Chapter 364: Chapter 364
"Then, in addition to completing the mission perfectly, you three must be unscathed; only then will I report an [Elite in Actual Combat] evaluation.
If anyone gets injured on the mission, don’t come to me for explanations."
The three continued to understand.
Chen Qiushui finally said:
"Alright, go prepare yourselves. Besides equipment, remember to prepare healing items in advance. Don’t be stingy; it can save lives at critical moments."
After the approval was granted, he waved them off to leave.
The Long and Hu brothers planned to go to the alchemy room to see what excellent healing items were available, while Meng Chuan excused himself and left first.
"Brother Meng, aren’t you going?"
"Uh... I’ve got everything prepared, you guys go ahead."
In reality, Meng Chuan hadn’t prepared anything; the cheap ones were useless, and he couldn’t afford the expensive ones with great effects.
Not mentioning his freakish recovery ability, minor injuries could slowly heal themselves.
If anyone could seriously injure him in 220% Liberation state, plus the boost from [Ferocity]...
Just prepare for "Rebirth Nirvana", there’s no time to take any pills.
"Alright then, Brother Meng, after lunch tomorrow, let’s head down the mountain together."
Meng Chuan got up early, practiced his martial arts several times to get the feel of it, eager to try.
Feeling his Spiritual Power fully recovered, he thought of chatting with Qi Shuai again.
After pondering for a moment, he decided against it.
They would set off in the afternoon, so he needed to save his energy and stay in good condition, ready for a fight upon return!
Finish what you start, up to thirty-three times.
This was his self-imposed rule, leaving only one last chance... Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novęlfire.net
After lunch, Meng Chuan prepared his gear and headed down the mountain with the Long and Hu brothers.
Chu Yanhu, with a large sword strapped to his back, saw Meng Chuan approaching and curiously asked:
"Brother Chuan, that belt of yours looks quite powerful, what’s it for?"
To his Spiritual Power senses, the belt bristling with black spikes seemed alive, exuding a menacing and terrifying aura.
It was clearly a powerful piece of equipment, but its purpose was unknown.
Chu Yanhu inexplicably thought of the transformation belt from the anime he watched as a child...
Meng Chuan explained:
"Battle armor, a reward from Martial Extreme True Inheritance Principal Sui."
"That’s great, our year’s top student was Yoga... She Yu, I think she chose a soft sword."
Chu Yanhu was rather envious.
Meng Chuan smiled without saying anything.
Beside him, Chu Yanlong urged his brother:
"You, with your endless curiosity, let’s go, down the mountain."
Two o’clock in the afternoon, an hour earlier than the appointed time.
Yong’an Police Department Action Division.
"Xiaomeng, long time no see."
"Wow, you’ve gotten even more robust, now a Martial Arts Family member, truly impressive!"
"Take good care of us tonight, Captain Meng, the brothers are eager for another go with you!"
Meng Chuan responded with a smile to Chen Dalu, Yang Lan, and several others.
They were his teammates during the last mission at the underground casino.
Several acquaintances at the police department greeted him as well.
Chu Yanlong observed this with surprise, thinking that with Meng Chuan’s rapid cultivation pace, he wouldn’t have time for missions.
Unexpectedly, him arriving at the police department was like being back at his own home...
The Long and Hu brothers first went to the equipment department to borrow battle armor.
Meng Chuan went to the Intelligent Control Department, greeted his uncle, and sat in the strategy room to wait for a while.
Soon after, a large shadow was cast from outside the door.
His figure unseen, his voice was heard first.
"Hahaha, Xiaomeng, right? You arrived quite early."
Soon, a robust man, no less impressive than himself, strode in, and Meng Chuan stood up to shake hands:
"Hello, Brother Han, nice to meet you."
Chief Long had introduced him; he was the newly appointed head of the operations team at the police department after Captain Liu’s sacrifice and was also his junior fellow disciple.
A Grandmaster from the United University’s main campus, the second disciple of [Demon Suppression Mountain Guardian·Huo Sanjiang].
The second great limit, [Mysterious Water Ape·Han Qu].
"Alright, have a seat, Xiaomeng. Once your two teammates arrive, I’ll brief you on the specific details of the mission."
A moment later, the Long and Hu brothers approached, carrying large boxes.
Meng Chuan recognized at a glance that it was the model he wore before.
The three sat in a row, and Han Qu turned on the strategy room’s projection screen to introduce the operation.
"This mission... your team of three is here to assist.
The main responsibility lies with the police department, but I trust in the quality of our United University students and wish for the successful completion of the mission, capturing the entire nest!"
Chu Yanhu was about to applaud when Meng Chuan spoke:
"Captain Han, may I ask how the methods of a Demon Path martial artist with over four sublimations differ from those with less than three?"
The Demon Summoning Hall mainly practiced the Demon Skills, coupled with the "miracles" bestowed by the Demon Lord behind them.
The combination of the two defined their path as "sublimation."
Four sublimations represented the first major threshold for the Demon Path.
It signified becoming an "upper rank" in the Demon Path, equivalent in status to a Martial Arts Family member within their ranks.
Meng Chuan hadn’t yet encountered such a Demon Path master, so it was good to ask in advance to prepare countermeasures.
Han Qu smiled and said:
"You’re all from the United University, you can just call me senior brother. But Xiaomeng, your question is a good one. I was going to remind you anyway.
The Demon Path’s so-called sublimation system differs fundamentally at four sublimations from those below, and is known as [Semi-Demonization of the Body].
This is their mark of strength, but also the root of their growth at a [cost].
As their strength increases, the side effects of the cost and power augmentation become more apparent until they are fully demonized."
Meng Chuan nodded thoughtfully. In his previous encounters with Demon Summoning Hall martial artists when he was a Martial Artist,
they would often resort to a desperate transformation at the brink of death, attempting to drag him down with them.
Not only would their appearance drastically change, but they would also grasp some Celestial Demon abilities.
It seems that after four sublimations, this method will become permanent.
"Various strange physical enhancements, as well as spiritual attack eerie evil methods, are absolutely inferior to us Martial Arts Families in a direct confrontation, but there are also quite a few of their sinister and deviant ways.
You three must stay vigilant when fighting, if not careful, you’ll fall into their trap."
The three were akin to his juniors, and Han Qu, usually silent, spoke quite a bit.
"Alright, you three should rest first and recharge your energy.
We will notify you when the action launches, and the chief is currently carrying out secrecy and concealment arrangements on-site; once we get his command, we’ll mobilize."
"Alright, understood."
Han Qu had other matters to attend to and left first.
Just as he turned the door handle, he suddenly remembered something, and turned back with a smile:
"Xiaomeng, my daughter is a fan of your matches. After the mission is over, can you autograph her punching post and photo? I have brought them."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yanhu, standing nearby, was simply incredulous.
Isn’t it mainly excessive fitness that attracts the same sex, with all this training, still have female fans?
Southwest city outskirts of Yong’an, Hao Hui construction material processing factory.
"Lin Yue" was sitting in the vice general manager’s office smacking his lips.
Savoring, while digesting the just acquired nutrients.
Its mycelium was spread around the underground perimeter of the plant and had already detected nearby—
The subtle sound of tires rolling over gravel, mixed with the static from radios.
Within a hundred meters of the factory entrance, it seemed tranquil, but many of the passing vehicles contained so-called "Martial Artist" levels of power.
"Tsk... It seems this place is truly exposed..."
It’s estimated that the so-called police personnel have "smelled the scent," indicating this place is no longer safe.
"Lin Yue" rose and stretched lazily, his figure like a phantom merging into the shadows.
Transforming into a dark green deep glow, it traveled through the underground world along with the mycelium.
The entire process was light and silent, and within moments, it was kilometers away from the factory.
Hot wind blew past, shadows of trees swayed, no one noticed its departure.
It glanced back at the distant factory, offering a mock prayer for its "brethren," then turned to leave.
The bitter defeat on Lishan Mountain was still fresh in its mind, now it must adhere to the principle of "survival doctrine."
The police were targeting the new base of the Demon Summoning Hall, not specifically looking for it.
A calamity of misfortune, just avoid it.
Change to another city, continue to leech off the depths of the murmuring mountain.
The identity of "Lin Yue" must be discarded, after tonight’s police action, this facade will be a hunted rodent.
"What should I switch to this time... These so-called human geniuses seem quite popular..."
Having already tasted the benefits of a genius identity, it naturally did not want to give it up.
As it pondered, its mind suddenly reacted.
Scattered in the air, colorless and formless transparent mycelium, provided feedback of someone approaching.
Qimu suddenly sensed this familiar aura, sorting through the memories left with this facade...
Its mouth curved into a bizarre smile.
It seems an "old acquaintance" has arrived...
"Truly timely arrival, desperately need a new facade, hehehe..."
Staying idle in the strategy room, Meng Chuan stood for a while then prepared to scout near the processing plant in advance.
This had become a good habit after several missions.
Always leave a retreat, just in case.
Southwest city outskirts.
Less than a kilometer from the police’s defined encirclement, Meng Chuan gazed at the shadow of the plant from afar.
[Uncle Long, I’m gonna scout nearby, won’t disturb your deployment.]
[Okay, hanging up. My teammates are with Captain Han, I am ready anytime.]
Meng Chuan greeted Chief Long in advance, intending to approach the encirclement.
In the wind, came a familiar aura, and his heart spirit suddenly stirred, then his expression became extremely tense!
Only then did he notice the invisible mycelium entwined around his body!
With airflow dragging behind, Meng Chuan quickly approached the only "old acquaintance" who had seen his disguise.
Ever since that night at Lishan Mountain ended, he earnestly yearned for the opponent...
"Lin Yue, why are you here alone, everyone at the top and bottom of Yanhua thought you went missing."
In the distance, "Lin Yue" was stunned upon hearing this, hadn’t expected Meng Chuan to find it first.
Recalling, this kid was an even higher gifted talent than Lin Yue.
Having already broken through to Martial Arts Family, discovering it was indeed normal.
Its mind turned, mimicking Lin Yue’s original appearance, tauntingly saying:
"Is it any of your business."
It had old grievances with this facade; Qimu prepared to provoke Meng Chuan into action.
Seeing Meng Chuan approach as it anticipated, Qimu inwardly sneered:
"This kid doesn’t even know that Lin Yue has been not himself for long...
Closer, then this new facade will be mine..."
Thinking of wearing Meng Chuan’s facade, it would soon turn to attack the claws of the mountain’s whispers, its heart grew increasingly joyous!
"Hehehe, closer! Closer! Almost there..."
Meng Chuan also laughed internally, the Thousand Faces Thousand Eyes was indeed useful!
This fool truly didn’t recognize that he was the "Ancient True Man" from that night!
Hundred paces, ten paces, as Meng Chuan drew nearer, "Lin Yue"’s mouth slowly could not suppress anymore.
Meng Chuan said softly:
"Your disappearance even implicated me, isn’t it your responsibility to compensate me?"
"Lin Yue" sneered surface-wise:
"Why should it matter to me? But... what compensation do you want?"
Once the words dropped and amid the fierce accelerating sound of "Swish," "Lin Yue"’s pupils widened!
An arm suddenly swollen several times larger, the tip of the Fist Blade exploded with a turbulent air blast, in no time rested on its shoulder.
Meng Chuan displayed a smile amidst the explosive sound, accompanied by a mocking tone:
"I want... your life."