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Chapter 442 The Efficacy of the Great Sun Burning Body Technique, the Foundation of the Illuminati
call--

Xu Hao suddenly opened his eyes, sat up in bed, his whole body drenched in cold sweat.

He was panting heavily, looking around in shock.

The familiar room, the familiar furnishings, even the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the bedside table was still there.

This is the VIP lounge of Midnight Forest Bar.

A deep, dull bass sound came from downstairs, each thud hitting the floor and causing the whole room to vibrate slightly.

The indistinct cheers from the crowd indicated that the outside world was still celebrating.

"It's a dream..."

He muttered to himself, his heart pounding in his chest.

But this dream felt too real.

Pain, fear, despair... every feeling is still imprinted on my nerves.

Xu Hao subconsciously touched his shoulder, where the muscles were firm and smooth, without any wounds.

Then I touched my neck and there were no marks from being pricked with a syringe.

My whole body ached, and my head was throbbing, as if I had just had a fierce fight and hadn't slept for three days and three nights.

However, these are minor issues.

Xu Hao grinned, revealing a smile of relief at surviving a close call:

"Damn, it's good to be alive!"

"It's a bit of a shame, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to team up with that pretty boy to fight monsters again..."

As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if something responded to him.

A message devoid of any emotion immediately surfaced in his mind.

[This Nightmare Trial has failed.]

[Evaluation: Commendable courage, but too reckless; shows basic teamwork skills, but needs further development.]

The next trial will begin in seven days. Please prepare accordingly and ensure you have plenty of energy; this is crucial for your success.

[Bonus Tip: A surprise awaits those who successfully complete the trial.]

Xu Hao's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open, remaining agape for a long time.

"God, I was just making a casual remark, and you actually took it seriously?"

....................................

Meanwhile, in the urban villages on the other side of the city.

Xiao Sa also sat up in bed in a cold sweat.

The room was dark, and he looked to the side by the dim light coming in from the window.

A curtain separated the small space, and behind the curtain came the mother's steady, soft snoring.

He quietly slipped off the bed, wearing only a pair of shorts, and stepped barefoot onto the cold cement floor.

He opened the creaking door and went outside.

The night breeze immediately swept over him, carrying the damp chill of the alley, making him shiver slightly.

His house was crammed together with the surrounding buildings, so that all he could see when he looked up was a sliver of sky.

Meanwhile, the city's CBD in the distance was ablaze with lights, neon signs flashing among the towering buildings.

Like a mirage suspended in the night sky, its prosperity seems unattainable.

He casually pulled a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, held the pack between his fingers for a long time before finally pouring out a cigarette and lighting it.

He took a deep drag, the pungent smell of the smoke making his throat tighten, but it also managed to calm his wildly beating heart.

The smoke dissipated in the night and was quickly dispersed by the night wind in the alley.

That nightmare... felt so real.

Every detail of the mental hospital environment, every heartbeat during the frantic run, and even the stench emanating from those monsters, is so vivid it seems unreal.

Fortunately, everything is over.

Xiao Sa breathed a sigh of relief, prepared to stub out his cigarette, and turned to go back inside.

Just then, it was as if a radio wave pierced through the deep night sky and arrived here.

Then, several lines of text appeared in my mind one after another.

[This Nightmare Trial has failed.]

[Evaluation: Meticulous and determined, adept at utilizing rules, but lacks direct combat skills. Survival relies primarily on external aids and cooperation; further improvement in personal qualities is needed.]

【………………】

His fingers, casually holding a cigarette, trembled slightly.

The ease on his face froze instantly, replaced by a solemn and thoughtful expression.

That was not a dream, but a real test from an unknown source!

"Seven days...be prepared..."

Looking at the information that clearly appeared in his mind, Xiao Sa took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

Although I don't know what this thing is.

But first, it can be confirmed that dying in a "nightmare" will not lead to death in reality.

Otherwise, I would be dead by now.

However, the pain of being injured and the despair of being on the verge of death were 100% real.

Even now, Xiao Sa can still recall the scene of that naive young man covered in blood, clinging tightly to the monster's leg to create an opportunity for himself.

Secondly, the word "trial" itself carries a connotation of selection.

The consequences of "failure" are currently unknown, but it is impossible to go without punishment forever.

The "surprise" mentioned last indicates that behind the risk, there is also some kind of reward.

Based on his experience from playing the game for a few days, Xiao Sa tried to analyze it.

Since we can't avoid it, we can only try to find a way to deal with it.

The assessment in the message was quite accurate; I do indeed lack the ability to engage in direct combat.

This was vividly demonstrated when facing the monsters in the mental hospital.

If there really is a next time, we must find a way to enhance our combat capabilities, at least to have some ability to protect ourselves.

At the same time, the suggestion to "ensure ample energy" is by no means a trivial statement.

"energy……"

Xiao Sa muttered to himself, suddenly remembering the "Great Sun Burning Body Technique" that the guild leader had taught him.

He has consistently practiced this exercise as a way to strengthen his body, and he feels that his eyesight, perception, and reaction time have become much sharper than before.

But I never imagined it would come in so handy one day.

It wasn't until that gloomy and terrifying mental hospital that the benefits of this technique truly became apparent.

On several occasions, he relied on his superhuman night vision to spot monsters hidden in the darkness in advance and narrowly avoid fatal attacks.

When faced with the eerie green light emanating from the lamp in the attending physician's hand, he relied on this technique to operate in his mind on its own, which helped him break free from the invisible restraints and created an opportunity for a counterattack.

"The president is right. If you keep practicing every day, you can indeed improve your physical and mental state."

He murmured casually.

At least now, when facing those terrifying and ferocious monsters, he is no longer as cowardly as he was when he was a thug, and he would think of hiding whenever he encountered danger.

Instead, they can calm down and figure out how to deal with the situation, and try to maneuver and fight back.

Even in the face of life and death, the fear in one's heart melts away completely, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

He actually dared to grab the crude weapon beside him and take the initiative to confront that incredibly powerful monster head-on.

He was completely transformed, even the timidity deep in his bones faded away.

Looking back now, even Xiao Sa himself finds it a bit unbelievable.

Without the foundation laid by this set of techniques, I probably wouldn't have been able to handle even the first few "patients," and I wouldn't have made it to the "attending physician" stage.

Thinking of this, Xiao Sa's thoughts seemed to become a little clearer, but he was plunged into an even greater fog.

What exactly is the person who planned this trial after?

Could it be that some unseen force is using these two as experimental subjects, secretly observing and testing them?

Or perhaps, it's just for fun...

He shook his head casually, clearing these chaotic thoughts from his mind.

The whole thing was too bizarre, far beyond his comprehension. Relying solely on his own wild guesses would likely lead him astray.

At that moment, a figure involuntarily appeared in Xiao Sa's mind.

That man, as dazzling as the sun.

The abilities the guild leader displayed had completely transcended the realm of mortals. The techniques he taught me were also perfectly suited to deal with this bizarre trial.

If there is anyone in this world who can explain all of this, that person can only be the president.

For the president, Xiao Sa's feelings had long surpassed simple awe and gratitude.

It was a kind of worship that bordered on faith, where the other person was regarded as the only source of light on one's life path.

Faced with such an incomprehensible event that could overturn his worldview, seeking guidance from the chairman was his only and most correct choice.

Thinking of this, all the confusion and fear instantly vanished.

Xiao Sa slammed the half-smoked cigarette butt against the wall, extinguishing the last embers.

He turned and looked at the dazzling lights in the distance, as if he had already seen the direction clearly.

We must contact the president as soon as possible and report this matter in detail.

....................................

The thick gray fog flowed slowly like water.

In the midst of a sea of ​​fog, stands a mental hospital that resembles an isolated island.

Inside this building with its mottled exterior, time seems to stand still at a certain moment.

The tall "attending physician" held a syringe filled with dark red liquid, his posture frozen in mid-air.

In the darkness, the "patients" and "nurses" drawn by the alarm also maintained their forward-rushing posture, forming a series of silent, terrifying reliefs.

Xu Hao and Xiao Sa's figures had long since vanished without a trace.

In the midst of this frozen, deathly silence, a soft golden light shone in the center of the corridor.

The light slowly unfolded, coalescing into a slender figure.

He was dressed in simple casual clothes, surrounded by a golden halo that pushed away the surrounding darkness.

"That was quite a fierce fight..."

Fang Cheng scanned the frozen scene before him, raising an eyebrow slightly.

As if in response to his slight emotional fluctuation, the entire space began to change silently.

The "attending physician" who was right next to them, along with the various monsters in the corridor, all had fine golden cracks appearing on their bodies at the same time.

Light shone through the cracks and quickly spread throughout the body.

There was no explosion, not even a sound.

Those monsters that had brought Xu Hao and Xiao Sa immense fear silently disintegrated, turning into countless golden specks of light flying across the sky.

Like burning ashes, they all vanished into the darkness.

Fang Cheng raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

"Snapped."

A crisp sound rang out, as if it were a command.

Outside the window, the thick, impenetrable gray fog instantly dissipated like the receding tide.

Then, the azure sky and a blazing sun were revealed behind it.

Golden sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the corridor and hallway, dispelling all the gloom and terror.

The once dilapidated mental hospital now appears sacred and serene under the sunlight.

Fang Cheng strode forward and passed through the doorway formed by sunlight.

The rotten wooden planks beneath his feet transformed into solid stone steps the moment he stepped on them.

A few steps later, one finds oneself standing in a bright and sunny courtyard.

He stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly upward, gazing at the plaque above the main gate that read "Dongdu Seventh Mental Hospital".

A look of keen interest appeared on his face, like a designer who had just finished a work and was examining his masterpiece.

The experiment on the arrival of consciousness through spiritual resonance was very successful.

Fang Cheng precisely summoned Xu Hao and Xiao Sa, who were located at opposite ends of the city, into his inner world.

And they were put through a nightmarish ordeal in the terrifying setting of a mental hospital.

Of course, this hospital does not exist in reality.

This place is located in a corner on the west side of the island.

Every room and every passageway was personally constructed by Fang Cheng based on several classic horror games he had played in his previous life.

Combined with the eerie and dark environment, as well as a series of psychological cues such as mirrors, alarms, and flashing lights, it creates a horror park that can 100% simulate real senses, including pain.

As for the most important level in this game, Fang Cheng also put a lot of thought into it.

From "patients" who create a sense of oppression through sheer numbers and bizarre postures, to "nurses" who possess the ability to mentally shock and test the use of rules, and finally to "attending physicians" who are the final bosses with comprehensive qualities far exceeding those of ordinary people.

Each monster has a unique design, and the difficulty of the challenge has been calculated accordingly.

He used Xu Hao's physical fitness as a benchmark.

Even the strongest "attending physician" is only about three times stronger than Xu Hao in terms of pure physical attributes.

To complete the game, you would probably only need three physically strong people like Xu Hao, plus one person with a slightly smarter brain.

Of course, the focus of this trial has never been on testing pure combat ability.

Intelligence, observation skills, the ability to analyze the environment and utilize the rules, and the willpower to remain calm in dire situations—these are the keys to passing the game.

After all, what Fang Cheng needs more than just thugs are core cadres who are intelligent, resilient, and capable of working independently.

This is a long-term trial program designed to hone their spirit and will, refine their combat skills, and ultimately achieve true growth through repeated life-or-death trials.

Judging from the results this time, it's not bad.

Xu Hao, that hothead, finally learned something after suffering a great loss and understood the importance of teamwork.

What truly impressed Fang Cheng was his dashing demeanor.

A lowly hoodlum manages to maintain composure when faced with terrors far beyond his comprehension, and even manages to use the rules to his advantage against the monster.

This kind of mindset is quite rare.

Through spiritual resonance, Fang Cheng was able to clearly sense a change.

After the trial ended, the halo surrounding the two of them, though still faint, was slightly more solid than before.

Projected onto the starry dome, the two stars representing their consciousness also quietly brightened a little.

The two underlings have seen a real increase in strength, which is naturally a good thing.

But what Fang Cheng cared about even more was that, after this practical verification, he finally identified an effective way to train his subordinates and help them quickly improve their abilities.

Once the Illuminati is formally established, this trial system can be fully implemented.

He could even design more trial scenarios with different styles, such as ancient tombs full of traps or dangerous wilderness, and regularly organize members to participate in such "training".

This can not only help identify truly talented and promising individuals, but also enhance the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the entire organization, and accelerate the formation of team strength.

This can be said to be the foundation of the Illuminati.

"Those long-established families, their so-called secret inheritance realms, are probably similar to this."

Fang Cheng thought to himself.

However, their secret realm is probably a real, small world.

As for my own inner world, I am not yet able to make the virtual into reality.

Fang Cheng scanned the entire island with his gaze.

The distant mountains and rivers are clearly visible under the sunlight, and even the ripples on the river surface shimmer vividly in the breeze.

But no matter how lifelike all of this may seem, it is ultimately just a creation condensed from the spirit.

Then, he looked up at the sun that always hung in the sky.

In the blazing sun, a golden pupil faintly appeared.

What exactly is the purpose of this eye?
Fang Cheng's doubts resurfaced.

After it had completely digested and absorbed the flesh and blood of the Crimson Eye, it appeared in its inner world in this form.

It seems to have merged with the essence of the true fire of the sun.

Currently, its only clear function seems to be strengthening the spiritual connection between itself and "believers," making it easier for itself to initiate "spiritual resonance."

But Fang Cheng always felt that the function of golden pupils should not be limited to this.

I recall the monsters in the Noah Building's inner world, those who were corrupted by the power of the Crimson Eye and became insane and deformed.

A vague thought flashed through my mind.

Fang Cheng shook his head, temporarily suppressing his deep thoughts.

I sensed that it was already very late in the real world.

I haven't exercised properly for a while, so I need to conserve my energy and get back into my morning exercise routine tomorrow.

Moreover, there is an important, long-awaited test in reality that I need to complete.

(End of this chapter)