Chapter 316 - 214: [Abyss]

Chapter 316: Chapter 214: [Abyss]

「Demon Suppression Gate」

What greeted his eyes was a great city of steel. Yu Fei had seen information on the Abyss and the Demon Suppression Gate in his general studies class.

The Border-Realms varied in size, and the Abyss was among the top five. This was also the main battlefield where humanity fought the Yuan-Demon race.

The Abyss was vast, its area larger than the mother planet’s. The average level of heaven-and-earth primordial energy was 12, with some regions reaching as high as 20, far surpassing the environment of the mother planet.

Various resource sites were widespread here, primarily minerals. Among them, Red Sulfur Powder—the main material for super-powered bullets—was available in vast reserves in the Abyss.

In addition, large areas in the Abyss had been developed for cultivation, all of which grew extraordinary crops, making it a crucial Border-Realm that humanity could not afford to abandon.

The Demon Suppression Gate was a fortress built by humans in ancient times. It had long since vanished during the turmoil of eight hundred years ago, and now only the name remained.

Now, this great city of steel primarily served as a hub for logistics and transport, with its administration under the control of the Seven Greats.

"Form up!"

At a signal from Yu Fei, Mr. Jiang gave the order. The members of the Yulin Army formed three columns, their uniform standard-issue gear and high morale drawing glances from the passing Martial Artists.

On the other side, Gao Shou and Li Jueyin had also gathered with their respective classes. But looking at their own messy squads, dressed in a hodgepodge of outfits, they lacked any of the Yulin Army’s imposing presence.

Gao Shou couldn’t help but sigh. "So damn rich!"

Lin Zihao looked at Gao Shou resentfully. "Boss, you’ve got to step it up!"

Gao Shou turned his head, pretending not to hear. ’What can I do? I’m desperate, too!’

An officer was already waiting for Yu Fei and the others. They were told they would be tempering themselves on the front lines, but they wouldn’t be thrown directly onto the battlefield.

Every year, the newly enrolled prodigies would pass through the Demon Suppression Gate and undergo some training behind the front lines. There, they would learn about the characteristics of the Yuan-Demon race and the necessary precautions for the Abyss.

Afterward, under the guidance of second-year students, they would head to the front-line battlefield for a trial by blood and fire.

This internship period with the second-year senior students would typically last about a month and be conducted in several phases.

The content included killing enemies on the battlefield, exploring the otherworld, and so on.

After that, Yu Fei’s group would be formed into an independent unit, taking on battlefield missions to kill enemies and earn merit points.

This life would continue for four years until they lost the school’s protection. Then they would either choose to form their own independent corps, join an already famous legion, grow stronger, and slay the alien races.

"This is our connection point to the Border-Realm!"

Yu Fei looked where the officer was pointing. It was a mass of black fog over three thousand meters long and about a hundred meters high.

The black fog roiled, emitting a heart-pounding aura.

Yu Fei saw people periodically emerging from it, pulling huge flatbed carts about ten meters long. Large machines waiting nearby would then take the carts, which were laden with supplies.

These people wore yellow clothes. They were burly, with bulging muscles, and looked immensely powerful.

"They are specialized personnel unique to each Border-Realm connection point. We call them Cross-Border Transport Envoys!"

Jiang Nianwei asked curiously, "Cross-Border Transport Envoys? That name sounds so grand!"

The officer beside them smiled and explained, "They’re basically just porters. The Border-Realms operate under different laws than our mother planet. Our mechanical equipment stops working after entering, turning into useless chunks of metal.

"Therefore, in the Border-Realms, there’s a different system of powered equipment, and this profession was born to handle the logistics."

Jiang Nianwei calculated in her head and suddenly asked, "How many human Martial Artists are in the Abyss?"

"About ten million!"

"Ten million? Just relying on manual transport probably isn’t enough to meet the supply demand for that many people, is it?"

The officer pointed at the black fog. "Actually, the resource zones we’ve developed in the Abyss can already satisfy the need for basic supplies. Only a small portion of goods needs to be transported back and forth.

"Besides, these porters are mostly only at the third realm. In a real emergency, high-level Martial Artists will also participate in transport. If the war effort becomes truly desperate, even Grandmasters and Martial Saints will help move supplies.

"Think about it, for Martial Artists of that caliber, once they activate their domain, moving a few supplies is child’s play."

Jiang Nianwei nodded. Part of her thinking hadn’t shifted yet. The productive capacity of a Martial Artist was on a completely different level from that of an ordinary person. The conditions of a supernatural world were difficult to measure with an ordinary person’s mindset.

But in terms of efficiency, a Martial Artist was dozens of times more effective than a machine.

The guide officer continued, "In a moment, you’ll enter the black fog directly. Just follow your instincts and walk. You’ll reach the Abyss in three to five minutes. It’s the same on the way back."

"Won’t we get lost?"

"No. This black fog is very strange. Once you enter, you will reach the other side in ten minutes at the most, even if you just stand still. Walking speeds up the process, but we still haven’t figured out the principle behind it!"

The officer sighed. "You will lose all your senses in the black fog, but don’t panic. That’s normal!"

Yu Fei turned to the unfamiliar captain and gave a military salute. "Thank you. We’ll be heading out now!"

"May your martial fortune prosper, and may you achieve swift victory!" the captain hurriedly returned the salute. This was a combat class leader from one of the Seven Great Celestial Pride Classes, a future big shot.

After approaching the black fog, Yu Fei first reached a hand into it but felt nothing unusual. He then took a step forward, his entire body entering the mist.

Instantly, he lost all his senses. Before him was only churning darkness. He couldn’t even see his own hands and feet and could only walk forward numbly, relying on instinct. It had to be said, this extreme sense of solitude was quite unsettling.

Before long, Yu Fei’s vision suddenly cleared. What he saw was a red sky and a ground covered in blackish-purple stone slabs.

He was now in a vast plaza, surrounded by a massive fortress. The architectural style was rough and imposing, built mostly from enormous bluish-gold materials.

Yu Fei’s gaze shifted, and he saw a few familiar faces. They were members of Feng Hua’s team.

He walked over. According to the rules, after entering the Abyss, the second-year senior students were to guide them through their adaptation period.

"Hey, isn’t that Yu Fei? The terrifying freshman, the one who sent me flying with a single sword strike?"

Hengji shouted, slapping Bayan on the shoulder.

Bayan swatted her arm away in annoyance. "Just talk, don’t get all handsy! Your palms are huge, and those thick arms of yours are plenty strong. It hurts when you hit my shoulder!"

"Hmph!"

Hengji expressed her dissatisfaction by slapping Bayan two more times.

A helpless Bayan immediately shook off Hengji and walked toward Yu Fei.

"Hey there, friend! We’ve been waiting for you for a while! I’m Bayan, from the Salted Fish Class!"

Yu Fei had some impression of this man who called himself Bayan. He still remembered everyone he had faced in the last exercise.

"Hello! I’m Yu Fei, a freshman. I’ll be in your care, Senior."

"Hey, ’in my care?’ I wouldn’t dare! You’re a formidable guy. In the last exercise, you’re the one who took me out with one shot!"

"Is that so? Haha..."

"Your aim is deadly accurate..."

"Yu Fei! Remember me?"

As they spoke, the burly Hengji pushed her way over.

"Of course I remember. You were the first senior I fought head-on!"

Hengji had just come over when she was drawn to Yu Fei’s armor. She poked it curiously, then tapped it with her finger.

"Custom-made Profound Armor from Tiangong? The elite model?"

Yu Fei nodded. Just as Hengji was about to say something, she saw more and more members of the Yulin Army appearing in their armor. Jiang Nianwei had also followed them over, and Hengji immediately grabbed her and tapped on her armor as well.

Then she sighed in relief. "I was worried you were all wearing elite armor."

"Isn’t that a waste? With that kind of money, why buy Profound Armor? I know some seniors who specialize in making armor. It’s cheap and good quality. Want an introduction?"

Jiang Nianwei gave an awkward smile. "Maybe next time!"

Bayan also added gloomily, "We paid for half of your armor with our merit points."

Yu Fei was taken aback. "You mean...?"

"The merit points you earned in the exercise were covered by us three second-year classes, divided based on our combat losses!"

"Oh, is that how it is? Hahaha..."

"It’s fine. It just shows how skilled you are. Come on, let’s go to the camp. I’ll treat you to a drink!"