Chapter 386 - 64: Peak of Limit-Breaking

In a winding, twisting underground tunnel, a spacious secret chamber was filled with figures.

A holographic screen floated in the center. Large pieces of equipment lined both sides, where hackers and elite Rebel personnel were busy operating the instruments.

The adjacent armory was connected by a two-meter-wide hidden passage. Armed guards patrolled within. Biologically Transformed weapons were installed in every corner, looking like black spider-like Mutant Beasts with countless crimson compound eyes. They hung upside down from the passage ceiling, their bodies gleaming with a metallic luster.

A medical bay was located in an even deeper chamber. Off-white beds lined the sides, and the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and medicinal fluids.

Several high-ranking cadres from the Reconqueror Branch base and some Superpower Law Enforcement Officers wore ugly expressions as they received treatment for their injuries from subordinate physicians.

"Damn it, the Superpower Bureau is getting more and more cautious. Their search operations are getting bigger and bigger, too."

"If this keeps up, we’ll probably be exposed."

Legos’s expression was stormy. His chest was slightly caved in, and his Caucasian skin was exceptionally pale, clearly indicating a serious injury.

Draped in a black robe, Black Owl remained silent upon hearing this. His left arm hung limply, clearly broken, while a physician injected him with a medicinal fluid from behind.

The atmosphere grew strangely silent for a moment. Everyone could feel that the situation was deteriorating.

"Don’t be hasty."

Suddenly, Zhu Yue, dressed in a red leather suit, spoke softly.

Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, her expression was unchanged as she said, "The leader has sent intel. The scale of the Beast Tide is larger than anticipated."

"We just need to stall for a little more time. The Superpower Bureau and the Special Investigation Team won’t have the luxury of worrying about anything else... When that time comes, someone will be there to support us."

At these words, everyone nodded in silent agreement.

Legos’s brow gradually relaxed, and he allowed the physician to bandage his wound.

However, he glanced to the side, at the young man in the blue hoodie who had been silent the entire time.

Ever since the failed assassination attempt on Luo Xuan of the United Committee, the young man had become exceptionally quiet and even more grim.

Moreover, he seemed to be paying an unusual amount of attention to that kid from the Superpower Bureau in private.

"You... have you gone mute lately?"

Legos deliberately tried to provoke him, but the other man paid him no mind.

Instead, he stood up and walked away, leaving the secret underground chamber on his own.

[Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall Massacre, Time...]

[Lei Wanjun, Master of Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall, deceased. Suspected cause: a grudge between martial arts halls, killed by Master Jinshi, Luo Qianshan...]

[Ring City task force forced to disband, City Defense Department retakes control of the wilderness outposts...]

He scrolled through a lot of information on his watch. Most of it was old news about Ring City, published more than half a year ago.

Finally, he took a steel-frame elevator to the surface. He looked out at the towering pillars within the Hive District and the ascent shafts that led in and out of the urban area.

A cold, questioning glint flashed in Wu Yuntao’s eyes.

’Why...’

’Why didn’t the task force manage to intercept and kill you back then?’

...

CLICK!

「That evening, at dusk.」

Lu Chao returned to his apartment, a silver briefcase in hand.

He went straight to the small Cultivation Chamber in his apartment and placed it on the table.

Then, he pressed the latch and opened it.

Inside were three oval glass vials, or to be more precise, three transparent boxes.

Each contained an orange-red, diamond-shaped crystal that reflected the bright incandescent light, exuding an alluring vitality.

In an instant.

[Essence of Qi — Crystalline Nutritional Medicine]

[Quality: Elementary]

[Effect: Rich in minerals and nutrients. Made from a blend of Advanced Mutant Beast essence. Long-term consumption by a Superpower Level individual can increase Life Energy...]

The information from his intuitive sense appeared in his vision. Lu Chao nodded, reasonably satisfied.

This was the mission reward he had received from Li Junyi.

Three portions of [Essence of Qi] or [energy mineral essence], plus thirty thousand contribution points and eight million Alliance Coins.

The latter two would be issued later, which was more or less what he had expected.

In addition, his internal network access level had been raised, giving him the qualifications to exchange for knowledge related to Biological Alchemist Superpower Potions.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Lu Chao took the [Essence of Qi] from the transparent box and tossed it into his mouth.

CRUNCH... CRUNCH...

Amidst the crisp sounds, he chewed heartily, crushing it to bits.

The texture was somewhat similar to a Magic Power crystal—refreshing and invigorating, but with a hint of sweetness.

In just a few breaths, a violent medicinal power surged into his body, coursing through his limbs and bones, boring straight into every cell.

[Predatory Growth] activated on its own. Lu Chao didn’t feel any strain and quickly swallowed the remaining two orange-red crystals as well.

’Such potent medicinal effects.’

His face flushed slightly, and veins bulged on his face.

Lu Chao immediately sank into a low stance, assuming the posture for the [Ten Thousand Spirits Martial Arts Skill]. Following its principles, he adjusted his breathing to guide the medicinal power.

’No, that’s not right.’

A thought struck him, and Lu Chao quickly switched to a different posture.

His legs were like tree roots planted in the ground. His right hand propped up the sky, held aloft like a pillar, while his left palm pressed down and inverted, as if holding down the earth like a rock.

The principles of [Iron Thorn], the first level of [Ten Thousand Jins Return Flow], surfaced in his mind. This hard-style Martial Arts skill, suspected to have originated from the star hero Robert, was incredibly powerful, and its cultivation requirements were equally demanding.

Even with his mastery of Rock, he felt strained. He decided to take advantage of the opportunity while refining the medicinal power to begin his formal practice.

HUFF...

HAAA...

A white stream of air appeared at the tip of Lu Chao’s nose, the surrounding air he inhaled and exhaled like a cloud of mist.

To the naked eye, his chest swelled up like a ball, then gradually deflated with his exhalation, causing his clothes to contract with it.

Gradually, Lu Chao mobilized every inch of muscle in his body.

From his shoulders and elbows, to his chest, then to his waist, abdomen, and legs...

He felt the medicinal power in his body being consumed at a rapid rate. This was a better way to guide the medicinal effects than the [Ten Thousand Spirits Martial Arts Skill], allowing for more complete absorption that acted on every part of his physical body.

In contrast, ’As expected, it’s quite difficult.’

His eyes narrowed slightly. Lu Chao felt a sense of strain.

Coordinating all the muscles in his body sounded easy, but it was extremely difficult to actually do.

Just like now, his toes would sometimes spread out like a duck’s webbed feet, then slowly contract.

Every tendon and membrane in his body also stretched and recoiled with his breathing, as if they had taken on a new life of their own.

It was like applying his consciousness to every part of his body at once. It wasn’t as simple as perfect control; it was more like training the vitality of his muscles, making their every movement instinctual.

’No wonder the physical requirements are so high.’

’Every breath is a tempering of the flesh and blood’s vitality. Every part of me feels like a taut steel wire under immense pressure.’

’And this is with my mastery of Rock as a foundation, a powerful physique, and the ability of perfect body control to aid my practice... If it were anyone else, they would probably fail and injure themselves in the process.’

Lu Chao roughly understood. He finally knew just how difficult this hard-style Martial Arts skill was.

He didn’t rush. Instead, he used this opportunity to gradually consolidate his foundation, adapt to the practice of [Ten Thousand Jins Return Flow], and transform his Rock Martial Skill into the basis for this new martial art.

Time passed, second by second. Lu Chao remained completely focused on himself.

Wisps of misty sweat emerged from his pores, and the cloudy stream of air before his nose swirled ceaselessly.

Until, finally, as the last trace of medicinal power was completely absorbed by Lu Chao...

CRACK!

It was as if some kind of bottleneck had shattered. He had actually managed to perfectly utilize all the medicinal power through his attempt at practicing [Ten Thousand Jins Return Flow], combined with [Predatory Growth].

In just a few breaths, Lu Chao felt his Qi Flame grow stronger, becoming more condensed and profound.

His tendons and muscles, which had been nearing their limit, also eased up at this moment, as if they had undergone another minor enhancement and transformation.

At once, his gaze sharpened. Lu Chao looked at the panel.

[Potential Progress: 35%]

His Potential Progress had climbed up another notch.

After returning from the wilderness, he had already accumulated a chunk of energy progress from the few vials of biological serum he obtained from Nanyun Mountain.

But right now, that wasn’t what he was focused on.

Instead.

[Life Energy: 144→150!]

A full six-point increase in Life Energy.

It had even broken through a bottleneck in one leap.

’The Peak of Limit-Breaking...’

’Finally, I’ve done it.’