In the following days, Xing Chen returned to Earth and asked his academic advisor for a quick-start tutorial on geophysical exploration.
Since he didn't know what type of signal Friston was using, his plan of passive signal reception for positioning was rejected by himself.
However, traditional geophysical exploration methods were still effective, as a man-made void as large as a Stasis Chamber would surely cause significant gravitational and electromagnetic anomalies.
"Have you remembered all the usage methods I taught you?"
"Probably... Xing Chen, since you're so afraid of damaging the school's equipment, why don't we hire an exploration team?"
"Because I suspect that the Pre-civilization's Stasis Chamber might contain anti-Originium devices. Otherwise, it's hard to explain why, after tens of thousands of years, that deeply buried shelter wasn't destroyed by Catastrophes."
Terra has a modern mining industry, so naturally, it also has corresponding geological exploration technology.
Humans rely on the laws of physics, while Terrans use Originium Arts; everyone has their own way of life.
If the Stasis Chamber really has a shielding device, using Originium Arts for exploration would be extremely difficult.
Rhine Lab's scientific research and development discovered the Stasis Chamber not through exploration, but by tracing anomalous signals.
"Xing Chen, is this pit deep enough?"
Theresa withdrew her Originium Arts and said to Xing Chen, who was debugging equipment nearby.
"Let me see... That's about right. Come over and help me put down the seismic exploration equipment."
To prevent the Pre-civilization from deploying other types of shielding devices, and also to improve positioning accuracy, Xing Chen decided to use all the methods he knew.
Seismic exploration was relatively simple; a pit could be quickly dug using Theresa's Originium Arts, and the excavated soil and rocks were directly transported back to Wandering's End.
Whether for growing vegetables or building a small scenic spot, they could be put to use.
Next, Xing Chen, holding a ruler, determined distances at fixed intervals, while inserting markers for positioning.
Subsequently, Theresa, holding a geological hammer, struck the ground at the marked locations according to Xing Chen's instructions.
"Mommy, what are those two people doing?"
A Bolivar Pero migrant caravan happened to pass not far from where the two were working, and a Pero little girl curiously asked her mother.
"They're probably pioneers who committed crimes. When you get to Trimounts, you must be a law-abiding Columbia citizen."
The Pero girl glanced at the dusty, dejected Xing Chen, then turned to look at Theresa, who was simply dressed and vigorously swinging the hammer, and nodded understandingly.
Of course, Xing Chen didn't hear a single word of the above conversation, because he was in a state of extreme anger.
The commotion created by the moving caravan severely interfered with the test results.
Unable to confirm which data points were distorted, he could only scrap everything and start over.
Fortunately, his geological team always worked in remote, uninhabited wilderness areas, so there was no need to worry about interference from miscellaneous people.
Night soon fell, and only two to three tenths of the originally planned workload had actually been completed.
Back at the apartment, Theresa went to bathe and change, while Xing Chen squatted on the balcony processing data.
"Xing Chen, I'm done. It's your turn to wash."
The bathroom door opened, and Xing Chen felt the overflowing steam, but his attention was completely focused on the data.
The rustling sound of changing clothes came from behind him. He finally confirmed that this segment of data had no anomalies, and his wish of a lucky guess had fallen through.
For the next few days, Xing Chen and Theresa engaged in repetitive labor.
After the initial novelty wore off, Theresa also grew tired of the endless hammering.
However, by this time, Xing Chen had collected some anomalous data.
Now, it was time to switch to another exploration method.
The instruments for electrical and magnetic prospecting were quite expensive, and the advisor in charge of equipment was only willing to lend out a small portion, which meant Xing Chen had to divide the planned area.
After a few days, Xing Chen and Theresa had only surveyed a few blocks.
"Hey, brother, are you also here for scientific research?"
One day later, as Xing Chen and Theresa were squatting on the ground arranging electrodes, several workers in Rhine Lab uniforms walked over and greeted them.
"Yes, are you also involved in exploration?"
Xing Chen and Theresa looked up at them. Compared to their own wilderness style, the other party's attire was impeccably clean.
"What's with your clothes? Did your boss stop paying?"
Life on an exploration team was tough, but it was still a skilled profession, so the wages certainly wouldn't be low.
Who would run to the wilderness if the pay was low?
"Given our working methods, do you think expensive clothes are suitable?"
"That's true... By the way, what technology are you using? We've never seen it before."
The lead worker picked up Xing Chen's electrode, seemingly wanting to examine its material. With a bit of force, she directly deformed it.
"Ah, sorry."
Xing Chen looked at her frightened expression and sighed, "It's broken, it's broken. My advisor will pay for it."
He certainly wouldn't let them off so easily; of course, he had to extract some valuable information from them.
For example, Rhine Lab's latest geological prospecting technology and corresponding equipment, or their current exploration records for the surrounding Trimounts area.
These were things that ordinary people, or rather, outsiders, would find very difficult to access, and their value far exceeded tens of thousands of Lungmen DPs or any other currency.
Rhine Lab employees would, of course, not easily disclose such information normally, but now they had damaged Xing Chen's equipment.
To questions like "Which university are you from in Trimounts?" "Who is your advisor?" "Who is your research group's sponsor?" Xing Chen simply replied, "No comment" to their indirect inquiries.
This, in turn, made the workers feel that Xing Chen and Theresa had unusual backgrounds, so they honestly satisfied Xing Chen's demands.
However, Xing Chen was not such a selfish person; he also shared some "too outdated to be shown" theories with these people.
Except for the lead worker, everyone else was dumbfounded.
"...A very meaningful theory. Could we exchange contact information for a communication terminal?" Clearly, this foreman had received a considerable higher education, to the extent that she could easily keep up with Xing Chen's pace.
"We don't have terminals." Xing Chen waved his hand. Terra's terminals were fine for use in fixed areas, but he and Theresa were constantly traveling across the continent, so they didn't need one and simply didn't buy it.
"I see... Will you still be here for some time?"
"We have work to do in other areas, but it won't be far from here. It won't be difficult to find us."
"That's good. I'll introduce my superior to you. She just happens to be of your same race."