Chapter 123: Three Chances to Act

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Three Chances to Act

"Could it be..."

That old man didn’t awaken any combat talent.

Instead, it’s that legendary, bizarre system?

More children, more blessings?

But this thought only flashed in Lin Ji’s mind for a moment before he dismissed it.

It was just too absurd...

Lin Ji stroked his chin, a glint of insight flickering deep in his eyes.

He looked at Ye Xinglan and suddenly asked,

"President Ye, you just said that Gu Tianming has been frantically collecting women, even getting them all pregnant?"

Ye Xinglan was taken aback by his sudden question.

She instinctively nodded.

"That’s right. It’s no secret within the Apocalypse Guild."

"Do you think something’s off?"

Lin Ji smiled, lightly tapping the railing with his fingers.

"Of course something’s off. Gu Tianming was a top-tier celebrity in the old world, after all."

"People like him never lacked women."

"Now, in this precarious world, instead of thinking about how to grow stronger, he’s obsessed with procreation?"

"Such reckless behavior isn’t something a top-tier strategist would do."

Hearing Lin Ji’s analysis, Ye Xinglan’s expression instantly froze.

Before, she had instinctively despised Gu Tianming’s actions, dismissing him as a pervert and a lecher.

But with Lin Ji’s insight, she suddenly realized.

In an environment where survival is brutally competitive, getting a large number of women pregnant is practically digging your own grave.

Unless... this behavior brings him immense benefits.

Ye Xinglan furrowed her delicate brows.

Even when frowning, her cold, stunningly beautiful face remained pleasing to the eye, even taking on a unique kind of charm.

She looked at Lin Ji with some surprise.

"Captain Lin, are you saying... he’s plotting something?"

Lin Ji stared into her eyes, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

"Since you and I do seem to have some rapport, I’ll let you in on something."

"Gu Tianming’s abnormal behavior is definitely not about satisfying physical needs."

"The key to this matter likely lies with the newborns."

Ye Xinglan grew even more puzzled. She leaned forward slightly, asking with some tension,

"You mean he’s cultivating descendants?"

"But what’s the use of cultivating descendants at a time like this? It takes over a decade for children to grow up. Can he wait that long?"

Lin Ji shook his head, his gaze suddenly turning as deep as the ocean.

"Perhaps this involves some of this world’s ultimate secrets."

"All of us survivors who came here were granted talents, and our genetic sequences have already been rewritten by some force."

"If two Awakened with talents were to have offspring, what would they be like?"

At this point, Lin Ji paused, his tone turning somewhat cold.

"These unborn children may hold certain secrets of this world."

Ye Xinglan’s pupils instantly dilated, and she couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

She was stunned by Lin Ji’s bold and insane speculation.

Once again, she marveled at the man’s active thinking before her—it could even be described as somewhat terrifying.

If this were truly the case, then Gu Tianming was not a pervert but a thoroughgoing schemer.

"Of course, this is just one possibility."

Lin Ji shifted his posture.

"There’s another possibility: Gu Tianming’s talent has some special side effect or perverse requirement."

"However, the probability of this is very low. I don’t think that’s it."

After speaking, Lin Ji swept his gaze over the Rose Society members still busy on the deck.

His eyes grew sharp.

"I have another bold speculation, but I need these people to step aside first."

Ye Xinglan looked at Lin Ji’s determined eyes and hesitated for a moment.

Just as she was about to wave her hand to signal her subordinates to withdraw, Granny Fu, who had been standing silently like a stone in the background, suddenly spoke.

"Hehe, young man, the things you’ve said have made this old woman’s heart itch with curiosity."

Granny Fu shifted her hunched body, her cloudy eyes fixed intently on Lin Ji.

"I wonder if you could give this old woman some face and let me listen too?"

Ye Xinglan was taken aback. She was surprised to find that Granny Fu had opened her eyes, which were usually half-closed.

That gaze held a hint of fanaticism.

Filled with a thirst for knowledge and some hidden anticipation.

Lin Ji frowned.

He genuinely disliked this cunning and sinister old woman.

Just as Lin Ji was about to refuse, Granny Fu suddenly let out a hoarse laugh.

"Young man, didn’t you just say that befriending the president would ensure you have a thrilling but safe day today?"

"This old woman also gives you a promise here."

"As long as you continue speaking, I’ll guarantee your safety on this island today. How about that?"

Lin Ji stared at Granny Fu for a few seconds, then suddenly shook his head and smiled somewhat slyly.

"Granny, your offer isn’t quite enough."

"I was already going to have a thrilling but safe day today. What you’re offering is an empty promise."

Granny Fu’s expression instantly darkened.

"What do you want then?"

Lin Ji extended three fingers and said unhurriedly,

"I want you to promise me three opportunities for you to take action!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air on the deck seemed to freeze instantly.

Granny Fu’s eyes turned icy and piercing, a terrifying killing intent instantly locking onto Lin Ji.

Lin Ji felt a chill run down his spine, and all the hairs on his body stood on end.

But he did not retreat at all, the energy within him circulating wildly.

At this tense moment.

Lin Ji’s Heavy Cannon Assault Ship had slowly approached, the two vessels now extremely close.

The main turret on Lin Ji’s ship emitted a heavy rotating sound.

The Red Crystal Energy Disk began spinning frantically.

Due to the extremely close distance, Gu Yihan’s keen senses instantly locked onto the chaos here.

The massive cannon adjusted to an extremely tricky angle.

Directly aiming at Granny Fu!

At Lin Ji’s command, she would immediately open fire.

Granny Fu clearly sensed the intense threat; her wrinkled face twitched.

Then, she suddenly withdrew all her aura and grinned.

"Good, very good!"

"Such a young age, yet you dare to bargain with this old woman."

"Considering your temperament, I’ll agree to it."

"Three actions, within three days!"

Seeing the other party relent, Lin Ji made a slight gesture toward his War Ship, signaling the main cannon to disengage its targeting.

Ye Xinglan also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ordered all his subordinates to retreat below deck.

Moments later, only Lin Ji, Ye Xinglan, and Granny Fu remained on the deck.

On Lin Ji’s side, Qin Yao directly leaped aboard the Rose Society’s War Ship.

She had already activated her A-grade talent, [Volcanic Molten Blast], firmly guarding Lin Ji’s side.

Lin Ji took a deep breath, his gaze turning extremely serious.

"I think the reason Gu Tianming is doing this is because he’s drawing cards!"

"These children don’t even need to grow up!"

"They don’t even need to be born! They might already contain some Power of Rules within them!"

"And that is what Gu Tianming truly wants!"