Chapter 305: Can You Fly a Plane?

Jing Yi's appearance and bowed greeting utterly shattered the exploration team's understanding of the "Trial." What had been perceived as relentless trials now ended with absurd ease before absolute power and insight. The ancient pressure lingering within the stone chamber largely dissipated as Jing Yi lowered his posture.

Qin Feng accepted the bow without resistance, his expression still calm, as if he had merely done something trivial. His gaze settled on Jing Yi, and he cut straight to the point: "The key."

Jing Yi straightened, the faint bitter smile still lingering on his face. He flipped his palm, and the glowing orb—composed of countless runes, constantly shifting shape—the true "key"—floated lightly above his palm, emitting a gentle yet profound aura.

"This is the Origin Contract," Jing Yi explained, his gaze shifting to Xia Wan, still stunned beside him. "It is not a physical object, but an imprint, a permission. It carries the path information and access rights to the Final Trial. Only an Inheritor recognized by it can activate the Trial, undergo the ultimate test, and… receive the gift."

Xia Wan felt an intense, inseparable pull between the glowing orb and her Bloodline. She drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and respectfully extended both hands.

Jing Yi gently pushed the orb toward Xia Wan. The moment it touched her palms, it vanished like a droplet merging into the ocean, slipping soundlessly into her body.

Xia Wan's body trembled slightly as a vast, ancient stream of information flooded her mind, while a purer, more primordial power—like warm spring water—washed through and nourished her Bloodline and Spirit. She closed her eyes, struggling to absorb this sudden Inheritance. Countless trajectories of stars spun through her mind; a coordinate, hidden deep within a distant Starfield and shielded by immense force fields, was clearly etched into her consciousness—that was the location of the Final Trial. Alongside it, vague warnings and fragments of knowledge surged forth—danger, opportunity, and a heavy burden of responsibility.

Moments later, Xia Wan opened her eyes. Her gaze was inwardly luminous, her aura noticeably denser. She bowed again to Jing Yi: "Thank you, Elder."

Jing Yi gave a slight nod, then turned to Qin Feng, his tone tinged with complexity: "You have arrived here. You must already know the path ahead is perilous. 'They' have awakened faster than anticipated. The Barrier across this Starfield is weakening. The time left for the Inheritor to grow… is running out."

Qin Feng grunted in acknowledgment, saying nothing more.

Seeing this, Jing Yi ceased further words. His figure began slowly to fade, like mist dissolving. "The matter here is concluded. My mission is temporarily fulfilled. May the Inheritor… enjoy glorious fortune."

As his words faded, his light vanished completely within the stone chamber. Simultaneously, the nine stone statues around them lost all vitality, becoming indistinguishable from ordinary rock. From the far end of the Corridor of Green Stone, the sound of machinery turning echoed—a stone door, previously nonexistent, slowly rose, revealing an exit beyond bathed in natural light.

The Trial Grounds are closing.

"Let's go," Qin Feng said, walking first toward the exit.

The members of the Exploration Squad exchanged glances, suppressed their myriad emotions, and quickly followed. This time, no obstacles remained.

Beyond the Stone Gate lay the Ice Erosion Canyon they had entered earlier. Distant Snow Mountains stretched endlessly; the sky was deep blue, the sunlight blinding. Fresh, cold air rushed into their lungs, making them feel as if they had stepped out of another world.

The Tactics Captain immediately used the restored Communication Equipment to contact the Base, briefly reporting the situation and requesting extraction.

But the reply from the other end sank everyone's hearts.

"Command Center received. Rescue Helicopter has been dispatched, but… situation has changed. We've detected an unidentified, heavily armed Armed Squad rapidly approaching your location! Estimated contact in twenty minutes! They are very likely from the 'Shadow' International Mercenary Organization, hired by an unknown faction. Their target is very likely you or the 'key'! The helicopter cannot reach you before they arrive—you must immediately relocate to Secondary Evacuation Point Three! Repeat: immediately relocate to Secondary Evacuation Point Three!"

"Shadow" Mercenaries! Infamous international hyenas—anything for a price! They had found their way here!

"Damn it! It's definitely G. S. C.! They pretended to withdraw, but kept this trick up their sleeves!" the Tactics Captain gritted his teeth. Secondary Evacuation Point Three lay in a relatively flat River Valley dozens of kilometers away—not close, and the terrain en route was treacherous.

"All units! Check gear! Light march! Objective: Secondary Evacuation Point Three! Move out!" With no time to hesitate, the Tactics Captain gave the order.

Though exhausted from the Trial, the squad members rallied their spirits, swiftly packed their gear, and sprinted along the canyon toward the designated direction.

But misfortune never came alone. Not far ahead, the distant rumble of engines echoed from the sky! A medium-sized Transport Helicopter, painted in desert camouflage and bearing no markings, appeared on the horizon like a vulture, flying low toward their position!

"It's their helicopter! We're spotted!" one team member cried out.

Being targeted by a helicopter in highland terrain was nearly fatal! The enemy held absolute mobility and firepower superiority!

"Find cover! Scatter and hide!" the Tactics Captain roared, directing his team into rock crevices and behind Ice Towers.

The helicopter had clearly spotted them. It circled overhead, its Heavy Machine Gun spewing fire. Bullets rained down like hail, shattering rocks and spraying ice shards! The squad was completely suppressed—unable to effectively return fire, let alone advance toward the evacuation point!

"This won't work! We'll be trapped here!" the Geologist cried anxiously.

Xia Wan attempted to channel energy for long-range attacks, but the helicopter moved too fast and was too distant. Her strikes missed vital points and only exposed her position, drawing even fiercer gunfire.

The situation was dire.

At that moment, Qin Feng—who had been silently observing the helicopter—suddenly spoke, asking a question that left everyone stunned:

"Does that plane have enough fuel to fly back to their base?"

The Technician instinctively glanced at the Portable Detector, which had basic signal analysis functions. He quickly operated it, then exclaimed in shock: "Based on engine power and flight duration estimates… return fuel… is at critical levels! They likely plan to head to a nearby Secret Supply Point after completing their mission!"

Qin Feng nodded, then performed an action that made every heart stop.

Instead of seeking cover, he stepped out from behind the rock where he had been hiding, standing openly on relatively open ground, looking up at the circling helicopter, still searching for an attack angle.

"Mr. Qin! Dangerous!" Xia Wan cried out in alarm.

The helicopter pilot had clearly spotted this "live target." The aircraft banked, adjusting its angle until the Heavy Machine Gun's muzzle locked onto Qin Feng.

At that critical instant!

Qin Feng raised his right hand, fingers slightly spread, then… gently pressed downward.

No light. No thunderous sound.

But a bizarre scene unfolded!

The helicopter, still in attack posture, suddenly felt as if struck by an invisible giant hand. Its entire fuselage lurched violently downward; the engines screamed in protest under unbearable strain. The pilot, terrified, yanked the controls desperately to stabilize the craft.

Yet the invisible force did not vanish—it persisted. The helicopter swayed wildly like a drunkard, plummeting uncontrollably, tilting and spiraling toward a relatively thick patch of Ice Plain nearby!

"Boom—!!"

A deafening crash as the helicopter slammed into the ice, skidding dozens of meters. The rotors shattered and flew apart; smoke billowed from the cabin. Though it did not explode, it was clearly destroyed beyond repair.

The once arrogant aerial threat had instantly become a smoking wreck.

Members of the Exploration Squad peeked out from their cover, staring at the unbelievable scene, utterly dumbfounded.

This… what kind of technique was that?! He just… *pressed* the helicopter down from afar?!

The Tactics Captain was the first to recover. Though stunned, his professional instincts kicked in immediately: "Move! Check for survivors! Gather intelligence!"

The team rushed toward the crash site. Fortunately—or rather, thanks to Qin Feng's precise control—the helicopter's impact angle wasn't fatal. The few mercenaries inside, though battered, bleeding, and dazed, were still alive—trapped by the deformed cabin door, unable to resist.

The immediate threat was neutralized.

Everyone stared at the ruined helicopter, then at Qin Feng—calm as ever, as if he had merely swatted a fly—and their awe became immeasurable.

The Tactics Captain assigned two team members to guard the prisoners, then walked up to Qin Feng and saluted with the most precise military gesture, his voice heavy with solemnity: "Mr. Qin, thank you again for saving us all."

He paused, gazing at the still-smoldering helicopter wreckage, then at the map in his hand marking Secondary Evacuation Point Three dozens of kilometers away. A look of difficulty crossed his face.

"Mr. Qin, while we've dealt with this immediate threat, walking to Secondary Evacuation Point Three won't take enough time—and there may be other risks along the way. This helicopter…" He was about to say it was destroyed, but as he looked at Qin Feng's inscrutable expression, an absurd, almost ludicrous thought suddenly surfaced—even to himself.

Against his better judgment, driven by a hope he couldn't explain, he ventured tentatively:

"You… you know how to fly a plane?"

He immediately regretted it. The question was ridiculous! Even if Mr. Qin possessed godlike power, how could he possibly repair a helicopter smashed into this state?

Yet Qin Feng shook his head.

The Tactics Captain felt a wave of relief—of course…

But Qin Feng's next words left him—and every squad member straining to listen—frozen in place again.

"No need to repair."

Qin Feng's gaze turned toward another direction of the canyon—the general location of the abandoned G. S. C. forward Base, the path they had come from.

"Over there," he pointed, his tone as casual as if asking to borrow soy sauce from a neighbor, "there should be another spare one."

Everyone: "???"

The Tactics Captain's mind struggled to catch up: "Spare… spare one? How do you know?"

Qin Feng offered no explanation—only stepped forward toward that direction.

Xia Wan watched his back, recalling everything on this journey—Mr. Qin's seemingly all-knowing ability… Suddenly, she understood, and hurried after him.

The Tactics Captain and the squad members exchanged glances. Though it seemed impossible, they chose to believe. They left two men to guard the captives and await further orders from the Base, while the rest quickly followed Qin Feng.

Under Qin Feng's guidance, they traversed several hidden trails—and truly found, in a sheltered Ice Hollow, a fully intact, tightly camouflaged G. S. C. standard helicopter!

Staring at the helicopter as if it had appeared out of thin air, everyone fell silent.

So… Mr. Qin didn't just know a spare helicopter was here—he'd planned the route in advance, and perhaps even… the entire attack on the first helicopter was meant to create the opportunity and excuse to come here and retrieve this "spare" aircraft?

This level of calculation… was too deep!

The Tactics Captain stared at the helicopter, then at Qin Feng's calm expression, his throat dry as he asked the most critical—and most nerve-wracking—question:

"Qin… Mr. Qin," he pointed at the helicopter, his voice trembling,

"Do… do you know how to fly?"

For the first time, Qin Feng turned his head, glancing at him—his gaze utterly still—as he replied:

"Is it hard?"

The Tactics Captain: "…"

Everyone: "…"

Alright, they hadn't asked.

Minutes later, with the roar of engines, the "captured" G. S. C. helicopter lifted off, carrying the Exploration Squad and the unconscious captives, flying steadily toward the New Era Base.

In the pilot's seat, Qin Feng manipulated the complex instruments and control stick with the skill of a veteran pilot with tens of thousands of flight hours.

Xia Wan sat in the co-pilot's seat, watching the Snow Mountain scenery blur past the window, then glanced at Qin Feng beside her—focused, or perhaps not even needing focus—and thought only one thing:

What, in this world, could Mr. Qin not do?