Chapter 137: A Shocking Revelation

Inside the tent, Yenir tossed aside the Soundproof Barrier and casually took the host seat, nodding to the group.

No sooner had he sat down than Zhang Tao and Wang Tian, feigning extreme enthusiasm, began offering polite compliments:

“Lord Ye Lin, your power truly is impressive. Even from such a distance, one sword technique wiped out a Third-Stage Mutant—it’s rare even among many mid-level fighters.”

“Indeed, and thank you for inviting us. I’ve heard you’ve helped our Chen Yong quite a bit. The Zhenbei Security Zone is deeply grateful.”

While the two wily veterans remained calm, waiting for Yenir to initiate the discussion, Chen Yong and his companion beamed sincerely and quickly asked:

“Brother Ye Lin, what brings you here this time?”

They were both curious and nervous. Naturally, they hoped Yenir might join the faction behind them—a feat they claimed as their own accomplishment.

But they couldn’t understand why Yenir had called Xiao Hai over. Could it be that Xiao Hai is also expected to cooperate?

Meanwhile, Xiao Hai, sitting aside like an outsider, showed a flicker of doubt in his eyes as he looked at the group in confusion.

“Ye Lin?”

Had he misheard, or were the others pronouncing it unclearly? Don’t they know Yenir goes by Yenir?

Especially given that opening remark, he immediately caught the underlying meaning.

He had believed that the Zhenbei Security Zone and the Tiancheng Merchant Guild were the forces backing Yenir—the very first to nurture him. But now it seems that might not be the case.

Recalling a dreadful suspicion he had harbored earlier, a chill crawled up his spine.

To be honest, he was still in the dark—Yenir had simply summoned him without preamble.

On the way, he had pondered many theories. Could Yenir’s rapid surge in power be due to a talent that absorbs Spirit Crystals at ten times the usual rate? Or maybe his battle experience is over ten times greater?

No matter which, it just didn’t add up.

Without any further pleasantries, Yenir turned his gaze to Zhang Tao:

“As you can see, my strength is roughly at a Third-Stage mid-level.”

After a brief pause, noticing the blank expressions on everyone’s faces, he then looked to Xiao Hai:

“Commander Xiao, please fetch a testing device. I’d like to conduct an evaluation.”

“Hmm?”

At his request, Xiao Hai’s body tensed, and the others wore puzzled expressions.

“Lord Ye Lin, we’ve already witnessed your power. There’s no need for a test.”

“Exactly, we’ve always known you’re at a Third-Stage mid-level without a doubt.”

Zhang Tao chuckled helplessly while Wang Tian, seated nearby, looked utterly baffled.

What is this about? Proving his own strength all over again? Isn’t that obvious? Do they really think we’ve never seen it before?

Yet Yenir only laughed lightly, shook his head, and insisted that Xiao Hai fetch the device.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Xiao Hai’s heart skipped a beat. Ignoring Yenir’s order, he hurried off to the command center to search for a testing apparatus.

Once Xiao Hai departed, Yenir fell silent, and the others could do nothing but wait patiently.

During the wait, a restless irritation grew among them. They hadn’t come to see Yenir “show off” his power.

Fortunately, the wait was brief.

In less than a minute, Xiao Hai returned clutching a common testing device, his eyes betraying a mix of tension and even dread as he nodded at Yenir.

In the next moment, Yenir rose to his feet and, amid a chorus of frowning looks, raised his hand.

Instantly, a rich blue light burst forth:

“Ding: Second-Stage Peak Fighter.”

At the sound, Zhang Tao and the others, still unaware of what was unfolding, instinctively offered polite words:

“Lord Ye Lin, there’s no need to prove yourself—you’re clearly Third-Stage…”

Huh!?

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Zhang Tao’s expression shifted to one of utter blankness, as if his mind had shut down.

Second-Stage what?

Second-Stage Peak Fighter!?

At that moment, Chairman Wang Tian leapt from his seat with a loud thud, his eyes widening into perfect circles as if he were hallucinating.

What did he just hear? Was it a misinterpretation?

Glancing sharply at the testing device, a few seconds later, a piercing, warped sound nearly shattered the tent’s fabric.

“Aren’t you supposed to be Third-Stage!?”

Everyone present stared at Yenir in terror. Even those normally stoic now looked like startled roosters, nearly screaming.

Whoosh.

Almost in a rush, Wang Tian lunged for the device, clutching it tightly as if he couldn’t believe the result.

He rubbed his eyes furiously and, after repeatedly confirming that the result indeed read Second-Stage Peak Fighter, he let the device slip clumsily to the ground.

Staring stiffly at Yenir’s calm expression, he felt as though he had seen a ghost.

“It really is Second-Stage Peak Fighter… How could this be? How is it possible?!”

Like Xiao Hai earlier, he was struck dumb with shock.

If Yenir were truly a high-ranking Third-Stage fighter, even near the peak, they wouldn’t be this astonished.

Yet here, a Second-Stage Awakener—a rank even below Third-Stage—had unleashed an attack comparable to a Third-Stage fighter. Everyone quickly realized the magnitude of what this meant.

Absolutely horrifying!

What kind of abnormal talent could achieve this!?

“Glug.”

He swallowed hard. Compared to being reduced to incoherent terror like his elders, Chen Yong—one of the first to know Yenir—looked on in bewilderment.

“You’re Second-Stage!? What on earth… what is happening here?”

Unsurprised by their reaction, Yenir calmly began to disperse the aura enveloping him, proving without a doubt that he was indeed Second-Stage.

“I know it’s hard to accept, but I really am Second-Stage.”

“In fact, my name isn’t Ye Lin—it’s Yenir.”

He turned to Chen Yong:

“I’m not as formidable as you might think; in reality, I’m only eighteen.”

As he spoke, Yenir chuckled and patted a slightly trembling Xiao Hai gently, adding softly:

“Commander Xiao, please explain my situation to them.”

“You remember me, right?”

Xiao Hai took a deep breath, looking at the two faction representatives—who, although of much higher rank, were still dumbfounded by the news—and managed a wry smile, understanding exactly what Yenir expected him to say.

“Yenir… you truly are Second-Stage. In fact, you’re just an ordinary person from our Safe Zone.”

“Later during testing, it was discovered that you possessed SS-level talent.”

“Being of the Willpower Type with no potential, you weren’t selected for the Fire Seed Plan.”

“And we didn’t pay it much heed…”

At that moment, Xiao Hai felt a burning sting on his face, deeply regretting having underestimated Yenir’s significance. Deep down, he knew that from now on, Yenir would rapidly soar far beyond even his astonishing SS-level test result.

Looking at the dazed expressions around him, Xiao Hai’s face turned bitter:

“Not only that, two weeks ago, Yenir was at Zero Stage. I can vouch for that…”

He gasped sharply.

Wang Tian abruptly staggered backward. If it hadn’t been for Wang Zheng’s quick support, the calculating Chairman might have fainted from shock.

“Two weeks… Second-Stage Peak Fighter!?”

“Power comparable to Third-Stage!?”

“Oh my…”

Gasping for breath, Zhang Tao, after regaining his senses, clutched his chest as if his heart might give out. Damn, this is terrifying!

Their eyes fixed on Yenir as if he were some kind of monster.

This display far exceeded anything they had ever imagined.

Yenir… as they replayed the moment in their minds, they recalled that old widely circulated joke that had once made him a laughingstock.

It was absurd that the Military still believed he had no potential. Ridiculous that those so-called seeds were hailed as geniuses. The discrepancy left them utterly demolished.

If that’s called having no potential, then those Third-Stage fighters should just hang themselves to avoid wasting resources.

Remembering the so-called ‘surprise’ in Yenir’s words, they shared a bitter smile.

This wasn’t a surprise at all—it was pure terror!