https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-501-Mindshaking-Hammer-Hollow-Seal/13039998/
Chapter 499: The Stage
Chapter 499: The Stage
Chen Bitong turned to Chen Chuan, gazing into his bright eyes, and slowly said, "The simplest way to prove oneself is through medication first."
As he spoke, both Chen Bitongs took out a tube.
It was a transparent glass tube, and the contents inside looked like scattered, crystalline particles with a greenish hue. However, with just a slight shake, they danced in the air, dazzlingly.
"This is Halt Powder. If you join the Pioneer Team, everyone will be issued one of these. This medication effectively biases a person towards the material aspect, but it will affect the spirit."
After taking this medicine, your senses will become dull, and for one to three hours, you won't be able to use your psychic powers. If you take too much, there will be many side effects, such as fatigue, listlessness, and a lack of mental vigor.
For ordinary fighters, this might mean a slight reduction in combat power, but it doesn't affect their survival. However, for Ink Mark Monsters, this is absolutely unacceptable.
As they are biased towards the spiritual realm, once restricted by such substances, they lose their ability to resist.
They will definitely resist vehemently."
As he spoke, the Chen Bitong who was talking to him opened the bottle, tilted his head back, and poured the powder down his throat. The newly emerged Chen Bitong froze, refusing to continue.
Chen Bitong said, "If you're unwilling to swallow it, then there's a problem."
As he spoke, the other Chen Bitong gave him a cold glance, his eyes turning icy cold, but they quickly disappeared.
"Relying on medication is just one method. But there's another way to avoid this situation most of the time."
Chen Bitong addressed Chen Chuan, "You're currently undergoing spiritual cultivation, so remember this: the simplest way to gather your beliefs and strengthen your Heart Jade is to focus on your own intentions.
When your Heart Jade becomes strong enough, unless you willingly allow it or give up, you won't be easily invaded or assimilated by Ink Mark Monsters.
A pure Heart Jade, that resolute and persistent power, can be felt by people. It's something Ink Mark Monsters can't achieve even if they invade your consciousness."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and nodded.
"And..."
Chen Bitong solemnly reminded him, "After discovering the problem, you must find a way to solve it. Over seventy percent of those invaded by Ink Markers cannot be saved. In such cases, especially in the wilderness, don't think about how to save them. You and your teammates can't afford that risk.
The invaded person knows all your and your teammates' information and plans. Even if you manage to expel the Ink Mark Monster in time, there's no guarantee that they won't undergo psychological changes. If you don't make a decision early, you'll only drag yourself down. Remember this, Captain Chen."
Chen Chuan responded solemnly, "Mr. Chen, I've noted that."
Chen Bitong nodded, "Now, I'll let you experience the difference between a normal person and one invaded by an Ink Mark Monster. Because they completely inherit the original person's physique and memory, and with spiritual enhancement, they naturally exhibit greater strength than before."
At this moment, Chen Chuan sensed something and turned to the side. Yu Lie walked out, wearing a defiant and arrogant smile.
Judging by the situation, he seemed to have completely mimicked the original person, as he wouldn't dare show that expression after being beaten by Chen Chuan.
Chen Bitong said, "You just fought him, and now the one standing before you is in a state of mimicry, invaded by an Ink Marker. Try to distinguish the difference between the two."
Chen Chuan raised his eyebrows and approached.
This Yu Lie seemed to have completely inherited the original person's temperament and style, and he likely didn't remember the previous fight, showing no hesitation in charging towards Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan's strategy remained the same as before—allowing his opponent to grab him first, then countering. However, he immediately felt a difference this time.
Yu Lie seemed to sense something. Despite being skilled in grappling strength, he avoided Chen Chuan, choosing to circle around instead of approaching.
Chen Chuan had to change his strategy and take the initiative to attack. The result was still predictable, as he knocked Yu Lie to the ground in less than half a minute.
But if asked about the difference between the two...
Chen Bitong said from the side, "Did you notice anything?"
Chen Chuan nodded affirmatively, "He always seemed to anticipate my combat intentions a step ahead."
Each time Chen Chuan made a move, his opponent seemed to predict his actions. After a few attempts, Chen Chuan abandoned his tactical strategy and relied on his superior strength and speed to defeat Yu Lie.
Chen Bitong explained, "Even if a fighter embarks on spiritual cultivation and gathers their intentions, they may still inadvertently reveal information.
Ink Mark Monsters, being entities that cling to the spirit, are especially sensitive to this. They can easily capture these cues, and with the fighter's experience and qualities, they can predict your next move."
To deal with such entities, aside from the method you just mentioned, it's crucial to strengthen your spiritual cultivation. When traversing fusion territories, a weak spirit can only handle defensive tasks from the rear. To gain strategic initiative, one must strike out and not merely defend.
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement with this idea, aligning with the fighter's philosophy. Defense is for protecting oneself while seeking opportunities to counterattack. Without counterattacking, one can only endure attacks and pose no threat to the enemy.
He pondered this, realizing that upon returning, his spiritual cultivation needed further enhancement.
Noticing his understanding, Chen Bitong chose not to elaborate further, saying, "Continue."
Chen Chuan nodded and followed.
For over half a month, he attended the training class daily, learning something new almost every day. These lessons might be applied in the next training session, enabling him to handle various complex situations.
He understood that this was likely the culmination of Chen Bitong's two decades of experience. However, imparting this knowledge to subordinates so swiftly seemed somewhat hasty.
During this period, anyone who couldn't keep up with the training pace was eliminated without mercy.
It was rare for someone like Chen Chuan, who had received guidance from the start and was still attending the class after nearly half a month, to not be eliminated.
Even the stationed defense personnel noticed his situation and forwarded some information to the Defense Department.
Advisor Pei also received these reports. After some thought, he contacted Liang ZHUANyuan via the interdimensional link and said, "Commissioner, it seems Chen Bitong values Captain Chen highly. This confirms our initial idea, but we're unsure how the higher-ups will arrange things for Chen Bitong going forward."
Commissioner Liang replied, "The previous matter hasn't been fully investigated. The higher-ups want Chen Bitong to continue his leave here, but some disagree, believing it's inappropriate for him to stay in Central City for too long."
Advisor Pei paused, "Is it... because of that incident?"
In a 16-19 book, there's no wrong version!
Commissioner Liang spoke sternly, "One thread pulls the whole body. The breach hasn't been sealed yet, and many things can't proceed according to the established process. So, we must act ahead of schedule."
"Isn't this a bit rushed?"
"Something was overlooked before. If it weren't so proactive, we might not have discovered it so quickly. Can we be sure there's only one? That could lead to unpredictable changes. If this matter goes smoothly, then everything will be fine. Otherwise, the original plan might not be executed smoothly."
Advisor Pei thought for a moment and said, "Should Captain Chen be informed about this?"
Commissioner Liang said, "Find a time to mention it to him. Given his rank, he should know about this, and it's appropriate for him to know. Moreover... it's hard to predict how things will turn out."
"I understand."
After ending the call, Advisor Pei's expression turned solemn. He glanced out the window, where numerous airships were docked at the mooring point.
Recently, more and more airships and ships had gathered in Central City in preparation for that event.
This situation was different because a breach had occurred, making unexpected changes highly likely.
However, he decided to leave these matters for the higher-ups to consider.
He turned, picked up the radio, and began transmitting the latest situation. After finishing, he sent a message to Chen Chuan via the secret channel, arranging a meeting at Chen Chuan's convenience.
Chen Chuan had just returned to the dormitory after the training class and received the message. After some thought, he decided to meet the next day, which happened to be a rest day.
He checked the date; it was already mid-March. Wei Chang'an and the others were supposed to arrive around this time, but a phone call revealed that the handling of some final tasks by the commission company was more complex than expected. Additionally, some extra commissions had been added due to personal connections, temporarily preventing their departure.
As for Luo Yuanxing and Feng Xiaoqi, they felt that since they were a team, it would be better to come to Central City together in April or May for mutual support.
Chen Chuan thought it was better to delay a little. His schedule was already packed, and it wouldn't be easy to accommodate so many people.
At that moment, he felt a heart jade in his spiritual world emitting a radiant glow.
Compared to before, the light was noticeably brighter.
Normally, spiritual cultivation progresses slowly at the beginning. However, the hammering technique he mastered was accompanied by Hong Fu's daily practice sessions.
The High Sky Jade Core fragment he had obtained earlier also greatly aided his cultivation, especially in terms of spiritual recovery. This allowed him to accelerate his cultivation significantly.
By now, the incense medicines provided by Xue Laoshi had gradually become less effective, indicating that he had adapted to his current cultivation and was ready to move on to the next stage.
So, he immediately contacted Xue Laoshi through the interdimensional link.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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