188: I woke up to a game update, and Lu Sheng had already dominated the entire field?

The originally silent medical area suddenly erupted with a roar.

"Boom—!!!"

A dark red energy pillar shot into the sky, like a long-suppressed volcanic eruption, instantly shattering the glass of all tents within a hundred-meter radius.

The patrolling soldiers were startled, turning with their guns, thinking it was an enemy attack.

However, as the smoke cleared, the heavy alloy door of the medical pod was seen twisted and deformed, having been blasted open from the inside with a single punch, smashing heavily against rocks a dozen meters away.

A burly figure, shirtless, strode out.

Chen Yan.

At this moment, his muscles bulged like granite, and beneath his originally bronzed skin, a magma-like dark red glow flowed.

Every tremor of his muscles caused a low-frequency hum in the air.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking like thunder.

"Breaking through to establish oneself anew..."

Chen Yan took a deep breath, feeling an unprecedented, vast, ocean-like power within his body, his eyes gleaming brightly.

"This is the Saint-rank Sequence—Indestructible War God Body!"

"Level 7 Spirit Source Master!"

An unprecedented surge of powerful confidence filled his chest.

The previous frustration and powerlessness vanished at this moment.

"Brother Lu..." Chen Yan roared to the sky, his voice echoing, "This old man finally doesn't have to be a burden! I'll carry the next battles!"

He casually grabbed a military overcoat, slung it over his shoulder, and strode with an arrogant gait towards the command center.

Along the way, he saw the North Slope camp in orderly fashion.

Countless soldiers were transporting supplies, and the black skull emblem of the God Slaying Mercenary Group was clearly printed on the boxes.

Chen Yan frowned slightly.

"God Slaying Mercenary Group? Isn't that a cancerous organization in the military's records?"

"Why are all the supplies here? Did Teacher make a move?"

He was puzzled and quickened his pace.

Pushing open the command center door, a warmth enveloped him.

In front of the huge sand table, Old General Poseidon was holding a teacup, frowning deeply as he looked at the map.

Seeing that familiar figure, Chen Yan, a man of steel, instantly had red eyes.

"Thud!"

He quickly stepped forward, kneeling heavily to the ground, his knees making two shallow indentations in the floor.

"Teacher! Your unworthy Disciple, Chen Yan, has returned to the team!"

His voice choked, yet it carried an unyielding resolve.

The Old General's hand trembled, spilling a little tea. He suddenly looked up at his beloved Disciple kneeling on the ground, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

"Good! Good! It's good that you're alive!"

The Old General quickly helped Chen Yan up, examining him from head to toe. Feeling the surging Qi and blood within him, he nodded with relief: "Misfortune turned into a blessing. It seems you've crossed that hurdle."

Chen Yan stood up, straightening his back, and eagerly showed off his muscles, saying happily:

"Teacher! I'm also a Level 7 Spirit Source User now! And I'm tough-skinned and thick-fleshed; I can withstand a few blows from a regular Level 8!"

"You all suffered along the way. Leave the tough battles ahead to me!"

He thumped his chest, filled with heroic spirit.

In his opinion, his current strength was definitely the pillar of the team.

However.

The anticipated surprise and admiration did not appear.

The Old General looked at him with a strange expression, hesitating to speak.

Zhou Hai, who was gnawing on a compressed biscuit nearby, came over, circled Chen Yan twice like he was observing a rare animal, then patted his shoulder meaningfully.

"Old Chen, you woke up at a good time."

"But..." Zhou Hai swallowed the biscuit in his mouth, pointing to the ceiling, "You might have to step aside for the flag-bearing duties."

Chen Yan frowned, a strong sense of pride inherent to a powerhouse rising within him.

"What do you mean? Zhou Hai, are you looking down on my Level 7 Spirit Source User status?"

"Is there anyone in this team who can fight better than me?"

Zhou Hai chuckled.

Without further ado, he extended his carrot-thick finger and began to list them off like precious family treasures.

"Nothing major happened these past few days while you were unconscious."

"It's just that Little Lu casually killed two Level 8 Drowned Ones at sea."

"Then he captured a hundred-meter-long Level 7 Titan Giant Whale and had it pull our ship for a few days."

"When we got here, that Level 8 Spirit Source User named Butcher wanted to charge a toll, but Little Lu pierced him with a spear, like a candied hawthorn skewer."

"Oh right, the three thousand mercenaries at this North Slope were also suppressed by Little Lu alone."

With each sentence Zhou Hai spoke, Chen Yan's eyes widened a bit more.

By the end, Chen Yan's mouth was wide enough to fit a fist, and his original Aura of a king's return deflated completely with a "whoosh," like a punctured balloon.

"How... how many?"

Chen Yan stammered, pointing out the window, "Level 8? And killed three? A Level 7 sea beast Giant Whale pulling the ship?"

He turned his head to look out the window.

He just happened to see the mountain-like Titan Giant Whale in the distant Harbor flip over, spraying a dozens-meter-high water column.

"…"

Chen Yan looked at his proudly clenched fist, then at the Giant Whale.

A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

So, I fought with all my might to break through to Level 7, thinking I could be the big brother.

But I woke up, and the version updated?

Did Lu Sheng... grow up eating nuclear waste?!

Just as Chen Yan was doubting his life, the command room door was pushed open again.

An Aura, faintly tinged with bloodlust yet profound as an abyss, permeated the room.

Lu Sheng walked in, hands in his pockets.

He glanced at the dumbfounded Chen Yan, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"Awake?"

Lu Sheng looked him up and down, then nodded: "Level 7 Spirit Source User, very strong Qi and blood, a good, durable meat shield. Congratulations."

A good meat shield... Chen Yan's mouth twitched fiercely.

If anyone else dared to comment on him like that, he would have punched them long ago.

But facing Lu Sheng, he could only force a bitter smile.

He took a deep breath, shed all his arrogance, and gave Lu Sheng a standard military salute.

"Brother Lu..."

Chen Yan's expression was solemn, "Your life-saving grace is unforgettable. If there's ever a place where you need me, I, Chen Yan, will not hesitate!"

This was a soldier's promise.

Lu Sheng extended his hand, supporting Chen Yan's arm, not letting him continue to bow.

"General Chen, you exaggerate."

Lu Sheng's expression was calm, "Back on Purple Gold Mountain, if you hadn't supported the blazing flame, Zhou Hai and I would have been fish food long ago. We are allies, and even more, friends. Helping each other is our duty."

With one sentence, he both gave Chen Yan Face and brought them closer.

The Old General watched this scene, stroking his beard with a gratified smile.

Just then, a hurried communications soldier broke the warmth in the room.

"Report!!!"

The communications soldier was full of excitement, "A convoy has arrived from the East Slope direction! They're flying a white flag! They say it's Liu Deshui, the highest commander of the Shu Mountain Remnants, here to visit Major Lu and the Old General!"