Chapter 1 Inception

Strictly speaking, it's impossible to see stars with a radio telescope—unless each of those pixels can be counted as stars.

However, Su Zhou brought his team here not to let them have a vacation, travel, stargaze, or play.

They were here to do serious business.

Three years ago, due to the spiritual energy resurgence, the impact and interference of spiritual energy on the observable electromagnetic wave bands caused most of the world's radio telescopes to temporarily fail. No matter what, they could only observe a mess.

To shield this influence, or to incorporate spiritual energy as an observation target, required superhumans, especially those with a high degree of control over their own spiritual energy, to assist in fine-tuning and build a new observation model.

This kind of thing caused a lot of trouble for the astronomical community at the beginning of the spiritual energy resurgence. Fortunately, the world's major official organizations had anticipated this, so they fine-tuned it as soon as the spiritual energy resurgence occurred, restoring the work of major radio telescopes.

But recently, this batch of radio telescopes located in the western Gobi region has once again experienced problems similar to those at the beginning of the spiritual energy resurgence—they have observed a large number of signals that are either garbled or abnormal data.

As far as Su Zhou knew, the local research institute discovered that in a planetary system located eleven light-years away from Earth, around a red dwarf star named Roland 120A, there was an extremely obvious and active spiritual energy reaction.

This was not a spiritual energy reaction released by the star itself, because Roland 120A's movement was not active. Even the spiritual energy resurgence would probably not change much—according to the detection results, this was likely an abnormal phenomenon erupting on its second planet.

This was strange. A planet releasing a powerful spiritual energy reaction that could be observed by a radio telescope? It could even interfere with the electromagnetic wave bands in this entire region?

Was it life activity? An advanced alien civilization? Or a cosmic-level spiritual energy anomaly?

What exactly was on that planet that could cause this anomaly?

Or was this just an erroneous signal observed by the radio telescope?

Currently, researchers cannot identify whether this is an observation anomaly caused by spiritual energy or an anomaly in the observation area itself, so they need some professional cultivators to assist in identification—and this is why Su Zhou brought his students here.

Now, in order to cooperate with the adjustment, the radio telescope has been turned off, otherwise Li Hanshan would not be able to use his mobile phone, but relevant information is complete, and it will be submitted to them by AI for processing later.

In general, this is a formal professional superhuman task for the Zheng Nation. Su Zhou used his connections to get it to test and train his team members, and earn some academic credits.

Of course, it won't delay serious business. After all, Qiming and the others are excellent students from the Diligence Academy. Their relevant professional abilities are no less than those of full-time personnel.

"So, on the surface, you're inviting us to look at the stars, but in reality, you're pulling us in to do free labor?"

This was Shao Qiming's complaint, whom Su Zhou had picked up from the nearby planting area. The young man, who had been working in the Gobi desert all day, sighed, "Cooperating to test the observation accuracy of radio telescopes... you really know how to find work for us, my good brother."

Su Zhou felt wronged: "How can you say it's free labor? There are academic credits and citizen points! I'm doing this for your own good. More points means you can exchange for immortal and divine inheritances sooner, right?"

This was Su Zhou's true thought. Shao Qiming and the others had been enrolled for two years now. The first generation of students from the three major superhuman academies were about to enter their third year and had to prepare for internships in related fields or find mentors for in-depth training.

As the team's professor, Su Zhou, apart from the superhuman field, was not qualified to continue teaching everyone as a mentor, so he also had to consider the future of his friends and team members, and strive for more practical opportunities in various fields for them.

"Alright, alright, I know you're doing it for our own good, but I can already guess that when Lao Guan and Xiao Li find out that this isn't a vacation and that they even have to stay in the Gobi for more than ten days, they will definitely be dumbfounded... hurry up and leave, do you want to be stared at by the entire team with resentful eyes?"

Chased away by Qiming impatiently, Su Zhou laughed and used the Wind Assist to throw his friend from mid-air, sending him to the entrance of the research institute, then turned and left.

The Zheng Nation now has no idlers.

In addition to the daily practice time, Su Zhou himself also has a lot of work to do—whether it is suppressing the Beast God Realm, patrolling the Pacific Ocean, participating in public welfare programs to film superhuman science videos, or cooperating with various parts of the country to adjust celestial phenomena, Su Zhou, as the Zheng Nation's top image spokesperson in the era of spiritual energy resurgence, does have to frequently show his face in front of the public to show his existence.

In fact, not long ago, after he returned from the Divine Dragon World and endured the Heavenly Tribulation, Su Zhou cooperated with the old acquaintance "Walking into the Superhuman" program team to film a science program about the Heavenly Tribulation, this automated crime punishment system.

And in this program, Su Zhou revealed that in the future, the Zheng Nation may also use the Heavenly Tribulation as the assessment standard for ordinary superhumans.

"Let me see what the reaction is."

Thinking like this, Su Zhou opened his mobile phone.

Thanks to the huge changes in the world caused by the spiritual energy resurgence, a large number of superhuman-related forums, WeChat groups, and related websites have emerged on the Internet, specializing in discussing topics related to cultivation and major news in the superhuman world.

And the topic about Su Zhou has always been the water experience treasure of these forums and websites. Whether it is spraying him or praising him, any news related to him will cause a lot of discussion, and this time is no exception.

[Su Zhou (sitting on the sofa, with a kind smile on his face): Yes, I think that the strength of a superhuman cannot be judged by simple data as a standard—the ability to adapt, the ability to withstand emergencies, the ability to respond, and the willpower to endure pain, these abilities are difficult to test, or ordinary assessments are difficult to fully exert, are very important for the strength of a superhuman.]

[Host (with a curious face): So, what do you think, Professor Su? As you said, the strength of a superhuman is difficult to show with tests, and there are indeed some cultivators who can only exert their full strength in a crisis... how should we conduct tests and evaluations relatively fairly?]

[Su Zhou (crossing his hands, resting on his chin, with a glint in his eyes and a cold expression): Heavenly Tribulation.]

[Host (blank): What did you say?]

[Su Zhou (solemn expression): I mean Heavenly Tribulation. It is rumored that in ancient times, the Zheng Nation's immortal and divine organization 'Central Divine Court' used the Heavenly Tribulation to test the strength of immortals and gods, and then evaluate their titles. Although the Central Divine Court has disappeared, the excellent tradition of Heavenly Tribulation since ancient times in Zheng Nation does not need to be discarded.]

[Restart the Heavenly Tribulation to assess every professional superhuman and national civil servant. This can not only judge strength but also determine whether there is any criminal cause and effect behind it. Strength review and political review are done together, which can greatly simplify the process and save a lot of expenses.]

[Su Zhou (nodding solemnly, first looking at the host, then looking at the camera): So I think restarting the Heavenly Tribulation is imperative.]

[Host (wiping sweat): Ah, um, yes, Professor Su described a very special future trend for us, very interesting, next, we will continue to the next topic...]

Below the video link, there are full of wails from many netizens.

"You just got struck by the Heavenly Tribulation yourself, so you want others to be struck too?!"

"Su the Benevolent, I thank you so much, man!"

"It's over, it's over, this Su Dragon King has always been the official mouthpiece, popularizing the Lightning Tribulation test is bound to be the general trend... It's over, it's all over!"

"This Su Zhou's heart is black, isn't it! He's just like a demon!"

"The netizens now always like to describe things in an extreme way, and even demonize Professor Su. This actually shows that there is a misunderstanding in their cognition, because demons are not that scary."

In addition to many wails and complaints, some netizens found the blind spot and started conspiracy theories: "Wait, Su Hunk has been playing with spreading clouds and rain recently, but have you forgotten that this guy is still the Lord of Thunder? The popularization of the Heavenly Tribulation is obviously an internal official struggle, and Su Hunk's faction is starting to try to seize power and rise to the top!"

"Hiss, a gasp of cold air, terrifying!"

Naturally, there are objections, it doesn't matter if there are any, there are also conspiracy theories.

And the number of people who agree is actually not small.

A comment on an anonymous forum seemed very real: "Honestly, pure passerby, if the Heavenly Tribulation is really used for professional cultivator level assessment, then 'Advanced Professional Cultivator' is definitely better to hear than 'Three Tribulation Cultivator'! In that case, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

"There is one saying, it is indeed."

"As expected of Su Zhou, mastering the truth of the Heavenly Tribulation, this is the 4001st year of the Zheng Nation's Thunder Law!"

Seeing this, Su Zhou couldn't help but join in. He immediately opened a small account: "To say something fair..."

Soon, half the night passed.

June 9, 2017, 0:32 AM.

In the pleasant mutual spray and mutual bar with stupid netizens, Su Zhou arrived at the Kunlun Secret Realm, also located in the northwest region.

In fact, the popularization of the Heavenly Tribulation is not just Su Zhou's idea. Although he initially just wanted to have fun and gave a suggestion to the Central Committee, he did not expect that most of the Holy Seats would say that they could consider restarting the Heavenly Tribulation system.

As for the reason, the most important one is the reason of 'internal self-detection of human society'.

Relying solely on the natural reaction of the Order Array to carry out Heavenly Tribulation strikes is actually a very passive thing.

This huge system can only deal with those extraterrestrial demons that have no concealment at all. As long as they are slightly hidden, whether they are great demons, aliens, or people from other worlds, they are likely to deceive the Order Array and mix into human society—just like Su Zhou, he was originally Yala's dependent, a first-class demon, but as long as he doesn't wander around in another world, the Order Array will have no reaction at all.

From a macro perspective, the Order Array does block the erosion of countless beings from other worlds, but as long as it is slightly concealed and its essence is not exposed, it is also very easy to deceive.

But the Heavenly Tribulation is different—the response mechanism of the Heavenly Tribulation is much more precise than the Order Array, and it is basically impossible to miss anomalies.

Moreover, because its predecessor was an automatic crime punishment system, it is much easier to identify criminals and those with ulterior motives hidden in the crowd by observing the reaction and strength of the Heavenly Tribulation, and it is even more impossible for them to mix into the official team as internal spies.

Just like the Beast God Realm operation, the tentacles of the Covenant Assembly have already penetrated the high-level of the NW Foundation in the American Federation. If there is a Lightning Tribulation system, this kind of guy related to the mysterious organization would not even pass the initial political review stage, let alone mix into the interior.

Therefore, restarting the Heavenly Tribulation system can improve the test data, clean up the team composition, and bring its own lie detector to ask the heart, killing three birds with one stone. Why not do it?

"Most importantly, being struck by lightning is not without benefits. Being able to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation can naturally purify the spiritual energy in your body."

"Maybe by then, everyone will be eager to be struck by lightning a few more times."

Thinking like this, Su Zhou raised his left hand and used the agent terminal to send a signal to the secret base around the Kunlun Secret Realm, asking it to open the gate of the secret realm, and he flew straight through it, passing through the Kunlun Secret Realm, and directly arrived at the Beast God Realm.

At this time, the Beast God Realm was in the morning, the sun was shining, completely different from the outside world's deep night.

Around the fortress-like two-world fortress, teams of fully armed human cultivators were walking and flying. They would depart from here to patrol the entire Beast God Realm, especially the situation in the major divine beast territories, and suppress the local unintelligent dangerous monsters.

And at the entrance and exit of the two-world portal of the Beast God Realm, there was a blue-haired lady with double horns on her head and wearing a plain immortal robe, waiting for Su Zhou's arrival.

"Professor Su."

Water Kirin, King of the Mao Race, An Tuo, slightly bowed her head to Su Zhou.

In just the time of a glance, she could feel that the power in this young human's body was much stronger than the last time they met—not just a little bit, but a very obvious big step.

That terrifying power like the sun, and even the unity of many dragons and snakes, made him look like his ancestors who were comparable to immortals and gods in the past!

This kind of open and upright, majestic and oppressive power made her secretly shocked by the other party's talent, but also relieved a little in her heart.

—With the existence of Su Zhou, the current situation of the Beast God Realm is essentially an inevitable thing... Even without the power of humans, relying solely on Su Zhou's violence, he could suppress the entire Beast God Realm and use his power to transform the entire world.

"Yes, Ms. An Tuo, hello."

Responding to the Water Kirin's greeting, Su Zhou did not waste any words. He nodded, then waved his hand and said directly: "Routine business, once a month, it's my turn to inspect the situation of Concord City this time—don't be nervous, am I going to eat you?"

—You tell me? The terrifying upright ape that swallows the ghost car alive?

Secretly slandering in her heart, An Tuo did not know whether Su Zhou had the Mind of No Thought and could roughly know her thoughts.

But Su Zhou didn't actually mind the title of 'Terrifying Upright Ape'.

Because making people fear can save a lot of things, without so many twists and turns and temptations... Since someone is willing to be afraid of him, that is also a good thing.

Thinking like this, Su Zhou chuckled and signaled An Tuo to lead the way: "No need for more greetings, let's go, Ms. An Tuo, take me to stroll around Concord City."

"Let me see what the Beast God Realm looks like now."