Chapter 147: Dense Forest Training

The seemingly peaceful yet deceptively turbulent golf meeting with Liu Shiyin made Qin Feng realize even more clearly that the Prometheus Foundation and its White Glove, Chuangsheng Technology, would never let things rest. Beneath the surface calm, an even fiercer counterattack was surely brewing. Especially Liu Shiyin's final probing remark about "valuing" him confirmed that he had already become a target her "God Theft" plan was determined to claim.

Passive waiting was no good strategy. He needed stronger power and sharper intuition to face the imminent danger that might exceed all imagination.

The abilities restored and enhanced after the system upgrade were his trump cards, but his own battle instincts and will, tempered through life and death, were the true foundation. The fight with "Shadow" had given him a taste of the sweetness of breaking through under extreme pressure.

He needed to place himself in desperate situations once more, to squeeze out every last drop, to grind himself down!

This time, the location he chose was deep within South America, a primeval tropical rainforest known as the "Green Hell." The environment here was extremely complex, teeming with poisonous insects and fierce beasts, with danger lurking everywhere. It was also a zone where various illegal armed groups and drug lords operated—an ideal place to hone wilderness survival, extreme stealth, and real combat reflexes.

He did not deploy the Voyager; that would draw too much attention. Instead, through covert channels, he brought only Lei Zhan and two other Shield operatives most skilled in jungle warfare, slipping into this vast and dangerous green maze under the guise of explorers.

The moment they entered the rainforest, it was as if they had stepped into another world. Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, the light was dim, the air hot and cloying with humidity, laced with the scent of rotting plants and earth. All manner of strange insect chirps and bird calls filled the ears, and from deeper within, the occasional low growl of an unknown beast drifted out.

"Stay alert—everything here can be lethal." Lei Zhan reminded in a low voice. Like the most seasoned hunter, his sharp eyes swept the surroundings.

Qin Feng nodded, suppressed all his presence, and pushed his senses to the limit. He changed into a specially treated set of jungle camouflage, smeared his face with paint, and his entire person nearly merged with the surrounding environment.

The training had already begun from the very first step into the rainforest.

The first day was devoted to adaptation and basic survival. Under Lei Zhan's guidance, they learned to identify edible plants and highly poisonous species, find clean water sources, build simple shelters from available materials, and avoid swamps and quicksand areas… Every one of these skills might be useless in a peaceful city, but here, they were matters of life and death.

On the second day, extreme stealth and tracking/counter-tracking training began. They moved through impenetrable vines and underbrush, learning how to erase traces, how to use the environment to conceal themselves, and how to judge from the subtlest clues whether an "enemy" had passed through. Relying on the superhuman senses and learning ability brought by Life Enhancement, Qin Feng progressed at astonishing speed, soon able to move through the jungle like a ghost—even Lei Zhan nodded in silent approval.

On the third day, live combat drills began. Lei Zhan and the two operatives played the "Hunters," while Qin Feng acted as the "Prey," fleeing and counterattacking within a designated zone. There were no rules, only win or lose—and the price of losing might be "death" (being marked).

The dense forest became the cruelest instructor. Ambushes by venomous snakes, harassment from blood-sucking leeches, expertly camouflaged traps, and hit-and-run attacks from the ghostly "Hunters"… Qin Feng's Spirit remained in a state of constant high tension. He was injured—poisonous thorns tore his skin, causing localized swelling and ulceration. He also "died" several times, his throat silently "slit" by Lei Zhan.

But every "death" and injury gave him a deeper understanding of the jungle, sharpened his perception of danger, and made his combat reflexes more instinctive.

On the seventh day, a sudden tropical downpour swept through the rainforest. Visibility plummeted, the river swelled, and the paths turned to mud. Yet according to plan, this was the perfect moment for endurance and willpower training under extreme conditions.

They had to cross a river that the rain had turned into a raging torrent.

The muddy water, carrying broken branches and debris, roared downstream. One careless moment and he would be pulled beneath the surface, or swept by undercurrents into unknown danger zones.

"I'll go first." Lei Zhan secured his safety rope, preparing to scout the way ahead.

"No need." Qin Feng stopped him, his gaze calmly fixed on the surging river. "This time, I'll do it myself."

He stripped off most of his gear, keeping only a dagger and the essential survival tools. Without relying on the safety rope, he took a deep breath and plunged straight into the icy, raging waters!

The power of Life Enhancement surged through his body, granting him tremendous lung capacity and muscular strength. But what he had to contend with was the furious might of nature itself!

The river was like countless invisible giant hands, tearing at his body, trying to drag him into the abyss. Broken branches came hurtling like cannonballs, and he could only dodge them by a hair's breadth thanks to his superhuman reflexes. Underwater currents churned in unpredictable directions, and he had to concentrate his entire Spirit, sensing the subtle shifts in the flow, searching for that fleeting path across.

Rain blurred his vision, cold gnawed at his body temperature, and his stamina drained at terrifying speed.

This was a struggle against the heavens, against the earth, and above all, against his own limits!

Qin Feng gritted his teeth, his mind empty of all distractions, leaving only one goal—the opposite bank!

Like a fish swimming against the current, he pressed forward through the violent waters, struggling yet resolute. Every stroke, every breath, was infused with his entire willpower.

He did not know how long it had taken when, finally, his hand touched the slick mud of the opposite bank. He struggled ashore, nearly collapsing, lying in the mud gasping for breath—but his eyes shone as bright as the stars!

He had succeeded!

By his own strength, he had conquered this raging river!

Lei Zhan and the two operatives crossed the river right behind him. Looking at Qin Feng—battered and bedraggled yet radiating unstoppable momentum—their eyes were filled with admiration. They knew that the Boss's strength and will, tempered by this rainforest ordeal, had reached a new height.

Two weeks of dense-forest training flew by in a blur of sweat, mud, pain, and breakthrough after breakthrough.

When Qin Feng walked out of the "Green Hell" once more, his skin had been tanned to a deep bronze, his body bore several new scars, but his entire presence had become more restrained and steady—like a military knife forged a thousand times, its edge sheathed yet all the more lethal.

His gaze was sharper, his intuition for danger as keen as a wild beast's, and his body's coordination and explosive power had reached a brand-new peak.

Seated on the plane back to Luocheng, Qin Feng rested with his eyes closed, feeling the surging power within him and his even more resilient will, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The dense-forest training had yielded remarkable results.

Now, he was confident he could face any challenge the Prometheus Foundation threw at him.

Liu Shiyin…

Is your "Net" operation ready?

I… have already sharpened my blade.