Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1246 - 604_2

"It might even cause us to lose our bearings, becoming hopelessly lost within its confines."

This, combined with the mysterious detonation at West Mountain and the persistent rumors of military endeavors involving relics of ancient civilizations, had escalated Fang Cheng’s vigilance to its absolute zenith.

This upcoming trial was undoubtedly far more perilous than the previous Illusion Realm test.

There was even a distinct possibility of casualties.

Hou Peng gulped, his gaunt cheeks quivering, a thin sheen of perspiration dotting his forehead. "Brother Fang, please don’t frighten me. This is a military restricted zone; not even a fly can get in. Surely, there aren't a few man-eating bears lurking in the woods, are there?"

Ma Donghe, in stark contrast, seemed to gain a surge of energy.

He seized the tactical backpack from the ground, his eyes alight with excitement. "Hey! Who cares? If a couple of bears actually show up, they’ll just be an additional meal for us tonight! We can make some roasted bear paws to replenish our strength!"

Fang Cheng gave a slight shake of his head, meticulously sliding his short knife back into the sheath secured to his tactical thigh strap.

His gaze drifted past the perimeter of the training ground, eventually settling upon a towering lookout post that pierced the dense canopy of the treetops.

Within the confines of this stark military encampment, the atmosphere emanating from that specific location seemed particularly anomalous.

.......................

From the summit of the lookout tower, a panoramic vista unfolded.

The gentle evening mountain breeze caressed the area, effectively dissipating some of the heat accumulated during the day.

Positioned precisely in the center was a sleek, black folding table.

Qin Wenxuan, with his body subtly angled forward, leaned against the cool metal railing.

He held a high-magnification tactical pair of binoculars, his vantage point allowing him to survey the candidates on the training ground below.

The lenses slowly swept across the scene before abruptly focusing on a solitary young figure seated upon a cement block, engrossed in the inspection of a standard-issue short knife.

A subtle tightening of Qin Wenxuan’s lips betrayed his internal thoughts as he pondered silently.

This was the very Fang Cheng whom the old superior had insisted on including.

While the young man's performance in the Black Rain World had been undeniably commendable, meriting an excellent score, the subsequent interview crucially assessed spiritual will. Moreover, with the safeguard of the Soul Suppressing Bell, the peculiar occurrences had exerted limited harm upon the participants.

Now, situated within the actual West Mountain Forbidden Area, they were confronted with mutated beasts and unforeseen perils.

Achieving a high score would certainly not be as straightforward.

All that could be done was to ensure his background check proceeded without a hitch.

Whether he could truly integrate into the Special Search Team and become a colleague would ultimately hinge on his own destiny.

"Old Qin, you’ve been gazing down at that group of fledglings for half the day. Have you managed to spot anything particularly noteworthy?"

Beside the folding table, a man exuding an aura of ruggedness, characterized by a disheveled beard and a physique as robust as an iron tower, pulled out a chair and settled himself with considerable élan.

This individual was identified as Lei Zhen, the Director of the Intelligence Department within the Special Search Team.

His face, weathered and rugged, bore a ghastly scar that extended from the corner of his left eye down to his chin, serving as a stark testament to his battle-hardened experiences.

At this precise moment, he procured an enamel tea cup, carefully blowing away the loose tea leaves floating atop the water.

Standing adjacent to Lei Zhen was a woman exuding an aura of cool beauty, clad in a white business suit and augmented by gold-rimmed spectacles.

She held the esteemed position of chief researcher within the research department of the Special Search Team, her name being Shen Zhiwei.

"Director Qin, would you be able to provide us with the details at this juncture?"

Shen Zhiwei, holding a military-grade tablet terminal, deftly navigated through the data models displayed on its screen, her voice adopting a chilly tone. "There are merely fifteen minutes remaining until the officially designated commencement of the test. The sun is on the verge of setting, and the inherent Yin energy and spatial fluctuations of West Mountain are rapidly approaching their apex."

"Director Ling specifically opted to relocate the originally planned physical assessment at headquarters to the hazardous B3 sector of West Mountain. Might we inquire as to the rationale behind this decision?"

Director Qin gently set down his binoculars, turning around slowly, his expression growing noticeably more somber.

He approached the folding table, placing both hands firmly upon its surface, his gaze sweeping deliberately across Lei Zhen and Shen Zhiwei.

"Given that you both are serving as joint invigilators for this examination and have formally acknowledged the confidentiality agreement, I shall proceed with complete candor."

Director Qin’s voice resonated with a profound seriousness. "You are both likely cognizant of the ultra-ancient civilization relic concealed deep within West Mountain, are you not?"

Lei Zhen’s tea-drinking action faltered; he struck the cup forcefully upon the table, emitting a cold snort. His voice, rough and laced with clear displeasure, articulated, "How could I possibly be unaware? The military has effectively sealed off West Mountain, transforming it into an impregnable fortress. They are utilizing the sole existing tunnel originating from the Underground Palace of the Yu Dynasty, dating back a millennium, keeping it entirely to themselves and leaving our Special Search Team with absolutely nothing."

"Our personnel have been encamped in the outer restricted zone for months, and yet, we have not even managed to lay eyes upon the relics themselves."

“Director Lei’s assessment is accurate; that’s precisely the crux of the problem.”

Director Qin concurred, his voice laced with seriousness:

“Director Ling will not permit the military to monopolize all the power. If we fail to discover an independent new access point to the relic, the Special Search Team will be relegated to a subordinate position in the future distribution of extraordinary resources. This outcome would severely hinder our long-term progress.”

Shen Zhiwei adjusted her spectacles, a sharp, cold glint momentarily flashing across the lenses:

“Then, what is the connection between this and the group below, comprised mostly of ordinary individuals lacking any awakened abilities?”

“Are we genuinely expecting them to forge a new path through the mountains simply by treading on the ground?”

Lei Zhen scoffed coldly, clearly dismissing the plan as preposterous.

Director Qin

“While it may seem absurd to you, this is precisely where Director Ling’s strategic genius lies.”

“Researcher Shen, as an expert in the theoretical principles of repulsion between the Otherworld and our dimension, you must surely grasp the implications.”

“The military’s consistent access to the Yu Dynasty’s Underground Palace is facilitated by ancient arrays and fragmented spells within the tomb, which effectively neutralize the repulsive forces.”

“To locate an alternative entrance beyond their established blockade, a path less traveled is imperative!”

He paused briefly, then approached a folding table, manipulating Shen Zhiwei’s tablet to display a holographic topographical map of West Mountain.

Subtle, faint blue ripples began to trace a specific location on the map.

This very spot was the ultimate destination for the candidates undertaking the cross-country run below—Black Wind Gully.

Director Qin clasped his hands behind his back, continuing his explanation:

“Based on the intelligence gathered during Director Ling’s two previous covert expeditions, the spatial rift constituting this new entrance intermittently materializes within this wilderness survival zone.”

“However, due to the persistent high-dimensional repulsion, the rift manifests like a fleeting mirage, perpetually hovering just out of reach, tantalizingly close yet impossibly distant.”

“Should we attempt a forceful entry with substantial forces, the inevitable consequence would be disintegration amidst the violent spatial turbulence.”

Observing Shen Zhiwei’s thoughtful expression, Director Qin pressed on:

“Hasn’t your department been diligently developing instruments to detect spatial frequencies? You’ve long since determined that this repulsion phenomenon exhibits a considerable degree of randomness.”

“A select few individuals appear to possess an innate ‘high-dimensional affinity constitution.’ When encountering spatial rifts, they are not repelled; instead, they can perceive these rifts clearly and even approach them safely, as if guided by an unseen destiny.”

Shen Zhiwei nodded, a flicker of keen interest igniting within her eyes.

As a dedicated researcher, she was acutely aware of the profound rarity of such an affinity constitution.

“So, in essence…”

Director Qin extended his hands, a shrewd gleam in his eyes:

“Since our current technological capabilities are insufficient to fully comprehend the underlying principles of spatial repulsion, we shall leverage this large-scale physical assessment to disperse this contingent of over seven hundred energetic young candidates throughout West Mountain.”

He gestured towards the densely packed group below:

“It is highly probable that at least one among them will exhibit a spiritual resonance with the latent rift.”

“Their role as a ‘beacon’ is all that’s needed to trigger the entrance’s manifestation, thereby achieving our objective.”

Qin Wenxuan lifted a teacup to moisten his throat, a knowing smile playing on his lips:

“Concurrently, this operation provides perfect cover. Even if the military’s surveillance satellites detect the large-scale movement of personnel and initiate inquiries, we possess ample justifications to deflect suspicion.”

“After all, are we not ostensibly engaged in the Special Search Team’s standard recruitment process, while incidentally allowing these aspirants to hone their bravery against the mutated beasts inhabiting this restricted zone?”