Lam Minh's miraculous survival of the explosion became a top-level military secret. The story of the "black-cloaked master" circulated within an extremely narrow scope, mainly among the senior leaders of the military and Blacklight. It opened up a new hypothesis: could it be that among humanity, there still existed individuals possessing terrifying power, people who had chosen a reclusive life and only acted when necessary?
This hypothesis made the leaders both happy and worried. Happy because humanity had another glimmer of hope. Worried because they couldn't control these powers. General Khang secretly established a special task force to investigate the "master," but of course, they would never find anything.
As for the public and his family, the official story released was: Lam Minh, by some miracle and incredible luck, had been thrown by the shockwave into a safe depression just before the explosion reached its peak. Although severely injured, he had been lucky enough to escape death.
This story, though a bit hard to believe, was still more acceptable than him being blown to bits and coming back to life. He was once again hailed as a "hero protected by fate."
Lam Minh's room in the military hospital became a "pilgrimage site" for many people.
First was his family. Mrs. Mai brought a pot of nutritious soup every day, feeding her son while sobbing with pride. Mr. Lam Dao would just sit quietly, peeling apples for his son, occasionally asking a few questions about his health. Lam An brought piles of homework to do with him, chattering about all sorts of things happening at school. Seeing everyone's sincere care, Lam Minh felt that his "investment" of 15,000 points was completely worth it.
Next were his friends. Hung 'Map' and the entire combat team also came to visit, bringing all kinds of gifts. They looked at him with a mixture of admiration and a little fear.
And of course, the two "regulars" were indispensable.
To Quyen was practically stationed at the hospital. She not only took care of him but also brought her tablet to "discuss" the latest data her mother's lab had collected. She knew he needed rest, but she also knew that for a mind like his, "thinking" was also a form of relaxation. Her subtle and understanding care made Lam Minh feel incredibly warm.
Quynh Nhu was different. She visited with a cold expression, always finding an excuse to pick on him.
"Hey, punching bag, you look really pathetic," she'd say, while clumsily peeling an orange. "Being a hero is impressive, but you almost lost your life. See? The moment I'm not around, you get into trouble."
"Are you here to visit me or to scold me?" Lam Minh would laugh wryly.
"I'm here to collect my debt," she pouted, handing him the freshly peeled orange slice. "You owe me an explanation for making me cry. Including interest, your debt has gone up again."
Though her words were sharp, her actions showed an unconcealed care. She was the one who stayed the latest, helping him tidy up and organize his things. The contrast between this pink-haired loli's words and actions always amused Lam Minh.
The days of recuperation passed peacefully. His wounds, under the treatment of modern medicine and the self-healing ability of a cultivator, recovered at an astonishing rate.
But in Lam Minh's mind, he had only one goal: to earn the remaining 1000-plus points needed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
He couldn't go out and find a Madakaros to "commit suicide." He couldn't let Quynh Nhu beat him to death in the hospital. There was only one way left.
The Battlefield Simulation.
Every night, when everyone was sound asleep, after the nurses had made their rounds, Lam Minh would quietly lock his door and draw the curtains.
"System, enter the Foundation Establishment Simulation!"
He once again faced the Early-stage Foundation Establishment creature in the dense jungle. Even at Peak Qi Refining, his strength was still not enough to defeat it easily. But his experience and skills were different now.
He was no longer killed in a few seconds. He began to be able to hold his own. He learned how to dodge its energy attacks, to find weaknesses in its qi armor, albeit very small ones.
Every battle in the simulation was a brutal beating. He "died" and "revived" countless times. Torn apart, crushed, incinerated... he experienced it all.
Each death only brought him a few hundred points. It was a painful and tedious grinding process. But he was not discouraged. Compared to the despair of his past life, this pain was nothing.
Finally, after nearly two weeks of "recuperating" and "nightly grinding," the day arrived.
That night, after being killed by a new move from the simulated creature—a punch through the chest—he received the notification.
[Host has revived.]
[Death in Simulation. Killed by an Early-stage Foundation Establishment creature. A death featuring a breakthrough in evasion tactics. Received 250 (2500/10) Immortality Points.]
[IMMORTALITY POINTS REACHED 20,050/20,000.]
[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST, FOR ACCUMULATING ENOUGH POINTS TO CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD OF LIFE AND DEATH!]
Lam Minh, who had just experienced the feeling of his heart being crushed, shot up in his hospital bed, his eyes shining like two torches in the night.
He let out a long breath, feeling as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Finally... finally, it's enough!"
He looked out the window at the bright, clear moon. Tonight would be a sleepless night. Tonight, he would officially step into a completely new realm, a realm that in his previous life, no human could ever reach.
Foundation Establishment Realm!
He took a deep breath and gave the command to the system.
"System! Breakthrough!"