Ma Ran stared expressionlessly at the "mask" being used as the testing apparatus.
The club members' discussions reached his ears.
"What is this thing? It feels kind of evil!"
"It feels like I'd drop dead on the spot if I looked at it for too long... I don't want to experience that a second time."
"Don't you want to awaken a superpower? This thing is supposed to be the qualification-testing tool, right?"
"If I prepare myself mentally... I should be able to hold out a little longer?"
Ma Ran knew that this thing was no mask at all!
It...
was the facial skin peeled from the corpse of a WG76 alien, processed and manufactured with extraterrestrial technology.
If an ordinary person put it on their face, they would turn into a puddle of blood and die on the spot in the blink of an eye.
As for lifeforms with sufficiently high cellular activity, such as Black Rock Martial Way cultivators at the Third Stage of Inner Qi or above...
After putting on this "mask," their memories would be completely overwritten by the information stored inside it, turning them into the spark that would restart an extraterrestrial civilization.
It sounded somewhat like the "soul transfer" mentioned in Xianxia novels.
In essence, however, it was completely different.
The original owner of this facial skin would not truly come back to life.
The newly born lifeform also had huge flaws in its intelligence and could not shoulder the responsibility of reviving the civilization.
(The experimental data above came from extremely vile nonvolunteers, death-row inmates who had committed crimes against humanity, and the like.)
After all...
The WG76 civilization was merely one of countless losers in the wars of the universe.
The survival method hastily left behind by a defeated side was only so-so, riddled with many fatal flaws.
As long as someone found those flaws, used their intelligence, and was just a little bolder, they could treat it as a tool and make full use of it.
This "mask" was a typical positive example.
The spark of the WG76 civilization had been turned into a device for testing eligibility to awaken superpowers.
"Everyone should already have felt the power hidden inside this mask, right?"
Director Huang clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention over.
After giving them some time to think, he continued, "The researchers believe that this mask is an artifact left behind by an extraterrestrial civilization before its destruction."
"It can allow observers to see the scene of that civilization before its annihilation and recreate what happened at the time."
At this point, Director Huang let out a breath and said in a somber tone, "At the same time, it emits electromagnetic waves called 'Type II radiation,' inducing observers to put it on."
"If you can overcome this urge through your own willpower, the mask will automatically change its form."
"Pay attention!"
He suddenly raised his voice and said sternly, "Regardless of whether you can overcome the desire to put on the mask through your own willpower, you absolutely must not put it on!"
"There is only one consequence of putting on this mask!"
"Death!"
"The relevant experimental materials will be sent to everyone shortly."
"Please take this extremely seriously. Don't treat my words as if they're going in one ear and out the other."
Although he had said this, the risk factor remained extremely high whenever the extraterrestrial mask was used. It was impossible to rely entirely on the subjects' self-awareness.
The young soldiers present were fully armed. Their eyes were sharp, and explosive power lurked within their strong bodies, giving them a sense of agile beauty.
Clearly, they had all received specialized training and were highly disciplined, ready to interrupt this dangerous testing process at any time.
Before long, everyone present received a copy of the materials related to the extraterrestrial mask.
Its function, its dangers, and even the cases of death during the initial testing were all presented in detail before everyone.
The members of Caolu Academy had all been born under the red flag and grown up in New China.
To be honest, death was still a relatively distant concept for everyone.
After carefully reading the materials, quite a few people began to have second thoughts.
Old Huang was also extremely considerate, clearly telling everyone present that this test was voluntary and not compulsory.
Eight club members immediately stated that they did not want to participate in the test and only wanted to stand to the side and watch the fun.
Superpowers were great, but one had to be alive to enjoy the beauty of life.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to lie low and develop steadily, wait a few years until superpower testing technology became more mature and completely risk-free, and then come back for the test?
Director Huang Weiguo remained extremely calm.
Something as unscientific as superpowers was naturally more suitable for reckless hotheads and people with iron foreheads.
Ninety-nine point nine percent of those who voluntarily withdrew now would be unable to pass the test.
At this moment, the workers in protective suits had already placed the mask inside a transparent, specially made tempered-glass case.
"All right."
Only after Director Huang had repeatedly confirmed that every club member had carefully read the materials did he pick up the megaphone and say, "From now on, everyone will begin testing in order, according to the number on the tag you received."
"The passing standard is..."
"Hold out for thirty seconds!"
Dong Huaiming was lucky enough to receive tag number one.
Under the guidance of a female soldier, he sat on a heavy sandalwood chair two meters away from the extraterrestrial mask, concentrating intently as his eyes moved.
Ten seconds later.
Dong Huaiming's face was deathly pale. He panted heavily, drenched in sweat, and looked as exhausted as a dog. He lolled his tongue out without a shred of dignity and slumped in the chair.
"I... I can't take it anymore!"
It was too terrifying!
He had not felt anything when he swept his eyes over it earlier, but now that he focused on the strange mask, Dong Huaiming felt as if an invisible pair of large hands were constantly shoving him from behind, urging him to put on the mask.
Could he really do this?
If he had not read those materials or seen those miserable photographs, he probably would have gone along with the impulse and put on the mask.
But after learning everything, Little Ming was not about to court death voluntarily!
He used all his strength, yet could only barely resist that invisible force and deliberately turn his gaze away from the extraterrestrial mask.
"Pant... pant... This thing... is terrifying! Don't... let your guard down!"
Little Ming had been a club member who refined Inner Qi on his own at an early age, so his physical fitness was fairly good. After taking several deep breaths, he even had enough strength to warn the members behind him.
No one laughed at him.
Everyone wore solemn expressions and had heavy hearts, becoming even more vigilant.
"Club member with tag number two, please begin the test."
The second Caolu Academy member lasted only seven seconds before sliding off the chair.
He collapsed on the floor as if someone had pulled every bone from his body.
Then came number three, number four, and number five...
All the way up to number thirty-eight, not a single person managed to reach the minimum standard and pass the test.
The best performer was actually Dong Huaiming, the first person to take the test.
Not one of the other club members managed to last ten seconds.
Most of them performed about as well as Wan Haihao. After holding out for only five or six seconds, they charged toward the extraterrestrial mask in the tempered-glass case in a daze.
However, everything was under control.
The club members who lost their reason were almost always instantly restrained by the nearby soldiers waiting in readiness the moment they left their chairs. They did not even touch the glass case.
Director Huang's face darkened.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a tissue, took out a small notebook, and began scribbling rapidly. "Double protection is nowhere near enough!"
"The safety measures are still incomplete!"
"We must take responsibility for every club member's safety..."
"For future superpower-awakening qualification tests, the test subjects must wear full-body restraint suits, and the chairs must also be replaced with completely restraining models."
A new week has begun!
Everyone, make sure to eat well and sleep well!
Before you continue