Chapter 149: A Dangerous Trial

“Now, do you intend to cooperate willingly, or do you plan to agree under my force?” Chen Yi’s tone was far colder than before as his eyes swept icily over the man before him.

“What’s your name? I don’t want this to end without even knowing who you are,” Chen Yi demanded.

“I don’t like it,” the man replied reluctantly, and the name immediately left Chen Yi speechless.

But who on earth would have such a name?

Chen Yaxi, straightforward as ever, crossed her arms and glared at the man.

“Don’t think you can fool us with a fake name. We’re not fools; we won’t believe you!” she snapped.

The man sneered and shook his head.

“When I was born, my mother died in childbirth. My father saw me as a bad omen and resented me from the start. When I was ten, he sold me to a middleman. I grew up living among the lowest scum. Do you think someone like me can amount to anything?”

His words stunned Chen Yaxi into silence.

She had assumed this man was just a selfish scoundrel, but she hadn’t expected such a tragic story hidden beneath his exterior.

Her heart, once full of disdain, suddenly felt cruel.

“Don’t look at me like that!” he snapped, his gaze turning icy as he shifted his eyes toward Chen Yi.

“Let me go fight the enemy. It’s better than dying under the weight of others’ rumors.”

With that, he prepared to leap away from the safe zone.

Without hesitation, Chen Yi grabbed him firmly and flung him back onto solid ground.

Pain etched across his face, the man revealed a fierce glare, as if ready for a desperate fight.

Yet Chen Yi tossed him a crystalline energy core.

“Absorb this. You must want to change your future.”

His lips moved slightly but instinctively reached out to grasp the crystal.

Though unwilling to be looked down upon, the man was not so blind as to fail to recognize right from wrong.

Chen Yi understood how desperately this man wanted to prove himself. At a moment like this, if he could make others see his worth, he wouldn’t miss the chance.

He drove the crystalline energy core deep into his arm. Amid a howl of agony, the power fused with his very being.

---

“Is he crazy?” Hu Sanhan’s eyes widened in disbelief at the man’s actions.

“No, he could have absorbed the power with magnetic traction directly, so why hurt himself?” Chen Yi squinted thoughtfully, finally grasping the man’s intent.

“Though all use crystalline energy cores, in terms of strength, none of you compare to him.”

“I don’t agree!” Lu Kai raised an eyebrow.

“Big brother, the energy from these cores only works when properly guided. But this guy’s using self-harm as a price—how can that be effective?”

“Want to test it out?”

Just then, having absorbed the entire core, the man’s eyes sharpened, radiating a fierce yellow light. A cold, sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips.

“If you don’t dare to face me, that’s fine. I don’t mind. Cowards never risk everything!”

His defiance stirred those around him to gather closely, their gazes sharp.

But he paid no mind to their reactions—he was ready to fight for life or death.

Meanwhile, Chen Yi noticed a sudden change in the weather.

Hidden carnivorous beasts and fire insects swarmed by the hundreds from the city’s depths.

Chu Yunxi and the others were astonished.

If these creatures chose to turn hostile toward humans, it would spell death and disaster for mankind.

At the same moment, the man noticed something exceptional among the monsters.

“Boss Chen, the carnivorous beast at the southeast corner is different. I can clearly sense an incredibly strong power emanating from it.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Hu Sanhan shook his head.

“There’s something inside that beast, but sending the boss there now is just sending him to his death! The ancients say sudden weather changes always start with the creatures noticing first. So many monsters pouring out together—that can only mean something big is about to happen.”

Though his words made sense, the man maintained a resolute attitude.

“If you don’t seize that carnivorous beast, you’ll regret it!”

His words provoked anger among the group, sleeves rolled up in readiness to fight.

---

Yet even now, the man’s gaze remained unwavering toward Chen Yi, showing no trace of fear or hesitation.

Chen Yi had doubted that this man could alter the laws of survival. But after seeing his urgency, he decided to take a gamble.

Stepping forward slowly, Chen Yi took a deep breath, his eyes resolute.

“Alright, I believe you today, and I’m willing to entrust my life to you. But if anything goes wrong, I will…”

“You can die with me!” the man interrupted with unwavering resolve.

Faced with such determination, Chen Yi had to admit that even he might not possess such courage.

This man’s attitude proved he was serious and absolutely confident.

Though entrusting his life to a stranger carried great risk, Chen Yi decided to take the chance to uncover whether the carnivorous beast held a deeper secret.

“Don’t go,” Chu Yunxi grabbed Chen Yi’s hand, fear etched deeply in her eyes.

Perhaps after so many life-and-death moments, even she now carried a profound dread.

“No matter if what he says is true or not, don’t take the risk alone. If you must go, take me with you.”

“Don’t worry,” Chen Yi smiled at Chu Yunxi. “No matter life or death, I’ll come back to you. But this matter, I’ll handle it alone.”

Watching him prepare to leave resolutely, Chu Yunxi clenched her fist.

Sadly, she knew Chen Yi’s temperament well—no matter the situation, he would never let anyone else risk themselves.

Chen Yi’s response surprised the man.

He stared blankly at the now fully powered man before him, stammering.

“Do you really… not doubt me at all?”

“What would I doubt?” Chen Yi sneered coldly.

“If I doubted you, I wouldn’t act now. But now that you’re part of the Newborn Squad, you must adapt to teamwork. I can’t promise your wounds will heal quickly, but if you stay, in time, the scars in your heart will fade.”