Chapter 605 - 598: Top Secret
Moscow, the capital city of Beisha Country.
This was Zhou Yuanjue’s first time visiting the bustling city.
The last time he came to Beisha Country, they had been wary of his power. Fearing that he might "lose control" and endanger Moscow’s safety, they had chosen to meet at the Beisha Country border. There, the Minister of Beisha Security, Li Zhu of the Four Pillars, had led the other three Pillars in a friendly spar and exchange with Zhou Yuanjue, which ultimately resulted in a partnership.
This time, however, the Beisha Security Department raised no objections to Zhou Yuanjue’s arrival in Moscow. After a detailed analysis of all related data on Zhou Yuanjue, they understood one thing completely: if Zhou Yuanjue harbored any ill will toward Moscow, no matter how hard they tried to stop him, they couldn’t prevent him from reaching—or even... destroying—the city.
Since they couldn’t resist, they might as well be gracious.
Soon, the plane carrying Zhou Yuanjue landed on the tarmac at the Beisha Security Department Headquarters. He was personally received by Gleb, the Minister of Beisha Security—a man with messy blond hair, a mountain-like stature, and the bearing of a lion.
"It’s been a long time."
Gleb extended a hand as large as a cattail fan toward Zhou Yuanjue.
"What, you want to test our strength?"
Zhou Yuanjue said with a smile, extending his own hand.
"I know I’m no match for you right now, but I’m still very interested in the legendary power of the King Level. Still, now isn’t the time for a test."
"As you requested, our people are all ready. They’re waiting for your grand arrival."
Gleb said with a booming laugh.
"That’s for the best. I’m not a fan of flashy welcoming ceremonies and pointless chatter. It’s just a waste of time, and right now, time is precious."
Zhou Yuanjue said with a nod.
"Is the situation really as serious as you described in the intelligence report?"
Gleb asked in a somber voice.
"I’m afraid it’s even more serious."
Zhou Yuanjue said softly, then turned his head slightly to look in a certain direction—toward the Starry Sky Country. "I have a faint, unsettling premonition. That’s why I need to finish things here as soon as possible and leave."
"By the way, have you had any insights from the data I gave you, the materials related to the Primordial Realm and the Reincarnation Technique? In this world, within Human Society, you are one of the few with the best chance of touching the threshold of that realm, purely from an individual cultivation standpoint. Our current power... it’s still too weak."
"I’ve been studying the data you gave me. I can even connect to the so-called ’Three Rivers Return Path.’ But in the end, it always feels like something is missing. Perhaps it’s a matter of timing."
Gleb shook his head.
Like the Chief Commissioner and Chen Qingmu, Gleb was able to become the Minister of the Beisha Security Department and was considered the strongest person in Beisha Country. His true power was already very close to breaking through that threshold, making him one of the few in the world who had a chance of reaching that realm in a short time.
"Timing, you say?"
Zhou Yuanjue shook his head. Such things truly required a certain amount of serendipity. There wasn’t much he could do to help with that.
"I, on the other hand, am very interested in what you mentioned in the intel," Zhou Yuanjue then asked. "You said that if I could successfully guide your Martial Artists through their advancement, you would give me a top-secret piece of intelligence?"
"Of course! But I won’t breathe a word of it now. Whether or not you get this information depends on your abilities."
Gleb said with a smile.
"You’ll see soon enough."
Zhou Yuanjue said, smiling.
Afterward, under Gleb’s guidance, he was led to a secret training room within the Beisha Security Department Headquarters.
Beisha Country had been somewhat conservative in its selection of personnel for the guidance, choosing about twenty people. However, just like Donghua’s selection, all twenty had reached their absolute limit below the level of Saint Awakening.
However, this guidance session was not as smooth as the one in Donghua. Two people ended up dying during the experiment.
Throughout the entire process, apart from the initial guidance, Zhou Yuanjue made no move to save them. He simply watched quietly as their willpower’s magnetic fields struggled in the turbulent currents, ultimately failing to hold on and disappearing completely into the field.
’This path is inherently one of life and death. For warriors who tread it with unwavering resolve, any act of salvation beyond the necessary guidance is a grave insult. Even if they were to break through because of it, it would become a Heart Demon they could never erase.’
He always stuck to his principles.
Gleb didn’t blame Zhou Yuanjue for this casualty rate in the slightest. On the contrary, he expressed his most sincere gratitude.
He, too, knew very well what kind of path this was.
* * *
WHIRRRR!!
A military transport plane belonging to the Beisha National Security Department was soaring through the skies above Siberia.
Zhou Yuanjue had fulfilled his promise, and now Gleb would fulfill his.
A top-secret piece of intelligence.
"So, can you tell me now? What is this top-secret intelligence you mentioned?" Zhou Yuanjue asked Gleb aboard the plane.
HUMMM!!
Gleb released his magnetic field, sealing them off from all surrounding perception.
"Have you ever heard of the ’Gate of Hell’ project?"
Gleb said softly.
"The ’Gate of Hell’ project?"
Zhou Yuanjue frowned at the words, thought for a moment, and said, "You mean the project by the superpower that was the predecessor to Beisha Country? The one that supposedly dug down to the entrance of Hell?"
It was said to be an incredibly massive project from the era of Beisha Country’s predecessor. At the time, the world was locked in a tense, bipolar confrontation between two superpowers, both engaged in a fierce arms and technology race.
In their efforts to surpass each other and become the world’s sole superpower, both nations launched countless initiatives. During this period, numerous scientific research projects that seem utterly absurd today were proposed and implemented. Some yielded considerable results, while others were shut down. And a few, because they were so bizarre and strange, were woven into various legends that circulated among the public.
The Gate of Hell project was one such case.
According to legend, Beisha Country’s predecessor drilled a massive borehole, hoping to uncover the secrets deep within the Earth’s core. But when they reached a depth of nearly ten thousand meters, sounds like human screams and wails reportedly came up from the borehole. After that, the project died a quiet death and vanished completely from public view.
Some said that Beisha Country had opened a gateway to Hell and was forced to terminate the project. No one knew the real truth.