Age of Evolution

Before accepting the challenge, Lin Zhen had a headache about how to get a Planet Crystal, because without handing a Planet Crystal to Brother Guang, he couldn’t initiate a team battle.

Lin Zhen wanted to go out and borrow one, but martial artists regarded Star Crystals as more important than their lives, so he couldn’t borrow one. Su Mingyue saw that Lin Zhen was a little troubled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing much, it’s just that we may not be able to secure third place without a

Planet Crystal. We can’t initiate a team battle, so we’re basically destined to lose,” Lin Zhen replied.

To his surprise, Su Mingyue smiled and said, “That’s alright; I’ve already handed over the Planet Crystal, so go ahead.”

“Ah! Where did you get the Planet Crystal?” Lin Zhen asked.

“I borrowed it from someone,” Su Mingyue winked.

“Who did you borrow it from?” Su Mingyue spent all day cultivating in the tree hole and hardly ever went out, so who could she have borrowed it from?

“Anyway, I managed to borrow it. We can just get another one tomorrow to return. Let’s go; it’s starting.”

Although he still had doubts, Lin Zhen didn’t think too much about it. Su Mingyue was the Divine Sect’s Saintess, and it shouldn’t be too difficult for her to borrow one if she really wanted to.

The challengers were a mixed team. As soon as the challenge began, they proposed individual battles, but Lin Zhen proposed a team battle instead.

Brother Guang agreed to Lin Zhen’s request, saying that he had received the Planet Crystal and would proceed with the team battle.

After a fierce battle, Lin Zhen’s team emerged victorious again. However, Su Mingyue seemed to be in bad shape, and even had blood oozing from the corners of her mouth after the battle ended.

Seeing Su Mingyue’s condition, Lin Zhen found it very strange since her strength shouldn’t have been affected by such a battle.

The only solution now was to find more Star Crystals for Su Mingyue to absorb, which would be beneficial for her recovery.

At this point, they couldn’t continue to challenge the second-place team. Lin Zhen approached Group Two and exchanged a day with them, hoping to switch Sunday and Saturday.

Group Two had been fighting all day in the Ant Nest yesterday and needed to rest, so they immediately agreed to Lin Zhen’s request.

Lin Zhen delved into the Ant Nest again, but his luck wasn’t good this time.

When Lin Zhen returned to the tree hole with the Planet Crystal, he found that Su Mingyue was gone, and only Sun Tie and Luo Zhen were there.

Lin Zhen asked, “Where’s Su Mingyue?”

Sun Tie glanced at Lin Zhen and replied, “She’s gone.”

“Gone? She was so badly injured; where did she go?”

“Someone from the Sky Dome came – a woman. She claimed to be Su Mingyue’s senior sister and took Su Mingyue away,” Sun Tie explained.

“Her senior sister?” Lin Zhen was taken aback. He recalled that Su Mingyue had mentioned a few days ago that she had a senior sister who had come to the Star Fruit Tree a few years ago and had never left. Su Mingyue had intended to look for her this time.

However, Lin Zhen couldn’t understand why Su Mingyue was in such a hurry to leave. She should’ve informed him first.

Sun Tie continued, “Su Mingyue was injured and seemed to be in bad shape, but she didn’t want to leave. Her senior sister insisted on taking her back for treatment. They even argued. Her senior sister accused her of going into battle with an old injury that hadn’t completely healed, and said she was risking her life. She insisted on taking Su Mingyue away.”

“An old injury that hadn’t healed?” Lin Zhen was stunned. Where did the old injury come from? Hadn’t he given her a Planet Crystal to heal her injuries from the last match?

He suddenly remembered that after he had given Su Mingyue the Planet Crystal last time, he had never actually seen her absorb it. She had just told him she was fine.

And when they accepted the challenge, Brother Guang said he had received the Planet Crystal. So where did Su Mingyue’s Planet Crystal come from?

She said she had borrowed it, but Su Mingyue never interacted with anyone else. Who could she have borrowed it from?

The truth became clear to him. Su Mingyue hadn’t absorbed the Planet Crystal. Instead, she had given it to Brother Guang so that Lin Zhen wouldn’t be eliminated. That’s why her condition worsened after today’s battle.

Sun Tie kept talking, “Su Mingyue didn’t want to leave, but her senior sister knocked her out with a slap. Then her senior sister took her away, saying they were going to the Sky Dome and would never return.”

At this point, Luo Zhen added, “When Su Mingyue was being taken away by her senior sister, she was already unconscious, but she still cried.”

Lin Zhen took a deep breath, refrained from asking further questions, and sat down in the tree hole. After some thoughts, he said to Sun Tie and Luo Zhen, “Each of you take a Comet Crystal. There are only three of us left, so we’ll give up the next challenge.”

Sun Tie tentatively asked, “Are you okay, Lin Zhen?”

Lin Zhen shook his head, “I’ll be fine. Life must go on as usual. In two more weeks, it’ll be a month, and we can reassemble our team. We can’t let others laugh at us.”

Upon hearing Lin Zhen’s words, Sun Tie and Luo Zhen’s confidence was boosted. They took the Comet Crystals from Lin Zhen and left.

Lin Zhen remained alone in the tree hole, where a faint feminine fragrance lingered. That was Su Mingyue’s scent.

He hadn’t expected the girl to be so resolute, bearing her injuries without absorbing the Planet Crystal because she didn’t want him to be eliminated.

As Lin Zhen recalled the sight of Su Mingyue with blood at her mouth, his heart clenched in pain.

“My silly girl….”

“Losing the third spot in the team is no big deal. We’ll get it back soon, so why are you treating yourself like this? You’re a high and mighty Saintess, after all!”

Lin Zhen had always thought he and Su Mingyue were friends, but it seemed like it wasn’t that simple now.

There’s a saying, “the hardest thing to endure is a beauty’s favor.” Lin Zhen hadn’t experienced this in his previous life, but he had now.

However, since it had already happened, he didn’t dwell on it. It was impossible to get Su Mingyue back for now. What he thought about was how Su Mingyue had been found by her senior sister.

Without a doubt, someone had been working behind the scenes.

Lin Zhen didn’t go asking anyone because it was useless to ask now. After all, he knew who could deal with him.

After walking out of the tree hole, many people around looked at Lin Zhen, seemingly wanting to see his embarrassed and flustered expression, but Lin Zhen disappointed them instead.

Finding the central team at Level Three, Lin Zhen exchanged the Planet Crystals in his hand for ten Comet Crystals. He wouldn’t need them anymore, and keeping them would be a waste.

Afterward, Lin Zhen returned to the tree hole and began a new round of cultivation.

“Sky Dome people, huh? Even if you’re the heavens, I’ll tear you open. Ming Yue, you must wait for me…”

In the dimly lit tree hole, stars shone brightly as Lin Zhen began his assault on reaching the Fifth-level War General.

Outside the tree hole, Zhang Sicheng said to Brother Guang: “Brother Guang, you really have skills, managing to get someone from the Sky Dome to take the girl away. This kid must have lost the will to cultivate.”

“He should be done soon. With his girlfriend taken away, very few young people can withstand such a blow. If he doesn’t go berserk during his cultivation, that’s already a good thing. Maybe he’ll go straight to Sky Dome to get her back. ”

“Heh, he’s really asking for death then. I’ll just stay here and watch how he dies.”

“Alright, I’ve fulfilled my promise and helped you. Stop bothering me from now on.” Brother Guang turned cold and immediately drove Zhang Sicheng away.

Zhang Sicheng didn’t leave but instead attached himself to the third squad on the central tree branch. He had an old friend here. Although one of his hands wasn’t very agile, he did some miscellaneous tasks humbly and stayed on.

Including him, many people wanted to see Lin Zhen make a fool of himself. Lin Zhen simply cultivated by the pond without interacting with anyone, disappointing him.

Not only did Lin Zhen’s cultivation not go awry, but he also successfully advanced to the Early Stage of the Fifth-level War General.

After the promotion, he showed no intention of going to Sky Dome to retrieve her. Zhang Sicheng occasionally passed by and purposely uttered some words about not being able to protect his girlfriend. Lin Zhen never responded, and it gradually became meaningless to Zhang, who stopped mentioning it in time, lest he betray Brother Guang.

Another week passed, and when the challengers arrived, Lin Zhen directly said that he was giving up the third spot.

With only three people in the team, there was no chance of victory, so Lin Zhen’s giving up was within people’s expectations.

Half a month passed just like that, and Lin Zhen stayed motionless by the pond as if he were a stone statue. Only occasionally at night would people catch a glimpse of his eyes flashing brightly, proving he was still alive.

Some Spiritual Mind Masters would also suddenly feel that Lin Zhen’s spiritual power seemed to be growing stronger.

After a full month, Lin Zhen’s team could be reassembled.

In the early morning, Jiang Huai appeared by the pond, and Lin Zhen stood up for the first time.

“Wow! You’ve made quite some progress in the past month!” Jiang Huai looked at Lin Zhen, somewhat surprised.

“Your progress isn’t bad either.” Lin Zhen smiled.

“Where’s the beautiful Su? Hurry un and let your brother see her. I’ve been

watching bugs for a whole month.” Jiang Huai joked with Lin Zhen with a smile.

“She left.”

Jiang Huai fell silent, sensing that there was a story behind this. He wisely did not ask further.

“Even without her, our team of two might not be able to win.” Jiang Huai pointed out the key issue.

Lin Zhen was also troubled by this. He had made considerable progress over the past month, not only advancing to the Early Stage of the Fifth-level War General but also cultivating his mental power to the Late Golden Stage. However, as others improved as well, and he no longer had the chance to obtain Star Crystals, challenging others wasn’t guaranteed to succeed.

At that moment, someone walked up behind them and hesitated before asking, “Can I team up with you guys?

Lin Zhen and Jiang Huai turned around to see a newcomer.

This person was covered in dust, and their clothes were in tatters, but their eyes shone brightly, making them look incredibly strong and confident.

It turned out to be Lin Zhen’s old acquaintance, Lou Qingfeng, who had advanced from a Seventh-level War General to a Level Eight War General. Seeing Lou Qingfeng, whose strength had clearly gone up a level, Lin Zhen finally showed a happy smile: “A warm welcome..”