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

On Old Li's desk lay Lin Feng's final report, codenamed "Knocking on the Door." A few words, accompanied by a fleeting replay of the attack, painted a picture of a cold, resolute, and hostile darkness.

The result of the test is undeniable, and there is no room for wishful thinking. The subterranean civilization responded to the goodwill extended by China in the most direct way—it was absolute rejection, even a warning with a destructive intent.

A top-level emergency meeting was convened again in the underground command center of Zhongnanhai. This time, the solemnity on the faces of the attendees was even greater. Lin Feng's report video was played, and the scene of the Sentinel robot being instantly vaporized sent a chill down the spines of every decision-maker.

"Comrades, we've all seen the results of the knocking operation," Old Li's voice broke the silence in the meeting room. "The other side not only refused to communicate, but also reacted swiftly, attacked precisely, and showed no mercy. This is no longer a simple matter of vigilance or excessive self-defense; it's more like... a cleanup procedure for intruders."

He surveyed the room, his gaze sharp: "We must face reality: there exists a civilization deep within the Earth, whose technological level is unknown, but in at least some areas far surpasses our surface-level capabilities, and who harbors clear hostility towards us. They live on the edge of the Earth's core and possess technologies for adapting to the subterranean environment that are beyond our comprehension. We have no intention of invading them, but the existence of the Tongtianjing (a type of underground passage) may already be seen as a thorn in their side."

A military leader interjected, "What's more serious is that if they have the ability to build a stable subterranean ecosystem, then do they also possess the technology to... come to the surface from the Earth's core? The Sky Well is the passageway that takes us down; could it... also become their passageway back up?"

This hypothesis sent a chill down everyone's spine. A hostile, technologically advanced civilization that could emerge from anywhere posed a far greater threat than the few federations on the surface still fighting over scraps.

"We cannot pin our hopes on the other side's mercy or by holding onto the Earth's core," Elder Li stated firmly. "The Supreme Council has resolved: Effective immediately, China enters a state of deep-shield readiness against potential threats from the Earth's core!"

"First, the military is fully mobilized. The Kunlun Heart and surrounding area are upgraded to the highest-level military restricted zone, and a multi-layered, three-dimensional defense system is being constructed. The Wukong Space-based platform is on combat duty, locking onto abnormal energy activity in the airspace and underground of the area. The White Tiger Power Armored Forces are expanding their garrison at the Abyss Outpost and conducting targeted intensive training. All related bases and research institutes are being upgraded to the highest security level."

"Second, research is accelerating. We are concentrating our efforts on developing defensive technologies against high-energy particle/beam weapons, including energy shields, special wave-absorbing materials, and active jamming systems. We are strengthening the construction of a large-scale, high-precision monitoring network for crustal structure, seismic waves, and geomagnetic anomalies, attempting to establish an early warning capability for large-scale energy or matter movement towards the Earth's core. Geological and energy research related to post-earth engineering is being transferred to military applications to find potential weak points or defensive vulnerabilities in the Earth's core."

"Third, intelligence and information warfare. The Roots-Seeking Team continues its all-out effort to decipher any possible historical clues. Simultaneously, a special task force codenamed 'Listening' has been established to utilize all means to closely monitor any signs of unusual energy or technological activity globally, especially in the polar regions, the deep sea, and areas near major geological structures. We must assume that the enemy may have more than one entry point!"

Fourth, internal integration and mobilization. Without leaking core secrets, conduct a certain range of war preparedness education and industrial system adjustments to ensure that the country can quickly switch to wartime mode when needed.

The resolution was swiftly formulated and issued. The entire nation of China, like a sophisticated behemoth sensing a deadly threat, began to silently tense its muscles, adjust its posture, and cast its sharpest claws and most vigilant gaze upon the unfathomable darkness beneath its feet.

Resources are being redistributed covertly and efficiently. In the southwestern plateau, more air defense positions and energy monitoring stations are being established; in the laboratories of the northwest, defense tests against energy weapons are being conducted day and night; and in space, the Wukong platform, with some of its sensors acting like invisible tentacles, is scanning the Earth's magnetic and gravitational field anomalies more deeply.

Just as China was busily constructing its fortified defenses and preparing for battle—

On the other side of the Earth, at the edge of the sparsely populated Arctic ice cap, beneath a sea area covered by millennia-old ice and raging blizzards, strange movements are quietly taking place.

Beneath the thick ice, in the dark depths of the sea, a strange, eerie blue light suddenly shone from a deep seabed fissure previously concealed by geological activity. The light grew stronger, and the seawater was pushed aside by an invisible force field, forming a huge, waterless cavity.

Immediately afterwards, a shuttle-shaped warship, about ten meters long, with sleek lines, an hull of interwoven dark silver and deep blue hues, and complex energy patterns flowing across its surface, emerged silently from the crack like a ghost. It did not use traditional propulsion; instead, enveloped by a gentle yet powerful energy field, it easily broke through the ice above, hovering amidst the frigid Arctic winds and swirling snow.

The first one.

Then, a second, a third… a total of ten warships, identical in design and differing only in minor details, emerged from the ice one after another, like ten cold, metallic droplets, silently hovering above the vast white ice plain. Their gleam was restrained, almost blending into the gray sky and snow; advanced stealth technology made them virtually invisible to radar and conventional optical surveillance.

The Arctic, a pristine land relatively neglected by human activity, has become the stage for uninvited guests to quietly land.

The hatch of the lead warship slid open silently, and a warm breeze, distinctly different from the Arctic cold, carrying a faint scent of sulfur and metal, rushed out. A tall man, dressed in simple silver clothing and with brilliant blond hair, stepped onto the ice.

He took a deep breath of the icy air, his face revealing a complex mix of intoxication and感慨, as if returning to his homeland. He whispered in a language with peculiar syllables and ancient melodies: "The surface of Gaia...we have finally...returned."

Following closely behind him, a man with long, deep-sea indigo hair, wearing the same dark blue armor as the Earth Warriors but with more intricate and elaborate patterns, bowed and said, "Commander, all advance ships are in position. Next orders?"

The blond man known as the Grand Commander—Atlas, the current supreme military leader of Atlantis—scanned the endless ice plains before him, his gaze gradually becoming sharp and cold, as if piercing through time and space to see the flames of war and betrayal of ten thousand years ago.

"In its heyday, the civilization of Atlantis was at its zenith, its glory shining across the four seas. We explored the mysteries of the stars and mastered the power of nature." Atlas's voice was clear and deep in the cold wind, filled with a deep-seated hatred. "Yet, because we possessed such treasures, we were besieged by a coalition of land-based nations that envied and feared us! They dreaded our power and coveted our knowledge! A meticulously planned conspiracy triggered the collapse of the continental shelf, and a colossal tsunami swallowed our homeland..."

He clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging: "Our ancestors paid an unimaginable price to use the last energy of a meteorite from outer space to open a passage to the depths of the Earth's core, carrying the remnants of their civilization as they plunged into the edge of that scorching abyss. For millennia, we lived alongside lava, battled energy storms, and struggled to survive, finally deciphering the meteorite's secrets, mastering this power of the Earth's core, and rebuilding our new home, New Poseidon!"

He turned to the blue-haired general behind him—Chief Legion Commander Nereus: "Ten thousand years of dormancy, ten thousand years of accumulation, were not meant to hide underground forever! Now that we possess power, it's time to avenge our blood debts and reclaim everything that rightfully belongs to us!"

A fanatical light flashed in Nereus's eyes: "Great Ruler, your will is our mission! The surface world of Gaia has now been occupied by inferior descendants. They are ignorant, weak, and constantly fighting amongst themselves; they are no longer worthy of this land!"

Atlas nodded, his gaze sweeping southwards as if piercing the entire continent: "Indeed. It's time to end this chaotic era. This world needs only one voice, one will, one supreme civilization—that is my Atlantis!"

He raised his hand and pointed south: "Pass down the order! All advance units, activate stealth mode and disperse to infiltrate the major power areas of each continent. Primary objective: gather intelligence and assess the current technological level, military deployment, and social structure of surface civilizations. Second, locate and mark all potential power nodes that may threaten our race's return, especially... areas of energy anomalies."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Especially that force that dared to extend its tentacles to the edge of our sacred homeland, New Poseidon... They will be the first group we need to thoroughly purify after we return to the surface."

"For the glory of Atlantis!" Nereus bowed, his hand on his chest.

"For the glory of Atlantis!" A low, unified response could be faintly heard from the other warships.

The energy patterns on the surface of the ten warships flashed with a faint light, and then their figures quickly became blurred and transparent in the Arctic wind and snow, and finally disappeared completely, as if they had never existed.

Only the faint traces of melting left on the ice and the barely perceptible residual energy in the air testify to what had just happened.

The Arctic winds and snow continued to howl, obscuring all traces.