Chapter 1227: Non-human

Seventeen hours later.

The night was dim.

On the boundless plain, a hundred-person squad was running.

Intentionally detouring around the 'native' towns, the Long An squad, split into eight teams, moved extremely covertly across the wilderness.

"Lin Dui, let's rest a bit?"

"Some of the others are finding it hard to keep up."

"Can."

After glancing at the approximate position, Lin An pondered for a moment and nodded.

Their distance from the major battle zones had now grown great, almost reaching the map's edge. Based on climate changes, Lin An also guessed the world's boundary was likely an ocean.

It was like a huge island, with sea all around and land and mountains in the center.

In their dispersed, concealed state, the symbol representing Long An on the map had become blurred.

This distance was enough for him to lay out his plan.

Sitting carelessly on the ground, Zhang Tie rubbed his glowing forehead, grinning at the Long An soldiers behind him to signal that everyone could rest.

After seventeen straight hours of 'full-speed' assault, it felt nothing to him and Lin An, but for the mere Second Level members it was truly exhausting.

He plopped down onto the ground.

Amid the continuous metallic clanging, nearly a hundred Long An Awakened Ones sat down, faces pallid, everyone utterly exhausted.

Devoid of strength, they didn't even bother to take off their exoskeleton armor; many simply collapsed and slept. The few who could still muster a bit of spirit all wore bitter smiles.

After seventeen hours of marching, they felt their muscles all over were about to burst. The lactic acid built up in their muscles was probably off the charts.

But look at Lord Lin An and Zhang Tie — not a drop of sweat on either of them.

Especially..

All along, they had clearly seen Lin An testing something by circulating his spiritual energy while marching.

Seizing every moment, they wasted not a second.

Even after stopping, they still had no intention to rest.

"Lord Lin An, you're really overdoing it.."

"Just watching you frightens me......"

"Yeah, if it were me, I don't think I'd ever push myself that hard.."

Gathered together, the many Awakened Ones whispered among themselves about Lin An not far off, their eyes full of admiration and reverence.

They could tell Lin An seemed to be experimenting on himself; from time to time a burst of blood mist erupted on his body, looking terrifying.

At first they worried, but after seeing it repeatedly they realized what Lin An was doing.

It must be a test of the effects of spiritual energy within his body?

Those wounds that kept bursting open and healing made their scalps go numb.

He kept pushing himself, being harsh on his own body; frankly, they asked themselves if they could ever do that — and knew they absolutely could not.

"I don't know why Lord Lin An pushes himself so hard.."

"I've seen those Third Levels before; managing even an hour of training a day is already good..."

Chewing on his individual combat rations, a burly Second Level Awakened One couldn't help but keep glancing at that figure.

In the apocalypse, while most survivors lived miserably, for the strong the apocalypse was no less than paradise.

As long as one doesn't run into a high-level mutant or a special event by bad luck, a Third Level Awakened One can practically walk sideways; even without lifting a finger, they'd enjoy vast supplies.

In his view, those Third Levels in the surrounding war zones were like local emperors, living in extraordinary luxury.

Three wives, four concubines, holding court in a harem, even convening a group meeting counted as restraint.

In an environment where lives are worthless, even the wildest ideas can be easily realized.

After all, with such great power, there really is too much to enjoy.

"Maybe that's the difference.."

"Always growing stronger, never ceasing.."

"That's how we've come this far.."

In their feelings, many Long An members couldn't help but feel wistful. Frankly, since joining Long An, even if they had accepted its education and remained loyal to Long An,

but even without 'brainwashing,' they would spontaneously admire this man.

With no negative news, in their impression Lin An seemed never to have rested — either going here to resolve a crisis or there to snipe mutants.

He was like an efficient machine, forsaking all the pleasures humans tend to crave.

Many even privately suspected that Lin An might not be human at all, but a savior 'manufactured' by the system.

"Lin Dui, those kids are talking about you."

"Hehe, I see they're about to turn you into a legend."

Humming a little tune, stirring the hot pot, Xiong Hanzi gave a hehe laugh, one hand holding a bottle of beer, swaying as he sat down beside Lin An.

Speaking from the heart, he also felt Lin An sometimes pushed himself too hard.

Being this strong, at least give others a way to survive.

Of course, he also knew where Lin An's pressure came from; if it weren't for Lin Dui taking the lead, he'd probably be anxious too.

Waving his hand to indicate he didn't need to eat, Lin An furrowed his brows and ignored the beer Xiong Hanzi offered.

He had no time to waste on eating.

At his level, a single spiritual energy replenishment could satisfy his body's cellular needs; even under the operation of cataclysmic force, his cellular activity remained at peak condition.

Eating, excretion, sleep...

This innate biological trait is gradually disappearing from him.

Under conditions of abundant spiritual energy, he can stay awake for over a thousand hours without sleep, his brain constantly running.

No need for oxygen, no need to breathe; the spiritual energy within his body is enough to let him survive in a vacuum for years or more!

Rather than saying he is still human, it's more accurate to say he has gradually "evolved" into a perfect biological machine.

Moreover, Lin An can clearly sense that his emotional fluctuations are diminishing, and his thought patterns are gradually becoming inhuman.

Perhaps it's a trait of the Fearful Body's second stage, or perhaps it's the price of growing stronger...

When a person's abilities surpass those of mortals, they naturally evolve toward non-humanity.

Often, the emotions he displays are more like a habit, a habit meant for others to see.

Just like...

Chu An.

"Bang!"

Blood mist exploded, as if struck by gunfire.

Quickly drawing the blood back into his body, Lin An expressionlessly gazed at his own exploded chest.

Only to see, under rapid healing, the chest burst open by spiritual energy mended in the blink of an eye.

"Wrong.."

"Let spiritual energy fill the body, yet completely unable to achieve spiritualization..."

"How exactly should one do it... to be able to simulate it..."

Under the silvery moonlight, Lin An murmured to himself, sinking into thought.

He silently stared at his palm.

A long shadow stretched behind him, like a stone statue guarding the wilderness.