In the training ground, Instructor Wen stood smiling as before, but Chen Chuan could feel that his eyes weren’t quite as bright as they had been.

This was likely a result of the resonance transfer just now.

Instructor Wen smiled and said, "The fact that you can maintain your Divine Constant’s focus for over three hours straight is quite surprising. I originally thought you’d need to rest a few times to last that long. Judging from the records you provided, you only reached the Third Limit less than five days ago, correct?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

Instructor Wen said with some regret, "It seems I truly misjudged you before. You really do possess a talent far beyond that of ordinary people.

"At this rate, it probably won’t take much time for me to teach you what you need to learn. I might even be able to teach you some extra things." He glanced at his watch. "It’s almost six. Let’s call it a day."

Chen Chuan cupped his fist in a salute and said, "Thank you, Instructor Wen."

He didn’t know if this was how Instructor Wen usually taught others, but this method clearly took a toll on the instructor himself, so his gratitude was sincere.

Instructor Wen smiled. "Come find me again once you’ve digested what I taught you today."

Chen Chuan agreed. He noticed that Instructor Wen didn’t seem to have driven there and offered him a ride, but the latter politely declined. Chen didn’t insist. After bidding him farewell, he drove back from the outskirts.

After returning home and eating dinner, he went to his room and carefully took stock of his condition.

This teaching method, driven by resonance, was indeed highly efficient. He felt as if the memories had been deeply ingrained into his body. The moment his mind willed it, his Mutated Organization would instinctively operate according to the sensations he had experienced during the day.

However, this was only a temporary gain. If he didn’t work to familiarize himself with it, his Mutated Organization might forget over time.

But before doing any of this, he first had to guide the Furnace Breathing Method. Each time, this would consume a certain amount of his previously stored Energy, and mobilizing it would also drain his focused Divine Constant.

Therefore, if he wanted to train a certain amount each day, he had to maintain a balance. The amount consumed in training could not exceed his daily accumulation.

He needed to wait until he had fully digested his current lessons before seeking more guidance from Instructor Wen.

So, for the next three days, he stayed home and repeatedly honed these techniques.

During this time, he received a call from Wei Chang’an. Since most people were busy with their own commissions, it was difficult to find a time when everyone was free. There were only a few open slots in the middle of the month, so the gathering was scheduled for then.

Before the first ten days of the month were over, Chen Chuan sought instruction from Instructor Wen one more time, gaining even more this time.

Furthermore, he discovered that this process of repeated application was very helpful for restraining and controlling his Divine Constant, which was an unexpected benefit.

When his day off arrived, he drove to Director Lei’s house at the time he had arranged with Senior Sister He, visiting the director and his family. Inevitably, the conversation turned to some of his experiences since arriving in Central City.

After listening, Director Lei said, "It seems you’re adapting well to Central City. I’ll probably be transferred to Central City next year myself."

Chen Chuan had heard from Director Lei before that he might be promoted and transferred, but he hadn’t expected it to be to Central City. Still, this was good news. He said, "Congratulations then, Director Lei."

Director Lei said, "This was decided last year, but I still had a lot of things to arrange in Yangzhi, so it was delayed for a year. Chen, we’ll see each other again in Central City then."

Chen Chuan nodded and asked, "What about Senior Sister He and Xiaoying?"

Director Lei held He Nan’s hand and gently stroked Xiaoying’s head. "They’ll be coming with me. I’ll go first to get settled, and they’ll probably arrive a little later."

Senior Sister He then said, "Junior Brother, the situation in Central City is complicated. When Old Lei gets there, we might have to trouble you for some things."

Chen Chuan said, "Senior Sister, you’re too kind. Director Lei has helped me a lot in the past. I have some capabilities now, so please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything."

After having a meal there, he also asked Director Lei about some matters concerning Esoteric Rituals before leaving in the afternoon.

A few more days passed, and the day he had arranged to meet with Wei Chang’an arrived. He changed into casual clothes and went to their old gathering spot, the Du Yi Hotel.

When he arrived, Senior Brother Ren, Lin Xiaoti, Luo Kaiyuan, Feng Xiaochi, Weidong, Wu Han, and the members of Wei Chang’an’s team were all arriving one after another. After greeting everyone, they caught up on each other’s recent lives, exchanging pleasantries for a good while.

Once everyone was seated in the private room and had ordered their food, Wei Chang’an said, "The public security in the city is gradually improving. Most of our commissions are for the wilderness and the surrounding county towns. There isn’t much to do in the city itself, just some routine security commissions."

Cai Si chimed in, "I hear there’s a lot going on up north, but Yuan’an Company is keeping an eye on that, so we don’t need to get involved. But I did hear..." He looked at Wu Han. "That you, Junior Wu, and Junior Wei have cornered the market on commissions for itinerant bandits?"

Wu Han puffed out his chest and slapped the shoulder of Weidong, who was drinking water to tide himself over. "Of course. Junior Wei and I are a perfectly coordinated team. And Junior Feng and Junior Luo aren’t half bad either."

Feng Xiaochi asked curiously, "Chen, what is Central City really like?" At his question, everyone else also looked over with anticipation.

Chen Chuan didn’t hold anything back from them, telling them about the situation in Central City and honestly describing both the good and the bad.

Everyone had heard bits and pieces about Central City, but it was all secondhand hearsay, impossible to verify. Now, hearing about it from Chen Chuan, someone who had actually been there, felt truly eye-opening. They felt that Central City and the world outside it were really two different worlds.

Wei Chang’an sighed emotionally. "Your Brother Wei is doing pretty well for himself in Yangzhi City now, but I’m still leagues behind you, Junior Chen."

Everyone present felt the same way.

After all, the difference in resources between Yangzhi City and Central City was just too vast. Compared to Central City, Yangzhi was like a small pond where you couldn’t make any big waves. Even reaching the top there didn’t amount to much. The powerful families that used to exist in Yangzhi City would be nothing if placed in Central City.

Ding Liao slammed his hand on the table. "Damn it! I always thought Central City was good, but now that I know more, I feel it even more strongly. Brothers, don’t blame me for being negative, but what’s the use of trying so hard in Yangzhi? It all amounts to the same thing, doesn’t it? Old Wei, if we get the chance, we have to go to Central City!"

The other team members nodded involuntarily.

Wei Chang’an smiled. "Since you’ve put it that way, brother, I’ll have to find a way to make everyone’s wish come true."

Chen Chuan said, "I might be able to help with that."

Becoming a Third Limit Fighter wasn’t just an increase in status; it also allowed one to act as a sponsor, enabling a group of people to obtain long-term residency permits.

However, official citizenship was much harder to obtain. The number of slots Central City approved each year was limited; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to go to such great lengths to pass the exam to get into Central City in the first place.

Feng Xiaochi and Luo Kaiyuan exchanged a look. He said, "Chen, we graduate after one more year. Luo, Weidong, and I agreed last month to sign up for the Class C Defense Certificate exam. We’re heading over in a few days. If we can get the certificate and secure a recommendation, we might have a chance to go to Central City too."

Luo Kaiyuan said, "It’s just not that easy. We’re not the only three taking the C Certificate exam. And I heard there’s only one recommendation slot each year. We’ll all give it a shot and see who makes it."

’Actually, the three guys from the dorm across from theirs—Zhuang Zhi, Zhuang Zhongshan, and Feng Sheng—were all quite skilled. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been recruited by the Mutual Aid Association back then. But having joined the Mutual Aid Association was now a demerit, so they weren’t allowed to participate in this assessment. That meant they had a few fewer rivals.’

Chen Chuan raised his glass to them. "Then I wish you success."

Seeing this, the others also raised their glasses to wish them success.

Just then, the dishes began to arrive one after another. The group ate and talked, the meal lasting until one in the afternoon. After leaving the hotel, Chen Chuan exchanged new contact information with everyone, said his goodbyes, and then walked toward the parking lot.

Cai Si watched his straight, upright back and suddenly said, "Brother Wei, do you get the feeling that Brother Chen is a little different than before?"

Wei Chang’an rubbed his chin. "He is different. When he was standing in front of me just now, I thought *I* was the junior. Maybe it’s because he has an official position now?"

"No," Cai Si shook his head. "It’s not that kind of different."

Lin Xiaoti was chewing bubble gum. She blew a bubble and popped it. "Master Chen is a Third Limit Fighter. It’s only normal."

As soon as she said this, everyone who had been in the middle of saying their goodbyes stopped and involuntarily turned to look at her.

Lin Xiaoti blew another bubble and looked at the others staring at her, puzzled. "Didn’t Master Chen tell you?"

She blinked. "I heard from my master that Master Chen is already a Third Limit Fighter. So it’s not strange at all that we feel that way when we stand in front of him. My master says it’s because a Fighter’s perception of danger is sharp, and their instincts are warning them to stay away from someone who’s dangerous to them."

After confirming this news, the shock that washed over Feng Xiaochi’s group and Wei Chang’an’s team surpassed even the impact of hearing all about Central City.

As Fighters themselves, the concept of a Third Limit Fighter had previously existed only in their minds, an objective to strive for. But to suddenly have someone right beside them reach that level brought an unprecedented sense of dislocation and shock.

The group stood there for a while before they each departed, their hearts still reeling.

As Cai Si walked down the road, he muttered, "No wonder I didn’t dare to meet his gaze when Brother Chen looked at me earlier. So that’s why."

Wei Chang’an clapped him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Isn’t this a good thing? Junior Chen is one of our own from the Patrol Bureau. When he said he could get us long-term residency permits for Central City, he wasn’t just bragging."

Cai Si looked up. "Old Wei, you mean...?"

"Let’s work hard. We can’t let Junior Chen look down on us. Central City is where we’re meant to be in the future."

...

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