Chapter 64: NO.7489

The entry into the Combat Art "Rigidity" came faster; after studying it for just four or five hours, Lin Qing had already succeeded in mastering it.

“Order.”

“Advance, Combat Art ‘Rigidity.’”

In the private rest room beside the captain’s office, Lin Qing immediately advanced this combat art.

This time, the repayment required was indeed even less.

He needed only to perfectly train the Combat Art “Rigidity” eighteen times to settle the debt.

That amounted to less than four days.

Still, Lin Qing decided to wait six days before learning a new one, otherwise it would seem too unusual.

“This is the Combat Art ‘Rigidity’?”

In the private rest room, Lin Qing watched the faint metallic sheen emerging on his skin and nodded inwardly.

“Iron Block? Armament Color?”

The Combat Art “Rigidity” is, in essence, hardening.

It greatly increases defense, while also significantly boosting unarmed destructive power.

He gradually understood its strengths and weaknesses.

When fully activating the Combat Art “Rigidity,” his entire body became like cast steel, internally and externally unified, at peak defense—but once fully hardened, he became motionless as a statue.

In normal combat, it’s best to harden only the skin; though defense is weaker, movement remains unaffected.

“Under normal circumstances, skin hardening for defense is sufficient.”

Lin Qing had also observed other colleagues activating the Combat Art “Rigidity.”

Theoretically, even if one mastered only the 4-6 version, once the Combat Art “Rigidity” was learned, one could easily resist standard handgun bullets.

But when he pushed it to its extreme using the 7-7 version, his defense became astonishing.

“Stopping a .500 Magnum is still a stretch, but not by much.”

Lin Qing weighed it internally: “Once I learn the Combat Art ‘Flexibility,’ combining Rigidity and Flexibility will elevate my defense another tier—I should be able to barely withstand it, roughly on par with the escaped convict Chu Tianyao from Qinghu Island.”

When his cousin led the raid, they encountered Chu Tianyao; the entire patrol team opened fire with .500 Magnums.

Yet they inflicted no meaningful damage on Chu Tianyao.

The Chief Captain said Chu Tianyao’s strength equals that of Patrol Officer No. 1, Xu Qiu, but Chu Tianyao possesses additional combat arts, making him slightly stronger.

Xu Qiu only mastered all the Free Body series combat arts, none reaching the instinctive level.

Lin Qing also cultivates the Free Body series combat arts, and all have reached the instinctive level, allowing him to maximize their potential.

In comparison, Xu Qiu’s advantage lies in the original Sunrise cultivation method.

Though the original Sunrise method offers a significant boost, its advantage is only slightly greater than that of instinctive-level combat arts.

“Once I learn ‘Flexibility,’ my strength will be very close to Xu Qiu’s.”

Lin Qing took a deep breath: “Then… once the Super Sensitivity Serum takes effect and I advance the original Sunrise method… my strength will surpass Chu Tianyao!”

…

…

Time slipped away quietly.

Days passed in easy cultivation and routine work.

On February 25th.

It was once again the monthly divisional professional examination.

Zhao Jia had already signed up for this month’s Patrol Officer exam and arrived at the division early with Lin Qing.

The morning written test ended quickly.

“Will you pass?”

Seeing Zhao Jia return, Lin Qing asked casually.

“I’ll definitely pass,” Zhao Jia nodded confidently. “I’ll be a Patrol Officer soon.”

Lin Qing grunted and returned to his book.

At that moment, the office’s fixed communication rang.

Lin Qing glanced and saw it was Director Kou’s call; he answered immediately.

“Awake?”

“Should we go check on him?”

“Understood.”

After Lin Qing ended the call, Zhao Jia asked, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Xiao Pei is awake,” Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “But he’s still weak; no need to visit.”

“His toxin resistance is incredible…” Zhao Jia muttered. …

Xiaoshan District People’s Hospital.

In the late-night VIP ward, Xiao Pei sat weakly on the bed, silently gazing out the window at the urban zone’s glow, seemingly within reach.

With his vision, he could clearly make out the holographic projections and announcement text at the top of the urban zone.

【Binhai Star Union University’s Functional Department will expand enrollment; ZhiXing Group may increase investment…】

【The extraterrestrial stowaway responsible for the collapse of the Star Mutual Aid Building has been killed by the Third Councilor of the Star Patrol Council; the Council will explain tomorrow…】

【Dawn Group’s new gene optimization technology will achieve a breakthrough…】

Watching these messages, far beyond the urban zone’s scope, Xiao Pei slowly closed his eyes.

“I can’t go back… and I can’t advance here either…”

He knew he was merely a flawed specimen who barely survived the experiment; though he could still contribute, his value was limited.

!.

He had no desire to return to the seemingly advanced, glittering urban zone, for he knew… it was the true abyss that devoured flesh and bone, better to develop here, where at least freedom remained possible.

But…

“I have no hope for next month’s performance review, and I can’t find the Super Sensitivity Serum…”

Xiao Pei felt utterly powerless.

Whenever he thought of Lin Qing, who had emerged so suddenly, he was filled with helplessness.

He had seen many geniuses; he wasn’t shocked by Lin Qing’s rapid progress.

But that was in the urban zone.

In Lian’an City, Lin Qing’s pace of advancement was astonishing.

Suddenly—

“Captain Xiao.”

A strange, low chuckle echoed in the ward.

Xiao Pei’s gaze shifted instantly, scanning every corner of the room—but found no one.

“Don’t bother looking.”

The light in the room twisted slightly, and a tall woman with crimson short hair slowly materialized, wearing a tight strapless tank top, muscular arms, and golden studs through her nose and lips.

She chewed gum, looking down at Xiao Pei with amusement: “Recovered this fast from Purple Vine 004? You’re not bad among failed specimens—not entirely useless.”

“You’re…” Xiao Pei’s pupils shrank sharply; she had revealed his identity in one sentence.

“Do you really need to ask?”

The crimson-haired woman sneered; on her exposed right arm, a sun-shaped tattoo slowly surfaced.

Strangely… within the sun tattoo, a serial number was visible.

【NO.7489】

“You have a serial number?” Xiao Pei’s expression shifted.

Even a four-digit number meant she was a full member of the Illuminati, nothing like his peripheral status.

“I’m not a failed waste like you,” the crimson-haired woman scoffed. “Tell me, where’s the Super Sensitivity Serum boss gave you?”

“Zhou Yang hid it; I can’t find it,” Xiao Pei replied grimly.

“Lost the Super Sensitivity Serum?”

The crimson-haired woman snorted. “Even I have to wait in line for it. If you weren’t clean enough to enter the Patrol System, why would boss have given you a vial?”

Xiao Pei didn’t anger; he only asked: “Is boss assigning you to oversee the Yuhong Society’s affairs in this region? Any new orders?”

“The original No. 2 of Yuhong Society is in charge,” the crimson-haired woman said coolly. “I’m only assisting.”

“You must know who our biggest problem is,” Xiao Pei said grimly.

“You mean Lin Qing?”

The crimson-haired woman smiled slyly. “No. 2’s suggestion is to abandon you and recruit Lin Qing instead—he has greater potential.”

“Huh?” Xiao Pei asked. “Have you investigated him?”

“According to Lin Qing’s encrypted report, he was exposed to Class-A Evolutionary Radiation.”

The crimson-haired woman said: “Even with only the 7-7 version and two combat arts mastered, his strength ranks seventh or eighth among Lian’an Patrol Officers. It’s normal he cleared underground fight clubs alone.”

“Class-A Evolutionary Radiation?” Xiao Pei murmured. “No wonder he has this power…”

“Rest well. No. 2 is already preparing to recruit him. Only if recruitment fails will they consider reusing you as waste.”

The crimson-haired woman gave him a mocking glance; light began to warp, and she faded from view.

(End of Chapter)