Gu Shen pushed open the door of Hengsha Tavern.
Lu Nanjin, clutching her knife, leaned against the door. She hadn’t watched how Gu Shen dealt with the Changjiu Foundation Believers, instead she was browsing the holographic glasses’ map, focusing on the next target: "The next location is East Yu Street."
Gu Shen nodded. After the special investigation team’s mission ended, the Judgement Institute, along with two other institutes, concentrated manpower from the Dadu District to start purging the Changjiu Foundation Believers.
Deep Sea had blocked the suspects’ communication with each other, greatly reducing the possibility of ’startling the snake by hitting the grass.’
Judging by the speed of this operation... within at most half a month, the Changjiu Foundation could be eradicated by ninety percent.
Handling such cases had quite a few benefits for Gu Shen’s cultivation; relying solely on the Jingzhe Breathing Technique, his spiritual power increase had already reached a "bottleneck." To enhance his combat prowess, the best and fastest method... was combat.
The average strength of the Changjiu Foundation Believers was not high. Most were still ordinary people, and even if there were Transcendents among them, their levels seldom exceeded the third layer... but owing to the Spiritual Imprint’s relentless energy, unfearing of death, each fight required full attention and vigilance. For Gu Shen, this was an excellent "sparring opportunity."
Unknowingly, it was nearly evening.
The twilight’s residual light spilled over the streets of Da Du.
Seven cases were handled in one afternoon, with Gu Shen resolving five battles on his own. The strongest Transcendent he had slain was estimated to possess strength comparable to the Deep Sea Fourth Level Strong Attack Type Transcendent.
With his senior sister providing backup... these battles didn’t impose much pressure on Gu Shen.
However, these battles all ended quickly, including the one against the Deep Sea Fourth Level Strong Attack Type Transcendent. Gu Shen unleashed Chi Huo, taking the initiative by plunging into the opponent’s Spirit Ocean. In an instant, he shattered the guy’s soul.
Who would wish for a prolonged battle lasting three days and three nights if it wasn’t absolutely necessary?
"Are you sure... that you only reached the third level in the deep water area?"
Lu Nanjin looked at her little junior brother, her expression turning somewhat odd. In her memory, Gu Shen was the weakling who couldn’t even trap a chicken, utterly powerless during his time in Da Teng City.
How long had he been in Da Du?
Reaching the third level in the deep water area was already an incredible feat.
From the combat power displayed... Gu Shen’s "Chi Huo" could definitely contend with a fifth-level Transcendent. Moreover, after observing a few battles, Lu Nanjin sincerely believed that Gu Shen’s spiritual attacks were a very troublesome matter.
If one were struck by Chi Huo without any warning, ninety percent of Transcendents would only be able to brace against it with their own spirit.
Gu Shen’s spiritual power was too solid.
Without a protective seal for the spirit, it was easy to fall prey... and in the Dream, his strength was definitely not as simple as just the third level.
Is this what they call an "S-grade"?
"Yes... I am still exploring the ’Great Hypnosis.’"
Gu Shen modestly smiled.
The opponents he faced today were only average in strength, at least not as challenging as "Shi Li" from Yuan Dan Street.
Feeling that the battles were easy might also be due to Chi Huo’s power increasing. After fully digesting Qu Shui and absorbing that part of the Extraordinary Essence, Gu Shen felt that he, now facing Shi Li again, wouldn’t have to use the pointer and could kill him outright.
Chi Huo seemed like an extension of his own body.
Gu Shen felt that he was still in the phase of "handling" his ability... like an infant needs to become proficient with their own body to respond to their will. If Chi Huo could be directed as intended, it would mean he had completely "tamed" his power, and at least, there wouldn’t be a repeat of the previous incident where Chi Huo went out of control.
"Teacher reminded me to accompany you on missions these days, to take care of you..." Lu Nanjin affirmed: "In fact, you’re fully capable of handling this level of mission alone. I didn’t even get a chance to draw my sword."
"Perhaps the Changjiu Foundation is hiding higher-order Transcendents."
Gu Shen earnestly said: "Though... I am quite eager to try them out."
"Against Transcendents within the Deep Sea Fifth Layer... taking the initiative, you can gain an overwhelming advantage," Lu Nanjin said. "But encountering Transcendents from the Deep Sea Sixth Layer... it’s a whole different matter. Even with a surprise attack, it’s very likely your spiritual power would not break through their defenses."
"The trials of the deep water area... have several conspicuously strange gradients."
"The trials of the first three levels, the superpowers for the three types of Transcendents are essentially the same. Deep Sea, based on calculations, has given a basic simulation for the abilities used by Transcendents of the three major types... like the Spiritual profile, small hypnosis, Great Hypnosis. You can understand it as any Spiritual Ability definitely possessing this kind of power."
"After the third level, different Extraordinary Abilities begin to develop their own ’characteristics’... This is the first gradient," Lu Nanjin said, her expression becoming complicated as she slowly continued: "Logically, Transcendents from the third level should have no chance against those from the fourth level, but your Chi Huo is too unique; it has already condensed into its own form and revealed its origin containing innate characteristics."
Gu Shen had heard this term before.
"The trials from the first to the third level of Deep Sea are called the ’basic state,’ also known as the first phase. The second phase, trials from the fourth to the sixth level, are the ’second state’ transformations of Extraordinary Abilities. Generally, in the fourth-level trials of the deep water area, Transcendents attempt to summon their ability’s origin, materialize it, and maintain it."