Listening to Pei Yan recount everything that happened, Wang Wenze felt it was incredible and was also struck by fear. Not only them, but even the two captains hadn't noticed a thing. If the other side had malicious intent while he was sleeping like a dead pig, he might not even know how he died.

Thinking of this, Wang Wenze sat cross-legged on the bed, rubbed his forehead with cold mineral water to clear his head, and asked curiously, "Do you think what she said is true?"

"I initially believed only thirty percent of it, but after I awakened to the second stage with her help and experienced new abilities, I believe at least seventy percent, especially her claim of being the source body. I think it could be true." Pei Yan looked down at his palm, muttering to himself.

Wang Wenze frowned with concern and asked, "So what are you going to do? Really follow her instructions? Take the risk?"

Pei Yan sat on the ground pondering for a while before shaking his head, "I don't trust her! Even if everything she says is true, who knows if she'd kill me once she's free. After all, according to her, the source inside me is also a fragment of her body. And whenever I asked when and why she chose me and gave me abilities, she always dodged, saying I'd know in due time. By then? Hah! I fear she'd have devoured even my bone fragments!"

Wang Wenze nodded in agreement and then curiously added, "Hey, show me the new abilities you've acquired!"

Without further words, Pei Yan stretched out his hand and released his source. Five minutes later, a fully sobered Wang Wenze, drenched in sweat, looked at Pei Yan's hand pressed against his chest and asked in disbelief, "Is this your ability after awakening to the second stage?"

"No, this isn't my ability from the second stage awakening; this is just two of the three techniques she taught me to control the source." Pei Yan spoke as he withdrew his hand.

Feeling the flow of internal energy again, Wang Wenze reached out to sense the surroundings and then remarked, "This ability is too overpowering! No other ability-wielder in this world can be your match!"

"It's not as mystical as you say. My method only works on ability-wielders of the same level. The stronger the opponent, the less effective it is. Moreover, I can only use it twice a day, lasting a maximum of five minutes each time before needing recharging."

"That's still impressive!" Wang Wenze exclaimed as he grabbed Pei Yan's hand, closely examining the engravings on his palm. He then spread his palm, activated his own ability, and meticulously copied the pattern. After finishing, he activated his internal energy and pressed it against Pei Yan.

After a long pause without any response, Wang Wenze retracted his hand in disappointment, "It seems this mark either needs the original source to activate or must be inscribed by that young girl herself." After saying this, Wang Wenze raised his head to look at Pei Yan and continued asking, "So did you come to me to try your third ability?"

"Yes, are you willing?" Pei Yan asked cautiously.

Wang Wenze hesitated in silence for a long time before finally making up his mind and nodding, "I'm willing. Since you trust me so much and openly tell me about this, I also choose to trust in you! With your current rate of power increase, it won't be long before you catch up to me. By then, I'm willing to take the risk and give it a try!" After speaking, Wang Wenze clenched his fist, just as he said at the dinner table last night. The future world situation was unclear, but it certainly wasn't a nice vision. His abilities were already inferior to Liang Qian's, and it was one thing to idle around in the Inspector Hall before, but could he continue to live in peace facing a precarious situation now?

For his family, for Liang Qian, for himself! He also needed to become stronger and couldn't miss any chance to strengthen himself! He then looked at Pei Yan in front of him, assuming he probably felt the same way!

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

The next day, everyone was taken aback by Pei Yan's request to go back to the Inspector Hall with Hu Wenjun while having breakfast. Hu Wenjun blew on the hot steam rising from his seafood porridge and asked, "Why are you going back with me? You're different from me; there are many things to take care of in the hall, and I could only spare a night! You still have three days off! Enjoy yourself, don't think too much!"

"I've awakened to the second stage!" Pei Yan said absentmindedly while peeling a salted duck egg.

"Cough, cough!" Hu Wenjun, shocked by this statement, took a big gulp of porridge. Covering his burning lips, he raised his head in astonishment and asked, "What did you say?"

Pei Yan sucked on his chopsticks and calmly replied to the surprised looks from everyone at the table, "I awakened to the second stage last night."

"How did you awaken? Did you know in advance?" Ye Jiumu put down his steamed bun and first asked Pei Yan, then looked at a calm-faced Wang Wenze next to him.

Wang Wenze, eating his breakfast, answered without lifting his head, "Ah, I also just found out this morning. If you want to know exactly how, ask him!"

"There wasn't much to it, just slept and then awakened!"

"Slept and awakened? You've only been in the team for just over a year! And you've reached the second stage!" Qi Hua gaped with envy and jealousy-filled eyes. He had entered the Inspector Hall simultaneously with Xia Yu and had only reached the second-stage peak without breaking into the third stage. Originally, when Pei Yan joined the team, he was quite happy that he was finally not the weakest, but who knew the other party would catch up so quickly? If he didn't work hard, he really would become the team's laughing stock!

"Yeah, just slept and then woke up awakened. After drinking last night and lying in bed unable to sleep, a voice kept echoing in my head! This morning, I broke through the membrane and reached the second stage awakening!"

Watching Pei Yan's mildly smug, composed expression, Hu Wenjun couldn't tell if the kid was telling the truth. At this moment, Shangxing, tearing a bun beside him, casually remarked, "That's not impossible; we've seen weird awakening moments before. Like that person who awakened while humming a tune in the bathroom!"

Hearing this, Hu Wenjun remembered the person Shangxing mentioned and nodded with a smile, "True, it is indeed something that happens due to chance. Alright! Pei Yan, do you really want to go back with me now? Even if you've awakened to the second stage, you can stay here and enjoy the rest of the three days before returning!"

"I still want to go back earlier! I want to enhance my abilities sooner!" Pei Yan was in a hurry because he knew that at the Secret Prison, there was an imminent battle waiting for him. The sooner he enhanced his abilities, the more beneficial it would be for him!

"Alright! Let me make a call and check!" Hu Wenjun got up, moved aside, and dialed a number on his phone. After a while, he finished the call and sat back at the table, "The hall is highly concerned after receiving the news, but it will take at least a day for all the equipment to be in place. Thanks to you, I got a day off, and I will take you back tomorrow. The others will continue their regular vacation!"

"Alright!"