The golden figure on the scroll was not clearly depicted.
The entire painting appeared somewhat hasty, as if drawn in a rush. Yet, this very sketch presented features like a crimson sky, blood-red giant pupils, and a golden silhouette.
It was as if a great terror was about to engulf them.
This terror was faint, perhaps because the painting could not capture even a tenth of its true essence. Yet, this subtle, mere hint of dread, akin to being gazed upon by a blood-red giant eye, inexplicably caused the heart to pound.
However, before the blood-red giant pupils, a golden figure holding a scepter stood, blocking most of the terror.
"This silhouette..."
It, too, emanated golden light.
Even though it was merely a back view, Director Huang inexplicably felt that the golden figure was that very mentor of the Hearth! Just like that time, when the mentor had traversed thousands of miles, appearing above the gates of various haunted realms.
"Where did this painting come from? Has it been authenticated?"
Director Huang asked.
His deputy, Xiao Liu, replied, "The Lin'an City branch in Baichuan Province discovered this painting. An investigator found it by chance in an old mansion while eradicating a malevolent entity."
"Later, it was authenticated. This painting is not a haunted object, nor even a mystical item, yet it possesses unique qualities."
Director Huang spoke, "What about its age? Has its authenticity and specific era been determined?"
Xiao Liu nodded. "Yes, Director. The specific identity of the painter has not been ascertained; there is no artist's signature on the painting. However, the era of the painting… it is preliminarily judged to be from a dynasty a thousand years ago."
"I can take it for a more detailed authentication."
After speaking, Xiao Liu noticed Director Huang was even more astonished, staring intently at the golden figure in the painting. He was puzzled.
Director Huang waved his hand, and Xiao Liu tactfully withdrew.
The painting was not taken away for the moment.
Director Huang continued to gaze at it for a long while. "A thousand years ago, was it truly that Hearth mentor? That's unbelievable."
He was no longer entirely sure of his earlier guess.
He proceeded to search for more information and ordered someone to contact Director Tang, who was far away in a secret realm. After a while, he received a video call from Director Tang.
"I've seen the painting."
"It indeed possesses a divine quality, very much like a painter who, by chance, recorded that earth-shattering scene."
Director Tang had also seen that golden figure in the secret realm back then.
Merely emanating a faint golden halo could not represent much, but this painting was very likely a record of that great battle from years ago.
It implied that all their previous deductions would be overturned.
Malevolent entities had not just begun to appear in recent years, nor had their outbreak occurred months ago, but rather… they had appeared on Blue Star a thousand years ago, and a terrifying war had even erupted.
The mere trace of indescribable divine essence and terror left on this painting could hint at the horror of that ancient battle.
Perhaps the heavens and earth had fractured, a calamity more horrific than anything Blue Star had experienced so far.
"A thousand years ago, did you find anything?"
"The era is too distant. The limited existing literature only mentions that several brutal massacres occurred over a thousand years ago… but their veracity is hard to ascertain, and besides, in that era, there were famines and wars, death everywhere. We can only be sure that ancient times were not like the current pervasive presence of malevolent entities."
"Perhaps by spending more time, more specific details can be uncovered, but do not hold out too much hope."
Huang Hongtian said.
There was no concrete evidence; the only clue was a hasty painting. Yet, both he and Director Tang leaned towards the belief that a war had indeed occurred between humans and malevolent entities, or some other terrifying existence, in that era.
This seemed unscientific.
But this was the era of mystery, and they were not like those researchers who insisted on scientific explanations.
They trusted their intuition more than science.
"It was the Hearth!"
"A thousand years ago, the force that defended against the attack of malevolent entities and protected Blue Star was the Hearth!"
"This mysterious organization is indeed ancient, far more ancient than we imagined."
Director Huang exclaimed.
Even though he had suspected it, he was still astounded. The part that was visible was already a colossal entity, so what lay hidden beneath the surface?
Besides the battle depicted by the blood-red giant pupils, how many other secrets were unknown to them?
Huang Hongtian felt both awe and solemn reverence.
"No wonder the Hearth possesses more advanced equipment and potions than us. It's because they have been silently guarding and researching in unseen places for a long time."
"This is an ancient organization that has been passed down for a thousand years, or perhaps even longer."
"And that mysterious Hearth mentor..."
However, Director Tang held a different opinion regarding that mentor.
"Living for a thousand years is too exaggerated. I am more inclined to believe it is a form of succession. The golden figure in the painting is a Hearth mentor from a past generation."
"That possibility is indeed quite high," Huang Hongtian nodded.
Director Tang continued, "Besides this, what happened in that era was likely a localized event. Previously, malevolent entities were invading on a small scale, but now it is a full-blown outbreak… As the Hearth mentor said, the realm of ghosts is fully connecting with us, and the true disaster is imminent."
"It is also for this reason that the Hearth has begun to expand its organization and emerge from behind the scenes to cooperate with our Investigation Bureau."
Director Huang nodded.
"Another reason is that awakened individuals need to embrace the mysterious to improve. But in past eras, malevolent entities were certainly not always invading, and mystery was not always present."
"Without mystery, awakened individuals would also vanish with the passage of time."
"Mysterious organizations like the Hearth might have also endured difficult times, but they never stopped guarding, perhaps even remaining unknown."
Thinking this, he felt even more admiration.
They were heroes, yet they never stood in the spotlight.
But like the golden figure on the scroll, even if the world was devoid of light, they could ignite a torch with their own strength, dispelling darkness and gloom.
...
Yang Chang was unaware that his superior had formed new speculations about the Hearth.
However, as an important figure within the Investigation Bureau and an awakened individual with a high cultivation sequence, he was privy to many secrets.
The Hearth was undoubtedly an ancient and mysterious organization.
And it undoubtedly possessed more than just this training base.
Now, they were about to travel to other Hearth bases for their awakening!
It was not him who was awakening, but Yang Chang was permitted to accompany them, which filled him with excitement.
Their leader was still Base Instructor Fan Anyuan.
He looked at the eighty-eight trainees before him, a mix of investigators and talents cultivated within the Hearth base itself, and said:
"Before we depart, I must emphasize once more. The process of awakening is extremely dangerous. Failure to awaken could result in severe injury or death."
"The organization indeed has ways to increase the probability of awakening, but whether one awakens ultimately depends on the individual!"
"This awakening is not mandatory. Those who feel they are not sufficiently prepared may still withdraw."
These words were primarily directed at the Hearth trainees.
The exchange trainees from the Investigation Bureau who had passed the assessment were mostly Level Two and Level One investigators. They were already fully aware of the dangers of awakening. It was the newcomers, from ordinary backgrounds, who had undergone only a few days or weeks of training, who might be overcome by passion.
But naturally, no one withdrew.
The trainees were well aware of the benefits, treatment, and the changes in the world provided by the Hearth.
Pure idealism was not enough.
Pure desire for power was not enough.
Pure benefits and treatment might not be enough to remain resolute.
But when multiple conditions converged, and when situated within such a collective, the thought of retreating had long been cast aside.
They, too, wanted to become torchbearers in the night!
"Very good!"
Fan Anyuan smiled and waved his hand. "Board the aircraft now and depart!"
On the tarmac, the rotors of the helicopters began to spin with a whirring sound and slowly lifted into the air, quickly disappearing from the sight of the base trainees.
They watched with admiration.
"When they return, many will be awakened individuals by then."
"For the next assessment, I must pass!"
...
From the Water Marsh Base to an ancient village a hundred kilometers away from Lin'an City, it was neither close nor far.
For the trainees filled with anticipation, nervousness, and other emotions, the passage of time felt somewhat long.
It seemed like a very long time had passed, and the helicopters were still flying in the sky.
At this moment, Fan Anyuan spoke,
"We've arrived."
"Disembark here."
The helicopters did not land but hovered about ten meters above the ground.
The cabin door opened, revealing a lush green forest below, but a relatively flat clearing had already been prepared.
Rappelling ropes had been lowered from the doorway. Fan Anyuan and other official Hearth members pointed to the ropes and said, "Slide down. Although you haven't undergone training, your physique should allow you to rappel without issue. Even if you fall accidentally, it won't be a problem. I will be watching you from below; you won't die from the fall."
With that, Fan Anyuan jumped from the helicopter.
In mid-air, he lightly tapped his feet, and circles of invisible shockwaves spread outwards. His descending momentum immediately slowed, and he landed as if floating.
This was his awakened ability, 'Shockwave,' and he wielded it with considerable skill.
Other official Hearth members of Level One and Two also landed.
Then came the trainees.
It was likely a bit daunting, but backing down was not an option.
Like dumplings being dropped, the trainees descended one by one using the ropes. Some bumped and scraped themselves, but the injuries were minor, and no major accidents occurred.
However, looking at the lush forest before them, the trainees began to feel a sense of confusion.
This place did not look like a base.
Yang Chang felt the same.
Led by Fan Anyuan, the group of over a hundred people traversed the dense jungle.
The trees here were abundant, and despite being in a remote area, there was a strange absence of malevolent entities.
The forest was silent.
The trees ahead grew denser, their branches and roots blocking their path. The dappled sunlight was almost entirely obscured, and there were no signs of footprints indicating passage.
Just as Yang Chang thought they would need to cut through the vegetation, suddenly, the interwoven, dense branches parted, one by one.
It was as if hands, clasped together, were slowly pulling apart to the sides.
In the blink of an eye,
In the seemingly impassable thicket before them, a path wide enough for several people to walk abreast appeared.
However, Yang Chang stared at several large trees not far away, his eyes wide with disbelief.
These trees...
Were alive?!