Deep Within the Living-Chapter 6: Practice Rules

Early Morning
[05:30]
Luo Di slung his packed backpack over his shoulder, carrying the sleek silver metal case as he left the neighborhood.
The day before, he had already informed the community about his 48-hour absence for the practice. During this time, the community staff would check his home’s lighting and safety conditions.
At the entrance of the local research institute hung a conspicuous plaque, its lettering framed in polished brass.
A black seven-seater business car was parked by the roadside, the designated transport for the practice group.
Although Luo Di arrived thirty minutes early, someone was already standing by the gate—Vice Monitor Gao Yuxuan.
Their personalities made starting a conversation unlikely. To avoid awkwardness, Luo Di stood ten meters away under a streetlamp, methodically checking the contents of his backpack to ensure he hadn’t forgotten anything.
During his inspection, he caught sight of Gao Yuxuan acting somewhat oddly. His movements were stiff, particularly in his left arm, and even his fingers appeared unnaturally rigid. Luo Di guessed it had something to do with Gao’s two-week absence from school.
Five minutes of silence passed before Gao Yuxuan surprisingly walked over. He pulled a small green metal box from his pocket.
“Ahem... want one?”
“Thanks.”
Luo Di took two sugar-free mint candies. Something to freshen up and wake the mind was always welcome.
As they exchanged mints, a luxurious black sedan pulled up nearby.
Wu Wen and Anna stepped out of the backseat, their eyes widening at the scene before them.
“Whoa! Since when did you two get so buddy-buddy?” the class monitor teased.
The comment caused Gao Yuxuan to turn abruptly and walk away, while Luo Di remained indifferent—he never cared about others’ opinions.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman stepped out of the institute. She wore a white lab coat and had the stern, sweat-inducing presence of a disciplinary teacher.
“Now that everyone is here, get on the car,” she said curtly.
“Understood, Professor Qin.”
Wu Wen seemed to know her and immediately straightened up, her demeanor turning meek.
The group loaded their luggage into the business car’s trunk and boarded the vehicle.
The car doors closed, and a tense silence filled the cabin. Everyone seemed nervous to some degree.
Once the car began moving, Professor Qin’s voice came through the vehicle’s sound system.
“This journey will take about an hour.
“I will now explain the practice details and some rules. Afterward, you may ask questions.
“What I’m about to say will significantly affect your success rate—and possibly your survival rate. So, I hope you’ll pay close attention and remember every word.
“This practice will take place in an experimental zone, located 30 kilometers outside Jupiter City.
The practice is scheduled to last 48 hours.
If you can resolve the root cause of the incident causing the anomaly, you may finish and leave early.Of course, if you manage to endure the full 48 hours, even if the anomaly isn’t resolved, it will still count as completed.
The difficulty level of the practice will be randomized to simulate reality and train your ability to face the unknown. Once the practice begins, the research team will not intervene unless you sustain life-threatening injuries. Should intervention occur, your practice will be considered a failure.
Leaving the practice area under any circumstances is strictly prohibited.
“This practice will utilize Simulated Anomalies developed by the United Collective Research Institute. The environmental changes, strange events, pseudo-human figures, and anomaly attacks you encounter will closely mirror real-world scenarios.
“Now, let’s move on to the practice details:
The practice area contains several random ‘objects’. Once you find and activate one, the corresponding anomaly event will commence. You must locate and trigger these within 30 minutes.
The difficulty of the event will not be disclosed beforehand. You must face, investigate, and resolve the unknown.
Any effective, intentional actions during the practice may improve your individual evaluation.
Simulated Anomalies were first applied last year. While the technology is mostly stable, minor glitches still occur. If you encounter any irregularities, them immediately. Doing so will also enhance your evaluation.
“Now, it’s your turn to ask questions.”
Wu Wen, ever the diligent student, raised her hand first.
“During the practice, will there be relatively safe periods? Like for sleeping or eating?”
“No. Once it begins, you will be in constant danger.”
“Oh,” Wu Wen replied, her disappointment visible, though she quickly perked up again.
Gao Yuxuan, still focused on the notes he had been meticulously jotting down, asked next:
“If we trigger an anomaly event through one object, will the remaining objects in the area be retrieved by your team? Or could we trigger multiple events?”
“A good question. Rest assured, you can only trigger one event. Anomalies are directly controlled by the research institute. Even if you find additional objects afterward, they will not activate further events. You will face only one event per practice.”
Anna, meanwhile, pressed her fist against her chin, her brow furrowing as she strained to think of a worthwhile question. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but ultimately, she gave up without asking anything.
Seated in the last row, Luo Di waited until the others had finished before posing his own question:
“If we engage in a confrontation with the simulated anomaly, and in the process cause environmental damage that results in unlit ‘corners,’ will that interrupt the practice?”
This question caused Professor Qin’s expression to darken.
“In theory, such a situation should not occur. The experimental zone you’ll be in has undergone extensive modification by the institute.
“All potential corners in buildings or trees have been rounded. Door hinges and window frames have been replaced with standardized reinforced cylinders, and the environment itself is designed to resist significant damage.
"And the experimental zone is monitored by over 300 hidden cameras. The improved Corner Parrots scattered among the forest branches ensure that any formation of unlit corners is detected immediately.
"That said, you should do your best to avoid such situations.
"If your deliberate actions cause the creation of a corner, resulting in unpredictable danger, even if you complete the practice, your personal will not pass."
“Understood,” Luo Di replied.
With no further questions, the business car reached Jupiter City’s exit gate.
Jupiter City was encircled by a 50-meter-high luminescent wall, safeguarded by numerous watchtowers, drones, and patrol teams.
The city exit resembled a large highway toll plaza, with eight lanes available. During the Founding Festival, many private vehicles were queued for exit due to mandatory health checks before leaving the city.
However, the research institute's car qualified for the specialized lane at the far edge, bypassing the line.
After clearing the checkpoint, the outer highway mirrored the city’s infrastructure, featuring densely placed streetlights. The roadside forest was lined with cables or embedded wiring to ensure constant illumination within the trees.
Some of the trees had even been biologically modified to emit their own light. Occasionally, the silhouettes of well-paid forest rangers could be seen patrolling between the trees.
The car sped along the highway. Once outside the city, structures became rare, limited to service areas and watchtowers. Few dared to live outside the city limits, and those who did often disappeared without a trace.
There were no rural villages or towns—only cities served as the focal point of human life.
Before long, the car veered off the main road, entering a narrow side path resembling a country lane.
To the right of the road lay a steep hillside, while to the left stood dense forest, its canopy nearly blocking out the sky.
The light density here was noticeably lower, though still within safe parameters.
Contrary to their expectations, the car didn’t stop at a forest research institute or an isolated building designed for the practice.
Instead, it pulled over at an unremarkable roadside spot.
Professor Qin, who had spoken through the microphone earlier, turned her head for the first time to address the four students.
“From here, you will ascend this hill—less than a hundred meters tall. This is your experimental zone. The moment you set foot on the soil of the hill, the practice begins.
“The objects that trigger the practice events are scattered across the hill.
“Remember: you have only 30 minutes to locate and activate an event.”
The four students stepped out, each carrying their luggage. They gazed up at the hill, its dense vegetation dimly illuminated, and felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Their first Social Practice was about to begin.