A man wearing a striped shirt rushed towards Shen Qi. Though half a head shorter, his imposing presence was undaunted as he embraced Shen Qi.
Lu Zhi exclaimed, "Wow." This definitely felt like more than just a friendly hug!
Shen Qi glanced at him indifferently.
Lu Zhi turned away, looking up at Yun Jing, his expression conveying he hadn't seen a thing.
Shen Qi unceremoniously pushed him away, his brow furrowed, "Why are you here?"
"Unfilial son!" The man was Shen Lu, the principal of the Academy of Supernatural Phenomena and Shen Qi's adoptive father. He pointed an accusatory finger at Shen Qi's nose, unleashing a torrent of scolding that was so rapid and varied, Lu Zhi was left gaping, almost wanting to applaud.
Wait, Shen Qi's father?
Wasn't he over forty? He looked barely thirty.
"Didn't I tell you not to enter the cage formations rashly while your internal injuries hadn't healed? Huh? What's going on with you now? Sneaking off behind my back? Am I not your father anymore? Who will take care of me in my old age if something happens to you?" Shen Lu's last sentence was almost a shout.
Shen Qi remained expressionless and looked up at the man in the military uniform. "Control your wife."
Lu Zhi was surprised. He had heard that the principal's other half held a significant position, but he hadn't expected it to be an Admiral, and a male one at that.
Shen Lu was pulled into a possessive embrace by the man, whose gloved hand pressed against the back of his head. He then said to Shen Qi, "Have you decided to go?"
"Xue Jin Huai, let go of me!" Shen Lu pushed angrily, but to no avail, only to be held tighter.
Shen Qi nodded, then suddenly turned his head towards Lu Zhi, beckoning him, "Come here."
Lu Zhi, who had been observing from the side, reluctantly approached and greeted Xue Jin Huai, "General Xue, hello. My name is Lu Zhi, a freshman who just passed the test this year."
This introduction was merely superficial; he suspected General Xue already knew him.
"I've heard about you," Xue Jin Huai stated directly. "For national security, I hope you can understand the unconventional methods."
Lu Zhi was surprised. Xue Jin Huai truly exuded the straightforwardness his appearance suggested. He let out a wry, indirect laugh, "That's true, but you can't monitor me forever, can you?"
Xue Jin Huai replied, "Once it's confirmed you are not an 'Apostle,' the surveillance will naturally be lifted."
Lu Zhi was inwardly startled. So the Apostles and the state had already clashed this early?
Xue Jin Huai then addressed Shen Qi again, "I've received the data from the cloud. This cage formation is rated A-level. Captain Luo Shi Qian of the third team has already entered."
Shen Qi's expression was flat, but his eyes darkened.
Shen Lu, still in Xue Jin Huai's arms, turned to Shen Qi and said seriously, "You should know that cage formations are constantly changing. Based on years of casualty data, cage formations can monitor human strength and adjust their levels accordingly. For an A-level cage formation, one member with S-class strength is already the limit. If you go in, how many people will be able to come out alive this time?"
Lu Zhi, however, knew more than Shen Lu. The novel had clearly explained that each cage formation had a Pseudo-god, equivalent to a high-level anomaly controlling the field. Due to world laws, anomalies couldn't freely enter the real world, but could only sow abyssal seeds, which would manifest as cage formations.
A cage formation wouldn't last more than 24 hours, otherwise, it would provoke the wrath of world laws, and the Pseudo-god initiating this cage formation would be permanently barred from the real world.
Conversely, humans with the strength to defeat a Pseudo-god anomaly entering a cage formation would cause its danger level to escalate.
The existence of cage formations suppressed anomalies' abilities while also limiting human strategies, creating a balance.
Shen Qi lowered his gaze, and after a pause, said, "I understand." In the next instant, he hooked Lu Zhi's neck, a slight smile tugging at his lips, "The cage formation has already opened. Those who force entry will be randomly teleported to unknown areas. Little Lu is my friend's younger brother. If anything happens to him, it will be difficult for me to explain."
Lu Zhi almost choked on his own saliva. Friend? Was it a friend with a grudge? And while he was talking, couldn't he avoid being so touchy?
Shen Lu looked shocked, then his eyes welled up, and he choked out, "Wuwuwu, my good son, you've finally grown up, you know how to help friends and invest your true feelings. Dad is so happy."
Lu Zhi: "...???" No, why was Principal Shen's personality so inconsistent?
Xue Jin Huai seemed accustomed to Shen Lu's erratic nature and skillfully pulled a tissue from his pocket to wipe his tears.
"I can choose not to go," Shen Qi tightened his grip, lowering his eyes to threaten Lu Zhi not to move rashly, and said, "Father, I'd like to borrow your spirit puppet."
"What!" Shen Lu's tears vanished instantly. He frowned, "Are you tired of living? Do you know how many Apostles want to kill you? I don't agree."
"Alright." Xue Jin Huai removed his right glove, revealing a green emblem on his hand.
Lu Zhi was surprised. He hadn't expected Xue Jin Huai to be a wielder of a divine mark.
Shen Lu flew into a rage, "Xue Jin Huai!!!"
Xue Jin Huai replied, "Don't you know your own son's personality after raising him?" He then held his hand up, palm facing outward, and said expressionlessly, "Spirit puppet."
A faint green light suddenly illuminated, and an aura of the forest enveloped the four. The emblem exuded dappled starlight, suddenly enlarging like a projection and hovering in the air. A human-shaped wooden figure slowly emerged from the emblem.
Lu Zhi was seeing the use of a divine mark for the first time. Unlike those uncomfortable and somewhat chuunibyou incantations, Xue Jin Huai's concise and cool summoning was exactly what he desired.
Once the palm-sized wooden figure was completely out, the light from the emblem vanished, returning to its tattoo state.
"Your father still needs you to take care of him in his old age." Xue Jin Huai handed the small wooden figure to Shen Qi and led Shen Lu, who looked like he had something to say but couldn't, away.
After the two left, Lu Zhi curiously looked at the wooden figure in Shen Qi's hand, "What's this thing used for?"
Shen Qi pressed the raised point on the wooden figure's chest's green emblem with his right middle finger. Bright red blood flowed out and was instantly absorbed and disappeared into the wood.
"Your turn." Shen Qi handed the wooden figure to him.
Lu Zhi looked at Shen Qi doubtfully. Though he didn't know what this was for, he was certain Shen Qi wouldn't harm him.
After this was done, a helicopter landed above them. Lan Yu Shan waved at Lu Zhi, "Hurry up and get on, we're waiting for you."
Shen Qi's eyes were placid as he handed the wooden figure to Lu Zhi, "Keep it safe. If you lose it..."
The unfinished sentence left infinite possibilities, making it even more unsettling.
Lu Zhi nodded, said goodbye to Shen Qi, and resolutely boarded the helicopter.
Inside the helicopter were Lan Yu Shan, Luo Shi Yu, and two soldiers in uniform, tasked with transporting them near the cage formation.
Lan Yu Shan handed him a backpack, "This is the backpack prepared by the school for freshmen. Our mission is only to assist the public in finding safe havens on the periphery."
Lu Zhi nodded, quickly flipped through it, and took out the beginner's user manual, scanning it rapidly.
The helicopter soon reached the vicinity of the cage formation. The black curtain exuded a constant sense of unease. Soldiers guarded the perimeter, while patrol drones and lights illuminated the night as if it were day. However, any light that fell upon the cage formation seemed to be swallowed.
Lu Zhi followed the leading soldier to the officer in charge of rescuing people on the periphery. He was a burly middle-aged man with the rank of Major, named Wang Bin.
Wang Bin was not one for pleasantries. He stated directly, "Enter the cage formation."
Lu Zhi then realized that besides Luo Shi Yu and Lan Yu Shan, three young soldiers would also be joining them.
"Listen up, everyone. No matter what you encounter inside, do not act rashly." After speaking, Wang Bin's figure gradually disappeared from their sight as he entered the cage formation.
Lu Zhi took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the backpack straps, and stepped into the cage formation.
There was no abnormality. Passing through the curtain didn't encounter any obstacles, only an impenetrable black fog.
Suddenly, Lu Zhi felt dizzy, as if his body had inverted. After only a few seconds, when he opened his eyes again, he was stunned by the sight before him.
All colors had faded, leaving only black and white.
And the woman in the red dress before him, with disheveled hair, stood less than three meters away, quietly watching Lan Yu Shan, who had his back to her.