74: Chapter 74 He is an army all by himself!

Chen You's brain completely crashed, leaving a blank slate.

He guessed it, he had already guessed it!

That chill welling up from the bottom of his heart instantly swept through his entire body, making his limbs ice-cold.

His throat felt dry, and using all his strength, he switched to the most direct question.

"That means... the demonic creatures will invade reality through that pedestal, right?"

Just as Chen You had anticipated, this time, Hill didn't give him any more explicit answers.

Her face was once again replaced by that impeccable professional smile, as if everything that had just happened was merely Chen You's illusion.

She slightly bowed and spoke in an elegant tone tinged with detachment:

"Respected supreme member, the answer you seek lies within that trial."

"Everything must be discovered by yourself."

After speaking, she remained silent, simply standing there, her smile perfect, yet her eyes as vacant as a deep pool.

...Chen You suddenly opened his eyes, the ghostly smile of Hill still lingering on his retinas, but the cold mechanical alarms of the real world were already ringing in his ears.

His chest heaved violently, and his entire body was soaked in cold sweat.

An exceptionally composed face appeared in his field of vision immediately.

It was Director Li Guoan.

Beside him, several people in white coats were frantically checking the data on the monitoring instruments, their faces filled with shock and doubt.

"Quick! Sedative!"

"Steady! Nobody panic!" Director Li Guoan barked, instantly suppressing all the noise.

He ignored the instruments and stared fixedly at Chen You with eyes like a hawk's. "Little Chen, what happened?"

Looking at Director Li Guoan's concerned yet solemn gaze, the extremely taut string in Chen You's heart finally relaxed for a moment.

His lips trembled.

"Director Li... something huge has happened."

Five minutes later.

At the deepest part of the underground base, in the strategic conference room.

Around the huge circular conference table sat the core minds of the entire "Pay-to-Win" project.

tactical team leader Zhang Yunhai, Data Team Leader Sun Feng, materials expert Qian Zhonghua, biology expert Zhang Ping, social relations expert Pan Yu...

Each one was a pillar of the nation drawn from their respective fields.

But at this moment, the faces of these usually calm experts were all etched with horror and gravity.

The conference room was deathly silent.

Only Chen You's slightly trembling recounting echoed in the vast space.

When he finished the last sentence, the air in the entire conference room seemed to freeze into ice, heavy and cold.

Compared to this world-shattering news, the discovery regarding the Source Realm's screening currency was already insignificant.

"Smack!"

tactical team leader Zhang Yunhai slammed his hand hard onto the table. This former commander of the battle-hardened special forces had veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot.

"This isn't a game! This is an invasion!"

"If we fail, the consequences are unimaginable..." Social expert Pan Yu's face was ashen.

She knew better than anyone the devastating impact that the descent of mythological demonic creatures into reality would have on the modern social order.

Doomsday.

This word, which only existed in movies and novels, hung over everyone's heads with unprecedented immediacy.

"Should... should we give up on establishing a Guild?"

A young staff officer couldn't help but speak, his voice carrying uncontrollable tremors.

"This risk... it's too big, we can't afford to gamble!"

Give up?

Instantly, everyone's gaze focused on Director Li Guoan, who occupied the head seat.

Director Li Guoan did not speak.

He just sat there quietly, his fingers interlaced.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly.

"Give up?"

Director Li Guoan slowly raised his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room.

"Comrades, how did this land beneath our feet come to be? Did it fall from the sky?"

"Our ancestors faced airplanes and cannons with millet and worn-out rifles. Did they give up?"

"On top of the ruins, we used an abacus to strike an atomic bomb, facing global technological blockades and nuclear blackmail. Did we give up?"

His two rhetorical questions landed heavily, causing those who had moments ago felt the urge to retreat to lower their heads in shame.

"The Source Realm is an entirely new world, an unprecedented opportunity, but also an unprecedented challenge!"

"If we retreat when facing difficulties, and detour when facing threats, then what right do we have to talk about national rejuvenation! To talk about the future!"

Director Li Guoan's tone was firm and unquestionable.

"That 'Land of the Chosen,' that opportunity to establish a Guild, what do you think it is?"

He stood up, resting his hands on the table, leaning slightly forward, his gaze like a knife.

"It is merely another test issued to our huaxia civilization!"

"Evading a test is in itself a failure!"

"Today we can give up establishing a Guild because of fear, but what about tomorrow?"

"Give up until we have nothing left?"

Director Li Guoan took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly, but becoming even more resolute.

"Difficulties are not meant to be avoided; they are meant to be overcome."

He surveyed the room, his eyes flashing with astonishing light, and stated word by word:

"What we must do is overcome the difficulty."

Overcome the difficulty!

These four words seemed to carry a magical power, instantly dispelling the fear and gloom in the conference room, replacing them with a spirit of desperate determination!

That's right!

What is there to fear!

We have the entire nation behind us!

We have limitless funds!

We have the sharpest minds!

A monster siege in a game—can it be harder than when we faced the forces of seventeen nations back then?

The atmosphere instantly reversed!

Data Team Leader Sun Feng immediately stood up. He pointed to the data model displayed on the large screen and analyzed rapidly:

"Director Li, everyone, the situation is not as bad as imagined! The system's suggestion is for a 'team of ten or more.'"

"Furthermore, according to Hill, the number of civilizations that failed the Guild establishment was 'very few'!"

"This indicates that the initial monster siege is likely a standardized 'newbie trial,' not a certain-death scenario!"

He operated quickly, and on the screen, Chen You's terrifying attribute panel was magnified.

"According to our comprehensive combat power evaluation model, the current Level 11, Qi Refining Second Layer Chen You..."

"With the enhancement of the two Heaven-tier techniques, Nine Revolutions Primordial Chaos Art and Heaven-Breaking Sword Technique, along with rare equipment..."

"His effective combat power is equivalent to at least thirty, or even fifty, fully-equipped elite players of the same level!"

"In other words... he alone is equivalent to several elite ten-person teams!" Zhang Yunhai immediately followed up, battle intent reigniting in his eyes.

Everyone knew that establishing a Guild as early as possible would allow them to understand the Source Realm faster.

With the support of Guild-related resources, Chen You's progress in the Source Realm would also become much quicker!

Director Li Guoan nodded calmly. He looked at Chen You, his eyes full of trust and expectation.

"But we do not gamble on probability; we only fight battles we are certain to win."

"Little Chen, your cultivation cannot stop. Before the design plans for the territory are completed and all preliminary preparations are in place, I need you to reach a higher realm."

He held up four fingers.

"Qi Refining Fourth Layer, is that a problem?"

Pressure, like a mountain, settled onto Chen You's shoulders.

But the fear in his heart had now been ignited by the soaring heroism of Director Li Guoan and everyone present.

He was no longer that corporate drone worrying about his own life.

He was the sharpest spear of the huaxia civilization, the only hope.

Chen You suddenly stood up straight, nodding forcefully, an unprecedented sharpness blazing in his eyes.

"Report, Director Li! Mission guaranteed completion!"

"Good!"

Director Li Guoan waved his hand grandly, a look of masterful planning on his face.

He turned towards all the top experts and scholars in the conference room, his voice suddenly rising, filled with incomparable ambition and spirit.

"Everyone, starting now, we must also hurry up!"

"What we are designing is not an illusory city in a game, nor is it a simple military fortress!"

"It must integrate our most advanced engineering technology, the sturdiest architectural structures, and the deepest foundation of huaxia aesthetics..."

"I want you to forge for our nation a true—"

"Impregnable Divine Barrier!"