7: An invitation from the Watchers

Their goal was to follow Zhou Xing and find out his true identity.

However, the moment they were about to step into the commercial street,

The traps Zhou Xing had set in advance were triggered immediately.

Several taut threads of Frost Silk directly blocked the path of the pursuers.

Simultaneously, three ice spikes shot toward the trio from different angles, accurately embedding themselves into their bodies.

"Damn it, we've been spotted!"

The three tried to break free, but Zhou Xing's figure had already appeared before them.

"Tell your boss... if he wants to tail someone, he should send someone decent."

Flames coiled around Zhou Xing's fingertips as his expression turned cold. "Next time, I won't be so polite."

Withdrawing his Frost Power, Zhou Xing chose to leave.

His current strength was still weak, so it wasn't wise to truly make an enemy of the "Crucible."

Besides, he might have to rely on the "Crucible" to make quick money in the future.

Not long after leaving the abandoned commercial street, just as Zhou Xing leapt onto a fire escape, he felt the sound of something cutting through the air behind his head.

He instinctively leaned to the side and saw three darts deeply embedded into the iron railing.

"Good reaction speed, more than three times faster than what's recorded in your file."

A cold female voice came from above.

Immediately after, a figure descended from the sky and landed in front of Zhou Xing.

It was a girl with long silver-white hair. What caught Zhou Xing's attention were the faint, translucent wings shimmering behind her back.

Clearly, this was her special ability.

The woman had an ancient-looking short sword at her waist, and her form-fitting black combat suit left her impressive figure in full view.

"Let's get acquainted. You can call me Silver Wing. I'm from The Watchers."

Looking at Zhou Xing, the woman extended her hand.

"And what if I hadn't dodged your darts just now?"

Zhou Xing didn't move, instead asking in a cold voice.

"I noticed you at the arena. With your strength, this little test of mine wouldn't have posed any threat."

The woman replied seriously.

"Besides, you are the ace sniper of 'Shadow.'"

"Even without awakening, your own natural abilities would be enough to dodge my probe."

Zhou Xing's heart jolted; she actually knew his identity.

"Don't be suspicious. It's not hard for us to find out who you are."

Looking at Zhou Xing, the woman took out a specially made shell casing.

"The shell from that armor-piercing round you fired from 1,500 meters away during Operation Flame Demon three years ago is still kept in the Eastern Theater Command."

Seeing the special markings on the shell, Zhou Xing could determine it was the exclusive ammunition used by his sniper rifle back then.

Every single one was numbered.

"Operation Flame Demon has been investigated and found to be for certain individuals' personal gain. Of course, there might be even more inside information."

"We recovered all ballistic traces from the scene and only found this one shell."

As she spoke, the woman tossed the shell over.

"So, you came looking for me proactively this time? It wasn't a sudden move after discovering me at the 'Crucible'?"

Zhou Xing caught the shell, his attitude softening slightly as he asked coldly.

"Of course it wasn't on a whim." Silver Wing looked at Zhou Xing.

"We've been tracking the 'Divine Gene' secret experimental project for three years, and your file... is very special."

Silver Wing tapped her tactical wristband a few times, and a holographic projection appeared before Zhou Xing.

On the screen was the combat briefing for Operation Flame Demon, but several pages had clearly been secretly tampered with.

"The official report said the mission failed due to faulty intelligence."

Silver Wing zoomed in on a corner of the data.

"But there's a redacted serial number here, and this number corresponds to the 'Divinity Eruption Potion' that Divine Gene was testing at the time."

Zhou Xing also remembered the strength of the Balrog back then.

With their team's coordination, it should have been a guaranteed success.

Instead, the opponent's strength had suddenly exploded.

Looking back now, they might have been used as sacrificial tools to test the potion.

"You've probably guessed it. Yes, the Balrog's strength was at most at the mid-stage of Essence Circulation."

"But the strength he unleashed back then reached the peak of Essence Circulation, or even the early stage of foundation condensation."

Silver Wing's voice was icy. "Someone intentionally sent you all to conduct a live-combat test for the new potion."

"Then what about Luo Jin?"

Zhou Xing asked.

"He's nothing more than a clown put on display. Some people are willing to abandon everything for power that doesn't belong to them."

At this point, Silver Wing's expression was filled with intense loathing.

"You know why I left the army. I've had enough of that monotonous life."

Zhou Xing frowned. "Especially when those of us who risk our lives for the country are actually less important than someone's experiment? So..."

"Don't be in a hurry to refuse. Once I finish my introduction, I will respect your choice regardless of what you decide."

Silver Wing interrupted Zhou Xing and lightly snapped her fingers.

Next, her tactical wristband projected a holographic world map.

On the map, a large number of light spots were constantly flashing.

"A formal introduction—" Silver Wing's voice suddenly became solemn.

"The Watchers is not an ordinary organization of Awakened Ones, nor is it an organization that The Officials can control."

"It is a completely independent organization, founded by several super-powered individuals who were the first to resist the 'Divine Gene' company."

"Today, our strongholds are spread across the globe."

As she spoke, Silver Wing zoomed in on the map and pointed to the locations of seven major strongholds.

"These are the seven large-scale strongholds worldwide. Each has its own division of labor, radiating out to the rest of the world."

"We have three ironclad rules..." Silver Wing looked at Zhou Xing and held up her fingers.

First: We never use Divine Gene's potions.

Second: We prioritize protecting ordinary people suffering from divinity erosion.

Third: Eliminate all out-of-control Awakened Ones and modified entities.

Afterward, Silver Wing introduced the Three Great Pioneers of the organization to Zhou Xing.

Each was a powerful Awakened One whose every move could cause global tremors.

And all of them had once been victims of "Divine Gene."

"As for me, my real name is Lin Yue."

I am a member of the 'Sky Patrol' squad, specifically searching for rogue Awakened Ones like you who awakened naturally.

"Of course, I am also responsible for eliminating out-of-control Awakened Ones."

Silver Wing held nothing back now, even taking off her mask.

Perhaps to earn more of Zhou Xing's trust, Lin Yue suddenly pulled back her sleeve, revealing an arm.

Zhou Xing saw that her arm actually had patterns similar to his sister's, but they were clearly completely suppressed and had stopped spreading.

"I was also eroded years ago. Fortunately, I was discovered by The Watchers, saved my life, and successfully awakened naturally."

Silver Wing looked up at Zhou Xing. "Divine Gene's potions are not an antidote; they are a slow-acting poison."

"What? Then wouldn't my sister be..."

Zhou Xing's body jolted, and he uncontrollably grabbed Lin Yue's arm.

"Yes. The reason your sister is in pain is that her physical constitution cannot withstand the power of the divinity fragment."

"And every time you inject a divinity inhibitor, it seems to suppress it, but in reality, the next eruption will be even more violent, and the pain will increase."

"Over time, a dependency on the inhibitor will form."

"I don't need to tell you what the final outcome will be; you already know."

"Moreover, based on years of analysis by The Watchers, it can be determined—"

"Every inhibitor from Divine Gene contains trace amounts of gene-modifying agents."

"On the surface, it suppresses erosion, but it's actually modifying the human body to screen for suitable experimental subjects."

Silver Wing pulled up an image—it was a deformed corpse covered in divinity erosion patterns.

Many parts were bulging, revealing unknown crystals inside.

"Now, can you make a choice?"

Silver Wing looked at Zhou Xing, quietly waiting for him to make a decision.

"I... choose to join!"

For his sister, Zhou Xing had no other choice. The situation she described matched his sister's perfectly.

"But if I ever find out you are deceiving me, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth until one of us is dead."