Free Web NovelChapter 183: Chapter 124: A Deeper Vortex
In an instant, he understood what this meant.
The duel with Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall was in just six days.
Master Luo’s unspoken message was for him to go back and cultivate, and to stay away from the martial arts hall for the time being.
’If it doesn’t work out, the hall’s grievances will have nothing to do with you anymore. Just focus on doing a good job at the Patrol Department...’
The past words flashed through his mind. Lu Chao knew, of course, that they were worried he wouldn’t be able to master the Rock and would force himself to fight anyway.
They were also trying to use this method to downplay his involvement and leave him an escape route.
"Master doesn’t want you to become the next Junior Brother Shen, either."
Zheng Wu sighed and patted his shoulder lightly.
He could understand his master’s reasoning.
Hearing this, Lu Chao fell silent for a moment.
He didn’t argue. He just took the bag.
Their eyes met. His expression was calm, and he finally broke into a slight smile.
"Senior Brother Zheng, I’ll see you in six days."
Lu Chao said it calmly, as if making a promise.
Then, before the other could react, he strode out of the training building.
Explanations were useless. He just needed to master the Rock Martial Skill and repay Master Luo with his strength.
As for their worries...
’Become the next Shen Tianchen?’
Lu Chao’s steps were steady, his posture upright.
’The ones who should be worried are the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall.’
...
「Two days passed.」
Dressed in a black jacket, Lu Chao sat in the back of a black SUV, constantly flipping through a hand-drawn diagram.
[Middle-and-Junior-Level Healing Potion].
[Junior-Level Magic Power Refining Potion].
Two new Superpower Potion formulas, both from the Holy Scripture, which he had copied down to study at his convenience.
The former could speed up healing, overlapping with the effects of [Junior-Level Resilience] to enhance recovery, while the latter could accelerate the rate of Magic Power refinement for the Mage path.
In his view, this was somewhat similar to the Life Potion. Perhaps it had a similar effect and could increase his Life Energy.
’The overall production process for these two potions isn’t that difficult, but a few of the steps are quite troublesome.’
’According to the instructions, I also need to master three branches of Superpower Knowledge, such as [Conduction and Absorption of Medicinal Properties] and [Biological Flesh and Blood Theory].’
With a flash in his eyes, he was barely able to understand it all with the help of his [Flow State] talent.
But when it came to the actual execution, there were still some problems.
The key reason was the lack of prerequisites.
It was like understanding the blueprint for a car, but finding the actual manufacturing process to be difficult.
Because it didn’t just require refining materials and assembling them; it also involved steps from all sorts of different fields.
Making potions was the same.
The three branches of junior-level Superpower Potion knowledge he currently possessed were not enough for him to master all the basic potion-making skills; he still needed to continue learning and accumulating experience.
’I’ll wait a bit longer.’
’I’ll see if I can earn some more contribution points by performing a meritorious service. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the black market and see if I can find a channel.’
Having made a plan, Lu Chao put the thoughts aside.
He then looked out the window.
The magnificent Ring Academy stood tall, with figures occasionally passing through its main gate.
Someone in the black business van in the opposite corner noticed his gaze and met his eyes. The several security guards in suits all nodded in respect.
Lu Chao nodded back and withdrew his gaze.
Chen Xiao and Xiong Cheng—one standing, one squatting—were on the side of the street, chatting like passersby and occasionally buying snacks and drinks.
The latter’s bandages had been removed from his head, though some scars hadn’t faded yet.
He had taken some precautions after the incident in the inner courtyard.
But the anticipated retaliation never came.
Mei Ning and the others were either recuperating or under house arrest. It was as if they had lowered their flags and silenced their drums, putting the conflict from that day behind them.
’The world only grows quieter before the storm.’
This sentence inexplicably flashed through his mind as his vision darkened slightly.
Chen Xiao was walking over, holding two bottles of soda.
"Here."
"Thanks, Brother Chen."
Fang Xu, who was standing by the car with a Band-Aid still on his face, took one with a word of thanks and offered a bottle to Lu Chao.
After two days of consideration, he hadn’t given an answer, but he had remained with the Third Squad.
"No need for thanks, we’re all brothers here."
Chen Xiao waved his hand dismissively and took a big gulp of his soda.
Lu Chao smiled at the scene. He could see a hint of worry still in Fang Xu’s eyes, but he could also tell that while the reserve and formality were still there, they had mostly faded.
"You’ll get used to it."
He smiled and patted the other’s shoulder reassuringly.
The few of them chatted idly for a bit. During this time, Xiong Cheng, carrying five or six bottles of soda, walked over to the black business van under Chen Xiao’s direction and handed the drinks to the security guards.
A harmonious mix of laughter, polite refusals, and thanks rang out. Chen Xiao clicked his tongue, somewhat impressed.
"I figured it out that day. If Miss Su hadn’t helped, things probably wouldn’t have been resolved so easily."
"Let’s be real, don’t we owe her a favor?"
He said with a smile, leaning against the car door.
Lu Chao took a sip of his soda and nodded slightly.
That Vice Director Zhou clearly only showed up out of respect for Miss Su. Otherwise, it was hard to say what would have happened.
Even though he had saved her once, he couldn’t take her help for granted.
"That’s why we have to do an even better job on this mission."
Lu Chao said seriously, and both Chen Xiao and Fang Xu nodded repeatedly.
However... "Hey, Old Lu."
Having unconsciously switched to a new nickname, Chen Xiao lowered his voice, ready for some gossip. "With a background like Miss Su’s, why do you think she came to Ring Academy?"
"Besides, the wilderness is so chaotic, with warlords fighting and the threat of Mutant Beasts. Coming all the way from Red Maple Shelter City..."
He didn’t finish, but Lu Chao knew what he meant.
Red Maple Shelter City was one of the super shelter cities in the wilderness. It naturally had just as many powerful individuals as Ring City, as well as its own high-level academies and elite groups.
As the City Lord’s daughter, she should have been safest and had access to the best resources within her own shelter city. Why would she brave the twists and risks of the wilderness to come to Ring City?
"Maybe even important people have their own troubles."
Lu Chao shrugged and smiled.
It wasn’t his place to worry about such things.
In comparison, "About the punitive expedition, I heard there’s been a stream of victory reports. They’ve repelled several of Lu Shan’s squads?"
He asked, feigning casualness. Chen Xiao nodded, recalling the news he’d heard from Yu Yong recently over a meal.
"I heard Ogrin received our aid and managed to pin down Lu Shan’s main force."
"The original plan was to press deeper and pursue the advantage, but it seems someone on the inside objected. Now they’re tentatively garrisoned outside the city."
Oh?
Lu Chao raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t know much about military strategy, but even he could see that now was the best time to join forces with Ogrin and defeat Lu Shan.
If they kept delaying...
"Some say that Lu Shan’s military fortress in the Red River Region is too strategically difficult to capture, and that his main forces have already pulled back to set up defensive fortifications."
"Others say we need to be wary of Ogrin turning on us, to avoid getting backstabbed."
Chen Xiao shook his head. As he spoke his last point, he glanced around and lowered his voice. "Besides, I heard from my uncle-in-law."
"It seems there’s a disagreement among the higher-ups. Some people want to drag this out..."
As his words fell, Lu Chao’s gaze hardened.
’Drag it out? What good could come from that?’
’Unless... Hmm?’
Suddenly, he recalled the oddity he had noticed before.
Lu Shan had attacked the hunting parties and aid teams for no apparent reason, offending all the major powers in Ring City at once.
It was precisely because of this that the punitive expedition was formed so smoothly. It had even grown so large now that it was becoming difficult to control.
Looking at it now, the biggest beneficiaries of this war were undoubtedly the factions that were reselling supplies and had gained considerable influence within the punitive expedition.
His heart sank. Lu Chao looked up at the gray sky above the academy.
His gaze drifted farther, toward the towering corporate skyscrapers in the distance...
He suddenly realized the vortex of Ring City was far deeper than he had ever imagined.
