Hearing Liu Yi’s report, a flash of surprise crossed Lin Feng’s eyes. He silently turned his gaze to the side, where Shen Jie was curled up like a baby inside a black and yellow Zerg Egg.

The egg’s outer shell was absorbing the layers of Zerg Armor that Shen Jie shed, condensing them into a hard, black-and-yellow shell. Compared to the previous white Zerg Egg, it now looked more like a Zerg Cocoon.

However, whether he could break free from his cocoon and be reborn would depend on Shen Jie’s own effort to reclaim his consciousness from the Zerg Race’s Spirit World.

Lin Feng mulled it over for a moment before turning his head.

"What’s the condition of the Awakeners who just woke up?"

Liu Yi swallowed. The events unfolding before them were even stranger than what they had experienced in the Underground Hive, and his heart pounded with anxiety.

"They’re... they’re okay..."

"However, all of their consciousnesses appeared in the same dream world. According to those who are now fully lucid, the dream world is a barren wasteland. Many Tier Two Tiger Spine Zergs also appeared, leading Black Spine Zergs to besiege and hunt them."

"If they get killed in the dream, their consciousness awakens back in the Real World."

"Those who managed to kill the Tiger Spine Zergs are in surprisingly good condition after waking up. But those who died without killing any have become dazed and listless..."

"They get better after some rest, though."

Lin Feng nodded, watching the first batch of Tier Two Awakeners emerge. Among the thirty, there were seven or eight whose Identification data showed their Spiritual Attribute to be twenty or thirty points higher than the others.

’It’s probably related to killing those Tiger Spine Zergs in the Spirit World.’

’Their unexpected appearance in the Zerg Race Spirit World where Shen Jie is trapped is probably a characteristic of the Zerg Race’s Mental Realm, or perhaps the Realm itself.’

’Some kind of Spiritual Energy, like invisible and intangible radiation, is continuously spreading outward from Shen Jie. When nearby creatures undergo a deep Awakening, just as their Spiritual Attribute is making a breakthrough, they must be interacting with this Realm Energy and getting pulled in.’

Lin Feng surmised internally. To know the specifics, however, he would have to ask Ling Yi, the Zerg Race Mother Empress.

Ling Yi was obviously more knowledgeable than him regarding the theories of the Spiritual Realm and the Cosmic Life Realm.

But she had not yet returned, and this phenomenon didn’t seem to pose any immediate danger...

So Lin Feng decided to continue the experiment.

"Have them summarize their experiences and inform the next group for the Secondary Awakening. Then have them gather around this Zerg Cocoon..."

"I’ll guard them myself!"

Liu Yi nodded. Under these circumstances, only Lin Feng stepping forward as their leader could steady everyone’s nerves.

Soon, the second batch of thirty Tier One Late-Stage Perfect Awakened—the same veterans who had followed Lin Feng from the beginning—each killed a Tier Two Zerg Egg and drank the Organic Nutrient Liquid inside.

They then stood in neat formations between the Zerg Eggs, watching their Sergeant Major at the front with a hint of nervousness.

Lin Feng smiled faintly.

"Relax. The dream you’re about to experience in Captain Shen Jie’s realm is not life-threatening. Even if you die, you’ll just feel mentally drained for a while. But if you kill the Tiger Spine Zergs in there, you’ll receive an extra boost to your Spiritual Attribute. The more you kill, the faster and greater the boost. This is an incredibly rare and valuable opportunity."

"For Physical Enhancement Awakeners like yourselves, an increase in Spiritual Power will grant you extremely tough Willpower and greater resistance to Spiritual Attacks."

"Make the most of it."

"One last thing. Tell Captain Shen Jie not to forget that he’s human. His girlfriend is still over here waiting for him."

After he spoke, a wave of laughter spread through the ranks.

Lin Feng nodded, signaling them to lie down beside the Zerg Eggs they had just killed and enter the state of Secondary Awakening.

With the protection of the Red Profound Armor and their Sergeant Major personally standing guard, their safety was guaranteed.

This time, Lin Feng immediately activated his Mind Sensing, concentrating it to cover a fifty-meter radius. It centered on the Black and Yellow Zerg Cocoon containing Shen Jie and spread out toward the surrounding Awakeners.

Sure enough, on the Energy Radar map displayed in his mind, a very faint energy wave radiated outward from the Zerg Cocoon.

It was continuous, like the magnetic field of a high-energy substance. When it made contact with the thirty nearby high-energy light signatures, it produced ripple-like shockwaves.

These traces were actually very faint. He would have been hard-pressed to detect them under normal conditions if he hadn’t narrowed his focus and paid special attention.

Unfortunately, Lin Feng couldn’t enter that space himself.

’Unless I also enter an Awakened state right now, absorb the Source of Realm from the Node Mother I killed, and wait for the two to interact. Only then might I have a chance to enter the same space.’

However, Lin Feng had no intention of taking that risk.

The Warriors and Tier Two Corps members currently on hand were not strong enough to handle a potential crisis, like the elite Tier Two Zerg Race reinforcements that were on their way.

Furthermore, it was already past five o’clock. The Invincible Fleet, commanded by Chen Yanyan, should have arrived long ago, but there was still no sign of them.

To be on the safe side, Lin Feng planned to let this batch of Warriors undergoing their Tier Two Awakening test the waters first.

The fact that killing Tiger Spine Zergs in the Spirit World could increase their Spiritual Attribute would also allow these reserves for the Tier Two Corps to prepare ahead of time.

A higher Spiritual Attribute meant stronger Willpower, which would be equally effective in resisting the Assimilation of Zerg Race genes.

If they successfully killed Tiger Spine Zergs, they would become prime candidates for the future Genetic Warrior program.

They would also be the final, complete form of the Tier Two Corps.

Absolutely invincible, from their weapons and equipment to their individual strength.

Such an invincible Legion would hold a huge advantage even when facing the Zerg Race’s elite Tier Two Squads—creatures like the Pulse War Scorpions, Tank Flame Armors, and the Underground Hive’s most dangerous Samurai Hunter Zergs.