11: I need to pretend... no, I need to go into the cave.

"System, I want to buy the space ring from the 99% off mall, and also the Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

【Ding!】

【Consumed 500 prestige value, purchase of space ring (10 cubic meters) successful!】

【Consumed 300 prestige value, purchase of Marrow Cleansing Pill (Perfect Quality) ×1 successful!】

【Current prestige value: 0 points】

Two items appeared in the System space (the System space can only store items from the System).

"Extract space ring."

Lin Fan thought to himself.

In the next moment, he felt a slight coolness on his left index finger.

A simple silver ring quietly appeared on his finger.

The style was simple and completely inconspicuous.

Lin Fan shifted his consciousness slightly.

Instantly, he "saw" the inside of the ring—a stable space about 2.15 meters in length, width, and height.

It was empty.

He tried to transfer the Marrow Cleansing Pill from the System space into it.

With a thought, the Medicinal Pill appeared in a corner of the ring.

He could store and retrieve things as he pleased!

"Good stuff..."

Lin Fan was secretly delighted.

With this, it would be much more convenient to carry supplies in the future.

Subsequently, he gave the System a command.

Consume the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

【Ding!】

【Consuming Perfect Quality Marrow Cleansing Pill...】

A gentle yet powerful heat current instantly surged through his entire body!

It was different from the warmth of the body tempering pill.

This heat current seemed as if it were alive, drilling into every inch of flesh, every bone, and deep into every meridian.

"Ugh..."

Lin Fan's body trembled slightly.

He felt that certain deep-seated Impurities within his body, which even the body tempering pill couldn't reach, were being slowly stripped away by this heat current.

From his pores, fine black oil seeped out.

It carried a faint fishy smell.

But soon, it was automatically dispersed by the Muscle Internal Energy, turning into nothingness.

This process lasted for about ten minutes.

The heat current gradually subsided.

Lin Fan opened his eyes and gently let out a breath.

His breath was long, and his eyes were even clearer.

【Marrow cleansing complete!】

【Internal Impurities removed by 37%!】

【Martial Dao talent slightly improved!】

【Blood Qi circulation efficiency +15%!】

【Physical Body affinity +10%!】

A series of prompts sounded.

Lin Fan clenched his fist.

There was no obvious increase in strength.

But he could feel that his body had become much more "transparent."

When circulating Blood Qi, it was smoother and more natural.

If it was a bumpy dirt road before, it was now a smooth asphalt road.

"The effect is not bad."

Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction.

Those 300 points were well spent!

...The subsequent tests were dull and uninteresting.

With Lin Fan's brilliant performance preceding them, everyone else's performance seemed lackluster.

Even Jiang Bei only managed to barely get an A-grade rating.

Compared to SSS, it was a world of difference.

When the test was about to end, Lin Fan took the initiative to find Lei Bao.

"Instructor Lei, can you help me contact Colonel Zhao?"

"I have something important to say to him."

Lei Bao stared at Lin Fan for two seconds.

"Looking for Colonel Zhao?"

He frowned slightly: "What is it? I can pass on the message."

Lin Fan shook his head, his tone calm yet firm: "This matter, I must say it in person."

Lei Bao was silent for a moment.

He could feel that the young man in front of him was serious.

And with the potential Lin Fan had shown today... he had the right.

"Follow me."

Lei Bao turned around and strode toward the depths of the base.

Lin Fan followed.

The two of them passed through several alloy doors that required fingerprint and iris verification.

The corridor grew deeper and deeper.

The atmosphere also became increasingly solemn.

On the walls on both sides hung some old photographs, all scenes of Martial Artists fighting with Exotic Beasts.

Blood and fire, life and death.

Lin Fan's gaze swept over them, his eyes narrowing slightly.

This was the reality of this world.

"We're here."

Lei Bao stopped in front of a heavy black metal door.

There were no markings on the door, only a small scanning device.

Lei Bao stepped forward to verify his identity.

"Click."

The door slid open to both sides, revealing a simple office inside.

Colonel Zhao was sitting behind the desk, reading a document.

Hearing the movement, he looked up, and when he saw Lin Fan, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Instructor Lei, Lin Fan. Have a seat."

He closed the document and pointed to the chair opposite him.

Lei Bao saluted and then stepped to the side.

Lin Fan sat down, his back straight.

"Is the test over?" Colonel Zhao asked.

"Just finished," Lei Bao replied, his tone complex. "Lin Fan's score... is SSS."

Colonel Zhao's finger lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Hell level?"

"Yes."

"Time?"

"Three minutes and seventeen seconds."

The office was quiet for a moment.

Colonel Zhao looked at Lin Fan, his gaze deep: "Three minutes and seventeen seconds, clearing Hell level."

"Lin Fan, you have surprised me once again."

Lin Fan smiled slightly:

"Colonel Zhao, I didn't come here today to report my results."

"Oh?"

Colonel Zhao leaned forward slightly:

"Then what is it?"

Lin Fan looked directly into his eyes, word by word:

"I am applying to enter the Catacombs for training."

The words fell.

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

Lei Bao suddenly turned his head to look at Lin Fan, his eyes looking at him like he was a madman!

The smile on Colonel Zhao's face also slowly faded.

"The Catacombs?"

He repeated those two words, his tone low:

"Do you know what kind of place the Catacombs are?"

"I know."

Lin Fan nodded: "A forbidden zone where Exotic Beasts run rampant, dangers lurk everywhere, and the mortality rate exceeds 30%."

"And you still want to go?"

"I want to go."

"Why?"

Lin Fan was silent for two seconds.

The truth was, he wanted to pull off a big flex and gather a wave of prestige value.

Of course, the truth certainly couldn't be said directly.

He had to process it a bit.

Just like replacing beautiful women and wealth with career and love.

"Because school training is too gentle."

"No matter how realistic the simulation pod is, it's still fake."

"I want to experience real life-and-death combat."

"I want to see what level my strength actually is on a real battlefield."

After a pause, he added:

"And..."

"I need resources."

"Real resources."

Colonel Zhao looked at him deeply.

He looked for a long time.

The clock in the office ticked.

Finally.

Colonel Zhao spoke:

"Catacombs training is no joke."

"Even I cannot casually approve a high school student to enter."

"I need a reason."

"A reason sufficient to convince me."

Lin Fan took a deep breath.

This time he understood that high-sounding words were useless.

He had to show his strength.

Sigh... I originally wanted to get along with you as a positive, ordinary high school student.

I didn't expect to get distrust in return.

I'm not hiding it anymore.

I'm going to flex!

"Colonel Zhao, don't you want a reason?"

"Then I'll give you a reason right now!"

The words fell.

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed!

Within his body, the Muscle Internal Energy quietly circulated!

Six Meridians Divine Sword—Shaoshang Sword!

Buzz!

At his fingertip, a wisp of invisible Sword Qi quietly condensed!

The air in the office seemed to be stirred by an invisible force!

Lei Bao's pupils shrank suddenly!

He felt a sharp edge that was sharp to the extreme!

Colonel Zhao suddenly stood up!

He stared fixedly at Lin Fan's fingertip!

There, the air was slightly distorted!

Although it didn't manifest.

But that sharp feeling unique to Sword Qi couldn't be faked!

"This is..."

Colonel Zhao's voice was dry:

"Sword Qi?"

【Ding! A slight display of skill is already at the limit of their cognition! prestige value +200!】

【Current prestige value: 200 points!】

Lin Fan nodded:

"Earth Rank Martial Skill, Six Meridians Divine Sword."

"What I have mastered is more than just this."

He withdrew the Sword Qi, his tone calm:

"But these Martial Skills need actual combat to be honed."

"They need the pressure of life and death to achieve a Breakthrough."

"In school... there is no such pressure, and here... there is none either!"

Colonel Zhao slowly sat down.

His fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop.

One, two, three... he was weighing it.

It wasn't that Lin Fan's strength hadn't moved him.

A long time later.

He looked up and looked at Lei Bao:

"Instructor Lei, what do you think?"

Lei Bao smiled bitterly:

"Colonel, according to the rules, high school students are absolutely not allowed to enter the Catacombs."

"But..."

He looked at Lin Fan:

"This kid's strength can no longer be measured as a high school student's."

"In the Hell level test just now, his reaction speed and combat awareness even exceeded many veterans."

Colonel Zhao nodded.

He looked at Lin Fan again:

"Are you sure you want to go?"

"Sure."

"Even if you might die?"

"The path of a Martial Artist is already full of life and death at every step."

Lin Fan's eyes were firm: "Besides, being afraid of death won't make one a powerhouse."

Of course, this sentence was pure bullshit.

He was definitely afraid of death.

But he believed he wouldn't die!

Colonel Zhao was silent.

He reopened the folder and flipped through Lin Fan's information.

Seventeen years old.

Both parents deceased.

Three years as Trash.

Awakening in a single day.

Shattering the Power-Testing Stele with a palm.

Hell level SSS.

He even knows an Earth Rank sword finger... such a talent.

Should he be protected and nurtured slowly,

or... let him out to experience the wind and rain?

"Good."

Colonel Zhao suddenly closed the folder and made a decision:

"I approve."

"But there are several conditions."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up:

"Please say them."

"First, you must join a squad; you cannot act alone."

"Second, you can only move in the outskirts of the safe zone; going deep is forbidden."

"Third, the period is seven days; once the time is up, you must return."

"Fourth..."

Colonel Zhao paused, his tone serious:

"If you encounter irresistible danger, survival is the first priority."

"Coming back alive is more important than anything."

Lin Fan nodded solemnly: "I understand."

There's a saying that a general in the field is not bound by the orders of his sovereign.

Regardless of anything, as long as he could enter the Catacombs, he would agree to these conditions first.

Colonel Zhao took out a silver badge from a drawer and handed it to Lin Fan.

The badge was engraved with a fortress, with crossed swords and sabers below.

"This is the Catacombs pass."

"By wearing it, you can enter the outskirts safe zone of Catacomb No. 3."

"Tomorrow morning, Instructor Lei will take you to report."

Lin Fan took the badge; it felt slightly heavy in his hand.

"Thank you, Colonel Zhao."

Colonel Zhao waved his hand:

"No need to thank me."

"Remember, the Catacombs are not a game."

"People are dying there every minute."

"Prepare well."

Lin Fan stood up, saluted, and then turned to leave.

The office door closed.

Lei Bao couldn't help but speak:

"Colonel, isn't this too risky?"

"He's only seventeen..."

Colonel Zhao looked toward the door, his gaze complex:

"Seventeen?"

"Lei Bao, what were you doing when you were seventeen?"

Lei Bao was stunned.

"I... I was training at the military academy."

"Yes."

Colonel Zhao said slowly:

"When we were seventeen, we were still training."

"And some people..."

"Are already prepared to face life and death."

He walked to the window and looked at the figures sweating profusely on the training ground outside.

"This world needs geniuses."

"But it needs even more..."

"Powerhouses who can crawl out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood."

"Lin Fan..."

"He has this potential."

Lei Bao was silent.

He understood.

Colonel Zhao was gambling.

Gambling that Lin Fan could come back alive.

Gambling that he could transform into a true warrior.

"I hope..."

Lei Bao said in a low voice:

"He won't let us down."

...