Rewards Doubled!

Red Cloud Sect Market. After Chen Wang returned to his residence in the Great Winter World, he did not linger. He directly pushed open the Bronze Gate within his Sea of Consciousness and arrived in the Red Cloud Sect's cultivation world.

This time, he had found the specimen and encountered two powerful Tier 3 Soldiers. The greater the danger, however, the more it proved the specimen's value.

The reward for this mission was a Second Order Genetic Potion, Martial Warrior. If he injected the Martial Warrior serum, his Close Combat abilities would rise to another level. With the strength of his current physical body, he would become even more overwhelming at close range among the Third Realm.

Still, Chen Wang voiced his dissatisfaction. The specimen was so valuable, and this mission had taken an unexpected turn. Raising objections now served three purposes: first, to see Qiongqi Mining's attitude; second, to seek the greatest possible benefit for himself within reasonable bounds; and third, the Three Great Powers controlled this world's top-grade serums. Third Order serums were not even available on the market, let alone Fourth or Fifth Order ones.

No one knew just how far research into Gene Serums had progressed, or whether there were Sixth Order Gene Warriors—or even stronger ones—hidden away in unknown places. For now, though, all that was still rather far away for Chen Wang.

What he needed to do now was wait for Qin Lang's reply.

Back at the Red Cloud Sect Market, Chen Wang sat cross-legged in meditation to restore his spiritual power. The spiritual energy of the two worlds differed enormously. The cultivation world was rich in spiritual energy, far beyond what the Great Winter World could compare with. He had expended quite a bit of mana this time, so only after meditating cross-legged at the Red Cloud Sect and circulating his energy through a full cycle did he fully recover.

He then returned to the Great Winter World and waited for Qin Lang's reply.

In his room, Chen Wang took out the Foundation Establishment Pill. With a pop, he pulled out the stopper, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted forth, refreshing his heart and spleen and washing away all fatigue.

His current realm had not yet reached Qi Refining Stage 9, so it was not yet time to take the Foundation Establishment Pill. But that did not stop him from pulling out this Immortal Pill now and then for a sniff. The rich medicinal fragrance alone could make one brim with vigor and restore one's energy. Besides, this thing was like a huge pile of money—if he was not going to spend it, smelling it still felt pretty good.

After putting everything away, Chen Wang hid the Foundation Establishment Pill again, took a hot bath, and relaxed.

"Thunder God?"

Lying on the bed, Chen Wang murmured to himself.

That young man he had seen in the specimen room earlier could transform into lightning. That ability was extraordinarily powerful.

The intensity of his attacks could be blocked, but that speed, along with the immunity he gained after turning into lightning, was extremely troublesome.

"Looks like there are differences between some powerful soldiers and ordinary soldiers as well."

Chen Wang stroked his chin and muttered.

Moreover, the woman he encountered later could burst out from the shadows to kill. Her frontal combat ability was only average, but the reflexes and instincts tempered between life and death were terrifying. At the very least, without using her abilities, she could sharply detect a sniper in the distance and evade quickly.

Many Tier 3 Soldiers could not do that, after all. That sniper had also been a powerful Tier 3 Soldier.

"Interesting. Once I finish the handover with Qin Lang, I need to properly learn who these people are."

Chen Wang sat up, his desire to become stronger growing ever more intense.

"First, I need to cultivate my spells properly. Cultivation spells are the foundation for establishing myself in this world."

"Second, I cannot shut myself away and train blindly. I need trials of blood and fire. Some things can only be mastered through experience."

Chen Wang silently set goals for himself. He was at Qi Refining Stage 4, with one low-grade mid-tier defensive artifact and one low-grade low-tier offensive artifact in hand.

In the Great Winter World, even when facing top-tier, powerful Tier 3 Soldiers, he still held the upper hand.

The upper limit of cultivation was higher than that of Gene Serums.

But Chen Wang had no intention of easing up on his search for Gene Serums.

"The advantage of Gene Serums is speed. You can gain abilities and skills and improve your physical strength through injections."

Gene Serums were practically cheating. Otherwise, casting spells required chanting incantations, arduous cultivation, careful tempering and comprehension, and mobilizing the spiritual energy within one's body before one could unleash powerful spells.

Gene Serums were different. Once injected, one would naturally gain the corresponding abilities.

What varied was one's own reaction speed and the way one used those abilities.

"Work with both hands, and make both hands strong! Now it depends on whether Qin Lang can double the reward. Best case, I get another Second Order serum and one more ability. Sometimes, that can have an unexpected effect."

The next day,

In an office on the third floor of Qiongqi Mining's office building, Qin Lang poured Chen Wang a glass of water and said with a smile, "I've already reported the matter, and headquarters quickly sent back its decision."

Chen Wang accepted the glass and glanced calmly at Qin Lang. Qin Lang was definitely a Gene Warrior. The steadiness of his hands, his breathing and gait, the rhythm of his muscles—all of it proved that he was a Gene Warrior. Chen Wang simply did not know what Order he was.

He did not carry the murderous, savage aura commonly found in the Great Winter World. Instead, he seemed more like a bureaucrat.

Qin Lang continued with a smile, "The higher-ups take this matter very seriously. First, they greatly praised the specimen you recovered. Second, the intelligence you provided was crucial, and the identities of those two people have also been roughly confirmed."

What a waste to make him a manager... Chen Wang patiently listened to Qin Lang.

Qin Lang said, "The original reward was the Second Order Genetic Potion, Martial Warrior. Normally, rewards for officially assigned missions are not increased. But this situation was rather special, and I emphasized your performance during the incident. Therefore, the higher-ups have decided to alter your reward. You have two choices."

"The first is the Second Order Genetic Potion, Martial Warrior, as originally promised, plus 200,000 in cash and C-rank authorization to purchase weapons from the official armory."

"The second is a Third Order Genetic Potion: Mind Master."

Chen Wang raised his brows. "Third Order?"

He had thought getting two Second Order serums would already be the best outcome.

The first option looked like a normal reward.

There was actually a Third Order serum? Qin Lang smiled faintly. "That's right. A Third Order Mind Master can use mental power to control and influence others, and can also freeze attacks."

Chen Wang said, "Freeze attacks?"

Qin Lang replied calmly, "That's right. For example, if someone fires a gun at you, unless you are a soldier with powerful defense, you can only dodge. But a Mind Master can make the bullet stop in midair."

Chen Wang's expression remained calm as he nodded, but his heart was shaken.

This is equivalent to an advanced use of Divine Sense. No—Divine Sense is mostly used for scouting and rarely for defending against physical attacks. This is an entirely new field of application.

Chen Wang pondered for a moment, then said, "I choose the second option: the Third Order Genetic Potion, Mind Master."

Qin Lang nodded. "All right."

He did not interfere with Chen Wang's judgment, nor did he show any reaction to Chen Wang's choice.

Having spent years on the front lines dealing with all kinds of powerful soldiers, Qin Lang knew that such people were all unruly killing machines. Naturally, he had his own way of dealing with them.