Aboard the fighter jet returning from Mist Island to Hongning Base City, the atmosphere was unusually heavy and solemn.
By the time they arrived at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Global Headquarters, it was already late at night.
Iceberg arranged a place for Lin Yuan to stay.
The usually cold man, who always wore a Golden Mask and radiated an air that kept others at a distance, now had an almost imperceptible note of concern in his eyes as he faced Lin Yuan.
"The Hall Master hasn't returned yet. Go get some rest."
Iceberg's voice was as cold as ever, like two chunks of ice scraping together. He led Lin Yuan to a quiet courtyard in the headquarters' central area.
"This is the highest-grade residence reserved for Inspectors. Once the Hall Master returns, he'll summon you right away."
"Sorry for the trouble." Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
Iceberg gave him a long look, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Only after the door closed did Lin Yuan's taut nerves ease a little. As he thought back over everything that had happened that day, a thought he'd been harboring for a long time surfaced once more...
I have to break through.
Lin Yuan clenched his fist, feeling the Origin Energy in his body, which had long since built up to its limit, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"Once I cross that threshold and form a Miniature Planet, my body will undergo a qualitative leap.
"Then, with the Nine Star Transformations and my weapons, I'll dare to face even an Emperor-level monster head-on!"
He waited in quiet anticipation. The reward from this mission would surely be the final straw that tipped the scales, helping him soar to new heights.
Time slipped by, second by second, in this silent wait.
Lin Yuan didn't cultivate that night. He simply regulated his breathing and condition, nurturing his mind, body, and spirit until they were at their peak.
The next morning, at dawn.
As the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds and fell across Hongning Base City's steel jungle, the communicator on Lin Yuan's wrist began to vibrate.
There was just one short message:
[Come to the reception room immediately. —Hong]
Lin Yuan's eyes sharpened, and he got to his feet at once.
He straightened his clothes and walked out.
He had visited the headquarters' central area, inside the giant spaceship, several times before and knew his way around.
He came to a door...
It wasn't locked. It stood slightly ajar, as if waiting for him.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath and pushed it open.
The moment he entered, it seemed as though the light had been swallowed up.
It wasn't because the lights were off, but because of the man sitting in the center of the room.
He wore a black training suit.
The world's strongest man—Hong!
The room was bare, with only two meditation cushions.
"Sit."
Hong's voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to ring directly in the depths of Lin Yuan's mind, carrying a metallic quality.
Lin Yuan showed no hesitation. He strode forward and sat cross-legged on the cushion opposite Hong, back straight, gaze calmly fixed on the legendary man before him.
Hong studied Lin Yuan for a few seconds. A note of approval flashed in his deep, starry eyes.
"You did well on Mist Island."
Hong spoke slowly, his tone even and giving nothing away. "You handled Fall, a veteran councilor, very appropriately and secured the greatest possible benefit for us."
In such a chaotic situation, snatching food from the tiger's mouth required more than just strength. It took courage, too.
Lin Yuan's expression grew serious.
He neither took credit nor offered false modesty.
He simply gave a slight nod and said four words:
"It was my duty."
Simple, direct, and forceful.
That was the kind of character Hong admired most.
In a world where the strong ruled, excessive modesty was just false humility. Strength and results were all that mattered.
"Well said."
Hong nodded slightly. A faint smile, rare on his eternally stern face, appeared.
"As we agreed, you can take a fifteen percent share of what we gained on Mist Island. It's an astronomical sum, enough to make any councilor green with envy."
Then Hong changed tack.
"But I've decided to change the reward you were originally entitled to."
"Oh?"
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
Hong didn't explain. He simply lifted a hand and swept it through the air.
Hum!
A rich life force, so thick it seemed almost tangible, instantly filled the dark room.
A crystal the size of an egg, green all over, appeared out of thin air between them.
Just one breath of its escaping aura made Lin Yuan feel the pores across his body open. The restless Origin Energy within him instantly grew docile and lively.
Lin Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he blurted out:
"The Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart?!"
Among the Spirit of Vegetation, the Willow Wood Heart was already precious, especially for its restorative and life-sustaining properties.
But a ten-thousand-year Willow Wood Heart was a legendary Supreme Treasure!
It could bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bones. More than that, it was an unparalleled treasure for warriors seeking to surpass their physical limits and evolve their genes.
"Exactly."
Hong nodded, confirming Lin Yuan's guess. "There are also ten Star Points."
A wave of immense joy surged through Lin Yuan, but he soon calmed down. There had to be a reason for this, especially coming from a man as rigid as Hong.
"Lin Yuan..."
Hong looked at him and said, "Lin Yuan, I made an exception and promoted you to Inspector because I saw your unique combat talent and clear-headedness."
"But to be honest, back then, though you were growing quickly, you weren't irreplaceable."
Hong paused, his tone taking on a deeper meaning. "In fact, a few months ago, that youngster Luo Feng had already begun to surpass you in the rate at which his physical strength and Spiritual Force were growing."
Lin Yuan's heart stirred. He hadn't expected Hong to have noticed even those details.
"But..."
Hong's voice suddenly rose. "I didn't expect you to become like a completely different person after just one month."
"First, you went alone to Europe and killed the Phantom Cat Emperor, which had wiped out an entire High-level War God team. Then, on Mist Island, you overpowered veteran councilor Fall single-handedly and forced his faction to bow its head!"
Hong fixed his gaze on Lin Yuan, eyes blazing. "You've mastered both a warrior's techniques and a Spiritual Force user's techniques, and reached an extremely high level in both!"
"Though I don't know what happened to you over this short month, or what kind of opportunity you encountered..."
Hong stopped there.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Lin Yuan's heart beat a little faster. The system and the Nine Star Transformations were his greatest secrets. If Hong pressed him for answers, he wouldn't know how to explain.
But the next moment, Hong withdrew his oppressive gaze, his tone turning gentle again.
"Whatever the reason, we're all Earthlings. This can only be good news."
Lin Yuan understood. The tension in his body eased completely.
Hong had noticed the changes in him and realized he had secrets. But he'd chosen not to ask.
Earth was vast, and the universe was even vaster.
There were countless Ancient Civilization Ruins. Every strong warrior had their own opportunities. As long as someone stood with humanity and could add to Earth's strength, that was a good thing.
"Your Spiritual Force has already reached Planetary Level, but your body is still one step short."
Hong pointed at the floating Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart. "For you now, no amount of wealth or ordinary Spirit of Vegetation is anything more than a number.
"Only this Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart, with the immense life essence it contains, can support you in completing your physical transformation in the shortest possible time and truly entering that realm!"
"Since you're already a sharp blade, I don't mind honing you a little more and making you sharper still!"
This was a push in the right direction!
Lin Yuan took a deep breath and reached out to snatch the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart.
"Thank you, Hall Master!" Lin Yuan smiled. "As for those ten Star Points, I'd like to exchange them for a Qiankun Fighter Jet. Liu He's got one, and I've been envious of it for ages."
"Agreed," Hong said with a nod. "Go. I hope you'll have another surprise for me next time we meet..."
Lin Yuan stood and gave him a solemn bow, then turned and strode away.
His steps were firmer than when he'd arrived.
Another long period of seclusion was about to begin. And when he opened that door again, he would surely have a place among the world's peak powerhouses!
As the door slowly closed, darkness once more enveloped the reception room.
Hong remained seated cross-legged, like a statue unchanged through the ages. His deep eyes seemed to pierce the thick walls of the ship and gaze into the distant depths of the starry sky.
After a long while, a barely audible sigh drifted through the darkness.
"Earth has suddenly gained two powerful warriors with limitless potential."
"I just don't know whether these two new hopes will be enough to help Earth survive the oncoming tide of the universe..."
Before you continue