All the researchers were evacuated to the upper levels!
Ye Cangtian saw Shangguan Yanran, along with several research professors with Chinese faces, among them.
Perhaps, this stone figure riot would be an opportunity to rescue the hostages!
Although the upper levels had many Yellow-tier members and stricter defenses, it was still an opportunity.
As Ye Cangtian was contemplating how to rescue these individuals next, a silver-masked figure approached him. The figure was plump, and even without looking at the insignia on the mask, Ye Cangtian knew who it was.
Xuan Jiu patted his shoulder and consoled him, "Brother Xuan Qi is not weak, and it's not his first time entering the ruins, so he should be fine!"
Obviously, the other party saw Ye Cangtian lost in thought and assumed he was worried about Xuan Qi.
Ye Cangtian was stunned for a moment, then feigned worry, "Those stone figures are too powerful. Will my Lord Xuan Qi really be alright?"
Xuan Jiu said, "Although these stone figures are incredibly strong, their speed is very slow. As long as Xuan Qi doesn't get surrounded, basically no stone figure can harm him!"
"Don't worry, he's probably just trapped somewhere. Lord Zǐlóng has already taken people to support him, he'll be fine!"
"Lord Zǐlóng, is he one of our organization's Earth-tier powerhouses?" Ye Cangtian inquired.
"Yes! One of our organization's Earth-tier powerhouses!"
Xuan Jiu nodded, then smiled and explained, "There aren't many Earth-tier powerhouses, so unlike us, they aren't assigned numerical codenames."
Ye Cangtian subconsciously asked, "How many Earth-tier powerhouses does our organization have?"
"Seven? Or eight? Kid, stop asking. I don't even know the exact number. You guys should earn more merits and reach the Profound-tier as soon as possible!" Xuan Jiu said with a speechless laugh.
Ye Cangtian chuckled awkwardly and didn't ask any further questions.
However, he was inwardly shocked. Was the Dark Association this powerful? They actually had so many Earth-tier powerhouses like Zǐlóng?
...
Time ticked by!
Although they didn't know what was happening in the outer passage, from outside the passage, everyone could intermittently hear sounds.
Clearly, Zǐlóng and several other Profound-tier powerhouses were battling the stone figures.
After a long while, the sounds from the passage finally subsided.
Soon, a group of people emerged from within. Except for Lord Zǐlóng, who seemed relatively relaxed, the other several Profound-tier powerhouses appeared somewhat disheveled.
However, none of them were injured!
Seeing everyone looking over, Lord Zǐlóng said gravely, "The stone figures have been suppressed. There were quite a few of them, likely at least a hundred!"
"However, it's unfortunate that during the suppression of the stone figures, over a dozen bodies were discovered, and Xuan Qi was among them!"
At this statement, everyone's face showed surprise!
Even a Profound-tier powerhouse had died in there?
Lord Zǐlóng sighed, "Logically, with Xuan Qi's strength, even if he couldn't defeat the stone figures, he could have escaped safely. Perhaps he had bad luck and was blocked from both front and back by the stone figures!"
Although he didn't know why Xuan Qi had died, this was the only explanation he could offer.
Everyone expressed their regrets, while Ye Cangtian and Huang Wu put on sorrowful expressions.
Ye Cangtian was faking it. After all, the deceased Xuan Qi was his nominal superior – his Lord!
If he didn't act sorrowful, wouldn't people become suspicious?
Meanwhile, Huang Wu beside him was genuinely saddened!
His own Lord had died in Yangzhou. He had come here alone, thinking he would join this Lord Xuan Qi, only to find that the moment they met, Lord Xuan Qi had died!
At that moment, Huang Wu was truly miserable.
"Huang Jiu, don't be too sad. Don't worry, Xuan Qi was my friend. If you need anything in the future, just come to me!" Xuan Jiu patted Ye Cangtian's shoulder and sighed.
He hadn't expected Xuan Qi to die in the outer passage of the ruins.
Ye Cangtian nodded with difficulty, inwardly relieved: Now, no one in the entire Dark Association knows I'm an imposter, right?
Now that the stone figures had been suppressed,
However, to prevent another riot, the researchers were temporarily arranged to stay on the upper levels.
Only two Profound-tier members and some Yellow-tier members were left to guard the area.
...
When Ye Cangtian and the others returned to the ground, the sky had already darkened.
From their departure in the morning to their return to the ground, it had been more than ten hours!
Back in the dormitory.
Ye Cangtian lit a cigarette and stared out the window, lost in thought, but actually observing the situation outside.
There was a building with lights on, and many armed guards outside. That was likely where the dozens of researchers were being held.
A few armed guards were not a significant threat, but around the entire square, in addition to the guards maintaining vigilance and defense, there were also many Yellow-tier members stationed.
There were even quite a few Profound-tier members!
Not to mention that Earth-tier powerhouse!
It seemed he could only wait for the ruins to open, and when everyone headed to the ruins, he would find a way to rescue the hostages.
However, Ye Cangtian was worried that these people would kill all these useless researchers before entering the ruins!
As he pondered the rescue of the hostages, Huang Wu behind him sat on the edge of the bed, at a loss.
"Brother Huang Jiu, what do you think we should do next?"
"What else can we do? Just wait. They will arrange our matters!" Ye Cangtian exhaled a smoke ring and said casually.
The two Yellow-tier members sitting on the opposite bunk also learned about what happened in the outer passage of the ruins today.
At this moment, they also comforted them, "Don't worry, you two. After the ruins, the higher-ups will either assign you to other Lords, or perhaps you might even inherit your Lord's position!"
Huang Wu exclaimed in surprise, "What do you mean? Inherit our Lords' positions?"
Ye Cangtian also looked over. Was there such a thing?
The Yellow-tier member chuckled awkwardly, then explained, "Of course, this situation is very rare, and the chances are very slim."
"The reason I say this is because this has happened before. When a certain Lord was sacrificed, because one of that Lord's Yellow-tier subordinates was outstanding, the higher-ups directly promoted that Yellow-tier member to a Profound-tier steward!"
Of course, the requirements for a Yellow-tier member to be promoted to Profound-tier were very strict!
Either you had to have made significant contributions to the organization! Or, your strength had to reach the standard of a Profound-tier steward.
"I see!"
Ye Cangtian's eyes lit up. It seemed that if he had the opportunity, he should try to become a Profound-tier steward?
He now understood that Yellow-tier members in the Dark Association were, frankly speaking, cannon fodder. Many secrets were only known to the Profound-tier.
Therefore, if he could successfully infiltrate the Profound-tier steward level, then he would truly have penetrated the inner workings of the Dark Association.