Chapter 122: Dark Clouds Gather

"Gene Awakeners who see the number on the first painting receive a reward of one thousand points."

The person in charge said, "If those at the Gene Reconstruction level can see the number on the second painting, the reward is five thousand points."

"Five thousand points?" Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Although it held less significance for him now, it was still not bad.

"However, since you saw the number on the second painting while still at the Gene Awakening level, there is an additional reward." The person in charge smiled mysteriously.

"What?" Lin Qing looked at him.

"A second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit." The person in charge said with a smile.

"Oh?" Lin Qing's eyes lit up as he said, "That is indeed excellent."

Back at the underground research institute, Chen Guang had given him a first-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit, but that suit would likely be insufficient for him in the future.

After all, it was merely a 'children's suit' spacesuit, designed for alien children, meaning it was suitable only for use before Gene Awakening.

Back then, his strength was already enough to tear that first-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit.

And now, he was far stronger than he was back then, not to mention the even more exaggerated improvements he would have in the future.

The Headquarters also offered exchanges for first-rank Starry Sky Battle Suits, but that required two thousand points.

As for the second rank?

With his clearance, he had not found such an item in the Headquarters exchange shop at all; now it seemed the Headquarters indeed had it.

"Mr. Lin, please wait a moment; I will go apply for the second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit for you." The person in charge smiled slightly and immediately turned to leave.

Lin Qing stood in place waiting, lost in thought: "So it seems the Headquarters places quite a lot of importance on Willpower..."

At that moment, a streak of flowing light suddenly flew out and transformed nearby into Chen Guang, who looked like an angel in a white dress, and spoke: "Gene Reconstruction, Starry Sky Divine Offices, and the Primal Level all have requirements for Willpower, so of course the Headquarters values it. Moreover... there is another hidden, important reason."

Lin Qing did not speak, only looking at her with confusion.

"The Intelligent Star People."

Chen Guang said, "Among the Intelligent Star People, some powerful individuals are very skilled in telekinesis; these are the type with a third eye in their forehead. Powerful telekinetics mostly possess means to confuse the spirit; the stronger one's Willpower, the easier it is to resist."

Lin Qing understood.

It seemed the high-ranking officials of the Patrol Headquarters on the side of Earth Civilization might also belong to the United Faction or the Autonomous Faction, which is why they regarded the Intelligent Star People as a hypothetical enemy.

"However, I never expected Master's Willpower to be so strong?"

Chen Guang looked at Lin Qing with some disbelief. "It seems that for the subsequent trials of the Star-Transmitting Tower, Master, your chances of passing will be very high."

Lin Qing knew why she was surprised.

After all, according to the data she had checked, he was merely an ordinary youth not yet nineteen years old, with no experience, yet possessing such astonishing Willpower; naturally, it was quite absurd.

However, there are always some people in this world whose ways of thinking are different from the start, viewing life and the world differently.

Some people experience little, yet their Willpower is equally super strong; others seem to have experienced much, yet become even more cowardly. These things are hard to predict.

A short while later, the person in charge of the Willpower test walked out from the depths of the corridor carrying a heavy black metal briefcase.

"Mr. Lin, the smart lock on this case has been programmed with a password compiled from your DNA and iris features; only you can unlock it."

The person in charge handed the briefcase to Lin Qing. "The case itself is also extremely expensive, cast with a small admixture of precious third-rank alloy. Only the power of an Inspector level can break it."

"Oh?" Lin Qing raised his eyebrows slightly.

Third-rank alloy is indeed precious; in terms of melting point, durability, and all other aspects of strength, it is astonishingly high. Earth's industrial level simply cannot produce it; only the Urban Circles possess this capability.

Even for the Intelligent Star Group, third-rank alloy is a precious resource.

Take the Broken Tablet Prison, for instance. Why, when the prisoners are clearly bound and restricted, is there still a need for graded and layered management?

It is because the materials used to construct different areas of the prison itself differ. The main structure of the first layer is cast from second-rank alloy, and only below that does it begin to incorporate more third-rank alloy, because the Intelligent Star Group is unwilling to be so extravagant.

If it were cast purely from third-rank alloy, only power at the Primal Level would have any hope of shaking it.

The ability of Super-Energy Material is so powerful precisely because the Super-Energy Material it constitutes is comparable to third-rank alloy, and it possesses innate casting craftsmanship!

For an alloy of such strength to become this sharp is also extremely difficult.

"The briefcase is given to me as well?" Lin Qing asked.

"Even if it is a free gift, you can use it to store other things." The person in charge said with a smile.

Lin Qing nodded slightly; such a large case would be perfect for storing various potions in the future.

"Master, the second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit itself is worth thirty thousand points."

Chen Guang, standing nearby, said, "This case probably only contains a third-rank alloy piece the size of a soybean, worth at most one or two thousand points."

"The size of a soybean?" Lin Qing was stunned.

A piece of third-rank alloy the size of a soybean is worth one or two thousand points?

Looking at it this way, the Super-Energy Material ability is a bit perverted.

However, it is also because Earth Civilization fundamentally lacks the level to cast third-rank alloy; otherwise, it would not be so absurd.

After returning to the apartment, Lin Qing opened the password-locked case containing the second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit.

Compared to the first-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit, the difference was actually not great; it was still a mass of gelatinous substance, only much larger and faintly iridescent.

Lin Qing cut his finger, allowing it to absorb a certain amount of fresh blood, and this second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit transformed into his new Patrol uniform on his body.

"The strength of the second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit is very high; among the three-star Elite Inspectors, only the most outstanding tier could tear it."

Chen Guang said, "Additionally, it allows you to survive in space, resisting many extreme environments; ordinary attacks simply cannot affect you."

"Oh? Excellent." Lin Qing showed a faint smile.

The Headquarters was willing to give a second-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit to someone with super-strong Willpower, likely to ensure such a figure's survival as much as possible.

With Willpower this strong, the hope for Gene Reconstruction or obtaining a Divine Office is greater; being treated specially is quite normal.

Although thirty thousand points is a lot, it is unknown how many people produce someone with such astonishing Willpower; they certainly deserve this treatment.

"It is time to return."

Lin Qing packed all the potions into the box using shock-absorbing foam, and after leaving the cultivation room, he found that the intelligent moving robot had already moved everything in the apartment that needed to be relocated to the fighter jet.

Moreover, both the moving robot and another life-support robot had also been loaded onto the fighter jet.

Zhao Jiayi was already waiting downstairs.

"Lin Qing."

Zhao Jiayi's telepathic voice suddenly rang out: "The eighteen elite inspectors assigned to you by headquarters have all gathered downstairs waiting for you."

"I'll be down immediately."

Lin Qing responded, took one last look at the apartment, then carried the box downstairs.

On the open ground not far from the apartment building entrance.

He saw Zhao Jiayi had changed into a black suit skirt common for assistants, and opposite her stood eighteen elite inspectors.

Mostly male, a few female, and the majority were Huaxia people. Lin Qing walked over quickly and spoke: "You've waited long, everyone. I am Lin Qing, the highest commander for the Jiangnan region assigned by headquarters. From now on, we will be on the same team; you may address me as Captain."

"Yes, Captain!"

One by one, the elite inspectors, expressionless, responded in unison.

Facing Lin Qing, a newcomer who had not yet been promoted to elite inspector, they felt strange in their hearts, but had little objection.

Although they were not trained soldiers with the mindset that obeying orders is their duty, they understood that headquarters was not foolish; since they dared to make such an appointment, they must have confidence.

The three provinces of the Jiangnan region held a full two hundred million people; as the supreme commander of the inspectors for such an important region, the weight of responsibility was imaginable.

With eight billion people in the world, being able to be responsible for the Jiangnan region's two hundred million naturally meant he was one of the strongest dozens beneath the headquarters Inspector.

There were only twenty or thirty three-star elite inspectors in total, so at the very least, one had to be among the best of the two-star elite inspectors to have this qualification.

A newcomer inspector possessing such strength was certainly astonishing, but such people were not non-existent.

Naturally, they would have no objection.

"Alright, let's go."

!.

Lin Qing nodded slightly, glanced over these elite inspectors, and felt reasonably satisfied in his heart.

There were nearly eight hundred newcomer inspectors at headquarters, while there were over two thousand elite inspectors.

After all, every half year, two or three hundred newcomer inspectors would arrive, and although the training branch allowed a maximum stay of three years, in reality, over half became elite inspectors.

As for elite inspectors, if they failed to enter the various branches, they could stay at headquarters for a maximum of ten years.

Accumulated over ten years, there were naturally over two thousand elite inspectors.

Among them, over two thousand were one-star elite inspectors, over three hundred were two-star, and there were only twenty or so three-star elite inspectors.

The eighteen elite inspectors assigned by headquarters included six who were two-star, while the other twelve were also outstanding among the one-star elite inspectors; the quality was naturally quite good.

Lin Qing understood this as well.

During combat, these people would not be of much help to him in the future.

The more life evolves, the more individual power transcends the group; when one becomes as powerful as an Inspector, a single person could likely slaughter everyone beneath the headquarters Inspector.

But often, one person cannot handle so many trivial matters, and indeed, someone is needed to share the load.

……

On the island where headquarters is located, since there were too many teams traveling today and not enough buses, one could see teams moving forward rapidly along the road to the airport.

Besides the various elite inspector teams, ordinary one-star elite inspectors and newcomer inspectors were also heading to various places as supplementary personnel.

For example, the Jiangnan region received an additional fifty one-star inspectors or newcomer inspectors.

However, Lin Qing's fighter jet could carry at most thirty people, so the others would have to take headquarters' planes to Jiangnan.

"Captain, are we taking this route? The inspector teams assigned by headquarters are waiting at the airport."

When an elite inspector noticed Lin Qing leading everyone down another road, he couldn't help but ask with some confusion.

"I have a private fighter jet; it's faster." Lin Qing explained casually.

"A private fighter jet?" That elite inspector finally understood.

Indeed, three-star elite inspectors generally have private fighter jets, with flight speeds at least several times the speed of sound, which is indeed much faster than headquarters' planes.

Private fighter jets are usually parked at another airport on the island.

Before long, the group arrived at the airport; after passing inspection, the inspectors saw the azure-blue fighter jet parked in front of the D207 jet bridge.

"This is..."

"An FT series fighter jet?"

"I recall the FT series fighter jets cost at least over fifty thousand points, right?"

"Oh my god..."

The inspectors couldn't help but look at the fighter jet in shock, their eyes full of disbelief.

Just a newcomer inspector; even if his talent was high and his strength exceptional, how could he have so many points?

To know, even the three-star elite inspectors who were headquarters' aces mostly couldn't bear to buy such an expensive private fighter jet!

This FT series private fighter jet was cast entirely from second-order alloy; its value was imaginable.

One point's purchasing power is over a million; tens of thousands of points is hundreds of billions!

Moreover, even with hundreds of billions, one simply couldn't buy it.

Mostly only Inspectors could afford to purchase private fighter jets of this level!

"Enough."

Lin Qing did not want people to know about the Inspector's special attitude toward him, nor did he want to explain too much; he simply said, "Everyone get on board."

The elite inspectors felt even more that this Captain was extraordinary and dared not ask further, immediately boarding obediently along the boarding stairs.

"Haha, Lin Qing."

At this moment, a familiar laugh rang out; Xu Qiu and Yuan Anping were seen walking over from the waiting hall on the other side.

"I was just about to call you," Lin Qing said with a faint smile.

Xu Qiu had also successfully awakened her genes; like Yuan Anping, she was a One-Star Patrol Officer, so naturally she was prioritized for assignment to the patrol team heading to the Jiangnan region.

Both were old acquaintances, so he naturally intended to bring them back to the Jiangnan region together.

Besides, there was plenty of room on the fighter jet.

"My aunt treats you very well," Xu Qiu said, glancing at the fighter jet; she naturally recognized it as Tang Wanqiu's private aircraft.

Yet she understood that if Lin Qing did not possess sufficient potential, her aunt would never have treated him so well merely out of appreciation.

Moreover, the fact that Headquarters had appointed Lin Qing as the supreme commander of the Jiangnan region was enough to explain many things.

"I'm just riding your coattails," Yuan Anping said with a beaming smile.

Lin Qing glanced at him but said nothing.

Since arriving at Headquarters, Yuan Anping seemed to have taken no special action; perhaps he was still waiting for an opportunity.

The Illuminati behind him probably never expected the Broken Tablet Prison to be suddenly breached this time, forcing Headquarters to dispatch most of its manpower.

One hour and twelve minutes later, the azure fighter jet crossed the borders of the three Jiangnan provinces and finally landed at the patrol-exclusive airport in Lin'an City.

Stepping out of the cabin, Lin Qing looked up at the sky above; as far as the eye could see, the heavens were filled with gloomy, dark clouds, as if a storm was imminent.

"Back so soon..."

Lin Qing took a deep breath, then walked down the fighter jet along the boarding bridge.

【Current Order Level has dropped by 2.8 levels】

Just then, a line of blood-red notifications suddenly appeared before his eyes.

(End of Chapter)