Chapter 45: I

“Super-sense serum?”

Lin Qing frowned, “I’ve never heard of this before.”

“Alright,” Yuan Anping shrugged. “Then again, it’s rare even in the urban zones. It’s normal for headquarters not to have access. Probably only supplied to a tiny few.”

“What is super-sense serum?” Lin Qing asked.

“A creation of Zhi Star Group. It amplifies your perception of mysterious energy.”

Yuan Anping sized up Lin Qing. “Unless you’re rated ‘Excellence Class’ by Chaoyang Martial Hall, most people struggle to master the original Chaoyang practice—even the first step is hard. Super-sense serum lets you take that first step in a short time.”

“The original Chaoyang practice is hard to enter?” Lin Qing asked.

He couldn’t help recalling Tan Instructor, who had taught him the 77-version.

Tan Instructor, an external student of Chaoyang Martial Hall, possessed rare Excellence Class talent, yet still hadn’t mastered the original Chaoyang practice.

“It’s very hard.”

Yuan Anping nodded with a smile. “The 46-version and 77-version are simplified. They only use the mysterious energy already hidden in your own body.”

“Though all things contain this mysterious energy, the amount within yourself is far too weak—only at the first energy level sustainable by life. After deep excavation with the 77-version, you hit the ceiling.”

Yuan Anping took a sip of water. “The original Chaoyang practice hinges on actively drawing higher-energy mysterious energy from outside, strengthening what’s within you.”

Lin Qing understood.

So this was the difference.

From within outward?

Higher energy level?

“So the first step of true Chaoyang practice is to vaguely perceive mysterious energy from outside.”

Yuan Anping sighed. “Perceiving your own energy is instinct. Perceiving outside energy? That’s hard. If you can’t even perceive it, how can you draw it in? How can you enter?”

Lin Qing frowned slightly. “Without super-sense serum, you can’t enter? That can’t be right.”

Excellence Class talent is rare—those individuals would never join the Patrol.

If you needed super-sense serum just to have a chance, headquarters should’ve provided it to him.

Otherwise, why sign a training contract at all? “Of course not. You can enter without it—just much harder.”

Yuan Anping smiled. “Your body already contains mysterious energy. Just wait. Maybe luck, maybe sudden adaptation, maybe a sudden breakthrough… one day you’ll vaguely perceive the outside energy, and naturally enter.”

“But how long it takes? No one knows. Maybe a year or two. Maybe ten or eight years. Or maybe never in your lifetime.”

Yuan Anping shook his head. “Entering is already difficult. Mastering it? Even harder. You have to grope blindly, like a blind man touching an elephant, trying to snatch higher-energy mysterious energy from darkness. Without sufficient talent, it’s pure luck…”

Lin Qing frowned slightly.

He only needed to enter—to meet the basic condition—to immediately claim his advance.

So he wasn’t worried about mastering it. He only worried about entering.

The elite training contract from Patrol Headquarters stated he must master the original Chaoyang practice and the original “Zizai Body” this year to qualify for “gene optimization” benefits.

If he missed this chance, he didn’t know when another would come…

So he had to enter the original Chaoyang practice as soon as possible.

“Can you buy super-sense serum?” Lin Qing asked.

“Buy?”

Yuan Anping chuckled. “It’s a Zhi Star Group creation, from an extraterrestrial civilization. Do you think Zhi Star Group needs money?”

Lin Qing understood.

The urban zone and beyond it were almost two different worlds.

In technology, in strength… even in currency systems, they differed.

It was a chasm of civilizational disparity.

“If I must say,” Yuan Anping mused, “you might buy it—with money. Super-sense serum does circulate in the urban zone. Though almost all is instantly consumed, occasionally a tiny bit leaks out—and becomes priceless.”

Lin Qing shook his head slightly.

He didn’t need to think: even if he could buy it, it would cost a fortune.

“So without super-sense serum, it’s up to you,” Yuan Anping smiled.

Lin Qing nodded, saying nothing.

But he had already prepared himself.

Eleven months left. If he couldn’t enter the original Chaoyang practice, he’d improve other areas first.

If all else failed, he’d train more combat arts, then find another way.

“I’ll teach you the movements, breathing, and key points of the original Chaoyang practice first.”

Yuan Anping tied his long hair back with a smile. “When you finally enter, you can start practicing on your own. No need to worry about losing me.”

“Isn’t the Chief always in Lian’an City?” Lin Qing asked.

“Usually, but not always.”

Yuan Anping glanced at him, then said suddenly: “Honestly, I envy you. At least you still have a chance to enter the Elite Patrol Division.”

Lin Qing frowned. “I heard the Chief mastered the original Chaoyang practice and controls a whole series of combat arts. Shouldn’t that be enough to join the Elite Patrol Division?”

The headquarters supervisor had also said that once he reached Patrol Captain strength, he could join.

So why couldn’t the Chief join?

“Not nearly enough. Otherwise, why would headquarters invest in you and not me?” Yuan Anping spread his hands helplessly.

Lin Qing fell silent.

“You could join the Elite Patrol Division with my strength because you still have potential to grow.”

Yuan Anping shook his head. “To headquarters, you’re a combat art prodigy—you might one day master original combat arts, even have a slim chance of elevating them to ‘instinct’ level!”

“With proper training, you might even master the original Chaoyang practice. That’s why they invest in you. And me?”

“Sigh…”

He let out a long sigh.

Lin Qing opened his mouth to offer a tactful comfort—when the man continued groaning: “I’m different. I’m stuck in Lian’an City, holding the title of invincible, the only Patrol Captain, constantly fawned over by useless bureaucrats. I can’t go to headquarters and suffer among those monsters.”

“...”

Lin Qing’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

You’re definitely jealous. “Don’t envy me.”

Yuan Anping patted Lin Qing’s shoulder reassuringly. “Maybe you won’t master the original Chaoyang practice in four years. Maybe you won’t make it to headquarters. Then you can stay in Lian’an City, inherit my position as Chief. Isn’t that great?”

“...Thank you.”

…

That day, Lin Qing learned the original Chaoyang practice from Yuan Anping—but still couldn’t perceive outside mysterious energy, so he couldn’t enter.

He checked the Anti-Entropy interface. The original Chaoyang practice still wasn’t recorded.

So he could only wait.

Afterward, the Patrol Captain tried dragging him, the “future Chief heir,” out to party. He refused.

Before leaving, the man couldn’t resist adding: “Of course. Your path is long. You must carry heavy burdens, hack through thorns, endure hardship. My future is limited—I can only indulge in wine, women, and pleasure, squander my life. Sigh… I truly envy how well you endure suffering.”

“Bye-bye~ my heir. Call me if you need anything.”

(End of Chapter)