Chapter 429: The First Night
Chapter 429: The First Night
Tian Yu replied, "It's not just the brain; the brain is just the most likely candidate. It's the one that, once affected, can have the most unpredictable consequences. It could also be your other internal organs, your limbs, anywhere that has the potential to grow Altered Tissue. All those are possibilities."
She continued, "The three of you, have you seen your Vitality Indexes?"
Yuan Qiuyuan glanced at the number above and suddenly felt a bit annoyed. "Why is mine a 'two'? When was I infected? Is this some kind of joke?"
He turned to Qin Qingque, "Executor Qin, what's your index?"
Qin Qingque answered honestly, "Mine is five."
Tian Yu explained, "A normal Vitality Index hovers between one and ten. As long as it doesn't exceed thirty, there's no issue. Anything below ten is perfectly normal. Sometimes it might be high, sometimes low, generally forming a fluctuating curve. This is inevitable after entering the Convergence Zone, so don't worry too much about it. If a fighter's mental state is stable and their self-restraint is strong, then the index will be maintained at a very low value."
Chen Chuan tapped his Boundary Token and said, "You two, let's share our values so we can keep an eye on each other in the future."
The three of them exchanged contact information and set up a communication platform, allowing them to see each other's indexes anytime, anywhere.
Yuan Qiuyuan couldn't wait to check Chen Chuan's index and was surprised to see a clear 'zero'. "Is it that low...?"
He was well aware of the weight of Tian Yu's words. A stable mental state and strong self-restraint meant robust Essence Blood and Divine Normality—two formidable strengths for a Tier Three fighter.
He thought to himself, 'This captain has something going for him.'
Qin Qingque also saw the indexes of the two men, and a sense of urgency rose within her. In her opinion, it was only natural for Chen Chuan, as the captain, to have such a low index.
However, Yuan Qiuyuan, with his erratic behavior, had an even lower index, indicating that his strength far surpassed hers. She knew she had to work harder.
Tian Yu glanced at her watch, "It's getting late. You've just arrived at the base camp, and there are still some procedures to go through. I won't hold you up any longer. You can come back tomorrow to continue, and you can decide on the time. It can be in the morning or around this time."
Chen Chuan asked, "Teacher Tian Yu, you mentioned that someone will teach us a breathing technique to suppress our vitality. When will that be?"
Tian Yu replied, "Captain Chen, once you return, just apply for it as a team, and the instructor will arrange a time with you."
"Thank you," Chen Chuan said, standing up and turning to his two teammates. "Have you eaten? If not, let's go for a quick meal together."
Qin Qingque reported, "Captain, we haven't eaten yet."
Yuan Qiuyuan said, "You're the captain; you decide."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Then let's go together." He gestured to Tian Yu and then they left the screening hall.
When Chen Chuan had entered earlier, he had logged into the base camp's platform, but due to resource limitations, it didn't have as many functions as the one outside. He could only access some textual information and simple features.
As the captain, he had access to the profiles of his two teammates.
Yuan Qiuyuan was an exceptional talent from the local area, hailing from a fighting clan. He hadn't attended Wu Yi Academy but had grown up in his family's martial arts gym. He had even declined the local Wu Yi Academy's enrollment recommendation, relying on his own abilities and family support to become a Tier Three expert.
After achieving Tier Three status, he was transferred to Central City and granted citizenship. Anyone who could reach Tier Three in the local area must have come from a powerful family.
His other teammate, Qin Qingque, had a military background. She was a combat specialist trained at a military academy. Discovered at a young age for her extraordinary talents, she underwent rigorous military training, learning to use various cold and hot weapons and operate all kinds of military vehicles. Her parents likely held important positions in the military.
Whether intentionally or not, Chen Chuan noticed that both his teammates were transferred from outside Central City and had little connection to the various powers within the city.
When Officer Liang first assigned him his task, he had emphasized Chen Chuan's clean background. It seemed that the subordinates assigned to him shared this trait.
The three of them arrived at the restaurant, past the usual mealtime. However, there was a dedicated restaurant for those on external missions, offering both buffet and set menus with a wide variety of dishes and generous portions.
Yuan Qiuyuan eagerly picked up a plate of braised pork shoulder and took a bite, commenting, "Not bad, it's just like what we get in Central City."
Qin Qingque waited for Chen Chuan to make his selection before choosing her own. She explained, "The food here is grown in the mobile garage, and some are transported from the rear."
Yuan Qiuyuan said, "I heard about that. They say the land here can be cultivated but has some issues, so all the ingredients are brought in from the rear."
"Chen Chuan was aware that these privileges were only for officers and high-ranking officials at the base camp. Regular soldiers usually had to settle for nutrient gel, especially if it wasn't their day off."
But Chen Chuan didn't mind either way. As a Fighter, he could consume the nutrient gel just as well.
Once they reached the dining table, Chen Chuan poured three cups of drinks and raised his cup, "From now on, we are a team. I hope you two will cooperate and support each other because we will rise and fall together, entrusting each other with our backs."
The other two also stood up.
Yuan Qiuyuan raised his cup and said, "Since you're the captain, we'll follow your lead. But Captain Chen, I'm a straightforward person, and I speak my mind. My words might not always be pleasant, so I hope you don't take offense."
Qin Qingque spoke seriously, "Captain, I will obey orders and fulfill my duties as a team member." Only then did she pick up her cup with both hands.
The three clinked their cups together, took a sip, and then sat down to eat.
After the meal, Chen Chuan took the two newcomers on a tour, officially welcoming them into his squad and providing them with brand-new uniforms and weapons.
As a Tier One Executor, Chen Chuan also received a matching ceremonial sword, not just for display but also a finely crafted weapon.
With each promotion from Tier One Executor and above, a different ceremonial sword was awarded, and the quality naturally improved with each tier. Currently, this sword was the lowest in both quality and grade, so it could only be considered a memento. He planned to find a box to store it in when he returned.
The base camp provided accommodations for the Tier Three Fighters, with each having their own private room with 24-hour electricity and hot water.
As the captain, Chen Chuan was also equipped with a telephone and a radio. Despite his lower rank, he was assigned an orderly to stand guard.
After a quick shower, Chen Chuan organized his belongings and reviewed the base camp's information. With some time to spare, he took out a tube of special medication.
He checked the label—16-19, Book 1, Version 1, no mistakes!
But here, the liquid inside seemed brighter, as if it were flowing with a rich vitality.
After a few glances, he unplugged the tube and drank its contents.
A while later, he heard strange noises in his ears, different from before. In the Central City, these sounds seemed to come from a distant, chaotic place. But now, they were clear and distinct, as if something was approaching from a perceivable direction.
Despite being inside the fortress, he saw large shadows passing over the walls and ceiling, and the floor beneath him seemed to undulate. Rustling sounds came from behind, as if something was creeping up on him.
At the same time, he checked the Boundary Token's Vital Index, which was rapidly rising above ten.
He calmly observed this and shifted his focus to his Second Self, causing the strange noises and movements to disappear. Everything returned to normal, and the Vital Index on the Boundary Token also dropped back to "zero."
He then entered a state of tranquil meditation.
Meanwhile, in the public phone booth, Yuan Qiuyuan was communicating with someone on the open ground, illuminated by searchlights in the snowy field. He glanced at the patrolling squad in the distance and spoke into the phone, "Impressions? They're not bad.
By the way, what's the background of our captain?
Is it an arrangement from above? You don't know either?
I understand, I won't ask further.
Alright, I get it. We can't take special medication here, but who would do that here anyway?
I'll just behave.
That's enough, less talk. You said resources are tight, and long-distance calls consume a lot. Don't you feel guilty? Hey, I'm not complaining about your chattiness... Okay, I understand. I got it. That's all, then..."
After ending the call, Yuan Qiuyuan hung up the phone and exhaled. He thought to himself, 'When did my sister become as nagging as my mother?'
Despite the late hour, the bright lights in the open ground and the falling snow kept him wide awake. It was his first day in a new place, and he was feeling excited.
After some thought, he returned to his room, grabbed a custom walking stick, and headed to the training room to release his energy.
In another dormitory, Qin Qingque changed into her training uniform and sat cross-legged on the floor, supporting her body with one finger on the ground and her other hand raised.
She appeared still, but her Altered Tissue was moving with each breath. Soon, sweat trickled down her forehead, but before it could reach the ground, it evaporated due to her rising body temperature.
As she controlled her energy, the Vital Index on the Boundary Token slowly decreased and stabilized at "one."
Thus, the first night at the Convergence Zone passed for the three individuals in their respective training and cultivation.
...
(End of Chapter)
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