Chapter 360 Afraid of death? Never have I been afraid!

After Zhou Jue finished speaking, the conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

One hundred spots available.

A realistic, cruel, and dog-eat-dog world of cultivation.

The choice between life and death, the balance between opportunity and danger, weighs heavily on everyone's mind.

The surprise on Chen Jianguo's face had faded, replaced by a complex expression of longing and worry.

Commander Qi slowly loosened his clenched fist, then clenched it again, his eyes filled with intense struggle.

"Go!" Commander Zhang slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

His gaze swept over the crowd: "Of course we're going!"

"Afraid of death? In the thousands of years of Chinese history, have we ever been afraid of death!"

"Back then, we were poor and had nothing, with only millet and rifles, yet we dared to challenge an enemy armed to the teeth."

"Now, we have the opportunity to leap to the heavens and touch a completely new civilization, but there are dangers, so we won't go?"

"There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

He pointed outside the door, his voice growing louder: "What's the situation outside? We've laid a tight net, blocked one missile, but do you think they'll just give up?"

"Won't!"

"Faced with internal and external troubles, are we really prepared enough?"

"We can't afford to wait!"

"These one hundred spots are like one hundred sparks! We are risking our generation to lay the foundation for lasting peace for future generations!"

Chief Zhang's words were like a fire, reigniting the light in everyone's eyes.

"I agree!" Commander Qi stood up abruptly, her voice cold and resolute: "A hundred-man team that has mastered truly extraordinary power has immeasurable strategic value!"

"What they brought back was not just cultivation techniques, but also the rules and vision of a completely new world!"

"Casualties are inevitable, but every elite unit has been forged in blood and fire!"

“I agree. This is an unprecedented opportunity to analyze a complete, non-technological civilization system,” Chen Jianguo said, standing up.

"This will be a disruptive boost to our basic science, materials science, and even life sciences."

“I understand the risks, but I believe that what we can bring back from there is worth any risk.”

No one backed down.

Zhou Jue looked at the three people in front of her and nodded, her expression still solemn: "Now that the decision has been made, the selection of personnel should be put on the agenda."

One hundred spots, not one more, not one less.

“I’ll repeat myself, I will not hide any danger from them. Everyone must be there voluntarily and sign a waiver of consent.”

“That’s natural,” Commander Qi replied. “I will have the General Staff formulate the specific selection plan immediately.”

"Loyalty, physical fitness, political awareness, willpower, and learning ability are all indispensable."

"Furthermore," Zhou Jue looked at Commander Qi, "once we get there, what strategic approach should our people adopt? How can we quickly establish a base? These all require your experience and guidance."

"I will go to the capital after the meeting to report and discuss these specific details, and I will finalize them as soon as possible," Commander Qi replied.

The discussion has come to a temporary close.

Chief Zhang sat down, picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip, then looked at Zhou Jue with a hint of apology in his voice.

"Xiao Jue, after talking about so many important things in the future, there is one thing right now that I need to trouble you with."

"We have an urgent matter here, so we've scheduled your interview and photoshoot for this afternoon."

"The reporters and photographers should already be on their way."

Zhou Jue understood.

“I understand, Grandpa Zhang, I’m ready anytime.”

...

At 2 p.m., at a secluded open-air training ground at the base.

Two staff members in plain clothes walked in, led by Cheng Gan.

The leader was a woman in her thirties with short hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and exuding a capable air. She was Li Rui, the chief reporter for the "Focus Tracking" program.

Following behind her was a young man carrying a heavy camera bag on his back and a tripod in his hand.

When they saw Zhou Jue standing in the center of the training field, dressed in a simple training uniform and with an upright posture, both of them involuntarily slowed down.

This is... Major General Zhou Jue?

She's younger than I imagined, and her aura is... indescribable.

It wasn't the sharpness of a soldier, nor the elegance of a scientist, but rather a serene composure as if one were completely at one with the surroundings.

"Major General Zhou, hello." Li Rui was the first to come to her senses, quickly stepped forward, extended her hand, and spoke with respect.

The photographer nervously swallowed, his palms sweating, and quickly began setting up the equipment.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the interview officially began.

The camera's red light came on.

Li Rui looked at Zhou Jue, displayed her professionalism, and asked the first question.

"Major General Zhou, from the exposure of the 'South Heavenly Gate Project' to the advent of the 'Kunlun Mirror', and then to the official recognition of the efficacy of 'Body Strengthening Fist', our country, and even the entire world, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. As the core driving force behind all of this, can you tell us what your initial idea was?"

This is a very broad and official question.

Zhou Jue's gaze passed over the camera lens, as if he could see the millions of curious, expectant, and perhaps slightly uneasy faces in front of the screen.

She calmly stated, "It's not a change, it's a return, and it's also evolution."

"Our civilization, in the long history of the past thousands of years, once possessed a brilliant power system that was completely different from what we have now. What we are doing now is simply picking up the lost treasures of our ancestors and using scientific methods to make them shine with new brilliance in the new era."

"My philosophy is simple: to make our country stronger and our people healthier."

Li Rui nodded, quickly processing the information in her mind, and then asked her second question.

"We've noticed a lot of heated discussion online about the 'Kunlun Mirror,' with security being a key concern. Its ability to pinpoint locations and even track DNA has raised concerns among many about the potential leakage of personal privacy."

This is a very sensitive question.

Zhou Jue looked directly into the camera: "'Kunlun Mirror's' primary attribute is protection, not surveillance."

"It protects every law-abiding citizen. When your life is threatened, it is your most reliable alarm. When you are in danger, it is a guiding light."

"As for privacy, I would like to ask, does the privacy of a law-abiding citizen have anything to do with where he goes every day or how many times his heart beats?"

“What we really need to be wary of is not this technology, but the potential criminals who attempt to use power to break the rules and harm others. And the ‘Kunlun Mirror’ is a shackle tailor-made for them.”

Her answer was impeccable and brimming with powerful confidence.

The interview continues.

Li Rui then asked several questions of public concern, such as the popularization of "body-strengthening boxing" and the expansion of enrollment at Yunlan University.

Zhou Jue answered each question clearly and logically.

Time passed by unnoticed.

As the interview drew to a close, Li Rui glanced at the last question on the outline and took a deep breath.

She knew that this was the question the people of the whole country most wanted to ask.

"Major General Zhou, thank you for your detailed explanation. But... to be honest, whether it's 'Body Tempering Fist,' spiritual energy restoration, or 'cultivation,' it's still a rather abstract concept for most of us."

"I know this may be a bit presumptuous, but... I wonder if you could... show us, and the national audience, a little bit of this new power?"