"Now, can you answer my question?" asked Li Xiaofei, looking down at him.
Sun Xiaochuan’s head buzzed with pain, his mind barely functioning. Instinctively, he blurted out, "Don’t kill me! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!"
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that simply trying to play with a celebrity would somehow lead to him provoking such a monstrous being. Now, when he recalled his own arrogant boasts about his connections and power, he felt nothing but utter humiliation. He had been the clown all along.
In the end, it was Miss Fan who had spoken the truth. Every single word had come true.
"I don’t know how it happened. One night, I got drunk. Slept it off. When I woke up, something felt different. Then I realized... part of my body could turn into metal. At first, I was terrified. But over time, I secretly experimented with it. Then I discovered this ability wasn’t a curse, it was a gift. When I metalize, I become immune to blades and bullets. My strength increases dramatically."
Sun Xiaochuan spoke honestly, his voice trembling. His answer, however, disappointed Li Xiaofei.
Awakened from a hangover? It didn’t seem connected to Eden at all.
"Before you awakened, did you experience anything unusual?" asked Li Xiaofei, pressing further.
Sun Xiaochuan thought hard, but in the end, shook his head.
"You asked me earlier which organization I belonged to. Does that mean superpowered individuals have already started forming groups?" Li Xiaofei asked again.
"The government has established the Great Xia Dragon Group and is recruiting superpowered individuals. It’s said that many Earth level powerhouses have already joined. It’s currently the largest organization of its kind in the country. Powerful financial groups and even martial sects from wuxia novels have surfaced. The Mount Hua Sect, the Kunlun Sect, and even Wudang Mountain reportedly have awakened masters.
"There’s even talk that Shaolin Temple, deep within Shaoshi Mountain, has produced an actual Sweeping Monk of legendary strength. Then there are independent individuals, those who have awakened extraordinary abilities and formed their own factions. It’s happening worldwide. On the surface, the old world order still appears intact. But in reality, the game is already being silently reshuffled."
Sun Xiaochuan's voice trembled, but his words carried a certain poetic eloquence.
"Damn, you make it sound almost literary," said Li Xiaofei, sneering as he stomped down on Sun Xiaochuan’s head. "Earth level? Sky level? So superpowers have official classifications now?"
Sun Xiaochuan, feeling the pressure against his skull, hurriedly explained, "It was first introduced by some mysterious guy online who calls himself Superpower Bai Xiaosheng. His data was incredibly detailed and it sparked massive discussions online. Soon, most of the superpowered community acknowledged it. Many suspect that Bai Xiaosheng’s power is actually precognition.
"The system categorizes Awakened individuals into three levels, Sky, Earth, and Human. Human level was the first-stage awakening, Earth level was second-stage awakening and Sky level was third-stage awakening. Each awakening doubles their abilities’ strength. It’s said that a Sky level powerhouse can slaughter thousands alone, withstand entire military units, and is nearly impossible to kill."
Li Xiaofei listened thoughtfully. It sounded like these Sky level individuals were roughly equivalent to Limit Breaking Realm from his own past world.
Suddenly, Sun Xiaochuan switched tactics.
"Brother. No, Master!" He pleaded desperately and said, "Don’t kill me! Let me serve you! From today on, I’ll be loyal to you! I have money, power, and connections. If you want to build an empire in this new world, you’ll need resources and a foundation. I have wealth, properties, and manpower, and I’ll offer everything to you!"
Miss Fan’s eyes flashed, and she quickly said, "Master, he has a point. This man holds a lot of power in Jinshi City. He could still be useful."
"Yes, yes!" said Sun Xiaochuan, frantically nodding. "Master, I swear loyalty to you! I will follow your every command! I—"
Before he could finish, Li Xiaofei stomped down hard. Sun Xiaochuan’s skull exploded instantly, sending blood and brain matter splattering across the floor.
Li Xiaofei casually wiped his foot against the ground. "Serve me? He’s not worthy."
Do they really think any random stray dog or cat can follow in my footsteps? In this world... I have no need for servants.
Miss Fan felt a shiver run through her heart. But she dared not say another word. Li Xiaofei flicked his finger. Tiny sparks burst forth, scattering like glowing embers into the air. Each ember landed on the corpses strewn across the ground.
Then, like wildfire devouring dry paper, the bodies along with their clothes, weapons, and every trace of their existence vanished. They were turned to black ash in an instant. A light breeze swept through the room, scattering the remains into nothingness. It was as if they had never existed at all.
"Let’s go," said Li Xiaofei, turning and walking away.
Miss Fan hurried after him, not daring to fall behind. Her agent, Zhai Yunting, still pale as a sheet, followed closely.
Ten minutes later, the sound of police sirens echoed in the distance. A convoy of patrol cars arrived at the estate gates. When officers poured in, something immediately felt off. When they stormed the compound, they found nothing except for a few maids, housekeepers, and gardeners. There was no sign of Sun Xiaochuan or his men.
At first, the leading officer assumed Sun Xiaochuan had fled with his crew. But then they checked the security footage and discovered the impossible. Sun Xiaochuan and his men had never left the estate. They had gone in but somehow they had simply disappeared.
The investigators questioned the maids and gardeners. Their testimonies were vague. They had heard gunshots, they said. It sounded like a gunfight had broken out. But they had no idea who they were fighting.
Soon, ballistics experts arrived. Then came elite criminal investigators. A thorough investigation was conducted. And the conclusion they reached left everyone stunned. Sun Xiaochuan and his entire crew... were most likely dead. But there were no bodies. Not even a single trace of a corpse. No one could explain how they died.
As word spread, specialized personnel took over the investigation. The first wave of officers who had initially stormed the compound were interrogated. What final conclusions were drawn? The local police force was never informed. But rumors began to circulate; this case was far from ordinary. The disturbance it caused reached the highest levels of authority.
Once she heard the news, Huang Xu rushed over. Her mouth fell open in shock when she saw Miss Fan and her agent, Zhai Yunting, standing there completely unharmed.
She hadn’t expected Li Xiaofei to actually pull off the impossible and rescue them from that den of wolves and tigers.
"You... How did you do it?" asked Huang Xu. Her gaze toward Li Xiaofei had changed.
Anyone with even a little knowledge of the underground scene in Jinshi City knew how terrifying Fourth Master Sun was. He had publicly declared that he was going to punish Miss Fan and yet, Li Xiaofei had snatched her away from him in such a short time. It was like stealing food from the mouth of a tiger. A miracle.
But Li Xiaofei couldn’t be bothered with this woman’s questions. He turned and walked upstairs without a word.
"Don’t bother me unless it’s important," said Li Xiaofei. His tone was cold and commanding.
Huang Xu gritted her teeth in frustration. But before she could snap, Miss Fan quickly held her back.
"Don’t act on impulse!" She whispered, "You really can’t afford to provoke him. By the way you’ve been wondering why my skin improved so much, right?"
Huang Xu’s brows furrowed in confusion. Miss Fan leaned in, lowering her voice.
"I can finally tell you the secret. Whether you take this opportunity or not... that’s up to you."
The two women began whispering. Soon, Huang Xu’s expression completely changed into shock. She glanced toward the second floor, eyes flickering with disbelief.
"Not only does it improve the skin, but it also cures illnesses and strengthens the body. Look at me..." Miss Fan lifted a tea table weighing over a hundred pounds with one hand and said, "I'm not lying to you."
Huang Xu's delicate face showed a look of disbelief. She asked, "You're really not lying to me? Doing that with him... actually have this effect?"
Miss Fan spoke with utmost seriousness. "We're good friends, which is why I'm telling you this. If you miss this opportunity, you won’t get another. It's up to you."
Huang Xu found herself deeply conflicted. This sounded utterly absurd. Yet, with her friend as a living example right in front of her, she couldn't help but believe it.
That fat man actually has such an ability? Could it be that he had awakened some kind of superpower?
The idea that he could enhance a woman's beauty and health through intimacy was simply too outrageous. What was even more outrageous was that Huang Xu realized her heart had started to waver.