New Era, Year 3024.
Great Xia Country, Kyoto, First Martial Arts Research Center.
In a sealed room made of alloy, dim lights fall slowly, illuminating Lin Chen's face.
Lin Chen has a well-defined face, a slim build, and sits quietly in front of an iron table, a maturity on his young face that doesn't belong to someone his age.
In front of him, sits a young woman in uniform.
Her black wavy hair covers her delicate face partially, and her loose uniform cannot hide her graceful curves.
At this moment, she leans forward, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Lin Chen.
"You're saying that you have a special ability... to cross into another world?"
"And now... you want to use this ability to serve the country?"
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with your mind?"
The woman stretched out her fair right hand, pointing to her head.
Lin Chen remained calm, glancing inadvertently at his left arm.
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"The power system in that world is completely different from ours... they can harness a force called Spiritual Energy."
"The strong ones in that world are called Immortals... yes, the same kind of Immortals from mythological legends!"
The woman opposite was silent, wearing an expression that assumed Lin Chen was mentally unstable.
Lin Chen did not hesitate and spoke his mind.
"I know, it's hard to believe... but I assure you, this is true!"
"If our Great Xia Country could harness that kind of power, it would be a monumental breakthrough!"
"And now... I need your help."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, the woman said with interest:
"Oh? What help do you need?"
"I need nine I-3 Type Stamina Potions, one set of A-57 light combat gear, and a new energy pistol, preferably with a 17mm caliber, fully loaded." Lin Chen stated his demands.
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, the woman almost laughed in anger.
An I-3 Type Stamina Potion, which, when consumed by a martial master, can ensure a day of energetic performance, sells for twenty thousand Great Xia currency each.
The A-57 light combat gear is a latest research achievement of the Martial Arts Research Institute, valued at three hundred thousand Great Xia currency each.
Making these two requests at a first meeting was already a bit excessive.
The most outrageous was that the young man in front of her actually requested a new energy pistol with a 17mm caliber!
This item is strictly controlled for safety reasons!
Even a child could lethally shoot a martial master up close with this pistol, provided they can aim correctly.
Hmm, in the woman's eyes, Lin Chen's "made-up story" and the three conditions he put forward were akin to:
"I am Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and I am not dead... send money!"
"Believe me, I'm not lying to you! I really need these!" Lin Chen said, urgent in his tone as he glanced at the countdown on his arm.
After hearing Lin Chen's story, the woman was already somewhat impatient, waving her hand, she said:
"Lin Chen, if I'm not mistaken, you haven't turned eighteen yet, have you?"
"Right now, what you should be most concerned about is the national martial artist exam in six months, not telling me your fantasies... got it?"
Lin Chen glanced again at the countdown on his arm.
57 minutes and 46 seconds.
He must convince the woman in front of him within 57 minutes to get the three things he needed.
Lin Chen took out a file from his backpack and handed it over.
"In fact, I was already accepted into Kyoto Academy's 'Sequence Plan' a month ago."
"My current strength has already reached the standard of a Ninth-Level Martial Disciple... and my academic scores have consistently topped Kyoto Middle School."
"If you don't believe me, you can check my file."
The woman, half-trusting, took the file.
After flipping through it for a moment, her previously relaxed demeanor gradually turned serious.
There wasn't much information in the file, but it was as weighty as a mountain.
Name: Lin Chen
Potential Rating: SS
Potential Evaluation: Just seventeen years old, basic strength 490kg, running speed 18m/s, Qi and Blood Value 9.5, meeting the Ninth-Level Martial Disciple standard. Full marks in academic subjects, full marks in demon beast knowledge assessment. Meeting the 'Sequence Plan' criteria, exempt from national martial artist examination, pre-admission granted.
Sequence Ranking: 589th
The bright official stamp on the file signified that this file was issued by Great Xia's government itself.
"Sorry, I need to verify the authenticity of this file first..."
A look of doubt flashed on the woman's face as she verified the file's authenticity on the computer in front of her.
A moment later, she looked astonished.
"It's… actually true?"
She repeatedly compared the youth before her and the photo on the computer, still finding it hard to believe.
The Sequence Plan, also known as the Deification Plan!
Is a top-secret plan jointly launched by Great Xia Country and the Human Race Alliance over the past century.
Its purpose is singular—
To create gods!
To cultivate new Martial Gods for humanity!
Across the entire Great Xia Country, with nearly ten billion people, only ten geniuses are selected each year, qualified to join the Sequence Plan.
And Lin Chen, standing before her, was one of them.
If she weren't the youngest deputy director in the research institute's history, perhaps she wouldn't even be qualified to know about this plan.
If Lin Chen were just an ordinary youth, she would simply dismiss him as a lunatic.
But the Lin Chen in front of her is truly a prodigy of Great Xia Country, making it necessary to seriously consider what he just said.
The woman straightened up and said seriously:
"Let me reintroduce myself, my name is Wang Xinyu, Deputy Director of the First Martial Arts Research Institute."
"Lin Chen, are you sure you're not joking?"
"Do you really… have the ability to travel to a Cultivation World? Do you understand what your ability signifies?"
Wang Xinyu posed several questions in succession, and her mindset was not calm at this moment.
Their planet, called Blue Star, values martial arts supremacy and power.
Individuals with great power can fly, soar, and move mountains...
However, the plight of the Human Race is not good, fraught with internal and external troubles.
Internally, there are domestic conflicts and traitors lurking...
Outside, there are powerful demon beasts and alien races rampaging, using the human race as food...
For thousands of years, the human race has struggled to survive in this situation.
In this era, the Great Xia Country and indeed the entire human race desperately need someone to stand up.
If what Lin Chen said is true, that he possesses the ability to traverse to the Cultivation World, the impact would be immeasurable.
This means they will be able to explore a brand-new world and access a completely new power system!
The entire Great Xia Country and even the entire world could be dramatically altered because of this...
Seeing Wang Xinyu's attitude change dramatically before him, Lin Chen replied seriously and confirmed:
"I'm sure, I'm not joking."
"Also, I don't have much time... In 47 minutes and 33 seconds, I will traverse to another world."
"However, I can't guarantee I'll survive..."
"47 minutes, huh?"
Wang Xinyu nodded slightly and took out her phone to make a call.
"Hello? Is this Secretary Liu? I need some things, please take note and have them delivered within half an hour."
"Nine I-3 type stamina potions, one set of A-57 lightweight combat outfit, a 17mm new energy pistol... And a Y-3 type nanoshield as well."
After hanging up, Wang Xinyu turned her gaze to Lin Chen.
"Student Lin Chen, before we verify the truth, I cannot represent the country to offer significant help to you..."
"However, I can personally believe in you for the time being and offer you some assistance."
"So, can you describe in detail this ability of yours... um, the ability to traverse to the Cultivation World?"
Lin Chen nodded slightly, and the reason he sought out Wang Xinyu was because he had investigated in advance and knew she had quite a bit of authority at the Martial Arts Research Institute.
He had planned a lot just to barely gain this opportunity to meet Wang Xinyu.
Therefore, he did not hide anything and said:
"I initially began to possess this ability a year ago... At that time, I was simply having a recurring strange dream!"
"In the dream, I could see that Cultivation World..."
"It wasn't until two weeks ago that a countdown appeared on my hand, visible only to me..."
Lin Chen raised his arm and glanced at the remaining time, 31 minutes and 19 seconds.
So he sped up his speech:
"The countdown totals 168 hours, which is exactly seven days."
"When the countdown reaches zero... My entire being along with my clothes will traverse to that Cultivation World."
"Afterwards, the countdown resets to 168 hours... Until I spend a full seven days in the Cultivation World, only then will I return to this world."
After hearing Lin Chen's words, Wang Xinyu frowned slightly and asked:
"Wait... If according to this explanation, there should be seven days left before your next traversal... why do you say there are only forty-something minutes left?"
Lin Chen was gratified that Wang Xinyu could spot this flaw, so he continued:
"Yes! This is also the second point I need to make..."
"When I am in that world... the world we are in is at a standstill!"
"Therefore, I suspect... that when I return to Blue Star, the Cultivation World is also at a standstill."
Wang Xinyu frowned again, thinking Lin Chen's explanation seemed too idealistic. She originally thought she would witness Lin Chen disappearing on the spot, traversing to another world.
But according to Lin Chen, she wouldn't even discern if Lin Chen had traversed.
So Wang Xinyu asked again:
"Then how can you prove what you're saying is true?"
Lin Chen shook his head and said:
"I cannot prove it at the moment. But 21 minutes later, you will naturally notice something unusual about me..."
"Of course, the premise is... after reaching the Cultivation World, I survive to traverse back."
After listening, Wang Xinyu thought for a moment and asked the key question.
"You mean... you're facing danger in that world?"
Lin Chen nodded.
"That's right, in that world, I encountered a group of Tribulation Cultivators on my way to join the Immortal Sect. You could understand them as... bandits."
"They possess roughly early-stage Qi Refining cultivation, equivalent to martial artists on Blue Star..."
"To survive them, I need weapons for self-defense."
"As long as I can survive them... I will be able to join a Cultivation Sect and prove everything I've said!"
As Lin Chen finished speaking, a bespectacled man entered the room with a box in his arms.
"Director Wang... the items you requested."
Wang Xinyu nodded slightly and pointed to the table, saying, "Secretary Liu, just place the items here."
After he left, she turned to Lin Chen and said:
"Student Lin Chen, according to what you said, in fifteen minutes I will be able to verify your claims?"
Lin Chen glanced at Secretary Liu and didn't speak.
Wang Xinyu motioned for Secretary Liu to leave first.
After he left, Lin Chen nodded and said, "Yes, to be precise, 13 minutes and 16 seconds."
"And wearing the A-57 lightweight combat outfit is complicated, from boots to suit, it requires at least three to four minutes..."
Wang Xinyu understood Lin Chen's point and indicated he could put on the combat outfit first.
Lin Chen didn't hesitate either, quickly stripping down to his shorts and T-shirt before starting to put on the lightweight combat gear.
The A-57 lightweight combat outfit, resistant to high temperatures, flames, and impacts, is a standard issue for soldiers on the battlefield.
Although it was his first time wearing combat gear, Lin Chen moved swiftly, not slower than martial artist soldiers on the battlefield.
Once he donned the combat gear, Lin Chen drank an I-3 type stamina potion and placed the remaining eight in the combat pocket against his body.
Feeling his physical strength peaking, Lin Chen took out a worn ancient robe from his backpack and draped it over himself, fully concealing the combat outfit.
With a mini nanoshield in his left hand and a 17mm kinetic energy pistol in his right, Lin Chen checked the magazine.
Sixteen bullets in total, fully loaded.
After chambering a round, Lin Chen glanced at the countdown on his arm.
1 minute and 03 seconds!
Lin Chen took a deep breath, trying to steady his breathing.
Seeing his tense expression, Wang Xinyu couldn't help but ask:
"So... in a minute, I'll know if what you say is true?"
Lin Chen nodded, eyes fixed on the countdown on his arm, silently counting in his heart:
"Three... two..."
"One!"
In the next second, Lin Chen's vision shifted...