Wandering America: My kill threshold is far ahead

Chapter 245: Final Rankings and Filming Locations Revealed

The first of the several indicators for evaluating shelters, ranked by importance, is safety.

If safety standards aren't met, even if you dig the Forbidden City out of the ground, it's all for nothing.

Majek's location was carefully chosen; there were no falling rocks or wind-blown trees above the shelter, and the arched dome inside also mitigated the risk of collapse.

Secondly, there is the protection performance, including windproof, rainproof, moistureproof and heat insulation.

It goes without saying that it's windproof, as it's located in a sheltered area from the wind.

Waterproofing is even simpler; the opening is much higher than the ground, and there's a ramp at the entrance to insulate against cold air. How could rainwater possibly backflow? Unless there's a major flood.

If it's moisture-proof, when a person sleeps in the bed, there's no contact with the ground at all.

The insulation is the most impressive feature; according to thermometer tests, the temperature inside the shelter is a full 15 degrees Celsius higher than the outdoor temperature.

When Lehman emerged from inside, he subconsciously tightened the collar of his down jacket. He then looked back and forth at the cave entrance for a long time before finally turning to Ma Jieke: "Is this cave-like shelter your original creation? Its insulation is much better than I expected. What caused this?"

"It's very simple." Ma Jie pointed to the thick layer of snow above the cave: "There is a Chinese proverb that says, 'A timely snow promises a bumper harvest,' meaning that winter snow falling from the sky foretells a bountiful harvest in the coming year."

"This is because there are many pores inside the snow. When air gets into these pores, it prevents the heat under the snow layer from dissipating outward. The down jackets we wear work on the same principle. The snow covering the ground is like cotton, protecting crops from cold air. So when I lie in bed, it feels like I'm covered with a cotton blanket given to me by nature."

After hearing his explanation, Lehman suddenly realized, "So it's a clever use of the subsoil. It seems you've designed the environment as part of the shelter. That's a really good idea, quite ingenious. I have to admit, among all the contestants today, you're the most meticulous."

The finest... isn't it the eldest brother? Would it kill you to add the word "heart"?

Too lazy to argue with him over wording, Ma Jie continued, "Sir, there's one thing I need to clarify: the design of this shelter was inspired by a classic battle fought by the Chinese Anti-Japanese United Army against the Japanese invaders."

"Design inspiration from war?" Lehman paused for a moment, then expressed his curiosity: "Tell me about it."

Ma Jieke adjusted his words and said, "The climate at that time was much harsher than it is now. When the Japanese army was lured into an ambush zone called Bingtangzi, our soldiers used wooden camps and fortifications to fire fiercely at the enemy. The enemy was numerous and well-equipped, but they could not stand steadily or move fast on the ice, which caused their formation to be in disarray and they became easy targets for the Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers."

"After nightfall, the temperature plummeted to minus forty degrees Celsius. The anti-Japanese guerrillas took turns entering the wooden camp to warm themselves by the fire and their guns to maintain their fighting strength, while the Japanese soldiers lying on the ice were so frozen that their bodies were stiff and they couldn't even pull back the bolts of their guns."

"In the end, the Chinese anti-Japanese war pioneers killed more than 300 Japanese soldiers at the extremely small cost of 7 lives, with a casualty ratio as high as 1 to 40."

""

"And this is precisely the kind of brilliant achievement that can be made by making the most of the environment and terrain."

"I see." After hearing this historical story, Lehman's impression of him deepened considerably, and he immediately announced, "Ma Jack, ten out of ten!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the contestants were in an uproar. "If digging a hole is worth ten points, then why bother with all this effort? Why don't we just all live in a mouse hole?"

Amidst the skepticism, Lehman Brothers had them line up to go in and experience it, but when they came out, they were all devastated, feeling utterly humiliated.

With this, the week-long training and selection process came to an end. After a brief data update, Lehman received a newly released list of those who advanced.

The contestants sat around the campfire in the camp, the flames warming every tired face. Some were disappointed, some were fearful, some were determined to win, and some were full of sorrow.

He slowly scanned the room and said in a rough voice, "This training selection will last for a week and will consist of ten assessments, with a total score of one hundred points. The shortlist is now being announced. Anyone whose name and ranking are not called is automatically eliminated."

"Tenth place, Pierre from Detroit, with a total score of 49 points."

"Nice!" A cheer rang out from the crowd. These contestants who barely made it into the next round were the luckiest, because the line between advancing and being eliminated was very thin.

"Ninth place, Leighton Bailey from New York, with a total score of 52 points."

"Haha, if my wife knew this, she would faint from happiness."

"Eighth place, Tonya from Russia, with a total score of 57 points."

Upon receiving this result, Donya finally felt relieved, and Majeke sincerely congratulated her: "Congratulations! It seems we'll have to wait for the official competition to see who comes out on top."

"It's all thanks to you, otherwise I would have withdrawn from the competition long ago."

She gratefully grasped Ma Jieke's hand; if it hadn't been for that hand pulling her up on the snowy mountain, she probably would have broken her leg, let alone participated in the competition.

One by one, the advancing contestants were announced, and in the end, only the top three remained. Those who could win the championship, runner-up and third place in the training camp selection would be the favorites to win the championship this season, without a doubt.

"Third place." Lehman paused deliberately, emphasizing his words, "Ma Jack from China, with a total score of 75 points!"

Upon hearing Ma Jieke's name, the other contestants turned their heads, their eyes filled with respect for the strongman.

At first, nobody had high hopes for him, after all, there hadn't been an Asian face in the previous nine seasons of the show.

In the stereotypes of Europeans and Americans, Asians can only open restaurants, convenience stores, and work as programmers. Any risky and challenging sports are irrelevant to this group. Even in sports leagues like the NBA, there are only a handful of people who come and go.

Now, Ma Jieke has silenced the doubters and is about to appear on the official show "Living Alone in the Wilderness". Regardless of whether he wins the championship, he will generate a lot of traffic and attention.

"Wow, third place, Jack! Third place! You're amazing!"

Donya hugged him excitedly, genuinely happy. Strictly speaking, she was also a foreigner, while over 90% of the contestants on this show were from the United States.

"Calm down, calm down." Ma Jie didn't seem too excited. He already knew he could advance, but he didn't know his exact ranking. The 25 points he lost were all due to his weaknesses. Although he was already considered a master among amateur players, he still had to work harder if he wanted to compete with top survival experts.

"Second place goes to Sila, an Inuit huntress from Alaska! Her total score of 86 points is the highest ever achieved by a female competitor in the training camp selection process."

When the name was announced, the entire audience spontaneously erupted in screams.

Her performance was truly outstanding. Except for the written test, which she almost failed like Ma Jie, she scored full marks or 8 to 9 points in other assessment items. She was simply an all-around survival master.

The most crucial factor is the women. In the previous nine seasons of the show, all the winners were men, and no female contestant had ever reached the champion's throne.

Just as the winner was about to be announced, before Lehman could even speak, everyone simultaneously looked at the same person and clapped and shouted, "Roland! Roland!"

"First place goes to Roland Welch, also from Alaska, with a total score of 92 points!"

Hiss... Despite being mentally prepared, Ma Jie still gasped when he heard the terrifying score.

This means that he must get at least two perfect scores and eight 9s in the ten assessments, with no weak areas, making him an absolute all-rounder.

Even more outrageous is that this guy is also the champion of the seventh season of "Living Alone in the Wilderness" and, as of now, the most popular contestant out of 90.

Because in the show, he carried a 200-pound log on his shoulder, built a fortress-like shelter with stones, shot and wounded a 900-pound musk ox with a bow and arrow, and then stabbed the ox to death with a knife at close range, contributing one memorable scene after another in the history of "Living Alone in the Wild".

In addition, he was also exposed for using a hunting bow and kite to kill an adult black bear. However, due to issues such as recording and editing, the hunting process has not been made public. However, he did show gloves and clothes made of bear skin on camera, which has led to many different opinions and no conclusion has been reached to this day.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the show's producers invited him to participate again in order to boost ratings, which is an unprecedented exception in the show's history.

The pressure on other contestants is immense when competing against such a master who has reached the pinnacle of skill.

The following morning, amidst sighs of regret, the eliminated contestants reluctantly left the town of Whittier.

As the bus drove away, executive producer Carson De Niro, survival coach Rayman Stein, and casting director Grace appeared together.

Carson cleared his throat, looking excited: "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the tenth season of 'Wilderness.' Now, let me reveal the official filming location for this season of 'Wilderness.' Please look at the big screen."

The indoor lights were turned off, and the projector began playing a short film. It started with a close-up shot of a tent flapping in the wind by a freshwater lake, then switched to an overhead view of a hunter struggling to walk across a vast ice field.

The scene then shifts again, with a roaring helicopter sweeping over the mountains, accompanied by a highly engaging narration.

"For nine whole seasons, 90 contestants bravely faced harsh environments from all over the world, all for one goal: to be the last one standing!"

"Now, ten brand-new challengers are setting their sights on even more remote locations."

The scene continued to change, the entire screen was shrouded in a blizzard, and even the background music became tense.

"Caribou Island, northern Saskatchewan, Canada!"

A blue Earth appears on the screen, and the camera moves through the atmosphere and the Americas, before landing and switching between scenes of glaciers, lakes, snow-capped mountains, and forests.

"This region is situated on the Canadian Shield, one of the oldest rock formations on Earth, formed by erosion and intense crustal activity over the past 30 billion years. The same forces have also left behind more than 10 freshwater lakes."

"The area is covered in ice and snow due to the fierce Arctic winds, and the temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit means there is almost no human activity, which has caused the black bear population to surge to more than 4."

"A large number of freshwater fish and reindeer also call this pristine wilderness home, so this season of 'Wilderness Solitude' can also be called 'Wilderness Solitude: Hunting Season'!"

Are you ready to embark on this journey?

After the short film ended, the contestants all looked very serious.

More than 4 black bears, do you want to listen to what you're saying? Are you trying to throw us into a bear den?

Although the extra equipment provided by the production team included bear spray, with such a huge quantity, unless you ask me to set up a Gatling gun in the camp, who could possibly sleep?

Seeing everyone's silence, Carson quickly added, "Don't be nervous, guys. To deal with potential dangers, we've hired the most professional rescue team this season, with top survival expert Mr. Lehman Stein personally overseeing things. He'll definitely provide you with comprehensive protection."

After reassuring the contestants, Carson continued, "Unlike previous seasons where contestants independently recorded their footage, this season of 'Wilderness Solitary Living' has incorporated new elements. Now, please welcome Ms. Grace to give a demonstration."

Grace picked up a GoPro-like but slightly larger action camera and a palm-sized black box from the display table. It looked similar to an old-fashioned pager, and was very lightweight.

She first clipped the black box to her waist, spun around to show it off, and then held up the action camera: "These two items are specially made for this season. The one fixed to my waist is a satellite signal receiver, and the one I'm holding is for live streaming."

live streaming?

Upon hearing this new addition, Ma Jie raised an eyebrow. The last time he participated in "Warehouse Treasure Hunt King," the live broadcast mode was introduced for the first time, and the edited version was broadcast on television, with a fairly good response.

This is similar to a movie that can be released in theaters first and then shown on streaming platforms, targeting two different groups of viewers.

Unexpectedly, "Living Alone in the Wilderness" quickly followed suit, intending to make a brand new breakthrough and attempt.

However, this makes the mental test for the contestants seem less severe, since they can interact with the audience in real time, which is equivalent to having someone talk to them.

However, Grace's next words poured cold water on everyone's enthusiasm: "Considering fairness and the subsequent viewership ratings, each person will be limited to 2 hours of live streaming per day. Once the time is up, the device's built-in program will automatically cut off the signal, and normal service will resume the next day."

"Of course, if you feel that live streaming is interfering with your plans, you can choose not to stream. There is no hard and fast rule. But I would like to remind everyone that we are now in the era of self-media. If it were me, I would definitely seize the opportunity and use the influence of this program to build my own personal value IP. Even if I am eventually eliminated, I will still gain a group of fans who like me."

"Anyone who still has questions, please feel free to ask."