102: Chapter 102 Almost a disaster! The Shadow Organization extends an olive branch.

Lin Feng followed that woman in the black robe and left the Zhou Family.

They were silent all the way.

The woman walked ahead with light, silent steps.

Lin Feng followed behind, clutching his chest and occasionally coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Sword Spirit Possession had already ended.

The state of all-attribute bonuses disappeared, and he returned to his normal levels.

His spirit dropped from 6,900 back to over 3,400, and his attack power dropped from nearly 40,000 back to just over 20,000.

His health points also dropped from over eight million back to over four million.

[Current Status]

[spirit: 1,740]

[Spell Attack: 7,700]

[health points: 2.15 Million]

[mana: 2 Million]

[Source of Life: Recovers 2% per second, i.e., 40,300/sec]

Lin Feng looked at his health points, which were still slowly rising, and felt a wave of lingering fear.

In that battle just now, he almost met his end.

That old thing Zhou Tiannan was Rank 79, and he was only a step away from touching the Law Domain.

His seven Talent skills were each terrifyingly frightening.

Especially that Fire Gods Descent, which doubled all his attributes and directly crushed him.

If it weren't for this mysterious woman stepping in...

Lin Feng didn't dare to think about it.

He looked up at the figure in front of him.

Black robe, tall, walking with a breeze.

The dark silver badge on her chest glowed faintly in the moonlight.

[Shadow Organization · Advanced Member · Shadow Seven]

[Rank: 75]

[Identity: One of the heads of the Shadow Organization's East Sea Branch]

Lin Feng silently took note.

The two walked for about twenty minutes and arrived at a remote foot of a mountain.

The woman stopped and glanced back at him.

"We're here."

Lin Feng looked up.

In front of him was a bare rock wall covered in moss; there was nothing there.

"We... we're here?"

He was stunned for a moment.

The woman didn't speak.

She raised her hand and pressed it lightly against the rock wall.

In her palm, a black light flickered slightly.

Buzz—

The rock wall suddenly became transparent!

Revealing a metal door!

On the door, complex runes were carved, emitting a dim light.

[Shadow Base Entrance]

[Permission Verification in Progress...]

[Verification Passed]

[Welcome, Lady Shadow Seven]

The metal door slowly opened.

Behind the door was a brightly lit passage extending downwards.

"Follow me."

Shadow Seven stepped inside.

Lin Feng hesitated for a second before following.

The passage was long and winding, extending downwards for at least a hundred meters.

Along the way, there was a surveillance camera every ten meters.

There were also some hidden traps; Lin Feng could sense them, but he couldn't see them.

After walking for about five minutes, his vision suddenly opened up.

This was a massive underground base.

It had a circular dome with a diameter of at least five hundred meters.

Surrounding it were tiers of circular corridors, with countless rooms and laboratories distributed throughout.

In the center was a huge plaza, where various aircraft and armored vehicles were parked.

People coming and going were all wearing uniform black outfits, walking in a hurry.

Upon seeing Shadow Seven, they all nodded in greeting.

"Lady Shadow Seven."

"Good day, Lady Shadow Seven."

Expressionless, Shadow Seven led Lin Feng across the plaza and into an elevator.

The elevator went up and stopped on the eighth floor.

The doors opened to a carpeted corridor.

On either side were metal doors, each marked with a number.

Shadow Seven walked to door 808 and pushed it open.

Lin Feng followed her in.

The room wasn't large, but it was very tidy.

A desk, several chairs, a bookshelf, and a computer.

A map hung on the wall, marked with various symbols.

"Sit."

Shadow Seven pointed to a chair.

Lin Feng sat down.

Shadow Seven sat opposite him, picked up a kettle from the desk, and poured two glasses of water.

She pushed one glass toward Lin Feng.

Lin Feng took it and took a sip.

The water was warm, with a faint sweetness.

[Consumed Shadow Special Spirit Water, health points recovery speed +100%, duration 1 hour]

Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

This water was good stuff.

Shadow Seven looked at him, and in those cold eyes, a hint of... curiosity flashed?

"How do you feel?"

Lin Feng put down the glass.

"I'm alright, won't die yet."

Shadow Seven nodded.

"You have a tough life. To still be alive after Rank 79 Zhou Tiannan went all out is not simple."

Lin Feng smiled bitterly.

"I almost died."

"If you hadn't stepped in, I'd be cold by now."

He paused and said seriously,

"Thank you."

Shadow Seven waved her hand.

"No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank yourself."

Lin Feng was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

Shadow Seven looked at him and spoke slowly.

"Cold Moon came back and reported that you saved her in the Secret Realm."

"Furthermore, your strength far exceeds our estimates."

"Therefore, the organization has decided to recruit you."

Lin Feng fell silent.

It really was because of Cold Moon.

"Your Shadow... what kind of organization is it exactly?"

He asked.

Shadow Seven was silent for a second before answering.

"Shadow is a special department directly under the Federation."

"Mainly responsible for intelligence gathering, secret reconnaissance, special incident handling, and... assassination."

"We do not belong to the Explorer Association, nor the Pioneer Association."

"We are independent."

"We report directly to the Federation Supreme Council."

Hearing this, Lin Feng's heart stirred.

An independent department?

Reporting directly to the Supreme Council?

This background was even bigger than the Explorer Association!

"Then what is your... relationship with the Explorer Association and the Pioneer Association?"

Shadow Seven thought for a moment.

"A cooperative relationship."

"There are some missions that the Explorer Association cannot conveniently handle, so they are given to us."

"There is some intelligence that the Pioneer Association needs, so we provide it."

"We are like shadows, hidden in the dark, handling those matters that cannot see the light of day."

Lin Feng looked thoughtful.

"So you saved me because of Cold Moon's report?"

"Yes," Shadow Seven nodded, "Cold Moon said your potential is immense and worth cultivating."

"Having seen it with my own eyes today, it is indeed so."

"At Rank 43, you could trade so many moves with Rank 79 Zhou Tiannan and almost forced him to use his full strength."

"A person like you, we in Shadow want you."

Lin Feng fell silent.

He had been recruited many times now.

The Explorer Association had given him an S-Rank badge and the status of a Deacon.

At the Pioneer Association, Vice President Vice President Chen Jiuding had personally extended an olive branch.

His Master Zhao Ritian also hoped he would join the Pioneers.

Now, Shadow had come too.

"I know what you're thinking."

Shadow Seven spoke, interrupting his thoughts.

"You are already an S-Rank Deacon of the Explorer Association, so joining Shadow would indeed create a conflict."

"But many members of Shadow have multiple identities."

"Explorers, Pioneers, military, even academies..."

"As long as you don't leak Shadow's secrets, you can coexist in both."

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.

"And you aren't afraid I'll leak them?"

Shadow Seven looked at him, her lips curling into a faint smile.

"How long do you think someone who leaks Shadow's secrets can live?"

Lin Feng fell silent.

He understood.

This organization looked gentle, but in reality...

They were incredibly ruthless.

"Besides..." Shadow Seven paused, "You have people behind you."

"Master Zhao Ritian and the Pioneer Association's Vice President Vice President Chen Jiuding."

"Those two names carry weight in the Federation."

"With them around, even if you join Shadow, no one would dare touch you."

Lin Feng laughed.

"You've investigated me?"

"Of course," Shadow Seven said frankly, "Every recruitment target is thoroughly investigated."

"Your background, your experiences, your interpersonal relationships..."

"We know them better than you do."

Lin Feng was speechless.

This organization was truly terrifying.

"So, what is your decision?"

Shadow Seven looked at him with a serious gaze.

Lin Feng was silent for a few seconds.

Then, he spoke.

"I can't give you an answer right now."

Shadow Seven raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because..." Lin Feng thought for a moment, "My Master wants me to join the Pioneer Association."

"Vice President Vice President Chen Jiuding also said he wanted to pull me into the Pioneers."

"The Explorer Association has also given me the status of a Deacon."

"Now your Shadow has come too..."

He shook his head.

"With so many choices, I have to think about it carefully."

Shadow Seven looked at him, a hint of... surprise flashing in her eyes?

"You are quite level-headed."

"Most people would have been so excited to be recruited by us that they would have agreed immediately."

Lin Feng smiled.

"I'm a bit of a greedy person."

"But I'm also quite cautious."

"If I choose the wrong path, I'll regret it for a lifetime."

Shadow Seven nodded.

"Fine, take your time to think."

"However, I must remind you—"

She paused, her tone serious.

"Shadow's olive branch isn't something just anyone can take."

"If you refuse, you might not get another chance in the future."

Lin Feng nodded.

"I understand."

Shadow Seven stood up.

"Then I'll see you out first."

"Once you've made up your mind, contact me anytime."

She handed Lin Feng a black business card.

On the card, there was only a silver character for 'Shadow' and a string of numbers.

[Shadow Contact Card]

[Effect: Can contact the Shadow Organization at any time]

[Description: For use by recruits only]

Lin Feng took it and put it into his wanxiang ring.

The two walked out of the room and took the elevator downstairs.

They crossed the plaza and walked out of the base.

Standing before that rock wall, Shadow Seven looked back at him.

"Lin Feng, remember."

"Shadow welcomes you anytime."

Lin Feng nodded.

"Thank you."

He turned, unfolded his Wind Wings, and flew into the night sky.

Behind him, the rock wall slowly returned to its original state.

As if nothing had ever happened.

...

Half an hour later.

Lin Feng landed in front of his house.

He pushed the door open and slumped onto the sofa.

"Phew..."

He let out a long breath.

Xiao Jin jumped off his shoulder and rolled around on the table.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The cries seemed to say—scared me to death!

Lin Feng looked at it and smiled.

"You know how to be afraid too?"

Xiao Jin rolled its eyes and curled into a ball.

Lin Feng leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

In his mind, scenes from today flashed by.

Zhou Tiannan's terrifying strength.

The despair of almost dying.

Shadow Seven's sudden intervention.

Shadow's recruitment.

"Rank 79..."

He murmured.

"Just a step away from touching the Law Domain..."

"The gap is truly huge."

He clenched his fist.

Today's battle made him clearly realize—

He was still not strong enough.

Nowhere near enough.

Although he was Rank 43, had two million health, the dragon slaying sword, and various skills.

In front of truly powerful people, it still wasn't enough.

"I have to get stronger..."

He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling.

"Rank 50, I must reach Rank 50 as soon as possible."

"Then... go to the Void Corridor."

He sat up and pulled that S-Rank Explorer badge from the wanxiang ring.

The silver badge glittered under the light.

"Right, I haven't collected the rewards yet."

He stood up and stretched his muscles.

"I'll go to the Association tomorrow to collect the rewards."

Then, he walked to the window and looked at the night sky.

The stars were scattered, and the Milky Way was brilliant.

"Shadow... Pioneer... Explorer..."

"Which one should I actually choose?"

He didn't know.

But he knew that no matter which one he chose, the path to becoming stronger would not stop.

"Forget it, I won't think about it anymore."

He turned and lay back on the bed.

Closing his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep.

...

Early the next morning.

Lin Feng opened his eyes, feeling full of energy.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, he headed out.

Target—the Explorer Association.

To collect the rewards.