The initial duration of the time-stopping space is three days, but extending it using Star Energy Crystals is very costly. A fist-sized Star Energy Crystal only adds five seconds. An entire cubic meter of Star Energy Crystals might only extend the time by eighty minutes, just one hour and twenty minutes.
Training, battle techniques, weapon energy supply, the dice, time—Lu Yin realized that everything he needed required Star Energy Crystals. He had a growing suspicion that he might have to do some unsavory things in the future to obtain them, like robbery. Perhaps becoming a space pirate might be a good career choice.
Lu Yin surveyed his surroundings. With three days to spend in this space, the time was awkward. Training the Celestial Star Palm wouldn't be enough, and he didn't have any Star Energy Crystals to absorb. What else could he do? After some thought, he decided to train in a different battle technique: the Rending Sky Palm.
The Rending Sky Palm is an advanced version of the Wave Palm. Though it's a common technique, it requires much more physical strength than the Wave Palm. Even among those at the Harmonization Realm, few can execute it due to its high physical demands. This made it suitable for Lu Yin, who had no energy but possessed a strong body.
The Rending Sky Palm is more powerful than the Wave Palm and has the advantage of being a long-range attack, which could cover Lu Yin's weaknesses.
Lu Yin had never neglected his physical training, and it was fortunate that the Wave Palm didn't require much Star Energy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to use it to kill Asta.
Although Star Energy permeates the universe, each planet has its own ecosystem, and their Star Energy isn't identical. This makes techniques like the Wave Palm, which rely on physical strength, even more valuable. Unfortunately, many people overlook this and chase after powerful techniques that they can't always use.
Time passed in the static space, and the countdown continued. Lu Yin did pull-ups with one finger, sweating profusely. Three days went by quickly.
When the last second ticked away, Lu Yin's surroundings shifted, and he found himself back in the training room. Everything was unchanged. He quickly checked the time, confirming that only a second had passed in the outside world.
Lu Yin took a bath and rested well for a day. The next day, he met with Granny again.
This time, Granny looked at Lu Yin with fear and respect.
"Do you know your duty?" Lu Yin asked casually.
Granny replied in a low voice, "Your bodyguard."
Lu Yin smiled. "Let's go. The Warden should be waking up soon."
Zhou Shan had been undergoing intensive treatment. His injuries were far worse than Granny's. If it hadn't been for Lu Yin, he would have been killed by Oden. He had also been attacked by Tres before that.
After half a month of treatment, Zhou Shan had lost a lot of weight.
When Lu Yin and Granny reached the hospital room, Feng Hong quickly stood up. "Brother Lu—no, Sage Yin, the Warden is awake."
Lu Yin was helpless. He didn't want to be called Sage Yin, especially with the second batch of trial students arriving soon, making him an easy target. But the title had already spread in Jinling, and as a Heaven-tier expert, he couldn't deny it.
"I know. Stay outside. I'm going in," Lu Yin said calmly, stepping past Feng Hong and the others into the room.
Feng Hong looked warily at Granny. She was an alien.
Granny ignored him. She only cared about Lu Yin. If Lu Yin hadn't come from the stars, it would have taken a lot longer for her to submit due to her pride.
Inside the room were Zhou Shan and Qin Xuan.
As soon as Lu Yin entered, Qin Xuan looked at him warily, stepping protectively in front of Zhou Shan.
Lu Yin chuckled. "I just want to talk to the Warden. Do you mind?"
Qin Xuan hesitated.
"Qin Xuan, step aside," Zhou Shan said weakly.
Qin Xuan was reluctant but eventually moved aside, standing by.
Lu Yin looked at her. "Please leave."
Qin Xuan's expression changed as she looked at Zhou Shan.
Zhou Shan nodded, signaling her to leave.
Qin Xuan left reluctantly.
"Sorry, she's too worried about me," Zhou Shan said softly, gesturing for Lu Yin to sit.
Lu Yin sat by his bed, smiling. "She's afraid I'll hurt you."
Zhou Shan smiled. "If you wanted to hurt me, I wouldn't be alive now. I heard you rejected the northern front and plan to focus on Jinling and the west?"
Lu Yin nodded, walking to the window and looking at the chaotic Jinling. "It's been half a year since the apocalypse. Zombies are numerous, but they're not highly offensive to evolved humans. Mutant beasts are different. The longer time goes on, the stronger they become. The penal camp's long frontline is at risk of collapsing."
"Precisely because it's been only half a year, I want to connect with others quickly and jointly reclaim China. This is also why Zhao Yu risked coming to Jinling," Zhou Shan said.
Lu Yin looked back at him. "How many casualties does the penal camp suffer daily? How much road can you clear? I had Luo Yun report to you. There's a corpse king on your so-called safe route. Corpse kings have intelligence, can evolve, and can develop unique attack methods by consuming unusual items. They're not something centurions can handle. Can you personally go to the front? How far can you go? Can you guarantee no Heaven-tier mutant beasts will appear?"
Zhou Shan was silent, bitterly saying, "I know, but I must reach the capital. I want to know what happened back then. Maybe we can find the root cause of the apocalypse."
Lu Yin's eyes narrowed. "The root cause?"
Zhou Shan looked seriously at Lu Yin. "China brought back a corpse from Neptune. We got some information from it. That's how we got ahead of everyone and became the Seven Saints after the apocalypse. But that corpse had problems. The Institute of Technology detected unusual substances in it. Those substances could cause cellular mutations. I suspect the apocalypse came from that corpse."
"What happened then?" Lu Yin asked. He was most interested in the corpse, which contained the Body Sculpting Technique and might be the fugitive the students were searching for from the inner universe.
Zhou Shan shook his head. "I don't know. The unusual substances were beyond the Institute's control, so Number One ordered the corpse to be taken away and scattered us seven around to guard different parts of China. Maybe Number One had already guessed something. But on the day the corpse was taken away, the apocalypse began."
Lu Yin stared at Zhou Shan.
Zhou Shan looked at the ceiling, confused. "We don't know what happened. We only know that the world changed in an instant. Researchers at the Institute, Number One, and many others died in a massive explosion. Later, we tried everything to contact others, but no one knew what happened. Even Zhang Ding Tian in the capital didn't know."
"What about the corpse?" Lu Yin asked urgently. He valued the corpse the most, as it contained the Body Sculpting Technique and could be the fugitive from the inner universe.
Zhou Shan shook his head. "I don't know. There was only a giant crater filled with lava at the scene. All the information disappeared in that explosion, bringing the apocalypse."
Lu Yin turned away. It was clear Zhou Shan wasn't lying. He had been searching for the corpse, coming from Hubei to Jinling. But even the Seven Saints didn't know its whereabouts. It seemed he would have to visit the capital.
"Rest well. I'm leaving," Lu Yin said flatly.
Zhou Shan asked, "Are you leaving Jinling?"
Lu Yin looked at him. "Do you want me to leave?"
"Of course not. You staying means Jinling can be defended. I can sense your strength. You injured that strongest alien when you were Earth-tier. Now that you're Heaven-tier, you're definitely stronger than me. I hope you'll stay. The penal camp can follow your orders. Even I can follow your orders," Zhou Shan said seriously.
Lu Yin was surprised. "Why? If I leave, Jinling is still yours. You're still the revered Warden."
Zhou Shan smiled bitterly. "Do you think we want this title? I protect Jinling because Number One ordered me to. I'm a soldier. Whether glory exists or not, I'll follow orders. The survival of millions in Jinling is more important than anything. I hope you'll stay to protect them."
Lu Yin stared into Zhou Shan's eyes, which met his unflinchingly.
After a while, Lu Yin nodded. "I'll stay for now," he said, then left the room.
Zhou Shan breathed a sigh of relief, looking out the window. The battle half a month ago had left a deep impression. The so-called Warden was just an ant. The pressure of millions of lives was immense. He sincerely hoped Lu Yin would stay. Only by staying alive could they have a future.
What Zhou Shan told Lu Yin was top secret but also a show of sincerity.
As Lu Yin left the room, Qin Xuan quickly went in.
Lu Yin nodded to Feng Hong, then left with Granny.
A soldier—such a heavy title, representing responsibility. This responsibility was too great. Lu Yin didn't want to bear it. He respected Zhou Shan but had no intention of staying to help forever.