28 Dangerous Tests

Ma Ran stared expressionlessly at the "mask" being used as a detector.

The murmurs of the club members reached his ears.

"What is this thing? It feels a bit sinister!"

"I feel like I'll die on the spot if I look at it for too long... I don't want to experience that again."

"Don't you want to awaken your superpower? This thing is probably a qualification testing prop, right?"

"If you prepare yourself mentally... you might be able to last a bit longer?"

Ma Ran knew this thing wasn't a mask at all!

It...

was a face peeled from the corpse of a WG76 alien, processed and made with alien technology.

If an ordinary person were to wear it, it would only take the blink of an eye for them to turn into a puddle of blood, dying on the spot.

As for life forms with sufficiently high cell activity, such as Black Rock Martial Way practitioners at the Third Stage of Inner Qi and above...

Upon wearing this "mask," their memories would be completely overwritten by the information stored within the "mask," turning them into seeds for restarting an alien civilization.

This sounded a bit like "body snatching" mentioned in Xianxia novels.

However, it was fundamentally different.

The original owner of this face would not truly be resurrected.

The newly formed life form would also have significant intellectual defects, unable to bear the responsibility of reviving a civilization.

(Source of the above experimental data: heinous non-volunteers, anti-human death row inmates, etc.)

After all...

The WG76 civilization was just one of countless losers in a cosmic war.

The desperate means of survival left behind by the defeated side were just so-so, with many fatal loopholes.

As long as one found those loopholes, used their intelligence and a bit of courage, they could treat it as a prop and utilize it fully.

This "mask" was a typical positive example.

The seeds left by the WG76 civilization were being used as equipment to test qualification for superpower awakening.

"Everyone should be able to feel the power hidden within this mask now, right?"

Director Huang clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

After giving them a moment to think, he continued, "Researchers believe this mask is a creation left behind by an alien civilization before its destruction."

"It can allow the observer to see the scenes before that civilization's demise, recreating the events of that time."

At this point, Director Huang sighed, his tone wistful. "At the same time, it emits electromagnetic waves, named 'Type II radiation,' which induce the observer to wear it."

"If one can overcome this desire with their own will, the mask will automatically change its form."

"Please note!"

He suddenly raised his voice, his tone serious. "Regardless of whether you can overcome the desire to wear the mask with your own will, you absolutely must not wear it!"

"There is only one consequence for wearing this mask!"

"Death!"

"The relevant experimental data will be distributed to everyone shortly."

"Please take this seriously and do not dismiss my words."

Even so, the risk factor when using this alien mask was still very high; it couldn't rely entirely on the tester's self-awareness.

The soldiers present were fully armed, their eyes sharp, and their lean bodies concealed explosive power, giving them an agile beauty.

Clearly, they had undergone specialized training and were well-disciplined, ready at any moment to interrupt this dangerous testing process.

Before long, everyone present received a copy of the data related to the alien mask.

Its function, its dangers, including the death cases from the initial tests, were all presented in detail before them.

The members of Caolu Academy were youths born under the red flag and raised in New China.

To be honest, death was a rather distant concept for them.

After seriously reviewing the data, many began to lose their resolve.

Old Huang was also very understanding, clearly informing everyone present that this test was voluntary and not mandatory.

Eight members immediately stated they did not wish to participate in the test and preferred to be spectators.

Superpowers were good, but one needed to be alive to enjoy the beauty of life.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to play it safe, develop steadily, and then come back for testing in a few years when superpower detection technology was more mature and completely risk-free?

Director Huang Weiguo appeared very calm.

Unscientific things like superpowers were inherently more suited for reckless youths and stubborn individuals.

Those who withdrew now had a 99.9% chance of failing the test.

The staff, clad in protective suits, had placed the mask inside a transparent, specially made tempered glass case.

"Alright," Director Huang said into the megaphone after confirming that all members had thoroughly reviewed the materials. "From now on, everyone will begin testing in order, according to the number on your card."

"The passing standard is..."

"To last for thirty seconds!"

Dong Huaiming was lucky enough to draw the number one card.

Under the guidance of the military-clad attendant, he sat on a heavy rosewood chair two meters away from the alien mask, focusing intently, his gaze shifting.

Ten seconds later.

Dong Huaiming's face was pale, his breathing ragged, and he was drenched in sweat. He looked utterly exhausted, like a dog, panting with his tongue hanging out, slumped in the chair.

"I... I can't do it anymore!"

It was too terrifying!

When he had glanced at it before, he hadn't felt anything. But now, focusing his attention on the strange mask, Dong Huaiming felt as if invisible hands were pushing him from behind, urging him to put it on.

Could he do it?

If he hadn't seen the materials, hadn't seen those tragic photos, he might have just gone with the flow and put the mask on.

But knowing everything, student Xiao Ming wouldn't actively court death!

Using all his strength, he could only barely resist the invisible force, actively diverting his gaze away from the alien mask.

"Hoo... hoo... this thing... is terrifying! Don't... be careless!"

After all, student Xiao Ming was a member who had independently refined inner energy early on, so his physical fitness was still quite good. After a few deep breaths, he even had the energy to warn the members behind him.

No one laughed at him.

Everyone's expression was serious, their hearts heavy, and their vigilance heightened once more.

"The member with card number two, please begin testing."

The second member of Caolu Academy slid off the chair after only seven seconds.

He collapsed on the ground, as if all the bones in his body had been removed.

Then came number three, number four, number five...

Up to number thirty-eight, not a single person managed to meet the minimum standard and pass the test.

The best performance was by Dong Huaiming, who had tested first.

None of the other members could last even ten seconds.

The majority of them, similar to Wan Haihao's performance, only lasted five or six seconds before their minds became hazy, and they rushed towards the alien mask in the tempered glass case.

However, all of this was under control.

The members who lost their reason were almost immediately restrained by the nearby, ready military personnel the moment they left their chairs, not even touching the glass case.

Director Huang's face darkened.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a tissue, grabbed a small notebook, and began writing and sketching rapidly: "Double protection is simply not enough!"

"Protective measures are still inadequate!"

"Responsible for the safety of every member..."

"For future superpower awakening qualification tests, testers must wear full-body restraint suits, and the chairs must be replaced with fully immobilizing ones."

A new week has begun!

Everyone needs to eat well and sleep well!