Chapter 301: Entering the Lost Land
For some reason, the closer Xu Zhi got to the entrance of the Lost Lands, the more something felt off.
It wasn’t a sense of danger—rather, her body seemed to be sensing something, gradually tensing up, her heartbeat becoming faster than usual.
She found it a little strange, but seeing that everyone else also looked tense, she didn’t ask further.
On the way to the entrance, they passed through a long passage that resembled a tunnel. Though called a tunnel, it was actually a fairly wide four-lane road. Sitting in the car, Xu Zhi occasionally saw other vehicles passing by—not many, likely others heading to or returning from the Lost Lands.
About half an hour later, they reached the end of the tunnel. There was a final checkpoint here, along with an observation post for monitoring the mist.
After getting out of the vehicle and going through the last procedures, Xu Zhi finally arrived before the gates of the Lost Lands.
The massive steel gate, engraved with extraordinary circuits, slowly opened. From the gap, strands of white mist poured out, spreading across the ground like countless soft, tiny white snakes.
“Let’s go.”
Led by the Director of Studies, along with another instructor and the seven students, they stepped beyond the gate.
The moment they went out, the most immediate sensation was: the temperature dropped.
In Lian City, except for the lower districts, temperatures in the upper city were kept within a comfortable range. Since arriving there, Xu Zhi had almost never experienced such cold.
The others, who had lived in the upper city all their lives, were even less accustomed to such an environment. Fortunately, the bodies of extraordinary individuals were highly adaptable—mere cold posed no real issue.
Beyond the chill, the most striking sight was this mist-shrouded wasteland.
It felt like some desolate, uninhabited land. Even plants could not survive here—only damp soil and creeping fog remained.
Then, Xu Zhi suddenly realized—
the flow of extraordinary energy within her body seemed… faster?
She immediately thought of the black mist in Yun City. That mist was a collection of energy, allowing extraordinary users to advance more quickly within it. Was this the same?
But it couldn’t be just pure energy. Otherwise, why construct such an extensive quarantine perimeter instead of letting the mist spread freely?
“Be careful after entering. Act according to your training. Remember—your purpose here is experience.”
“Understood.”
They nodded.
There were several rules they had practically memorized by heart:
Do not make excessive noise.
Do not remain in one place for too long.
When hunting extraordinary creatures, avoid letting them escape.
If you begin hearing strange sounds, you must rest.
If you feel something calling you from deep within the Lost Lands, you must leave immediately.
Avoid being alone as much as possible—this place is filled with both danger and temptation, and a lone will is often insufficient to resist.
Remember: life requires a body. Humans cannot exist purely as souls.
Not every extraordinary creature is hostile—before attacking, confirm whether you can defeat it. Otherwise, do not provoke local beings recklessly.
Those were the key points, along with some minor survival tips.
“From here on, I will no longer provide guidance. You have five days—plan accordingly.”
After saying this, the Director of Studies and the other instructor walked into the mist.
Of course, they didn’t truly leave—they simply moved beyond the students’ line of sight. After all, if teachers remained visible, it would subconsciously provide a sense of security.
Once their figures disappeared into the mist, the atmosphere among the group became noticeably more tense.
Their goal in entering the Lost Lands was simple: to improve as much as possible before the league began.
Why did all extraordinary users desire to enter the Lost Lands?
Not just because of the abundant resources and energy—but because within it, the digestion and circulation of extraordinary energy became faster. Their connection to the “Mansus” grew closer. Over time, even their innate affinity would gradually increase.
Some even awakened entirely new abilities shortly after entering.
In short, the deeper one ventured—and the more one resisted its dangers and temptations—the greater the rewards.
Most importantly, without exception, every powerful Named individual had ventured deep into the Lost Lands. There were even rumors that the path to ascension might lie at its deepest point.
Thus, all extraordinary users were drawn to it.
And the objective of entering the Lost Lands was singular:
To go deeper.
If one lacked the strength to go far, then one should stay as long as possible.
Of course, within reason—because the dangers were real. Forcing oneself to remain would often lead only to death. That was why the academy limited them to five days.
Xu Zhi didn’t know how others felt, but for her, ever since arriving, the extraordinary energy within her had shifted from calm to something like a boiling state.
Her circuits were more active than ever—as if freed from some invisible restraint, stretching and moving freely.
It felt… comfortable.
Despite the cold surroundings, the activity within her felt warm and invigorating. Her body seemed lighter, her mind almost massaged, drifting into a floating, blissful sensation—almost as if she wanted to become lighter still, to float into the air—
Hm?
Something was wrong.
Xu Zhi frowned, immediately realizing the abnormality. The moment she became aware of it, the floating sensation vanished, and her body returned to solidity.
She glanced at her teammates.
Aside from Chu Xiaoyue, the others seemed slightly unfocused—not unconscious, but clearly too immersed in that pleasant sensation.
Chu Xiaoyue had noticed as well. She raised her sword and flicked it lightly with her finger.
The sharp sound of metal rang out, carrying a chilling aura of [Winter]. Xu Zhi felt a sudden coldness spread through her body, and the others shivered, snapping back to awareness.
“Be careful. Don’t get too attached to the illusions of the Lost Lands.”
With just that reminder, everyone’s expressions turned serious.
They hadn’t even truly entered the Lost Lands yet—only reached its outskirts—and already, they had felt its “temptation.”
