Chapter 168: Swimming Through
Chapter 168: Swimming Through
Can we move on to the next training session?
Chen Chuan felt a surge of energy as he realized that each training session he had undergone was interconnected. Only by completing one could he progress to the next.
But undoubtedly, the next challenge would be even more difficult.
Only through such training could he truly improve himself.
He Xiaoxing spoke, "The underwater wells here aren't sealed off; instead, they are interconnected. Since you've already mastered the ability to maintain submersion, I now want you to swim swiftly between these wells.
I'll place markers at the bottom of most of the wells, and I won't tell you which ones in advance. You'll need to collect a sufficient number of markers within the given time."
After hearing this, Chen Chuan's expression turned serious. The difficulty level had increased significantly. Moving and remaining still were entirely different, and the energy expenditure would double, not to mention the unfamiliar underwater paths that could present unforeseen challenges and dangers.
Moreover, with a time limit, speed was crucial. He couldn't afford to be slow, and he wasn't sure how far he could go.
Chang Ba swallowed hard. Was it time to start swimming? He had once mustered the courage to take a quick dip, but it hadn't lasted long.
Swimming in deep, mysterious underwater wells could be treacherous. One wrong move, and you might not find the right way out. If you entered a narrow passageway and ran out of energy or struggled with internal breathing, there would be little hope of resurfacing. The psychological pressure could be overwhelming.
When he had briefly tested it before, he felt like he had returned from hell. He had never appreciated the world as much as he did then.
He no longer cared about fighting, wealth, or his girlfriend. All he wanted was to lie quietly, breathe the air freely, and feel the warmth of the sun. He had never realized how wonderful everything around him was.
And that was after only ten minutes at the bottom. Based on Chen Chuan's recent performance, he couldn't even begin to imagine how long it might take, and he dared not think about it.
"I'll give you half an hour to rest and adjust," He Xiaoxing said.
Chen Chuan nodded, checking his watch. He moved to the side, sat cross-legged, and began regulating his state. This time, he coordinated his inner and outer breathing techniques to recover his energy as much as possible.
Chang Ba thought to himself, "What a guy!" He had figured it out. He Xiaoxing had called out to Chen Chuan just before he reached his limit, leaving a bit of reserve for him to continue with the next training session.
This was truly an intense training regimen.
But it wasn't the most challenging part yet. He didn't believe anyone could pass through the first or second limits of this trial.
Half an hour later, Chen Chuan glanced at his watch and slowly stood up. "Teacher He, I'm ready."
He Xiaoxing pointed to a pit ahead and said, "Start from there. I'll give you an hour. The more markers you find within that time, the better. Pay attention, and when the time is up, I'll call you back up."
Chen Chuan nodded and walked to the edge of the pit. Without hesitation, he leaped into it.
This time, after reaching the bottom, he quickly found a passage and swam forward.
However, the underwater passages weren't straightforward; they twisted and turned, with varying depths. It was nearly impossible to navigate them swiftly without bumping or scraping against the walls.
Using brute force wasn't an option, so he had to focus on sensing the direction and speed of the water flow while simultaneously managing his internal breathing and resisting the invasion of foreign substances. It was challenging from the start.
At that moment, He Xiaoxing stood above, his feet moving. If someone could see Chen Chuan below, they would notice that he was constantly moving above the latter, staying close by.
He Xiaoxing reached out, and Chang Ba quickly handed him a metal marker with a rope attached. He tossed it into one of the pits, and the rope, pulled by the marker, sank. Then, he threw another marker into a nearby pit.
Chen Chuan felt he had passed through one passage, but at the bottom, he couldn't visually determine if there was an exit to the surface above. All he could see was a passage leading upward.
He circled around and suddenly felt a rope in his hand. Following it, he found a metal object and realized that the marker also served as a guide, indicating the presence of an exit above. It reduced the danger by providing a direct route back, should he need to resurface.
He didn't need to take the marker with him, so he tugged the rope twice to signal that he had checked it, and then swiftly swam toward another passage.
The most dangerous aspect of navigating these passages was the uncertainty of their lengths. If he ran out of energy halfway or had a moment of internal breathing disruption, he could face immediate problems. He had to remain mentally alert and try to memorize the route he had taken.
Generally, it was easy to lose a sense of direction in such pitch-black environments. However, the markers had raised numbers on them, so by touching them, he could roughly determine if he had encountered them before.
Additionally, the transformed tissue seemed to enhance his intuition. He had an inexplicable sense that he could discern his surroundings solely through physical memory, without conscious judgment, and know if he had been there before.
After finding several more markers, Chen Chuan had completely lost his sense of time. He kept swimming, driven by an urge to reach the next marker.
Upon touching another marker, he felt vibrations through the rope, signaling him to ascend. He climbed up the rope, and as he neared the surface, he pushed off with all his might, breaking through the water's surface. Supporting himself on the edge of the pit, he sat up.
Wiping his face, he paused to catch his breath before dragging his heavy body to a standing position. He inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh air.
At that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of freedom and expansiveness, as if the world had never seemed so vast and liberating.
He Xiaoxing, waiting nearby, spoke up, "One hour and seven minutes. You exceeded the time by seven minutes and found four markers in total. Barely passing, take a break, and try again in half an hour."
Chen Chuan took a deep breath and nodded. This time, he didn't rely on his second self, but solely on his altered tissue. He wanted to push himself to the limit, yet even so, he barely met He Xiaoxing's minimum requirements. It was clear that even his own body had become remarkably robust.
Half an hour later, he dove back into the pit, performing better than before and retrieving two markers within an hour.
With ample time remaining, he rested for another half-hour before attempting a third dive. This attempt fell short of the second one, and he only managed to find four markers, the same as his first try.
This indicated that his performance was declining, and the training's effectiveness was diminishing.
He Xiaoxing decided to halt the training, saying, "Within three days, you must retrieve twelve markers within an hour. If you succeed, we'll proceed to the final stage of training. For today, let's end here. Go back, repair any damage with your high-energy nutrient injection, and get some rest. No extra training, just focus on recovery. We'll continue tomorrow."
Chang Ba, who had been circling above, breathed a sigh of relief. He felt more anxious up there than he had while in the pit. His attitude towards Chen Chuan changed, and he said, "Chen, take a break. I'll go get the car."
After saying this, he rushed out, and soon, the car arrived. Chen Chuan removed his diving suit and changed into his previous attire. Once in the car, he leaned back against the soft cushion.
(End of Chapter)
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