Chapter 23: Passive Abilities and Grassroots Organizations

Before unlocking the Second Source Essence, Lin Lei was already able to sense fluctuations of source energy around him, though not as effectively as with the ability of Source Energy Perception.

In truth, Lin Lei’s precision with Source Energy Perception was not particularly outstanding, but the continuous, persistent source energy waves emanating from Long Wentian naturally caught his attention.

Ordinarily, anomalies would unconsciously emit abnormal source energy fluctuations that could be directly perceived; however, Long Wentian was clearly an exception.

His source energy began to fluctuate only after his failed ambush against Lin Lei.

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Unless... this person’s ability is some sort of passively triggered power, which continues to function even while he’s unconscious...”

He carefully examined Long Wentian from head to toe, and when he saw the man’s bloodied, mangled palm, his gaze sharpened.

No more than two minutes had passed since Lin Lei had just inflicted the injury, yet now the palm looked significantly better.

“Is it my imagination, or...?”

He licked his lips, eyes burning as they fixed on the injured hand.

He deliberately waited.

Time passed.

At a glance, the palm seemed unchanged, but as moments slipped by, Lin Lei realized the wounds were gradually healing.

To Lin Lei’s knowledge, with his strength, he had crushed Long Wentian’s bones and flesh in that hand into shreds just moments ago.

Yet now, the bones and flesh of the palm were slowly restoring.

The healing was not rapid; to the naked eye, even the slightest change was hard to detect.

About ten minutes later, the hand had regained the outline of a normal palm, though it remained a bloody, mangled mess.

Lin Lei licked his lips and murmured, “So this guy possesses a passive regenerative blessing... I suppose that counts as a Flesh-type ability?”

However, the level of his blessing did not seem very high; the recovery speed was relatively slow.

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow and wrapped the man’s body with his clothes, binding him securely.

Only then did he approach and slap Long Wentian several times.

The man quickly regained consciousness, and upon seeing the situation before him, he was momentarily stunned, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

He had heard the voices of his men just now.

He had thought Lin Lei might take him away, but upon waking, he found himself still here.

Lin Lei looked at him and said, “Let’s have a talk.”

“Sir, please ask anything you wish. I will speak without reservation,” the man said after a deep breath. His eyes were clearer than before, and he nodded resignedly.

Lin Lei began, “First... introduce yourself.”

Long Wentian coughed heavily and slowly replied, “My name is Long Wentian. I am an operative of the Purple Dragon Gang and a second-tier source energy user. My blessing is Self-Healing, a completely passive ability.”

Only then did Lin Lei learn the full story.

Long Wentian had been an orphan since childhood, growing up running with local thugs. By chance, he joined the Purple Dragon Gang.

His ability was not innate but awakened accidentally during a special mission for the gang when he came into contact with a certain item.

After discovering this unique ability, he relied on it to fight fiercely and kill ruthlessly, quickly rising through the ranks of the Purple Dragon Gang.

Now in his early thirties, he had become a senior member.

Besides the leader and deputy leader, the operatives were the highest-ranking members, and among them, Long Wentian was ranked first, effectively the third most powerful figure in the Purple Dragon Gang.

The gang had many source energy users, including the leader and several operatives and enforcers.

However, the Purple Dragon Gang was not a purely supernatural organization; although it had source energy users, their strength was not exceptional, with the leader only reaching the third tier.

The gang’s current power rested largely on their alliance with a source energy organization called the Deathbird.

After hearing all this, Lin Lei nodded and asked, “Tell me what you know about the Deathbird organization.”

Long Wentian swallowed hard and said, “All I know is that the Deathbird is the largest civilian supernatural organization in Biyang. They have a cooperative relationship with the city’s official Supernatural Investigation Bureau.”

By civilian organization, it meant any supernatural organization outside the Investigation Bureau.

For the Deathbird to be the largest civilian group in Biyang, their strength was naturally formidable.

Lin Lei’s eyes flickered. “Do you know the general strength of the source energy users within the Deathbird?”

Long Wentian gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Though I’m a source energy user, I mostly work for the Purple Dragon Gang. I don’t know much about the affairs of supernatural organizations.”

“All I know is that the Deathbird seems to have several fourth-tier experts. Whether they have fifth-tier, I don’t know.”

Lin Lei’s eyes glinted.

The third tier was already considered an expert among source energy users. The Biyang Investigation Bureau had very few such individuals, all elites who formed the backbone of the Biyang branch.

As for fourth tier and above, they were even rarer, nearly nonexistent in the Biyang branch.

The Deathbird was indeed worthy of being the largest supernatural organization in Biyang.

“I’ve only been with the Investigation Bureau for a short time. Although I’m already second-tier, I haven’t completed many investigation missions and still lack knowledge of some basic information about Biyang.”

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow, then fixed a deep gaze on Long Wentian.

Long Wentian was an excellent intermediary to help him break into Biyang’s underground organizations.

After all, the Purple Dragon Gang was one of the leading underground factions in Biyang and had connections with secret supernatural groups like the Deathbird, which would greatly facilitate Lin Lei’s covert operations.

For example, if he wanted to acquire a second batch of the Enlightenment Elixir, relying solely on his official Investigation Bureau identity was a pipe dream.

But leveraging the channels of the Purple Dragon Gang or even the Deathbird would simplify many matters.

With some cost, he could also obtain certain special source devices.

He looked thoughtfully at Long Wentian.

Sweat beaded constantly on Long Wentian’s face as he spoke, “From the questions you just asked, sir, it seems you don’t know me at all. Perhaps I or my men inadvertently offended you. I offer my sincerest apologies and am willing to pay a price as compensation...”

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow and smiled, “You’re a clever man, and I like dealing with clever people.”

He shook his head and stepped forward. “Now, if you answer one more question honestly, I might let you go.”

Long Wentian nodded heavily.

“Ask whatever you wish; I will speak without reservation.”

Lin Lei nodded and cleared his throat, fixing his gaze on Long Wentian.

“Do you know... Qi Fangyan?”

At this, Long Wentian’s expression changed noticeably.

His mouth twitched, and he said, “So you’re... Miss Qi’s friend...”

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow, about to inquire further, when suddenly a buzzing sound echoed through the air.