The training base of Xin Huo was remodeled from the former Shui Lan Resort. It may not have been established for long, but it was extraordinary.
So said Fu Feng, the strongest expert in the Shui Ze Prefecture Bureau, known as Mad Thunder Blade.
Initially, the Investigation Bureau was unaware of the connection between Pei Hongjing and Xin Huo, believing him to be an outstanding awakened individual from the civilian sector. They had sent investigators to invite him, but they couldn't even see him, getting lost in the mountain roads. That was when they didn't have an appointment, but this time, they did.
As the convoy approached the foot of the mountain, they saw people from Xin Huo waiting for them. They had communicated beforehand, and now, Xin Huo's base guards led the way in their vehicles, with the official cars of the investigation team following slowly.
There was only one road leading from the foot to the resort on the mountain, winding but without any forks. From below, they could still see some buildings in the mountains and the road stretching to the end.
However, as the vehicles slowly drove in, the white mist in the mountains gradually spread, enveloping them and obscuring the view on both sides. They could only see a few meters ahead.
The winding road, however, remained clear, with guideposts visible ahead.
These wondrous sights left the special-class investigators, who had experienced many mysterious events, utterly amazed.
Fu Feng observed the scenery outside the window. "Today we have a guide. Otherwise, according to the descriptions of our two investigators from the branch bureau, the entire road would be shrouded in white mist, making it impossible to see more than a few meters clearly."
"Even more miraculously, despite the poor visibility and endless circling in the white mist, preventing them from reaching the end, they wouldn't drive off the road and fall off a cliff. In fact, when the vehicle turned back, it would return to the foot of the mountain in no time."
"I couldn't understand it before, but seeing it today, knowing this is a Xin Huo base, it suddenly makes sense."
Because the white mist was so thick, the vehicles were not moving fast.
The investigators were not in a hurry. This was their first time on Xin Huo's territory, and everything around them was still new. They gazed at the dense white mist outside the window, which made the scene appear like a fairyland.
As they ventured deeper, they even noticed the mist outside the road churning, sometimes transforming into fierce beasts, other times into flying birds, a scene both dreamlike and mystical.
This visit was truly worthwhile!
"We've arrived!"
"This is Xin Huo's training base."
"Finally, we're about to get a glimpse of Xin Huo's true form."
Director Huang took a deep breath and was the first to step out of the official car.
This was the entrance to the resort. The words 'Shui Lan Resort' were originally displayed here, but now, the old gate had been dismantled and replaced by a more magnificent one, flanked by two giant stone tablets.
The words 'Xin Huo' were inscribed upon them.
The characters blazed like flames, seemingly igniting a passion in the hearts of the investigators.
However, they remembered to remain composed and not to tarnish the reputation of the Investigation Bureau.
In the reception hall, the discussions proceeded very smoothly. The Investigation Bureau had brought many gifts, and Xin Huo, in return, offered some special products, thus establishing a genuine trade relationship with the Investigation Bureau.
This included awakened weapons that the Investigation Bureau had previously purchased, such as swords and guns, as well as newer models.
Special shields!
Manufacturing shields was more challenging than weapons. Due to the unique nature of "Grave Evils," mere hardness and toughness were insufficient to withstand their claws and biting attacks.
The weapons produced in bulk by the research institute, although not as efficient in utilizing life energy as Xin Huo's products, were still qualified. However, the shields were a different story, at best being incomplete items.
If the special-class investigators could be equipped with such shields, it would often provide an additional means of survival.
This time, the Investigation Bureau ordered several types of weapons, one thousand of each!
This was an enormous quantity.
The number of awakened individuals was inherently limited, and transactions with Xin Huo were not simply a matter of money. Huang Hongtian understood that manufacturing awakened weapons required a great deal of materials.
Mysterious items and ghost crystals were both needed.
This time, they traded at a unit price of 'one mysterious material,' 'one ghost crystal,' and a sufficient amount of Huang Yuan.
There was another major transaction, no less important than the awakened weapons, and even more astonishing.
"This small bottle of potion can improve a person's physical fitness?"
"And it has no side effects," Pei Hongjing added. "Of course, the degree of improvement depends on the user's own physique. The effect will certainly be far less significant for awakened individuals than for ordinary people."
Even so, it was incredibly impressive!
Since it was provided by Xin Huo, Huang Hongtian had no doubts and immediately ordered one thousand bottles.
Of course, verification and detailed data collection would still be conducted upon their return.
These transactions alone made the trip worthwhile.
Pei Hongjing felt the same way.
This pricing was based on his mentor's guidance, similar to the original prices. He was unaware that with the addition of the forging workshop and medical room, not only had production efficiency significantly increased, but manufacturing costs had also been further reduced.
For instance, previously, a standard weapon required 'one mysterious material,' 'one ghost crystal,' and a certain amount of alloy.
Xin Huo primarily earned Huang Yuan.
However, this forging method was not perfectly efficient in terms of material utilization. With the forging workshop, an average of 'seven mysterious materials' and 'seven ghost crystals' could produce ten weapons.
In addition to Huang Yuan, Xin Huo could earn 30% of the materials, which was not too high. Ruthless capitalists earned 300%, but the investigators were a group fighting on the front lines, deserving of respect. Fang You did not intend to set the price too high.
This was sufficient.
There were plenty of other ways to make money.
Pei Hongjing was not privy to the inner workings, but this transaction allowed Xin Huo to establish some large-scale commodity trade with the Investigation Bureau.
This included the procurement of rare materials, minerals, and medicinal herbs. With the cooperation of the Investigation Bureau, the Huang Kingdom granted preferential treatment.
This was a win-win situation.
However, this was only the prelude. Director Huang was to have a face-to-face meeting with his mentor.
Pei Hongjing said, "Director Huang, please. My mentor is already waiting for you."
As Director Huang walked towards the small pavilion, Zhou Hai, Bai Xue, and other investigators were led by An Jianyou to tour Xin Huo's training base.
From afar, they could hear bursts of youthful shouts.
The Investigation Bureau also had its own training bases, primarily located in the prefectural capitals and at headquarters. All the investigators present had once been students and experienced that period of training.
Recalling it now, they couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
They were also curious and eager to see how Xin Huo's training methods differed from their own.
"Where is this...?"
The first place they arrived at was somewhat different from what they had imagined. It wasn't students training and sweating, but rather... everyone sitting in rows on the open ground.
It looked like a classroom.
Did Xin Huo also have cultural classes?
And was the teacher a cat?
"This is our Grave Evil Identification class, designed to help students learn to face Grave Evils, adapt to their roars in advance, and enhance their resistance to mental influence when encountering them," An Jianyou explained. "Look, it's about to begin."
Not far away, the depths beneath reality suddenly shifted. A Grave Evil, as if smelling something delicious, floated upwards. Suddenly, it seemed to leap out of the water, and the delicious scent became clearer.
The students couldn't see this scene.
Grave Evils were invisible to ordinary people.
But at this moment, a soft "dong dong dong" sound suddenly echoed in their ears, growing louder and faster, and their hearts seemed to beat along with it.
Fear surged within them.
Xu Tian, serving as a teaching assistant, said, "Stay calm! Remember, the most important thing when facing Grave Evils is to remain calm. Now, open your eyes wide."
"Master Cat God, it's your cue."
"Meow~"
Hei Tong replied lazily and cast a glance to the side.
Instantly, it was as if a water curtain rippled, and a curtain of concealment was torn open. A hunched, dark, and ferocious monster appeared before everyone.
It was incredibly clear, every strand of its fur visible.
It roared at them but seemed to be trapped in place, unable to move.
Teaching assistant Xu Tian, holding a ruler, walked closer and pointed at the Grave Evil. "The Grave Evil 'Knocker' typically stands between 0.9 to 1.1 meters tall. From its different builds, we can infer the approximate strength and mystical properties contained within this Grave Evil."
"Additionally, as you've already experienced, one of the hunting tactics of the Knocker is this knocking sound, which can induce resonance in the heart."
"Let's talk about other characteristics of the Knocker..."
Xu Tian went on to explain, detailing at least several hundred words, with immense precision.
The Knocker also had a detailed file within their Investigation Bureau. Because it was common and ordinary, the bureau had a lot of recorded information. However, compared to the content in Xin Huo's class, it was still lacking, too crude.
And this kind of direct confrontation with Grave Evils during a class truly provided an extraordinary experience for the students.
Having directly faced a Grave Evil, the class would normally be over.
However, it was not.
In a small building not far away, a Xin Huo awakened individual was manipulating a faceless statue, casting bait-like mysterious items, and was fishing.
Xu Tian paused for a moment and said, "Next, let us welcome today's second model, the Grave Evil 'Head Shaker'."
"Next is today's third model, the Grave Evil 'One-Eyed Ox'."
"Next is the fourth..."
"Next is the fifth..."
One Grave Evil after another appeared. Even though they were frozen in place, they still exuded a terrifying aura. The civilian staff in the Investigation Bureau team, who were not awakened individuals, turned pale.
Looking at the Xin Huo students, although their faces were also pale and they were swaying precariously, they were all gritting their teeth and holding on. Not a single one had collapsed.
This level of resistance was at least on par with their second-class investigators.
And here, they were merely students of Xin Huo.
Indeed, it was strict.
"Has this batch of students undergone many Grave Evil resistance training sessions?" Zhou Hai asked.
An Jianyou nodded. "This batch of students is not entirely new. They have been undergoing training for quite some time, about... five days."
The investigators: "???"