Chapter 463 - 342: Changes After Six Months (Part 2)

More than six months in the Wizard World meant five years had passed in the Profound Yellow World.

He went from 10% in the Awakening Initial Stage to his current 60% in the Level Four Grandmaster Middle Stage.

From an ordinary man tied to a blood sacrifice altar to a high-ranking core member of the Jiangzhou City Management Bureau.

From a rookie who could only take on basic missions each month to the General in charge of purging cults throughout all of Jiangnan Province.

Both his power and status had undergone a world of change.

[Name: Wei Song (Projection)]

[Age: 30]

[Realm: Level Four Grandmaster Middle Stage (60%)]

[Superpower Rule: Thermal Energy Control → Thermonuclear Core]

[Rule Mastery: 27%]

[Potential Assessment: High]

[Thermonuclear Core: A miniature thermonuclear core condensed within the body, capable of continuously outputting high temperatures, similar to a small nuclear reactor. Can also be condensed to release a miniature "Thermonuclear Explosion."]

Thanks to absorbing a large amount of World Origin, his progress in comprehending the Rule was now approaching that of Ian’s Gravity Rule.

His power wasn’t much weaker than his original body’s either.

The original’s parents and older brother were also well taken care of, no longer requiring his attention.

’Time... it really flies. My original body will be here soon, too.’

Wei Song pulled himself from his thoughts and walked back to his desk.

On the desk lay an encrypted file, its cover stamped in crimson with the words "TOP SECRET."

He sat down and opened the file. The first page was a mission briefing.

[Mission Number: S-0427]

[Location: Shenfeng City (border of Jiangnan Province and Jiangbei Province)]

[Event Description: Residents in three surrounding villages and towns have begun to exhibit signs of "mutation." Suspected infiltration by the Abyssal Child cult...]

[Three days ago, 50 kilometers northwest of Shenfeng City, an abnormal Rift fluctuation was detected. Intensity: Level Three. Unregistered.]

[Initial Assessment: A new Rift. A cult is attempting to channel a projection from the Abyss to expand the area of contamination.]

[Recommendation: Dispatch a team led by a Level Four Grandmaster or higher for Purification and purging.]

Wei Song’s gaze fell on the two words "new Rift," his eyes thoughtful.

’A new Rift that hasn’t been officially recorded or purified... If I can lead the team that purifies it...’

’Or even if I complete it by myself, the World Will of the Profound Yellow World will likely bestow a "Mark."’

’It’s just as the manuscripts of the ancestor Justice recorded: making a significant contribution to the world itself can earn the recognition of the World Will.’

’The bearer of the Mark is treated as a native lifeform, free from the suppression of the Rules.’

’This is the key to my original body’s safe arrival, and... the key to gaining free access to Source Crystals.’

Wei Song closed the file and pressed the intercom on his desk.

"Lin Wei, come in."

Soon, the office door was pushed open.

Lin Wei walked in, looking as sharp and competent as ever. Time seemed to have left no trace on her.

She still had her shoulder-length hair, thin-framed glasses, and dark-gray uniform dress.

But the insignia on her chest had been upgraded from that of a mere administrative staffer to the mark of a Level Three Grandmaster.

She, too, had been promoted for her outstanding performance over the last five years.

A promotion not just in rank, but in the power of her Superpower as well.

"General Wei."

Lin Wei walked to the desk and handed him a file with both hands.

"This is the detailed file on Shenfeng City you requested. It includes the energy monitoring records for the past three months, the personnel roster for the local Management Bureau, and... a list of villages and towns suspected of being infiltrated."

Wei Song took the file and quickly skimmed through it, his gaze landing on the "List of Suspected Infiltrated Villages and Towns."

The list covered seven villages and towns. Each entry was annotated with the time, type, and casualty count of the abnormal incidents...

The last line was circled in red pen.

"Bluestone Town... seventeen people missing within three days. Lingering Abyssal Aura at the scene. No bodies found."

Wei Song looked up at Lin Wei. "Bluestone Town, have you been there?"

"No."

Lin Wei shook her head and adjusted her glasses, her expression grim.

"But the team from the Shenfeng City Management Bureau went. The leader was a Level Three Grandmaster. After he came back... he wasn’t mentally sound."

"He kept rambling incoherently about ’eyes.’ He’s currently in quarantine under observation."

A grim look flashed in Wei Song’s eyes. ’Even a Level Three Grandmaster lost his mind...’

’He either suffered powerful mental contamination or... saw something he wasn’t supposed to see.’

The Abyssal Child cult was skilled in Spiritual Control and Illusion Techniques.

Their core members all receive a "gift" from the Will of the Abyss: terrifying, distorted abilities.

And that included... mental contamination.

"I’m taking this mission personally. Have our people get ready."

Wei Song closed the file and stood up.

"Notify the Shenfeng City Management Bureau. I’ll be there with a squad in three days."

"Draft a roster for me. Pick experienced Superpower Users with high mental resistance."

"Yes."

Lin Wei nodded, then turned to leave.

At the door, she stopped and looked back at Wei Song, a trace of worry in her eyes.

"General Wei... every new Rift is extremely dangerous, and with the Abyssal Child cult involved..."

"I know. Don’t worry," Wei Song cut her off, his voice calm.

"But I have to go. I can’t allow the lives of the citizens of Great Yan to be threatened."

He didn’t explain his real reason, but this justification suited his persona perfectly.

For eight years, he hadn’t taken a single day off, almost always on the front lines, dealing with various matters involving cults and Rifts.

Wei Song’s hatred for cults was well-known, not just in Jiangnan Province, but throughout the entire Great Yan.

Because Wei Song was exceptionally ruthless toward cults, always burning his enemies to a pile of ashes.

He had earned the nickname: "Ashbringer."

Seeing Wei Song’s righteous and imposing demeanor, the admiration in Lin Wei’s eyes nearly overflowed.

What she respected most about him was his powerful aura of righteousness.

’The General is not only talented but also incredibly hardworking. He’s so easygoing, too. I just don’t understand why he’s still single...’

Lin Wei nodded, said no more, and left through the door.

Quiet returned to the office.

Wei Song walked to the window. The sky was overcast, threatening rain.

’Abyssal Child? What a grandiose name.’

He looked down at his palm, and with a mere thought...

An orange-red ball of light appeared above his palm.

The temperature inside the sphere of light soared.

One thousand degrees, two thousand, three thousand... finally stabilizing at six thousand degrees.

Like a miniature sun, burning in his palm.

Yet the room’s temperature barely changed; he kept the heat perfectly contained within his palm, not letting any of it escape.

This was not simple "Thermal Energy Control," but... "Thermonuclear Core."

In five years, his Superpower had evolved from "Thermal Energy Control" to "High Temperature Domain," and then to its current state: "Thermonuclear Core."

A miniature thermonuclear reactor had formed inside his body.

It could continuously output high temperatures, like a small star, with a maximum temperature... of up to thirty thousand degrees.

The surface temperature of the sun from Ian’s past life was only 5,500°C to 6,000°C.

Furthermore, he could also condense and release a one-time "Thermonuclear Explosion."

If unleashed at full power, the instantaneous temperature at its core could exceed one million degrees.

The absolute kill-zone from the direct blast and resulting shockwave had a radius of at least two thousand meters.

This was his strongest trump card, the source of his confidence in taking on this mission.

Wei Song dispelled the sphere of light and walked back to his desk.

He opened a drawer and took out a specially-made Crystal Box.

Inside the box lay twelve golden crystals, each the size of an egg.

Five years of accumulation, plus mission rewards and high-level stipends... and he had only managed to save up twelve Source Crystals.

All of them were whole Source Crystals, containing hundreds of times more World Origin than mere fragments.

Wei Song picked up a whole Source Crystal. It was warm to the touch.

’Besides using them for my own advancement... I need to save some for my original body.’

He muttered to himself and put the Source Crystal back in the box.

’Once this mission is over, if I get the Mark, then my original body... can finally begin.’