Suspicion

Amid everyone's stunned stares, Lin Zhen pulled back and retreated.

Once inside the hotel, Lin Zhen ran deeper into the building without looking back. After turning several corners, the huge swallows could no longer fly through the cramped space. He was safe.

Only then did the others snap out of it and hurriedly follow Lin Zhen inside.

They ran all the way into a small room before finally stopping.

Their chests heaved as they gasped for breath, but no one spoke.

Shi Lei and the others were stunned by Lin Zhen's performance just now. Shi Lei was a Level Three War General, yet he could tell that Lin Zhen's Rainstorm-like thrust had been almost impossible to evade. He could only have chosen to take it head-on or fight to mutual destruction.

Could Lin Zhen already possess the strength of a Peak Beginner War General?

None of them could quite believe it.

Lin Zhen, meanwhile, was immersed in the joy of his gains. That was right. In that life-or-death instant, he had gained another insight and successfully comprehended Rainstorm.

That meant he had successfully cultivated the Second Layer of the Nine Heavy Spears River!

An Ancient Text like the Nine Heavy Spears River possessed extraordinary power. Having comprehended Gale and Rainstorm, as long as the Black Dragon Spear was in his hand, Lin Zhen could fight a Peak Beginner War General or even an ordinary Intermediate War General who had just broken through!

Moreover, throughout that bitter battle, Lin Zhen had not forgotten to use the Breathing Technique to train his physical fitness. Because he had absorbed the Dark Energy Stone, the remaining medicinal power in his body had been stimulated once more. He could feel his physique improving a little further. He had likely reached the peak of Level Eight Warrior and only needed a bit more training to advance to Level Nine Warrior.

Sure enough, life-and-death battles like this were the fastest way to advance through cultivation. I had only just entered Level Eight when I left the Base City, and now I'm about to reach Level Nine.

And mastering Rainstorm is my greatest gain. With that and my Mental Power, Beginner War Generals will find it very difficult to threaten me. If I faced Zhang Huai now, I would absolutely be confident in killing him.

After recovering for a while, Lin Zhen finally noticed that everyone was staring at him. Even Zhao Liang had forgotten that his wound was still bleeding. Only then did Lin Zhen realize that his performance had frightened them somewhat.

Lin Zhen smiled. "Everyone, what's with those looks?"

"Lin Zhen, did... did you break through just now?" Zhao Liang stammered.

"Yes, Brother Zhao. I gained some insight into the cultivation technique I was practicing just now. I really did break through."

"I can feel that your strength and speed have both increased a lot. You don't seem to be in the early Level Eight anymore."

"Mm, I've improved a little. I'm almost at Level Nine."

"A monster! You really are a monster! Your rate of improvement is too terrifying. How did our squad recruit a monster like you? If I report this to the hall master, he'll definitely send your situation to headquarters and have you join the Raging Wind Martial Hall's Special Training Camp."

The Special Training Camp was where a Martial Hall gathered its elites, specifically training gifted and talented geniuses. The students inside received exceptionally generous treatment. They did not even need to spend money on the resources they required, as the Martial Hall paid for everything. All they had to do was focus on cultivation.

Only after reaching the War God Stage could one graduate from the Special Training Camp. Every Martial Artist in a Martial Hall took pride in entering it.

However, the requirements for entry were also extremely strict. Only those with especially outstanding performances and recommendations from their local Martial Hall master could enter. Even First Class Students were not qualified to enter the Special Training Camp directly.

The only exception was that Mind Power Masters could enter directly.

Lin Zhen had considered this before, but he felt that he was not suited to immediately join the Special Training Camp. At the very least, he would not consider it before reaching the General Stage. Out in the wilderness, he knew of many opportunities, several of them especially important, and he needed to secure them first. For example, the Meteorite in Yilan County, known as the largest Dark Energy Stone discovered after God Transformation Day. He could not give that up.

"Brother Zhao, please don't. I've only just left the Base City, and I don't want to be locked up again so soon. Let me run wild for a while first."

"Mm, mm, we'll do as you say. I want to be teammates with you for a while longer too. Ow, this wound really hurts. Old Gao, hurry up and treat it."

Only then did Zhao Liang remember that he was injured. Gao Yan hurriedly bandaged him.

Everyone had expended a great deal of energy and could not go back outside for the time being, so they stayed in the hotel to recuperate.

After calming down for a while, Shi Lei said again, "Something about this incident is suspicious. Someone is plotting against us."

Gao Yan nodded as well. "That's right. Someone fired a cannon near the Bird's Nest and startled the Mutated Bird Group. Among the teams that entered Yilan, only those people from Knife, Gun, Cannon have the ability to fire cannons."

"That's right, it was that brat Kong Shan. But how did they pinpoint our location so accurately? Those brats have quite the sharp noses."

Ye Tiancheng said resentfully, "Those bastards from Demon God, I'll wipe them out sooner or later!"

Listening to them, Lin Zhen remained silent. Demon God and Demon Hunters had a deep hatred for one another, so it was not surprising for them to strike. But Lin Zhen did not believe they could locate the Demon Hunter Squad so accurately. Perhaps they had received information from somewhere.

It might have been the video Ye Tiancheng had posted online. Although it had been posted on the Martial Hall's internal network, leaks were still possible.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Zhen recalled Li Tianhao mentioning that Lao Hu was leaving the Martial Hall. He asked Zhao Liang, "Brother Zhao, has anyone left the Martial Hall recently?"

Zhao Liang checked the Martial Hall's internal network and shook his head. "No. Everyone is still here."

Lin Zhen said nothing more. If Lao Hu had left, Lin Zhen still would not have been able to determine how the information had leaked. But since Lao Hu was still here, there was basically no need to doubt it.

Lao Hu had already sided with the Myriad Hao Corporation. This might very well have been Li Tianhao pulling strings behind the scenes.

However, there was no evidence for such words, so Lin Zhen did not continue the topic.

After thinking for a while, Shi Lei said, "We don't have time to seek revenge on Demon God right now. We can only get to the Gymnasium as quickly as possible and try to kill the Giant Palm Human Bear first. Then we'll withdraw. I suggest we rest and eat immediately, then act after midnight."

Everyone agreed, and Gao Yan was put in charge of preparing food.

They had originally planned to eat some roasted meat, but they gave up on that now. Shi Lei took out some Compressed Biscuits and dried meat from his pack. Everyone ate a little before lying down to rest.

They were all exhausted and fell asleep as soon as they lay down. As the least fatigued, Gao Yan stood watch for the first two hours. Then Lin Zhen got up and asked to relieve him.

As a Mind Power Master, Lin Zhen did not need much sleep. Sitting with his eyes closed was rest enough for him.

Night had already fallen. Winters in the north had shorter days. After God Transformation Day, environmental pollution and centralized heating had both disappeared, making the seasons more distinct. There were no longer any warm winters. Though it had not snowed today, the night was still cold, and only a few stars could be seen in the sky.

Lin Zhen went to the window, sat on the sill, and gazed up at the night sky.

Scenes from his previous life replayed in his mind. The people of Earth still did not know how vast the universe was or how dangerous the world beyond it could be.

When the Human Great Migration arrived in his previous life, the helplessness of Earth's people remained vivid in his memory. Other than a handful of powerful individuals who could offer some resistance, everyone else could only be at the mercy of others.

The descent of Extraterrestrial Civilization was not far away either, only a little over a decade remained. That would mark the beginning of humanity's second great upheaval.

Ever since returning to the past, Lin Zhen had felt an intense sense of urgency. He had to do everything possible to increase his strength. In his eyes, the enemies on Earth and the Mutated Beasts on Earth were all merely sparring partners.

It was just that some sparring partners seemed determined to cause trouble. Sooner or later, Lin Zhen would eliminate them.

As he thought, Lin Zhen's heart became increasingly clear and tranquil. His Mental Power silently spread outward as he entered a peculiar state.