When Lu Chen awoke, daylight was already pouring through the window.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, slicing the floor into sharp, geometric patches of light. He lay still for a moment, gauging the state of his body.
His limbs felt as though they were filled with molten lead—lifting even a single finger seemed laborious. A deep, lingering ache pulsed in every muscle, as if he had just finished running a marathon. His dantian was hollow and vacant; where once there had been dense, vigorous energy, now only a thin, sluggish mist remained.
[Warning: Temporary breakthrough serum—side effects entering Phase II (Severe Weakness)]
[Estimated Duration: 48 hours]
[Current Status: Power temporarily reduced to Level 15; all attributes decreased by 60%]
[Recommendation: Avoid combat; prioritize rest]
Worse than expected.
Lu Chen struggled to sit up—ten full seconds passed before he managed it. Leaning against the headboard, he took a few steadying breaths, then glanced at the digital clock beside the bed.
10:23 a.m.
He had slept nearly twelve hours.
The room was silent, save for the faint murmur of the air conditioner. The system's calm voice echoed in his mind:
[During the security monitoring period, no suspicious approach detected]
[Perimeter scan: Residential security functioning normally; no unusual personnel]
[Online surveillance: The Association has released a public statement labeling the 'Changfeng Logistics Park Fire' as an illegal chemical storage accident; no mention of the Ghost Organization]
A swift cover-up.
Lu Chen forced himself out of bed and into the living room. The refrigerator was empty, but the storage cabinet held a few bottles of mineral water and some compressed biscuits—originally meant as "outdoor play props" for the body's former owner and his lover, but now life-saving rations.
He ate a little, drank half a bottle of water, then opened his backpack.
Everything was still there:
four fragments of the Demon-Suppressing Stele,
the energy-devouring stone,
three vials of genetic enhancer,
a tablet,
documents,
and four energy crystals.
He opened the tablet first. A password was required—but he had the system.
[Decrypting…]
[Decryption complete]
The screen lit up. It was the Ghost Organization's internal communication hub. Lu Chen scanned the recent messages.
The latest one, sent at 11 p.m. last night, came from "Scar"—the woman with the scarred face:
"Stronghold No. 7 suffered unknown assault; all personnel missing. Backup plan initiated. Coordinates synced to 'Hummingbird.' The 'key' has been transferred."
It had been sent less than half an hour after he escaped.
Which meant the Ghost Organization still had people outside—and they now possessed the so-called "key," likely the crucial item needed to open the secret realm.
Who was Hummingbird? Where were the backup plan's coordinates?
Lu Chen scrolled further. Most of the messages contained mission directives or intelligence notices, but one caught his eye:
"On the night of the full moon three days from now, the 'Gate' will open at the 'usual place.' 'Hummingbird' will arrive with the 'key' on schedule. All personnel follow the original plan. Objective: retrieve the 'Ark Core.'"
The "usual place" was clearly the dock's secret-realm entrance.
But "three days from now"… today was the fourteenth. Tomorrow was the full moon. Their schedule had been advanced from tomorrow night to tonight.
Because their stronghold had been wiped out—they were forced to accelerate.
He continued scrolling, finding an encrypted file titled "Ark Core Risk Assessment Report."
Item Name: Ark Core (Serial AX-7)
Origin: Ark Laboratory – Third-Generation Bio-Energy Reactor Prototype
Function: Generates sustained high-purity bio-energy; theoretically sufficient for a Level 50 martial artist to train uninterrupted for ten years
Risk: Possible residual consciousness of the "energy-devouring organism"; forced activation may trigger backlash
Recommendation: Deliver immediately to headquarters for purification by "the Doctor"
It was related to the energy-devouring organism.
Lu Chen lifted the dull gray stone in his hand. If this truly housed a sealed energy-devouring entity, then the Ark Core might be of the same origin—perhaps its "parent body," or even its control nucleus.
Whatever the truth, it must not fall into the hands of the Ghost Organization.
He set the tablet aside and opened the documents.
"Jiang City Secret Realm Energy Node Analysis Report."
This version was far more detailed than the one leaked to the public. Seven spatial anomalies were marked; three were confirmed false nodes, two were unstable dimensional rifts, and only two were actual secret-realm entrances.
One at the northern dock—the one the Ghost Organization wanted.
The other deep within the Yunling Mountains… matching the location of the Demon-Suppressing Stele fragment he had sensed earlier.
A handwritten note at the end read:
"Dock entrance leads to the abandoned Ark Laboratory testing ground. Contains numerous experimental remains and inactive automated defenses. Danger level: High."
"Yunling Mountain entrance potentially leads to ancient 'Zhenmozong' ruins. Strong prohibitions. Possible intact inheritance. Danger level: Extreme (Exploration not recommended)."
Zhenmozong…
So the Stele fragments were relics of that sect.
Lu Chen put the papers away and reached for a vial of genetic enhancer.
A glass bottle of pale blue liquid. The label read "Ark-3 Stabilized Variant," with a note: "Activates cellular regeneration for three hours. Minor stat enhancement. Side effects: mild neural pain for 24 hours."
A basic healing formula.
He uncapped it and sniffed—odorless. One sip was cool and refreshing, sending warmth radiating through his limbs. The muscle ache dulled, and the thin energy mist in his dantian stirred faintly.
Effective, but limited. Good for ordinary people; barely adequate for martial artists.
He finished the bottle and sat cross-legged, circulating the Basic Body-Refining Technique.
Energy cycled sluggishly through his newly tempered meridians. Each circulation lessened the weakness a little. Combined with the enhancer, his recovery quickened.
Two hours later, he opened his eyes.
Level 18—still weakened, but functional.
[System, analyze the enhancer's formula.]
[Analyzing…]
[Analysis complete]
[Composition: synthetic gene-activation enzymes, high-purity bio-energy extract, neural stabilizer]
[Origin: Ark Laboratory—Third-Gen Biotechnology]
[Possible improvement: infuse with 'energy-guiding runes'; efficacy +300%, side effects −80%]
[Cost: 1 energy crystal + 200 points]
Improve it.
Lu Chen placed an energy crystal beside the remaining two bottles.
[Spend 200 points and proceed with enhancement?]
"Yes."
The crystal dissolved into ribbons of soft white light, sinking into the vials. The liquid shifted from pale blue to deep sapphire.
[Enhancement complete]
[Acquired: Enhanced Gene-Repair Agent ×2]
[Effects: heals non-fatal injuries within 30 minutes, restores 50% energy over 12 hours, permanently boosts cellular vitality]
[Side effects: none]
Good.
He set one aside and drank the other.
This time, the effect was immediate—gentle yet powerful. His entire body felt as though a parched riverbed had been flooded anew. Energy surged back into his dantian, coalescing steadily.
Half an hour later, he had recovered nearly 80%.
Level 20—still short of his peak at Level 23, but enough to defend himself.
Lu Chen stepped to the window and parted the blinds slightly.
The residential compound seemed peaceful—elderly people basking in the sun, children racing scooters.
But he knew better.
The Association hunted him.
The Ghost Organization wanted him.
The Chen family had arrived.
He needed to disappear—fast.
But where?
As he pondered, his phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown encrypted sender:
"11 p.m. tonight. Warehouse No. 3, North Dock.
Bring what you took from Scar.
Come alone.
—Hummingbird."
Of course.
And they knew who he was.
Lu Chen replied: "What items?"
"You know. The stone, and the Stele fragments.
Don't play games. We have eyes on you."
Eyes on him?
He returned to the window and looked across the opposite building.
Sixth floor. A curtain twitched. A faint glint—a telescope.
He was being watched.
How had they found him?
Fingerprint lock records?
Vehicle tracking?
Either was possible.
[System, scan that window.]
[Scanning…]
[One lifeform detected. Energy level: 22]
[Equipment detected: telescope, low-frequency listening device, signal transmitter]
[Assessment: professional surveillance operative; has been stationed for over two hours]
A Level 22 operative.
Lu Chen retreated silently.
He couldn't fight—not yet. And not here. They would have backup.
He needed strategy.
He turned on the kitchen faucet—letting water run as cover noise—then retrieved a burner phone from the cabinet.
He dialed Yellow-Hair.
"Lin Shao?" Yellow-Hair whispered.
"Listen carefully and don't ask questions," Lu Chen said quickly. "I'm at Emerald Lake Court, Building B, Unit 1802. Someone's surveilling me from the sixth floor opposite. I need two things: first, a car waiting at the rear gate in forty minutes; second, go to Old Zhang's Auto Shop in the west district and tell 'Old Ghost' to prepare a surprise package."
"Got it. What kind of car?"
"A clean, ordinary sedan."
Lu Chen hung up, sent a location pin, and began setting up decoys.
Energy crystals taped to the four corners of the living room.
A dusting of flour at the entrance and windows—to detect footprints.
The Ghost Organization tablet placed on the table, looping a forged "live feed" showing him sleeping in bed.
An empty bottle of cheap enhancer tossed in the trash—to suggest long-term presence.
Then he entered the walk-in closet.
There was a ventilation shaft—barely palm-sized. Too small for a normal adult.
But he was not in normal condition.
Detaching the grille, he activated the bone-shrinking technique—a minor body-manipulation method from Li Xuan's inherited knowledge, normally requiring Level 30. But with the enhanced gene-repair agent still strengthening his body, he could force it.
His bones shifted with soft cracks, and he slid into the shaft like a serpent.
Ten meters in, he reached a junction—one path up, one path down.
He chose down.
From the sixteenth-floor maintenance hatch, he slipped into an empty hallway.
Downstairs.
Hat.
Old jacket.
Onto the first floor.
Out the door.
Into the small convenience store to throw off suspicion.
When he exited, the watcher's curtain twitched again.
Still fooled.
Lu Chen strolled casually to the back gate.
The black Toyota was waiting.
He got in.
"Lin Shao," the dark-skinned driver greeted. "Huang-ge sent me."
"Drive. West district."
They drove in circles to shake off any possible tails, then headed for Old Zhang's Auto Shop on the outskirts.
What he found inside was half workshop, half armory.
Old Ghost presented him with three levels of "surprise packages."
A-grade: a remote-detonated bomb capable of flattening a three-story building.
B-grade: smoke, flash, and pepper-gas combo.
C-grade: electronic disruptor with a 500-meter effective radius.
"I'll take all of them," Lu Chen said. "And one more thing—something that can restrain someone above Level 25."
Old Ghost smirked.
"You're asking for trouble, kid."
From a locked case, he produced blood-red vials.
"Blood-Fury Gas. Break it open, and within ten seconds, everyone within twenty meters will have their blood boiling. Level 30 and under will collapse. Even Level 40 will feel it."
"Side effects?"
"You'll suffer too—unless you use the inhibitor."
"Six vials. With inhibitors."
Old Ghost whistled.
"Preparing for a war, are you?"
Afterward, Lu Chen visited Dr. Wu's private clinic—a retired military doctor skilled in treating "inconvenient" wounds.
"You nearly ruptured your organs," Dr. Wu said bluntly. "If you fight tonight, you'll die."
"Then give me something to keep me alive."
"Young people…" Dr. Wu sighed. "Fine. But listen—do not exceed seventy percent of your strength tonight, or your meridians will tear."
"Understood."
When he left, the sky had darkened.
7 p.m.
Four hours left.
Yellow-Hair sent more intel:
Hummingbird—a female specialist in disguise.
Chen Zhenghao—furious after the Association refused his request.
Lu Chen purchased more intel:
the Association's deployment map and the contents of the Chen family's secret meeting.
Everything aligned into a single, delicate web.
The Ghost Organization wanted the "key."
The Association wanted the secret realm.
The Chen family wanted influence.
Lu Chen wanted all of it.
At 8:30, after eating quietly by the river, he headed toward the docks.
He scouted from an abandoned water tower.
Eight people inside Warehouse No. 3.
Snipers on the roof.
Cars hidden in the shadows.
A trap.
Lu Chen smirked.
He planted the electronic disruptor.
Set it to detonate at 10:50.
Then shot a tracker onto an Association operative.
Then lured the Chen family to the east gate with a forged message.
By 10:50, chaos erupted across the docks.
At 11:00, his phone buzzed.
"Where are you?" —Hummingbird
Lu Chen typed back:
"East gate. I've changed the terms. I'll give you what you want—but I want to speak to someone who actually holds authority."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," Lu Chen replied, "I know what you're after.
And I know how to get it.
You want cooperation—or you want to keep playing hide-and-seek?
Your choice."
He pressed send.
Then he started the engine
and drove into the night—
the opening move
on a far larger chessboard.