Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

Lin Feng's command was like solid ice, quickly cooling the uproar and chaos within the Abyss Outpost Command Center caused by the appearance of Atlantis. All surviving detection robots retreated to their concealed positions near the exit of the Sky Well at top speed, entering a state of absolute silence, retaining only the bare minimum of passive monitoring functions.

But Lin Feng knew that the current situation had gone far beyond the scope of a research project. He needed higher-level decision-making and support.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately activated the highest level of quantum encrypted communication to directly contact Elder Chen. Once the communication was established, Lin Feng used the most concise and accurate language to report the key information, including "the Earth's core continent," "energy barrier," "humanoid life forms," ​​"high-efficiency energy weapon attacks," and "suspected symbols of Atlantis civilization," in a clear and organized manner.

"...Elder Chen, that's the basic situation. Our first contact with them ended with the destruction of our detection unit. They demonstrated a high level of organization, technological sophistication, and clear vigilance or hostility. The exploration of the Earth's core has now turned into a potential event of civilizational contact and conflict. The Houtu Energy Project must be suspended; the primary task now is to assess this suddenly appearing neighbor."

On the other end of the communication, there was a silence that lasted for nearly ten seconds, filled only with heavy breathing. Even though Old Chen had experienced many trials and tribulations and witnessed countless miracles created by Lin Feng, he was still shaken to his core by this earth-shattering news.

"Lin Feng... are you sure? Deep within the Earth... a complete ecosystem, and a highly advanced civilization? Atlantis?" Old Chen's voice was dry and filled with disbelief. "We've been searching for extraterrestrial life for so many years, and the first thing we've encountered... is actually inside the belly of our own planet?"

"The on-site footage, data, and marker comparisons—all the evidence points to this most improbable possibility," Lin Feng's voice remained steady. "Of course, final confirmation requires more information. But whoever they are, possessing energy weapons and the ability to survive underground is itself a huge variable and a potential threat."

"I understand!" Old Chen's voice suddenly became extremely serious, even carrying a hint of urgency. "Lin Feng, you did the right thing! Immediately seal off the Abyss Outpost! Everyone, level one confidentiality! Not a single word about the subterranean civilization can be leaked! I will report to Elder Li and the entire top leadership immediately! Until I contact you, maintain the status quo, focusing on the highest level of alert and defense, and absolutely avoid any further proactive contact or provocation!"

"yes!"

The communication ended. Lin Feng immediately issued a top-level gag order to all personnel at the Abyss Outpost, and the base entered a state of information isolation, cutting off all non-essential external communications.

Meanwhile, in the capital city, at the emergency command center.

Li and his colleagues, who had just concluded a meeting to assess the federal situation, were completely stunned by the news brought by Chen. The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; only Chen's heavy, urgent voice echoed. When he mentioned "Atlantis," "energy weapon attack," and "destroyed detection robots," the faces of every decision-maker present turned extremely grim.

"Is the information reliable?" a leader asked in a deep voice, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table.

"Lin Feng personally reported, and there is real-time video and data analysis to corroborate this. Although Atlantis is still speculation, the existence of an intelligent civilization with advanced technology in the Earth's core is a fact," Elder Chen stated confidently.

Old Li slowly removed his glasses, rubbed his temples, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. The impact of this news was no less than that of a zombie virus outbreak. No, it was even more so! The virus was man-made, and it came from an unknown civilization!

"Comrades," Old Li's voice broke the oppressive silence, "the situation has suddenly changed. Our Houtu Project has stirred up a hornet's nest that may have been dormant for tens of thousands of years."

He looked at his colleagues, his tone grave: "Regardless of whether the other side is Atlantis or not, a civilization capable of establishing a stable ecosystem on the edge of the Earth's core and possessing advanced energy weapons has considerable potential strength. Their attitude towards our surface civilization is the primary issue. Are they friend or foe, or indifferent? Was the attack just now excessive defense, a declaration of sovereignty, or even... the beginning of hostility?"

No one could answer immediately.

"We cannot entrust the safety of our civilization to the goodwill of others," Old Li continued, his thoughts becoming clearer. "We must act immediately, employing a multi-pronged approach!"

He looked at a high-ranking official: "First, immediately mobilize the entire nation—no, if necessary, secretly contact reliable scholars abroad—and gather all ancient texts, legends, and archaeological discoveries worldwide related to lost civilizations such as Atlantis, Mu, and Lemuria! Assemble the most outstanding historians, linguists, and semioticians to form a special deciphering team, and do everything in our power to find clues, attempt to interpret the meaning of that civilization's symbols, and understand their history, culture, technological characteristics, and even potential weaknesses! We need to know 'who' we are facing!"

"Secondly," he looked at Elder Chen and another high-ranking official, "the highest level of secrecy order for the Abyss Outpost and all related personnel must be strictly enforced! If this information is leaked, it will not only cause global panic, but may also give rise to unwarranted illusions or scheming by the three major federations or other remaining forces! Internal investigations must also be strengthened to ensure absolute security."

"Third," Elder Li turned his gaze to the military representative, "the Kunlun Heart area is immediately upgraded to the highest level of military control! Deploy the most elite troops and air defense and anti-missile forces! Prioritize the monitoring and strike capabilities of the Wukong space-based weapons in this area! The White Tiger Experimental Unit will secretly deploy its most elite squads to the Abyss Outpost, preparing for the worst! We must ensure that even if the enemy has the ability to leave the Earth's core and enter the surface, our doorstep must be impregnable!"

"Fourth, and most importantly," Old Li tapped his finger heavily on the table, "we must ascertain the other side's attitude as soon as possible! But we must be cautious; we cannot be as reckless as we were the first time. Comrade Lin Feng remains the frontline commander. Authorize him, under the premise of ensuring absolute safety and not further escalating the conflict, to attempt some extremely low-risk, non-contact signal probing. For example, releasing simple, universal mathematical or geometric signals through energy fluctuations at specific frequencies? Or, using surviving detection robots to conduct limited observations demonstrating harmless intentions from an absolutely safe distance?"

He looked at everyone: "The objective is to convey two messages: first, we have discovered them; second, we currently harbor no hostility, but we possess the capability to defend ourselves. We're testing their reaction—whether they continue to ignore us, issue warnings, or… whether communication is possible?"

"Fifth, resource mobilization," Li Lao added in conclusion. "While suspending the energy extraction portion of the post-earthworks project, related research and technological reserves cannot stop; on the contrary, they must be strengthened! In particular, research on defense technologies for extreme environments, energy countermeasure technologies, and possible underground or confined space combat tactics should be prioritized. The nation's relevant scientific research resources and industrial capacity should be tilted towards these directions. We must prepare for a war at the core of the earth, a war completely different from surface warfare."

The directives, clear, decisive, and covering multiple levels including intelligence, defense, scientific research, and diplomatic probing, quickly reached a consensus among top decision-makers. A sense of crisis and urgency replaced the initial shock.

A highly advanced, mysteriously motivated subterranean civilization poses a far greater potential threat than the three surface-level federations still scrambling for resources. Chinese civilization, having reached this point, will not allow an uncontrollable and powerful variable to emerge in its own backyard!

The orders were quickly transformed into encrypted radio waves and sent to all parts of the country.

The National Archives, major museums, and history and archaeology departments of top universities received urgent orders; elite fighter jets and the White Tiger armored squad began a secret maneuver southwestward; relevant laboratories at the Northwest Base were brightly lit, beginning targeted technological research; the Wukong space-based platform adjusted the orientation of some of its monitoring arrays…

At the Abyss Outpost, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Anti-aircraft missile positions were on standby, energy shield generators were preheating, and all personnel were fully armed and ready for battle.

Lin Feng stood in the reinforced command center, looking at the deep opening of the Tongtianjing on the screen, and the Xirang ship standing silently beside him, already loaded with defensive weapons, his eyes deep.

The dream of geocentric energy has been temporarily shelved.

A silent and dangerous game concerning the future relationship between two worlds and two civilizations has already begun.

China must seize the initiative in this sudden clash of civilizations.