Progress Rises Again

"Finally entered the dream, huh."

Under the night sky, he opened his eyes.

Chen Feng gripped the Metal Knuckle Duster, standing at the door of the apartment room.

He had been worried that he'd be too worked up tonight to fall asleep and enter this place.

Fortunately, his body's need for rest overcame his mind.

"But the spot I entered changed again?"

"It seems the logic of entering the dream really is somewhat like a game save mechanic."

He pushed aside thoughts related to reality, including the monster he'd encountered before.

Chen Feng looked down at himself.

Everything was the same as when he'd left the dream yesterday—both the surroundings and the gear on him.

The dagger at his waist was still there, and the White Sneakers on his feet were planted on the ground.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, lost in thought.

In the end, he confirmed there was nothing left in the apartment that drew his attention.

Only then did he move, heading straight for the stairwell, planning to search elsewhere for light clusters.

Down the stairs, onto the street.

Fog Enveloped both sides of the Asphalt Road, but Chen Feng keenly spotted a key detail.

Whether it was the apartment behind him or the single-story villa he'd first entered, the lights were clear, with no fog at all.

It Looked Like they'd been permanently illuminated.

Even though it was still night, the oppressive feeling from the start was gone.

"Is it because I've explored them?"

The thought flashed through Chen Feng's mind as he guessed instinctively.

Then he looked ahead.

A few meters away by the roadside, in the close-range area his eyes could reach.

At first, it was also shrouded in fog, hard to make out.

But now, the fog had scattered a bit, revealing buildings and streets within a seven-to-eight-meter range.

Seeing this, and recalling the changes in his dream entries over the past few times, Chen Feng had some understanding.

"Each time I enter the dream, a new area opens up for me to explore."

"As long as I leave footprints, it won't be covered by fog again."

Lost in thought, Chen Feng didn't dwell too much on the principle behind it.

After all, he didn't even know why he'd ended up here in the first place.

Then, he stepped forward.

He quickly pushed aside stray thoughts and continued walking down the road ahead.

There stood two Townhouse Apartments, with withered trees on either side of the iron gate, not a single leaf left.

Tap tap!

As he drew closer, Chen Feng keenly sensed a Trace of residual spirit and soul energy.

He turned his head to look at the Second Floor of one Townhouse Apartment, his gaze sharpening.

He knew there was a new light cluster there.

Without a second thought, he quickened his pace.

The iron gate ahead was half-open, the small yard paved with red brick and enclosed by an Iron Fence.

His eyes bright, Chen Feng was about to push the gate open and enter.

Buzz!

But then, the next second.

A whirlpool suddenly appeared in the black fog not far beside him, followed by sharp footsteps.

Tap tap!

Tap tap!

His gaze darkened, Chen Feng turned his head warily.

Two figures in different clothes appeared—one in black, one in a jacket.

One was fat, the other thin, clearly two men.

But Yet, both had no facial features, their faces a pale blank.

"Two Faceless Ones!"

Chen Feng's gaze sharpened. He did not expect the difficulty of this dream instance to increase so directly.

Shwoosh!

Then, before he could act, the thinner of the two quickened his pace and lunged at him.

The movement was identical to the Faceless One from last time. Chen Feng could see a patch of festering sores beneath its ear.

Without hesitation, he sidestepped and pivoted.

The insight of Proficient Sanshou turned into muscle instinct, and he instinctively dodged the thin Faceless One's pounce.

Whoosh!

Yet, the next second.

A whistling sound of air being torn came through.

It was the other, obese Faceless One, belly thrust forward as it stomped ahead and charged like a small cart.

Seeing this, Chen Feng lowered his center of gravity, his gaze eerily calm.

Just as the impact was about to land, he stepped his right foot to the side and twisted his waist.

The insight of A Trace of Judo came to him like a stroke of inspiration. He locked his hands around the opponent's arm and shoulder, borrowing the force of its charge.

Exert strength!

Sink his body and throw backward.

Thud!!

A magnificent shoulder throw landed, and the obese Faceless One crashed heavily to the ground.

Shwoosh!

At the Same Moment, the thin Faceless One had already twisted around, its fingernails bloodied, as if to tear Chen Feng apart.

Facing this strike, Chen Feng stepped back and tilted his head slightly.

He dodged the whistling blow with ease, his gaze cold. He Gripped Tightly the knuckle duster on his right fist and punched out fiercely.

Whoosh!!

The air screamed, as if a wisp of white vapor appeared.

His 9.2 Strength attribute erupted fully—a single punch weighing nearly a hundred kilograms!

It was far sharper and more decisive than when he trained at the Martial Arts Hall during the day, because Chen Feng knew the beings before him were not alive.

Thud!!

The fist sank into flesh, slamming heavily into the thin Faceless One's temple.

The Metal Knuckle Duster pierced through blood and flesh, the force penetrating clean through.

A crack sounded, like the noise of a bone breaking.

Instantly, the thin Faceless One's body stiffened, and it fell backward.

Seeing this, Chen Feng did not let his guard down.

Instead, his gaze turned fierce. He pushed off with his left foot, twisted his body, and whipped a kick behind him.

Shwoosh!!

The leg wind exploded, the sound intensifying.

He steadied his gaze and saw that the obese Faceless One had already gotten up, spreading its arms wide as it lunged at him.

Thud!!

In an Instant, the whip kick was as violent as a Giant Python, striking the obese Faceless One's head with pinpoint accuracy.

The figure flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground.

A dull thud echoed, and a bit of dust stirred. Chen Feng's expression relaxed slightly.

But soon!

A Trace of chill suddenly rose in his heart. His expression shifted, and he stomped his foot, quickly retreating half a meter.

Shwoosh!

Two black lines brushed past his shoulders, one left and one right, striking the Iron Fence.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

A piercing sound rang out. The Iron Fence seemed corroded by strong acid; several hollow iron bars melted rapidly, dripping down as black droplets.

Chen Feng's gaze turned serious. He stood still, watching warily.

Two pools of Black Water dripped down along the Iron Fence, pooling on the ground.

Faintly Visible were many tiny black Insect Ants writhing and squirming within, a commotion that lasted several seconds before gradually calming.

When it was over, the Black Water had dried into a faint stain, clinging stubbornly to the red brick ground.

"What the hell are those insect ants?"

Chen Feng frowned, his thoughts drifting to the diary left behind by the man named Wang Yu in that apartment room.

Black Calamity.

Could it be that these insect ants were the Black Calamity?

The thought surfaced, but Chen Feng had no clear answers.

The Faceless One corpses on either side dissolved rapidly, and soon two gray light orbs appeared.

With last time's experience, Chen Feng no longer worried.

He moved closer, and the two orbs soon merged into his body on their own.

[You have obtained two Talent Light Orbs: Perception!]

[Perception +2!]

[Talent: Perception lv1 (11/100)]

The panel prompt appeared automatically. Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, realizing this must be what they called talent growth.

He closed his eyes silently and soon found his perception had sharpened a bit more.

Even when he looked toward the apartment next door.

He noticed that besides the second floor, the seventh floor higher up also gave off a similar, wondrous sensation.

"Did my perception range expand?"

"And the positions of the light orbs are a bit more precise."

His heart stirred. Chen Feng roughly understood the changes that came with talent growth.

Without wasting more time, thinking of the other light orbs, he quickly pushed open the iron door and strode into the apartment.

About ten minutes passed.

He found two Limit Breaking Light Orbs on the second and seventh floors, guided by his perception.

After a brief moment of thought, he promptly used one each on Sanshou and Judo.

"Upgrade!"

Hum!

A warm current seemed to flow into his mind—new insights belonging to the two martial arts.

[Sanshou: Proficient (38%)]

[Judo: Beginner (41%)]

Looking at the skill progress on the panel, Chen Feng clenched his fists.

Although he hadn't broken through the proficiency level to boost his Four-Dimensional Attributes, he could feel his martial arts techniques flowing more smoothly, and some small tricks had become more refined.

"Keep going!"

"I'll get Sanshou to Mastery and Judo to Proficient as soon as possible!"

His eyes gleamed, and he licked his lips.

Chen Feng grew more and more eager for new light orbs.

Then, he stepped out of the apartment room.

He quickly turned his gaze toward the other buildings and open spaces beyond the mist.