Undercurrents Stir

Inside the low-rent apartment, the lighting was dim and yellow.

Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the only meditation cushion, his eyes half-closed. Pale violet arcs of lightning flowed around him like swimming dragons, giving off a fine, low crackling sound. A faint scent of ozone filled the air, along with an increasingly heavy pressure.

He was fully consolidating his mid-stage Martial Artist realm while familiarizing himself with the still-rudimentary "Thunder Gang."

Though his battle with the Shadow Kill Pavilion assassin had been brief, it had given him a deeper understanding of the incomplete method for the second level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade. Compressing and containing Thunder True Qi to the extreme, forming a layer of energy with terrifying penetrative force and explosive destructive power—its might far surpassed a simple Thunderclap Break.

"The Thunder Gang forms too slowly, and its consumption is too great. It can only be used as a trump card at critical moments." Lin Feng examined the increasingly solid violet vortex rotating within his dantian, calmly analyzing, "I need more real combat to temper it—or... external assistance to speed up the process."

His gaze swept over the jade box beside him, which held the Thunder Fluorite Grass and that precious drop of Source Thunder Dew. The energy contained within was simply too immense; taking them now would be somewhat wasteful. He had to save them for breaking through to a higher realm or for a life-or-death crisis.

He took out a vial of universal intermediate Energy Liquid that he had just exchanged for and tipped his head back to drink it. A gentle yet abundant current of energy swiftly spread through him, replenishing the expenditure from his cultivation and slowly nourishing his meridians.

Time flew by as he cultivated. When Lin Feng opened his eyes again, the city lights had already begun to glow outside the window. Violet lightning flashed through his eyes and vanished, while the aura around him completely stabilized. He was brimming with strength and full of vigor.

[Realm: Martial Artist (Mid-Stage) Stabilized]

[Strength: 915kg]

[Agility: 48m/s]

[Nine Heavens Thunder Blade Second Level Proficiency: 5% (Preliminary Mastery of Thunder Gang Usage)]

His strength had improved once more. He nodded in satisfaction and was just about to get up and find something to eat when the communicator in his pocket began vibrating urgently.

It was Steward Wang.

"Mr. Lin, are you still in your room? Nothing happened, did it?" Steward Wang's voice carried a faint trace of barely detectable tension.

"I'm here. What is it, Steward Wang?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Just now, the Martial Arts Bureau's internal security system caught a vague warning signal. It showed an unauthorized high-level Martial Artist energy fluctuation flashing near your residence, suspected to be surveillance. By the time our people arrived, there was nothing left." Steward Wang's tone was grave. "The director instructed that you must be careful. Try not to go out alone recently, especially not to sparsely populated places."

Someone had their eyes on me again? Lin Feng's gaze turned cold. Was the Shadow Kill Pavilion unwilling to let this go and had sent a higher-level assassin? Or had the Zhang Family found someone else?

"Understood. Thank you, Steward Wang, and thank my teacher for his concern. I'll be careful," Lin Feng replied evenly, though waves had already risen in his heart.

After ending the call, he walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain, his sharp gaze sweeping over the dim street below. Pedestrians hurried along, traffic flowed in an endless stream, and everything appeared normal. Yet under the perception of his Spiritual Power, he could sense a faint, almost imperceptible chill unlike before. Like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness, it was more dangerous and more elusive.

"Looks like killing one of them wasn't enough to make them retreat in the face of difficulty." Lin Feng lowered the curtain, his eyes dark and profound. His opponents had become smarter. They no longer approached easily, merely watching from afar as they waited for a chance to strike with certainty—or... plotted something even greater.

The feeling of being watched from the shadows was extremely unpleasant. He did not like being in such a passive position.

"I have to find a way to seize the initiative..." Lin Feng pondered. Hiding under the Martial Arts Bureau's protection forever was no solution. He needed intelligence. He needed to know exactly who his enemies were and what they were planning.

The first person he thought of was Teacher Lei Lie. But troubling the head of a bureau over such a "small matter" seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill, and it would make him appear incompetent.

Then who else?

Cold Edge? His personality was solitary; he might not be skilled in this sort of thing.

Zhou Min? Second High School might have some information channels, but their reach was likely insufficient.

Mentor Li Zhenhai? His connections at the school might be able to uncover some of the Zhang Family's movements, but when it came to an underground force like the Shadow Kill Pavilion, he would likely be powerless as well.

One name after another flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed.

Just then, his communicator rang again. It was an unfamiliar encrypted number.

Lin Feng's heart stirred, and he chose to answer.

"Mr. Lin?" A young man's voice came from the other end, slightly deep but carrying a trace of respect. "Sorry to disturb you. I'm Chen Wu."

Chen Wu? Lin Feng immediately recalled that burly student from the simulated assessment's beast tide, the one who had wielded a massive shield with simple honesty and fearless bravery. He had later been admitted directly into Beichen Martial University as well, so they could be considered comrades-in-arms.

"Chen Wu? What is it?" Lin Feng was somewhat surprised.

"Brother Lin, I heard that recently... you might have run into a little trouble?" Chen Wu lowered his voice. "My family runs the Weiyuan Escort Agency, and we're fairly well informed about news from all directions. I just heard some rumors about the Shadow Kill Pavilion and... the Zhang Family. I thought I should tell you."

Weiyuan Escort Agency? Lin Feng knew the name. It was a civilian Martial Artist organization with considerable influence throughout Jiangnan City and several surrounding cities, mainly handling escort and security work. Its intelligence network was indeed extensive. He had not expected Chen Wu to be the young master of the escort agency.

"What rumors?" Lin Feng's expression turned serious.

"On the Shadow Kill Pavilion's side, the one you took out was a Ghost Fang-class assassin. They seem pretty angry about it internally and feel they've lost face. There are signs that a Fangs-class assassin may be deployed. Their strength will be at least Peak Martial Artist, perhaps even a Martial Master!" Chen Wu's tone was solemn. "As for the Zhang Family... that old bastard Zhang Tianba secretly met with an important figure from the Provincial Capital yesterday. No one knows what they discussed, but they definitely weren't up to anything good. One of our escort agency brothers works as a guard for the Zhang Family. He vaguely heard them mention words like 'martial arts examination' and 'qualifications.'"

A Peak Martial Artist, perhaps even Martial Master-level assassin! The Zhang Family was colluding with forces from the Provincial Capital, intending to make trouble during the martial arts examination!

Lin Feng's eyes instantly turned as cold as blades. The pressure was greater than he had imagined!

"Is the information reliable?"

"The information about the Shadow Kill Pavilion came back through an undercover contact our escort agency planted inside. It's eighty percent reliable. The Zhang Family information was overheard by that brother, so we can't guarantee it completely, but there's no smoke without fire," Chen Wu answered honestly. Then he added, "Brother Lin, do you need help? Our escort agency may not compare to those great families, but we can still send a few capable people to protect you in secret or help investigate where those people are staying."

Warmth rose in Lin Feng's heart. A timely gift of charcoal in snowy weather was far more precious than adding flowers to brocade. Chen Wu's actions were undoubtedly a wager on him, together with the Weiyuan Escort Agency behind him.

"Thank you!" Lin Feng did not stand on ceremony. "Don't send anyone to protect me for now, so we don't alert the enemy. If possible, help me keep a close eye on the Zhang Family and that person from the Provincial Capital, especially any contact they have with the Martial Arts Examination Committee."

"Understood! Leave it to me!" Chen Wu agreed readily. "Brother Lin, you must be careful. Fangs-class assassins are not easy to deal with. They're all seasoned monsters."

After ending his call with Chen Wu, some of the fog in Lin Feng's heart had cleared, but the pressure had also grown heavier.

He stood where he was in silence for a moment, a trace of resolve flashing in his eyes.

Passively taking blows had never been his style.

He picked up his communicator and dialed Lei Lie's private number.

"Teacher, it's me, Lin Feng."

"Mm, you've run into trouble?" Lei Lie's voice was as steady as ever.

"Yes. Shadow Kill Pavilion may have dispatched a Fangs-class assassin. The Zhang Family also seems to be colluding with forces from the Provincial Capital, intending to undermine my martial exam qualifications." Lin Feng gave a concise report.

There was silence on the other end of the communicator for several seconds. Then Lei Lie's icy voice came through. "Clowns leaping about on a stage, courting death. I'll have someone deal with the assassin. As for the martial exam... Hmph. I'd like to see who dares play tricks on my turf!"

His tone carried an unquestionable dominance, as well as the fierce protectiveness of one shielding his own.

"Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Feng felt the tension in his heart ease. With Lei Lie's word, at least most of the dirty tricks in the open could be cut off.

"No need to thank me. Just focus on preparing for the martial exam." Lei Lie paused, his tone softening somewhat. "Pressure is motivation too. Take these demons and monsters as whetstones on your road to the summit."

"This disciple understands!"

After ending the call, Lin Feng let out a long breath of stale air. The powerful support from his teacher had greatly lightened the pressure on his shoulders.

But he knew full well that external aid could be borrowed, not relied upon. True safety would always come from his own strength.

He glanced at the heavy night beyond the window, battle intent rising in his eyes.

Whetstones?

Then come on!

Let's see whether your blades are sharper, or whether this stone is harder!

He turned and returned to the center of the room, sitting cross-legged once more as he circulated the Thunder Foundation Establishment Chapter and immersed himself in cultivation with even greater focus.

Lightning flickered faintly through the cramped room once again.