The Nature of the Game Has Changed

After walking for who knew how long, Zhang Qi finally saw the city—or rather, its outline.

The first thing to appear on the horizon was neither city walls nor palaces, but rows upon rows of enormous black silhouettes that seemed too immense to be real.

They resembled the skeletons of some prehistoric beasts, standing silently between heaven and earth.

As they drew closer, the silhouettes gradually revealed their true form.

They were gigantic pendulums, each several dozen meters tall, grander than any cathedral bell tower.

Massive stone blocks were bound by thick ropes and suspended between two slender stone towers.

Every pendulum swung with a slow, solemn rhythm.

Beneath those colossal pendulums, groups of soldiers clad in crude armor shouted hoarse, uniform chants as they worked together to pull the ropes connected to the pendulum bobs.

Their movements were mechanical and precise, like machines.

All the giant pendulums remained in perfect synchronization. From afar, countless boulders traced neat, identical arcs through the air.

"Now that really is spectacular—"

Looking at such a creation, Zhang Qi could not help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.

"Let's go—let's meet King Zhou~"

King Wen of Zhou took a deep breath and stepped forward first.

Zhang Qi followed, heading toward the pyramid surrounded by those enormous metronomes.

As they approached the pyramid, they found a low doorway at its base.

After confirming the purpose of their visit, the guards beside the entrance let them pass without further question.

Because among the Trisolarans, there were no secrets.

King Wen of Zhou hunched his back and entered the tunnel first.

Zhang Qi followed behind him.

The tunnel was long and narrow. Its walls bore no carvings or decorations, only cold, rough stone blocks.

Only at wide intervals did they find a torch lodged in