The onboarding training for their investigators typically lasted from three to six months. Those who passed the assessment after training were qualified to be deployed as esteemed Level Three Investigators.
However, due to the changing circumstances, the training duration was continuously compressed, from six months to three, then to two, and finally to one and a half.
Many investigators were sent to the battlefield as 'interns' before completing all their assessments.
Even so, they always had at least a month of training, and these were soldiers carefully selected, possessing robust bodies and determined wills even before professional training.
What about the students of Xin Huo?
Their backgrounds were not entirely clear, but among this batch of students, the investigators noticed many young boys and girls with youthful faces.
They gritted their teeth, resisting the onslaught of sanity shocks from the strange entities, their faces pale, on the verge of collapse, yet they did not fall.
This willpower! This resistance!
They found it hard to believe, even here at Xin Huo, basic logic should apply.
"But Xin Huo's training base hasn't been established for long, has it?"
An investigator remarked.
In other words, no matter how long this batch of trainees had been here, it wouldn't be much. Five days, this was very likely true.
Are they all monsters?!
Assistant instructor Xu Tian was not old, but having dealt with strange entities, fought on battlefields, and experienced countless events, much of the youthful innocence had faded from his face as he assumed the role of 'assistant instructor' at the training base.
He was summoned at this moment to explain the course details.
"Our 'Strange Entity Recognition and Resistance Training Course' is divided into several stages. The first stage involves recognizing basic strange entities through textbooks and illustrated guides, lasting for one session."
"The second stage is direct recognition and resistance to the sanity shock of strange entities. This stage comprises a total of five sessions, one session per day, progressing from one strange entity to five, sequentially."
"However, not all students can endure it. In this batch of 73 students, 5 fainted during the first session of the second stage and were sent to the infirmary for mental and spiritual treatment."
"In the second and third sessions, 3 and 2 individuals respectively could not hold on. These students who couldn't persevere had to repeat the course and train with the next batch." Da Feng Novel Network
"It's not that their resistance is extremely strong, it's just that those who couldn't endure have been demoted."
Likely sensing the investigators' difficulty in accepting this, the kind-hearted Xu Tian offered consolation.
Not everyone at Xin Huo is a monster; look, many were demoted or even eliminated.
Were there many?
With over sixty people still persevering against the sanity shocks, not one had fainted. You call this a high elimination rate?!
And the duration of the sanity shock is too long!
Do you spend most of your session resisting the shock?!
But the investigators had to admit that this training method was effective, extremely effective. This was also why many investigators' resistance improved rapidly after officially starting their duties—if they didn't die.
However, they couldn't replicate it!
The headquarters' training base had special methods for imprisoning strange entities, but these were only for confinement and manifestation. Those entities were already on the verge of death, only fit for observation.
The sanity shocks? Too weak.
The manifestations were incomplete, appearing blurry to ordinary people. Unlike the Xin Huo training base, where strange entities were presented one after another like mannequins.
If their Investigation Bureau could learn from this and achieve similar conditions, the training for their recruits, while not necessarily taking only a few days, might be compressed to thirty or twenty days.
When the opportunity arose, they would definitely seek guidance.
This thought occurred simultaneously to Director Huang's deputy, Fu Feng, Zhou Hai, and other mid-to-high-level personnel of the Investigation Bureau.
Then, they heard, "The above are the basic courses. Passing them signifies a passing grade for the course. Those who excel in the assessment will have the qualification to pursue advanced courses."
"This includes personally fighting strange entities, confronting higher-level strange entities, and so on. Of course, this is just for our 'Strange Entity Recognition and Resistance Training Course'; we have many other training courses."
"Such as the 'Killing Intent Resistance and Willpower Training Course,' 'Basic Physical Fitness Training,' 'Lightning Magnetic Sensitivity Training Course,' 'Gravity Training Course,' and of course, more advanced courses open only to awakeners."
"We have also prepared contribution point rewards for this. Those who perform exceptionally well can exchange them for physical enhancement elixirs and various items to improve their strength during their student period. In addition to that..."
Xu Tian explained.
It was clear he had said this before; his delivery was very familiar. However, his usual audience was newly arrived rookie students, whereas this time, his listeners were investigators visiting as guests.
What he said made them all eager.
...
Mystic Realm,
Xin Huo Palace, in a reception room on the side.
Huang Hongtian gazed at the enormous palace, dozens of meters high, and the eight colossal pillars supporting the dome, entwined with dragons.
He felt as if he were dreaming, as if he had arrived in another world.
No, the 'as if' could be removed.
After a long while, he gradually regained his senses, struggling to maintain his composure, a hint of a wry smile mixed with a surge of excitement.
He looked at the young man in front of him, clad in a white robe.
A Xin Huo Mentor!
"Thank you, Xin Huo, for your repeated assistance. On behalf of the Investigation Bureau and the Eastern Huang Nation, I express our sincere gratitude."
Director Huang clasped his fists.
"This is also our duty at Xin Huo."
"The world is about to descend into an abyss. The disasters appearing now are merely the beginning. In the future, more and more calamities will follow. It is not yet a time for ease, and thus, all parties must work together."
Fang You paused and continued, "The Investigation Bureau is often at the forefront, and we at Xin Huo have witnessed this and greatly admire it. To this end, Xin Huo has spent a considerable amount of time and manpower across most regions of Eastern Huang, deploying means to detect the locations of strange entities."
He extended his hand and waved it gently.
Xiao Huan cooperatively projected a holographic image, showing a map of a small city.
It was marked with numerous red dots of various sizes, distributed throughout the city. As the map was zoomed in, it became clear that the markers were highly precise, pinpointing specific streets, residential areas, and even individual buildings.
The Strange Entity Radar Map!
Huang Hongtian was not unfamiliar with it, as it had been piloted in several areas, including Bai Jiang. Yes, a pilot.
Now, he understood everything. Xin Huo provided the information, and investigators from Bai Jiang carried out the missions to eliminate strange entities.
Xin Huo observed the entire process and performance.
It was precisely because Bai Jiang performed well that Xin Huo decided to deepen their cooperation with the Investigation Bureau and, at great cost of resources and manpower, deployed these systems in many cities across Eastern Huang!
Fortunately, fortunately, the cities in Bai Jiang had not slacked off and had earned Xin Huo's approval.
He would promote Zhou Hai upon his return.
The map continued to zoom out, revealing the full panorama of Shuize Prefecture, then a wider scope covering half of Eastern Huang. Each city was dotted with fine red points.
Such a capability was simply incredible!
But compared to the incredulity, Huang Hongtian was filled with solemn respect for Xin Huo's willingness to deploy these systems in city after city, regardless of the cost, solely for the safety of the populace and the stability of society.
He also felt a pang of shame.
"Our Investigation Bureau will certainly not let down Xin Huo's efforts!"
He solemnly promised.
In return, he revealed a significant secret held by the Investigation Bureau.
A mystic realm!
"A hidden place, a mysterious place, that's how we refer to it."
"Its origin is currently unknown, but the mystic realm is incredibly wondrous. It continuously births strange entity materials, ghoul crystals, and other mysterious materials. Many of the mysterious materials and ghoul artifacts currently possessed by our Investigation Bureau originate from this mystic realm."
"However, the mystic realm is also accompanied by danger. The frequency of strange entities, and powerful ones, being born there far exceeds other locations. If not cleared promptly, the mystic realm will soon be overrun by a terrifying number of strange entities, which will then break out."
"Precisely because of this, Director Tang of our bureau is stationed there year-round, and some of our experts and special forces members also rotate their duty there."
Huang Hongtian explained.
Fang You had long suspected this. The information investigated by Xiao Huan was incomplete, and the missing piece that all clues pointed towards was this mystic realm!
It was not unexpected.
In fact, connecting the situation of the mystic realm, the ghoul realm, and the process of entering the ghoul realm, he had even made a bold conjecture.
The mystic realm might be the true entrance to the ghoul realm!
An entrance where the ghoul realm intersects with reality. Of course, it likely required specific conditions to enter. As for An Jianyou's method of entry, it seemed more like using a back door.
Did the intersection of the ghoul realm and reality give birth to all sorts of mysterious materials, and even ghoul artifacts?
Fang You mused.
He was indeed very curious about the mystic realm. Therefore, when faced with Director Huang's invitation, he paused for a moment before saying, "At that time, I will go with a clone."
...
As night fell,
The people from the Investigation Bureau returned to the branch in Shuize City to rest.
In a temporary office, Huang Hongtian was having a video call with Director Tang, who had just emerged from the mystic realm.
"Xin Huo's wonders are countless, impossible to fully describe even in a day and night."
"Although our Investigation Bureau is the primary governing body for mysterious affairs within Eastern Huang, there are still too many unknown things in this world that surpass our imagination."
Director Huang sighed.
A deep, powerful voice emanated from the video.
"Always maintain reverence."
"You are right." Huang Hongtian nodded. "However, Xin Huo's mystery and power are a good thing for us, and for the entire world."
"It's just that even such a powerful Xin Huo worries about the future, suggesting we might face more challenging trials."
Recalling Xin Huo's more efficient and miraculous training model and the preliminary intentions that had been reached,
Huang Hongtian spoke, "Should we send some of our trainees to Xin Huo's training base? Just for basic training, and if we pay some fees, I believe Xin Huo wouldn't refuse."
The man in the video pondered for a moment and said,
"Select a batch of trainees from headquarters, a group of ordinary investigators, to go to the Xin Huo base for exchange and learning, and observe the results."