Chapter 397: Lightning Speed

"1779 tons!"

"2230 tons!"

"3452 tons!"

"2997 tons!"

"3930 tons!"

Inside a private gym near Unicorn Apartments, as Li Mochen's fists swung, the numbers on the dashboard kept changing.

This was due to the vast differences in data caused by Li Mochen's use of different combat techniques, the amount of source power infused, the extent of magical enhancements, and the adjustments to his domain. Until finally, with one punch that used no source power and no combat technique, the number on the dashboard dropped below the thousand-ton mark.

"684 tons! Wow, you've been making great progress lately, Boss. No, super fast. I remember it was still over 400 tons before the state competition. I've never seen anyone make such progress in body forging."

Beside Li Mochen, Natural Punisher Dainn Stacy looked incredulous: "Not only is it fast, but your upper limit seems boundless. 684 tons—it's hard to believe. Could it exceed 800 tons? That would be unprecedented."

Li Mochen shook his head, looking less than satisfied, feeling that his progress was a bit slow.

He had now figured out his upper limit, estimated at around 900 tons. But at this rate, it would take another twenty-plus days to complete his body refinement and break through to Level 8.

Li Mochen's original conservative prediction was that he could complete this step by mid-January at the latest. With his primordial spirit now nearly at the Legendary level, he could precisely control lightning, performing micro-operations at nearly the particle level to maximize the effect of the 'Zhou Tian Xuan Ling Lei Qi Curse.' With the aid of 'Amphitrite's Tears' and 'Advanced Sacred Oak Potion,' this period should have been a rapid surge, forging his peerless foundation at the fastest speed.

But in the end, too many miscellaneous matters required his attention, slowing his progress in body forging.

"Unprecedented? That's an exaggeration. I know that some ancient demigods also reached extremely high levels in physical constitution."

In that mythological age, things like 'Amphitrite's Tears' and 'Life Spring Water' were everywhere.

Those demigods also had the ability to withstand the spiritual impact of such items.

Take the legendary Greek hero 'Achilles,' for example. His mother, the sea goddess, directly forged his body in heavenly fire to burn away his mortal parts, then restored him with divine ointment.

That hero, one of Greece's most powerful half-gods, was born with a divine body.

Such conditions were something Li Mochen could never have.

"Let's talk about the Natural Church. Dainn, how are your negotiations going?"

"I came here to report on that."

Dainn Stacy placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly: "Our Bishop St. Darla asked me to express his gratitude for your generosity. He agreed to your offer. Additionally, for the sake of this friendship, our church will provide you with intelligence assistance within our means on the continent of Antolia. However—"

"Provided I can transport the goods there, right?"

Li Mochen smiled: "Then please tell Bishop St. Darla that the delivery time will be the time when your Natural Church fulfills the contract. Is that acceptable?"

This transaction came about because Dainn Stacy had recently approached him. Due to the war in Antolia and the rampant pirate groups, three dioceses of the Natural Church on the continent were also experiencing material shortages and needed new transport routes.

Li Mochen had no intention of tying himself solely to the 'East Antolia Continental Alliance.'

The goods he was shipping to Antolia were somewhat extensive. Thanks to his special relationship with the Nathan Group and Light Magic Industries, he could obtain many heavy weapons rare in Antolia.

Especially Anthony Braden, who knew that Li Mochen possessed demigod-level power. So his private arsenal was fully open to him—tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, helicopters, exoskeleton battle suits—everything was available.

And it was on credit: Li Mochen could pick whatever he wanted and pay later. Braden's only requirement was that these weapons never fall into the hands of terrorist organizations or cults. His previous kidnapping by aberrants had made him deeply hostile to such antisocial forces.

Precisely because of the value and scale of this arms shipment, Li Mochen dared not rely entirely on the few hunter groups of the 'East Antolia Continental Alliance.'

Neither price gouging after arrival nor being double-crossed were outcomes he would welcome.

Less than half an hour after concluding the deal with Dainn, Li Mochen received a call from Michelle Medici. Her tone was stiff and slightly angry: "Angela insists on going with you to Antolia."

Li Mochen had expected this, but still rubbed his forehead in frustration: "I already informed you in advance and tried my best to dissuade her, Michelle. I was hoping you could talk her out of it."

"A cop-out."

Michelle Medici snorted coldly but didn't pursue the matter: "Andre, you know what I want to say to you, don't you?"

"Of course!"

Li Mochen's expression turned serious: "I guarantee that throughout the journey, Angela will be happy and safe."

"I hope you can manage that. Also, a word of advice: someone in Atlanta has their eye on you."

Michelle Medici seemed unwilling to say more and hung up directly.

At that moment, Angela, dressed in hunting attire, walked toward Li Mochen and spun around in front of him.

"How does this look?"

Li Mochen glanced at her and said perfunctorily, "Very beautiful. It matches the necklace well."

But in his mind, he was thinking about Michelle's warning. Savannah Port was ready, and tomorrow was their departure. Was Michelle's warning at this time a sign?

Angela didn't notice her lover's distraction. She was delighted—this hunting outfit was indeed chosen to match the 'Fantasy Dragon Imperial' necklace, and Li Mochen had hit the mark.

Now the black-haired young man before her finally focused his gaze on her: "Angie, you might need to help me with something tomorrow."

...

At almost the same time, at the East District docks of New Etoa City in Antolia, Casari Gates stepped solemnly out of his armored vehicle and walked toward a ten-thousand-ton cargo ship ahead.

He was accompanied by at least thirty guards, all in magical exoskeleton battle suits, wielding large-caliber automatic rifles, their expressions tense and alert as they scanned all directions.

In front and behind the group, four 4.5-meter-tall magical mechanical armor units marched, their alloy feet striking the ground with a clanging sound, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Their 'heads' kept rotating—a sign that their radars were fully active.

Just then, a loud explosion rang out in the distance, drawing everyone's gaze. The booming sound came three times, from different locations.

When they saw the rising flames and gray smoke clouds a kilometer away, Casari Gates's face turned pale. He almost spat out the words through clenched teeth: "Damn it, Robert Yvonne!"