King of the Wilderness

After completing this detailed and chilling introduction, he crouched down again and returned to the initial challenge.

"My current location is on the periphery of the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve’s experimental area, coordinates are... latitude 24 degrees 32 minutes north, longitude 101 degrees 19 minutes east, at an altitude of about 1850 meters."

Lin Yu’an pointed to a spot on the map, indicating his current location. Then his finger traced a blue line towards the northwest for a considerable distance, finally stopping at a location marked with a red star.

"My mission is to rely solely on the most primitive survival skills over the next ten days, starting from here and traveling northwest, ultimately reaching the final rendezvous point about thirty kilometers away—Shimen Gorge."

"That place serves as an important geographical landmark within this mountain range and is the only location in the rear support team’s area where a helicopter can safely land. Ten days later, they will be waiting for me there. If I exceed the time limit or press the SOS button midway, the challenge is deemed a failure."

He looked up, scanning his surroundings once more, and the camera panned over the canopy-covering primeval forest.

"This thirty-kilometer straight-line distance may not sound far, but in a place like Ailao Mountain, it means I need to traverse at least three ridges over 2,000 meters high, cross two deep river valleys, and countless areas shrouded in mist and the unknown."

"My challenge is not just about survival, but also about progress. I can’t establish a fixed, luxurious camp like in ’Alone in the Wilderness’ and wait for prey to come to me. I must keep moving every day, facing new environments and challenges daily."

He lowered his head again, looking directly at the camera, his gaze becoming blisteringly sharp.

"As you can see, I have none of the modern tools. No knife, no axe, not even a flint. All I have to rely on is the clothes on my back, my brain, my hands, and this forest that is as generous as it is filled with danger."

He stood up, carefully refolded the map, and put it back in his pocket.

"So, my first priority today has three parts." He held up three fingers at the camera, speaking with clarity and decisiveness, like a commander about to deliver a battle briefing.

"First, reconnaissance and site selection. I need to find an ideal campsite close to water, offering shelter and resources. This will be my base for primal accumulation over the next day or two."

"Second, the creation of tools. I need an appropriate flint to make the most primitive stone tools. Without tools, everything else is just talk."

"Third, and most crucial, embracing fire. I need to find a shelter that can shield me from wind and rain before dark, and start a fire. The nighttime cold and dampness could make it impossible for my challenge to make it past the first night if I can’t make fire."

Lin Yu’an smiled at the camera, full of confidence and a sense of challenge, "Alright, the plan is clear. So, let’s get to work."

Then, his demeanor changed instantly. His composure from the civilized world completely faded, replaced by an almost instinctive alertness and focus.

His eyes became as sharp as a hawk, no longer appreciating the scenery like a tourist, but scanning, analyzing, and integrating himself into the surroundings with purpose, taking his first steps in this primeval secret realm.

"My ultimate goal is progress. But before embarking on the long journey, I must first spend a day or even a day and a half establishing my technical advantage here."

He explained his strategy to the camera while carefully pushing aside large ferns blocking his way.

"I need to make tools, stockpile food and tinder. Only after accumulating these primal capitals can I have the courage to take on the challenge of that unknown thirty kilometers."

Instead of blindly walking downhill, he first climbed up a moss-covered boulder.

Standing high, the whole valley’s outline lay before him, but the sound of the wind and rustling trees drowned out everything; there wasn’t a hint of water sounds.

"Can’t hear it? No problem." He crouched down, pointing the camera at the slippery rocks at his feet and the surrounding vegetation, "Ailao Mountain will give us answers in other ways."

Lin Yu’an pointed at a patch of deep green moss on the rock, with a texture like velvet, "Look at the direction the moss grows; in the northern hemisphere, they usually prefer the shady, moist north slope."

"But this moss is equally lush on the south slope, indicating an extremely high overall humidity level here—hence, the water source must be at the bottom of the valley below."

Slowly descending the steepest side, his boots squished on the thick humus of fallen leaves, producing a muffled thud.

The footing felt soft yet filled with uncertainty; no one knew whether the thick layer of leaves concealed solid ground or a deadly pit.

The slope here approached sixty degrees, and he was almost half climbing, half sliding down, continuously grasping the thick roots and vine-like snakes around him to stabilize himself.

Sunshine was entirely blocked by the increasingly dense canopy, and the light quickly dimmed as if transitioning from day to dusk in an instant.

The air was thick with the rich scent of decaying leaves, moist soil, and various plant juices, seemingly capable of being wrung out.

The giant tree ferns stood like ancient beasts’ skeletons, their umbrella-like canopies suspended with hanging aerial roots, infusing the forest with an atmosphere of mystery, even eeriness.

Suddenly, as he reached for a seemingly robust vine, his movement froze abruptly! A Sixth Sense warning caused his pupils to constrict sharply in the dim light!