61: Chapter 61 The End of Perfect Swordsmanship... Is a Big Gift!

Everyone's breathing stopped at this moment.

Their eyes were fixed on the huge satellite map of Huaxia.

Three areas marked with bright red circles were like three nails, deeply hammered into the hearts of everyone present.

Northwest, Southwest, Qinling.

"The Northwest site is located in the heart of the Taklamakan Desert."

The old academician from the Academy of Engineering spoke with a steady voice.

"The advantages are vast land and sparse population, immense strategic depth, natural environmental isolation, and ease of implementing the highest level of physical lockdown."

"The disadvantages are equally obvious: harsh environment, overly long logistics supply lines, extreme scarcity of resources, and everything needing to start from scratch."

The screen switched, and the camera zoomed in on a range of mountains shrouded in mist.

"The Southwest site is located in the core uninhabited area of the Hengduan Mountains. The advantages are natural barriers, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, and rich surrounding biological and mineral resources."

"The disadvantages are complex geological structures, geometrically increased engineering difficulty, and a development period that will be more than three times that of the Northwest."

Finally, the image froze on the majestic mountain range that spans across Huaxia from east to west.

Qinling.

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became incredibly subtle.

"Qinling..." The old academician's voice also grew solemn.

"The Dragon Vein of Huaxia, the land that stabilizes the Central Plains."

"The advantages are its central strategic location, allowing it to radiate across the entire country, and the spiritual energy... according to our preliminary estimates, the spiritual energy concentration here may be the highest in the future."

"But the disadvantages are also fatal."

"It's closest to densely populated areas, and even the slightest energy leakage could cause irreversible catastrophic consequences."

"This is a high-stakes gamble, where risks and opportunities coexist."

The three locations each had their pros and cons.

Director Li Guoan withdrew his gaze from the map; he didn't make a choice.

"The site selection must be done with extreme caution, and the planning team should continue with in-depth simulations."

"But the preliminary preparation work cannot wait even a day."

As for the final decision... it still needed to be discussed with a few other people.

"Chen You."

Director Li Guoan's gaze turned to Chen You, becoming incredibly profound.

"The road ahead may be even more difficult than we anticipated."

"However, no matter how difficult it is, we are determined to establish this foundation!"

"You have two main tasks ahead."

"First, quickly raise your realm."

"The attribute increase from levels is too limited; only the path of Cultivation is your fundamental means of survival."

"Qi Refining Second Layer is far from enough."

"Second, establish a guild."

"Take some time to understand the relevant quests; if they're simple, do them."

"As for the world stone, since the system wants us to use it, it will inevitably release more fragments."

"You don't need to deliberately search; just keep getting stronger, and I think... it will come to you on its own."

If the system doesn't take the initiative, then adjustments will be made.

"Understood." Chen You nodded heavily.

His heart was pounding, not from fear, but from a strange excitement.

Especially looking at the three locations on the map.

He was originally just an ordinary person, but now he had become the fulcrum that would leverage the entire civilization's leap.

"Go." Director Li Guoan waved his hand.

"Leave the real-world preparations to us; you just need to... play the game well!"

...

[Welcome back to Source Realm, Cultivator.]

Chen You's figure reappeared in the Supreme Tower lobby.

He immediately opened his system panel.

The friend list icon was flashing red at an almost frantic frequency.

[99+].

This even included the top few on the leaderboard.

However, Chen You didn't want to bother, not even looking to see who they were.

With a swipe of his finger, he clicked [Reject All].

His gaze fell on the skill interface.

[Heaven-Breaking Sword Technique]

[First Style: Startling Swan (Proficiency: 98.3%)]

Only less than two percent left.

Chen You's eyes narrowed slightly.

Director Li was right; realm was the foundation.

But realm advancement was a slow process; it couldn't be rushed.

This skill, on the other hand, was already at the doorstep of completion.

He would max it out first and see what was different about the complete form of a Heaven-grade cultivation method!

What would happen after it was maxed out?

Chen You instantly made up his mind, without the slightest hesitation, and turned to look at Hill.

"Respected supreme member, what do you need me to do?" Hill bowed slightly, his smile flawless.

Chen You didn't waste a single word.

"Training room, ten hours."

He directly deducted 100 gold coins.

"Very well, this way please!"

Hill hurriedly bowed and led the way to the Supreme Training Room entrance.

...

This time, he arrived at a floating platform, where spiritual energy so dense it was almost tangible rushed towards him.

Chen You walked to the central control panel and gently slid his finger across the monster list.

Finally, he stopped at the option for [LV15 Skeleton Swordsman].

It was a full four levels higher than him.

This type of monster had bones as hard as refined iron, holding a heavy bone shield in its left hand and a sharp bone sword in its right.

With both offense and defense, it was the nightmare of all physical professions.

"You're the one."

He selected the maximum quantity of "six" and then pressed [Start].

Buzz!

On the platform ground, six magic circles lit up simultaneously, and a chilling aura spread out.

Six two-meter-tall, pale white skeletal monsters slowly rose from the magic circles.

In their hollow eye sockets, two points of eerie blue soul fire suddenly ignited, instantly locking onto Chen You in the center.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

They took heavy steps, holding their bone shields, forming a semi-circular encirclement.

The pressure was immense.

Chen You's expression remained unchanged; he simply stood still.

Just as the Skeleton Swordsmen entered attack range and simultaneously raised their bone swords, preparing to strike—

Chen You moved.

His figure was like a phantom, instantly disappearing from his spot.

A faint, almost invisible silver sword light flashed across the air.

"Startling Swan!"

Whoosh!

The sword light did not strike any single skeleton, but instead, with a strange arc, it weaved, warped, and connected between the six Skeleton Swordsmen!

That sword light was extremely fast, even surpassing sound.

One second.

Just one second.

The six menacing Skeleton Swordsmen completely froze.

The next second.

Crack... crack, crack, crack...

Intense shattering sounds suddenly erupted!

The six skeletons, as hard as refined iron, were instantly pulverized as if cut by the most precise laser.

From head to toe, from bone sword to bone shield, they were shattered in an instant.

[You have killed LV15 Skeleton Swordsman, gaining 1600 experience points.]

[You have killed...]

A series of prompts flashed across the screen.

Chen You glanced at his spiritual energy value; he had consumed 20 points.

It was insignificant.

"Again!"

Six Skeleton Swordsmen refreshed again.

He completely immersed himself in this monotonous yet efficient cycle, forgetting time and everything else outside.

From needing to deliberately cast it at first, to later having the sword light manifest with a mere thought.

That "Startling Swan" sword light seemed to come alive in his hands.

Sometimes like a cunning snake emerging from its hole, tricky and ruthless.

Sometimes like an immortal flying from beyond the heavens, ethereal and traceless.

On the skill panel, the final progress bar was also steadily advancing, bit by bit.

99.2%...

99.5%...

99.8%...

After an unknown amount of time, when Chen You once again cleared the field with a single sword and stood still.

His body suddenly trembled.

In his mind, it was as if an invisible paper window had been quietly pierced through.

[Ding!]

A clear and pleasant system notification sounded deep in his mind.

[Your 'Startling Swan' move proficiency has reached 100% (Perfect)!]

However, before Chen You could fully process it.

Almost simultaneously, an even grander, more solemn system voice followed immediately!

An icon popped up without warning.

[Congratulations! You have grasped the true meaning of the 'Heaven-Breaking Sword Technique', and are hereby presented with the Ultimate Sublimation Grand Gift Package!]