After recording the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method, Gao Zheng asked, "How can we tell whether someone's physical condition meets the requirements for cultivation?"
Cai Fenghua pushed his glasses up again and said, "We don't know how to make the specific instruments and equipment, but we do know a few of the criteria and figures they use."
"First is strength: you need to be able to throw a punch with nearly a thousand pounds of force. Second is speed: you need to cover a hundred meters in under four seconds, which means reaching twenty-five meters per second."
"Generally, anyone who meets both of those standards can try cultivating. However, some people still can't cultivate, so some places added a third test: agility. They hadn't settled on a standard for it before we left the county, and I don't know whether it's effective."
"From what I've observed, though, the Exploration Team led by Director Ma should be able to meet the cultivation requirements across the board—and most of you should exceed them by quite a bit."
After learning this, Gao Zheng instructed Li Yueqi to print twenty copies of the cultivation method and its requirements. He told her to distribute them first to all the directors and Elite Squad members, then notify the senior management about another meeting so they could gradually roll out the method.
Next, Gao Zheng asked Cai Fenghua, "Let's put the cultivation method aside for now. I'd like to know whether the route you took to reach Huangkang Winery was safe, and whether we can use it to establish contact with the county."
Cai Fenghua gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid not. Our trip was meant to assess the surrounding area, not clear a road. We avoided any fights we could and only observed from a distance. Along the way, we saw about twenty or thirty factories and villages occupied by monsters. The strongest among them were probably High-level Beast Soldiers."
Hearing this, Gao Zheng actually relaxed. Leaning back in his chair, he said, "That's good news. At least they're still at the Beast Soldier level. If they were Beast Generals, we'd be in trouble."
"By the way, roughly where would that troop of monkeys rank among the monsters you encountered?"
Cai Fenghua was pleased to see Gao Zheng so confident, but then he grew a little concerned. "I'd say they were somewhere above average. Most monster packs are still led by ordinary monsters at the Intermediate Beast Soldier or Low-level Beast Soldier level. That's one of the big advantages of being inland."
"However, you can't judge the strength of the monsters along this route that way. I believe the High-level Beast Soldier hasn't broken through yet, but based on what we've seen, monster strongholds aren't fixed at this stage. They move around a lot, so relying on past experience could lead to serious trouble."
"They move around a lot?" Gao Zheng couldn't help feeling puzzled. The monsters they had encountered before, holed up in villages and factories, usually built nests there. It was hard to imagine them leaving their territory.
Seeing Gao Zheng's confusion, Cai Fenghua explained, "According to what we heard from the city, Beast Soldiers are creatures that can be summoned and ordered around. If there are Beast Generals of their kind nearby, they'll keep gathering around them. Lord Monsters do the same, instinctively gathering whatever nearby monsters they can, regardless of species."
"That's why Beast Soldiers often leave their strongholds quickly, following the scent of Beast Generals and Lord Monsters. Beast Generals usually occupy an area and roam around within it. Only Lord Monsters guard their own nests without ever leaving, because large groups of Beast Generals patrol their territory under their orders."
"Then, based on what you've said, I have a theory. If we encounter monsters that stubbornly defend their nest despite being weak, could the monster leading them have the potential to become a Lord Monster?" Gao Zheng asked Cai Fenghua.
"Very likely." Cai Fenghua's expression turned serious. "Director Gao, where have you seen monsters like that? If you can still wipe them out, please do so as soon as possible and with everything you've got. Lord-class monsters grow frighteningly fast. If left alone, they'll cause endless trouble."
Gao Zheng laughed. "Don't worry. We wiped out that nest months ago."
"All right, I've learned pretty much everything I wanted to know. Is there anything you'd like to ask?"
Cai Fenghua had been waiting for that. Without hesitation, he asked, "Director Gao, I'd like to know which directors of Xingyan Group are here at the base besides you and Director Ma."
Gao Zheng smiled. "You're asking about Young Director Lin, aren't you? He's here. There are also Director He Qishun, Director Guo Qichang, and Director Meng Chang."
Cai Fenghua smiled helplessly, his little plan exposed. "Young Director Lin played a major role in building Xingyan Group into what it is today. I'd heard about his achievements back in the county, so naturally I'd like to meet him."
"Don't worry. He's the captain of our Third Exploration Team. You'll see him when he gets back. I imagine he'll have plenty of questions for you, too."
Cai Fenghua straightened up. "I heard that aside from a few full-time directors, the rest of Xingyan's board have all practiced martial arts. That must be one of the reasons your group survived this time, right?"
Gao Zheng merely nodded without elaborating.
Cai Fenghua smiled. "There's one more thing I didn't mention earlier. By now, most conventional firearms are useless against monsters at the Beast General level. As for Lord-level Monsters, only nuclear weapons can kill them outright."
"I wonder if you've looked into what caused the stars to appear in the daytime that day."
"Based on our assessment, that monster—and the one that appeared later in America—may already have broken through the Lord Monster level and reached the next stage."
"Oh, and do you remember that bear's roar in the Taihang Mountains that day? That monster was at least an Intermediate Beast General at the time. It may have reached the Lord level by now."
"So I hope your group will speed up the work on the road to the county after everyone has practiced the cultivation method. Humanity can only weather this disaster by working together."
Gao Zheng didn't disagree. The monsters were far stronger than humans, and working together was indeed their only way forward for now.
Cai Fenghua continued, "I'd like to learn more about Xingyan Group's current strength so I can make a more accurate assessment of your group."
Gao Zheng thought for a moment and was about to share some information about Xingyan Group.
But something unexpected happened.
Just as Gao Zheng opened his mouth, a member of the Exploration Team knocked on his office door.
Gao Zheng could only gesture for Cai Fenghua to wait a moment, then called toward the door, "Come in."
The door swung open, revealing an Exploration Team member with a panicked look on his face.
Gao Zheng asked in surprise, "I remember you're Lin Jin from the Third Exploration Team. What happened?"
Lin Jin hurriedly said, "Director Gao, something's wrong! You need to come and see. The captain—the captain had an accident and passed out."