Can the Instance Dungeon Be Entered?

After resting in the military camp for three days, the order finally came down from the military region: the mission was over, and everyone could return to Jiangnan Base City!

Before leaving, they gathered in the main conference hall.

"Thank you all once again! Thanks to your collective efforts, this mission has been successfully completed!" The others on the podium applauded, shook hands with the team members, and expressed their gratitude.

To be honest, the other teams were probably still in a daze. They had come to participate in the exploration mission in a fog, seemingly discovered nothing, and then completed the mission in that same fog.

"Everyone's military merit will be issued in the form of military merit points shortly. You can use them to exchange for treasures in the military merit exchange system, or convert them into cash!"

"Only a fool would convert them into cash! There are many good things on the exchange system that you can't buy anywhere else!"

"Hahaha..."

"Exactly! Special weapons and ammunition. Many are unique to the military. Some are things that even the HR Alliance and the Limit Home don't have."

After the rewards were issued, the other teams were led by officers to the tarmac one by one.

"Wang Ji, stay behind!"

Wang Ji was surprised. The other teams had already left, and his own teammates were walking out, yet Chief Xu had singled him out.

Once the others had cleared the hall, Chief Xu walked down from the podium with a smile and patted Wang Ji on the shoulder. "Good job, young man! This matter is classified as top secret! You must not disclose anything about the ruins to anyone, including your teammates!"

Wang Ji nodded heavily. "Understood!"

It was just a bit of a pity. There was clearly a dungeon sitting right there, but he had no chance to enter it. The 50-kilometer radius around it had been completely sealed off; not even a fly could get in.

Regarding the confidentiality, in fact, before Wang Ji left that day, War God Pei Yong had already issued a gag order. As of now, Zhang Lan and the others still didn't know the details.

They only knew that there was likely something extraordinary beneath the water's surface. At first, Wang Ji had been worried about how to deflect their questions.

Who would have thought that no one would ask him anything? They were all veteran warriors; their awareness of confidentiality was far stronger than his, so they simply didn't ask.

Chief Xu continued, "Just now, I applied for 6,000 military merit points for each of you! An extra 4,000 for Spirit Readers! And now, I am going to secretly award you an additional reward!"

Wang Ji replied, "This is what I should have done!"

"Haha! If there is a contribution, there should be a reward! That is our principle! Although it cannot be made public yet.

This is a Three-Star Medal! It rewards your achievements and bravery during the exploration! Without your flying knives to intercept, your exploration team would have suffered fifty percent casualties. Not to mention the reward for discovering that crystal. I heard you are practicing the Mist Sword; the military has already sent the full set of the Mist Sword manual to your residential area. You can sign for it when you get home. Additionally, there is another reward that requires you to return to Jiangnan Base City to be presented by your Chief Li Dawei! Haha!"

Mist Sword! A manual worth 3 billion! What a grand gesture! The military was truly generous! 100 million in military merit points, plus a manual worth 3 billion. Reliable!

"Go on! Work hard, young man, and strive to become a War God soon! Become a pillar of the nation!"

Wang Ji suddenly asked, "Chief, can I participate in the exploration of these ruins? I feel like something there is faintly attracting me."

"Oh?" Chief Xu was moved. Sometimes, certain things truly chose their own people. But this was too important, and Chief Xu couldn't give an answer. He could only say, "I will apply for it on your behalf. Regardless of whether it works out or not, don't put any psychological burden on yourself."

"Understood!"

10,000 military merit points! Wang Ji felt like he was a rich man again!

He sold his Grade 5 combat suit and the Grade 6 protective vest he hadn't even warmed up yet as second-hand goods. They were in near-mint condition, so he recouped over 38 million. It pained his heart; even at half-price, they were worth 50 million when he bought them!

That was only because Wang Ji was trading in old for new that he could get that much. Then came the spending!

A full set of Grade 6 protective gear was worth 80 million at half-price, and upgrading the protective vest to Grade 7 added another 50 million!

Gone! The money was gone in an instant!

Wang Ji instantly went from a rich man with over 100 million to a pauper with only a few million in assets.

A warrior's equipment and manuals were truly a bottomless pit. No amount of money was ever enough.

The poor Wang Ji had no heart to stay here any longer. He soon packed up and returned home.

"Yay! Little brother!" Wang Yan shrieked and pounced on him. Wang Ji said helplessly, "Mom! Look at my sister!"

Wang Ji's mother wore a kind smile, watching the siblings bicker. "Alright, alright! Time to eat!"

"Right! Eat, eat! Little brother, look, super-duper luxurious seafood noodles! Look at Mom, she's so biased toward you, she almost boiled all the seafood in the fridge." Wang Yan pretended to be indignant, but her face was full of smiles.

Wang Ji felt the meaning of his struggle. To have his family laugh heartily and not have to worry about any material things—wasn't this the greatest meaning of all?

"It's a good thing you came back today!" Wang Yan said while eating.

"Why?" Wang Ji asked, puzzled.

"Why? You're still asking why! And you call yourself a high school senior! Tomorrow is the college entrance exam! Did you know that?" Wang Yan glared at him.

"Ah?" Wang Ji was completely bewildered.

"Mom! Look at him! He doesn't have to take the college entrance exam, it's so annoying!" Wang Yan acted spoiled toward their mother.

"Mm-hmm, I'll beat her up in a bit!" Wang Ji's mother said with a laugh.

"Pfft..." Wang Yan laughed first.

The next day, Wang Ji drove Wang Yan to take the college entrance exam. "Little brother, wait, wait. Let's pick up Xia Ning!"

Wang Ji asked, "Xia Ning? Is... is that the Xia Ning who used to work part-time with you at the milk tea shop?"

Wang Yan said, "Of course it's her! Who else could it be! I only just found out that she also lives in our residential area!"

"Ah?" Wang Ji was truly surprised this time. "No way? She lives in Bright Moon Residential Area? And she still works part-time at a milk tea shop? A rich girl experiencing life? Doesn't seem like it!"

"Pfft, pfft! What are you spouting! Her family situation seems a bit special... forget it, forget it, you're a boy, why are you so gossipy! Hurry up! The last row of the residential area!" Wang Yan urged.

Bright Moon Residential Area was quite large, and the distance from the very last row of houses to the residential area where Wang Ji lived took about ten minutes to walk. Wang Ji started his car, picked up his sister, then picked up Xia Ning, and drove toward the examination site.

"Here! This is water! These are chocolate balls for an energy boost! And these are spare stationery items. Did you both bring all your stationery?" Wang Ji nagged incessantly.

Wang Yan said with disdain, "No, no! We have everything with us!" This girl was acting quite tsundere now, showing none of the weak and pitiful demeanor she had in the past.

Xia Ning watched them with an envious expression. Seeing this, Wang Ji shoved all the items into Xia Ning's arms, saying, "If you don't want them, I'm giving them all to Xia Ning!"

Xia Ning's face turned beet red, not knowing whether to accept them or not.

In the blink of an eye, the third day arrived.

"Someone fainted! A candidate has fainted!"