Return to the Federation

[Landslide] was a formidable attack ability, especially against the impenetrable alien creatures in the Threshold—it could strip their tough hides, making it a rare prize.

[Blooming Harmony] offered long-range attacks. Although she hadn't tested it yet, its potential seemed limitless, so there was no way she'd give it up.

Weighing her options, Tu Ran ultimately closed that panel. She'd come back to upgrade once she'd accumulated enough useless abilities.

Tu Ran then opened the intermediate ability panel. She recalled having seven or eight intermediate abilities.

She checked whether intermediate abilities could be upgraded.

But when she opened it, no green text popped up.

Clearly, seven intermediate abilities weren't enough to upgrade to a higher tier.

Sure enough, the higher the level, the harder the upgrade.

Tu Ran's thoughts snapped back to reality.

Today was her seventeenth day in the Threshold.

She and Fatty had already returned to the mountain ruled by the thousand-year-old turtle.

The old turtle had fallen into a deep slumber, its cave sealed shut, with the dragon head resting over the entrance, so Fatty couldn't get in.

Tu Ran had dug another burrow not far from the cave for Fatty to stay in.

The Paoxiao on this mountain had already been cleared out by Tu Ran; the rest had scattered in all directions. Overall, there weren't many formidable creatures left.

Besides, the old turtle had said that the creatures here would show some respect to him as the Mountain God, so Fatty was relatively safe living nearby.

Most importantly, not far from the cave was a grove of fruit trees bearing all kinds of fruit, along with a small stream. Fatty wanted for nothing here—it was practically paradise.

Over the past two days, Tu Ran had been waiting for the Threshold's gate to open.

She'd already explained to Fatty that she might never return to this place, and that they might never meet again.

Fatty had accepted that fact.

He'd taken it better than Tu Ran had expected—no clinging or begging to follow her. Instead, he spent his days eating, drinking, and sleeping, as carefree as a god.

That earned Tu Ran's newfound respect. Then again, he was a Danghu bird who'd once roamed the perilous Threshold freely and seen the wider world, so his adaptability must be strong.

On the third day after returning to the mountain, as Tu Ran went out on her morning patrol, she spotted a ripple of energy on the trunk of a fruit tree.

A faint fluctuation, like a pebble dropping into a calm lake. The ripples were brown, blending into the tree trunk—easy to miss if you weren't looking carefully.

"I'm leaving now." Tu Ran gazed at the energy fluctuation on the trunk, her voice calm.

"Goodbye, boss." Fatty waved a wing in farewell.

"Mhm, you need to be careful, you chicken," Tu Ran couldn't help but warn, looking at his frail, helpless, utterly non-combative frame. Even as she left, she couldn't rest easy. "Don't trust any human, especially ones wearing the same clothes as me. Got it?"

"Got it. Boss, you've said that so many times already."

Tu Ran shot him a glare, and Fatty shrank his neck. "I'm just afraid it goes in one ear and out the other."

"Don't worry, boss. Fatty remembers. I won't trust any human except you." Fatty said solemnly.

Tu Ran nodded. That was more like it. "If I ever come back to this world and land in this forest again, I'll come find you."

"Mm-hmm, Fatty hopes boss comes back to this forest next time too."

"Take these three bombs," Tu Ran said, pulling three explosive charges from her backpack. "If you run into danger, pull this ring and throw it immediately. It'll blow the enemy to pieces..."

Tu Ran paused. Thinking about how thick-skinned the creatures in this world were, she corrected herself: "Well, it probably won't blow them to pieces, but it'll definitely hurt them enough to buy you time to escape."

"Got it?" Tu Ran looked at Fatty.

She didn't even realize how much her concern for Fatty had grown far beyond what she'd initially envisioned.

Fatty nodded, carefully taking the three bombs from Tu Ran's hands and cradling them close. "Fatty's got it. I learned when boss used bombs to blow up the Paoxiao leader."

"Oh, good," Tu Ran said. "Be careful—don't touch them unless you have to, or you might blow yourself up. And sleep far away from them. You toss and turn."

Tu Ran sounded just like a parent heading off on a long trip, fussing over a clueless child.

Tu Ran thought for a moment. Nothing else to say. "I'm off then."

"Mm-hmm. Goodbye, boss."

Tu Ran stepped into the vortex of energy.

Her body was once again immersed in that bouncy, jelly-like sensation.

When she opened her eyes, the scene had changed.

A tense, suffocating atmosphere hung in the air, and every nerve in Tu Ran's mind snapped taut in an instant.

Countless dark gun muzzles were aimed at her. Fully equipped Executive Department guards formed a semicircle, boxing her in at the center.

Several heavy mech vehicles stood at the perimeter, their thick cannons trained on her, ready to fire at any moment and blast her to bits.

Three helicopters hovered low overhead, patrolling, their rotors roaring.

Everything before her was the Federation's reception for surviving Pioneers.

A reception reserved exclusively for Pioneers.

Exactly the same as when she'd first emerged from the Threshold.

The same blonde woman with waves of golden hair stepped forward to greet her.

By now, all of Tu Ran's equipment was connected to the network, including her voice translation system, which was running normally.

Tu Ran understood her words with ease.

"Congratulations—you're the first Pioneer out today. I'm genuinely glad to see you. Welcome home."

"Thank you," Tu Ran replied politely.

The blonde beauty gave her a once-over, then asked, "You look like you're in decent shape. Do you need a stretcher?"

Tu Ran shook her head. "No need."

"Alright then, this way please. Security checks are ready." She gestured for Tu Ran to follow.

Tu Ran walked in the direction she indicated.

The dense ring of Executive Department guards parted to form a narrow path, just wide enough for one person. On either side, guards held up shields with gun barrels poking through the gaps, adjusting their aim to track her as she moved.

They were vigilant, only turning their muzzles toward the next Pioneer to emerge once Tu Ran had entered the glass enclosure.

Tu Ran was the first Pioneer back, and the moment she stepped into the glass booth, countless eyes fixed on her.

Including the guards holding rifles, the "human shields" ready to interrogate and verify, and several doctors in Medical Department uniforms.

Meng Fanchen was among the doctors, having volunteered to come handle any emergencies.