Chapter 4 — Silent Growth
By the time Wen Lin returned to his room, night had already fallen.
Instead of sleeping, he opened the Polar Night website.
Polar Night was a private platform where people inside the Sanctuary communicated freely. Unlike the official website, it did not require real identity verification. Here, users could trade weapons, beast meat, beast souls, and various resources.
Wen Lin immediately searched for Mutant Armor Beast Souls.
To his surprise, dozens of listings appeared.
After carefully selecting a few, he forwarded them to his parents' accounts. Hesitating for a moment, he also sent several listings for Mutant Weapon Beast Souls, secretly hoping his luck would be good enough to obtain both.
Before he realized it, his eyelids grew heavy.
He fell asleep while staring at the glowing screen.
Cold wind swept across the world.
Everything seemed peaceful… unreal.
Suddenly, Wen Lin jolted awake.
His chest heaved violently as he gasped for air.
Once again, he had dreamed of that blurry figure pressing down on his neck, suffocating him.
Sweat soaked his back.
Unable to sleep anymore, Wen Lin sat up and activated his Gladiator device.
He logged in.
After selecting a random opponent, he waited.
At this late hour, very few people were online.
Soon, an arena materialized.
A figure appeared across from him.
As usual, Wen Lin chose his spear.
This time, however, he did not rush forward.
He waited.
His opponent, Ironfang, had been preparing to log out when the match was suddenly assigned.
Seeing Wen Lin standing still, Ironfang frowned and took the initiative.
A blade flashed in his hand.
With a sharp step forward, he slashed toward Wen Lin's arm.
Wen Lin's pupils shrank.
Although he didn't understand his opponent's intention, his body reacted instinctively.
He stepped back.
The blade brushed past his sleeve.
After gaining some distance, Wen Lin thrust his spear forward.
Ironfang tried to dodge, but he was a moment too slow.
A thin cut opened on his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Wen Lin's eyes lit up.
He seized the opportunity.
Thrust.
Again.
And again.
Some attacks were blocked.
Some pierced through.
As the fight continued, Wen Lin gradually gained the upper hand.
His movements grew smoother.
His timing improved.
Soon, Ironfang's health bar dropped to zero.
The figure collapsed.
Victory.
Wen Lin stared at the screen for a moment.
His first win.
Before he could start another match, a request appeared.
Ironfang.
Wen Lin accepted without hesitation.
The arena formed once more.
This time, Ironfang was extremely cautious.
However, excessive alertness only made his body stiff.
He hesitated.
He tensed.
He waited.
He believed Newbie46 would not attack first.
But Wen Lin noticed his rigid posture.
And he struck.
The spear shot forward like lightning.
Ironfang's eyes widened.
Too late.
Wen Lin did not stop.
One thrust.
Two.
Three.
Relentless.
Ironfang was completely overwhelmed.
Moments later, he fell again.
More miserably than before.
Wen Lin waited.
No more requests came.
He continued matching randomly and won two more rounds before finally logging out.
His clothes were drenched in sweat.
After taking a bath, he sat in the backyard and began circulating the Organ Tempering Art.
Soft sunlight bathed his body.
Warmth spread through his limbs.
Energy flowed inside his organs, refining them repeatedly.
It felt as though his body was being rebuilt.
Wen Lin clenched his fists.
He could clearly sense his growing strength.
For six consecutive days, he trained and cultivated without rest.
On the seventh day, as he prepared to practice, his father approached him.
After their conversation, Wen Lin learned that his parents had contacted a seller.
The Beast Soul could not be transferred outside the Sanctuary.
If he wanted it, he would have to meet the seller personally.
Wen Lin didn't hesitate.
He immediately teleported.
Faith Shelter was in chaos.
People rushed in every direction.
Voices overlapped.
Panic spread.
Wen Lin stopped someone and asked.
After questioning several people, he finally understood.
A Sacred-Blood Monkey had appeared in Monkey Mountain.
Not just any beast.
It was intelligent.
A leader.
It had set an ambush.
Multiple hunting groups were wiped out.
Many died.
Only a few survived.
The Archangel Gang had suffered the greatest loss.
Monkey Mountain was their territory.
They had underestimated the beast.
And paid the price.
Wen Lin silently listened.
Then turned away.
He ran toward Red Pound Valley.
The place where he had nearly died.
After searching for a long time, he found nothing.
The boar was gone.
He wasn't disappointed.
He had expected it.
That was why he hadn't rushed here earlier.
On his way back, a shadow blocked his path.
A man sat atop a beast mount.
"Wen Lin."
The voice was cold.
Indifferent.
It was Se Ye, a core member of the Sword Pershing Gang.
Wen Lin nodded.
He did not want trouble.
Not now.
"Get on," Se Ye ordered. "The boss wants to see you."
Wen Lin clenched his jaw.
He was weak.
Resisting was pointless.
He obeyed.
The journey was silent.
Se Ye did not speak.
Wen Lin did not dare to ask.
Soon, they arrived at the gang's inner territory.
"Boss," Se Ye said. "I brought him."
A man sat on a stone chair.
Dishes covered the table.
He ate slowly.
Unhurried.
Only after finishing a bite did he look up.
His gaze rested on Wen Lin.
Sharp.
Oppressive.
After a few seconds, he gestured.
"Sit."
Wen Lin complied.
A subordinate placed a plate before him.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
"Eat."
Gu Yong, the leader of the Sword Pershing Gang, spoke with a faint smile.
Two slices of meat lay on the plate.
Neither big nor small.
Wen Lin picked up one and placed it in his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, it melted.
A warm current spread through his body, flowing into his limbs and bones.
He felt refreshed.
Energized.
Suddenly, a notification appeared.
Flesh of Mutant Black Water Ant Consumed.
Mutant Geno Point Gained: 1.
Wen Lin's pupils shrank.
He quickly ate the second slice.
This time, he did not hesitate.
Another notification followed.
Mutant Geno Point Gained: 1.
Gu Yong nodded in satisfaction.
Only then did he speak again.
"After you returned to the Alliance to recover, one of our squads found the creature you hunted," Gu Yong said calmly. "We took it."
"I hope you are satisfied with this compensation."
Wen Lin lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you, Senior Gu."
In his heart, he was already delighted.
That primitive creature wasn't even worth one Mutant geno point.
Yet he had gained two.
It was more than generous.
Seeing his attitude, Gu Yong smiled more deeply.
"If you join Sword Pershing," he continued, "you won't have to struggle like this anymore."
The real purpose had finally surfaced.
Wen Lin remained silent.
He thought for several minutes before replying.
"I appreciate your kindness, Senior. But… I need some time to consider."
Se Ye's expression darkened instantly.
"You—!"
Before he could continue, Gu Yong raised his hand.
Se Ye immediately fell silent.
Gu Yong's smile never faded.
"Take your time," he said mildly.
Soon, Wen Lin was escorted out.
After everyone left, Gu Yong's smile slowly disappeared.
His eyes became deep and unreadable.
Back in his room, Wen Lin sat cross-legged and began circulating the Organ Tempering Art.
He wanted to break through.
Better endurance meant better survival.
As for joining a gang…
He wasn't in a hurry.
Right now, joining wouldn't bring him much benefit.
He could still grow on his own.
Later, when he needed territory maps and hunting routes, a gang would become valuable.
For now, observing was better.
Just as he entered a deep state of cultivation—
Knock. Knock.
He opened the door.
Lan Mei stood outside.
"We're going hunting. Are you coming?" she asked directly.
"Monkey Mountain?" Wen Lin asked.
Lan Mei stared at him as if he were an idiot.
"That place is in chaos. Who would go there?"
Wen Lin smiled faintly.
He had only asked to test her.
"No," Lan Mei continued. "We're going to the side area of Red Pound Valley. No gang controls it. No tax."
"Qin Hao is injured, so I'll lead."
Wen Lin nodded.
"I'm in."
At the meeting point, he immediately understood the situation.
Qin Hao was absent.
A newcomer stood beside Sun Qi.
No explanations were needed.
Leadership struggle.
Lan Mei.
Sun Qi.
Both wanted control.
Now he understood why Lan Mei had invited him.
Zhou Tie would support her.
Yu Shan was friendly to him.
If he sided with Lan Mei, she would have the advantage.
But Wen Lin didn't follow her script.
He looked at Sun Qi.
"What benefit will you give me if I follow you?"
The question was sharp.
Direct.
Lan Mei's expression stiffened.
Sun Qi froze.
Then his eyes lit up.
He hadn't even dared to approach Wen Lin before, thinking he would be rejected.
Now, hope surged.
Before he could speak, Lan Mei said quickly,
"You'll get the second-largest share after me."
Sun Qi's face twitched.
That was too much.
If he gave that much away, what was the point of being leader?
"Okay," Wen Lin nodded. "I'll follow you."
"Wait!" Sun Qi panicked. "I'll give you the second-largest share too!"
Wen Lin remained calm.
Unmoved.
"Fine!" Sun Qi gritted his teeth. "You'll get the same share as me!"
Lan Mei's heart clenched.
Anger flashed in her eyes.
Wen Lin finally spoke.
"Sorry. I already agreed."
"Once I give my word, I won't take it back."
He sounded righteous.
But in truth, he had never intended to follow Sun Qi.
That man was greedy.
Unreliable.
A backstabber in the making.
Compared to him, Lan Mei was far safer.
Lan Mei looked at Wen Lin.
Her gaze softened.
For the first time, genuine warmth appeared in her eyes.