Chapter 44: Chapter 43: Rapid Pursuit, Lin Feng Level 9, Evolution
"Level 8 Wolf Fang Handgun, White Quality, Brand"
"Basic Attributes: Damage 40, Effective Range 1000 meters, Remaining Wolf Fang Bullet Reserve: 500; Uplifted to Host Level Limit"
"Extra Attributes: Bullet Recovery 1/1s; Space Magazine 500 rounds; Automatic Mode Fire Rate 20/s"
"New Extra Attribute: Rapid Pursuit"
"Rapid Pursuit: Bullet speed increased by 100%, with a muzzle bullet initial speed of 900m/s"
"Note: Has become a branded item, gaining a wear-resistant special effect, infinite durability"
"Evaluation: A handgun that doubles bullet initial speed, comparable to sniper rifle bullet speed, with all rounds replaced by Wolf Fang Bullets, offering longer range, greater power, capable of killing targets within a kilometer in one second, and firepower not inferior to machine guns"
The appearance of the upgraded Wolf Fang Handgun showed more silvery gleam, gradually changing from the original silver-black to silver-grey due to the infusion of Fine Steel Wolf Fang.
Meanwhile, to enhance the range and bullet initial speed, the barrel became longer, now exceeding 25 centimeters, with an overall length of 40 centimeters.
The weight also grew from an initial half a pound, expanding to the current six pounds, just slightly lighter than a regular automatic rifle.
However, for Lin Feng, who was about to become a Level 9 Enhanced Person, his strength was already seven or eight times his initial level, making the six-pound weight easy to handle with one hand.
If this had been upon first awakening, the recoil from firing could have directly dislocated his wrist, entirely unmanageable.
After the upgrade, Lin Feng stored away the Wolf Fang Handgun, joined the three women who had finished eating, and entered the quiet chapel to rest.
Chen Shanshan was already asleep, resting fully sated, while Ah Lian sat in the front row, bowing her head in prayer.
This is a place for ordinary Deserters, nearest to the Master of the Holy Spring, a location usually out of reach.
Lin Feng and Liu Qian explored around, both having spent the shortest time in the Wasteland, one just over a week, the other merely a year.
Brought up in modern ideas, they felt little impact from what was supposedly the Church.
Lin Feng noticed a bulletin board hanging on the wall, listing the key personnel of Holy Spring Village along with introductions.
At the top was Priest Su An.
The most senior and powerful.
At the Hunting Wilderness Guild, Lin Feng had encountered many Evolvers, including the gatekeeper security Uncle Wu and the shopkeepers of the Four Major Villages’ stores.
Each had a different strength level, with Uncle Wu’s being the strongest and sharpest, staring as though a blade pointed at you, leaving one slightly insecure.
Yet in Priest Su An, Lin Feng never sensed an overwhelmingly powerful aura. Sometimes the gentle Priest felt like just an ordinary person, offering a sense of warmth and reliability.
But Lin Feng knew well that Priest Su An’s strength far exceeded that of a common Evolver!
Otherwise, he couldn’t have hidden his aura so well, with just a word, stopping nuisance pursuits from Nongzhuang Village.
On Holy Spring Day’s gospel ceremony, standing beside the most powerful bishop of Oasis Town, his status and identity spoke volumes.
Beneath Priest Su An were two assistant priests, responsible for each Holy Spring Day’s worship ceremonies and later management of Holy Spring Village.
Further down were ten combat priests, the village’s guard force, all Evolvers, transformed through trials of the Lord, becoming a determined preacher.
Lastly, the grassroots cultivators numbered over two hundred.
Divided into three levels according to the Enhanced Persons’ ranks, they comprised early, middle, and late stages, corresponding to Levels 3, 2, and 1 cultivators.
When Priest Su An purchased the Mutated Wolf Fang, he mentioned Lin Feng could move into Holy Spring Village as a grassroots cultivator.
Day-to-day safety, essentials provided, a status much higher than permanent residents of other Three Major Villages and Fifth Village, receiving the best treatment for a basic position in Oasis Town.
Through the bottom introduction of the bulletin board, Lin Feng learned more about the Holy Spring Sect:
As a Level 1 cultivator of late-stage Enhanced People, upon advancing to a Tier One Evolver, one doesn’t immediately obtain a promotion of duties, but must head to a big city’s Holy Spring Sect, facing trials and evaluations of the Grand Archbishop, becoming a Missionary first before determining future development.
There are assistant priests and priests dedicated to preaching and combat priests responsible for church protection, as well as Temple Knights mentioned by Su An.
Thus observed, the organizational structure and personnel selection of the Holy Spring Sect were very mature.
Spread across the Wasteland, from initial formation to the present stage, undoubted long passage of time was endured.
It also proved a mysterious incident had occurred many years prior.
Beside him, Liu Qian realized the same; after processing the astonishment, a deep confusion emerged.
Feeling as if awakening from a vivid dream, separated from reality.
"Let’s go, look elsewhere," Lin Feng said softly, stepping away from the wall.
Other walls recorded the descent of the Master of the Holy Spring and subsequent major events.
Such as the Lord’s initial encounter with followers, the Undying Saint meeting in an ancient place named Yu Province, and the miracle arrival within Yu Province’s Zhuma Divine Hall.
On that day, the Undying Saint opened a well cover, and a torrent of Holy Spring gushed forth, saving thousands of dying people at that moment.
Lin Feng felt some myth and legend stories possibly had a basis in fact but certainly contained exaggerated elements, transforming an ordinary water-seeking event into something divine.
After reviewing the Holy Spring Sect’s chronicle, Lin Feng and Liu Qian returned to their seats, lost in contemplation.
Soon a notification flashed to the side of Lin Feng’s vision:
"Lin Feng, Level 9/9"
"Life Value 49, Physique: 49, Spirit: 48; Level 9 each attribute upper limit 50"
"Item upgrade cap raised to Level 9"
"Consume 1 Life Value point to upgrade the Level 8 Wolf Fang Handgun"
Upon advancing to a Level 9 Enhanced Person, Lin Feng felt a wave of relief, exhaling deeply.
Strengthened along the way to his current capability, he was no longer the lowest Deserter struggling with survival, able now at least to find a place in Oasis Town.
The next goal was achieving Tier One Evolver status.
Only then could he truly establish himself within this Wasteland.
An afternoon’s rest lasting over three hours followed.
When a bell chimed outside, the joyful commotion of children playing was heard from beyond the chapel.
Lin Feng guessed it was dismissal time from school.
Shortly thereafter, as a bell tolled once more, children’s laughter and play sounded outside, signaling the end of school.
Before long, a cultivator arrived to guide them, and after the outdoors echoed with laughter from children released from school, Lin Feng guessed it was time to go.
Chen Shanshan, stretching lazily, had already mostly self-healed the gunshot wound on her right arm, thanks to the Level 9 Desolate Wolf’s heart which sped up her Life Value recovery.
The group of four followed the cultivator to the left rear of Holy Spring Village, adjacent to the right side of the Oasis Battleship, a place where sunlight never reached, shrouded in gloom.
They boarded a vehicle, which took them beside the Oasis Battleship’s right side, perpetually shadowed from sun, with dim illumination.
From within the vehicle, Lin Feng and Liu Qian observed Chen Shanshan inside, undergoing various physical examinations.
The main assessments focused on whether her Physique and Spirit states were adequate, including minor skin tests to determine allergic or rejection reactions to the pure Evolution Liquid.
This was to adjust the concentration and dosage for injection.
These tasks were performed by an assistant priest and relevant cultivators, checking bodily compatibility with the pure Evolution Liquid, adjusting concentration, and adapting dose volumes accordingly.
Upon completion of initial screenings, Chen Shanshan lay down on an operating table, her four limbs securely bound with thick straps to prevent reactions during the surgical process from exceeding early-stage evolver’s strength.
Just then, Ling Feng noticed a cool little hand grabbing his hand resting at one side.
He quickly turned his head, only to find a mushroom-headed girl with long hair appearing mysteriously beside him.
This unexpected figure was none other than Su Yueyue, whom he had met briefly during lunch.
At this moment, she pulled down on Lin Feng’s hand with her grasp.
Lin Feng was still taken aback, puzzled at how he hadn’t noticed Su Yueyue’s sudden appearance.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted from behind:
"During the evolution process, if a stress response occurs, the subject will exhibit strength far beyond an early-stage evolver. That’s why these straps bind tightly," said Father Su An as he approached from behind.