He took out a tube of Nutrition Paste, tore it open, and ate it, then resumed reading the newspaper.

This was his first time traveling far from home. Back in Yangzhi City, the news and newspapers were almost entirely focused on local affairs, with scant information about the outside world. It was much the same here. Most of the articles were about Shangbu City, but since it was a major transportation hub, there was at least some news from other cities along the railway lines.

Just then, a short man holding a ticket came over. After checking it, he confirmed he had found the right seat. His bag, however, seemed a bit heavy. He stood on his tiptoes and tried to shove it onto the overhead rack several times, but it kept sliding back down. With a pained expression, he turned to Chen Chuan. "Hey, buddy. Can you give me a hand?"

Chen Chuan looked up, stood, and with a single, effortless motion, lifted the bag onto the rack.

"Thanks, buddy. I gotta say, you’re really tall. With a build like that, you must practice martial arts, huh?" The man looked at Chen Chuan with envy, then glanced at the case holding the Snow Monarch Blade on the rack above. He took out a cigarette and offered it to him.

Chen Chuan gestured that he didn’t smoke and sat back down. The man didn’t seem to mind. He was clearly the talkative type who warmed up to strangers quickly. Once seated, he began asking where Chen Chuan was headed. Chen Chuan gave a few vague replies, and after that, the man did all the talking. He went on about everything from the size of his family to the business deal he was traveling for, complaining that the routes were never safe and business was tough.

He chattered on endlessly, though his eyes kept darting around the train car. Chen Chuan showed no signs of impatience, simply continuing to read his newspaper.

Just then, a few men with unfriendly eyes walked over. Seeing the short man talking, they glanced at Chen Chuan, who sat opposite him. They hesitated for a moment, exchanged a few hushed words, and walked away.

The man seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

A short while later, after a few blasts from its whistle, the train finally began to move. The man fell silent, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside.

Three stops later, the man apparently reached his destination. He swiftly put on his hat, jumped up to yank his bag down from the rack, and muttered, "Thanks, buddy," as he left.

Chen Chuan glanced up at him and nodded.

As the train journeyed from one station to the next, the passengers seated across from him constantly changed. Outside, the sky faded from light to dusk, and finally to pitch black.

Seeing the time, Chen Chuan went to the restroom to quickly wash up. He then returned to his seat, closed his eyes, and began his Spirit Nourishing.

He was now discovering that his Mutated viscera hadn’t simply merged with his original organs. The Mutated Organization acted like a second set of organs, capable of resting in alternation with the original set.

When one set slept, the other could remain active. It was, in every sense, an organ system born for combat.

Because of this, the slightest unusual movement or anything out of sync with his surroundings would immediately trigger an alert from his senses, allowing him to react in an instant.

But perhaps because he looked like someone not to be trifled with—that, and the inherent, intangible aura of a Fighter—no one was foolish enough to bother him, even in a place as crowded and chaotic as a train. A few obvious pickpockets would take one look at him and wisely keep their distance. They clearly knew who to mess with and who to leave alone.

The next day, as the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon, Chen Chuan opened his eyes. He glanced out the window and saw the landscape had become utterly desolate. Only a handful of passengers remained in the car. All were silent, and a few of them clearly had combat training.

’They’re probably headed to the same place I am,’ he realized. ’The Land of Chaos.’ After all, the first prerequisite for going there was the ability to defend oneself.

A little after six in the morning, the train finally reached the last stop of his journey. The grinding of wheels on the tracks faded as the train slowed to a halt. Steam valves opened, releasing residual pressure with a long, drawn-out HISS from the exhaust pipes. The sounds of the station suddenly became clear.

Chen Chuan retrieved his luggage, slung the case containing the Snow Monarch Blade onto his back, and disembarked. As he stepped out of the station, a blast of cold wind hit him. Patches of snow lay on the ground, and most people were bundled up in thick clothing. He, however, found the temperature quite comfortable. Still, not wanting to draw too much attention, he took out a scarf and wrapped it around his neck.

The travelers here all moved with a sense of urgency, and few stopped to gather in groups. The station was flanked by security guards armed with guns, their sharp eyes periodically sweeping across the bustling crowd in the plaza.

After a brief look around, he found a phone booth at the edge of the plaza. He dropped a coin in, dialed the number he’d been given, and said once the call connected, "I’ve arrived." Then he read out a code number from the note.

A woman’s raspy voice answered from the other end. "I’m on my way."

He waited less than fifteen minutes before a modified SUV pulled up and stopped a short distance away. The driver jerked her head toward him. "Get in."

Chen Chuan saw that it was a woman in her late twenties. She wore a short jacket with a pair of goggles pushed up on her forehead. She was pretty at first glance, but the corners of her eyes were etched with wind-worn lines, and her gaze was piercing. She looked like trouble.

He walked over, opened the door, and got in. After he sat down, the woman spoke first. "So you’re Brother Chen, here for the assessment?" Chen Chuan nodded. "May I have your name?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"The surname’s Hu. Hu Xian."

Chen Chuan said, "Ms. Hu. Thank you for coming to get me. Are you also part of the assessment team?"

Hu Xian answered nonchalantly, "That’s right. I’m one of the assessors. I’m also responsible for providing you with intel, weapons, and logistical support. And, of course..." She glanced at the rearview mirror. "Collecting your bodies."

She stared at Chen Chuan as she spoke, as if trying to gauge his reaction, but his expression remained perfectly calm. "I can tell you have experience," she said. "But every year, we have candidates who end up seriously injured or dead during this assessment. I hope you don’t become one of them. It would save me the trouble."

Chen Chuan asked, "Have you been here long, Ms. Hu?"

"It’s a living. Nobody else wants to come to this godforsaken place, and I don’t have the connections to get a transfer. Besides, I’ve been here so long that every time a new boss comes in, they think I’m doing a great job. They take one look at my file and go, ’Well, look at that, a veteran employee! Never caused any trouble. Perfect, you can just stay put.’"

After a few words of self-deprecation, Hu Xian slammed her foot on the accelerator. The SUV shot forward, stopping in front of an old-fashioned hotel about ten minutes later. She led Chen Chuan inside, got a key from the pretty woman at the reception desk, and tossed it to him.

"I own this hotel, it’s my private business. The first three days are free; after that, you pay. If you need anything, just tell Old Wan—the big-bearded guy watching the entrance. Don’t let his rough appearance fool you, he’s incredibly meticulous. He’s the type of guy who’s brawny enough to wrestle a bear but has the dexterity to do fine embroidery. You can trust him with anything."

Chen Chuan followed her to the second floor and into a room. The living area had a thick carpet, a chandelier, a long table made of unfinished wood, and a dartboard on the wall.

Hu Xian walked over and pushed open the window. "The view’s decent, and it gets sunlight. Of course, we can get you another room if you don’t like it, but the conditions here are what they are. This is already the best one."

Chen Chuan looked around and nodded. "No need to switch." He set down his suitcase. "Do you need to inspect my things? The person who arranged this for me mentioned it was part of the procedure."

Hu Xian glanced over and said dismissively, "Don’t bother. How much could you have brought with you? Besides, there’s nothing you can’t get your hands on in this place. Hang on a sec." She turned and left, returning a moment later to toss a stack of pamphlets onto the table. "Your assessment targets."

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