I Can Control Resources

Chapter 344: Chapter 286: Sonar: Level 8 Descends! What a Rush

The pressure test is starting at level seven?

This was no joke!

Gao Neng had been listening carefully to the researcher’s explanation, so he knew exactly what this pressure test was measuring.

This so-called pressure test wasn’t some endurance test from the old college entrance exams.

This pressure test was more direct and much more intense. It didn’t use a regular gravity chamber, but rather a special "sonar" developed by the Alliance.

What was sonar?

Before the Great Cataclysm, there was a movie called "The Mermaid" where the male lead experienced sonar and nearly shat his pants.

Of course, the Alliance’s sonar was different from the one in the movie.

This sonar wouldn’t cause any physical harm. It merely enhanced the body’s ’tissue activity’ to test a person’s ’metabolic’ capabilities.

To put it simply, this pressure test measured your human limit—or rather, your comprehensive ability to absorb, convert, and release energy.

Mmm...

Once you exceeded your limit, things would get ugly.

So, you had to know your own limits.

Zhang Hongying’s intention was obvious. By starting the intensity at level seven, she was essentially pushing both Gao Neng and Shaximo to an extremely high standard right off the bat.

Shaximo would be fine.

After all, Shaximo was already a Tier Six Late Stage warrior, just a hair’s breadth away from the high tiers. He could probably hold on for a while even under level seven pressure.

But Gao Neng was a different story.

It was a known fact that Gao Neng was only Tier Five.

So, while he wouldn’t suffer any physical injuries under such intense pressure, he was guaranteed to make a fool of himself.

At least, that’s what the disciples from the sects and prominent families thought. They expected to see Gao Neng screaming his lungs out, or even losing control of his bowels.

"Gao Neng, Shaximo, enter Chamber A and Chamber B respectively." Once the researchers were in position, Zhang Hongying’s gaze fell on Gao Neng.

"Yes!" Shaximo entered first.

Before going in, he shot a pointed look at Gao Neng, one filled with profound meaning. It was hard to say exactly what it conveyed.

But Gao Neng knew.

It was the pride of a powerful warrior.

The Dragon List had been out for a month. From the day it was published until it was finalized, Shaximo had held the number one spot, as steady as an old dog.

But just now, Gao Neng had displayed the same genetic mutation as him.

So, naturally, Shaximo needed to use this test to reclaim some face. At the very least, he had to crush Gao Neng’s arrogance.

How could the number one on the Dragon List not be competitive?

"Even if Gao Neng is a genius, he’s still a whole tier lower. Can he even last a minute in a level seven pressure test?" a disciple from a prominent family chuckled with interest.

"Don’t underestimate Gao Neng. With the Fourth Human Limit breakthrough, his metabolism is already stronger than an ordinary Energy Warrior’s. Even at level seven, I think he can last two minutes!"

"Two and a half minutes, tops!"

"How long do you guys think Shaximo can last? This is level seven intensity, after all!"

"At least five minutes, but probably no more than ten. I tried a level six pressure test a year ago when I was at the Tier Five Late Stage, and I barely lasted three minutes."

The disciples from the sects and prominent families murmured among themselves.

Meanwhile, Wang Jun and the others from the Military Department felt a bit helpless. In this kind of pressure test, Shaximo clearly had the absolute advantage. If Gao Neng could really last two or three minutes, that would already be impressive.

However, not everyone thought that way.

At least Fang Tangtang, Lin Ying, and Shen Ning’Er knew that Gao Neng’s metabolic ability was terrifying. To put it in one phrase... he was a cockroach that wouldn’t die!

So, who was stronger? The cockroach, or Shaximo, the number one on the Dragon List?

Gao Neng walked inside.

He was actually a little nervous.

’I don’t think I’ll necessarily lose to Shaximo, but this is my first time experiencing this sonar thing. What’s it going to feel like?’

’I’m not actually going to shit and piss myself, am I?’

’That would be so humiliating!’

The lights in the two pressure test chambers flickered on.

Glass partitions.

Although separate, the wall between them was transparent.

As for why they used this fully transparent design...

No explanation needed!

If you have to ask, it’s just part of the setting.

"Begin!" As Zhang Hongying’s voice rang out, an invisible, strange wave appeared in the two test chambers, causing the glass to tremble slightly.

’Whoa, so this is sonar!’ Gao Neng’s senses were crystal clear. The sensation was impossible to describe in plain language, but an analogy might make it understandable.

It was as if a peerless master, someone far stronger than you, was striking you with their palm. This palm wasn’t a physical strike, but something akin to ’Inner Strength’.

To put it even more simply, it was like you were in a contest of Inner Strength with a master.

It was awesome!

Gao Neng watched as the energy in his magnetic core was consumed at a terrifying rate. At the same time, his body also began to feel fatigued.

He glanced at the chamber next to him.

Shaximo didn’t seem to be having an easy time either.

Right now, Shaximo’s jaw was clenched, his eyes were wide, and sweat was beading on his forehead. However, his body remained steady, not moving an inch.

This just went to show Shaximo’s strength.

"Not bad. Gao Neng didn’t immediately drop to his knees?!"

"It’s not bad, but he shouldn’t be able to last much longer!"

"Shaximo’s tier is higher than Gao Neng’s. His energy absorption and conversion are definitely much stronger. That’s the advantage of being a higher tier!"

The disciples from the sects and prominent families pointed and whispered.

Meanwhile, Wang Jun and the others from the Military Department all wore tense expressions.

They knew Gao Neng would surely lose, but as long as it wasn’t too humiliating, it would be fine. That would be enough to save face for the Military Department.

Time passed quickly.

One minute passed.

Shaximo was still struggling to hold on.

Gao Neng was holding on, too.

Two minutes passed.

Gao Neng still hadn’t collapsed to his knees as the sect and family disciples had predicted.

Not only had he not collapsed, but there wasn’t even a drop of sweat on his forehead. In contrast, sweat was dripping down Shaximo’s brow one drop at a time.

"How can this be?!"

"Two minutes have passed. Why hasn’t Gao Neng fallen yet?"

"This is unscientific!"

The disciples from the sects and prominent families were a little dumbfounded.

This wasn’t what they had expected.

Zhang Hongying was also in disbelief. According to her estimates, Gao Neng’s physical fitness had barely reached a high-tier level. But there was no reason his ’metabolic’ ability should have reached that level too, right?

This just didn’t make any sense.

’You’re clearly just Tier Five, so why are you acting like a high-tier warrior?’

Just as she was thinking this, Gao Neng, inside the glass chamber, started moving. He was gesturing wildly and seemed to be shouting something.

However, the soundproofing of the pressure test chamber was too good.

The people outside couldn’t hear him.

"What’s he yelling?"

"Is he about to give up?"

"He’s probably about to collapse."

The sect and family disciples guessed.

But the researcher in charge of the test looked at Zhang Hongying with a strange expression. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke. "Gao Neng says level seven isn’t challenging enough. He wants to try level eight."

"What?!"

"Switch to level eight intensity?"

"Has he gone mad?"

Hearing the researcher’s words, the sect and family disciples stared blankly.

But when they looked back at Gao Neng, they could gradually tell from the shape of his mouth that the researcher was telling the truth.

Because Gao Neng really did seem to be yelling...

Switch to level eight!

Switch to level eight!

"..." The sect and family disciples were speechless.

Meanwhile, Shaximo, who was desperately holding on in the other chamber, seemed to notice Gao Neng’s strange behavior. His eyes widened even further.

’What the hell?!’

’This guy wants to switch to level eight?’

’Is he trying to drag me down with him in a final, desperate move?’

Shaximo was no fool.

He recalled a drinking contest tactic he’d once heard about.

For example, if you can only handle five shots of liquor, how can you out-drink someone who can handle seven? The answer is, you can’t.

But you can take them down with you.

The method is to grab your opponent while you’re still sober and force-feed them drinks.

One shot after another, until you’ve both had eight.

The result, naturally, is that you both pass out.

’Looks like Gao Neng wants to take me down with him. But can you even compete with me?’ His rational mind told him to ignore Gao Neng.

But Shaximo was extremely competitive.

If Gao Neng used level eight intensity while he only used level seven, even if he won, those guys from the Military Department would definitely say that Gao Neng dared to try level eight while he only dared to use level seven. They would say Gao Neng lost to level eight, not to Shaximo himself.

’I can’t let his trick succeed!’ With a shift in his thinking, Shaximo immediately opened his mouth and also shouted, "Switch to level eight! Switch to level eight!"

Both of them were shouting at the same time.

The scene was rather spectacular.

The researcher was completely stunned by this. Two people, one Tier Six and one Tier Five, using level seven intensity—that was already a huge deal, wasn’t it?

And now they wanted to use level eight?

’Are you guys really not afraid of dying (shitting yourselves)?’

"Accept their request. Increase the intensity to level eight for both of them!" Zhang Hongying thought for a moment before finally deciding to grant Gao Neng and Shaximo’s request.

This sonar wouldn’t cause any irreversible damage to the body.

Even if a problem did arise, they could stop it immediately. No one was going to die. So, she might as well satisfy them.

"Alright! Activating level eight intensity!" The researcher nodded. This was a rare experimental opportunity. What would be the consequences of a Tier Five and a Tier Six withstanding level eight pressure at the same time?

BZZZZ!

The glass of the two pressure test chambers trembled once more.

Level eight pressure intensity.

Activated!

"This level eight intensity is amazing!" Gao Neng watched as his magnetic core was instantly depleted, its original silver color turning a deathly pale white.