number, that was another matter when placed within the boundless Shattered Star Sea. For ordinary people to encounter one was unimaginably difficult.

While Song Chi was still marveling at it, Shen Qing gave a mysterious smile and said nothing further, thoroughly whetting Song Chi's curiosity.

Four Seasons Restaurant, top-floor private room.

Only after the dishes had been served did Shen Qing slowly begin speaking beneath Song Chi's glare.

He lowered his voice until only the two of them could hear, then began explaining the whole story.

"The civilization I encountered was called the Bulo Civilization. Those ruins were located on a completely barren, abandoned floating continent. Last time, I only opened the first level of the ruins. Based on my final investigation, there are at least two levels."

Song Chi's gaze flickered as his thoughts raced.

At least two levels. Considering the first level alone had contained a blue marvel and several white marvels, there was a high chance that the ruins contained a purple-quality marvel.

"So, are you interested in trying it together? The teleportation beacon I left behind can last for about another three months. There's no rush. Let's develop ourselves properly during this time, then go take a look together in a little over two months."

A little over two months. Hearing that timeframe, Song Chi, who had still been wavering, instantly made his decision.

"Fine. We'll go take a look together in two and a half months."

More than half a month had already passed since his first Alien Starfield Exploration. His second deployment would come in another thirteen days.

By that schedule, two and a half months was more than enough for him to conduct two more alien starfield deployments and two more Market Ruins trades. He had ample time to obtain a large amount of resources.

As long as he had sufficient resources, it would not be difficult to upgrade the Cangqiong to First Rank in one go. With the orange-quality Dark Matter Energy Shield Generator component as well, exploring the Bulo Civilization Ruins would not be much of a problem.

Seeing Song Chi agree, Shen Qing's smile widened. There was no great danger within those ruins, but the Repulsive Field was truly formidable. Even though he had carefully upgraded his Kindling Starship once more over the past few months, he still did not have much confidence.

After some discussion, the two finally settled on the plan. From beginning to end, neither of them mentioned either Song Chao or Shen Wenjie.

Song Chi had wanted to bring his father along. That would undoubtedly greatly improve their safety, but since Shen Qing had not brought it up, he naturally could not take the initiative to mention it.

Had Shen Qing never considered asking Shen Wenjie to help? Of course not.

Since he had chosen not to tell Shen Wenjie, he must have considered it carefully.

Song Chi could guess and understand some of Shen Qing's concerns. If they reported this to Shen Wenjie, how would they divide the gains afterward? If they really found a purple-quality marvel, who would take it?

Purple-quality Star Sea Marvels were coveted not only by Second Rank Kindling captains like Shen Wenjie, but even by Kindling captains above Third Rank.

Shen Wenjie might not seize something from his own junior, but what if they truly came across a purple marvel that suited him perfectly?

Furthermore, all of that assumed there really was a purple-quality marvel. What if there was not? What if Shen Qing's judgment was wrong and the supposed second level of the ruins did not even exist? Would they not all have made the trip for nothing?

With so many uncertainties, it was only natural that Shen Qing had chosen not to inform Shen Wenjie.

"Daqing, you..."

With the general direction settled, Song Chi shifted the subject, preparing to discuss the civilization ruins in detail. Unexpectedly, Shen Qing suddenly pressed his index finger to his lips, signaling Song Chi to be quiet.

"Shh!"

At the same time, strands of Void Energy gathered around his ears, as though he were trying his utmost to catch something.

Shen Qing had awakened his Kindling Seed two years ago. With the exclusive Psionic Cultivation Platform aboard his Kindling Starship, along with the enormous resources provided by his father and his second uncle, Shen Wenjie, his Guidance Art had already reached lv7. With Void Energy enhancing him, his hearing was now exceptionally sharp.

In any case, Song Chi could not hear a thing.