82: Soul liberation, mental strength surges

As three Protective Auras of different colors erupted, the remaining chains around Su Lei’s body shattered.

When he exited the dungeon, the corridor was filled with escorted researchers.

Chief Biologist Professor Zhou’s white lab coat was stained with dark red blood.

Security Chief Colonel Zheng’s face was bruised and swollen, and his left arm was twisted at an unnatural angle.

The once arrogant project leader hung his head, the electric shackles on his ankles dragging across the ground with a grating sound. Numerous technical personnel hurried past, pushing explosion-proof boxes filled with biological samples, the eerie blue liquid inside constantly churning, vaguely revealing grotesque biological limbs floating within.

As a large amount of data from the base was gradually declassified, the three Grandmasters also arrived at the archives, sitting around a holographic projection.

The heavy atmosphere almost solidified the air.

On the projection screen, fragmented combat footage played on a loop.

Su Lei’s figure transformed into a silver stream of light among the beast horde,

a slow-motion replay of a Bloodwing Roc being cut in half,

and a peak energy spectrum of a Nest Guardian at the moment of its evaporation… Elder Ye’s fingers trembled slightly, causing tiny ripples on the surface of the tea in his cup.

General Zhao Shanhe swallowed with difficulty.

They had already carefully studied the declassified experimental data, understanding the terror of each experimental subject.

However, the images before them completely overturned all their perceptions.

“This, this is impossible…”

“One person actually solved so many challenges by himself?”

“PX-3 and PX-2, he only used one strike?”

“Is this still the strength of a Fourth-Order Martial Master?”

Under the cold light of the holographic projection, the three looked at each other, the shock churning in their hearts unable to subside for a long time.

They asked themselves, if any one of them had been there, their fate would likely have been death in battle!

...One day later, Western Military Region Headquarters.

Outside the circular floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunset dyed the Gobi desert blood-red, and the strong wind, carrying sand, constantly beat against the bulletproof glass, making a faint rustling sound.

Su Lei stood in front of a holographic sand table with a diameter of five meters,

his gaze sweeping over the constantly flashing red dots on the Western terrain map.

Those marked the uncleared threat zones in the Death Desert.

A slight creak came from the leather armchair beside him as Elder Ye slowly sat down, wisps of hot steam rising from the celadon teacup in his hand.

“The situation here has been reported to headquarters, and the Federation’s high-ranking officials highly praise your performance this time.”

Su Lei seemed not to hear, his gaze still scanning the sand table.

Elder Ye paused, “General Zhao Shanhe will take over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Military Region.”

“You will remain in the Western Theater Command, assisting the military in completing the final exploration of the Death Desert, and ideally, locating Lin Xiaotian’s hidden stronghold.”

Su Lei turned his head, frowning, “Do you think he is still in the West?”

Elder Ye took a shallow sip of tea and nodded gently.

“Leaving aside whether the ‘coming catastrophe’ he spoke of is true or false…”

“At least, he values you greatly.”

Su Lei’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Elder Ye continued, “He has been operating in the West for so many years; it’s impossible for him to have only one research base. I suspect…”

“He has a true secret stronghold, and he might even be brewing a larger plan.”

Before he finished speaking, Elder Ye suddenly frowned, a hint of surprise flashing across his aged face.

He stared intently at Su Lei, as if re-examining a stranger.

“How do I feel… your Mental Energy has grown stronger again?”

Su Lei was silent for a moment, then nodded gently.

Since destroying the research base, the long-entangled obsession deep within his Sea of Consciousness had finally vanished.

And the residual Mental Energy core of experimental subject PX-1 had also been completely absorbed by him.

Now, his Mental Energy had long broken through its previous limits, even vaguely touching a higher-level Domain.

Su Lei withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “Let the military begin the search first.”

“I need a few days to fully adapt to the newly acquired power.”

Elder Ye gazed at him for a moment, a meaningful smile slowly spreading across his lips.

“Alright.”

“If you have any problems, feel free to come find us three old fellows anytime.”

Su Lei said no more, turning to leave… The alloy door of the training room silently closed behind him, isolating all external noise.

Su Lei stood in the center of the training room, slowly closing his eyes, his aura suddenly becoming calm and profound.

Instantly, like ripples caused by a giant stone thrown into a calm lake.

Invisible Mental Energy spread out from him in all directions, covering the entire military base.

The heartbeats, thought fluctuations of thousands of soldiers, the metal structures of their weapons and equipment, and even the movement trajectories of the food aroma molecules wafting from the cafeteria, were all meticulously scanned, clearly mapped in his mind.

The Mental Energy continued to expand outwards like a surging flood,

ten kilometers, fifteen kilometers… until it stopped at a range of eighty kilometers.

The tiny vibrations of sand scorpions crawling at the edge of the desert, the faint energy seeping from cracks in the rock layer 30 meters underground… every emotional change of every living being, every subtle flow of energy, was as clear as if it were happening right before his eyes.

Deep in the Western Desert, an anomalous spatial distortion point caught his attention.

Su Lei secretly noted the coordinates and began the next test.

With a thought, hundreds of soldiers who were patrolling, training, or resting simultaneously froze.

Their eyes became empty and lifeless, standing motionless like puppets on strings, their weapons held in their original positions, as if time had stopped at that moment.

And dozens of high-level Martial Masters within the base also instantly felt their thoughts slow, their bodies involuntarily stopping their movements.

Among them, five Fourth-Order Martial Masters barely resisted with powerful willpower, but after only three seconds, their minds went blank.

A sharp glint flashed in Su Lei’s eyes.

All those under control seemed to receive the same command,

raising their hands, turning, and lining up in unison, their movements precise and uniform, like a meticulously programmed mechanical army.

Mental power completely invaded their minds, making it easy to fabricate illusions and alter memories.

A Martial Master who was training mistakenly believed he was eating in the cafeteria, leisurely making gestures of picking up food and chewing, with a satisfied expression on his face.

After the test, Su Lei gently waved his hand.

The next moment, all those under control instantly returned to normal, resuming their original activities.

“Next… is telekinesis.”

Su Lei slowly raised his right hand,

Mental Energy gathered, forming a giant, invisible hand that gripped the ten-ton alloy force tester in front of him.

Instantly, the force tester emitted a piercing screech.

Its outer casing began to twist and deform, like crumpled waste paper, and cracks constantly appeared on its metal surface.

As his will tightened,

with a loud “boom,” the force tester instantly exploded.

Countless parts scattered like bullets, creating dents in the walls of the training room.

Immediately after, Su Lei’s eyes narrowed, and with a ripple-like fluctuation in the air, the telekinetic power transformed into the shape of a spear.

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