Chapter 287 - 18: Malice, Preparations for Superpower Ascension (2)

"You want to declare war on me? Fine."

"But first, take a look at your so-called elite forces."

The voice, tinged with mockery and disdain, drifted over from far behind them.

Su Muqing stood her ground, taking a deep breath.

The expressions on Wei Cangming’s and the others’ faces shifted. Only then did they realize the suffocating atmosphere had begun to dissipate, allowing them to breathe again.

"Miss..."

"I’m fine, Uncle Wei, Sister Dong."

After composing herself, Su Muqing said softly, "I was already prepared for this."

STEP. STEP.

She started walking again, heading toward her manor complex.

Seeing this, Wei Cangming and the others paused in surprise before hurrying to follow. Their gazes on her retreating back grew complicated.

The four great elder families were rife with undercurrents, and the City Guard Army and inspection teams were plagued by internal strife.

On top of that, there were the Alliance Country and the covetous warlords outside the city.

The Young Miss and the Young Master...

’Must they really continue this fight?’

....

「A few days later.」

White clouds drifted slowly by, leaving the sky over the Red Maple City Circle remarkably clear.

Lu Chao, on another day off, arrived early at the Storm Club.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH!

His figure flashed as he moved nimbly across the iron posts, continuously circulating his Martial Arts Power to stimulate the acupoints in his legs.

The metal boots he wore and the solid iron plates wrapped around his legs were exceptionally heavy, and he gradually felt his muscles ache and his bones throb with a piercing pain.

Even so, he tensed his muscles, leaped into the air, and shot toward the climbing wall, continuing his training by moving like a Gecko.

Many of the club’s disciples witnessed this. To see someone who was already at the Elite Level training so desperately made them click their tongues in silent amazement, their admiration growing even deeper.

THUD!

Finally, after an hour, Lu Chao leaped down from the climbing wall with a heavy landing.

"Hah!"

He forcefully exhaled a breath of stale air, wiped his sweat, and temporarily stopped his Dragonwalk Technique training.

An hour of pushing his body to its absolute limits through desperate training had consumed most of his Martial Arts Power and stamina, bringing him to the brink.

Intense fatigue washed over him from all directions. The metal shoes on his feet and the solid iron blocks strapped to his legs felt heavier than ever. He finally unfastened them one by one.

Amid the THUD, THUD, THUD of the heavy objects hitting the floor, Lu Chao finally felt a rare sense of relief.

He then walked slowly toward the rest area.

Hearing a sound, he glanced up at the blue-lit screen hanging in the main hall.

[Red Maple Daily: It is reported that the United Committee has completed its preliminary inspection of the Hive District and has publicly announced that it will work with the City Lord’s Mansion to formulate a renovation plan for the underground city, providing better living conditions for Hive District residents...]

[City Morning Paper: The City Lord’s Mansion Inspection Team announced it will deepen its cooperation with the Superpower Bureau and will launch a new search-and-destroy operation in the future targeting hidden members of the Rebels within the city!]

[Satellite News: The Jinggang Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will be adding several new member slots and has reached deep cooperation agreements with multiple corporate groups...]

News headlines popped up from time to time. He scanned them, not finding any of it too surprising.

Satellite City No. 4 had recently conducted several inspection missions in the Hive District. He had taken Chen Xiao and others on duty there multiple times and had only managed to get some free time today.

Nothing unexpected had happened during that time. The members of the Rebels seemed to have vanished without a trace, not a single attack occurring.

As the thought passed, Lu Chao picked up a nearby cup and gulped down several large mouthfuls of Nutrient Liquid.

Wiping his mouth, he finally felt some of his fatigue recede and a portion of his stamina return.

"Senior Brother Lu."

A voice came from his side, and Lu Chao turned his head to look.

Dressed in silver, wind-patterned robes, one was burly and tall, the other lean and upright. It was none other than Song Yan and Yang Chengfeng, who had returned after recovering from their injuries.

After more than half a month, their injuries were under control and had mostly healed.

Although their faces were still a little pale, there were no major issues.

"Junior Brother Song, Senior Brother Yang."

Lu Chao smiled and nodded, greeting the two of them.

"Regarding the arena match before, we owe you a great deal, Junior Brother Lu."

Yang Chengfeng said with a grateful smile, bowing deeply.

"That’s right. Thank you, Senior Brother Lu, for avenging us. If it weren’t for you, that Blood Slaughterer would have definitely kept pestering us..."

Song Yan chimed in as well. Both of them did their best to express their goodwill, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at him.

It wasn’t just them.

Lu Chao could also feel the gazes of awe from the many other club disciples around him.

Under the enhancement of his Observation Method, everything was reflected in his mind’s eye, and he could clearly sense the sincerity of their emotions.

Admiration, worship, awe...

Ever since he defeated Cao Lin on the arena stage that day, everything had quietly changed.

He had even been on guard, wary of Li Gusha coming for revenge, but everything remained calm. The man never appeared again.

"You two are too kind, Senior Brothers."

"If you hadn’t tested out Cao Lin’s tricky methods first, it certainly wouldn’t have been so easy for me."

Lu Chao smiled and cupped his fists, speaking humbly.

Cao Lin’s strength was definitely not weak; he was infinitely close to the Superpower Level.

His victory in that battle had seemed easy, but he had indeed held the advantage of intelligence and seized the initiative. Otherwise, it might have taken him a few more moves.

Hearing this, Yang Chengfeng’s expression softened, and he became even more impressed.

He had originally been a bit indignant, feeling that he had only lost due to carelessness and a dirty trick. But now, it was clear that Junior Brother Lu’s victory was well-deserved.

"Junior Brother Lu, you’re too modest."

"I hope we can exchange pointers more often in the future and discuss the path to the Superpower Level together,"

he said repeatedly. His Life Energy had long since been developed to 99 points, just one hair’s breadth away from stepping into the Superpower Level.

Lu Chao’s interest was piqued, and he took the opportunity to ask for guidance.

After more than ten minutes, the two had to go see Ge Hongfeng, so their chat came to a temporary end.

’Breaking through the limit point really isn’t that simple.’

Lu Chao’s gaze was solemn as he thought of the regret Yang Chengfeng had just shown.

The man had been stuck at 99 points of Life Energy for nearly a year. In that time, he had consumed countless portions of Advanced Nutritional Resources, yet he still couldn’t overcome that final hurdle.

It seemed like only a sliver of a difference, but in reality, it was a chasm as wide as the heavens.

Thinking of this, a glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes as he confirmed his suspicions.

For the final step to the Superpower Level, resources were secondary. What mattered more was relying on one’s own power to complete the metamorphosis and touch the so-called Superpower Ascension.

However, he glanced at his panel.

He had not yet reached his limit point and still needed enough resources to raise his Life Energy again.

As for the so-called life metamorphosis.

His gaze fell on his Potential Progress, which was already at 90%. A glint appeared in Lu Chao’s eyes as several theories surfaced in his mind.

Ordinary people had to rack their brains for ways to break their limits and undergo a life metamorphosis.

’But it seems all I need to do is awaken my talent?’

’If that’s really the case...’

His eyes brightened. Lu Chao suppressed his excitement and looked away.

’I have to find a way to verify this.’

....

「Several hours later.」

WHOOSH!!

A car on the roadside sped away, kicking up a gust of wind.

The afterglow of the sun reflected off the floor-to-ceiling windows of the towering buildings, sending halos of light streaking past his eyes.

Having finished his training, Lu Chao changed into a loose black hoodie, sweatpants, and sneakers. He walked out of the Storm Club and strode slowly toward the platform by the road.

He passed through the bustling crowd, the noisy din of car horns and people’s voices filling his ears.

He walked at an unhurried pace and soon found a spot in the corner of the platform, where he stood steadily.

’My theory was right.’

Looking at the watch on his wrist, a glint secretly flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes.

In the afternoon, he had specifically sought out Ge Hongfeng to ask about breaking through to the Superpower Level, which had confirmed his suspicions.

There were only two main difficulties in breaking through to the Superpower Level.

First, one’s mental will had to be strong enough to perfectly control the body’s power. Second, one had to break their own limits to initiate a life metamorphosis.

He had long since met the first requirement, thanks to the boost from his Fixed Star Observation Method.

As for the latter...

He glanced again at his Potential Progress.

’Still a ways to go.’

’I have to find a way to get more resources.’

Instantly, his mind began to calculate.

The subsidy from the Hunter Guild was still a week away, and the benefits from the Superpower Bureau wouldn’t arrive for about half a month.

After running through his plans, if he wanted to max out his Potential Progress sooner, the only way was to complete high-reward missions.

’The Iron Sand Army, Ma Kui...’

His eyes flickered. Lu Chao’s gaze lingered for a few seconds on the mission rewards: several thousand contribution points, two portions of Advanced Nutritional Resources, and several hundred kilograms of High-Level Exotic Beast Meat.

He was just about to ask his subordinates for an update on their surveillance.

"Hm?"

His five senses flared, and he keenly detected a hint of something wrong.

Scrutiny, inquiry, suspicion...

Emotions tinged with faint malice reflected in his mind’s eye as he looked across the street.

Someone in a black windbreaker was leaning against the park fence, sitting on a public bench and making a call.

Others were walking slowly, blending into the crowd.

Everything seemed normal on the surface.

However, Lu Chao’s peripheral vision swept over several figures.

He was certain.

He was being watched.