73: I just got my new super power bank and my hometown exploded?

Lin Yuan ran at full speed.

The entire temporary base was still filled with an atmosphere of relief after surviving a disaster.

Members of the Dragon Shield Bureau, regardless of rank, would stop when they saw Lin Yuan.

They cast gazes mixed with awe, gratitude, and curiosity at him.

"Look, it's Lin Yuan!"

"That's him! The tough guy who soloed a Lord-level monster!"

"My goodness, he looks so young..."

"D-rank... No, he's already C-rank! The promotion report just came out this morning!"

Lin Yuan was deaf to these discussions.

How could the empty fame of a hero compare to tangible rewards?

Soon, he arrived at the core area of the base.

A building made entirely of special alloys appeared before his eyes.

This was the Dragon Shield Bureau's A-rank Strategic Reserve Vault at its Beijing headquarters.

At the entrance, eight fully armed B-rank Experts stood on either side, their aura as solid as mountains.

This guard force alone was enough to deter any petty criminals.

A middle-aged military officer with the rank of major was already waiting there.

Seeing Lin Yuan, he immediately came forward, a smile on his face.

"Mr. Lin Yuan, I am Zhao Xin, the person in charge of this vault."

"commander-in-chief Qin has already informed me, please follow me."

Lin Yuan chuckled, "Major Zhao, you're too polite, just call me Xiao Lin."

He rubbed his hands, somewhat impatiently asking, "Um... Major Zhao, does an A-rank vault mean I can pick anything I want inside?"

The corner of Zhao Xin's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

It was his first time seeing a champion so openly display "greed" on his face.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, maintaining his professional demeanor, "According to regulations, as the individual champion of this competition, you may select one item from the A-rank vault as a reward."

"One item?"

Lin Yuan's brows furrowed.

"Only one?"

Zhao Xin: "..."

He felt his blood pressure rising slightly.

Did this guy know what one item from an A-rank vault meant?

Those were strategic resources capable of bankrupting a B-rank Expert, or even serving as the foundation of a prominent family!

This kid actually thought it was too little?

"Mr. Lin Yuan." Zhao Xin emphasized, "It is one item. This is the highest-tier reward."

"Alright, alright, one item it is." Lin Yuan pouted, muttering softly, "So stingy..."

Zhao Xin pretended not to hear.

He walked to the alloy door and passed multiple verifications including iris, fingerprint, and voiceprint scans.

"Rumble—"

The heavy alloy door opened to both sides.

A breath mixed with various strange energies rushed out.

Lin Yuan took a deep breath and followed Zhao Xin inside.

The interior of the vault was completely different from the warehouse full of gold and silver treasures he had imagined.

It was more like a futuristic technology museum.

The space was vast, and the lighting was bright.

Each precious item was individually stored within an energy shield.

Below each item was a light screen, detailing its name, origin, and function.

[Pojun - Tactical High-Frequency Combat Blade]

A futuristic black long saber, its blade glowing red.

The description stated that it could easily cut through the scales of B-rank beasts.

Lin Yuan glanced at it and shook his head.

"Flashy, and I'd have to learn saber techniques, too much trouble."

He walked past it directly.

[Black Tortoise Armor - Active Psionic Shield Generator]

A wristband-like device that could generate an energy shield covering the entire body, strong enough to withstand a full-power blow from a B-rank Expert.

Lin Yuan shook his head again.

"My own body is the best armor; this thing definitely needs charging and costs money, so no."

Zhao Xin followed behind him, his eyelids twitching continuously.

This kid... did he even know what he was looking at?

That [Pojun] was the latest masterpiece from the Ministry of Science and Technology, coveted by countless B-rank Experts.

That [Black Tortoise Armor] was even more of a life-saving artifact!

He just walked past it with such disdain?

Lin Yuan's gaze quickly swept through the vault.

His goal was clear.

heavenly thunder fragment!

Only something containing the most primordial power of thunder could make his strength leap forward!

Soon, his steps stopped in a corner.

Suspended in the energy shield there was a... fist-sized metal fragment.

The fragment was dark purple throughout, its surface covered with profound patterns, and tiny arcs of electricity jumped on it, emitting a heart-palpitating aura.

[heavenly thunder fragment (Suspected)]

[Source: Recovered from the core zone of a mysterious meteorite fall of the same level as the "Tunguska Event" in Antarctica, specific composition unknown.]

[Function: Contains an unanalyzable destructive thunder law. Any attempts to analyze or utilize it have failed, and research equipment is instantly destroyed by its energy. Currently, it can only be stored as a deterrent strategic material. Warning: High-risk item, proximity may cause energydisorder.]

"This is it!"

Lin Yuan pointed at the fragment and said decisively.

Zhao Xin followed his finger and was completely stunned.

"Mr. Lin... Lin Yuan, are you sure?"

He asked somewhat incredulously.

"Its energy is too violent. Our bureau's B-rank lightning-element Experts once tried to activate it, and were severely injured on the spot. You, this..."

"I want it!" Lin Yuan interrupted him.

Are you kidding?

Violent?

Is there anything more violent than the abyssal origin?

In his eyes, this thing was a super battery!

"I feel like I have a connection with it." Lin Yuan began to talk nonsense seriously, "The first time I saw it, I felt the call of destiny! It's calling me! We are a match made in heaven!"

Zhao Xin opened his mouth, utterly speechless.

He really couldn't understand the thought process of this newly crowned champion.

He gave up divine weapons, gave up life-saving artifacts, and chose a "hot potato" that could explode at any moment.

Crazy.

He was truly a lunatic.

"Alright." Zhao Xin sighed and initiated the procedure, "Since you have decided, according to regulations, I will retrieve this heavenly thunder fragment for you."

The energy shield slowly dissipated.

The dark purple fragment floated quietly in front of Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan reached out and held it in his hand.

The moment it touched his hand.

"Zzzzz—!"

A violent golden electric arc shot out from the fragment, scorching his arm black!

Zhao Xin was greatly alarmed, "Be careful!"

However, not only did Lin Yuan not let go, the smile on his face became even brighter.

"Exhilarating!"

The lightning power in his body surged, and the scorching blackness on his arm quickly faded.

The Primordial Thunder God Body cheered with joy.

Just as he was about to put away this "super power bank."

"Buzz—!"

His personal terminal suddenly vibrated urgently, displaying an incoming call notification.

Caller ID: Zhou Weiguo.

Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly answered.

"Lin Yuan!"

Before he could speak, Zhou Weiguo's anxious voice roared from the terminal, the background filled with harsh alarms and chaotic shouts.

"Come back immediately once you get the reward! Something happened in Jiangcheng! Top-level emergency! Now! Immediately!"