NOVPUB"Let’s go."
The voice from the wireless intercom inside the helmet transmitted, and Wu Bin, imitating the actions of other team members, kicked in the water and then allowed the rapids to carry him straight down.
At first, Wu Bin didn’t think much of it.
But as he got closer to the edge of the cliff, the faster the water flowed, and the harder it became for Wu Bin to grip the steel cable.
Just as Wu Bin felt he was about to lose his grip on the steel cable and be swept away, a small device on his waist suddenly activated, forcefully clamping onto the steel cable and slowing down his descent against the turbulent flow.
"Wu Bin, hold tight to the steel cable, we’re going to give you a hand," came the voice.
Wu Bin was about to reply when suddenly the steel cable beneath his feet swung forward violently.
Wu Bin burst out from the waterfall, and the moment he lost the force of the water, his entire body relaxed immensely.
Clack.
Wu Bin’s legs landed on a stone surface.
It was only then that he realized there was a platform about five meters deep behind this waterfall.
The images on the screen hadn’t been clear before, but now, standing in front of the stone door and seeing the environment of this platform with his own eyes, Wu Bin was incredibly surprised.
The door in front of him was made of stone, but it was carved with many patterns.
Wu Bin was not an archaeology expert, so he did not understand what these patterns represented.
He could only guess, based on his own understanding, that they depicted many fish jumping from the river towards higher ground.
However, the shapes of these fish were also very different.
At the moment they jumped out of the water, they were just ordinary fish.
But as these fish jumped to a certain height, their heads began to change.
Above the stone door, there should have been more content, but the carving did not continue. This gave the feeling of looking at a photo and being cut off halfway.
"Professor, what do these patterns on the stone door mean?"
Jin Nanhua replied with excitement, "Fish Leaping Through the Dragon’s Gate, this is the depiction of Fish Leaping Through the Dragon’s Gate!"
Fish Leaping Through the Dragon’s Gate?
Wu Bin followed the direction of the leaping fish and indeed saw a gate-like structure standing atop auspicious clouds.
Wu Bin’s mouth twitched.
"The Dragon’s Gate is in the sky? How could these fish possibly jump that high? That’s nonsense."
Jin Nanhua chuckled and said to Wu Bin, "Ordinary fish naturally can’t make it, but for an Ao fish, it’s different."
"Ao fish?"
Wu Bin was even more puzzled.
He had never heard of such a fish.
Jin Nanhua pointed to two stone statues nearby and said, "These two Tomb Guardian Beasts are carved in the image of the Ao fish."
"Among the nine sons of the dragon, none are alike, and the Ao fish is one of them."
"Compared to its siblings, the Ao fish prefers to reside in rivers, and its way of evolving into a dragon is to leap through the Dragon’s Gate."
"Therefore, the Ao fish has a very strong jumping ability, and it’s even said that the Ao fish possesses the ability to glide and fly at low altitudes."
After hearing Jin Nanhua’s explanation, Wu Bin came to a realization.
However, he soon looked at Jin Nanhua with a strange expression.
"That’s not right, Professor Jin, aren’t you a biologist? Are dragons also within your field of research?"
Wu Bin originally thought Jin Nanhua was somewhat negligent in his proper duties.
To his surprise, after Wu Bin asked this question, everyone else looked at him with peculiar expressions.
"Nightingale, didn’t you tell Wu Bin what The Ninth Institute is all about?"
Nightingale was completely unflustered.
"I gave him a brief introduction before, but he wasn’t interested in listening," she replied.
The crowd was shocked once again.
The Ninth Research Institute is the most mysterious organization in Dragon Country, and what they research is also the highest state secret of Dragon Country.
Countless people work hard and strive just for the chance to become a member of The Ninth Institute and participate in its research.
Yet now, Nightingale was telling them that Wu Bin wasn’t interested in their research?
Seeing everyone so astonished, Wu Bin couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"I...I just didn’t quite understand what exactly you do; it’s not that I’m not interested," he said.
Jin Nanhua glanced at Nightingale and remarked, "It seems your new member training isn’t up to par."
Nightingale pursed her lips without retorting.
At The Ninth Institute, everyone has their tasks and is very busy.
Where would they find the time to train new members?
Everyone grows slowly through their tasks, and Wu Bin was somewhat special since he was specially recruited.
While Jin Nanhua directed his subordinates to study how to open the stone door, he began introducing the situation to Wu Bin.
"The Ninth Research Institute of Dragon Country isn’t actually the name of a particular institute, but a code for an organization," he explained.
"The existence of The Ninth Institute primarily serves two purposes: completion and containment."
"You must already know that there are many supernatural forces in this world, right?"
Wu Bin nodded.
He was specially recruited because of supernatural powers.
However, they consider themselves Supernatural Beings, while Wu Bin knew he possessed a system.
"People who have supernatural powers, we call them Supernatural Beings. Animals with supernatural powers, we call them Extraordinary Creatures."
"It’s worth mentioning that these supernatural forces didn’t spring from nowhere; they’ve been on Earth for a long time."
"Moreover, according to our research, these supernatural forces are intricate and many are related to mythological stories."
"Different civilizations have different complete maps of supernatural legacy."
"All sources of supernatural power in Dragon Country, however, point to a creature from legend—the dragon."
Hiss!
Hearing Jin Nanhua say this, Wu Bin drew a sharp breath and widened his eyes.
"Dragons... do they really exist?" Wu Bin couldn’t help but ask.
Jin Nanhua said seriously, "Not only do dragons exist, but they are also an incredibly powerful and mysterious species."
"Based on many years of investigation and research, we have reason to suspect that during the times of Pangu and Nüwa, humans might have been nothing more than pets or slaves to the Dragon Clan."
"In ancient times, there may have existed a mysterious ancient dragon civilization."
The more Wu Bin listened, the more incredulous he felt.
He waved his hand at Jin Nanhua.
"Hold on a minute. My mind is in a bit of a mess, Doctor. Are you serious about all you’ve said? You aren’t trying to pull my leg, are you?"
Wu Bin even began to doubt whether he was ill again.
After all, how could such bizarre things possibly exist in this world?
Nightingale said disdainfully on the side, "Have you ever wondered why, of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, the eleven others exist in reality, but only the dragon doesn’t?"
"Since the founding of the country, The Ninth Research Institute has traveled across the nation, collecting and investigating intelligence related to dragons. It has also classified and tested the contained Extraordinary Creatures and Supernatural Beings."
"I can tell you with certainty that the Dragon Clan exists in this world and they are gradually awakening due to some power."
"The mission of The Ninth Institute is, before all members of the Dragon Clan awaken, to find them and then undertake negotiation, control, containment, or extermination."
Wu Bin was dumbfounded.
He knew The Ninth Institute handled major affairs.
But he hadn’t expected such grand affairs!
