Evil Spirit Activation

On the second morning of physical training, with a total of 32 hours having passed, the significant depletion of physical strength during this period, coupled with the lack of any edible items, left everyone's physical condition in the lower to middle tier, except for Yu Jing. Men Qian, in particular, who had not undergone physical training, displayed considerable fatigue with heavy dark circles under his eyes.

Yu Xiaoxiao, however, was doing alright; her physiological habits had long been accustomed to the disruptions from her usual training. Jiang Pengyu, relying on his physically fit body from daily exercise, was still able to maintain a normal physical state.

There were two main issues at present:

First, Zhang Xingyue, who was in a deep coma, had not yet woken up. If everyone went to search the basement, Zhang Xingyue would be left alone here.

Second, Men Qian's condition was worrying, and facing the actual monster in the basement would make Men Qian a liability.

This was no cathedral of saints; it had been decided from the start of physical training that only some would survive. The group ultimately decided to leave Zhang Xingyue in the room and take Men Qian to the underground area. This way, the talented doctor would not only benefit from this physical training but also from mutual assistance throughout their future careers at the Ability Institute.

"We'll leave it to fate. We're like clay figurines crossing a river, unable to save ourselves!"

Jiang Pengyu, walking at the rear, cast one last glance through the gap at Zhang Xingyue lying on the bed inside before closing the room door. He sighed softly and shut the door.

The group descended the inn's stairs to the first-floor lobby. Outside, the sky was still overcast, and the heavy rain showed no signs of abating. Yu Jing signaled everyone to wait a moment, then walked out of the inn alone, spreading his arms to absorb moisture from the raindrops, replenishing his body's needs. Simultaneously, he used his right arm to absorb the life force from the three closest trees, restoring his body to peak condition.

"Let's go!"

With his mind made up, Yu Jing led everyone towards the room where the old woman had previously been. The four of them entered and conducted a thorough, meticulous inspection of the room once more.

First, directly beneath where the old woman had been lying, they pried open the wooden planks. Beneath them, they discovered a locked iron plate, confirming that it led deep into the inn's underground.

Yu Jing attempted to use plant tendrils to infiltrate the keyhole but was immediately repelled by an unknown force. Although they could have forcibly broken the lock, it might have disturbed the creature below. Therefore, they decided to search for the key.

"Found it."

In less than five minutes, Jiang Pengyu's voice came from the blood-splattered bathroom.

In the blood-scented bathroom, Jiang Pengyu removed the mirror from the washbasin. Behind the mirror, hidden within a loose wooden board, was a rusty key.

Yu Jing mused, "No wonder the old woman attacked the soldier Hu Zhi in the bathroom first. Was it to ensure the key to the basement passage wouldn't be found?"

The key was inserted into the keyhole of the iron plate sealing the underground passage. They carefully turned the lock, and the iron plate slightly tilted upwards.

"I'll do it!"

Jiang Pengyu grabbed the iron plate with both hands. Perhaps due to its age, it took considerable effort to lift the plate.

Instantly, a pungent, rotten smell erupted from below.

"Sizzle, sizzle!" The ceiling lights above flickered and went out. The dim light on this cloudy day was already insufficient, and apart from the first step covered in black moss, the scene below was completely obscured.

'E-class evil spirit activated.'

In the monitoring room of the Dihua Ability Institute overseeing this physical training, several prominent red warning characters appeared on the screen monitoring Yu Jing and the others.

"A growth-potential excellent evil spirit, captured alive three months ago. It was used for physical training practice while still unstable. The remaining four individuals, based on their current performance, fully meet the enrollment standards of our Dihua Ability Institute. I request that their lives be guaranteed! I will intervene personally during critical moments of danger."

Lu Chuan, standing there, made this request to the Dihua administrative center. By this time, it was only the second day of physical training, and these individuals had already triggered a monster, let alone venturing into its lair where it had previously tortured and killed humans. It seemed impossible for them to survive the full seven days.

However, the administrative center had not yet given a conclusion. But in Lu Chuan's opinion, this was already a relatively good outcome. Otherwise, given Dihua's usual adherence to established procedures, his request for an exception would have been rejected immediately.

"This physical training reform was the result of joint discussions between the Dihua Central Administrative Department, high-level management, and core members of the Student Council. Initial implementation indeed requires improvements in some areas... The four individuals facing the evil spirit possess qualified potential, but they must still undergo an assessment between life and death. After deliberation, it has been decided that Commissioner Lu Chuan may intervene under the following circumstances."

"First, if the growth-potential evil spirit's level is detected to have increased to D-class during the process."

"Second, if only one person remains alive in the team facing the evil spirit."

"Only these two conditions?" Lu Chuan's expression showed astonishment.

"Because we believe new recruits should have the means to deal with the lowest-level monsters. The new recruits from the Medical School have special protective measures, so you do not need to rescue them. If Commissioner Lu Chuan acts outside of these conditions, your commissioner qualification will be revoked!"

In the room of the Deep Mountain Inn

However, after experiencing everything from the previous night, the group no longer felt fear. They lit the candles they had prepared, entering the underground passage in the order of Jiang Pengyu, Yu Jing, Men Qian, and Yu Xiaoxiao. This was to ensure Men Qian's safety to the greatest extent possible.

"Such a heavy smell."

Not just Yu Jing, but everyone here found the intense rotten odor unbearable, difficult to describe.

They had assumed the basement wouldn't be very large, similar to the household basements often depicted in foreign films.

But as they ventured deeper, they discovered the staircase had nearly fifty steps. The candlelight's reach couldn't even touch the edges of the underground area, which was supported by simple wooden beams.

Expecting to find a scene of piled-up corpses at the bottom of the stairs, they instead found only damp, muddy ground with no bodies visible.

"Where is the smell coming from? Deeper in?"

Similar to the layout of the inn upstairs, the basement also extended outwards, with what looked like prison-like iron doors at the end of the extension.

"Let's go, everyone be careful."

Yu Jing traced his eyes with his right hand, allowing plant tissues to embed themselves into his retinas. This function, normally used to check his physical condition, was now being used by Yu Jing to detect spiritual substances.

The real nightmare was about to officially begin