Those who face the wall, but are in the Nascent Soul stage.

Chapter 194 Ancient Military Man Zhang Beihai

The 200th year of the Crisis Era was both a great and a terrible time.

With the advancement of science and technology, martial arts flourish.

If it weren't for those damn dinosaurs and the Trisolarans, this would definitely be a very good martial arts novel. The protagonist would start as a loser in a martial arts school and, with the help of a cheat system, gradually reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

Unfortunately, no.

Every high school student on Earth dreams of punching a dinosaur to death, but the reality is that high school students who fail to get into university must immediately use their strong physiques to do logistical support work, contributing to the construction of the solar system fleet on the front line.

Today, humanity has fully transitioned to a wartime economy.

However, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Digital Republic and the Earth United Government Development Agency, the world economy remains stable, and strong productivity and a stable global ecosystem ensure the basic living needs of every ordinary person.

While ordinary people were working hard on this battle to defend the solar system, the Great Thaw of the solar system also arrived.

In fact, the Great Thaw began as early as 180 AD of the Crisis Era. In the past 20 years, more than 200 million hibernators from the Gregorian calendar and the early Crisis Era have been awakened.

These hibernators were called the Common Era people.

Given the increasingly dire situation of the war between humanity and the Devouring Empire, the United Government has decided to bring forward the latest thawing time for the vast majority of ordinary hibernators to the year 200 of the Crisis Era.

Because of this, regardless of the outcome of the battle to defend the solar system, the hibernators will have at least 5 years to experience the new era.

Although the Devouring Empire has approached the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt, it would take at least 5 years for it to fly over Earth without human intervention.

It would be too cruel to thaw hibernators only after humanity has been defeated.

What do you mean I woke up to find the world on the verge of collapse?
Except for a very small number of special hibernators (such as other Wallfacers and scientists like Ding Yi) whose hibernation journey is still ongoing, this journey spanning 300 million people and time will come to an end in the 200th year of the Crisis Era.

The last wave of thawing this year is about to arrive, bringing with it the main force of hibernation from Antarctic hibernation bases. These are the space force hibernators who were part of the "Support the Future" program implemented by various countries in the early stages of the Crisis Era, totaling 100 million people.

Thus, the Hibernator Protection Act completed its historical mission.

The United Government and the Solar System Fleet are ready to receive these 'ancient' soldiers.

Antarctic hibernation base.

With breakthroughs in underground city construction technology, most hibernation pods were moved deep underground. At a depth of 1200 meters beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, the last batch of hibernation pods began the thawing process.

The temperature control system in the hibernation pod began to disengage, and Zhang Beihai's consciousness was still immersed in that snowy night before he decided to hibernate. His father's withered hand held his wrist and repeated again and again, "Beihai, move forward."

No matter which direction you go, keep moving forward.

After Zhang Beihai regained consciousness, he opened his eyes with difficulty.

The white mist of liquid nitrogen at -196°C, carrying the smell of disinfectant, rushed towards him. Zhang Beihai instinctively held his breath, a basic reaction during the Space Force's hibernation training. However, the cold stiffness he had imagined did not arrive. The cold only adhered to his skin but did not penetrate his muscles. He could clearly feel his body, and the numbness he had expected during thawing did not occur.

After stepping out of the hibernation pod on his own, Zhang Beihai looked in surprise at the pristine white hibernation base cabin before him.

He looked at his naked body, his healthy physique seemingly unaffected by more than 100 years of hibernation; he didn't even need to resume training.

Moreover, the thawing staff seemed quite reassured about the condition of the hibernators. Several people in white coats hurried past without even glancing at Zhang Beihai.

The pristine white cabin was filled with figures. More and more people emerged from the hibernation pods. Most of the hibernators looked as bewildered as Zhang Beihai, but some had already adapted to the place. Zhang Beihai soon spotted a familiar face: Bi Yunfeng, a senior colonel in the first batch of officers of the Chinese Space Force, who was in the same hibernation batch as him and was one of the earliest hibernators.

Bi Yunfeng also saw Zhang Beihai.

As the leader of the first Space Force team to support the Future Plan, he smiled at Zhang Beihai: "Beihai, just woke up? Go put on your clothes and that helmet. It will tell you everything. This era is far beyond our imagination."

Bi Yunfeng appeared to have been awake for some time. He was wearing the white clothes he wore when he woke up from hibernation, standing there straight with a helmet in his hand, sighing repeatedly, "Sigh, it feels like we won't be needed in the future."

After donning the silver-white helmet labeled [Zhang Beihai], the transparent visor quickly closed, and the neural interface at his temples automatically activated, unfolding a pale blue holographic projection onto Zhang Beihai's retina:

[The awakening procedure for the first unit of the Chinese Space Force's Future Reinforcement Task Force has been initiated.]

[Startup complete, bioinformation verified, hibernation information being integrated.]

Name: Zhang Beihai

[Military Rank: Former Senior Colonel of the Chinese Space Force / Reserve Colonel of the Solar System Fleet]

[Realm: Great Perfection of Innate Martial Artist (Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm)]

[Vaccine Access: Three-stage gene-locking vaccine, three-stage divine cell enhancement vaccine, three-stage cell regeneration vaccine]

[Memory Implantation: Interstellar Warfare Manual, Solar System Fleet Defense Protocol]

[Thought Imprint Access: None]

Zhang Beihai was stunned for a while, and it took him a long time to barely process this information.

He understood military ranks; they would definitely be reset in the new era. He could also imagine vaccine access, although administering vaccines during hibernation was unbelievable. Memory implantation was barely understandable… but what were thought imprints and innate martial artists?

After digesting the memories of the so-called interstellar war operation manual and the solar system fleet defense agreement, Zhang Beihai barely understood those contents.

—Theoretical knowledge about space warfare.

Fleet International used this most direct method to help these 'ancient soldiers' establish new-era space warfare theoretical concepts.

A gentle female voice continued to echo inside the helmet: [Colonel Zhang Beihai, please follow the arrow to take the elevator back to the ground. Staff are waiting for you there. Mr. Zhang Beihai, welcome to Crisis Era 200. The Earth United Government and Fleet International welcome you.]

"Did anyone notice the notification in the helmet? What is the peak of the Acquired Martial Artist realm?"

"You're a peak Acquired Martial Artist? I'm an early-stage Innate Martial Artist." "What are Innate and Acquired Martial Artists? Are they martial arts realms? Or is it a difference in physique?"

"Based on my experience reading Jin Yong's novels before hibernation, innate martial artists should be stronger than acquired martial artists. It seems that everyone's realm is not exactly the same, which may be related to individual aptitude."

"By the way, does anyone here know what [Thought Imprint] is?"

"You were among the first batch of hibernating soldiers, weren't you? I know that the Mind Imprint is a technology developed by Dr. Hines, the Wallfacer, during the 28th year of the Crisis Era. It's something that strengthens the subconscious."

"Thank you. May I ask your name, comrade?"

"Zhao Xin, a member of the 8th batch of 'Support the Future' Space Force who hibernated for 32 years during the Crisis Era."

Bi Yunfeng's voice quickly spread throughout the cabin: "Since we are all Chinese compatriots and comrades, things will be much easier to sort out. This is a brand new era. Let's go up first and talk about it later. Comrades, hurry up and adapt. Our strength seems to have been enhanced. Don't mess with the equipment here. Maintain the discipline of our era. Once we're up there, follow the instructions."

Unlike the other chaotic hibernation chambers, this group of hibernators from the early days of the Crisis Era of the Chinese Space Force quickly organized a simple leadership structure and swiftly established branches.

Soon, Zhang Beihai went up with Bi Yunfeng and Zhao Xin.

The electromagnetic rail elevator moved swiftly and steadily, covering a distance of a kilometer in a flash. As the cabin door slid open, the blinding cold light made Zhang Beihai squint.

The imagined Antarctic continent did not appear; they were still indoors in a domed hall, perhaps thousands of meters high. This made Zhang Beihai realize that he was inside a huge, inverted 'bowl'.

The hibernation base staff, dressed in white protective suits, stood in neat rows. The officer at the head of the Solar System Fleet—the Asian Fleet—saluted and said, “Greetings, fellow countrymen from the early days of the Crisis Era. I am Jiang Yaokun, the deputy captain of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau star-class warship, with the rank of Senior Colonel. It is an honor to serve as your instructor for the two months of training in Antarctica. Here, I will help you quickly get to know the new era, and I would like to once again welcome you all to the 200th year of the Crisis Era.”

Zhang Beihai noticed that the space forces in other regions mostly had instructors who were also of the same nationality, which was clearly intentional.

As people gradually dispersed, everyone returned to their newly assigned rooms for a final adjustment period.

Soon, a guide came to Zhang Beihai's room and handed him a flat metal box. "Colonel Zhang Beihai, this contains all the data you have collected during your hibernation, including the minutes of the Third Interstellar Voyage Conference and the latest parameters of the 'Natural Selection' star-class warship."

"Natural Selection?" Zhang Beihai asked, taking the metal box with a puzzled look.

"Yes," the guide smiled, "You should have noticed that your realm is the peak of the Innate Martial Artist realm, which is a necessary prerequisite for becoming an advanced pilot of a Stellar-class warship. Among this batch of hibernators, you, along with Bi Yunfeng, Zhao Xin, Li Wei, and other people from the Common Era, are the hibernators with the highest aptitude. Therefore, you have been assigned to a Stellar-class warship in advance. Of course, whether you can become a crew member of the 'Natural Selection' depends on your performance in the upcoming assessment."

"Okay, thank you, I understand."

Zhang Beihai nodded, his fingertips lingering for a moment on the biometric lock of the metal box. This unintentional action immediately activated the metal box—his pupils contracted slightly as the holographic star map unfolded in his palm.

A vast fleet of five thousand star-class warships, forming a constellation of solar system ships, drifted through the desolate universe. The size of this fleet far exceeded Zhang Beihai's most optimistic expectations before his hibernation. The star-class warships in Jupiter's orbit resembled a silver honeycomb, while the outermost sentry posts had already advanced into the Kuiper Belt.

At the end of this holographic star map, a terrifying giant ring, large enough to devour planets, stands at the edge of the solar system near Earth.

"What is this?" His voice had the hoarseness characteristic of a hibernator.

The guide explained casually, "The Devouring Empire, the main enemy of human civilization. You will soon learn more about the specifics in the following meetings. If you enjoyed Jurassic-themed movies before you went into hibernation, I think you might really enjoy this new era."

The guide even cracked a joke.

But Zhang Beihai ignored the joke and asked further, "Where is the Three-Body First Fleet?"

"They're still two light-years away. You were in hibernation during the Crisis Era 12, so you should know about the ten probes of the Trisolaran First Fleet... They're a bit closer to the solar system, about 0.2 light-years away. They'll be here in five years, but who cares about them now?"

"Currently, the Devouring Empire is our greatest enemy."

Zhang Beihai didn't ask any further questions. He politely thanked the guide and then watched as the guide carried the metal boxes to the next hibernating soldier's room.

After everyone quieted down, Zhang Beihai stared at the small metal box, lost in thought. He remembered what his father had once told him: "Don't overthink it."

He had to admit that his father was right; he really shouldn't have overthought things. This complex thinking seemed to produce some unknown chemical reaction after encountering this new world. An endless fog enveloped him, and at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. This kind of nervousness was unprecedented, not even during that space twilight in the 12th year of the Crisis Era when he shot those three propellant scientists with meteorite bullets.

Don't overthink it, so what's next?

Go forward.

Soon, the electronic female voice in the room interrupted his thoughts: "Colonel Zhang Beihai, please proceed to the lobby of the Asian Fleet Hibernation Command Center to report for duty."

Zhang Beihai stood up, his white uniform clinging to his genetically optimized muscles. He noticed the holographic clock on the wall; it was six in the morning, but he didn't know which time zone it was in. This sense of time dislocation reminded him of a nautical chart hanging in his old home.
An old nautical chart hangs in my father's study, and on the table next to the chart is an antique compass from the Zheng He fleet era, which my father loved most.

His father's lively voice, which seemed out of place for his age, carried through the air; it was a message he had spoken to Zhang Beihai in his youth.

"Oh dear, if you can't figure out the direction, just keep going! Do you know why China didn't discover the Earth was round earlier during the Ming Dynasty, and why the Spanish colonists didn't discover the New World before us? It's because when Zheng He led the Ming Dynasty fleet to the coast of Mogadishu in Somalia, he couldn't figure out the direction, started to panic, started to hesitate, started to fear. So Zheng He decided to turn around and gave up the opportunity that was right in front of him. That's going back the way he came, what a coward!"

If you're unsure of the direction, just keep going! What's wrong with getting lost? Think about it, Beihai. If Zheng He had decided to continue sailing towards the Cape of Good Hope, wouldn't history have unfolded differently? Perhaps a Ming Dynasty fleet would have reached Western Europe, defeated the anti-Ming coalition, and then decisively defeated the Western European forces at the gates of Paris? Maybe the British Empire would have become the Ming Dynasty, maybe the French Revolution would have occurred in Hangzhou, maybe the Industrial Revolution and the Renaissance would have happened in China. These are all uncertainties; anything is possible. As long as you keep moving forward, the path is right. The earth is round, and maybe the universe is round too?

At the time, I thought that the old man who liked to talk nonsense was now acting as a guiding light for Zhang Beihai's confusion.

Leave the warm lighthouse behind; wherever you go from here on, you're moving forward.

"Lead the way," Zhang Beihai said briefly. A holographic arrow appeared in front of him. Zhang Beihai put the metal box into his pocket and quickly blended into the crowd of other hibernating space soldiers following the arrow's guidance.

During this short journey, he learned about the development of human spaceships and obtained three key pieces of information.

1. The Natural Selection has completed the propellantless engine conversion, and its maximum speed is up to 20% of the speed of light.

2. The human fleet has already fought a battle with the so-called Devouring Empire and won.

3. Sophon's technological blockade remains, but there have been many intermittent blind spots.

After passing through multiple airtight doors, a blizzard from the Antarctic continent swept over him. Zhang Beihai took a deep breath, letting the ice crystals pierce his nostrils. He subconsciously let his gaze pass over the bowl-shaped buildings of all sizes on the continent, letting his eyes wander towards the more distant, white expanse.

He saw plum blossoms in full bloom on the Antarctic ice sheet, an endless expanse.

(End of this chapter)