118: Chapter 118 A High-Priced Gamble, Physical Mutation, Thunder King Surrounded

In the pickup truck, Zhang Wei drove while stealing glances at Lin Qi through the rearview mirror.

“Brother Qi, did you really slaughter that thing?”

Lin Qi leaned back in the passenger seat, eyes closed as he rested. “Mm.”

“That was a Lord-tier! How did you do it?”

“With my hands and a sword.” Lin Qi didn't feel like explaining the mechanics. He shifted into a more comfortable position. “Just drive. Back to school. I need a shower.”

The truck drove out of the Thunder Ruins' range and entered the outskirts of Tianhai City.

Zhang Wei's phone screen kept lighting up. He held the steering wheel with one hand and swiped rapidly with the other, his eyes bulging like copper bells.

“Holy crap! Holy crap! Brother Qi!”

Zhang Wei suddenly slapped the steering wheel, so excited he nearly drove the truck into the roadside green belt.

“Look at this!”

He shoved the phone screen in front of Lin Qi's eyes. It displayed a terrifyingly long string of numbers followed by the word 'billion'.

Lin Qi only spared it a glance before closing his eyes again, his tone calm. “Stay cool. This was expected.”

“Stay cool my ass!” Zhang Wei's fat face was flushed red with excitement, the veins on his neck bulging.

“This is a sky-high bet! The odds were as high as a hundred to one! We hit the jackpot this time!”

He gestured incoherently:

“Even after deducting the speculators who bet on you to win, the net profit is still an astronomical figure! Brother Qi, we're rich! We're completely and utterly filthy rich!”

Zhang Wei was dancing with joy, looking like he wanted to jump out of the truck and run naked to celebrate right now.

“Brother Qi, just say the word! Whatever you want! I'll buy it for you! No, I'll build it for you!”

“You want a private martial arts gym? I'll build it! The best in all of Tianhai City! All the training equipment will be top-of-the-line! I'll even set you up with the most professional sparring team!”

“You want a private jet? I'll buy it! We can travel the world!”

“Brother Qi, you are my god! My second father!”

Zhang Wei's flattery was non-stop, firing off like a machine gun.

Lin Qi didn't care about any of it. He just leaned quietly against the seat, feeling the subtle changes in his body.

He found that his skin had become denser, his pores almost invisible.

He could even feel the faint electrical charge in the air—lightning element particles drifting about.

This feeling was as if an invisible sensory membrane had formed between his body and the surrounding environment.

This was the additional effect brought by the [Silver Bone].

The qualitative change in his bones made his Physical Body much more sensitive to external energy fluctuations.

At the same time, it caused his elemental affinity to drop significantly, meaning his magic resistance had received a qualitative upgrade.

Previously, he needed to use the True Qi vortex to crush, absorb, and convert lightning.

Now, his Physical Body itself possessed extremely strong lightning resistance.

The moment those violent lightning elements touched his skin, they would be mostly neutralized by an invisible force. The small remaining portion would docilely merge into his body, becoming nourishment for his Physical Body.

This was a return to simplicity, and also an ultimate evolution.

Back at the school dormitory, Lin Qi headed straight into the bathroom.

Hot water washed over his body, carrying away the residual burnt smell and sweat stains.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

The muscle lines weren't exaggeratedly bulging; instead, they were more streamlined, every inch filled with explosive power.

His skin showed a healthy wheat color, with a faint silver-white luster like the finest jade—warm, smooth, and resilient.

He picked up an ordinary fruit knife and tried to lightly slash his arm.

When the blade of the fruit knife met his skin, it actually made a metallic clanging sound, crisp and loud.

The blade passed over, leaving not even a white mark behind.

Lin Qi nodded in satisfaction.

Now, he could withstand ordinary cold weapons with just his Physical Body.

This was only the preliminary effect of the [Silver Bone].

As his control over this body grew stronger, his physical defense would reach an even more terrifying level.

Just then, the phone on the sink vibrated.

It was a call from Old Mo.

Lin Qi wiped his hands and answered the call.

“Kid, did you cause a huge commotion at the Thunder Ruins?” Old Mo's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of urgency mixed with uncontrollable excitement.

“The Board of Directors is discussing the cause of death of that Lord-tier monster.”

Lin Qi dried his wet hair with a towel while responding, his tone as calm as if talking about the weather. “I just went to borrow some fire and cleared a roadblock along the way.”

On the other end of the line, Old Mo fell silent for a few seconds.

Then, his signature hearty laughter erupted from the receiver, making Lin Qi's ears ring.

“A fine 'along the way'! A fine 'roadblock'!”

Old Mo's voice was full of excitement. “Get to the lab! I can't wait to measure your data!”

He already sensed that Lin Qi's trip to the Thunder Ruins had brought back much more than just experience.

Lin Qi hung up and changed into a new set of combat gear.

This combat suit was custom-made by Old Mo, using a special nanofiber material that was light and breathable while also providing some impact resistance and electromagnetic interference protection.

He sheathed the karma cutter on his back, the blade wrapped tightly in black cloth, leaving only the hilt exposed.

With everything ready, Lin Qi pushed open the dormitory door and prepared to head out.

Just as he stepped out of the dormitory building, his path was blocked by several club leaders who had heard the news.

These people were either dressed in suits and leather shoes or wearing flashy professional gear, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.

“Student Lin Qi! Congratulations! Congratulations on your triumphant return from the Thunder Ruins!” A man wearing gold-rimmed glasses spoke first, an 'Apocalypse Society' badge pinned to his chest.

“Our Apocalypse Society is the largest comprehensive club in the school, with abundant resources and excellent benefits! As long as you join, the position of Vice President is yours!”

“Student Lin Qi, don't listen to him!” Another woman wearing leather armor with a hot figure squeezed through. Her badge featured crossed daggers—the school branch of the 'Shadow Hunter Guild'.

“Our guild is more suitable for you! Your elusive movement and those strange attack methods make you a natural-born assassin. Join us, and our guild promises to provide you with all rare Materials and help you craft the highest-tier weapons and equipment!”

“Lin Qi, come to our Hall of War Gods. We are a paradise for strength-based classes. Your power to move a three-ton dynamometer with your bare hands is practically tailor-made for our Hall of War Gods.” A man with bulging muscles shouted, his loud voice making the nearby glass windows vibrate.

They were here to recruit this newly-risen 'Thunder Lord', offering conditions more generous than the last, as if they wanted to pluck the stars from the sky to give to Lin Qi.

Lin Qi didn't even spare them a look.

He simply frowned, his pitch-black eyes showing not a hint of emotion.

He walked directly through a gap in the crowd, leaving behind a cold and oppressive sentence.

“I'm busy. Move.”