"Captain Duan, we just got here. We’re going back already?"

Chen Yu looked at Duan Feng.

’I can’t go back this early,’ he thought. ’The Source of Life is the key to increasing my strength. If I go back, how am I supposed to improve?’

Duan Feng looked at him with a serious expression. "You’re an Awakened now. You have abilities. You can’t be treated like an ordinary Mercenary. Staying in the city and properly honing your abilities is the right thing to do."

Chen Yu: "..."

’Right... Right, my ass!’

"Captain Duan, I’m not going back. I’m a Mercenary, which means I have to see today’s mission through. Please don’t give me special treatment."

"Patrolling the wilderness is also a form of combat trial. Without weathering the storm, any growth I achieve will just be for show."

Chen Yu said with a solemn face.

’Go back? No way I’m going back. How am I supposed to improve if I go back?’

’Cultivate?’

’I’d have to be out of my mind.’

’Would I even have my current strength if it weren’t for my physical Evolution?’

’Cultivation is just a "side hustle" for me. Physical Evolution and upgrading my Skills—that’s the main business.’

"..."

Looking at Chen Yu, Duan Feng was momentarily at a loss for words.

But he had a point.

Without real combat experience, one would just be all flash and no substance.

Real combat was the fastest way to gain fighting experience.

"Fine, we’ll do it your way. But you have to stick with the group. You can’t wander off too far," Duan Feng said after a moment of silence.

Chen Yu nodded. "Don’t worry, Captain. It’ll be fine, just like yesterday."

Duan Feng: "..."

’Fine, my ass.’

’You have no idea about the immense potential of an Awakened.’

’If something were to happen to you, the boss would have my hide...’

Looking at Chen Yu, Duan Feng didn’t press the issue. He simply said, "Enough talk. Stick with the group."

"Continue the search!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

In the abandoned wasteland village, aside from the initial batch of Earth Porcupines, nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

However, Chen Yu and the others remained on high alert. In the wilderness, anything could happen.

Disaster could strike at any moment.

---

In the Qing City Safety Zone, Li Qing walked out of a conference room in the Mercenary Team headquarters.

He opened his Life Watch and checked his unread messages.

"Hm?"

Li Qing’s expression changed the instant he saw one of the messages.

"Chen Yu, an Awakened. Ability, ice-related..."

"An Awakened..." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Looks like I’ve hit the jackpot this time!"

Snapping back to reality, Li Qing broke into a smile. He then looked at an office door, pondered for a moment, and walked toward it.

KNOCK KNOCK!

Reaching the office door, Li Qing knocked. A man’s voice called from inside, "Come in."

Li Qing pushed the door open and went inside.

Inside the office, an old man in a Zhongshan suit was sitting at a desk, looking through a stack of files.

The old man glanced up at Li Qing as he entered, then returned his gaze to the files and spoke. "What is it? Is there something else?"

Li Qing looked at the old man before him and said, "Captain Xu, I have a situation to report."

"Speak," the old man in the Zhongshan suit said without looking up.

Li Qing: "An Awakened has appeared in my team!"

"Hm?"

Hearing this, the old man in the Zhongshan suit looked up at Li Qing, his cloudy eyes brightening. "An Awakened appeared?"

"Yes."

Li Qing nodded.

"Why didn’t you mention this before?" the old man in the Zhongshan suit asked with a frown.

Li Qing: "I only just found out myself. This Awakened is a new member who recently joined my Mercenary Team."

The old man in the Zhongshan suit looked at him and asked, "What ability did he awaken?"

"It seems to be a type of Ice Ability. He can breathe out frost to freeze things," Li Qing replied.

"An Ice Ability... It seems that’s a decent ability," the old man in the Zhongshan suit nodded slightly.

"Duan Feng just sent a message. He only just awakened, and he instantly froze a Level 3 Earth Porcupine."

Li Qing added.

"He could freeze a Level 3 Earth Porcupine right after awakening?!" The old man in the Zhongshan suit shot up from his seat, his eyes locked on Li Qing.

Li Qing nodded.

"Yes, that’s what Duan Feng’s message said. The Level 3 Earth Porcupine was injured and launched a sneak attack from underground. At the critical moment, his ability awakened, and he suddenly froze it."

"It seems his ability is very strong, then," the old man in the Zhongshan suit said softly, sitting back down.

"Yes, it’s very strong. He could freeze a Level 3 Earth Porcupine, and he’s only a Level 1," Li Qing said.

"What’s his name?" The old man in the Zhongshan suit looked at Li Qing.

Li Qing: "He’s called Chen Yu. He’s from Crane City. He fled to Qing City from the beast tide in Crane City just a few days ago. I saw he had good combat skills, so I recruited him."

"His assessment score from yesterday was also very good!"

"Chen Yu..."

The old man in the Zhongshan suit nodded, then looked at him again. "Where is he now?"

Li Qing: "He should still be out in the wilderness on a patrol mission."

"I see. When he gets back tonight, bring him to me. I want to meet him," the old man in the Zhongshan suit said after some thought.

Li Qing nodded and looked at the old man. "Captain Xu, will there be any changes for him?"

"We’ll see. For now, there probably won’t be any changes. Dealing with the Abyssal Realm is the priority."

"Alright, I understand."

Li Qing nodded.

"Good. Go back and get ready," the old man in the Zhongshan suit said flatly.

"Yes, sir!"

---

"WHOOSH—!"

A blast of frigid air erupted, instantly freezing two Wilderness Wolves solid. They became like ice sculptures, unable to move. A flash of a blade, and the two frozen Wilderness Wolves collapsed to the ground.

"You’re getting more and more skilled with that ability. Nice." Nearby, Tie Niu looked at the fallen Wilderness Wolves, then gave Chen Yu a thumbs-up.

"It’s alright. Just need more practice," Chen Yu said with a smile.

"It’s about that time. We should head back," Duan Feng said, glancing at the sky.

The other two nodded, and they headed toward the spot where the off-road vehicle was hidden.

In a few moments, the three of them arrived at the small grove where the off-road vehicle was hidden.

But just as they were about to enter the grove, a tremendous roar suddenly echoed from a distant earthen slope.

"We’ve got a situation!"

Chen Yu’s eyes narrowed. The three exchanged a look and quickly headed toward the slope.

Reaching the slope, they looked out and saw two colossal beasts about a hundred meters away.

Wilderness Wolves!

Level 3 Wilderness Wolves, and there were two of them!

At that moment, a figure was engaged in battle with the two Level 3 Wilderness Wolves.

It was a woman!

Facing the combined attack of two Level 3 Wilderness Wolves, the woman was only at a slight disadvantage.

Judging from her Qi fluctuations, she was only a Level 2 Martial Artist, yet she could still fight against two Level 3 Wilderness Wolves. Her strength was truly extraordinary.

A current of air swirled around the woman, flanked by two cyan Wind Blades that made it difficult for even the two Level 3 Wilderness Wolves to get close.

"Could this woman be an Awakened?"

The three of them exchanged glances. A Level 2 Martial Artist would normally be no match for a single Level 3 Wilderness Wolf, but an Awakened was an exception.

Their powerful and unique abilities granted them Extraordinary strength!

"Wait here. I’m going to help!" Duan Feng said in a low voice.

Then, his figure vanished from the spot.

An instant later, he charged onto the battlefield. Leaping into the air, his Vibrating Gold Battle Blade hummed as a five-meter-long cyan blade of Qi materialized, swiftly striking at one of the Wilderness Wolves.

With Duan Feng joining the fight, the tide of battle turned in an instant.

Chen Yu stared at the two Level 3 Wilderness Wolves with burning eyes. To him, they weren’t two Wilderness Wolves, but over a thousand points of Source of Life.

’If I upgrade my Freezing Breath, I should be able to instantly freeze them, right...’

The thought flashed through Chen Yu’s mind, and he quickly called up his interface.

’I was planning to upgrade when I got back, but since this opportunity has presented itself, I can’t pass it up.’

’685...’

Looking at his available Source of Life, Chen Yu quickly made his decision.

A faint line of text appeared in his vision:

"Upgrade Freezing Skill?"

"Yes!"