Translator: CinderTL
"What's going on? Why are those military officers standing at the gate?"
"They must be waiting for someone. Look, their ranks are quite high."
"Not just that. Two of them aren't even military personnel, yet they're standing in the central position of honor. This is extraordinary."
The military camp in the suburbs had been stationed here for quite some time. A newly paved asphalt road stretched smoothly through the gate's checkpoint, separating the camp from the construction site, restaurants, and housing developments across the way.
It was lunchtime, and many people knew several high-ranking military officers were stationed here.
Suddenly, seeing those rarely seen camouflage uniforms gathered together, with a gray-haired old man in a black windbreaker flanked on either side, clearly waiting for an important figure's arrival, caused a stir.
On the roadside across from the military camp, both the workers finishing their meals and the restaurant and supermarket owners were buzzing with astonished speculation.
"I know who it is!"
Suddenly, a Man in Suit in the restaurant's corner brightened, as if a thought had struck him.
A friend beside him looked puzzled. Then the man explained, "I recently heard that Superhuman Group is planning a special collaboration project with the Military. A Director in charge will personally come to negotiate."
"Now that you mention it, I remember hearing something about that too."
"Of course. Only a Director from such a massive conglomerate could warrant this level of attention from the Military."
The discussion spread rapidly, and everyone nodded in understanding.
As if to confirm their speculation, a black business van separated from the flow of traffic on the asphalt road outside the military camp and drove directly to the entrance, where it came to a stop.
A bodyguard in a suit quickly exited the passenger seat and opened the door.
Immediately afterward, a long-haired woman wearing black sunglasses and a long white down coat stepped out, escorted by several Security Personnel and secretaries.
"Chairman Su, it seems General Zhang takes our collaboration very seriously, personally coming here to greet us."
"Indeed. Chairman Su is now a Director of the Group, her status is completely different. Moreover, this project is crucial for the Military. If the collaboration goes smoothly, they'll be grateful to us."
The secretaries and security personnel flanking Chairman Su, both male and female, exchanged glances, their faces betraying an air of reserve as they surveyed the seven or eight figures waiting at the military camp entrance.
Flanked by powerful Modified Humans and Cyborgs, the woman known as Chairman Su, wearing sunglasses, was somewhat puzzled by the Military's unusual attention. However, she didn't object. After all, the project involved special physical enhancement, and these senior officers were eager to climb the ranks, so their heightened interest was understandable.
Suddenly, the key point clicked into place.
Chairman Su, the female director, led the way toward the military camp gate, her security detail and assistant maintaining a composed, unhurried pace.
Tock, tock.
Their footsteps echoed, black boots clicking crisply on the concrete ground.
Yet the seven or eight figures in camouflage uniforms waiting in the distance remained motionless. Only a senior officer emerged alone with a small escort to greet them.
Chairman Su and her security detail exchanged surprised glances, their hearts filled with growing suspicion.
Finally, as they approached the military camp gate, the seven or eight figures moved in unison, following the two camouflage-clad elders in the lead.
Even more soldiers, armed and vigilant, appeared to provide additional security, just in case.
"Just as I thought."
The female Director's expression relaxed, her composure returning.
"General Zhang..."
She removed her sunglasses and spoke with her usual air of dignity.
But to her surprise, the man merely smiled and nodded politely, offering a brief greeting.
Without pausing, he brushed past them and continued forward.
Feeling puzzled, she and her Security Personnel turned to watch.
A black sedan slowly approached, pulling up beside their earlier business van.
A burly man in a black hoodie emerged from the front passenger seat and opened the rear door.
Thud!
A pair of leather shoes landed on the asphalt as a short-haired young man in a black trench coat stepped out.
In an instant, the female Director, surnamed Su, narrowed her eyes, and several figures across the road froze in shock.
"Councilor Chen!"
"Councilor Chen, thank you for coming in person!"
Warm greetings erupted one after another. The senior military officers, who had remained stern-faced just moments before in their camouflage uniforms, now wore broad smiles.
Their enthusiastic attitude was a stark contrast. The short-haired young man was soon surrounded and escorted into the military camp, once again brushing past them.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting."
"Not at all, Councilor Chen, please, this way."
A faint voice carried on the breeze, causing the Superhuman Group members' expressions to stiffen, their composure momentarily faltering.
All pretense of dignity and calm vanished as they recognized the young, resolute face.
The man was feared and suspected by Yun Port's largest super-corporations—a Pinnacle Realm Master rumored to possess Fifth-Tier peak strength.
"Our branch office hasn't been completed yet, so we're temporarily borrowing the military's facilities. We're deeply grateful for General Zhang's generous support in this matter."
"Furthermore, considering Grandmaster Chen's busy schedule, we've kept our research as streamlined as possible to save time."
Throughout the journey, Fang Mocuan took the initiative to lead the conversation, outlining the specific research arrangements.
Escorted by security personnel, the group of over a dozen people slowly walked along the wide roads within the military camp.
Looking left and right, they saw rows of brand-new dormitory buildings and steel encampments rising from the ground, neatly arranged.
There were also shooting ranges and training grounds, with square red-gray ceramic tiles covering the ground, seamlessly joined by hardened cement and asphalt roads, all spotlessly clean, without a trace of debris or litter.
Towering green trees thrived on the lawns flanking the road, their gnarled roots thick enough for two or three people to embrace. Soldiers in camouflage uniforms were also visible, and camouflaged jeeps slowly drove past.
Whenever they encountered a group of people, everyone would stop, salute crisply, and call out their greetings before moving on.
"Where is the testing location?" Chen Feng nodded in response to a salute from a squad of soldiers, then turned his gaze away and asked.
"Near the Training Ground," Fang Mocuan explained with a smile. "Today's tests will focus on three areas: strength, nerve reaction speed, and martial arts defense. Since we all know Grandmaster Chen's extraordinary abilities, I'd rather avoid having to compensate General Zhang afterward." He deliberately made a lighthearted remark to lighten the mood.
Everyone chuckled, understanding that he was concerned about Chen Feng destroying the indoor testing facility.
"I understand," Chen Feng replied with a slight nod. The group continued walking for about ten minutes, arriving near the Training Ground.
Before them lay a vast, open space. Mostly covered in lush green grass, it also featured reinforced concrete areas.
The area was riddled with craters and piles of sandbags, suggesting it had once been used for bombing and shooting practice.
Green wire mesh fences lined both sides of the Training Ground, while further away, training equipment such as rubber tracks, painted green wooden structures, and massive tires were scattered about.
Perhaps due to prior arrangements, the area was sparsely populated.
Aside from dozens of soldiers in camouflage uniforms guarding the perimeter near the wire mesh fences and activating Force Field barriers, only a dozen or so figures moved back and forth across an open space on the Training Ground's left side.
A temporary steel canopy had been erected there, and neatly arranged beneath it were various black instruments, display screens, and specialized cables.
A quick scan with his Perception revealed that most of the people inside were experts from the Radiant Star Academy.
Without wasting time, Chen Feng and his group walked directly into the area and headed straight for the temporary site.
"What do you need me to do?" Chen Feng asked curtly, unwilling to dawdle.
Fang Mocuan nodded repeatedly and summoned a middle-aged man who was overseeing the research.
"Grandmaster Chen, we'll start with the first test: strength assessment," the man said. "We'll need you to go to the center of the Training Ground."
The other person said seriously, pointing to the center of the training ground.
There, a silver circular platform nearly ten meters in diameter stood, surrounded by arcs of blue light that flickered like they could transmit electromagnetic signals.
"Yes," Chen Feng nodded, accepting the wireless communicator the person offered.
Someone asked if he wanted to remove his coat, but he shook his head, indicating it wasn't necessary. Then, he stepped toward the open space in the center.
"Pinnacle Realm... How much do you think Grandmaster Chen's power ceiling will be?" one of the researchers couldn't help but ask. This was a standard that hadn't been established yet.
Everyone speculated, but soon a confident voice cut through the air.
"No more than 240 tons."
The young man with glasses stood before the equipment, a virtual projection hovering above him. A blue light reflected in his lenses.
"An ordinary Fifth-Tier Cyborg, at full power, can exert around 120 tons of force."
"Grandmaster Chen has a record of killing a powerful Fifth-Tier Modified Human. I believe 240 tons is his limit."
His tone was calm, his reasoning logical.
The expressions of those around him varied.
It was common knowledge that even a powerful Fifth-Tier Cyborg could only unleash a maximum of 200 tons of force.
But...
"Grandmaster Chen isn't an ordinary person. He's shattered Radiant Alloy more than once. Do you think he might break our equipment?"
"Impossible!"
Fang Wen, the bespectacled young man, spoke again, shaking his head firmly as he adjusted the device.
He admitted he'd been a bit impatient during his visit yesterday, but today he'd calmed down and was showing proper respect. After all, this was the force testing device he'd personally prepared and calibrated, capable of withstanding impacts of up to 300 tons. It was the utmost consideration and attention he could give.
No one contradicted him. Most present had experience testing Fifth-Tier Cyborg data in Yun Port.
Suppressing their lingering doubts, the group turned their attention to the empty space in the center of the training ground.
There, a figure in a black trench coat stood motionless at the center of a circular silver metal platform, arms hanging at his sides, eyes calm and serene.
"Grandmaster Chen, are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
The conversation in the communicator ended. Chen Feng immediately sensed a powerful surge of energy emanating from the metal platform beneath his feet.
In the blink of an eye, a blue light flashed, transforming into a spherical Force Field like a glass dome, completely enveloping the ten-meter area around him.
Additionally, a gray Titanium robot, resembling liquid metal, coalesced and solidified onto a metal circular plate not far in front of him.
"Grandmaster Chen, please strike the Titanium robot with three full-power punches."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
A resolute confirmation echoed through the communicator. Chen Feng's Perception allowed him to see the expressions of everyone in the temporary experimental facility: curiosity, anticipation, or calm. Even beyond the isolated green net, soldiers peered in from afar, their faces alight with curiosity.
"Three times... What a hassle," he thought.
With that thought, Chen Feng retracted his Perception, took a deep breath, and steeled himself.
The next moment, his chest swelled, and his blood surged through his veins like a rapidly pumping pipeline.
The eyes of everyone in the experiment narrowed. In the next instant, the energy readings on the virtual screen suddenly spiked dramatically.
Before they could fully react, a deafening BOOM erupted, shaking the entire Training Ground like an earthquake! The shockwave, like a raging storm, swept through the area.
(End of the Chapter)
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