Chapter 98

The next day.

Beneath the hotel ruins, within the underground research facility, patrols began emerging one after another—some severely wounded, others carrying the corpses of their comrades.

Along with them came a steady stream of new intelligence.

Many areas within the facility were guarded by high-intelligence combat robots and equipped with specialized detection devices.

After a day and night of exploration and combat, most of the preserved serums and gene-optimization opportunities within the facility had been exhausted, leaving only the most difficult-to-access zones.

The remaining areas—

either housed intelligent mechanical guards with strength rivaling gene-awakened individuals,

or required laser corridors that could only be safely traversed with qualifying genetic scans,

or contained cages housing massive mutated creatures.

Even senior patrol captains could not force their way in—only circling outside, searching for openings.

Moreover, remnants of the original academy’s enemies lurked, waiting to strike; though most had been eliminated by patrols, the strongest among them were even more powerful than ordinary senior patrol captains.

Especially the one known as Luo Wu—his strength was terrifying, having already claimed the lives of senior patrol captains.

Lin Qing also received a steady flow of latest intelligence sent casually by Patrol Master Tang.

That afternoon, a major revelation emerged—

In the cage zone of the underground facility, where massive mutated creatures were held, a patrol had accidentally discovered that these powerful beasts were being fed to a peculiar creature resembling a crimson eel!

The moment the news spread, it was confirmed: this creature was a biological weapon developed by ZhiXing Group.

Compared to other fourth-tier gene-optimization opportunities or precious gene serums, the value of this biological weapon was clearly far greater.

Unfortunately, the few remaining remnants of the original academy were too powerful, and the massive mutated creatures were extremely difficult to handle.

Most patrols had already withdrawn from the underground facility, especially patrol captains who had evacuated—only powerful senior patrol captains remained, still attempting to press forward.

The shocking revelation that ZhiXing Group’s biological weapon existed within the underground facility spread rapidly.

…

That evening at eight.

“Huh…”

Lin Qing slowly exhaled, his hands drawing inward like embracing the rising sun, then settling into a final stance.

Then, a notification appeared before his eyes.

【‘Rising Sun Method’ fully completed】

“Finally…”

Lin Qing slowly smiled.

He had completed the 380th iteration of the Rising Sun Method and repaid his debt to the original version.

Normally, repaying once daily would take over a year.

Thanks to expensive rare serums and the ‘Gluttony’ gene ability, he had cleared it in just two months.

“I can now pre-advance the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ combat technique,” Lin Qing smiled.

He had already entered the basics of the original Zi Zai Shen technique two weeks ago, but lacked pre-advance slots, so he had waited until now.

“According to the technique’s description, non-gene-awakened individuals can barely reach the instinctive level—they can only master it, unless they undergo gene optimization specifically suited to the original technique, and even then, only a sliver of possibility remains.”

“I can’t attempt such gene optimization for now—I’ll have to wait until later…”

Lin Qing recalled the notes on Zi Zai Shen: “But even mastering the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique, my strength should already surpass many senior patrol captains—especially with the advantage of Instant Light!”

“Order.”

He wasted no time, immediately summoning the Entropy Reverser.

“Pre-advance: Original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ combat technique!”

In that instant, a flood of inexplicable information surged into his mind—just as usual, Lin Qing understood precisely how to train to reach the absolute limit he could achieve.

According to the Entropy Reverser’s simulation—

His genes, improved by reaching the instinctive level in six simplified Zi Zai Shen techniques, had already begun aligning with the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique.

Visualize the body as the cosmos: treat physical exertion points and energy nodes as stars, and the mysterious energy as invisible forces between them. By consecutively unblocking 3,000 nodes, he could master the original Zi Zai Shen technique.

Meanwhile—

Given his gene compatibility with the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’, theoretically, unblocking 48,000 nodes could achieve the perfect state—where any part of the body could become a stellar node—i.e., the instinctive level. “Hmm?”

Lin Qing paused slightly in surprise.

The next moment, a flood of memories surfaced in his mind.

It was the process of painstakingly locating suitable exertion points and energy nodes, adapting and refining them into individual ‘stars’ according to the Zi Zai Shen training method.

Even with genes more compatible with the original Zi Zai Shen, it took years of relentless, round-the-clock training before he finally, by sheer luck, mastered the original technique.

Then, after decades more—even as his body aged—he continued rigorous practice, repeatedly refining and shaping each star, until, in his twilight years, he finally formed 48,000 stars within his body, integrating Zi Zai Shen into his instinct.

“Boom!”

In that instant, the mysterious energy within Lin Qing’s body, now transformed into stellar power, condensed into streams of brilliant light, like a meteor shower racing through his body before settling quietly onto energy nodes and exertion points, adorning them with countless star-like glimmers.

One hundred, two hundred, three hundred…

One thousand, two thousand, three thousand…

Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand…

Moments later, 48,000 star-like points adorned his exertion and energy nodes.

Even deep within his cells, subtle changes began—new pairs of genes emerged in his genome, quietly shifting toward a specific direction.

“This is…”

Lin Qing slowly opened his eyes, sensing the massive transformation within himself, his gaze filled with disbelief and astonishment.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he merely thought—and without any physical motion—his entire body instantly shifted several meters, reappearing on the restaurant floor, unchanged in posture.

The speed was astonishing, yet not a single breath of wind stirred.

“One thought triggers it—and this fast? This is truly the instinctive level of ‘Zi Zai Shen’…”

Lin Qing drew a deep breath, delighted yet puzzled.

“Strange—pre-advance should only grant what I can realistically achieve…”

Lin Qing was deeply confused: “Logically, reaching the instinctive level of the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ requires prior gene optimization compatible with the technique—only then is there a sliver of hope.”

It’s like wanting to learn the Finger Snap Technique—you need fingers first.

The instinctive level of Zi Zai Shen also requires compatible genes. He had never undergone such gene optimization—so how had he succeeded?

In terms of gene optimization, he had only trained the original Rising Sun Method and the gene abilities unlocked through Bloodline Evolution Method’s tapping of the Tian Gui Monarch bloodline.

“Unless…”

Lin Qing’s mind stirred—he suddenly considered a possibility: “Could the Tian Gui Monarch’s bloodline genes be compatible with the ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique?”

Beyond this, he could think of no higher explanation.

“The Tian Gui Monarch’s bloodline genes just happen to match ‘Zi Zai Shen’? Is it really that coincidental?”

But after careful thought, Lin Qing realized it wasn’t coincidence at all.

First—

With the resources of Dawn Group, they couldn’t possibly miss that he chose ‘Zi Zai Shen’ as his technique; giving him the Bloodline Evolution Method was an investment—they would naturally select a bloodline better suited to it.

Thus, it made perfect sense that the Tian Gui Monarch’s gene optimization was compatible with ‘Zi Zai Shen’.

Second—

The more powerful a lifeform, the greater its genetic adaptability. The Tian Gui Monarch, a terrifying extraterrestrial entity, possessed immensely potent genes—its compatibility with ‘Zi Zai Shen’ was unsurprising.

“This is an unexpected boon…”

Lin Qing smiled. “I’ve directly reached the instinctive level of the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’—my strength is more than doubled from what I expected…”

Even if all Zi Zai Shen techniques were trained to the instinctive level, they would still only reach thirty to forty percent of the original technique’s power.

All aspects were far weaker, especially mobility—mastering the original technique brought a massive leap.

But even mastering the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ only unlocked forty to fifty percent of its power, and couldn’t be triggered instantly.

Most importantly—

Without reaching the instinctive level, one cannot alter one’s genetic state, making it impossible to train the terrifying technique ranked among the top three at the Rising Sun Dojo.

After all, ‘Zi Zai Shen’ is the foundation of that terrifying technique.

“My current strength…”

Lin Qing silently assessed himself: “Among senior patrol captains, I’m now among the best—only the true top geniuses from headquarters could surpass me.”

Even at headquarters, before gene awakening, those who mastered the original technique to the instinctive level were legendary—whether any still existed was uncertain.

He had an advantage here.

But reportedly, headquarters’ true geniuses came from the urban zones or had been pre-recruited by ZhiXing Group.

For such geniuses, third-tier gene optimization was trivial—they could even undergo fourth-tier optimization, giving them far greater gene advantages than him.

In gene optimization, he had only trained the Bloodline Evolution Method.

“Those top geniuses don’t lack fourth-tier gene optimization—and they wouldn’t care about this facility.”

Lin Qing mused inwardly: “With my current strength, I shouldn’t fear anything inside the underground facility…”

He drew a deep breath and stood up.

…

…

“You’re going in now?”

On the ruins of the hotel, inside a brightly lit temporary hut, Patrol Master Tang sat on the sofa, frowning as he studied Lin Qing.

“Yes.” Lin Qing gave a slight nod.

Tang Patrol Chief slowly shook his head. “Do you know that all Patrol Leaders have already withdrawn? More than half of the Senior Patrol Leaders have evacuated too. Now, only those at the very top remain inside the underground research facility. Are you sure you want to go in now?”

“Please, Patrol Chief, take a look.”

Lin Qing said nothing more. He simply extended one hand, and his five fingers began to elongate simultaneously, writhing like tentacles with fluid motion, even cracking the air with sonic booms.

“Hm?” Tang Patrol Chief’s eyes sharpened. He rose abruptly, staring at Lin Qing in disbelief.

“You…” she looked at Lin Qing, astonished yet delighted. “Have you already mastered the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ combat technique?”

The Zi Zai Shen series cultivates to the level of instinct. Though it can alter one’s form, it cannot move with such fluid spontaneity.

Only the original ‘Zi Zai Shen’ combat technique can achieve this.

But this could also be a genetic ability—so she wasn’t certain.

Lin Qing said nothing. His body suddenly shifted, appearing soundlessly beside Tang Patrol Chief.

“Good. Good. Good.”

Tang Patrol Chief smiled. “You’ve truly mastered the ‘Zi Zai Shen’—faster than I expected. The headquarters leadership only thought you’d master it within this year. I didn’t imagine you’d do it half a year early. Clearly, your affinity with the Zi Zai Shen technique is extremely high.”

She studied Lin Qing. “Tell me honestly—has your bloodline evolution method unlocked the genetic ability of the Tian Gui Monarch bloodline?”

Lin Qing stirred inwardly but feigned ignorance. “How did you guess?”

“Because… the Tian Gui Monarch bloodline’s genes are particularly compatible with the ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique.”

Tang Patrol Chief smiled. “Once you successfully unlock the genetic ability within your bloodline and optimize your genes, your cultivation of the ‘Zi Zai Shen’ technique naturally improves.”

She couldn’t help but sigh. “Dawn Group truly has vision. The bloodline evolution serum they gave you is perfectly suited to you.”

Lin Qing thought to himself: So it was obvious. He nodded. “My bloodline evolution has progressed quickly. I’ve made some real progress.”

“Excellent,” Tang Patrol Chief praised. “You now possess the strength of a Senior Patrol Leader. With the Zi Zai Shen’s survival capability, go ahead—but remember: self-preservation comes first.”

“Understood.” Lin Qing nodded.

“Go.”

Tang Patrol Chief smiled faintly.

At that moment—

“Swoosh—”

A sharp whistling suddenly pierced the air outside, as if something was hurtling toward them at high speed.

“Hm? That sound…” Tang Patrol Chief frowned slightly. “Go see.”

She stepped quickly out of the temporary hut. Above, a flying craft hovered—a disc-shaped vessel roughly eight meters in diameter.

With his sharp vision, Lin Qing immediately recognized it as a craft from the Urban Circle. Its markings bore the insignias of both the Urban Circle and Zhi Xing Group.

“Is this… the Variant A7L?”

Tang Patrol Chief recognized the model. Her brow furrowed. Her lips moved faintly, her voice reduced to a whisper only Lin Qing could hear: “Someone from the Urban Circle has arrived. They’re clearly important—likely here for the underground facility. Be careful.”

(End of Chapter)