"I thought it must be the black water spewed from the zombie’s mouth that caused the trouble, wondering if there was a problem with my mental state."

"Those shadows grew in number, slowly drifting over, densely surrounding my bedside."

"They all lowered their heads in unison, opened their dark mouths towards me, and let out that creepy laugh like fingernails on a chalkboard."

"I desperately pressed the call bell, shouting for the doctor, but there wasn’t a sound in the corridor."

"I swung my fist to punch, but my fist went right through them, couldn’t kill them at all!"

At the end, Ma Donghe let out a long breath and patted his chest:

"Fortunately, just as those shadows were about to pounce on my face, there was a ’dong’ sound of a large bell above."

"Then, everything blurred before my eyes, and I finally retreated from that ghostly place."

At this point, Ma Donghe smacked his lips and turned to Fang Cheng:

"Hey, you also woke up when the bell rang, didn’t you? The feeling of combat in there, isn’t it exciting?"

Fang Cheng’s eyes slightly narrowed upon hearing this.

A bell sound? Where did that come from?

His consciousness was clearly forced to retreat from the illusion realm due to extreme physical weakness and overexertion.

From start to finish, including the battle at the water plant, until leaving through the gate, he never heard any bell signifying the end of the exam.

Fang Cheng quietly clenched his right hand at his side, feeling the terrifying strength contained within this body.

Suddenly, a huge question flashed across his mind.

Speaking of it, in reality, his body isn’t truly weak.

At most, he just sweated a bit, his body temperature rose somewhat, seeming a bit abnormal.

This kind of exertion doesn’t even reach the intensity of his usual complete morning workout, just slightly more vigorous than a warm-up.

At most, when he just awoke, to adjust to the cognitive gap between the two worlds, his spirit was a bit dazed, causing brief dizziness.

Since in the illusion realm, he was able to visualize True Sun Fire and thus gained the ability to defeat the monsters.

Then why did his memories from reality not fully restore within it?

And, from the end of the battle until now, his skill panel seems to have been in a frozen state without any movement.

Just as he thought of this.

The edge of Fang Cheng’s retina suddenly flickered, followed by a flash of pale blue light.

Meanwhile, lines of translucent text prompts flowed down like a waterfall following his gaze:

[You completed a brilliant fight without relying on any body attribute bonus, skill experience increased by 20 points]

[Boxing Lv3 (503/1000)]

[You completed a brilliant fight without relying on any body attribute bonus, skill experience increased by 20 points]

[Sanda Lv3 (195/1000)]

[You completed a brilliant fight without relying on any body attribute bonus, skill experience increased by 30 points]

[Muay Thai Lv2 (451/500)]

[In an absolutely selfless state, your willpower activated True Sun Fire, guiding Qigong autonomously, skill experience increased by 40 points]

[Qigong Lv3 (91/1000)]

[In a secluded special environment, you successfully visualized True Sun Fire, skill experience increased by 50]

[Visualization Level 3 (309/1000)]

Looking at these newly popped up notifications, Fang Cheng first paused slightly and then felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Fortunately, the panel wasn’t completely blocked by that bizarre exam illusion realm.

Fang Cheng didn’t bother to feel happy for the increase in skill experience.

Then, as he turned his thoughts, the expression in his eyes deepened again.

Since he was able to engage in physical combat with enemies in the so-called "illusion realm", and was judged by the panel as effective battle, even gaining such abundant skill experience.

Doesn’t this indirectly confirm the reality of that experience?

It’s important to know, in reality, if relying solely on imaginary enemies for air attack training, the panel would absolutely not provide so much real battle experience.

Is there truly such an incredible illusion realm in this world, capable of completely suppressing his subjective consciousness and forcibly implanting false memories?

Even fooling the panel’s real battle judgment mechanism?

Fang Cheng slightly clenched both fists, his heart in turmoil.

Beside him was Ma Donghe’s incessant bragging and the tense whispers of surrounding examinees.

On his fist peak seemed to remain the reaction force from shattering monster bodies.

Those family members chattering endlessly at the dining table.

Those lively classmates at the water plant.

If that is truly just a virtual illusion constructed by subconscious code.

Why is the feeling of extreme exhaustion before losing consciousness so vivid, as if it’s carved into every muscle in the body?

That sunshine within reach, buildings, and family and friends...

Are they really just illusions?

"Smack!"

A broad hand lands on Fang Cheng’s shoulder, disrupting the turbulent thoughts in his mind.

Ma Donghe leaned in with his big head, looking at him with some curiosity:

"Ah Cheng, what are you thinking about? Sitting here motionless for half a day, still not recovered from the illusion realm?"

Fang Cheng quickly composed himself and casually replied:

"Nothing much, just recalling the details of the battle just now."

"Come on, the exam is over, what’s there to reminisce about."

Ma Donghe waved his hand carelessly, and rubbed his dry belly.

"Gurgle—"

A long and muffled sound timely emitted from his stomach.

He raised his head to glance at the clock on the corridor wall and said:

"It’s almost twelve, we should hurry out to find something to eat."

Speaking of this, Ma Donghe suddenly paused, as if he discovered a blind spot.

He stroked the stubble just growing on his chin, his brow furrowing into a knot, full of bewilderment:

"Hey, isn’t it strange? We were just lying in chairs taking a Spirit test, but after battling zombies and specters in the illusion realm, now coming out, I actually feel my legs are weak and my stomach is stuck to my back with hunger."

Ma Donghe widened his eyes and patted his sturdy thighs:

"It’s like... the energy consumed inside was all accounted for in the real body’s Strength!"

These complaints, crude yet with a trace of insight, echoed in Fang Cheng’s ears, further validating his speculation a little.

But he didn’t respond, just listened silently.

"Whatever!"

Ma Donghe couldn’t figure it out, so simply chose not to think, waving his big hand and pounded his chest, shouting:

"Today noon we must have a good meal, replenish all the consumed energy! Tomorrow afternoon is the stamina and wilderness survival test."

"From my experience in training camps, those examiners are really ruthless, we’ll probably be thrown into some mountain valley for two or three days."

"By then, dining in the wind and sleeping under the open sky will be the norm, today’s not the day to bulk up, absolutely can’t hold up!"

"Hey, what are you guys chatting about, so happy?"

As they were speaking, a head with two wind-catching ears suddenly leaned over.

This was Hou Peng, the skinny candidate who was listening to Ma Donghe bragging next to the water cooler.

He rubbed his hands, smiling with a grin that showed teeth but not eyes, extremely familiar as he approached:

"Brother Fang, you’ve finished the exam, right? I heard Brother Ma saying he wants to eat."

"Just right, I know a lamb restaurant at the corner of the street outside the Special Search Team Headquarters, the taste of that brass pot boiled meat is superb!"

"Consider me borrowing a flower to present to Buddha, my treat, let’s celebrate our smooth passing and future comradeship in advance."

"Go go go, it’s not your turn to treat."

Ma Donghe glared, his fan-like big hand pushed Hou Peng aside:

"I just got pissed off battling zombies in the morgue, this meal must be arranged by me to ward off bad vibes, no one should fight me for the bill!"

"Come on, Brother Ma, you’re really seeing me as an outsider then..."

Hou Peng was not angry, like a sticky candy he leaned back in.

The two seemed to have mixed quite well together.

For the right to pay the bill, they stood in the waiting hall, arguing back and forth.

Fang Cheng stands aside, watching the two act like big spenders, his tense nerves slightly relax.

He smiles faintly, interrupts them:

"Let’s go, we’ll talk as we walk. If necessary, I’ll treat."

Hearing Fang Cheng speak, Ma Donghe and Hou Peng finally stopped pulling, quickly following him left and right.

The three walk shoulder to shoulder, passing through the crowd of examinees still tense, heads down memorizing material.

After arriving at the first-floor lobby, they push open the heavy glass doors, stepping into the bright and dazzling sunlight outside.