Chapter 83: Advancing to S-Class Talent (Please Recommend)

“Wait, wait, I’ll eat, I’ll eat!” At Lin Quan’s words, Zhao Jie’s movements became much faster, and he opened his mouth to take a big bite of the Celestial Spirit Fruit.

The crystalline flesh melted instantly on his tongue, transforming into a surge of digital energy that seeped into his brain.

“What is this…” Zhao Jie froze for a moment. He could feel a warm power coursing through his mind, repairing the wounds within his cerebral domain.

“Kid, stop spacing out, hurry up and finish it,” Lin Quan barked, snapping Zhao Jie out of his daze.

“Oh, right.” Zhao Jie continued to eat in large mouthfuls, already aware that this fruit was no ordinary thing.

As he devoured it, the power of the Celestial Spirit Fruit continued to work on his body. The injuries near his brain were quickly soothed and healed under the fruit’s gentle energy.

A comfort he had never known before arose from the depths of his soul, and he could not help but let out a low moan.

The greatest strength of the Celestial Spirit Fruit lay in its ability to enhance a person’s digital energy and improve their digital aptitude.

The stronger one’s aptitude, the more digital energy they could store. After raising a Digimon to its ultimate form, they might even be able to nurture a second or third Digimon.

At this moment, Zhao Jie could sense the space between his brows—where digital energy was stored—expanding steadily. And the catalyst for all this was the fruit he had just consumed.

What exactly was this fruit? The question formed quietly in his heart. Not only had it healed the wounds in his mind, it was now amplifying his gifts.

Even a dullard could sense there was something odd about it.

Let alone Zhao Jie, who was anything but dull.

A shimmer flickered. The area between his brows continued to shift, and the digital rune that represented Agumon’s evolution into the mature stage swayed back and forth within the energy.

“Huh, what’s this…” Zhao Jie’s heart tightened. At last, he noticed something amiss: the digital rune, which closely resembled the Crest of Courage, was shrouded with a swirl of black mist.

“The power from that dark collar on Dark Wukongmon?” Upon closer inspection, Zhao Jie recognized the black aura—it was the very same energy as the collar on Dark Wukongmon.

So Agumon must have fallen unconscious after being contaminated by this black energy?

Having pinpointed the cause, Zhao Jie felt a surge of hope.

“Let’s see if I can expel it!”

Focusing his will, he directed his digital energy to flush over the evolutionary rune again and again.

But no matter how much he tried, the black mist remained utterly unmoved.

It was as if it had already taken root.

In a flash, the power of the Celestial Spirit Fruit was fully absorbed, and the digital energy at the center of Zhao Jie’s brow expanded more than fivefold.

He had successfully advanced from an A-rank aptitude to the rare S-rank.

If a true master were to teach him how to construct a digital space now, he would be able to store Digimon directly within his own body.

This was the storage capacity bestowed by an S-rank digital aptitude!

But it wasn’t just about storage. Zhao Jie’s sensitivity to digital energy had grown tremendously, and even his physical strength had received a modest boost.

“This is wonderful!”

Feeling the changes within, Zhao Jie’s whole being was invigorated. When he opened his eyes again, the two elderly men who had stood beside his bed were gone.

In their place stood Gao Tianming, the director of the Digital Hospital.

“Huh? Director Gao, how come it’s you? Where are those two elders who gave me the miraculous medicine?” Zhao Jie climbed down from the hospital bed, walked to the door, and looked out, but saw no sign of the two old men.

He turned back, puzzled, and questioned the director.

Could it be that everything just now was a hallucination?

Impossible.

Everything that had happened was etched vividly in his mind—not a trick of the senses.

“They’ve already left,” Gao Tianming replied, looking at Zhao Jie with envy. He, too, was a Digimon Tamer.

Zhao Jie’s aura was now unmistakably different, clearly having gained tremendous benefit.

As for that nameless old man, Gao did not know him. But Master She was a legend—just hearing his name was enough to send ripples through the community. This boy was truly lucky to have caught She’s attention.

Gone?

Zhao Jie felt a pang of regret; he had hoped to ask what kind of fruit they had given him.

But it seemed the opportunity had passed.

“By the way, Director Gao, I’ve completely recovered. What about Agumon?”

Zhao Jie quickly shifted his focus from the fruit to the matter at hand, looking at the director with hope.

“You’ve recovered?” Gao was not surprised—after all, Master She had intervened. That was hardly unusual.

“All right, let’s do a checkup this afternoon. If the diagnosis is clear, Agumon can be transferred tomorrow. We’ve already contacted a professor who specializes in Digimon consciousness. He’s very interested in Agumon’s condition and is willing to help treat him.”

Gao Tianming patted Zhao Jie’s shoulder.

To be honest, Zhao Jie’s luck was extraordinary—having a professor of Digimon consciousness agree to treat him.

Of course, it might also be due to Master She’s influence. With his connections, he could summon not just one, but ten professors at a moment’s notice.

“Thank you, Director Gao.” Hearing that a professor had been found, Zhao Jie’s eyes sparkled. The authorities truly were the most trustworthy force.

To think they would find a professor-level expert to treat him and Agumon!

“All right, I’ve got work to do. I’ll have Xiao Deng take you for your checkup in a bit—don’t go wandering off.”

After a few words of caution, Gao Tianming left—he certainly wasn’t as idle as people imagined a hospital director to be.

“Okay!” Now that he knew the plan for Agumon’s treatment, Zhao Jie was much less anxious.

Besides, he still wanted to explore the black mist on the evolution rune within his digital energy.

Perhaps he could yet drive it out.

…

Master She and Elder Lin had already returned to She’s home. While waiting for Zhao Jie to absorb the power of the Celestial Spirit Fruit, Elder Lin received an urgent message.

The two of them had to leave the Digital Hospital in haste.

A video call began—an emergency meeting.

“What’s going on?” Elder Lin’s expression grew grave as he looked at the faces in the video.

“Elder Lin, we’ve uncovered some clues about the recent Digimon outbreak in the Digital Secret Realm. It appears to be a premeditated operation—we suspect a powerful organization has infiltrated our nation.”

“And it may be connected to the recent disappearances.”

On the other end, a middle-aged man in military uniform spoke with a solemn face.

“You’ve found clues? What kind?” Elder Lin remained calm. In truth, simultaneous Digimon outbreaks across multiple regions were hardly a coincidence.

“According to data from the Wuling City Digital Association, we’ve identified a common trait among the Digimon orchestrating these riots: they all wear a black ring.”

As he spoke, the man sent over a photo—the image of the ring appeared on every participant’s phone.

Wuling City?

Again, Wuling City?

Elder Lin glanced at his old friend. So many talents in that little city?

“It was that young man who discovered it. In fact, he couldn’t possibly have defeated a blackened ultimate Digimon—he merely shattered its black ring.”

Master She quietly explained what he knew.

“Elder Lin, the situation is complex. Aside from the black ring, we have no other leads. We don’t know if this shadowy force will strike at smaller secret realms again.”

“Therefore, I suggest we increase manpower—at least one elite Digimon Tamer should be stationed at every secret realm, to prevent further outbreaks.”

As soon as he finished, someone objected.

“That won’t work, Elder Lin. There are thousands of secret realms across the country. If we assign an elite Tamer to each, the defense of major realms will be compromised.”

“So you’re saying we should abandon those cities? If Digimon riots break out nationwide, the consequences would be disastrous!”

“But have you considered this might be a diversion? Their goal could be to draw our forces to defend the minor realms, then strike at the major ones.”

“Nonsense! Elder Lin, you must decide!”

One side insisted on focusing defenses on major and medium secret realms; the other argued for bolstering the security of all the others.

Both had their reasons; neither was simply right or wrong. It was the most agonizing kind of dilemma.

This was a trap laid bare—a dilemma designed to force them into a choice with unforeseeable consequences, no matter what they picked.

If more forces were sent to support the smaller secret realms, the major ones could be in jeopardy; but if not, some regions, lacking in strength, would be helpless in the face of an outbreak.

“Old Lin,” Master She looked at his old friend with concern. If there truly was a force manipulating events from behind the scenes, they were now caught in a terrible bind.

“Each region is to dispatch some elite Tamers to support other secret realms, and we’ll organize mutual defense—have Tamers from different cities form temporary defense corridors.”

“My only requirement is that between every two small secret realms, there must be at least one elite Tamer with an ultimate-level Digimon. Also, put all local military forces on secondary alert and provide them with equipment support.”

Elder Lin’s face grew increasingly grave.

“If we only defend, we’ll be worn down in the end. Investigate! We must root out this hidden enemy as soon as possible!”

“Yes, sir.”

When the call ended, Elder Lin massaged his brow in exhaustion.

After years of tranquility, it seemed the digital world was about to be plunged into turmoil once again.