The indifference in Captain Xu's eyes vanished, replaced by suspicion and uncertainty.
He had the deepest impression of Lin Feng.
After all, if Captain Chen hadn't stopped him just now, he would have stepped in and taught Lin Feng a lesson for his arrogance.
Who would've thought... the other man really had the skill to back it up!
Captain Zhao's gaze flickered.
Though he'd worn a smile earlier, in his heart he'd been disparaging Lin Feng all along. He'd simply kept it to himself.
Captain Zhao had never believed Lin Feng could be compared to those Houtian Realm Martial Artists.
But now...
Lin Feng had surpassed all the Squad Leaders and could already be compared to some Squad Leaders at the Houtian First Layer!
So this man hadn't been making arrogant boasts. He really had the strength—and the confidence—to back them up.
But how had he never seen such a promising genius before?
Captain Zhao felt a desire to recruit him.
He wasn't just a Captain in Wancheng City's Demon Suppression Division.
He was also a member of the Zhao Family, one of Wancheng City's Four Great Families.
Without the Zhao Family's support, he never would have made it to where he was today.
So recruiting talent for the Zhao Family was part of his duty.
Captain Zhao glanced to the side and remarked casually, "Captain Chen, this young man is the dark horse of this year's assessment. He's the sort who stays silent until he makes a stunning entrance!"
"Judging by your expression, Captain Chen, you seem to know him quite well?"
Captain Chen had stopped Captain Xu from intervening earlier. It was obvious he knew Lin Feng.
So Captain Zhao wanted to find out a little more from Captain Chen.
At this, Captain Chen nodded slightly. "I suppose you could say I know him a little."
"This young man is named Lin Feng. He joined the Demon Suppression Division not long ago—not even a month ago."
"It's only natural that you don't know him, Captain Zhao. But you should know his father."
Curiosity appeared on Captain Zhao's face. "He's been in the Demon Suppression Division such a short time? No wonder I don't know him!"
"Looks like he was already quite strong before joining, which is why he became this assessment's dark horse. By the way, who is his father?"
Captain Chen replied, "His father was named Lin Zhan. According to the Demon Suppression Division's intelligence, he died in a demon hunt more than ten days ago."
The moment those words fell,
the curious look on Captain Zhao's face froze!
A mighty wave rose in his heart!
Lin Zhan!
This man was Lin Zhan's son?!
The instant he thought of Lin Zhan—his face, and how he had discovered Captain Zhao's secret...
a terrifyingly dark gleam flashed through Captain Zhao's eyes!
"Lin Zhan... Heh, I seem to remember him."
Captain Zhao gave a dry chuckle.
His desire to recruit Lin Feng vanished in an instant!
In its place rose a killing intent so palpable it was almost tangible.
"Too bad. I never thought you'd be Lin Zhan's son!"
"This young man has such potential, he might even surpass me! Give him time to grow, and he'll reach the Houtian Realm!"
"I was going to recruit you, but now it looks like I can't let you live!"
Captain Zhao's expression remained unchanged, but the killing intent in his heart kept growing.
A genius like this had to be snuffed out before he could grow.
Captain Zhao's imagination was running wild. Now he couldn't help thinking that Lin Feng hadn't joined the Demon Suppression Division simply to temper himself.
Maybe he'd joined to investigate the reason behind his father's death, too?
If Lin Feng grew strong enough to learn that his father had died at Captain Zhao's hands...
that would be a serious problem.
He'd never imagined the dead Lin Zhan could have a son with such talent.
Captain Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, as though weighing something.
Time passed slowly.
The Bronze Man's cultivation rose from the Body Tempering Seventh Level to the Eighth Level of Body Tempering!
And at this point,
Lin Feng discovered
that every attack from the Bronze Men now added +10 proficiency!
The increase in proficiency had become frighteningly fast.
It was even rising by 1,000 every second!
Iron Shirt needed a full 100,000 proficiency to advance from lv4 to lv5.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Feng had no idea how long it would take him to reach lv5.
It would take an awfully long time.
Fortunately, with the Bronze Man Formation's help, his Iron Shirt proficiency was rising at a terrifying pace!
Before long,
it had already passed 90,000.
Lin Feng silently watched the Status Panel before him.
After it passed 90,000, the increase was 1,000 every second.
Six seconds later,
Iron Shirt's proficiency finally broke through 100,000.
Its level also rose from lv4 to lv5!
Name: Lin Feng
Cultivation: Body Tempering Seventh Level
Skills: Archery lv4 (0/100000), Iron Shirt lv5 (0/1000000)
Talents: Infallible Shot, Swift Shadow Soul Chaser, Toxin, Copper Skin, Iron Bones, Steel Sinews, Powerful Shot, Averting Evil.
"Excellent! Standing still and letting myself be used as a punching bag for so long wasn't for nothing!"
"Finally, I've raised Iron Shirt to lv5!!"
A surge of delight appeared in Lin Feng's eyes.
After reaching the Eighth Level of Body Tempering, even with his three layers of Iron Shirt, the Bronze Men's attacks had started to hurt.
After all, Bronze Men never tired, and their punches came thick and fast.
Even the Squad Leaders at the Houtian First Layer would struggle to take it.
The fact that Lin Feng could keep going was already impressive.
With a thought, Lin Feng checked out the new talent he'd just acquired: Averting Evil.
Averting Evil: Increases defense fivefold. Attacks from demons and ghosts against you are reduced to one-fifth.
Increases defense fivefold?
Lin Feng's eyes shifted slightly.
Sure enough, he could feel that the Bronze Men's attacks had weakened considerably!
Before, when Iron Shirt was only at three layers, the Eighth-Level Body Tempering Bronze Men's attacks had been hard for Lin Feng to endure.
But after Iron Shirt leveled up, all that pain and discomfort vanished!
Once again, Lin Feng could handle them with ease!
But the increase to his defense was the lesser benefit. The important part was the description after "Averting Evil."
Attacks from demons were reduced to one-fifth?
This was practically a divine skill!
By that reckoning, he'd have an enormous advantage when facing demons!
Even against demons at the peak of the Second Tier, Lin Feng wouldn't be afraid.
Their fighting power would be severely weakened. What was there to fear?
Iron Shirt's upgrade had brought a tremendous improvement to Lin Feng's strength.
It would make future demon-hunting missions several times easier!
"Unless I run into a Third Tier Demon, I can't die!" Lin Feng thought.
Before he knew it,
another sixty breaths had passed.
The Bronze Men's cultivation had risen from the Eighth Level of Body Tempering to the Body Tempering Ninth Layer!
And now, the proficiency Lin Feng gained from the Bronze Men's attacks
had doubled once again!
+20+20+20+20+20...
Each attack added a whopping 20!
With so many Bronze Men attacking in turns, his proficiency was now increasing by more than 2,000 every second.
Lin Feng was so absorbed in the rapid rise of his proficiency that he didn't notice the commotion outside.
Before you continue