The Killer Hidden in the Night

Ye Chen's words left the three others speechless.

"All right. The truth is, when I reached the first realm, I awakened a skill that lets me absorb Spiritual Power faster. In the second realm, I awakened another ability that heals me."

Ye Chen thought for a moment, then repeated the explanation he had prepared long ago.

Lan Batian sucked in a sharp breath. "This..."

He knew exactly what that meant.

Even Zhang Daosheng had never imagined this was the case.

"Your first Innate Ability speeds up your absorption of spiritual energy, and your second heals you..."

"No wonder you reached the third realm so quickly. But relatively speaking, your combat strength will be weaker."

"After all, the nine innate skills can grow stronger as you do, and you've already used up two of yours."

Lan Batian analyzed Ye Chen's situation.

Then Zhang Daosheng quietly added, "He's a support type."

"Kid, how about you forget Firmament Academy and join the Lan Family instead?" Lan Batian narrowed his eyes and grinned.

"You damn tiger, poaching my recruit right in front of me?!" Zhang Daosheng roared. Cold air took shape in his palm.

"Hahaha, don't get worked up. I'm joking..." Lan Batian laughed, trying to ease the tension.

Ye Chen watched the two of them, at a loss for words.

"Thanks for thinking so highly of me, Brother Lan. Old Zhang trusts me, so I can't let him down."

Beside them, Lan Lengshuang fixed Ye Chen with a hard stare.

Brother Lan? By that logic, am I supposed to call you Uncle Ye?

Ye Chen noticed the change in Lan Lengshuang's expression and was baffled. Why did she suddenly get angry?

Was she shocked that I broke through three realms in two days, and now she's jealous?!

"Hahaha! That's the man I had my eye on! Give it up, you damn tiger." Zhang Daosheng burst out laughing, then turned to Ye Chen.

"Tomorrow, I'll have the academy send over ten thousand Spirit Stones! Just focus on cultivating!"

Lan Batian and his daughter were stunned. Ten thousand spirit stones were worth a billion...

"Well, Headmaster Zhang, why not give me ten thousand too? I'll have Shuang'er join Firmament Academy."

Lan Batian's words made Lan Lengshuang roll her eyes.

The Lan Family was no weakling, but it was still only a small-city family.

Ten thousand Spirit Stones were simply out of the question.

Zhang Daosheng glanced at Lan Batian. "If Lengshuang joins Firmament Academy, I can provide all her cultivation resources until she reaches the Sea-Overturning Realm."

Lan Batian froze. He had only been teasing; he had never seriously intended for Lan Lengshuang to join Firmament Academy.

"Well?" Zhang Daosheng asked with a faint smile.

Lan Batian fell silent for a few seconds. "Let me think about it."

Lan Lengshuang was about to speak, but Lan Batian shot her a look, warning her not to say anything rash.

Though reluctant, Lan Lengshuang kept quiet.

After all, Lan Batian knew that Firmament Academy had provoked a powerful organization...

Zhang Daosheng was already used to Lan Batian's answer.

He had heard "let me think about it" countless times.

After Lan Batian and Lan Lengshuang left, Ye Chen and Zhang Daosheng did not talk much more.

They had covered just about everything. Men did not need to waste words.

On the way home, Lan Batian repeatedly spoke to Lan Lengshuang about Ye Chen.

"Shuang'er, Ye Chen's talent may not be much, but before the Awakening Realm, he can overpower everyone with sheer physical strength. And with his second Innate Ability healing him..."

Lan Batian paused. "Before the seventh stage of Awakening, Ye Chen's combat strength will definitely be formidable. He should have no trouble reaching the top thirty-two in this year's College Entrance Trial."

Lan Lengshuang did not argue. She nodded.

Her view largely matched Lan Batian's. "By the way, Dad, why won't you let me join Firmament Academy?"

Lan Batian fell silent. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Because the Beast Demon Cult is targeting that academy."

"The Beast Demon Cult?!" Lan Lengshuang sucked in a cold breath.

Traitors to the Human Race! The Beast Demon Cult...

Lan Batian nodded and said nothing more.

Lan Lengshuang took the hint and asked no further questions.

Meanwhile, before Ye Chen left, Zhang Daosheng had made a point of giving him a warning.

"Strange Mutant Beasts have been showing up on the west side of town lately. If you've got no reason to go there, don't wander around." Zhang Daosheng said it almost in passing.

Ye Chen lived on the south side, while Mutant Beasts had appeared in the west.

Still, an extra warning could not hurt.

Ye Chen nodded, then turned to leave, waving to Zhang Daosheng.

A fine drizzle fell on his way home.

Ye Chen took out his phone and checked the time. It was just past eleven.

By his reckoning, he had three hours left before he could get another system draw.

Only then did Ye Chen remember: Weren't we supposed to test my combat strength?!

He shook his head. Forget it. Testing my combat strength would expose the fact that I'm not a support type.

It did not matter much, though. Combat strength at the ninth stage of Awakening was not especially important.

Each stage was worth roughly a hundred points of combat strength. That meant the ninth stage of Awakening would put him at around nine hundred, or perhaps just over a thousand.

Ye Chen looked up at the sky. The fine drizzle had grown heavier. How could it be this dark at eleven in the morning?

Ye Chen frowned. Something was wrong.

The street, usually bustling, was empty.

There was no way this food street would be closed at this hour!

It was past eleven, and lunchtime was almost here. The shops could not possibly be closed!

Just then, an explosion sounded nearby.

A powerful blast of air struck Ye Chen's face.

From what Ye Chen could tell, he might have run into the Mutant Beast Old Zhang had mentioned.

But... what level of fighters are in that battle?!

Keeping low in the rain, Ye Chen crept behind a street corner.

A man and a woman in City Guard Team uniforms stood back to back, alert to every movement around them!

The rain blurred his view, but Ye Chen could tell they were in bad shape.

The man especially. Blood would not stop flowing from the wound on his leg.

"Xiao Qing, go on without me," Yang Sanjin said to the person behind him, fighting through the searing pain in his leg.

The girl named Xiao Qing looked grim. "You're the captain, so I should follow your orders, but..."

"Not this time!"

Yang Sanjin gave a bitter smile. He had known that would be her answer.

"If you stay, we'll both die here today."

"Captain, I'm not afraid to die!" Xiao Qing said stubbornly.

"Damn it." Yang Sanjin sighed.

Just then, a shadow flashed past!

The killer concealed by the rain—the Shadow Cat!

Small and swift, its gray-black fur let it strike unseen in the rain, even in the dark of night!

Yang Sanjin's face went pale. There was no time!

Gritting his teeth, he shoved Xiao Qing away. "Iron Wall!"

Xiao Qing panicked. "Captain!!"