Conspiracy

Watching Xia Zhi change into his combat uniform and boots, with a war saber strapped to his back, he looked valiant and upright.

After hearing Jiang Tao explain the situation, Xia Zhi still remained calm and composed. Jiang Tao, who had been somewhat anxious, gradually relaxed as well.

They both lived in Mingyue Residential Area, and over the past month, Jiang Tao and Xia Zhi had grown increasingly familiar with each other.

When he learned that Li Wei and his group had seriously injured Xia Zhi before the Quasi-Warrior Assessment simply to prevent him from taking it, Jiang Tao became far more wary of them.

Ever since Xia Zhi's performance in the Quasi-Warrior Assessment had surpassed even that of ordinary geniuses, drawing the favor of Supervisor Zhuge Tao and earning him an A-level contract with the martial arts hall—

Instructor Jiang Tao and Hall Master Xiang Zhonghua had both come to regard Xia Zhi as their hope.

They hoped that, during their careers teaching at the martial arts hall, a top-tier powerhouse would one day emerge.

As for Xia Zhi's explosive growth in strength after his injury, he had explained to the two of them that his Gene Energy Cultivation Method had broken through to the beginner stage.

After sensing cosmic energy, his cells had absorbed it, causing his physical fitness to double.

There were precedents for this among warriors.

Once an ordinary person's physical fitness reached the Quasi-Warrior threshold, they could begin cultivating the Gene Energy Cultivation Method.

Through cultivation, they could resonate with the mysterious energy of the universe and absorb cosmic energy into their bodies, thereby opening the door to evolution.

When the human body absorbed cosmic energy for the first time, its cells absorbed the greatest amount of energy, and strength improved the fastest.

Some ordinary people gained two or three hundred kilograms of punching force, while others improved by fifty percent or even doubled their strength.

Those who could double or even multiply their strength severalfold were all geniuses among human geniuses, proving that their genetic makeup was particularly suited to cultivation.

Once such a genius appeared and was discovered by the major factions, they would all compete to recruit them.

After all, it meant that their faction might gain another top-tier powerhouse in the future.

It was precisely because Supervisor Zhuge Tao had seen Xia Zhi's performance during the Quasi-Warrior Assessment, and realized that just a week earlier Xia Zhi had only possessed the strength of an ordinary Quasi-Warrior, that he immediately understood Xia Zhi's immense potential.

That was why he had not hesitated to offer the best contract within his authority.

He was even willing to spend his own money to cover the additional amount beyond the free allowance, all to improve his relationship with Xia Zhi.

All of this was based on the potential Xia Zhi himself had displayed.

As for the awakening of a Mind Controller, it was so rare that Zhuge Tao had not considered that possibility at all.

Besides, if Xia Zhi truly had awakened as a Mind Controller, the investment would be even more worthwhile. It would mean that Xia Zhi's potential was greater, and his future combat strength even more formidable.

"Although the practical assessment is monitored at all times, and Quasi-Warriors are absolutely forbidden from fighting or killing one another, I still feel that something isn't right."

After speaking, Jiang Tao thought for a moment before saying, "Come with me to see the hall master."

Xia Zhi could not help smiling when he heard that.

"Instructor, we don't know anything yet. What would we say if we went to see the hall master?"

"Besides, even if they do have a conspiracy, I'm confident I can handle it."

Xia Zhi's tone was resolute.

Jiang Tao glanced at Xia Zhi's steadfast gaze, nodded, and said nothing more.

Conspiracy? Before absolute strength, no conspiracy is of any use.

After the Quasi-Warrior Assessment, Xia Zhi had spent a month cultivating. The second level of his Supreme Body Refining Art, the Bone Refining Chapter, had already reached the beginner stage. His physical strength had steadily broken through to the peak of the intermediate Warrior level, and he could feel himself growing stronger every day. He was not far from breaking through to the advanced Warrior level.

A Mind Controller was inherently synonymous with being invincible among those of the same level, their strength two levels above their physical abilities.

Now that Xia Zhi's body was at the intermediate Warrior level, his Mind Controller level had already reached the Beginner Wargod level.

A Mind Controller could easily slaughter a group of ordinary warriors at the same level.

Therefore, Xia Zhi was fully confident about this assessment.

Although his path of cultivation in this world had only just begun, the assessment was filled with only the weakest H-class monsters. They posed no threat to him at all.

In the distance, Li Qiang was talking to someone when he suddenly sensed someone watching him from behind. Turning around, he found that it was Xia Zhi.

Li Qiang, who felt that his strength had improved greatly and was brimming with confidence, revealed a vicious glint in his triangular eyes and glared fiercely back.

Sensing the malice in Li Qiang's gaze, Xia Zhi gave a contemptuous smile, then turned away and ignored him.

"Xia Zhi, you piece of trash. Once the assessment begins, I'll make you regret coming here."

Thinking of everything he had secretly arranged, and feeling the combat vest beneath his clothes—which looked ordinary but possessed D-class strength—Li Qiang thought viciously to himself.

Inside a guesthouse by the military camp's plaza, in a luxuriously furnished room.

Li Wei, also dressed in a black combat uniform, stood before the enormous window. His gloomy gaze passed over the crowd and fixed on Xia Zhi in the distance.

"Has everything been arranged?" Li Wei asked in a low voice.

On the sofa against one wall sat a figure. The lights were off, making the room somewhat dim, and the person concealed in the shadows could not be seen clearly.

"It's done. An F-class Tiger Mastiff King has already been placed in the assessment town. Its strength is close to the E-class early Beast General level."

"Among F-class monsters, it is already one of the strongest. More importantly, among the Tiger Mastiffs prepared in the town, it would be perfectly reasonable for one monster to occasionally break through and become a king."

The person in the shadows spoke in a sinister voice.

"Very good. The thirty million in cash I promised you will be transferred to your account immediately." Li Wei sounded satisfied after hearing the shadowed man's reply.

"Young Master Wei, why not just have someone kill that brat directly? Even if he passes the assessment, he'll have to leave the city to fight monsters sooner or later. There will be plenty of opportunities then."

"If we tamper with the assessment and it gets discovered, then..."

The person in the shadows asked in confusion.

After all, thirty million in cash for the life of a mere Warrior-level brat was simply too easy.

Within a base city, all killing between humans was strictly forbidden. Violators were executed without exception.

But outside the base city, there were no laws or Security Bureau.

The survival rule of the strong devouring the weak was displayed to its fullest.

There were plenty of General-level powerhouses willing to act for thirty million in cash.

For ordinary General-level warriors, even if they left the city to hunt monsters and collected their spoils, it was very difficult to accumulate thirty million.

That required risking their lives at every moment.

Yet now, they only had to kill a Warrior-level brat to receive so much money. There would definitely be many people tempted to act.

"I know. But I can't wait."

Li Wei stared at Xia Zhi in the distance, his eyes gleaming with a murderous light.

"I don't want to see him smug. I want him dead immediately."

As if sensing something, Xia Zhi suddenly felt a stir in his heart. He turned and looked toward the three-story building in the distance, but found nothing.

Maybe I'm being oversensitive. Xia Zhi thought.

"The practical assessment is about to begin. All Quasi-Warriors taking part in the assessment, please gather at the plaza."

A loud announcement came from the military camp's speakers. The noisy camp gradually fell silent.

All 1,742 Quasi-Warriors, fully armed, gathered in the plaza and waited quietly.

A group of officers emerged from the military camp, led by the burly officer Dong Hao.

He walked straight to the front of the formation, swept his gaze across the crowd, and spoke in a rough voice.

"Move out. Destination: Monster Town."

The first chapter for today is here. Another chapter will be coming a little later. Thank you, readers, for your encouragement. I've updated more than twenty thousand words already. I keep seeing people online say they get signing offers after only a few thousand words, and I'm a little worried—maybe fanfiction is hard to get signed... Though I'm writing for the love of it—a term I just learned from Zhihu—it would still be nice to receive recognition. Never mind. For the daily support of several readers, I'll keep going. I absolutely won't abandon this story! If you like it, please add it to your collection, and if you have votes, please send some encouragement. Many thanks! Oh, I just learned there is also something called new-book investment. I don't really understand it, but I saw there are already nine investors. Haha, thank you for the encouragement! Every bit of your support is my greatest motivation!