Chapter 67: Is This Really One-Tier Upper?

After sending Zhao Chunlin away, Zhao Yi made a phone call:

“Director Wang, I just spotted a promising adept on the sixth floor—his name is Xu Jingming...”

Wang Chuang was the chief supervisor in charge of the entire Source Water Supply Base.

He was also Zhao Yi’s direct superior.

Any powerful adept discovered had to be reported to Wang Chuang.

Sometimes, if lucky, you’d even get a reward.

“Xu Jingming? Wait, let me check the records.”

After a brief silence, Wang Chuang’s voice returned, this time tinged with excitement:

“Director Zhao, the Xu Jingming you mentioned is crucial to me—if he comes back to the sixth floor, notify me immediately.”

Zhao Yi blinked in surprise, then nodded: “Understood.”

“Who could make Old Wang this excited?”

After hanging up, Zhao Yi unconsciously rubbed his chin.

Only the chief supervisor and the general manager could access the base’s adventurer records—he hadn’t reached that level yet.

Though his curiosity burned, he had no way to satisfy it.

“But since Old Wang’s paying attention, better treat him with extra caution—can’t hurt.”

Zhao Yi didn’t dwell on it long, quickly returning to his work.

On the top floor of the Source Water Supply Base, in the chief supervisor’s office.

Staring at the information displayed on his computer, Wang Chuang’s eyes gleamed faintly.

“Didn’t expect another disciple of Yang Zhentian to show up at my Source Water Supply Base.”

The base’s database only revealed that Xu Jingming came from the Metropolis Adept University.

But students from top-tier academies like that always drew Wang Chuang’s special attention.

So he used his family’s intelligence network to dig deeper.

He didn’t expect what he found.

This Xu Jingming was none other than Yang Zhentian’s newest disciple—recently recruited at the Metropolis Adept University!

Keep in mind that

For someone at his level,

It was essential to memorize every powerful faction and adept in nearby provinces.

Otherwise, you might accidentally offend someone and never even know why.

That Lei Mao Yang Zhentian—ranked seven-tier upper, who had once slain an eight-tier beast across a rank—

Was a name Wang Chuang knew well. Not only could he not afford to offend him, even his own adept family dared not cross him!

His disciples had to be treated with equal caution.

“If Zhao Yi’s right and Xu Jingming truly reached two-tier upper—

Then his talent surpasses that of the former Liu Ming!

No, ‘surpasses’ doesn’t even cover it—it’s monstrous!”

Wang Chuang leaned back in his chair, eyes flickering faintly.

Two-tier upper at eighteen? No one would believe it!

For a prodigy like this, befriending him was best.

If that wasn’t possible, treat him with extreme care—never, under any circumstances, provoke him.

“Phew, full.”

On the second floor of the supply base, Xu Jingming called a server over to settle his bill after a hearty meal.

The base’s dishes weren’t cheap—just over a dozen dishes cost him two million Daya coins.

Though some dishes were made from beast meat, prices were still at least thirty percent higher than outside.

But Xu Jingming, having just earned a fortune, didn’t care about the details.

After paying, he walked straight up to the third floor.

This was where the base sold equipment.

He had no intention of replacing his Dark Cloud Wind Spear for now, but his battle armor had been torn apart in combat.

Better to replace it outright than repair it.

So Xu Jingming spent twelve million to buy a B-class battle armor and boots.

He also noticed space rings being sold here—but the prices were absurdly high.

The cheapest one, with capacity equal to a small suitcase, cost over ten million.

Despite his strong interest in space rings, such a price deterred him.

After all, such a small capacity couldn’t hold much.

Ten million, however, could still buy him a large amount of resources right now.

Also, the iron pot and seasonings he longed for weren’t available here.

Xu Jingming left the supply base and headed toward the back street.

The back street was a nearby alleyway, not far from the supply base.

Opened by citizens of Source Water City, it differed from the base, which sold only items for adepts.

The back street was more down-to-earth—everything was available.

Outside the supply base, in a dark corner untouched by sunlight:

Zhao Chunlin, eyes bloodshot, stared fixedly at the retreating figure and rasped to the men beside him:

“Your target is him—break his limbs, then bring him to me.”

The group consisted of three men and two women, each at two-tier upper.

They were the Tiger Shark Squad, normally assigned tasks by the supply base.

Occasionally, they’d do private jobs for favored supervisors.

Like now...

“Understood.”

The squad leader was a thirty-something man with claw-like scars across his face, radiating ferocity.

He nodded and silently led the other four to follow.

On the back street, Xu Jingming hadn’t even started searching for a pot or seasonings when he received a call from Liu Wentao.

He tapped the answer button, and Liu Wentao’s familiar voice came through:

“Big Brother Ming! Your phone finally works!”

“Just got back from the Wildlands—what’s up?”

“Nothing much, just wanted to chat with you, Big Brother Ming.”

On the other end, Liu Wentao chuckled, then asked:

“By the way, when are you heading back to campus?”

“About half a month.”

“What? Another half month? Then Li Chengzhi will keep acting arrogant a while longer.

Big Brother Ming, you don’t know—Li Chengzhi’s a new student who just enrolled.

He’s the provincial top scorer from Qinghai Province—this guy’s cocky as hell, at two-tier lower...”

On the line, Liu Wentao rambled on about everything that had happened since Xu Jingming left campus.

During his time at school, Xu Jingming had been a celebrity among new students—breaking records, crushing Lei Zhou.

But after over a month in the Wildlands, the new students had gradually forgotten him.

Other powerful newcomers had begun to rise.

“Hmm?”

Xu Jingming suddenly halted.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, keep going.”

Xu Jingming resumed walking.

But as he listened to Liu Wentao’s gossip, a faint blue-purple lightning arc flickered at his right fingertip.

If anything went wrong, the terrifying Purple Thunder would strike instantly.

“Get ready—the target’s about to enter an alley.”

Twenty meters behind Xu Jingming, hidden behind a building, the Tiger Shark Squad’s leader frowned.

He ordered one of the women:

“He Ji, analyze the target’s strength.”

He Ji possessed a C-rank mental adept power—her perception was extremely sharp.

She had repeatedly sensed the presence of high-tier beasts in the Wildlands, allowing them to avoid danger.

This time, though they were only targeting a one-tier upper adept,

Even a lion fights a rabbit with full force.

For caution’s sake, they had to assess the target’s strength before acting.

“Captain, I’m telling you, sometimes you’re just too cautious.”

“What kind of trouble can a lowly Rank One Upper-tier brat cause?”

One of the team members chuckled.

But just then, He Ji, who had activated her psychic ability, suddenly let out a low exclamation:

“Such a ferocious aura!”

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

The team leader frowned and asked urgently.

“Take a look for yourselves.”

He Ji gave a bitter smile and, with the aid of her ability, shared her perception with everyone in the team.

“This is...”

The Tiger Shark team leader froze in shock upon receiving the perception.

In the world perceived through He Ji’s psychic ability, it was not much different from the ordinary world.

But every living being emitted its own glow—some faint, some intense—reflecting their respective strengths.

The glow radiating from the towering figure ahead was terrifying, like a miniature sun!

Amidst the faint, barely visible glows of those around him, it stood out starkly.

And this glow was dozens of times stronger than his own as Tiger Shark team leader!

“This is Rank One Upper-tier? Are you fucking kidding me?”

The Tiger Shark leader cursed under his breath.

Such a powerhouse could wipe out their entire team with ease!

“Intelligence is faulty. Mission aborted.”

“Return to the supply base immediately and confront Zhao Chunlin!”

The Tiger Shark team leader’s face turned terrifyingly dark.

If not for his years of cautious habits making him extra wary, they would have attacked—and now their whole team would be waiting for someone to collect their corpses!

And as the culprit behind this, Zhao Chunlin—they would by no means let him go...