The Water Marsh Training Base is still under construction, bustling with activity. Cadets are everywhere, and awakened individuals occasionally display feats of flying, walking on rooftops, breathing fire, or spitting water, though such sights no longer draw much surprise. Everyone has grown accustomed to it. Even ordinary cadets can now drag large trees with ease, and everyone feels themselves growing stronger each day. The feeling of becoming stronger is truly wonderful.
"Mouse, come help a bit. These training machines are surprisingly heavy," a voice called from afar.
The entrance to the secret realm had been relocated to the front of a mountain cliff. This cliff was exceptionally smooth and polished, as if it had been carved by a blade. Or perhaps not just as if; Sun Hao heard that during a training session, Instructor Black Blade had repeatedly swung his sword, his blade energy slashing through the air, incidentally shaving the cliff face. Instructor Black Blade was that formidable.
He ran over. The one calling him was an old acquaintance from his batch, "Luo Feiyu." Luo Ge wasn't in the same new recruit batch as him, but their induction dates were the same. Whenever this came up, Luo Ge would express envy and jealousy, finally sighing, "Kid, you've got the bearing of a prodigy."
Indeed, Sun Hao felt the same way. From the start of his training to his official induction, it had only taken him a few days. Compared to the 'veterans' from earlier batches, he was undoubtedly a heaven-blessed prodigy, ranking among the top few. Of course, now that he had just awakened, he still had to diligently move bricks. Earning contribution points was nothing to be ashamed of, and as a Torchbearer, it was everyone's duty to build the training base.
"Coming, coming. What are these machines?"
"They say they're the organization's latest testing equipment, being installed at Training Ground Four and Five." Luo Feiyu patted the dark, box-like object beside him. "This is a component of one of them. Don't let its size, about that of a 24-inch suitcase, fool you. It's incredibly heavy to lift, far beyond what you'd expect."
Luo Ge originally carried one in each hand, but he was struggling and had to rest, his face flushed red. Sun Hao hurried forward and picked one up. He exerted some force and found it indeed very heavy. He had to switch to carrying it in his arms.
"It really is too heavy. We're awakened individuals, after all, and those of the physique type at that." He examined the black box before him, but couldn't discern anything. "This is a component of a testing machine? What kind of testing machine? Like the punch force testers we used before?"
They were still using punch force testers. Their upper limit of endurance was very high; it was said that even a physique-type elder of the second awakening, unleashing their full power, could only cause the punch force target to tremble slightly, far from reaching the machine's resistance limit. But wasn't the punch force tester already installed, with many units at that? This equipment was mainly for testing how much one had improved. Nobody was constantly hitting the punch force tester all day.
"It's not a punch force tester." Luo Feiyu grinned. "As you know, punch force testers can only measure punch force, and at best, foot force. But they primarily measure only strength. Isn't strength enough? Don't we also have machines to test speed, reaction time, and physical agility?"
"We do, but don't forget our fellow brethren of the spiritual side." Those who awakened primarily by enhancing their spiritual power might not be much stronger physically than unawakened cadets. Many of them didn't even want to use the punch force tester. The reason was simple: "Our strength doesn't lie in physical power, so this tester doesn't showcase our abilities... neither does speed, nor dodging ability. This equipment suppresses us spiritual types!"
"And this new type of testing instrument, it's said, measures 'attack intensity.' Pure physical blows can be measured, weapon slashes can be measured, and even the use of awakened abilities and skills can be converted into specific numerical values. It's called an Ability Tester!"
"It primarily tests the extent to which awakened abilities and skills can reach when fully unleashed. It's even said to be able to detect auxiliary skills."
A young man dressed in an artistic fashion walked past and nodded, "That's right, that's right. Today, it's finally our mages' turn to rise... Damn, it's too heavy. Can someone help me carry it?"
Sun Hao...
They carried the components onto a small truck and followed it to Training Ground Four. Construction and installation were already underway with clanging noises. The person in charge was Long Junji from the forging department, directing a group of cadets in the installation. Sun Hao wanted to observe for a while and try his hand at it, but a mechanical prompt in his mind urged him to the next work area. It was still about transporting and installing training equipment.
"Do we need this many?"
"I heard a large batch of new recruits will arrive tomorrow, including awakened individuals from the civilian sector. They will also undergo cadet training and assessments." The well-informed Luo Feiyu said.
The cadets assisting them were astonished, "There are already awakened individuals?" They didn't envy awakened individuals outside; they only envied those like Sun Hao who had passed the assessment and joined the organization. But they were still surprised. Awakened individuals were rare outside; yet, they would undergo training and assessment alongside them.
"Our organization is truly remarkable."
"Wait, if awakened individuals are also cadets, won't the competition pressure be even greater?"
"Shit! Let's finish moving bricks and get to training." The cadets seemed to have been wound up like clockwork. Sun Hao sighed in relief. He had joined yesterday, and fortunately so. Otherwise, he would also be under immense pressure like the other cadets. But even so, relaxation was impossible. He had already joined and awakened, and would soon be assigned external missions. He would have to deal with bizarre creatures, fight cultists, and maintain the peace of the city, and even the world. He couldn't disgrace the Torchbearers. Time to train, time to train.
"Luo Ge, besides these testers, are there any other new training equipment?"
"Yes, this morning I saw over a dozen 'Training Mannequins' being brought out. And the commotion up north seems to be..."
When they reached the newly developed North District, the two of them were stunned. They vaguely remembered that yesterday this was still rugged mountainous terrain, with trees being felled and the land being leveled. But now... A massive, black, hemispherical building stood there. It occupied a vast area, larger than a stadium. The entire structure appeared completely sealed, like a colossal beast covered in black scales, lying dormant in the mountains. Sunlight glinted off its surface, reflecting brilliantly.
Sun Hao was speechless. He wasn't alone; many passing cadets and official Torchbearers were equally stunned.
"This area was just opened up yesterday, wasn't it?"
"Correction, when I passed by an hour ago, there was nothing here. I only heard that this area was temporarily closed off. When I came back, it was like this."
"Hiss—" To build such a magnificent structure overnight, or rather, in such a short time, what kind of method was this? They were shocked. They were fervent.
Gradually, some people noticed the words 'Gravity Field' inscribed on a stone tablet in front of the partially open gate of the black building.
"Gravity Field?"
"Could this be that legendary gravity training ground?" They were familiar with this concept, seen in many movies, anime, and novels. Training in an environment with several times the normal gravity could rapidly improve physical fitness. "Instructors, we want to undergo super-gravity training too!"
Some cadets cautiously stepped forward, but their cadet phones quickly chimed with a notification: "Cadet No. #1268, detected that you are not yet an awakened individual and your physique value is low. Entry into the gravity field is not permitted."
Someone scanned the building with their cadet phone. *Beep.* Detailed information popped up. "A minimum of 2 units of physique is required for entry. Furthermore, using the gravity field requires spending contribution points, billed by the hour, and it's not cheap."
"This is reasonable. I heard that maintaining such a building requires a large amount of bizarre crystals."
"The construction costs are astronomical."
Despite their curiosity, many cadets were financially constrained. Contribution points couldn't be spent carelessly. They decided to observe others' experiences before making a selective purchase. Sun Hao and Luo Feiyu had more than enough contribution points and immediately went inside.
The interior space was naturally vast, divided into two functional areas—the public gravity zone and private training rooms. The private training rooms were on the right, offering extreme privacy; once the door was closed, nothing from outside could be seen or heard. The gravity multiplier could also be freely adjusted. This was a VIP area, so the price was naturally...
"Ahem, let's go check out the public gravity zone." The entire gravity area ascended in tiers, indicating progressively higher gravity multipliers. The lowest level was two times gravity.
Currently, there weren't many people in the gravity field. Sun Hao paid the entrance fee, did some warm-up exercises, and then stepped into the two-times gravity zone. Instantly, *Buzz—* an invisible pressure descended. It wasn't simply like carrying a heavy object; this pressure squeezed every inch of his body, even his internal organs. His face flushed red, his heart pounded like a drum, his fists clenched, and muscles bulged on his arms. He let out a low growl from his throat: "Ah—" He straightened his hunched back, but his legs felt as if they were sinking in mud. Every movement required several times the usual effort.
And this was only two times gravity! He was an awakened individual!
"Hoo~ Hoo~ Hoo~!" After a period of adaptation, Sun Hao's movements gradually became more natural, and he could begin to utilize the surrounding training equipment for physical exercise. Luo Feiyu was also doing the same. It was difficult and tiring, but smiles adorned their faces. "I just checked my physique; it actually increased by 0.1 units in such a short time!"
"With this gravity field, our physique can make rapid progress; it's no longer a dream."
"It's just that the cost is a bit high."
"We need to work harder to earn contribution points for the organization."
...
Meanwhile, in Huangdu, at the headquarters of the Investigation Bureau.
Investigators selected from the headquarters and some branch offices had already assembled and were standing by. A total of three hundred people. There were probationary investigators who had only received a period of training, as well as official Level Three, Level Two, and Level One investigators. And then there were awakened Special-Class Investigators. Bai Xue, Jiang Tingqiu, Wei Nian, Ke Yuan, and others were among them. They were led by Director Huang's deputy, the bespectacled Investigation Bureau expert, 'Sword Wielder' Yang Chang.