Chapter 341: Faction-type Sanctuary

Zero-point-three Dream World...

This is a place where no one has ever set foot. Perhaps Chu Minghao had set foot here once, but there is no doubt that he also failed in the Zero-point-three Dream World; this is also something Chu Minghao has personally admitted many times.

Starting from the Zero-point-three Dream World, it involves Root-level existences. That is a great terror that even Chu Minghao cannot match right now!

And this Dream World is still an extremely rare Lost Dream World, which everyone has absolutely no idea what it means, making it even more bizarre.

Everyone dared not leave the room easily again, but instead began to summarize some rules regarding light and darkness.

"There are a few points that can be generally confirmed at present."

Chu Yuyan said: "First, there must be a shadow. Once the shadow is lost, one will step into another space. Currently, we assume this world has a dual-space structure. The first layer is this dead, silent space we see now, empty of everything. The second layer is the grotesque space entered after losing one's shadow. That place is filled with some kind of grotesque objects. Once falling into the second layer, one will be embedded into those grotesque objects due to the spatial overlap effect, and then be attacked and devoured from within the body. This is fatal for us!"

"Second, pure darkness is divided into two types. One is the darkness within an isolated space, which is harmless. But the darkness outside in the open possesses a threat. This can be seen from the previous phenomenon; the darkness surging outside like liquid is more like some kind of tangible threat. Specifically... what exactly did you attack at that time?"

Wu Pifu was stunned by the question. He shook his head and said: "I don't know either. I just felt danger, and then instinctively threw a punch... If I must describe it, then I should have attacked some kind of concept."

Wang Yihui, standing to the side, said thoughtfully: "Is it the concept of darkness? Or the concept of danger within the darkness?"

Wu Pifu could not answer either, but the people around him all felt a sense of relief, as the panic after discovering the truth about the shadows had also slightly decreased.

That's right, the Zero-point-three Dream World is very dangerous and very bizarre. This scene is almost like something out of a nightmare. Two people died and one was seriously injured before even leaving the door, and if they weren't careful, they could die randomly. But as long as Wu Pifu is still here, they have a chance to survive, and at the same time, a possibility of successfully completing the mission. Strength... is always the greatest foundation and trump card. A leader who possesses a Super Brain, possesses supreme extraordinary power, and can attack and even harm concepts is more effective than any comforting words.

And Wu Pifu himself was also a bit confused. He kept making punching motions, having some new insights in his heart regarding the upgraded "Pifu" title.

If it were the Pifu title before the upgrade, it could indeed ignore defense characteristics, but what caused the damage was still his fists or the broadsword, which is to say, physical attacks. Perhaps after having Armament Haki, he could attack energy bodies or something, but the conceptual level... sorry, he really hadn't encountered enemies at the conceptual level.

But with the upgraded Pifu title, the reduced defense damage was replaced by true damage. If understood literally, as long as he uses the Pifu title to reduce its defense, even if it is pure and flawless, not subject to multiple judgments, at least fifty percent of the damage will act directly on its essence, causing true damage that ignores all defenses, regardless of whether it is matter, energy, or some natural phenomenon, such as flowing water or wind, or even a concept; all will be injured by his fists and broadsword, without any exemption or exception!

"... Sounds very powerful. True damage, is it?"

Wu Pifu murmured. At the same time, Chu Yuyan and Wang Yihui were arguing about the next course of action.

Wang Yihui said: "Based on the two known rules, we should discard all personal light sources and only have the General Commander, Wu Pifu, hold the sole light source. This way, no matter what direction he faces, or what enemy he faces, as well as any flash bursts from any direction, he can maintain the shadow behind him."

Chu Yuyan nodded: "Agreed, but it's not enough, because we don't fully know the rules of this world, especially under what circumstances the flash bursts appear, the scale and brightness of the flashes, whether the brightness of the pan-light source in the gray space will overlap, and whether the surrounding surging darkness will condense or diffuse, and whether the things in the second layer of space will cross layers... these are all still unknown. Therefore, our exploration actions must be based on the area where the buildings are located, so we can hide in the buildings at any time to avoid danger."

Wang Yihui thought for a moment and said: "Agreed. Although this will likely prolong the time it takes for us to establish a sanctuary, at least it's safe... Agreed."

In this rescue operation, Wu Pifu exists as the General Commander because only his multiple identities allow him to hold this position. First, he is an awakened Super Brain, which is an authoritative identity recognized by all humans. Second, he is a presidential candidate. Finally, he provided the coordinates for this Zero-point-three Dream World. Therefore, whether in terms of strength, legitimacy, or the mindset of the human government, he is the only candidate for General Commander.

Then there are three Deputy Commanders who report only to him. Gao Zhanggong integrates a large number of extraordinary individuals and government special operations teams, as well as personnel from the secret forces of the Eleven Families. He himself is adept at government affairs and relationship networks, and he was also a military officer during the Fourth War, a high-ranking government official.

Chu Yuyan and Wang Yihui are the direct executors of this rescue operation, members of the think tank, and Wu Pifu's "lamp" advisors. Therefore, at this moment, the two of them directly discussed and decided on the next exploration tactics in front of everyone, because this is their duty. Even Wu Pifu must listen to their arrangements at this time, unless the arrangement violates the overall core strategy, in which case Wu Pifu can use his status as General Commander to veto it.

This is actually the battlefield partition warfare model from the Fourth War, a combat model confirmed to be extremely effective during the Fourth War. It discarded the disadvantages of the inefficient elected government during wartime and discarded the various drawbacks of laymen commanding experts, creating a small team or team advantage model that brings everyone's abilities into play.

Regarding all this, Wu Pifu naturally had no dissatisfaction. From the moment he knew there were two external brains to help him fight and help Chu Minghao rescue the expedition, he was incomparably happy in his heart, but at this moment, he had some questions.

"... By the way, how do you plan to establish a Level One Sanctuary?" Wu Pifu asked curiously. Everyone looked at him: "?"

The corners of Wu Pifu's mouth twitched slightly, and he saw the "cluelessness index" displayed at the corner of his eye soar directly to over 1,500.

This made him unable to help but complain loudly: "No, I'm just asking a question in my heart, is it worth you being so surprised? Am I telling a crosstalk act? Making you so clueless?"

Chu Yuyan ignored Wu Pifu and looked at Wang Yihui: "You didn't tell him?"

Wang Yihui showed a helpless expression: "Wasn't Brother Wu in seclusion before? I thought you told him."

The two simultaneously patted their own heads subconsciously, both with expressions of almost ruining things.

Immediately, the two divided the work. Chu Yuyan began to discuss the next tactical formation with the others, while Wang Yihui leaned over to Wu Pifu's side and said: "We plan to establish a Faction-type Sanctuary. This is also the most likely way to establish a sanctuary in an unknown environment."

"How do we establish one?" Wu Pifu asked, his face full of confusion: "A faction? What kind of faction could we possibly establish here? With those surging darknesses? Or with those deformed monsters in the second layer of space?"

Wang Yihui almost laughed out loud. He shook his head repeatedly and said: "It's not what you think, Brother Wu. Your understanding of Faction-type Sanctuaries is too narrow. It's not just gangs, sects, or government organizations that count as factions. According to many people's analysis, among the three types of sanctuaries—Building-type (or Territorial-type), Historical Event (or Reputation-type), and Faction-type—the Faction-type Sanctuary is actually the easiest to establish."

"Take the world we are in now as an example. There are many post-apocalyptic worldviews in the Dream World. Perhaps there isn't a single life in them, and all buildings have been destroyed by nuclear apocalypse or other apocalypses. This kind of Dream World is almost worthless. But if a sanctuary must be established in it, only a Faction-type Sanctuary is the easiest to establish and the most likely to be established."

Wu Pifu remained puzzled. Wang Yihui continued to explain: "Does an archaeological team count as a faction? Does a scientific research group count as a faction? Does a material collection team count as a faction? It's not just organizations that maintain order like gangs, sects, or government organizations that count as factions. This point has long been proven by many teams in the Dream World."

!

"We want to establish a sanctuary in this empty Dream World. If we cannot obtain territory, and cannot leave a reputation or create history in this Dream World, then we exist as an exploration team of only ten people, investigating the past history of this world, looking for the reason why this world changed into this appearance, or finding the words, culture, technology, extraordinary powers, etc., that this world once left behind. This is still considered a factional act. And the deeper we dig, and the more valuable things we find, the more likely it is to establish a Faction-type Sanctuary."

Wu Pifu suddenly realized.

Territorial-type Sanctuaries and Event-type Sanctuaries are actually based on participation in and changes to the Dream World. The deeper the participation and the deeper the change, the higher the sanctuary level.

But what if the Dream World is a dead, post-apocalyptic world? Doesn't that mean there's no way to establish a sanctuary?

No, there is a way, and that is to form an archaeological team to investigate what happened to this dead Dream World, or form a scientific research team to dig into the technology or extraordinary powers of this Dream World, or even more directly and violently, form a grave-robbing team to dig out valuable treasures from this Dream World. These can also establish a sanctuary.

Wu Pifu exclaimed: "So this can also be considered a faction..."

Wang Yihui smiled and said: "It counts, how could it not? Even if we dig deep enough and find the secret of this world's destruction, let alone a Level One Sanctuary, Level Three, Level Four, or Level Five are all possible."

At this time, Chu Yuyan had already discussed the formation and various accident response issues with the others. He handed a few light sources to Wu Pifu, while the others had no light sources in their hands. Then he said to Wu Pifu: "Alright, now you go out the door first and try."

Wu Pifu took the light source speechlessly. He came to the doorway, first felt the premonition of danger, and then he stepped out of the room holding the light source with one hand.

In the gray mist, the light in his hand pierced through the gray, shining directly toward the darkness in the distance. He had a shadow behind him, and the light source in his hand suppressed the gray shadowless space.

The darkness in the distance surged, occasionally turning into limbs and skulls, as if countless ghosts were condensing within it, baring fangs and brandishing claws at the team walking through this empty and objectless street district.

Exploration begins.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 342 =====