The dark green camouflage fabric exuded a sense of solemnity, with tactical vests, protective gear, and military boots all present.

At the sound of the whistle, a large group quickly assembled, stepping in small strides, soon forming into phalanxes.

The chief examiner’s gaze was sharp, like two unsheathed blades, harshly scanning over the candidates who were complaining earlier.

"No more talking; everyone check your equipment, put on your marching backpacks, and follow the guide vehicle forward."

"From now on, anyone who falls behind will be directly eliminated!"

Fang Cheng swiftly stood up.

Swinging his arms, he easily hoisted the twenty-kilogram marching backpack onto his shoulders, adjusting the chest strap buckle with ease.

Ma Donghe and Hou Peng moved quickly as well, following one on the left and the other on the right.

More than eight hundred candidates began moving under the armed escort of military police.

The team passed through multiple military checkpoints.

As they ventured deeper into the restricted area, the surroundings became more oppressive.

At every intersection, heavy artillery and twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns concealed beneath camouflage netting could be seen.

The cold metallic gleams from the gun barrels aimed at the sky resembled steel beasts poised, ready to unleash deadly tongues of fire.

Meanwhile, the searchlights on several watchtowers constantly swept across the area.

The intense light pierced like intersecting swords, causing everyone to squint.

The smell of gunpowder in the air grew increasingly potent.

It felt as though a brutal meat grinder battle had just subsided here or might erupt again at any moment.

The candidates who were joking moments ago were all stunned by the pervasive warlike atmosphere.

Everyone unconsciously fell silent.

Only the crunching sounds of several hundred pairs of military boots on the gravel path and the candidates’ increasingly heavy breaths remained within the massive group.

The team continued forward for about twenty minutes.

They turned past a large mountain bend, walked along a narrow roadway carved into the mountainside for hundreds of meters.

A moment later, a heavy alloy iron door suddenly appeared before them.

Dark red moss was abundant on both cliff sides, resembling patches of dried blood.

The specific plant was unknown, vaguely emitting an unpleasant smell.

"Open gate B3!"

The chief examiner coldly ordered through the walkie-talkie.

Accompanied by a screeching metal sound, gears engaged and operated within the mountain.

Rum——

Amidst the muffled rumble, the half-meter-thick alloy iron door slid open to the sides.

Revealed before them was a dark tunnel entrance.

The inside was impenetrably deep, as if it hollowed out half the mountain, leading straight to some Abyss.

A chilling wind suddenly gusted from deep within the tunnel, hitting everyone’s face.

The wind carried an inexplicable stench, causing exposed skin to instantly goosebump.

Fang Cheng’s gaze slightly tightened as he tried to peer through the darkness to observe inside.

"Is this... an air raid shelter?"

Ma Donghe widened his eyes at the light-devouring tunnel entrance and couldn’t help but swallow his spit.

Hou Peng shrank his neck, showing a peculiar expression:

"Brother Fang, Brother Ma, why does this place feel so eerie? Could it be haunted?"

The surrounding candidates whispered, discussing among themselves, further intensifying the tense mood.

"Enter!"

The chief examiner disregarded everyone’s astonishment and ordered firmly.

The team, akin to herded sheep, lined up, bravely entering the dark tunnel.

The tunnel was extremely humid.

Droplets from the ceiling continuously dripped, hitting everyone’s heads and shoulders.

Military boots splashed in pooling water on the ground, making crisp splashing sounds.

If it were only one or two people inside, it would still be bearable.

The problem was now more than eight hundred people marching together.

The dense footfall echoed within the confined space, merging into a thunderous roar, tormenting everyone’s eardrums.

After walking for about ten minutes, a faint natural light emerged from the darkness ahead.

Everyone quickened their pace, moving through the tunnel’s exit.

Their view suddenly opened up.

But this openness brought not relief and hope, but rather a more sinister eerie sensation.

An extremely dense primordial forest appeared before everyone.

The branches twisted and entwined, weaving a massive, impenetrable web overhead.

Thick vines hung down from above like predatory snakes, almost completely blocking the already faint daylight outside.

This was the true West Mountain No Man’s Land.

By now, the sky had completely darkened.

In the early summer forest, humidity was heavy.

As the temperature sharply dropped, a layer of gray-white mist began rising from the damp soil and piles of decaying leaves.

This mist rapidly spread, extending along the depressions until it permeated the entire forest.

In just a few minutes, visibility dropped to less than ten meters.

Cold wind penetrated the treetops, leaves rustling, making sounds like soft wailing.

The chief examiner jumped down from an off-road vehicle that was parked here long ago, striding to the forefront of the team.

"Listen carefully!"

He raised his hand, pointing at a branch of a dead tree nearby.

A bronze bell, about the size of a baby’s fist, was hanging there with a red string.

With each gust of wind, the bell swayed left and right in midair, producing clear, pleasant ringing sounds.

The chief examiner turned on the loudspeaker, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet misty forest:

"This area has no existing paths. Your only guides are these bells and reflective markers on the branches."

"The test rules are simple: run with your marching backpacks following the markers. No matter what method you use, if you reach the destination Black Wind Gully by five o’clock tomorrow morning, you pass!"

He lowered the loudspeaker, his eyes scanning each tense face, his lips curving into a cold arc:

"Finally, good luck to you all."

Beep——

A sharp whistle suddenly pierced the mist.

"The exam, start!"

More than eight hundred candidates stood rooted, looking at each other.

The majority still filled with doubts and fear of the unknown.

No one immediately stepped forward but cautiously scrutinized their surroundings.

"Run!"

The next second.

Someone within the crowd suddenly shouted.

This shout was like the fuse igniting a powder keg, snapping everyone’s taut nerves abruptly.

Boom——

The entire team exploded instantaneously with chaotic shouts.

Numerous candidates hurriedly switched on flashlights, drew their weapons.

They sped up, following the reflective markers, charging into the forest ahead.

Like a flood bursting its banks, they surged into the mist-shrouded mountains.

Everyone shared the same thought, finish the short five-kilometer race, conclude this sinister test, then head home for rest.

Hundreds of flashlight beams scattered erratically in the thick fog, startling large flocks of birds who fluttered noisily toward the night sky.

Dark shadows rushed out from the treetops, densely packed, blotting out the sky.

This chaotic scene resembled a village sweep by enemy forces.

Everywhere were noisy silhouettes and cursing voices, slightly diluting the originally eerie oppressive atmosphere of the primordial Old Lin.

Fang Cheng didn’t rush forward, his legs like roots nailed to the spot.

He extended his hands, grabbing the backpack straps of Ma Donghe and Hou Peng ready to blindly charge ahead.

"Don’t run around, conserve energy, stay close to me."

Fang Cheng calmly advised, his right hand discreetly drawing out a dagger, reversed grip on the knife handle.

Relying on keen Spirit perception, he could distinctly sense a peculiar magnetic field fluctuation in this place.

The swirling thick fog around seemed alive, greedily nibbling at everyone’s body heat bit by bit.

This five-kilometer cross-country exam wasn’t merely about rugged mountain paths or hiding a few mutated beasts.

To successfully reach the destination before dawn, one must proceed with caution every step.