The Umbrella Corporation was highly praised by Nicole and her team, as well as by Hodar and his subordinates. They all regarded it as a company with a strong moral compass in the industry.
They confessed that they had always envied those who had the opportunity to work there, and had wished to join for a long time, but never had the chance.
"So, do you still want to join now?" Zhao Lun asked them with a slight smirk.
"Now? Of course not! No matter how good their benefits are, it's nothing compared to what the boss offers us," Hodar replied earnestly.
"That's more like it," Zhao Lun said, satisfied.
This branch of Umbrella was undergoing expansion and upgrade. Its architecture, both in appearance and layout, was far more advanced than those surrounding it, looking quite dazzling.
As they walked by, they passed a newly renovated storefront. Through the transparent windows, many people could be seen waiting for something.
"Today, the Umbrella Corporation is holding a new round of recruitment..." Monica shared the information she knew. The company was mainly recruiting scholars with a certain level of academic achievement or experts with management capabilities.
As Monica had said, the company's image was excellent, and when they were recruiting, a long line of applicants had formed.
"Wouldn't it be great if we could have a building like this one day?" Maria said with some envy.
"It will happen," Zhao Lun said, gently rubbing her head.
With the Divine Kingdom at his side, he was confident in his ability to build an empire that would surpass this one.
Leaving the building, they continued on their way. As the scenery around them changed, Zhao Lun was no longer interested in the sights. His mind was preoccupied with Umbrella and the inspiration it had sparked, leading him to contemplate how to build a grand empire that would overshadow the one before him.
"Brother, look over there!" Maria's call caused Zhao Lun to stop and look at the scene before him.
Ahead, an ancient manor stood, with buildings that exuded an aura of profound antiquity. The atmosphere around it was eerily quiet, compelling all who passed by to lower their voices and restrain their actions.
"What's wrong, Maria?" Zhao Lun asked.
Here, only he and Maria seemed unaffected, moving without restraint.
"There!" Maria pointed to the small creatures moving about in the courtyard. She could see them, but Nicole and the others couldn't. She wondered if her eyesight had gone wrong.
"Mm, I see them. Shh, don't speak," Zhao Lun stopped Maria, who was about to cheer, and gave her a wink before calmly leaving the scene.
Maria quickly understood and fell silent, only pulling him along to point out anything she saw.
As they walked, they discovered many secrets that only they could see. Hodar and his companions couldn't perceive what they did. To them, all they saw were tranquil houses or manor estates, with their owners preferring quiet, and so everyone tried to keep as quiet as possible.
Zhao Lun noticed that as they walked, their expressions seemed somewhat dazed. Only when they left this area did they return to normal.
They saw many scenic views, encountered a number of unusual creatures, and glimpsed several mysterious figures. These figures appeared only fleetingly, leaving them no time to observe closely.
The larger the city, the more frequent these mysterious figures appeared. In a complex metropolis like London, they seemed even more common.
These figures often appeared around them but never lingered. Zhao Lun paid little attention, not wanting to let his curiosity endanger those around him. Fortunately, they didn't encounter any danger on their journey, and any disturbances were easily handled by Hodar.
By evening, they returned to the spacious villa they were renting and prepared for rest.
Maria hadn't forgotten the events of the morning and eagerly demanded the delicious milk Nicole had mentioned.
That night, Zhao Lun received the milk Nicole had bought for them.
"Boss, you're still growing. Drink more milk; it's good for your health," Nicole said, her smile wide as Monica stood by, amused.
Zhao Lun replied, "...Maria is growing. Let her drink it."
Zhao Lun declined, and Maria happily accepted. He didn't like milk, but Maria loved it.
That night, they slept soundly. When Zhao Lun woke, he found himself lying next to a warm, soft body, his hands holding something soft. The sensation was soothing, and instinctively, he gave it another squeeze, only to realize it wasn't right. He opened his eyes to find that it was Monica, Nicole, and Angela around him, with Angela the furthest away. Between Nicole and Angela lay Maria. The little girl was nestled between them, one leg resting on Angela, and her tiny hands holding onto Angela's breast as she slept soundly, drooling in her sleep.
Outside, the sky was starting to brighten. Zhao Lun gently slipped out from under the surrounding arms, put on a clean white tracksuit, and quietly left.
They had played cards together the previous night, but Zhao Lun wasn't sure how he had fallen asleep.
Hodar was already up, standing with his assistant at the gate of the courtyard, ensuring no one entered.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Lun felt his tension ease. He spread his arms, starting the three-body stance. His body moved with his mind, his spirit followed his intent, and his body, spirit, and will harmonized. As he focused, his beating heart calmed down, and before he knew it, his eyes were closed, and he entered a state of complete tranquility.
He felt the breeze flowing through his palms, the air swirling around him. His movements were fluid, as though he were a fish in water, effortlessly gliding through the currents. He spread his arms gently, moving with the grace of a crane about to take flight.
Zhao Lun was entirely immersed, devoid of thought or memory, lost in the flow of movement.
A 'hotspot' appeared in his chest, and his attention was drawn to it. After a few movements, the motions became smaller, and he returned to his still stance.
With focused intent, he tracked the 'hotspot' in his body until he finally captured it. His mind was entirely absorbed by it.
Suddenly, his head exploded with sensation, as though a portal to light had opened, flooding him with brilliant illumination. This light was formless, invisible to the ordinary person, and fleeting, though to Zhao Lun, it felt like an epiphany.
Was this his own power, or the Divine Kingdom's? A fleeting doubt passed through his mind.
Before long, Maria, Nicole, Angela, and Monica arrived, as if drawn by the light around him, staring in awe until it faded, and they returned to their senses.
The water had already enhanced them beyond their peers, and their perceptive eyes could discern things most couldn't.
As the light faded and they returned to reality, Zhao Lun felt the world around him was incredibly clear. Even with his eyes closed, he could perceive everything—the green grass on the ground, the potted plants on the windowsill, the birds hiding in their nests nearby, the guards patrolling the entrance, and even the tiny particles floating in the sunlight. Everything appeared in unprecedented clarity.
His mind converged as he silently moved toward the source of the 'hotspot.'
It was his heart—a tiny, crystal-clear drop of blood, glowing with light. As his consciousness connected with it, he could feel it releasing energy. It was solid, heavy, yet beautiful. As he focused on it, the surrounding blood seemed to be transformed by its light, slowly undergoing a process of assimilation.
He guided this drop of blood through his body, feeling warmth wherever it passed. It seemed to amplify his strength with every movement.
"Faster! Faster!" He urged as his body tensed, and all his strength concentrated into one action. His fist struck out, wild and unrefined, guided only by instinct. The air rippled like a disturbed lake, waves spreading outward.
His hand traced circles in the air, and the surrounding air seemed to flow like water, swirling around him. The whirlpool grew larger, moving with his every motion. Finally, when it reached its peak, he thrust it forward.
A gust of wind erupted, shaking the nearby trees and causing leaves to fall. A branch, as thick as a baby's arm, snapped off with a loud crack. Only after a long while did the wind subside, leaving a scene reminiscent of a typhoon's aftermath, eerily still.
Maria, Nicole, Angela, and Monica stared, their eyes wide with astonishment.
"Martial arts? Or Qi Gong?" Finally, Angela couldn't help but speak, her face flushed, gesturing excitedly, clearly moved.
Monica, Nicole, and Maria exchanged puzzled looks, surprised by Angela's reaction. They had never seen her so excited—her expression more akin to a young girl meeting a celebrity.
Zhao Lun, seemingly unaware, slowly retracted his hand, exhaling a long breath, feeling an immense sense of relief.
It was then that he realized the time had gotten late, and he had worked up a fine sheen of sweat.
"Neither," he recalled Angela's question.
"Neither?" The others looked at him, disbelief written across their faces.
"According to a book I read, this should be a form of traditional martial arts—also known as the art of killing," Zhao Lun wiped his sweat and walked toward the bathroom while casually saying this.
The information from the Divine Kingdom flooded his mind, and his heart remained unsettled. The strength he had just displayed was from the Divine Kingdom. The reason for the powerful burst of energy was that he had finally mastered this body after a period of synchronization.
"Killing?" The three women instinctively recoiled at the word. Maria, however, remained unaffected, accustomed to the ebb and flow of life's challenges.
"Yes, that's what the novel said, but it all sounds quite reasonable to me."
The sound of water running from the bathroom filled the space.
"Reasonable? You're just a kid! What's so reasonable about that?" Angela's voice came from the bathroom, clearly worried. The idea of killing was troubling to her—it was something they should avoid at all costs, as it could lead to danger.
"No reason? Apparently, it can perfectly sculpt the body, let you eat whatever you want without worrying about weight or belly fat. Even in your seventies or eighties, you could still look as youthful as a teenager," Zhao Lun's voice echoed from the doorway, coaxing them with his words as he quickly finished up.
"Really?"
"Could you teach us?"
"That sounds very reasonable."
"...Brother, Maria is hungry," Maria interrupted, clearly more concerned with food than the philosophical discussion on body sculpting.
"Alright, let's go eat first."
This bout of energy had taken its toll, and Zhao Lun was already starving.