Chapter 187 - 121: Adapting

Chapter 187: Chapter 121: Adapting

The reply was concise and standard, with no additional questions.

Hearing the response, Xu Mo relaxed slightly. ’Looks like the time it took me to break through wasn’t long enough to concern Command or trigger a loss-of-contact alert.’

After ending the transmission, Xu Mo switched on his walkie-talkie and listened intently to the other scattered conversations on the channel for a while. As expected, the topics mostly revolved around the ambush and rescue of the Sharp Sword team.

"See? When it comes down to it, you still have to rely on us Superpower Users!" The voice belonged to Wang Meng, the Observer from Fortress D-10. It was tinged with a vicarious excitement, clearly in communication with others. "You guys should have seen how strong that mysterious Superpower User was! SWISH, SWISH, SWISH! He took out a whole horde of zombies in just a few moves. It was insane!"

"For real?" someone exclaimed in amazement.

"What about the Sharp Sword team? How are they?" another person asked.

"They were picked up by a helicopter. They’ve probably gone back to Jiang City for treatment and to debrief," Wang Meng replied. "Sigh, it’s a shame I didn’t get to see that big shot’s face..."

’I’m a big shot now?’ Xu Mo couldn’t help but chuckle at Wang Meng’s words.

However, hearing that the Sharp Sword team had been evacuated only strengthened Xu Mo’s deduction: the Jiang City Shelter truly possessed an effective means of dealing with zombie virus infections. Otherwise, there was no way Lu Chuan and the others, with their obvious bite wounds, would have been allowed to return to the densely populated shelter.

This treatment obviously wasn’t widely available. It was likely limited in production, expensive, or had strict usage conditions, reserved only for elite personnel on high-risk missions.

This further solidified Xu Mo’s resolve to increase his own strength and reduce his reliance on external aid.

The next morning, as the rising sun cast its first golden rays through the observation slit and into the fortress, Xu Mo punctually assumed the stance for the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training’s Pile Training, beginning a new day of "Qi Collection."

However, as soon as he entered the state, Xu Mo noticed something different.

Previously, the best times for Qi Collection were the brief period at dawn when the sun had just risen and its yang energy was nascent but not yet scorching, and at dusk as the sun set and its yang energy receded, becoming gentle.

This was because once the sun was high in the sky, the energy within its light would become too violent. Forcibly collecting it would only burn the body, doing more harm than good.

But today, as he circulated his Pile Training and his qi and blood connected with the external energy, Xu Mo was surprised to find that even though the sun had been up for some time and the light was noticeably stronger than when he usually finished his Qi Collection, the energy he absorbed was still gentle and controllable. He didn’t feel any discomfort or violent impact.

Xu Mo tried extending his Qi Collection time a little.

Fifteen minutes, half an hour...

It wasn’t until the sun had climbed halfway up the sky and its light began to feel a bit glaring that Xu Mo felt the absorbed energy gradually take on a hint of scorching heat, placing a slight strain on his meridians.

Sensing the discomfort, Xu Mo immediately stopped his Qi Collection.

In the afternoon, Xu Mo tried his Qi Collection again, starting earlier, as soon as the sun began its clear descent to the west. He succeeded once more.

’The window for Qi Collection has gotten longer!’ A wave of joy washed over Xu Mo. This was undoubtedly one of the direct benefits of his realm breakthrough.

A body in the Iron Bone Realm was far superior to one in the Cowhide Realm, whether in the toughness of its meridians, the efficiency of energy absorption and conversion, or the degree of control. This allowed him to withstand longer and more varied periods of energy absorption, greatly increasing his total daily "Qi Collection."

Recalling the warm current that had surged forth to replenish his consumed qi and blood during his breakthrough to the Iron Bone Realm—which was precisely the pure energy accumulated from his daily "Qi Collection"—Xu Mo’s appreciation for this seemingly supplementary, yet utterly crucial, part of his training rose to an unprecedented level.

’Qi Collection doesn’t just nourish qi and blood and strengthen my foundation; it can also be a lifesaver in a crisis, and even aid in breakthroughs.’ Xu Mo clarified his training priorities. ’From now on, I must ensure I practice Qi Collection every day, rain or shine. It has to be my top priority.’

The increase in his realm of strength, coupled with a deeper understanding of the cultivation system, gave Xu Mo more confidence in his ability to continue surviving in the perilous Red Star Industrial Zone, and even to explore its secrets.

Over the next few days, Xu Mo’s life returned to its usual rhythm: scheduled observation and logging, persistent training, routine reports, and listening to the tense or bored chatter of the other Observers on the public walkie-talkie channel. He didn’t immediately act on any impulse to venture out on another scouting mission just because he had broken through.

Xu Mo knew that his most urgent task was to fully adapt to his explosive increase in power.

Breaking through to the Iron Bone Realm brought not only a qualitative leap in defense but also a comprehensive surge in all physical attributes. His strength, speed, and agility had all improved by a large margin, but this power was like a newly unsheathed blade—dazzlingly sharp, but difficult to control.

During the first two days of training, Xu Mo often broke things by using too much force. He accidentally crushed the handle of his water bottle, and when he tried to gently set down a supply crate, it landed with a CLANG that made the ground tremble slightly. On one occasion, while practicing his punches with a bit too much power, the fabric of his training uniform under his armpits and across his back tore with a RIIIP as his bulging muscles burst through.

"Tch, another one ruined." Xu Mo shook his head helplessly as he looked at the large tear in the clothes in his hand. Fortunately, he had collected plenty of clothing; otherwise, he might have genuinely faced the predicament of having nothing to wear. This also made Xu Mo focus more on exercises for fine-tuning his physical strength. Through repeated Pile Training, slow and deliberate strength drills, and consciously holding back during daily activities, he gradually brought this immense power under his complete control, making it as responsive as his own limbs.