《Beast》


 Chapter 1: The System

    ¡°Mom, come out quickly and see the meteor.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the meteor is flying towards us... It''s falling onto that old building across from us.¡±


    On the balcony of the third floor of Building B in Hengyang Residential Area, a little girl shouted excitedly, almost squeezing her small body through the gap in the protective railings.


    ¡°Come back here, it¡¯s too dangerous! How could a meteor fall here, my dear? If you behave, I¡¯ll take you to see the little koalas later, okay?¡± A beautiful young woman quickly pulled the little girl back, gently coaxing her.


    ¡°No, I want to see the meteor, not the little koalas.¡± The little girl pouted, feeling wronged that the adults didn¡¯t believe her.


    However, though her words seemed far-fetched, there was one point she was right about¡ªthe "meteor" indeed fell onto the old building a hundred meters across from them.


    ...


    ¡°Ahhh...¡± With a startled cry, Rossel struggled up from his bed, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.


    Just moments earlier, he had dreamt of being shot in the forehead by a mysterious black-robed figure, vividly witnessing the moment his head exploded.


    ¡°Damn, it was just a nightmare.¡± Who isn''t afraid of death? Although Rossel was a broke young man with nothing to show two years after graduating college, and he had just lost his job yesterday, he hadn''t planned on losing his life so soon.


    No matter how hard life got, he knew he had to persevere, not just for himself, but to help with his younger siblings'' school expenses so that his frail mother wouldn¡¯t have to carry the burden alone, especially since his father, due to frequent exposure to harmful gases at work, had retired and often needed hospital treatment.


    Like many, Rossel came from a rural background. After graduating from Jingnan University, he struggled to stay in the city, hoping for a better opportunity that would allow him to earn more and lighten his family''s load.


    Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. It seemed every job he got didn''t last long¡ªnot because he wasn¡¯t willing to work hard, but because he seemed to clash with his bosses.


    Like yesterday¡ªwhen he was handing documents to his boss, he accidentally witnessed the bald man harassing a young woman who had just graduated. Unable to hold back, he stepped in to help her.


    The result? Predictably, the bald boss, infuriated, fired him on the spot, not even settling half a month''s salary.


    Rossel considered seeking justice through the labor department, but as a young man from the countryside with no power or influence, he couldn¡¯t win against a big boss, so he had to swallow his grievances.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Recalling yesterday''s events, Rossel still felt indignant, his eyes showing confusion. If faced with the same situation again, would he still intervene?


    The answer wasn''t clear. Maybe it was time for a change. In today¡¯s society, honest people always seem to suffer. For the first time, Rossel¡¯s lifelong values wavered.


    ¡°Huh? How did a hole appear in the wall next to my bed?¡± Out of the corner of his eye, Rossel noticed something unsettling.


    Just inches from where he sat up, a smooth hole had mysteriously appeared, with a streak of sunlight shining through. The hole wasn¡¯t large, just about as thick as a finger, but the eerie thing was that Rossel distinctly remembered the wall being intact before he went to sleep.


    Lying back down, he found the sunlight from the hole shone directly on his forehead.


    ¡°Is it just a coincidence?¡± With that thought, Rossel felt his hair standing on end and a cold sweat running down his back.


    ¡°Beep... Host¡¯s mental activity detected to be exceptionally high, initiating system start-up.¡±


    ¡°System start-up in progress¡ªsuccessfully started. Detected host blood compatibility with the Three-Eyed Tribe at 11.2%, exceeding the 10% threshold, initial fusion condition met, initiating autonomous fusion process.¡±


    ¡°5, 4, 3, 2... Beep, fusion successful. Super Pet Beast System successfully integrated with host.¡±


    ¡°First-time system activation detected, granting host a random pet beast gene and awarding 100 points. Your current personal information is as follows:


    Host: Luocheng


    Points: 100


    Strength: 7 (10)


    Agility: 7 (10)


    Spirit: 9 (10)


    Divine Energy: 11 (0)


    Host Skill: Divine Energy Feeding


    System Level: 1


    Pet Space: ''Ice Crystal Mother Fish'' seed*1¡±


    With the synthetic voice fading, a personal information display appeared in Rossel¡¯s line of sight, showing his attributes and some strange skills.


    As a semi-recluse who spent plenty of time with online games and web novels, he immediately grasped the implications.


    ¡°Could it be?... Did this so-called Super Pet Beast System break into my room and even implant itself into my forehead while I was sleeping?¡±


    Mouth agape, Rossel pinched his leg hard, feeling the pain cementing the reality¡ªeverything he saw wasn¡¯t a dream!


    Taking a deep breath, excitement stained his cheeks as he focused on the pet space section of his personal information.


    In a blink, his view shifted, revealing a cubic meter-sized space before him.


    ¡°The Ice Crystal Mother Fish seed, a spiritual life form, a treasured spiritual object aiding ancient immortals in cultivation. Hatch it, and you will gain unexpected rewards.¡±


    Inside the pet space was a small crystal vial containing the seed he was randomly gifted¡ªthe Ice Crystal Mother Fish seed, an item Rossel had never heard or seen before.


    His mouth opened slightly, instinctively reaching to grasp it, only to be surprised as a thumb-sized ice crystal bottle appeared in his palm with just a thought.


    Through the beautiful crystal, he could faintly see a rice-grain-sized ice crystal seed submerged in icy blue water. It appeared to be the spiritual seed of the Ice Crystal Mother Fish.


    The seed was far smaller than Rossel imagined. Swallowing hard, he hadn¡¯t expected the system to grant him such a legendary spiritual item.


    With the tangible pet beast seed in hand, Rossel finally believed in the system''s existence. He closed his eyes to study the ¡°Super Pet Beast System.¡±


    The Super Pet Beast System was divided into five main sections: Attributes, Host Skills, Tasks, Shop, and Pet Space.


    The Shop was particularly prominent. With a thought, Rossel entered the Shop, and a wave of information filled his mind.


    Beast¡ªFerocious Beast¡ªSavage Beast¡ª???

 Chapter 2: Mighty Ant

    Upon entering the ''Beast'' section of the shop, pages of 3D images instantly appeared in Rossell''s mind, each accompanied by extensive annotations detailing the origin, detailed information, and point redemption requirements for each pet beast seed.


    This was a system that allowed one to exchange points for various life forms to become their pet beast. At his current system level, Rossell found that he could only redeem the most basic and primitive beasts with his points.


    Though collectively termed "Beast," the system offered more than just traditional beasts. In the ''Beast'' category alone, not only were there beasts and animals, but also fish, insects, flowers, birds, and plants¡ªessentially any life form. All were available for redemption, though the required points varied.


    With just a quick glance, Rossell noticed that even humans of various forms were listed at the end of the Beast shop. There were humans resembling himself, others with purple hair and violet eyes, those with wings, and even some with horns¡ªall human in fundamental appearance with minor differences. Their point cost ranged from 300 to 1,000 points.


    Beyond this, other life categories extended into various exotic species, with a diversity that suggested Earth''s creations made up only a tenth of what was available in the shop.


    For example, in the Beast category, there was an ant called the "Herculean Worker Ant," requiring only 10 points for redemption. According to the system, these ants were from the "Flare Reed Star Realm," and an adult Herculean Worker Ant could lift 1,500 times its body weight and drag 3,000 times its weight.


    Incredible¡ªtruly incredible!


    Rossell was not foolish; from this information alone, he realized that this mysterious super pet system might be the turning point for his struggling life.


    Following the Beast category were grayed-out slots for Fierce Beasts, which remained "mortal beasts." Fierce Beasts were simply more ferocious, powerful, and combative than ordinary beasts, and their redemption costs started at four digits.


    The lowest of these was the Saber-Tooth Tiger at 1,000 points, going up to the most expensive, the "Crimson Prison Devouring Python," priced at exactly 10,000 points.


    Beyond Fierce Beasts were Savage Beasts, also "mortal," but larger in size. Upon investigating, Rossell noted that the smallest Savage Beasts were over fifteen meters tall.


    Giant creatures measuring tens of meters in length were not unusual, including creatures from the Cretaceous period like the Tyrannosaurus and Pterosaurs, which were part of the Savage Beasts. Their point cost ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 points, with creatures like the T-Rex occupying the lower tiers.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The largest category of Savage Beasts surpassed a hundred meters, suggesting they did not originate from Earth''s environment.


    Overall, the idea of such colossal Savage Beasts left Rossell''s heart pounding with excitement. Imagining one day being able to redeem such a gigantic pet was thrilling.


    Godzilla attacking a city? That would be nothing!


    ...


    Beyond the Savage Beasts lay a series of question marks, indicating beast levels currently beyond his detection capabilities. This suggested that the system''s randomly gifted Ice-Crystal Fish Mother Spirit Beast was of immense value, far surpassing that of a Savage Beast.


    At that moment, Rossell realized just how lucky he was to have received the spirit fish seed.


    Even though he was eager to explore just how powerful the Ice-Crystal Fish was, Rossell kept his cool and continued his research.


    In addition to the pet shop, his personal attributes were clearly outlined, displaying his current physical stats. The numbers in brackets indicated what would be typical for a normal adult.


    Clearly, in terms of strength and agility, he was quite deficient, which left Rossell blushing with embarrassment. However, upon reflection, he realized his physical condition was not bad compared to many others, which helped him regain some psychological balance.


    Regarding his unique "Divine Origin" attribute, this power came from his fusion with the system, unlocking certain energy within his bloodline.


    Located at the center of his brow, this energy could be sensed as a pure, distinct flow circulating there¡ªit was his Divine Origin Power.


    Beyond attributes and the shop, the spatial backpack was straightforward, akin to where he had accessed the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother seed¡ªsimilar to a space ring, but it was only effective for system-produced items.


    The tasks option was currently blank, leaving only "Host Skills."


    Host Skills were unique abilities only the "Host" could wield. Likely, no one else in the world besides Rossell could possess such skills.


    In his current explorations, Rossell had only discovered the host skill "Divine Origin Feeding."


    Divine Origin Feeding: Uses his Divine Origin Power to nurture pet beasts, enabling rapid growth. Each use consumes 1 point of Divine Origin Power.


    Moreover, within the "Host Skills" section, apart from the mastered "Divine Origin Feeding," Rossell found several grayed-out host skills that he currently lacked the conditions to learn.


    ...


    Divine Origin Strengthening: Uses a large amount of Divine Origin to enhance a pet beast''s physique, making it stronger than its peers.


    Learning Cost: 500 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Divine Origin Potential Expansion: Expands a pet beast''s physical potential, allowing it to break genetic barriers for further growth.


    Learning Cost: 5,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Wild Gift Transfer: Transplants one wild ability from one pet beast to another permanently.


    Learning Cost: 1,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.


    ...


    Wild Gift Assimilation: Extracts a natural wild ability from a pet beast, permanently making it the host''s own.


    Learning Cost: 1,000 Points.


    Learning Condition: Divine Origin Power of 15 points or higher.

 Chapter 3: Feeding

    The four grayed-out skills are host skills based on Divine Origin Power that can be purchased and learned. Besides these, all other host skills with a learning requirement of more than 15 points of Divine Origin Power are displayed as question marks.


    It''s no surprise that the skill "Divine Origin Potential Expansion" costs a staggering 5,000 points to learn, considering it might allow a pet beast to expand its potential for unlimited growth. If that''s the case, such a powerful skill justifies its high learning cost.


    Wow, the strength of these four grayed-out host skills is incredible. Each one, whether "Wild Gift Assimilation" or "Wild Gift Transfer," is astonishing.


    "Wild Gift Assimilation" allows the host to acquire the innate wild abilities of various beasts, essentially granting them extraordinary powers.


    Upon understanding the profound potential of "Host Skills," Rossell was exhilarated, feeling as if he was unstoppable. He saw a path not just to strengthen his pet beasts but to fundamentally enhance himself.


    Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Rossell''s eyes flashed with a peculiar glint. Unable to resist, he decided to use the only host skill he currently had, "Divine Origin Feeding," on the cactus sitting on his desk for the first time.


    The next moment, the effect of the "Divine Origin Feeding" skill left him stunned. The cactus, previously only the height of his palm, came to life and began to grow at an observable rate after Rossell expended 1 point of Divine Origin Power.


    In just a minute, the cactus grew nearly a meter high, almost bursting out of its original pot.


    "Damn! Can this get any scarier?" Despite being mentally prepared, Rossell was still shocked by the overwhelming effect.


    "Since you fed a life form that is not your pet beast, unpredictable consequences may occur..."


    As Rossell marveled at the effect of the host skill, the system issued a warning.


    "Unpredictable consequences?"


    The result was soon apparent. The cactus, having grown rapidly to nearly a meter, began to wilt and die within moments, seemingly unable to sustain its growth¡ªclearly the consequence the system mentioned.


    Rossell felt a pang of sadness over the cactus''s demise. As he was about to check the conditions for learning the remaining host skills, his old mobile phone on the desk rang: "Hey, I really miss you, it''s raining outside again, and I feel like crying, not knowing where you are now..."


    Seeing who it was, Rossell couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly and answered the call.


    "Hey, Rope... What happened yesterday? Lily said you got fired again?"


    "..." Rossell remained silent, not knowing how to explain this to his good friend. This was already the third job Fatty had found for him.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "Sigh, I knew it! Bro, you''re not getting any younger. Can''t you just endure it sometimes? There''s so much injustice and suffering in this world. Can you fix it all? Even if not for yourself, think about your mom..."


    After a brief silence, Fatty sighed heavily. It''s not that his friend lacked ability; his heart was just too soft.


    "Fatty, this time I really couldn''t control myself!"


    In truth, Rossell knew he had changed significantly over the past two years. He''s not as soft-hearted as Fatty imagined, but this time, the helpless look from that girl fresh out of school was something he couldn''t ignore.


    "Rope, why don¡¯t you come help at my place?" Fatty suggested.


    "No, I know it''s tough for you too. The restaurant just opened, and managing it is hard enough. Besides, if I help, you''re just letting me off easy, huh? No way!"


    Rossell cut off any further offer from Fatty, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep puff before speaking: "I appreciate your kindness, bro. We''re like family; no need for formalities. I''m a grown man, I''ll find my own path."


    "Fatty, I need some time alone. I''m tired and need to think things through." Rossell expressed his thoughts quietly.


    He couldn''t let anyone know about the mysterious pet beast system. If it became public, it wouldn''t just fail to bring him benefits; it could endanger his family and friends. Thus, Rossell used this as an excuse to dissuade Daniu from arranging more jobs for him.


    Fatty, his real name Luo Daniu, lived up to his rustic name. He was Rossell''s closest friend from college.


    After graduation, the two stayed in the city to pursue their careers. Fatty, with his love for food and innate talent for cooking, excelled as a chef. His hardworking and adaptable nature, coupled with a bit of luck, led him to open a small restaurant, becoming his own boss.


    Though simple and small, with only two floors and about 200 square meters, it was flourishing and providing a decent living!


    His wife, Huang Li, was gentle and easygoing, a CEO at a small Korean company. She had always been a great help in finding jobs for Rossell.


    Rossell felt lucky his friend could marry someone as wonderful as Huang Li. However, this time he didn¡¯t want to burden them, knowing that favors are debts that eventually must be repaid.


    Moreover, he now had an idea to delve into the pet beast system.


    "Alright, Rope, if you need anything, just let me know. Don''t try to brave it alone." Fatty finally agreed after a pause.


    Though Fatty was straightforward, he sensed a change in his friend''s tone¡ªa newfound confidence that dissuaded him from further pressing the issue.


    Hanging up, Rossell sighed in relief. With the emergence of the pet beast system, he knew at least financial worries were behind him.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock...¡± Just as he hung up, there was a persistent knock on his tattered wooden door.


    "Rossell, I know you''re in there. Time to pay up; the rent''s due for the quarter. Why do I always have to remind you? It''s just a thousand or so, yet you''re still late. And whose mop is this, brand new too? Well, if it''s out here, it must not be wanted. Just perfect, mine broke..."


    The landlord¡¯s wife had arrived again, and Rossell frowned, choosing to ignore her. Though technically he had a day before the deadline, her nagging was already annoying him.


    Besides, she was incredibly stingy, always trying to snag freebies despite having plenty of money, even taking a mop from across the hall that had only been used a few days.


    Yet her visit reminded him that his cash was running low. With 2,000 in his account, his total savings amounted to just over 2,600.


    With three months'' rent at 700 per month, he¡¯d be left with just 500 after paying 2,100, having had nothing but expenses this month.


    Five hundred? Forget sending money home; he couldn''t even support himself. Damn... He needed to figure out a way to make more money, at least to afford a decent place where he wouldn''t have to deal with the landlord¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Ping, side quest generated. Find a sum of money within 24 hours to improve your living conditions and distance yourself from the unsightly landlord¡¯s wife. Task Completion Reward: Divine Origin Power limit +1, reward points unknown.¡±

 Chapter 4: Origin

    Hearing the system''s prompt in his mind, Rossell paused for a moment before realizing that the task list originated from aspects of his life and desires.


    "Within 24 hours, with a reward of +1 Divine Origin Power? Points unknown?" Whether motivated by his own desires or the task''s reward, Rossell was tempted. However, the time limit meant he needed to act quickly.


    The task merely required him to find money to improve his living conditions; it didn''t specify that he needed to buy a house, which presumably meant renting a place would suffice.


    This realization alleviated much of the task''s difficulty, and Rossell sighed in relief as he began brainstorming.


    Earning enough money by himself in a single day to rent a better place seemed impractical. His only real hope lay in the newly acquired pet beast system.


    "Let''s first see what this Spirit-level Ice-Crystal Fish Mother is all about!"


    With determination, Rossell retrieved the ice crystal bottle from the pet space. If not for the potential trouble it might cause, he reckoned that the exquisite ice crystal bottle alone could fetch a high price at an auction.


    "Divine Origin Feeding." He focused his gaze on the beautiful ice crystal bottle and activated the host skill Divine Origin Feeding for the second time.


    In the next moment, he felt a faint tear at his brow as a tiny crack emitted an energy beam penetrating the ice crystal bottle to strike the rice-sized Ice-Crystal Fish seed inside.


    With a soft "crack," the blue Ice-Crystal Fish seed split open under the influence of his Divine Origin Feeding, much like an egg hatching. A blue, icy, and enchanting small Ice-Crystal Fish emerged, swimming happily inside the crystalline bottle.


    "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother, juvenile stage. The juvenile Ice-Crystal Fish Mother is highly ornamental, but you need sharp eyesight to see it," the system promptly evaluated as Rossell focused his attention on it.


    The tiny Ice-Crystal Fish Mother was barely visible, a thin line resembling a baby fish during its juvenile stage.


    Considering he still had 9 points of Divine Origin Power left, Rossell didn''t hesitate to use Divine Origin Feeding on the spirit creature three more times in succession.


    After a total of five feeds in a short time, Rossell felt a void at his brow; now only 6 points of Divine Origin Power remained, but the results were extraordinary!


    After four consecutive feeds, the little spirit creature grew at an observable rate, akin to being pumped with the world''s most potent growth hormone.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Several minutes later, it had grown to the length of a finger, resembling a miniature version of a "Yangtze Shad" but with icy crystals and scales patterned with icy motifs¡ªundeniably surpassing any mere shad in beauty.


    The most peculiar aspect was that as the Ice-Crystal Fish grew, the small ice crystal bottle it was in expanded as well, now reaching the size of a small bowl.


    The transformation left Rossell dumbfounded¡ªtruly deserving of being a spirit creature!


    Even the accompanying bottle was extraordinary, quashing Rossell''s idea of auctioning it for a handsome price.


    "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother, mature stage, spirit type life form, capable of breeding many Ice-Crystal Fish, extremely rare, considered a treasure spirit by ancient immortals, of extraordinary value."


    Gazing once more at the now-mature spirit creature, the system''s evaluation had changed to "extraordinary value." Just how extraordinary?


    Rossell learned that this was the mother of Ice-Crystal Fish, capable of producing countless Ice-Crystal Fish, finally grasping the true value of his randomly gifted reward.


    The "Ice-Crystal Fish Mother," now a finger''s length, was poking its head out, rhythmically breathing through its tiny mouth. Without Divine Origin Power, Rossell might not have noticed the secret behind each breath.


    Now, thanks to the sensitivity of the Divine Origin Power at his brow, he could clearly perceive that with every breath, the spirit creature exhaled a fine, delicate wisp of energy.


    This wisp, the legendary spiritual energy... Though Rossell didn¡¯t fully understand its nature, he was certain it was the elusive spiritual energy of legend.


    Even though it was just a faint wisp, upon inhaling it, Rossell felt an invigorating surge through his spirit, filling him with intense contentment.


    The sensation was marvelous!


    It turned out that the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother not only bred more Ice-Crystal Fish but also absorbed oxygen from the air, naturally converting it into pure spiritual energy. No wonder the annotations described it as a treasure for ancient immortals'' cultivation.


    While a single Ice-Crystal Fish''s conversion of spiritual energy might seem insignificant, possessing the mother fish sparked a profound realization within Rossell.


    "If I had more Ice-Crystal Fish, could I, Rossell, break through myth and legend, gaining a chance to cultivate immortality?" Once this thought took root, it became unstoppable.


    This idea didn''t strike Rossell as unrealistic or childish because he had a source that could convert into spiritual energy.


    Historically, people viewed immortality as myth due to Earth''s severe environmental degradation, which eradicated the primordial spiritual energy. But what if he could control the source of spiritual energy now?


    It was a crazy yet thrilling notion¡ªimmortality, mythic ancient immortals, who weren''t they, with a wave of their hand, beings of unimaginable power?


    "Heh," Rossell exhaled deeply, calming his excitement. Despite the astonishing thought, he had no immediate path to cultivate immortality.


    He settled down and gave the Ice-Crystal Fish Mother another Divine Origin Feeding, only to receive system feedback indicating that it had reached maturity and no longer required feeding.


    Feeling somewhat disappointed by the message, Rossell saw the now-quiet Ice-Crystal Fish Mother resting at the bottom of the bottle. He carefully placed the bottle aside, mindful of not disturbing the spirit''s rest.


    With the situation as it was and no immediate action possible with the Ice-Crystal Fish, Rossell turned his attention back to the task rewards.


    While immortality was an ambitious dream, he needed to focus on the present.


    Previously, finding a substantial sum of money within a day would have been daunting; borrowing would have been his only option. But now things were different.

 Chapter 5: Infiltration

    Rossell checked his available resources. What could he do with the 100 points the system had gifted him?


    After carefully browsing the Beast category in the shop again, he realized that there weren''t many beast pets he could exchange for. Even a simple house cat cost 100 points.


    Of course, while a cat is just an ordinary feline, once Rossell exchanged for it, thanks to the pet system, it would become his pet beast. Not only would they be able to communicate telepathically, but the pet would also be unconditionally loyal to its master. This was the essence of the pet system. So even exchanging for a small cat with his 100 points would prove to be incredibly exciting.


    Other creatures like dogs or wolves required 300 points, and the kings of Earth''s beasts, lions, and tigers, went for over 700 points.


    These were just examples of Earth-born beasts. Within the 1-1000 point range, Earth¡¯s lions and tigers weren''t at the top tier; they barely held a premium spot among the vast selection of beasts from many star systems.


    At the highest tier of beast exchange, Rossell spotted a "Minghong Sacred Beetle" from the planet Hol-yu.


    Alongside this Minghong Sacred Beetle, more than a dozen other species occupied the top 1000-point tier, leaving Earth''s lions, tigers, and black bears out of the running for the apex of the beast pyramid.


    However, Rossell didn''t need to exchange for these beast kings to complete his task. After pondering for a moment, he formed a plan, and a sly smile crept across his face.


    As the saying goes: "Revenge is a dish best served cold."


    Rossell used to be an insignificant loser, bullied by those with power and influence, and could only endure in silence. Now, with the pet system, he remembered the wages that old man had cheated him out of over the past half-month.


    "Exchange... System, exchange for 5 Herculean Worker Ants."


    In a flash, Rossell had his plan. If you¡¯re bullied, you naturally want to retaliate when you have the power.


    Even his brother, Luo Daniu, clearly didn¡¯t understand Rossell¡¯s character.


    Rossell typically appeared to be a good, honest young man, often outraged by injustice, but that didn¡¯t mean he was soft-hearted. Even if he was, it depended on the situation.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    In his heart, Rossell had a scale, knowing the difference between right and wrong, what to do and what not to do. This time, he intended to use the task as an opportunity to get back at those who wronged him yesterday.


    Revenge ought to be swift. Even waiting one night compromised one''s dignity. In the past, he lacked the means to oppose the vast power imbalance, so he had to swallow his pride. But now?


    Although Rossell was still himself, this new pet system meant he was no longer an ordinary man.


    "Exchange for 5 Herculean Worker Ants, 10 points each, consuming 50 points!" The system chimed, and Rossell retrieved 5 Herculean Worker Ant seeds from the pet space.


    These extraterrestrial creatures were clearly more potent than Earth''s strongest ants. Remembering he still had 6 Divine Origin points, he went ahead and fed each seed.


    With a few "crunch" sounds, five small purple-black creatures emerged from their eggs, consuming the shells. In a short time, they grew into sizable ants.


    Gigantic? Well, compared to ordinary ants, their heft indeed qualified as gigantic. Each was the size of a pea, about the length of a finger segment.


    "Herculean Worker Ant, mature phase, an ant species from the ''Flare Reed Star Realm''. They can lift 1500 times their weight and drag 3000 times their weight, veritable powerhouses."


    That was their introduction. While small by the standard of beasts and unable to match the Spirit-level Ice-Crystal Fish, Rossell''s single feeding had quickly matured them.


    Their weight? 0.1 grams? Rossell wasn¡¯t sure, but if they weighed 0.1 grams each, they could lift 150 grams and drag 300 grams.


    Testing this, he commanded them through their mental connection to lift a mug from his desk.


    The glass mug, filled with water, weighed over 500 grams (more than a pound). Yet the five little black dots managed to lift it slightly off the table.


    "What a shame. If only I could learn that ''Divine Origin Strengthening'' skill, these little guys could probably lift even more," Rossell lamented, though he was satisfied nonetheless.


    Using a heated iron wire, he bored a hole into a pen cap. Under his and his pet''s specific mental connection, the five Herculean ants crawled inside. Rossell then clipped the pen to his shirt pocket, ensuring no one knew he was carrying five "fierce ants."


    With a soft "snap," Rossell, armed with his fierce ants, left the apartment. An hour later, he exited a taxi on Huaxiela Avenue.


    "Here, thanks," he said, paying the driver generously, surprising him with the overpayment.


    Rossell adjusted his glued-on eyebrows and fake beard, then headed towards the famous wealthy villa district in the city.


    Sure enough, a security guard stopped him, but prepared with his repairman disguise and information he''d found online about a villa owner, Rossell gained entry to this otherwise inaccessible area.


    The so-called strict military security of this place was, in fact, full of holes if one knew where to look.


    "Damn, pretentious guards," he muttered, unwilling to engage further with the arrogant security. Instead, he spent ten minutes locating Chen Jincheng''s villa. When no one was looking, he avoided surveillance cameras and quickly hid in the shrubbery to wait.

 Chapter 6: Money, Money, Money

    As the sky gradually darkened around 7 PM, the "boss" Rossell had been waiting for finally drove into view in a black Audi A6. Through the windshield, Rossell could faintly make out a flamboyantly dressed woman in the passenger seat, likely one of that balding old man''s mistresses.


    At this point, Rossell knew he was halfway to completing his task. There was no rush; it wasn''t the right moment to act yet. He decided to immerse himself again in the pet beast system shop''s 3D images of various beasts, a distraction that helped pass the time.


    Before he knew it, the sky was fully dark, and the clock ticked away to 11 PM. Feeling the moment was right, Rossell retrieved a water bottle from his toolbox and ate some bread to fill his stomach before unhurriedly summoning his five robust Herculean Worker Ants from the pen.


    "Go, get inside, GO... GO... GO..." At his eager command, the five ants scurried toward the villa, several meters away, one of Chen Jincheng''s regular haunts.


    Watching the ants disappear, Rossell closed his eyes and switched his view to one of the Herculean Worker Ants.


    Though he wasn''t sure if ants had visual perception, he knew these extraterrestrial Herculean Worker Ants definitely did, albeit differently from humans.


    This ability to switch his view to a pet beast was a built-in system feature, limited by distance. With Rossell''s current Divine Origin Power of 11 points, his range was capped at 110 meters, which was sufficient.


    His original vision blacked out for a moment before revealing a new, unique picture. Unlike human vision, the ant''s view consisted not of images or light with vivid colors but of lines forming outlines of objects and living beings¡ªa distinct perspective unique to the Herculean Ants.


    It took Rossell some time to adjust to this unfamiliar view, but he managed to discern that the ants were in the living room on the first floor.


    "Go to the second floor and find a room with humans in it..."


    While the Herculean Worker Ants might not understand terms like ''second floor'' or ''room,'' mental communication had the advantage of conveying specific meanings without needing verbal explanations.


    Like obedient soldiers executing an order, the ants quickly left the first floor and climbed to the second floor, locating a room with humans present.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The moment the five ants entered a particular room, Rossell heard the sound of a woman''s moaning accompanied by heavy breathing.


    He paused for a moment, realizing what he had encountered, and couldn¡¯t help but smirk internally: "Let''s see how long you can keep this up."


    Ignoring the silhouettes of the entwined couple on the bed, Rossell saw only the linear outlines of their bodies from the ants'' perspective.


    The vigorous activity on the bed didn¡¯t last long and soon came to a halt after a few minutes.


    "President, you were amazing today, even more so than before. Is it because the pure young girl slipped away yesterday, and you vented all your frustration on me? Hmph, I don''t care, I''m not a substitute, you have to compensate me..."


    After they stopped, the woman''s coquettish voice filled the room with her demands, making Rossell cringe. Shockingly, he recognized the voice as someone he knew.


    "Couldn''t have imagined... She was like this..." His idealized image of her shattered. If there were no mistakes, this woman was the company''s beauty queen, Zhu Lu. Before tonight, Zhu Lu was the epitome of cold elegance and beauty among all the men at his company.


    But to find her composed demeanor was merely an act, crumbling under the power of money, made her cold elegance laughable and cheap.


    Rossell''s heart broke a little, a fantasy shattered, needing a moment to breathe before self-mockingly pondering: "Why was I disappointed? She was never someone I could handle, and now that I have the means, I don¡¯t care anymore."


    Rossell, like any other male employee at the company, had harbored a slight hope¡ªa fantasy of one day being favored by the goddess, though he lacked the confidence or courage to approach her. Although initially hurt, he quickly shook it off and moved on without much sorrow.


    His mind was in turmoil, but his ears still caught the sound of Chen Jincheng¡¯s smug voice: "Hahaha... Of course, you''ll be compensated, you little seductress. Tomorrow I''ll get you a luxury car."


    After laughing, the old man¡¯s tone turned angry: "If that brat hadn¡¯t ruined things yesterday, I¡¯d have gotten Li Yan''er by now."


    "Don''t worry, as long as Li Yan''er stays in the company, she won''t escape your clutches," Zhu Lu replied softly, her tone tinged with jealousy. Despite tonight¡¯s unexpected gain, the president¡¯s focus clearly wasn¡¯t on her.


    "Heh, you''re right. With that brat out of the way, I''ll have Li Yan''er in bed tomorrow. Tsk tsk, it''s been ages since society offered such a pure young girl..."


    Listening through the Herculean Worker Ants¡¯ senses, Rossell heard every word of the conversation and grew angrier by the second, disgusted by the couple.


    Initially, he hadn¡¯t planned to go hard on them, but now, seeing the potential harm this man could cause to more women if left unchecked, he knew he couldn''t be lenient.


    While he couldn''t care less about other women, he felt compelled to protect Li Yan''er, a fellow schoolmate and colleague, from such a fate.


    Perhaps due to their earlier exertions, the five hidden ants didn¡¯t have to wait long before the couple fell asleep, allowing the Herculean Worker Ants to take over.


    "Search, search thoroughly, take everything valuable you can carry," Rossell ordered, his eyes gleaming with greed akin to a miser. He wasn¡¯t stealing but claiming revenge.

 Chapter 7: The Fierce Porter

    "Since you docked my wages, you will repay them a thousandfold."


    Guided by Roselle''s vision, five Hercules ants carried out valuable items from the room, targeting lightweight precious metal jewelry as their primary goal.


    A stack of cash sat on the bedside table, roughly estimated at around ten thousand RMB¡ªtake it. A Rolex gold watch, worth at least a hundred to two hundred thousand? Take it. A thick gold ring, take it. A piece of emerald and a jade pendant with excellent translucence, take them!


    Hmm? Isn''t this the diamond necklace that Zhu Lu took out?


    Thinking of this beautiful yet malicious woman who had just agreed to help Chen Jincheng win over Li Yaner, the last shred of camaraderie in Roselle''s heart vanished¡ªtake it!


    Under Roselle''s guidance, the five Hercules ants operated like bandits raiding a village, taking any small valuable items they could easily carry.


    However, due to the distance, each trip took considerable time, and they managed to move only seven or eight items and a stack of cash before midnight approached.


    "No more." Roselle checked the time and stopped the ants from continuing. He remembered that the security guards at the Fleur Villa would change shifts at midnight, and he couldn''t let greed make him lose track of time.


    However, before leaving, there was one more crucial task to complete. Roselle''s eyes grew cold as he gave the ants their final command.


    Soon after, a heart-wrenching scream filled with despair and terror erupted from the second floor of the villa!


    Only after hearing this cry did Roselle feel at ease. He picked up the "heavy" toolbox and quickly headed toward the villa''s exit.


    Taking advantage of the shift change and the cover of night, Roselle managed to escape the villa undetected and rushed back to his small dwelling.


    With a slam, he closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. The extraordinary events of the night filled his eyes with excitement and satisfaction.


    His long-repressed worldview found release through this night''s successful revenge and gain, and Roselle finally showed a relieved smile.


    With the biting power of the five Hercules ants, Roselle could already imagine how Chen Jincheng''s "precious parts" must have been bitten into a few notches. Even in a year''s time, the old man would be powerless despite any desires.


    "Li Yaner, this is all I can do for you, junior sister," he sighed, thinking of the pure-hearted, optimistic woman.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Even though the Hercules ants were strong, they are still just ants, and achieving this result was already unexpected for Roselle.


    Setting aside thoughts of revenge, Roselle opened his toolbox to inspect his spoils. The value of the watches, jade pendants, and jewelry was hard to judge, but after counting, the cash stack amounted to 17,000 RMB.


    Nearly 20,000 yuan¡ªalmost as much as his half-year salary and bonuses combined¡ªbut now, holding this money, Roselle felt detached. After tonight, he knew that as long as he kept the secret of the pet beast system, 20,000 yuan was nothing.


    His gaze fell on the crystal bottle on his computer desk. Seeing the Ice Crystal Fish still resting, he knew his dream of cultivating immortality would have to wait.


    Returning the five honored Hercules ants to the soil in the cactus pot and feeding them a piece of bread, Roselle fell asleep immediately. That night, he dreamt of many things, and in a daze, felt a familiar body embracing him. He tried to hold on tight, only to realize it was a dream.


    With a twinge of loss, Roselle awoke to find it was already late morning. Remembering his tasks, he quickly gathered his clothes and toolbox.


    As for the old electronics in his room, he smashed them into scrap metal with a stick.


    "Goodbye to my past!" Roselle shouted, venting as if declaring an end to that chapter.


    "You brat, what are you yelling about so early in the morning..." Roselle''s landlady confronted him just outside the door, presumably there to collect rent. Her expression flashed with pain and anger upon seeing the smashed electronics.


    "You you you..." The greedy woman was speechless with distress over the broken tech.


    Looking at her with disdain, Roselle replied sarcastically, "What, you? Not like the broken stuff was yours¡ªwhy are you heartbroken?"


    "Oh, right, I almost forgot that even broken electronics can sell for scrap. So if you don''t mind, I''d appreciate it if you could handle that."


    With her face a mix of disbelief and flushed with anger, Roselle flipped her off and left without looking back.


    In truth, if it was just her greed, Roselle wouldn''t have treated her so harshly, but she had been exceedingly nasty. He recalled how once, his younger sister came to stay the night, only to be thrown out by the landlady for renting a single room, forcing the siblings to sleep outside, resulting in Roselle''s sister falling sick.


    Thinking of the landlady''s conflicted expression, simultaneously infuriated and resigned to clean up, Roselle felt a thrill of satisfaction. Being true to oneself felt liberating.


    In his good mood, the system unexpectedly chimed in with a prompt: "Spirit Power +1..."


    The prompt caught Roselle by surprise, then delight¡ªhis Spirit Power had actually increased!


    What is Spirit Power?


    It''s the system''s threshold rating. To learn host skills within the pet beast system, Spirit Power must meet the requirements and is necessary for using host skills. Spirit Power''s importance surpasses even points.


    Opening his personal status, Roselle noticed a new change:


    Host: Luo Cheng


    Points: 50


    Strength: 7 (10)


    Agility: 7 (10)


    Mental: 9 (10)


    Spirit Power: 11/12


    Host Skill: Spirit Nourishment


    System Level: 1


    Pet Beast Space: Ice Crystal Fish Mother1, Hercules Ant5


    The change was in the Spirit Power limit, increased by 1 point to 12, and after a night''s sleep, his Spirit Power had recovered to 11 points from the previous night''s 1 point, at approximately 1 point per hour.


    Learning that being true to himself could increase his Spirit Power limit was unexpectedly delightful for Roselle, providing another means of enhancing his Spirit Power outside tasks.


    After lunch, Roselle spent about an hour at an internet cafe searching for rental listings online, finally finding one that met his needs.

 Chapter 8: Hera

    "Hello, is this Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle asked politely after dialing the number and hearing a mature, pleasant female voice on the other end, which took him by surprise.


    "Yes, who is this?" responded the woman named Xiaoyou.


    "Oh, I saw your listing online for a villa for rent. My last name is Luo¡­"


    "Ah, I''m sorry, I''ve just changed my mind and decided not to rent it out. I''m really sorry for the inconvenience," she interrupted.


    "Oh, it''s okay¡­" Roselle replied, frowning slightly. While he said it was fine, his tone betrayed his difficulty. With the 24-hour deadline approaching, it was not easy to quickly find a suitable place that met the task requirements. Now that he had finally found one, the owner had changed her mind.


    He hesitated and attempted, "Have you really decided not to rent it? I''m willing to pay more, or how about just for three months?"


    Surprisingly, there was a pause on the other end after his request. Just when Roselle thought it was hopeless, the woman spoke softly, "Mr. Luo, to be honest, I''m having some financial difficulties right now, but I also don''t have another place to stay temporarily. If you don''t mind sharing¡­"


    Listening to her embarrassed tone, Roselle realized that she was in financial trouble, which was why she had intended to rent out her villa. However, for some reason, she had decided against it due to not having another place to live. But after hearing his proposal, she reconsidered renting out the ground floor of her villa, leading to this negotiation.


    "I can lower the rent to 5000¡­ no, just 3000. I''ll stay upstairs, and you can stay downstairs. We''ll share the kitchen and garden. I''m rarely home during the day, so I won''t disturb you much."


    The woman, who called herself Xiaoyou, seemed urgent; it was clear she was in desperate need of money, otherwise, she wouldn''t have offered such a low price. Renting a luxurious villa with a large garden for 3000 a month, even if just one floor, was a bargain, and she was taking the risk of sharing with a stranger.


    "Alright, I''ll be there shortly, how''s that?" After a moment''s thought, Roselle agreed readily, wanting to complete the task promptly. Any delay increased the risk of failure due to the time limit, and he found this woman, with her manner of speaking and apparent vulnerability, more trustworthy.


    "Okay, I''ll be here," she replied, sounding slightly relieved.


    ¡­


    Hurrying to the location, Roselle found himself in front of a stylish yet leisurely villa within the residential area.


    The villa had two floors, each with roughly 130 square meters of interior space, with front and back gardens, covering a total area of about 500 square meters.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Wow! Renting such a serene environment for 3000 yuan was indeed a steal.


    Moreover, seeing the woman waiting at the villa''s entrance left Roselle pleasantly surprised¡ªit was a great bargain.


    Zhu Lu was considered a beauty, but next to this woman, she seemed lackluster. Her lustrous black hair was elegantly piled, revealing a swan-like neck adorned with a pearl necklace, exuding an aura of intellect and tranquility.


    Her delicate brows shaded eyes as clear as autumn water, with long eyelashes, an exquisite nose, and soft red lips. Standing gracefully in the small garden where the breeze gently blew, she was truly captivating at first sight.


    Her appearance, temperament, and the natural grace she exuded made Zhu Lu, once hailed as the company''s beauty, appear inferior by comparison.


    "Ms. Xiaoyou?" Roselle snapped out of his daze and approached, asking tentatively.


    "Yes, I am. I didn''t expect Mr. Luo to be so young. My real name is Hera" She introduced herself with a reserved smile.


    Her fair hand extended, leaving Roselle momentarily stunned. Realizing he was awestruck by Hera''s poise and grace, he quickly scratched his head and wiped his hands before greeting her with a gentle handshake, saying somewhat sheepishly, "I didn''t expect Miss Hera to be so outstanding¡ªyou left me speechless. Please call me Roselle, or just Shengzi or Cheng, like everyone else."


    "Ha ha¡­" She chuckled lightly, perhaps finding his straightforwardness and exaggerated manner amusing, easing the initial tension between them.


    "Let''s go in and take a look. I must have embarrassed you on the phone earlier," Hera said, her initial anxiety somewhat eased. However, Roselle still noticed a hint of worry lingering between her brows.


    "It''s okay; everyone has times when they need money. Money isn''t everything, but without it, even the most dignified man has to bend over, let alone a woman¡­" Roselle joked self-deprecatingly, recalling past hardships.


    "True, but no macho attitudes allowed," Hera replied, winking. "I was a bit apprehensive before you arrived, but meeting you has put my mind at ease."


    "What, do I look that harmless?" Roselle feigned innocence, touching the back of his head, and they both laughed.


    Roselle hadn''t expected renting a place would lead him to meet such an extraordinary woman as Hera.


    Hera as in ''heroic,'' and ''dancing gracefully''¡­ The elegance and depth of her name and demeanor contrasted sharply with Zhu Lu''s coquettish praise of Chen Jincheng. This comparison almost disrupted the pleasant atmosphere.


    Afterward, Roselle happily paid six months'' rent upfront¡ª18,000 yuan. His decision was partly because of Hera''s composed and gentle presence and also because the environment of the two-story villa met his needs perfectly.


    Especially when he saw the serene backyard with a terrace, grass and swings, plus a small fish pond about ten square meters, his desire to stay grew.


    The pond was perfect for keeping the "Ice Crystal Fish Mother." After all, despite the extraordinary crystal bottle, its space was just too small, and he couldn''t keep a spirit creature confined to such a tiny space indefinitely, could he?


    In addition to the delightful backyard, the first floor included a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a storeroom. Outside was a garage accommodating three commercial vehicles, and the front yard had a doghouse and flowers. With such amenities, 3000 yuan a month for half a villa, living with a beautiful woman, was almost too good to believe¡ªlike a protagonist in a transmigration story enjoying its perks.


    "Thank you." As Hera accepted Roselle''s prompt payment, the astute woman realized this sunny young man was indeed giving her a hand.


    "I''m just paying rent, and you''re the landlady. Sister Hera, I look forward to your care in the future," Roselle replied, waving with a smile.

 Chapter 9: Rewarding the Beast Slave

    After moving the laptop and some clothes into the room and gently closing the door, Roselle found the system''s response to be quicker than he anticipated.


    "Ding¡­ Task to improve living conditions completed. Reward: Spirit Power limit +1. Successfully distanced from the landlady, completed the task 5 hours ahead of schedule, and received an excellent evaluation of living conditions. You have obtained an A- task completion rating and earned 175 points."


    The system''s notification filled Roselle with excitement. Wow, the task rewards are based on evaluation! Not only did he gain a valuable +1 to his Spirit Power limit, but the points reward also exceeded his expectations of 50-100 points, being over twice as much, likely due to the A-grade evaluation.


    This discovery made Roselle take the task function more seriously. Upon consulting the system, he learned that tasks are divided into several categories and completion grades.


    Tasks are categorized into five types: Main Tasks, Side Tasks, Daily Loop Tasks, Mystery Tasks, and Special Tasks!


    Anyone who has played games would be familiar with the first three types, but Mystery Tasks and Special Tasks were a bit harder for Roselle to grasp.


    "Mystery Tasks, as understood by the general public of the Water Blue Planet, are Hidden Tasks!"


    "Special Tasks are those that must be completed under specific conditions or due to irreversible forces."


    The system kindly explained these tasks from the perspective of Earthly understanding.


    When it comes to task completion ratings, it¡¯s straightforward, ranging from D to C to B to A to S. Each level offers different rewards. For example, if Roselle''s completion rating had only been "C," he wouldn''t have received 175 points, perhaps just a paltry two-digit sum. Clearly, this super pet beast system is highly comprehensive and flexible, and Roselle couldn''t help but be impressed after understanding it fully.


    "Since you successfully completed your first task, the system''s task function is now activated. You automatically receive the following task:"


    "Mainline Task 1: Increase your Spirit Power limit to 15 points. Upon reaching System Level 2, you will receive a reward of 300 points and material rewards ???"


    "Because you completed your first task with an A-grade rating, the system additionally grants you a beast-level ''Beast Servant,''*1. The host may choose the type of Beast Servant and set detailed parameters. This extra reward is a one-time offer and won''t be repeated."


    "The task function is now activated?¡­ A reward Beast Servant??"


    Unexpectedly, the system¡¯s task function activation included a main task, with a completion reward of 300 points. It looked like the main task rewards were more generous than side tasks; otherwise, the A-grade side task just completed wouldn''t have been only 175 points.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Even more surprisingly, achieving an A-grade on his first task also unlocked a hidden extra reward. Although this won''t happen again, the bonus hidden reward was definitely a big win. What is a Beast Servant?


    Without needing the system to explain, Roselle naturally understood¡ªthis refers to a pet beast of the same type as the host, thus called a ¡°Beast Servant.¡±


    In other words, since Roselle is human, the Beast Servant rewarded would also naturally be human.


    "Excited, so excited, ah, this is amazing, my Beast Servant¡­" In the 21st century, few things are as exciting as being rewarded with a loyal and powerful servant.


    "Open the store." Impatiently, Roselle quickly entered the store, navigating to the Beast category. The exchange prices for humans ranged from 300 to 1000 points. Although Beast Servant refers to humans, there were many different human races available in the store. Earth humans? Sorry, in the Beast category, that¡¯s just one of dozens of human types, prompting Roselle to consider carefully which race of Beast Servant to choose.


    At first, the simplest thought was to choose the most expensive option because this was an extra reward. Whether selecting the most or least expensive Beast Servant, the system would cover it all.


    However, after a moment of reflection, Roselle had to think more deeply, remembering that "there''s no best, only most suitable."


    Yes, suitability. When exchanging for a Beast Servant, he needed to consider suitability. The most expensive Starwing Human had a pair of violet star wings, could fly flexibly, excelled in airborne combat with bows and arrows, and had physical attributes nearly twice that of regular humans, rated at 60 stars.


    This was good; without external factors, Roselle would have chosen the Starwing Human without hesitation. However, having one as a servant presented issues, as they couldn¡¯t be seen publicly¡ªit would be too conspicuous.


    Thinking this through, Roselle dismissed the idea of choosing the top-tier human races in the Beast category. Starwing Humans, Violet Power Humans, Dragon Blood Humans, Moon Demon Humans¡­ all too impractical.


    After much searching, Roselle finally found the Beast Servant that met his needs and was suitable:


    Beast Servant: Kingsteel Human


    Host: Roselle


    Strength: 18


    Agility: 12


    Mental: 10


    Innate Trait: Steel Skin


    Rating: 40 stars, strong physical power, and the innate trait "Steel Skin" which grants natural defensive capabilities to Kingsteel Humans.


    Exchange Price: 799 points


    This is the "Kingsteel Human" handpicked by Roselle. The reasons for selection?


    Although its total rating of 40 stars isn''t as impressive as the 60 stars of the Starwing Human, its innate trait of Steel Skin and its Western European human appearance are crucial points for selection.


    As for Earth Humans?


    Oh, sorry, Earth Humans are rated at only 30 stars because their attributes of strength, agility, and spirit total to 30. Their innate trait is "Creativity."


    In fact, the creativity of Earth Humans should be a top-tier trait, making their price unjustly low. However, the system''s evaluation states: "Due to the innate shortcomings of Water Blue Planet humans, despite their high trait level, their price remains low."


    As for what those shortcomings are, Roselle didn''t need to think hard to know they included infighting, self-destruction, and weak cohesion¡­ etc.


    Despite all this, Roselle currently had no need for the creativity of his own race. Earth Humans? There are plenty of them on Earth. What Roselle needed was strength, bringing the Kingsteel Human Beast Servant to the forefront.


    "Please select the specific appearance, build, gender, and compatibility of the Kingsteel Human..."

 Chapter 10: Caesar the Beast Slave

    After selecting the specific type of Beast Servant, the next step was to set its appearance. Roselle thought for a moment and came up with an answer.


    Since it was to have a Western European appearance, it shouldn''t be too short, but also not too tall. Being overly tall isn''t necessarily beneficial in combat, as it can cause instability and open up more vulnerabilities to attacks.


    Hmm, for height, let''s go with 185 cm. In Western Europe, this is fairly common, but in China, it''s quite impressive. At the very least, it''s nearly 10 cm taller than Roselle himself.


    With the height set, the build should be "brawny and muscular." In fact, appearance is mostly ornamental since the Kingsteel Beast Servant''s attributes are uniformly set at 40 stars. However, a muscular build is necessary in China, where people often judge by appearance first. A burly body with robust muscles will at least reduce a lot of trouble.


    For demeanor, should it be menacing or fierce?


    No, it should just be calm and stern. Normally composed, but once a fight is imminent, it should exhibit the fierce aura of a tiger descending the mountain.


    Clearly, Roselle was setting this extra reward Beast Servant to be his personal bodyguard. After half an hour of tweaking, he finally completed the setup!


    "Redeem, redeem the extra reward Beast Servant." Having set the appearance, Roselle immediately requested the system to redeem it.


    The next moment, as Roselle blinked, keeping an eye on the Pet Beast Space, he noticed a Beast Servant seed had appeared. In its 1-cubic-meter space, it was only the size of a grain of rice, but when brought into reality by its owner...


    Roselle found it wasn''t rice-sized at all¡ªit was as large as a dinosaur egg!


    Seizing the opportunity, Roselle applied the Spirit Nourishment twice on the seed. When he attempted a third, the system informed him that the Beast Servant no longer needed additional Spirit Nourishment.


    The Kingsteel Human seed, having received two Spirit Nourishments, began to crack open. A fully muscled Western baby burst forth from the egg, already able to walk, smile, and even speak.


    "Master." The robust infant easily tore the resilient shell apart as if it were mere paper and walked up to Roselle, greeting him in a youthful yet steady voice.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    During this process, the Beast Servant infant rapidly grew. The speed of his development was almost like inflating a balloon.


    Within approximately three minutes, he had grown from infancy to adulthood. This rapid transformation left Roselle speechless; though he knew the system was miraculous, this was unbelievable.


    Regardless, Roselle found himself thrilled by the absurdity. The more outrageous, the better. As he examined the fully matured, muscular Kingsteel Human, a message appeared in his mind:


    Beast Servant: Kingsteel Human


    Level: 1


    Potential: 3


    Strength: 18


    Agility: 12


    Mental: 10


    Innate Trait: Steel Skin


    Rating: 40 stars, strong power, and the innate trait "Steel Skin" provides natural defensive abilities.


    This information differed from what was seen in the store, with the addition of "Level" and "Potential."


    Through the system, Roselle understood their meanings. "Level" referred to the Beast Servant''s life level. In terms of attributes, a Kingsteel Human, without considering his Steel Skin trait, was a Level 1 life form simply based on physical stats.


    The level measurement is clearly defined: it''s rated by the attributes of strength, agility, and mental power. If any of these attributes exceed 10 points, it''s a Level 1 life form.


    If any attribute surpasses 20 points, it becomes a Level 2 creature!


    Obviously, with the Kingsteel Human''s strength at 18 points, though stronger than Earth humans, he is still a Level 1 life form.


    As for "Potential," it refers to potential level, meaning the Kingsteel Human can develop attributes up to Level 3. Even if enhanced or fully developed, no attribute, not even his strongest, strength, will surpass 40 points.


    This cap is because the Kingsteel Human''s physical potential maxes out at 40 points. Exceeding this threshold would cause the body to collapse.


    This rule applies to all life forms, an unavoidable aspect of the life force principle.


    For humans, too, as scientific studies show, even at peak fitness, if physical attributes exceed 2-3 times their norm, collapse is inevitable. Thus, potential level''s importance is critical, explaining why the system categorizes creatures into Beast, Fierce Beast, and Savage Beast classes, based on potential levels.


    However, both current and potential levels don''t equate to combat power. Despite the Kingsteel Human being a Level 1 life form, who would assume his actual combat strength only slightly surpasses humans due to his innate trait?


    The next moment, Roselle personally tested this by striking the Beast Servant''s chest with a standard sharp fruit knife, using all 7 points of his strength.


    "Crack¡­" With a crisp sound, the fruit knife broke, while the opponent''s chest bore only a small white mark.


    "Does it hurt?" Roselle asked, stunned by the Beast Servant''s robustness.


    "Not at all. If you use a 15-kilogram hammer with your full strength to attack me, I might get hurt," the Kingsteel Human replied solemnly to Roselle.


    Before being redeemed from the seed shop, his mind was already filled with most of the general knowledge and comprehension of the Water Blue Planet. Despite originating from an extraterrestrial place, communicating with Roselle posed no issue.


    "A 15-kilogram hammer¡­" Roselle muttered, contemplating this concept. He realized, with disappointment, that a 15-kilogram hammer wouldn''t be easy to wield for him, let alone use for striking. Even lifting 15 kg would challenge the average guy, highlighting how formidable this creature was!


    "And bullets? You understand bullets, right? What if you were shot?"

 Chapter 11: Huge Amounts and Black Market Goods

    Roselle looked at the Kingsteel Beast Servant with eyes full of amazement. This creature''s innate trait was steel skin, which explained why it emphasized needing a sledgehammer to deal with him. Ordinary sharp tools would indeed struggle to pierce this layer of steely skin.


    Only with sufficiently heavy weapons, leveraging significant force, could this steel-skinned Beast Servant sustain any internal damage. In tests against cold weapons, the Kingsteel Beast Servant was practically invincible to modern humans. While heavy weapons could injure him, who today uses such cumbersome tools for combat?


    Except perhaps for construction workers, those are rarely seen. Ordinary people would have a tough time even lifting them.


    However, what about such formidable defense against humanity¡¯s most trusted firearms?


    ¡°If I were shot with bullets from a regular caliber handgun, such an attack probably wouldn¡¯t harm me¡­¡± Even under Roselle¡¯s prolonged gaze, the Kingsteel Beast Servant remained unperturbed, standing naked and expressionless, true to his calm and stern character setting.


    Compared to the American or Russian hyperbole about their tough warriors, this was true strength. What is a tough guy? This is a tough guy, and not just in appearance, but also substance.


    Almost twice the strength of an average person, with exceptional agility and formidable defense¡ªwhat else could you call a warrior like this?


    However, from the Beast Servant''s tone, regular caliber handguns seemed unlikely to harm him. The use of the word "probably" suggested he was aware of his steel skin¡¯s defensive limits, otherwise, he would have been more definitive.


    As for more powerful firearms like the famed "Desert Eagle," along with rifles or machine guns, the Kingsteel Human''s defenses might not hold up.


    "It makes sense; no matter how strong the body, it¡¯s still flesh after all." Even with steel skin, it''s merely a thin layer of armor, not steel flesh.


    His response let Roselle breathe a sigh of relief. Such power was reasonable; after all, the Kingsteel Human was just a Beast-level creature, not something overly miraculous.


    "Well... very well... from now on, your name is Caesar." After staring for a while, Roselle managed to contain his excitement and named his first Beast Servant. After all, being able to withstand ordinary gunfire was already beyond humanity, having such a tough guy by his side was more than satisfying.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Thank you for naming me, master," Caesar said, stepping closer. From birth, he was instilled with a wealth of information, including loyalty and protection towards his master as his highest command.


    Yes, the pet beasts redeemed from the shop aren''t truly natural life forms. Strictly speaking, they are genetically replicated seeds.


    Roselle looked at the tough guy beside him, feeling more pleased the longer he looked. Originally, he was troubled by how to offload last night''s goods, but now with Caesar, that worry seemed to dissolve.


    With such a powerful Beast Servant, Roselle felt emboldened to venture into even the darkest black markets. Black against black? Well, that would depend on whether the opposition had the strength to contend.


    After a brief outing, he returned with a large suit. It was certainly low-budget, as Roselle had spent most of his money on rent, leaving little else.


    "Let''s go meet some interesting people," Roselle said, heading out of the villa with Caesar. As for Hera, she was likely at work, sparing Roselle the need to explain Caesar¡¯s existence for now.


    Armed with information gathered online about the city''s underground scene, Roselle made his way toward a certain nightclub.


    ¡­


    "Alright, for all the goods together, I¡¯ll give you 1.33 million. How about that?" said a scar-faced man to Roselle in a closed room of a nightclub''s underground parking lot.


    In the room, alongside Scarface were several obvious gang members. Their discreet attire and fierce eyes made it clear they weren¡¯t ordinary street thugs.


    Clearly, these men lived on the edge.


    It was Roselle''s first time dealing with such people, and claiming he wasn''t intimidated would be a lie. But with Caesar by his side, fear and weakness were not options.


    So, even though Scarface''s offer was lower than public market prices, it was fair for selling black market goods.


    Among the seven or eight items, an emerald, a high-quality jade pendant, and a small snuff bottle were the most valuable. These alone could fetch a million in total, and that was the black market price. If sold openly, they could be worth even more.


    But Roselle wasn''t foolish enough to expose these illicit items to the public eye.


    Scarface was another strong character. Even after so long in the trade, it was his first time encountering such a situation¡ªa Western bodyguard emitting an oppressive aura that stifled his entire crew.


    The guard''s menacing gaze was like that of a bloodthirsty tiger, ready to pounce. Damn, who was this kid? Although Scarface wanted to rip off Roselle for these goods, he backed down for the first time.


    Scarface had never shied from a fight, yet now he hesitated, showing how much they feared Caesar.


    Of course, anyone able to employ such a formidable Western bodyguard was no ordinary person. This added another layer of caution for Scarface and his men. As for their low-key attire?


    Living as long as Scarface had, judging people by appearance would have been a fatal mistake, and he would never have seized the black goods market so effectively.


    While Scarface weighed Roselle''s background, Roselle, the subject of speculation, hadn''t thought that far ahead. 1.33 million was a tremendous amount for an ordinary person, and especially for someone like Roselle, who had struggled financially.


    He had expected a decent sum from selling these black market goods, but not such a large amount. Indeed, for Roselle, this was a fortune he had never dreamed of.

 Chapter 12: Deterrence

    Upon hearing the amount, Roselle¡¯s breath caught, but he knew he couldn''t give himself away. Quickly adjusting, he coughed heavily and nodded decisively, "Deal!"


    "Haha, Brother Luo, you''re straightforward. Here''s my card. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me. Even if it''s not for business, you can still reach out. I, Wang Nan, may not be the ultimate authority in Xuan Yang District, but I do carry some weight here."


    The scar-faced man, Wang Nan, rarely disclosed his name during dealings. This showed that he regarded Roselle quite seriously this time.


    "Thank you, Brother Wang Nan. I may indeed need to trouble you in the future," Roselle replied with a glint in his eye. Having been in the business market for a while, he could discern the goodwill and sincerity in Wang Nan''s gesture.


    For typical clients, Wang Nan would have simply left a phone number for future contact, without those additional words.


    However, Roselle knew he needed to demonstrate his strength to ensure mutual respect in dealings with such ruthless individuals. Merely bluffing could only work temporarily and was not a long-term strategy.


    Thus, as Roselle turned to leave, Caesar, with a stern expression, casually pressed his hand on the table before following his master. This light press made Scarface Wang Nan¡¯s eyebrows jump and left one of his sharp-eyed subordinates open-mouthed in shock.


    The solid table now sported a half-centimeter deep handprint, impressively embedded into its surface.


    "How strong is that? This polar bear is terrifying. I didn¡¯t think such a person existed in this world," exclaimed one of Scarface''s subordinates in astonishment.


    "That man isn''t a polar bear, he''s a polar tiger¡­" Scarface corrected, watching Roselle''s retreating back. Polar bears are strong, but they don''t compare to the ferocity of a tiger.


    Fortunately, he hadn¡¯t let greed take over earlier. Even as the top figure in Xuan Yang District''s underground, confronting that formidable tiger in this room¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance.


    While Roselle and Wang Nan completed their transaction, in a high-end hospital room, another scene unfolded.


    "Director He, have you found the culprit? The villa is covered with cameras; it''s impossible for the perpetrator to have slipped in unnoticed," groaned Chen Jincheng, lying in his hospital bed, gritting his teeth.


    Anyone would be aggrieved¡ªhaving five rice grain-sized wounds bitten into such a sensitive area.


    "We have accessed the video footage," said Director He, nodding to a subordinate who brought up footage on the room''s equipment, focusing on a man in a repairman''s uniform.


    "Do you recognize this person? I suspect the perpetrator disguised himself as a repairman to slip in. The beard and eyebrows are likely fake, and the hard hat covers much of his face. The uniform is loose, making it hard to gauge his physique," Director He explained, pointing at the screen.


    "I don''t recognize him." Chen Jincheng''s face turned grim. Not recognizing was an understatement¡ªit was more that he couldn''t identify anyone specific. The perpetrator had clearly prepared well. Chen had offended many people, and recalling all those with grudges was difficult. Just counting from three days ago, there were at least ten or eight incidents, and even more if he looked further back¡ªso many that even he couldn¡¯t keep track. Was that it then?


    Glaring at the screen with hatred, he finally spoke, "What means did they use to injure me?"


    "I suspect they used some vicious insects, likely ants. They probably scattered them while you slept..." Director He trailed off, knowing further explanation might provoke his ire.


    "Is there no way to catch the culprit?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "There is, but it''s tricky. If they''re local, they might try to sell the stolen goods, but those who handle black market goods are also powerful, making this difficult," Director He pondered aloud.


    "Three million. I''ll offer three million as a personal reward and another five million as a special investigation fund, privately, for your department," Chen Jincheng nearly roared, eyes reddened with fury.


    His offer left Director He''s subordinates swaying with surprise.


    "That''s not what I meant, Old Chen. This is truly a tough case, and those handling the black market goods are formidable."


    The eight million offered, be it the formal reward or the under-the-table incentive, was tempting. But Wang Nan was not someone to cross lightly. Unless using force, Wang Nan wouldn''t risk his reputation. In this field, losing credibility means losing the business of others willing to risk the law for profit. Those in this line of work live on a knife¡¯s edge, and Director He was reluctant to provoke Wang Nan extensively. Such a move could cost far more than eight million.


    "I heard your department''s director is near retirement? Zhuo Nan has mentioned it several times," Chen Jincheng suddenly remarked.


    This statement, more than the eight million offer, got through to Director He. His body tensed as he promised, "I¡¯ll do my best."


    "Very well. Whatever means you use, find the culprit, and I promise you won¡¯t regret it," Chen Jincheng vowed. In Xuan Yang District, no one wronged Chen Jincheng without facing consequences. To ferret out the assailant, he would even leverage his brother''s influence.


    "Don''t let me find you, or I''ll make you wish you were dead!" When the room was empty again, the old man muttered vengefully.


    ¡­


    Leaving the parking lot, Roselle patted his pocket holding the bank card, his heart pounding. A million, a million... to have such an amount was exhilarating.


    "This is just the beginning, Roselle, you can¡¯t get carried away over a mere million," Roselle told himself, taking a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Yet, the excitement was beyond words.


    No matter how rational he tried to stay, Roselle had been an ordinary person until now. A million was enough not only to cover his siblings¡¯ education but also to ease his mother''s burdens and afford better health care for his ailing father.


    This money could change the fate of his family of five. How could he remain composed?


    First, Roselle hurried to an ATM and transferred ten thousand each to the accounts of his siblings, Luo Yu and Xin¡¯er.


    As the eldest, Roselle was followed by his brother Luo Yu, who was a junior in university in Beijing, and his youngest sister Luo Xin''er, who was in her second year of high school.


    After sending money to his siblings, he thought for a moment and sent five thousand to his parents.


    He didn''t send more because he couldn''t justify a larger sum without arousing suspicion.


    Roselle crafted a message, explaining that his boss had taken a keen interest in him, rewarded him with a promotion for clinching a major deal, and gave a ten thousand bonus.


    "This should cover it," Roselle thought. Yet soon after sending the message, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he smiled. It could only be his quick-witted sister, Luo Xin''er.


    "Brother, where did you get so much money? You even sent me ten thousand. I bet you sent more to Dad and Mom and Second Brother," came Xin¡¯er''s sweet, lively voice, like a refreshing brook running through his heart. His little sister was growing more graceful by the day.


    Smiling unconsciously, Roselle replied, "You don¡¯t trust your big brother now? You know I¡¯d never resort to anything illegal, even if a gun was pointed at my head."


    "Oh, right, if Brother ever did anything bad, we wouldn''t be living so hard. You really got promoted? Brother, you should take care of yourself and not overwork. Soon, Xin''er will be able to help you."


    Excited, Xin''er reassured him, knowing her brother¡¯s principles well. She truly believed him, as he was someone who stuck to his bottom line.


    "Of course. Don''t overthink it, okay? Focus on your studies. Since I got promoted and am earning more bonuses, I can take good care of the family."


    Roselle spoke with newfound confidence and determination. His tone was firm, unlike before. He understood Xin¡¯er''s intentions; she had planned to finish high school and start working to ease the family¡¯s burdens.


    The well-being of their parents was evident to all three siblings. In poor families, children grow up early. If she were a city girl, she''d still be under her parents'' protection, going through a rebellious phase.


    In the past, Roselle couldn''t oppose Xin''er''s plan to forgo college, but now the situation had changed. As her big brother, he couldn''t let her face the harsh world prematurely.


    With his current capabilities, education wasn¡¯t essential for living a good life. School was still a sanctuary for camaraderie, providing years of happiness and youthful memories.


    "Alright, Brother, I knew you could do it. I¡¯m about to head to class, so that''s it for now. Visit when you can. I¡¯ll make your favorite sweet and sour ribs."


    Xin''er ended the call abruptly, not directly agreeing.


    Shaking his head, Roselle let it go. Given time until graduation, even if she quit school, he was confident the Pet Beast System would ensure she lived well.


    Perhaps, after the revenge and black market dealings, Roselle didn¡¯t realize the extent of his confidence growth. In less than two days, he had become much more self-assured and broad-minded, leaving behind his previous cautious thinking.

 Chapter 13: Online Collection

    After his little sister hung up, it wasn¡¯t long before Roselle¡¯s mother called, filled with worry. Roselle reassured and explained things to her until she finally believed him, dispelling her heartfelt advice.


    By the end of the call, Roselle noticed her tone became noticeably lighter. This lightness came from relief¡ªrelief that her son hadn¡¯t taken a wrong step and also because the five thousand yuan would greatly improve their family¡¯s situation.


    "Ming, I know it¡¯s not easy for you out there. Remember to take care of yourself, not just focus on the family, okay?" His mother¡¯s voice was full of comfort, though tinged with fatigue. She added, "I¡¯ve always worried about your father¡¯s health. With this money, he can live longer..."


    Hanging up, Roselle felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Sending out that seventy thousand yuan was like releasing a heavy burden. Life is tough for everyone, and now that he had the means, the first thing he wanted to do was ensure his family lived a bit better.


    Roselle never had grand ambitions. The life he dreamed of wasn¡¯t about having lots of money or great power, but simply that those around him could live well. If he could become like his landlord, collecting a good amount of rent each month without worrying about life or work, enjoying a leisurely life, that would be enough!


    "Here¡¯s some news: Yesterday, at an auction in Nanzhou, a mysterious book titled ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' was sold for 38.76 million yuan to a southern corporation. According to insiders, this record from the Yin-Shang period might hold unknown secrets. Rumor has it that over a dozen major corporations were competing for this mystical tome..."


    Roselle was about to hail a cab when the news on a large screen across the square caught his attention and made him pause.


    "Master?" Caesar approached with concern, scanning the surroundings. With his imposing figure and fierce aura, no one dared come too close, making him all the more puzzled.


    "It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s head back." Having a Western face wasn¡¯t without drawbacks. Lacking identification and a visa was always going to be a problem for Caesar.


    Luckily, as a genuine Western European, Caesar was often treated well in China. Combined with his intimidating presence, it was enough to keep any unwanted attention from the authorities at bay.


    As they hurried home with Caesar attracting almost every gaze, Roselle couldn¡¯t shake off thoughts of the ¡°Ancient Array Divine Record¡± mentioned in the news.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Though the authenticity of this record was unconfirmed, any book labeled with ¡°Divine¡± in its title was often considered an ancient mystical text. In today¡¯s society, such texts are generally regarded as myths or fabrications. Yet occasionally, they prove genuine, although verification is rare.


    Roselle, however, was not like others. He possessed a source of spiritual energy, making him particularly sensitive to anything with the words ¡°divine¡± or ¡°immortal.¡± The news kept lingering in his mind, and he couldn¡¯t help but focus on this Ancient Array Divine Record.


    To learn more, the simplest method was online research, given the speed and flexibility of the internet.


    °¢


    Back at the villa, Roselle shut himself in his room and began searching. After a few minutes, he found the news clip played on the Times Square screen.


    "Is this worn-out book really the Ancient Array Divine Record?" Roselle muttered with disappointment.


    His reaction was understandable¡ªthe book sold for over 30 million yuan was in terrible condition and incomplete, too. Surprisingly, the company bravely uploaded high-resolution images of the entire ¡°Ancient Array Divine Record,¡± unafraid of public scrutiny.


    Online, netizens exploded with commentary, mocking and deriding:


    "Truly an immortal array map, just a few yellowed pages worth millions."


    "What¡¯s wrong with people nowadays? So much money wasted... It would be better spent helping the underprivileged."


    "Haha, that corporation sure knows how to market."


    "Experts, where are the experts to debunk this?"


    "Dumb, what do you peasants know? This isn¡¯t just yellow paper; it¡¯s a magic array, a priceless artifact. Haha, my family has a magical artifact bought for millions."


    "Show-off... Get out!!!"


    "Stupid, someone should tell the boss to try soaking it in water. If that doesn¡¯t work, try burning it. If that fails, use some chemicals. The secret of those six yellow pages would reveal itself."


    "Even if it¡¯s an immortal array, in today¡¯s polluted world, would it even work? Spiritual energy? There¡¯s none left on Earth now..."


    "My eyes have been opened. Tonight, I¡¯ll try my luck and see if I can create a grand immortal array."


    ...


    Roselle was speechless at the online banter. Many dismissed it outright, while others sarcastically treated it as genuine. Such is the power of the internet¡¯s satire¡ªinsult without profanity is considered mild.


    Finding no exclusive revelations in the comments, Roselle returned his focus to the images.


    There were six uploaded images, each depicting an independent magic array, complete with diagrams and runes, as well as indecipherable ancient scripts. The images, though well-preserved, showed signs of wear and damage. The meaning of these six pages was beyond Roselle¡¯s understanding.


    After flipping through the images, he felt a tinge of disappointment. Suddenly, the system¡¯s prompt startled him.


    "Detected ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' on this planet. Do you wish to collect it? Collection requires consuming 1 point of Spirit Power for scanning..."


    The Ancient Array Divine Record? It¡¯s genuine?


    Roselle couldn¡¯t believe that the mocked yellow pages were indeed an ancient divine array, seemingly with great significance. The system¡¯s evaluations were never wrong, certainly more reliable than external experts.


    Moreover, as he examined the high-definition pictures online, the system was prompting him to collect them?


    What did "collect" mean in this context? Simply gathering the images or something more? At this thought, Roselle was too excited to continue.

 Chapter 14: Deduction and Completion

    If this "Ancient Array Divine Record" truly only dates back to the Shang-Zhou period, it wouldn''t really deserve the title of "Ancient Array Divine Record." To truly qualify as "ancient," it would need to trace back to the mythical times, the primordial era when heaven and earth first opened¡ªthe very beginning of the most powerful and ancient mythical age.


    Moreover, in Chinese mythology, "Shen" (God) isn¡¯t as trivial as in Western or some other island country¡¯s myths.


    "A Divine Record... this might really be a genuine record of ancient gods," Roselle thought after being stunned for a while. Recalling the system''s prompt, he quickly followed its instructions, gathering his spirit power and focusing on the HD images on his computer. Soon, a bright, concentrated beam of golden light shot out from the center of his forehead.


    The golden light seemed to scan each image with intent. After about ten seconds, the intense beam slowly dissipated.


    "''Ancient Array Divine Record'' fragment successfully collected. Scanning... scanning... Scan complete. It is possible to complete it. Would you like to initiate completion?"


    "Note: The ''Ancient Array Divine Record ¡¤ Hand-copied Fragment'' contains a mysterious and profound power system. Completing it will require substantial time and spirit power for the system to simulate. Would you like to proceed with completion?"


    As the system asked if he wanted to begin completion, Roselle realized what he had stumbled upon.


    An incomplete hand-copied version of the "Ancient Array Divine Record"? And it could be reconstructed through simulation in his hands?


    What did this imply?


    Even though Roselle found just a copy online, the essence and heritage of such things don¡¯t change, whether authentic or not. The system''s ability to extrapolate a full record from fragments was in itself an unimaginable process.


    Yes or no?


    Hell, that¡¯s an unnecessary question. Not completing it would be foolish. Without hesitation, Roselle chose to start the completion of the "Ancient Array Divine Record."


    "Ding... The host has selected immediate completion, but the host¡¯s current spirit power is insufficient for the system¡¯s extrapolation process. Therefore, the system will intelligently apply a segmented completion and priority-focused completion plan. This plan requires the host¡¯s further consent; otherwise, the completion plan will be terminated.¡±


    "Agree." After Roselle confirmed his consent, he felt the seven points of spirit power concentrated at his brow quickly drained, fueling the system''s simulation.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    As time passed in anxious anticipation, about an hour later, when Roselle vaguely heard movements outside, probably Hera returning from work, the system timely relayed information: "This completion has achieved two phases."


    "Phase 1: The complete restoration of the ''Ancient Array Divine Record'' table of contents. Phase 2: Successful completion of the first chart in the ''Ancient Array Divine Record.'' Further completion will require the host''s spirit power to fully recover before restarting."


    With the system''s synthesized voice ending, a series of data appeared in Roselle¡¯s mind, placing the "Ancient Array Divine Record" under the "Host Skills" section.


    Focusing his consciousness on the ancient text, its pages opened to reveal the first entry in the table of contents.


    The contents had been fully translated into Chinese, allowing Roselle to instantly comprehend the meanings of the divine array directory.


    The directory listed nine divine arrays, increasing in complexity and material requirements from the first to the ninth.


    By the fourth array, Roselle no longer recognized some of the material names, showing how advanced it was compared to his current world knowledge.


    At the bottom, an additional method was noted, called the "Wu Refining Divine Method."


    Seeing these words made Roselle''s heart tremble. Wu Refining Divine Method? What an alluring and formidable name.


    It wasn¡¯t cultivation of immortals or spirits; it was cultivation of gods¡ªtruly awe-inspiring. Tempted to delve into the "Wu Refining Divine Method," he encountered a barrier, with the system informing him it wasn''t fully restored.


    Of course, with only two stages completed, what he saw was merely the table of contents.


    Slightly disappointed, Roselle refocused on the other completed stage.


    The second completed stage was the first page among the nine divine array diagrams, the simplest and most fundamental, titled "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array."


    After careful examination, Roselle understood the purpose of this spirit-trapping array. As the name implies, this divine array is meant to trap all things related to "spirits." Anything connected to spirits within its range would be bound and trapped¡ªtruly a domineering array.


    "Indeed, it is a divine record¡ªtruly overbearing." At first glance, Roselle thought of the spirit-trapping arrays often mentioned in novels, assuming it merely kept spiritual energy contained to prevent dissipation.


    However, the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" was far beyond his imagination; it didn¡¯t just lock spirit energy in place, it trapped everything related to spirits.


    In this context, "spirit" referred not only to spiritual energy but also to spirits, souls, and any life associated with spirits, all of which would be affected.


    This "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" was truly unrivaled, yet it was the simplest and weakest among the nine arrays?


    The system used only seven points of spirit power to complete it largely because this array was the most intact and clear in the existing six images, requiring minimal extrapolation.


    "Immortal stones are Hetian white jades?" Further reading widened Roselle¡¯s eyes in disbelief.


    Materials needed for the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" mentioned four high-grade "immortal stones," identified by the system as Hetian white jade, which astonished Roselle.


    Of course, while the array''s mention of immortal stones pointed to Hetian white jade, upon closer inspection, Roselle noted differences between the two.


    First, the former was truly "Hetian white jade," while the latter was called spiritual jade or Hetian spiritual jade!


    By the end of the mythological era, new immortals even renamed spiritual jade to "immortal stones," making them primary exchange commodities among immortals, a hard currency.


    So, what differentiated Hetian white jade from Hetian spiritual jade?

 Chapter 15: Side Chain Quests

    What exactly is the difference between "Hetian White Jade" and "Hetian Spiritual Jade"? If you look at it literally, it''s not hard to notice that the only difference is the third character.


    That''s right, Hetian White Jade lacks spiritual energy, so technically, it isn¡¯t a true "immortal stone" but rather the raw material for one. You could also think of it as a vessel capable of holding and absorbing spiritual energy.


    This distinction explains why modern Hetian White Jade is commonly used as decorative material for humans. The root cause is that Earth has no spiritual energy left, which means Hetian White Jade has not had the opportunity to absorb the heavens'' spiritual energy over the centuries to transform into Hetian Spiritual Jade.


    When Roselle''s consciousness returned from the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array," half an hour had passed. He was filled with a mix of complicated emotions.


    A feeling called "ambition" was beginning to grow within him. Previously, he only had a simple hope and idea of cultivating immortality.


    But after acquiring the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" and the "Wu Refining Divine Method," that hope quickly transformed into a much stronger ambition.


    To become a legend above all ordinary people? To transcend beyond mortals? To acquire eternal and immense power?


    No one can resist such a temptation. Yes, even just thinking or dreaming about it is enough to make one''s blood boil. Moreover, with the conditions Roselle currently possessed, it wasn¡¯t just an unreachable fantasy.


    Simply the concept of "cultivating the divine" roared through Roselle like a torrent, stirring his emotions into a chaotic whirlpool.


    "I want to cultivate the divine!" In the silent room, Caesar quietly guarded a corner by the door, while Roselle''s fervent whisper echoed alone.


    These simple four words demonstrated his determination. If he didn''t seize such a providential opportunity, he would surely have lived in vain.


    "Ice Crystal Fish Mother... Spirit-Trapping Array... Divine Method..." Roselle began to connect these elements, converting the impossible into the "feasible."


    Roselle didn''t need to rush understanding how to cultivate the "Wu Refining Divine Method" because extrapolating it would require an unknown amount of spiritual power; after all, this divine method wasn''t part of the six images and would truly rely on the super system''s computational power to restore.


    However, the materials for the "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" needed to be prepared. Although spiritual energy no longer existed in the modern world, and obtaining immortal stones was nearly impossible, Roselle had the Ice Crystal Fish Mother. With this creature, the source of spiritual energy¡¯s birth, he was confident he could transform "Hetian White Jade" into "Hetian Spiritual Jade."


    With this thought, Roselle disregarded how crazy he might seem. Driven by the desire to cultivate the Wu Refining Divine Method, he first issued an order to the system.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    He temporarily modified the previous sequence of repairing the "Ancient Array Divine Record," making the "Wu Refining Divine Method" the first target for restoration. Once his spirit power restored to full, he¡¯d immediately proceed with the extrapolation.


    The second task was to gather detailed information about Hetian jade. Roselle knew little about jade; in his previous understanding, he only recognized jadeite. Of course, he had heard of Hetian jade but knew very little.


    Learning about Hetian jade was easy in today''s internet age, thanks to a powerful tool called "Baidu." Opening his laptop, Roselle searched repeatedly, diving into a wealth of information.


    Finally, Roselle gained a certain understanding of Hetian jade. Hetian jade is categorized based on color and purity into six major types: white jade, black jade, green jade, blue jade, yellow jade, and so-called sugar jade.


    Among these, the highest grade of Hetian White Jade is mutton fat jade. Mutton Fat Jade is a gemstone-level material within Hetian jade, known for its pure white color and superior gloss and texture, appearing soft, dense, pure, and flawless, hence the name.


    Roselle even recalled a historical anecdote: During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, Emperor of Shu Han, had a beautiful empress named Lady Gan, whose skin purportedly resembled jade. At night, when she disrobed, her body supposedly emitted a glow akin to jade, so Liu Bei kept a three-foot-tall mutton fat white jade by their bedside for comparison.


    While this tale highlighted Lady Gan''s extraordinary beauty, the mutton fat white jade used to contrast her skin also showcased its pure and beautiful qualities.


    The simplest way to distinguish mutton fat white jade from regular white jade is under a white daylight bulb. Mutton fat white jade, when placed under such a light, appears pure white and translucent with a faint pink mist.


    Ordinary white jade, under daylight, also looks translucent but lacks the pink mist; its defining difference is that when viewed under the light, it inevitably shows varying shades of pale yellow. Thus, if any trace of yellow appears, it cannot be called mutton fat white jade.


    The market today is mostly filled with various grades of white jade sold as "mutton fat white jade." True mutton fat white jade is indeed rare, rarely encountered in ordinary markets, with each gram valued between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan, and larger pieces priced even higher.


    Discovering that the top-grade immortal stone he needed was actually flawless mutton fat white jade, Roselle couldn¡¯t help but let out a wry smile.


    These ancient divine arrays are not something an average person could afford to play with. Even needing just four pieces could bankrupt a middle-class family.


    It seems that money truly is essential for everything; without it, despair is inevitable.


    The "Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array" specifies dimensions for four top-grade immortal stones: a length of 4.49 millimeters, a width of 2.49 millimeters, and a height of 1.49 millimeters.


    Although Roselle didn¡¯t understand why the specifications for immortal stones were so precise, varying by even a hair, making them unsuitable, he reasoned there must be some ancient mystery involved.


    As for the secret of such dimensions, it wasn''t something he should spend time investigating.


    Calculating the weight of each stone with the specified dimensions, each likely exceeds 50 grams, perhaps even 80 grams. With top-quality mutton fat jade priced nearly at 30,000 yuan per gram, one immortal stone could easily amount to 2-2.5 million yuan. Hence, four stones would cost over ten million yuan.


    "Ten million, my god... truly overwhelming." Roselle tugged his hair in frustration, momentarily at a loss. Although just an hour ago, he felt wealthy with over a million yuan in his account, now, facing the "simple" material needs of the Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array, he could only afford a fragment of mutton fat white jade.


    "Ding, side chain task generated. Chain task 1: Acquire four top-grade spiritual stones within five days. Task completion reward: Spirit Power limit +1, points ???"


    The sudden task obliterated Roselle''s thought of putting it aside. It was unexpected; after probing and exploring numerous methods unsuccessfully, this belated task emerged on its own. Unlike last time, this side task was actually part of a series?

 Chapter 16: Home-Cooked Dishes

    Whether from the perspective of the Ice Crystal Fish Mother or divine cultivation, acquiring the immortal stones to set up the Spirit-Trapping Array seemed to be the current critical task that Roselle must tackle. No wonder the task, which had repeatedly failed to bear fruit, suddenly initiated itself.


    Roselle had long been puzzled about how to store the trickle of spiritual energy produced by the Ice Crystal Fish Mother without it quickly dissipating. Now, with the existence of the overwhelmingly powerful Spirit-Trapping Array, this issue was naturally resolved.


    As long as he obtained the immortal stones and set up the Heavenly Shaman Spirit-Trapping Array, he could envelop the entire backyard of his villa, turning it into the only place on earth saturated with spiritual energy.


    "This means, the most important thing now is to gather enough money and then procure top-grade mutton fat jade," Roselle muttered to himself, touching his nose.


    Ultimately, whether cultivating immortality or cultivating the divine, the fundamental premise is that money opens the way, and it remains crucial to this day. It seems he must again find a way to amass wealth.


    Should he continue using the Hercules Ants to steal from rich neighborhoods? Roselle definitely won¡¯t resort to petty theft again. Such acts have always gone against his principles, and he wouldn¡¯t even consider them in his most desperate times, let alone now when he has a significant amount of money and a bright future ahead.


    Moreover, using insects to gather wealth, though covert and mysterious, could expose his methods if done frequently, especially to those who are observant. At that point, quietly gaining wealth and cultivating the divine would become an illusion, and he could even attract attention from authorities.


    "No, no, I need to find a better way to make money." The best way to gather wealth without issue is to pursue a legitimate business route, utilizing the special abilities of the system''s pet beasts. This approach would not only offer a competitive advantage in business but also provide a clear origin for the money earned, ensuring it isn¡¯t seen as ''dirty money.''


    On this front, Roselle already had a preliminary plan. However, the current task didn¡¯t allow him the luxury of slowly building a business. To quickly gather ten million, the only option was to gamble, and it had to be a big gamble!


    "I''ve got it." Emerging from the beast shop in his consciousness, Roselle''s gaze gradually focused on a type of insect. This insect didn¡¯t exist on Earth; it was a species from the planet Gondolg. Yes, another extraterrestrial life form.


    Most importantly, its exchange cost in points was very low, allowing him to conserve valuable points while achieving the goal of quickly amassing ten million.


    Of course, before doing so, he needed to package himself and Caesar. Roselle glanced at Caesar.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    In reality, this Beast Servant gifted by the system was crucial to Roselle in the early stages. Caesar was his nerve and his trump card. Without him to back up his plans, even the best strategies couldn¡¯t guarantee smooth execution and personal safety.


    "Master, during your contemplation, that woman outside walked by the door twice," Caesar reported.


    As a Beast Servant, Caesar wasn¡¯t a mindless entity without thoughts or will. His personality was set to be "calm and stern," and he was imbued with a strong sense of a bodyguard by the system. This made his presence subtle, and there were times when Roselle almost forgot that Caesar had been guarding the door for two hours.


    "Hera? Could she have something to discuss with me?" Roselle wondered, deciding to open the door for a look. Yet, before he could act, there was a gentle knock.


    "Knock... Knock, knock..." The sudden knocking startled Roselle, prompting an instinct to hide the divine record. But then he realized it wasn¡¯t a physical item, only existing in his mind.


    With a light tap on his forehead, Roselle gave a small smile. This divine record had indeed made him tense. After all, it wasn¡¯t just the fragmented hand-copied book some corporation had acquired, but a fully restored sacred text with comprehensive Chinese annotations, thanks to the system.


    "Roselle, are you in there?" As expected, Hera did have something to discuss. Roselle''s curiosity was piqued.


    "I''m here, Sister Hera. Is there something you need?" Roselle rubbed his slightly throbbing head, signaling Caesar to stay hidden by the door corner. He then opened the door, blocking the gap with his body.


    As the door opened, he was greeted by Hera¡¯s serene and elegant face. Though it wasn¡¯t his first time seeing her, Roselle was once again struck by her beauty. Truly, heaven had favored this woman. In his lifetime, Roselle hadn¡¯t seen anyone quite like her, exuding such calm charm, even evoking a sense of peace and comfort.


    "Oh, I saw your light on. I made dinner. Would you like to join me? Consider it my thanks for your help," Hera said sincerely, looking at Roselle with hopeful eyes.


    In her mind, Roselle''s unintentional assistance came like timely rain, pulling her out of a difficult spot. Without his prompt payment, she wouldn¡¯t have known how to manage her affairs at that moment.


    "Well... okay, I¡¯m in for a treat tonight."


    There¡¯s something to be said about aesthetic pleasure¡ªsome women need not be extraordinarily beautiful, yet they naturally exude a comforting and peaceful aura that puts others at ease.


    Standing there, Hera was like a lyrical landscape painting, inciting no ill thoughts or disrespect.


    Under the soft lighting, several simple home-cooked dishes were laid out on the table: stir-fried pork with green peppers, fish head with tofu, and papaya stew with ribs.


    Just one glance was enough to make Roselle''s mouth water. Though these were simple home-cooked meals, their rich aroma and appetizing appearance were enough to make someone like him, who regularly subsisted on instant noodles, lose composure.


    "Hera... Sister Hera, did you make all these yourself?" It was hard to believe such exquisite home-cooked dishes were prepared by a single woman. The rich aroma of the papaya rib stew almost tempted Roselle to grab a piece to taste.


    "Why the rush? Go wash your hands. Cooking is one of the few hobbies I have," Hera smiled.


    The dishes weren¡¯t many but were just enough for the two of them. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t cook such an array for herself. This time she wanted to sincerely thank the charmingly simple younger brother.


    "Mmm, this is delicious... so good." After tasting the tender ribs and sipping the richly flavored soup, Roselle could hardly stop praising the meal.


    Turns out, simple, light home-cooked dishes could be so exceptional. The food prepared by Sister Hera gave a feeling of warmth and comfort, unlike the elaborate flavors crafted by professional chefs.

 Chapter 17: A Chance Encounter

    Dongying Mall, a place that gathered many luxurious brands in southern Beijing: Louis Vuitton, Armani, Chanel, Donna Karan, Hermes, and a slew of other brands, some of which Russell recognized and some he didn''t.


    In the past, Russell would never have set foot here, as the goods in this mall were beyond the reach of someone like him, a penniless commoner.


    "Ah, Armani, Versace. These are the first choice for many protagonists in novels to flaunt. Let''s go in here, Kaiser, and have a look."


    "Yes, Master."


    "Call me Boss. In front of others, just call me Boss."


    "Yes, Boss."


    Listening to Kaiser''s simple response, Russell felt a tinge of satisfaction. Being called "Master" almost made him feel like he had traveled back in time to those historic days of nobility and wealth.


    But in today''s society, having Kaiser call him "Boss" seemed more appropriate, as it would reduce much unnecessary suspicion and trouble.


    Without intending to spend too much effort selecting which brand was better, Russell led Kaiser to the nearest Armani store. His purpose for being here was not to truly indulge in luxurious brand clothing, but it was a necessity for his mission.


    "Good afternoon, gentlemen. May I help you with anything?" A tall girl in a short-sleeve black dress approached. This salesgirl had a pretty appearance, a slim and well-proportioned figure, wearing a black and white uniform with black frame glasses and slender legs encased in black stockings.


    You could say even a single salesgirl here surpassed ninety percent of the women on the street in terms of looks, Russell couldn''t help but think. The world of the wealthy really is colorful.


    "Well, just looking around for now." Despite his admiration, Russell didn''t forget why he was here. He quickly browsed the store and pointed to a black suit and entire outfit including a shirt, sunglasses, and shoes, indicating to Kaiser, who stayed close by his side, "Miss, find an appropriate size for him to try."


    "Al... alright." The salesgirls in the store shot each other a glance of surprise, but one quickly stepped forward to lead Kaiser to the fitting room. They all realized that Russell''s seemingly random selection of items exceeded a total value of fifty thousand. If someone was just browsing, they usually wouldn¡¯t have the confidence to demand a fitting session.


    Both were dressed rather plainly, so the girls didn¡¯t expect this unassuming young man to choose such an expensive outfit for his companion.


    Moreover, it seemed this robust Westerner listened to the young man without hesitation. Could this young man be the son of some wealthy family, a second-generation official?


    Ignoring the salesgirls'' speculation about his so-called identity, Russell soon set his eyes on another outfit after Kaiser entered the fitting room. This ensemble was also a black suit, but with a more casual and fitted style. It was a contradictory style but still very attractive to younger people, which pleased Russell, who seldom dressed in formal wear.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Yes, this will do. The price is 178,000... my god, if it weren¡¯t for the mission, even with over a million in hand, he would never think of touching this outfit. It nearly cost as much as building a new three-story home back where he came from.


    "Sir, you have a good eye. This outfit is part of this year''s new autumn collection. Compared to previous men''s wear, it features..."


    "Buy it." Russell interrupted the salesgirl¡¯s series of introductions with a single word and prepared to quickly select a full set of attire to end this packaging trip swiftly.


    Since he had a mission, the sooner it was completed, the better. Despite the attractive salesgirls, Russell could only lament the missed opportunity in comparison to the reward points at stake.


    "Hey, isn''t that Russell?" Just as he was about to quickly choose an outfit, a surprised voice sounded from behind him.


    "Why does that voice sound so familiar?" Frowning, his body responded with a hint of aversion to the voice, and Russell turned around to finally see its owner.


    A man wearing glasses, under 1.7 meters tall and quite thin, entered in surprise, addressing Russell, "Hey, I wasn¡¯t mistaken, Russell actually shows up here. Just now, I thought I was seeing things since this store doesn¡¯t have male clerks."


    The mere presence of this weaselly-looking man was annoying. His tone and demeanor radiated an air of smugness.


    It was obvious to Russell what the guy meant by his words. In the past, he would''ve probably turned red with anger, but despite having the beast pet system for only a few days, his mindset had long surpassed what it once was. Naturally, he didn¡¯t want to waste energy engaging with this person. Yet as his gaze landed on the beautiful woman beside the glasses man, Russell was stunned.


    "Class leader? You... why are you with him?" As soon as he spoke, Russell felt his question was unnecessary. To think that the once beautiful and elegant class leader would walk with such a petty man¡ªthe world really was unpredictable.


    The man with glasses was named Huo Liang. He, Russell, and the stunning woman before him were classmates from the same university class. Unlike Russell, Huo Liang¡¯s family was fairly well-off; his father owned a transport company locally, which surely made him better off compared to Russell¡¯s virtually non-existent family fortune.


    Indeed, the three of them had a complicated history. Russell and Huo Liang held a grudge due to a conflict over another girl, a feud that Huo Liang still couldn¡¯t let go. Occasionally, he would make Russell a laughingstock in their class group chat.


    Thus, Russell harbored deep resentment toward him. Russell recalled that their class leader, Su Qing, was pursued by many back in college, including Huo Liang, yet she accepted no one''s advances and remained single until graduation.


    Now, he couldn''t believe he was witnessing this scene, another d¨¦j¨¤ vu?


    While who someone chose to be with wasn¡¯t his concern, seeing the former beauty of his class leader with someone like the skinny Huo Liang, especially his rival, naturally left a bitter taste. The small joy he had earlier felt vanished like swallowing a fly.


    Perhaps sensing Russell''s confused gaze, class leader Su Qing turned her head away, avoiding eye contact, treating him as a stranger. Her aloof behavior utterly disappointed Russell. He realized this was a fallen angel. He refused to believe that the once high-minded class leader could fancy Huo Liang. Now that she was with him, the reasons were obvious.


    "Heh, surprised, aren¡¯t you? Russell, let me tell you, Su Qing is now a financial advisor at my dad¡¯s company, so naturally, she¡¯s with me." Seeing Russell¡¯s dejected expression, Huo Liang was gleeful, finally feeling superior to the impoverished Russell.


    Noticing the outfit in Russell¡¯s hands, Huo Liang didn¡¯t hesitate, stepping forward to loudly declare, ¡°Salesgirl, I''ll take this outfit. Wrap it up quickly.¡±


    "Sir... I¡¯m sorry, but this new outfit has been picked out by this gentleman. May I suggest another style for you?" The salesgirl replied awkwardly, knowing full well that in such male showdowns for vanity, the man would often end up buying it.


    But adhering to strict company policy, she gently declined the glasses man¡¯s request.


    "He picked it? Miss, are you kidding? He doesn¡¯t look like he can even afford it. Do you think a frequently unemployed man could buy an outfit that costs thousands?" Huo Liang glanced at Su Qing, then at Russell, speaking loudly.

 Chapter 18: Embarrassment

    It''s often said that enemies become especially hostile when they meet, and Huo Liang showed no mercy to Russell. He wanted Su Jing to clearly see that sometimes just having a good appearance isn''t enough.


    When he noticed the former class leader, Messiah, flash a fiery gaze when he declared he''d buy the expensive male outfit, he knew he was doing it right. Indeed, if they were still in the ivory tower, this woman might not even deign to look at him. But out in society, after facing many harsh realities and setbacks?


    He was thrilled that his long-desired Su Jing was finally coming around. With a bit more effort, he was confident he could win her over. His gaze lingered on Messiah''s mature and voluptuous figure, igniting a passionate fire within him.


    ¡°Since he likes it, let him have it,¡± Russell said, not wanting to make things difficult for the salesgirl. The class leader''s change and his own shifting mindset left him disheartened and uninterested in bickering with Huo Liang. He waved his hand dismissively.


    To be fair, he indeed had no right to interfere in others'' pursuits, even if someone chose Huo Liang¡ªit was none of his business.


    ¡°Well... alright then, sir. Would you like to try it on? If any alterations are needed, we can...¡±


    ¡°No need, just wrap it up.¡± Huo Liang, looking as triumphant as a rooster, eyed Russell provocatively. This is the power of money, he thought smugly; having a good appearance is not enough.


    ¡°Xuanyuan, why don''t you chat with our old classmate here while I go settle the bill?¡± Huo Liang nodded coolly, preparing to pay. But when his gaze fell on the price tag of the men''s outfit, he froze completely.


    ¡°...Seventeen thousand eight hundred?¡± After a long pause, under the salesgirl''s curious gaze, Huo Liang finally read out the price.


    ¡°Yes, sir. This is the latest men''s fashion this year.¡±


    ¡°Seventeen thousand... ha, not much... not much at all. By the way, is there any discount?¡± His confidence wavered, knowing exactly how much was in his account¡ªnot more or less than seventeen thousand. As for the extra eight hundred, he came up short, and he cursed inwardly. His gaze, filled with resentment, landed on Russell.


    If Russell hadn¡¯t picked a garment costing tens of thousands, he wouldn¡¯t be in such a predicament.


    ¡°I''m sorry, sir, we don''t negotiate prices here.¡± The salesgirl remained polite despite her silent judgment. "No money, no talk," she thought disdainfully. "And you dared to snatch someone else''s pick."


    But as a professional, her outward demeanor remained a pleasant smile.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Faced with the eyes of the store''s salesgirls, Huo Liang was filled with regret. He initially thought that a pauper like Russell wouldn''t choose something expensive. Having shopped here before, he knew most men''s clothing was priced between one and three thousand. However, how could he have expected the outfit he snatched from Russell was worth a whopping seventeen grand?


    Damn it, his father owned a transportation company, not a real estate agency or a merchant of golden confectionery. This price was not just out of emotional reach¡ªhis card balance simply couldn''t cover it.


    Although Huo Liang''s family was well-off, it wasn''t wealthy enough for him to casually purchase an outfit costing nearly twenty thousand.


    He looked at the salesgirls and the suspicious glances from Messiah. At that moment, he wished he could disappear into the ground if possible.


    ¡°Well... it seems I forgot my card, ha-ha. How could I forget?¡± Huo Liang stopped, fumbling for words.


    Okay, this was a complete mess. What was this? A self-inflicted mishap?


    ¡°Please wrap it up for me, and also this set, plus these shoes...¡± Russell chimed in at the right moment, not intending to try them on. He casually gave the salesgirl his usual size.


    International brands like Armani have standard sizing, and he wasn¡¯t worried about fit issues.


    ¡°Yes, sir. I''ll get that ready for you right away. Please wait a moment.¡± The situation had turned around.


    Russell''s nonchalance was a slap in the face, though he wasn''t interested in mocking Huo Liang. He simply didn¡¯t want to waste any more time, as this distraction had already delayed him.


    ¡°You... I still don¡¯t believe you can pay for it.¡± Huo Liang stammered, his face flushed, locking his gaze on Russell.


    He knew everything about Russell. Just the day before, someone in their class chat group mentioned that the guy was unemployed again. How could he afford tens of thousands for clothes?


    ¡°Whether I can pay or not isn''t something I need to prove to you.¡± Russell pushed past Huo Liang, smirking coldly as he went to swipe his card.


    Although it was a regular UnionPay card, he nonchalantly charged tens of thousands, drawing admiring looks from several salesgirls. A young man spending so lavishly and looking handsome wasn''t something they saw every day, even in a flagship store like this.


    ¡°If he changes into that new suit, he¡¯ll surely look even more dashing...¡± the salesgirls mused.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m ready.¡± At that moment, Kaiser finally emerged, dressed in a black suit. His robust frame, styled with dark sunglasses and an icy, composed demeanor¡ªhe looked every inch the quintessential bodyguard, more impressive than even China''s top guards.


    ¡°Good, not bad. Tsk tsk, too cool!¡± Russell was evidently satisfied with Kaiser¡¯s transformation. The Western man¡¯s chiseled features and slicked-back hair exuded an intimidating presence.


    Including Kaiser¡¯s attire, Russell¡¯s card swipe neared thirty-five thousand. Such extravagant spending made Russell reflect that even millionaires weren¡¯t this reckless.


    Despite his musings, he didn¡¯t dawdle. Now that their appearances were taken care of, it was time to execute the mission.


    As for Huo Liang and the former class leader Messiah?


    From this point onward, they became irrelevant. Huo Liang¡¯s clownish antics left Russell questioning why he ever bothered with such a person¡ªwas it really necessary?


    As Russell left without a word, ignoring them, Huo Liang stood frozen.


    A Western bodyguard? Blowing through tens of thousands without batting an eye? Was this really the Russell from the backwoods?


    This thought also crossed the previously silent Messiah¡¯s mind. She realized the mountain she planned to rely on was perhaps not as solid as she thought. Seeing Huo Liang''s embarrassing performance, she regretted her decisions. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too late to reconsider, though that high-paying finance advisor position might already be gone.

 Chapter 19: Dice

    Macau, known as the City of Gambling, is called one of the three major gambling cities in the world alongside Monte Carlo and Las Vegas.


    The casinos here are resplendent with gold and jade, offering top-notch facilities with the scent of luxury perfumes wafting through the air. Opulence doesn''t quite capture it.


    Anyone stepping into a casino for the first time is bound to feel both awestruck and a bit feverish, even more so than watching Las Vegas casinos in films. You''ll immediately feel that gambling is a sophisticated pleasure.


    Is gambling truly a sophisticated pleasure? Russell had never tried before and couldn''t claim to know. However, he knew what his task was in Asia''s gambling hub today.


    A million!


    Indeed, his goal was to win a million in a short period. Perhaps for wealthy heirs, this is just their nightly stake, but for Russell, it was the first step towards cultivating his path.


    Interstellar Galaxy was one of Macau''s numerous officially licensed casinos and one of the few high-end gambling venues.


    Choosing it wasn''t based on much reasoning, just a preference for its sci-fi-inspired name.


    Macau''s casinos have a unique feature: a single red feng shui lamp. This red light is the only red lamp within the casino.


    During construction, casinos invite feng shui masters to select the best location to hang this feng shui lamp, typically a spot avoided by most people, deemed the source of the entire casino''s prosperity.


    Therefore, a legitimate casino, even one relying on tactics, depends on the host''s advantage and the feng shui to easily achieve profitable operations. However, today, Interstellar Galaxy was destined to meet someone beyond fate: Russell.


    Upon entering the casino, the clamor hit him, and those alluring hostesses in the lobby, who were mostly from Thailand, were actually transvestites. This unique feature might just make this casino stand out amid fierce competition.


    Russell felt no particular interest in the ladyboys, even if they were more seductive than real women. He headed straight to the counter with his entourage.


    Dressed head-to-toe in luxurious branded goods, they didn''t stand out much here where wealth was common. True figures of power and influence rarely wore common brands, preferring bespoke garments from renowned designers. However, Kaiser''s Western physique and robust presence certainly turned heads wherever he went.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Before reaching the counter, a few young men eagerly approached, "Sir, how much would you like to exchange for chips?"


    The staff members stared in astonishment at Kaiser and the suitcase in his hand.


    "Bang." Kaiser slammed the suitcase onto the counter, producing a heavy thud.


    "Exchange it all," he said coldly. His fluent Chinese and his aura akin to a ferocious beast immediately dispelled any notion of him being just another nouveau riche.


    In a casino, though they were just cogs in the machine, dealing daily with various patrons, the staff felt the fierce aura from this foreign bodyguard. They instantly knew they were in the presence of a genuine elite bodyguard.


    To date, Kaiser was the third such formidable man they had encountered, and the previous patrons with such elite bodyguards were all figures of immense status and influence.


    The staff''s gaze towards Russell rapidly shifted from courteous to reverent, realizing that someone capable of employing such a bodyguard was beyond mere wealth.


    Though many nouveau riche no longer bother carrying huge sums of cash for gambling.


    "Alright, please wait a moment." Bowing repeatedly, the staff quickly scurried to work, unnerved by the Western man¡¯s intimidating glare that seemed ready to devour them.


    When Russell and Kaiser left with fifty thousand in chips, the staff''s shirts were soaked with sweat. The lead attendant took a deep breath and immediately lifted a landline from beneath the counter to report Russell''s presence.


    Naturally, by doing so, Russell achieved his desired effect. Taking into account the clothing purchases, money sent home, and the expensive arrangements for Kaiser''s "visa," Russell had only seventy thousand left.


    Thus, he brought fifty thousand in cash in a suitcase. Why not use a card?


    Because a plain UnionPay card would blow his cover. Even pretending to be nouveau riche had its use¡ªhe trusted that Kaiser''s presence would lead to intriguing speculation from the casino''s personnel.


    In the hall, the most popular game was undoubtedly baccarat, a common choice across Asia, followed by blackjack, sic bo, and roulette, which also attracted many players. Slot machines, too, were abundant with their simple rules, catering to the masses.


    Sic bo, commonly referred to as "big or small," is a dice game. Players bet against the house, with the dealer shaking three dice in a covered container. Once all bets are placed, the dealer opens the container and pays out accordingly.


    The most common bets are based on the dice''s total: 4-10 counts as small, 11-17 as big, excluding triples, hence the name "big or small."


    This game is among the least skill-dependent, relying mostly on luck, which is why seasoned gamblers rarely play it. The tables are often surrounded by newcomers or tourists.


    Though there''s the risk of losing everything to a full house, some players hope to win big on a lucky roll.


    But Russell wasn''t relying on luck. He intended to use a pet beast worth 5 points from the system store. He accessed the store and redeemed the pet beast as planned.


    Immediately, the system voice notified him: "You have spent 5 points to redeem a beast-type pet beast from the planet Gondorg. Please receive it. You currently have 220 points remaining."


    Subtly, in front of the crowd, he unobtrusively took out the pet seed from the beast backpack space, holding it in his palm.


    To the naked eye, his palm appeared empty, but only Russell, possessing a special connection to the pet seed, sensed a faint, minuscule pulse of life.


    "Shen Yuan Feeding." Activating a host skill to feed it towards the sensed direction, Russell realized within three seconds that the pet seed had hatched and quickly matured.

 Chapter 20: Gundoro Flea

    As Russell''s pet beast matured, even he struggled to see it with the naked eye, let alone those around him. Moreover, the people crowded around the gaming table were focused intently on the game.


    These gamblers continually expressed excitement or disappointment, depending on their luck.


    Focusing his thoughts, Russell received information about the beast, too small to perceive: "Gondorg Flea, an invisible flea-like assassin, a dangerous parasitic pest carrying venomous spikes. Its presence, though minuscule, is not to be underestimated."


    This was the pre-selected "Gondorg Flea" Russell had prepared. It is smaller than dust and, under the bright casino lights, quite impossible to spot. Its innate cloaking ability adds to its stealth, while its venom-coated spikes, according to the store''s detailed notes, could take down a small amphibian like a frog with a mere prick.


    Certainly, the venom is potent enough to pose a lethal threat to small creatures. Moreover, its invisibility and tiny size contribute to its deadliness, rivaling Earth''s most dangerous insects.


    Of course, Russell''s purchase wasn''t for harming anyone but to cheat¡ªan extraordinary method indeed.


    ¡°Go,¡± he quietly commanded, raising his hand slightly. Russell sensed the Gondorg Flea jump off his palm. Swiftly, it managed to slip into the dice cup before the dealer could cover it, attaching itself to the interior lid.


    With this done discreetly, Russell inhaled deeply to steady his nerves, transitioning his vision to match the Gondorg Flea''s perspective.


    ¡°Please don''t fail me...¡± Even with a plan in mind and a deep understanding of the Gondorg Flea, Russell couldn''t be certain it would reveal the dice¡¯s numbers inside the cup.


    Once the dice were covered, he feared it might be dark. When he switched his vision, indeed, a pitch-black image filled his mind¡ªnothing visible.


    ¡°Did it fail?¡± Anxiety spiked as he considered that the Gondorg Flea might lack night vision, which seemed implausible given that most Earth insects are equipped with such abilities.


    Just as despair started creeping in, a transformation occurred¡ªthe darkness gradually turned to a soft green glow. The shift surprised Russell, as it made everything suddenly clear.


    Turns out that due to the intense casino lighting, even night-vision-capable creatures experience a slight delay when adjusting to darkness.


    The Gondorg Flea, praised as an unmatched flea-like assassin, naturally possessed basic night vision. As time passed, the green vision brightened, revealing the numbers on the three dice.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Wow, 3, 3, 2...it''s 8, small...¡± Russell felt a rush of joy overwhelming his senses, his excitement comparable to being a gambling god.


    Suppressing his excitement, Russell didn¡¯t rush to place his bet. Observing several rounds, he confirmed the dealer wasn''t cheating before quietly placing ten black crystal chips on ¡°Even¡± in the betting area.


    The casino chips come in various types, with green, yellow, and red plastic chips being slightly larger than silver coins¡ªrepresenting ten, one hundred, and one thousand units respectively.


    Russell had none of these chips, only 50 black crystal chips worth ten thousand each, commonly referred to as black crystal cards¡ªroughly the size of a slightly oversized bank card.


    People playing with stacks of black crystal cards weren''t common in the public gaming area, and those placing bets of 100,000 were rare, though not unheard of.


    Russell¡¯s bet was on even.


    In simple games of big or small, odd or even, the odds in Interstellar Galaxy were 1:1. This rate is standard across casinos¡ªanything else wouldn''t garner interest.


    Beyond these simple bets, there are higher odds for ¡°Point Bet,¡± ¡°Single Throw,¡± ¡°All Throws,¡± and ¡°Three Armies,¡± among other betting formats.


    These are slightly more complex than the simple even-odd, big-small bets, with variable odds depending on the casino, though differences are typically minor.


    Russell didn¡¯t bother with these complexities. He prioritized simplicity to minimize exposing his secret.


    The dealer rang the bell, signifying no more bets, announcing the dice roll with a cry of ¡°Open¡± before lifting the cover: ¡°4, 4, 6, 14, Big!¡±


    Which meant it was also even¡ªpredictably. With the Gondorg Flea¡¯s visual insights, Russell couldn''t have lost.


    Russell smoothly gained 100,000 in his first round, a process so simple, it spanned only a few minutes¡ªa once unimaginable scenario turned reality.


    With the first win secured, the subsequent rounds were straightforward. Russell, aware not to overplay his hand, maintained his bets between 100k and 300k, winning six rounds to four losses without drawing undue attention. Yet, this doubled his pile of black crystal cards, reaching over a million in under half an hour.


    Snapping his fingers, Russell called over a chip exchange staff member, opting to convert the black crystal cards into seventeen silver crystal chips, each worth 100,000.


    ¡°Wow, that rich kid already won over a million...¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he doesn¡¯t always win, but when he bets big, he almost always wins. Is he just this lucky, or is he secretly a master?¡±


    ¡°Come on, he¡¯s not short of money, probably just messing around in the public area. What¡¯s a million? Look at his white bodyguard, and that outfit probably costs tens of thousands.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I know that Rolex watch, a 1974 limited edition. Few are left, and if it¡¯s genuine, just the watch alone fetches 700,000 now.¡±


    Listening to the crowd''s whispers, Russell felt relieved he hadn¡¯t sold the ¡°hot¡± item. He also realized that dressing as a wealthy young man brought the desired effect. Had they entered in cheap attire, they might have attracted unwanted attention. Being a wealthy ¡°young master¡± allowed people to feel balanced, while Kaiser¡¯s quiet guard duty deterred potential troublemakers in the casino.


    However, a new problem emerged. Some sharper players began following Russell''s bets. Initially, there were few, but as he continued winning, nearly 80% of the table mirrored his bets.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Frustrated by this development, Russell cursed silently. He had envisioned the start and foreseen the result, but couldn''t predict this process.

 Chapter 21: Blinding the Pay-to-Win Eyes

    With cautious and well-paced betting, leveraging his previous winnings, coming out ahead at a high-end casino with a million wasn''t an issue for Russell, nor would it attract undue attention. However, he underestimated a third party: the throngs of gamblers in the hall. Driven by greed, they wouldn''t hesitate to follow a winning streak.


    A particularly rotund middle-aged man placed bets that even surpassed Russell''s.


    "Damn! Am I working for free here?"


    After a big game where he bet fifty thousand on small, Russell decided to pause. His bankroll had increased to 3.3 million, netting a profit of 2.8 million. However, he was far from his million-dollar goal.


    "This won''t do. Continuing like this will only bring unwanted attention." Gambling isn''t a sustainable path, and Russell didn''t want a temporary gamble to embroil him in endless trouble. He was on a path of great potential, lacking only time to grow. He wouldn''t risk that for temporary gains.


    Casting a glance at those watching him, particularly the greedy middle-aged man who had already won a million by following him, Russell couldn''t help but smirk. "If you''re greedy, don''t blame me for being ungracious."


    Next, he abandoned conservative bets and started wagering on specific numbers, putting down ten thousand each round without winning a single one over eight consecutive rounds. Consequently, those who followed suit drastically reduced their bets, cursing their bad luck. If glares could kill, Russell would have been devoured.


    But who cared? Russell felt no pressure. If they didn''t stop, they would eventually lose even their small gains.


    "You still have it or not, kid? You''re screwing me over here," finally barked the greedy man, unable to hold back his complaints.


    "Heh... I''m just playing around, never intended to win," Russell replied without anger, his nonchalance infuriating bystanders.


    "Damn, and here I thought he was a pro. Turns out he''s just lucky. Good thing I stopped. This rich kid''s luck has run out. Following him will only end badly..."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Seriously, betting on numbers? Who does he think he is, God of Gamblers Gao Jin? Not everyone has money to burn like that,¡± dismissed a woman. Yet she didn¡¯t notice the irony, her appearance far from the young ¡°sister¡± she fancied herself to be, her heavily powdered face flaking off as she talked.


    Human nature showed its true colors, and Russell hadn''t asked anyone to follow his bets. Now, as the losses mounted, derisive comments surfaced. Russell could only shrug it off, ignoring the complaints around him.


    While the rotund man hesitated, a couple approached the table.


    "Messiah, let''s go check if my dad has blown through that million yet."


    Coincidentally, it was Huo Liang and Messiah, whom Russell had encountered at the mall a couple of days prior. After his embarrassing stumble there, Huo Liang realized Messiah was losing interest. To keep her around, he flaunted his father''s wealth.


    As the only child and grandchild, beloved by his mother and grandparents, Huo Liang was the real power at home, not his father. To prove his family''s wealth, he begged and pleaded until his frugal father agreed to a Macau trip, hoping to impress Messiah.


    "Hah, spending tens of thousands on that Armani crap is nothing. My dad spends over a million in Macau without batting an eye," Huo Liang boasted, trying to convince Messiah of his family''s wealth.


    However, the mall incident had already convinced Messiah otherwise. She realized this so-called "prince" was unreliable. She understood that relying on Huo Liang was a gamble she wasn¡¯t willing to take. The thought of settling for someone who loved her rather than someone she loved had briefly crossed her mind. Despite his foibles, his family was better off than most.


    But witnessing Huo Liang¡¯s incompetence, Messiah knew she could never marry him, no matter how desperate she became. While pondering, a vivid image of a different man appeared¡ªa tall, handsome figure far better than Huo Liang. As she thought this through, her gaze inadvertently settled.


    "Am I crazy, daydreaming about him here? How could he be in Macau? From southern Beijing to Macau, it''d take hours even by plane."


    Unable to believe her eyes, Messiah blinked again and looked. She hadn¡¯t been mistaken. That man, his unforgettable bodyguard, and the latest Armani suit that embarrassed Huo Liang confirmed she wasn¡¯t imagining things.


    Huo Liang, trying to continue his pitch, had also spotted Russell.


    How could he miss him? Russell wasn''t far from Huo Liang''s father, and the pile of black and silver crystal chips before him dazzled his eyes more than any gaudy display of wealth.


    "That pile of chips must be worth several million," Huo Liang thought. While seeing such stacks occasionally happened in the public gaming hall, it wasn¡¯t common. After all, the truly wealthy played in VIP rooms.


    Both Huo Liang and Messiah were stunned by the sight of not one ordinary chip among the piles of crystalline chips. While many might have millions in accounts, seeing it physically piled as chips was quite stirring for them both.

 Chapter 22: Lets See Whos More Ruthless

    "Dad, you¡¯ve won quite a bit, huh?" Huo Liang wasn''t new to gambling trips with his father. Despite being somewhat clueless in many aspects, he could still do the math, and he noticed that his father had made tens of thousands within an hour. He was quite pleased, even though the poor fellow nearby held more chips than his father¡ªit was something he chose to ignore at this moment.


    "Hmph, my dad has crystal chips too," he thought, glancing smugly at Su Qing.


    "Hmm," his father grunted without looking up, his face dark. He had just lost a million in a big bet and was far from having a reason to be happy.


    The middle-aged man was too preoccupied with his own concerns to pay attention to his son. He stared intently at Russell, the animosity in his eyes palpable enough for anyone to feel. Just earlier, that young man had severely fooled him; after losing eight rounds, on the ninth round, he suddenly upped the stakes from ten thousand to fifty thousand. This move had shocked those following his lead.


    Some cautious individuals hesitated to follow him further, while others, more daring, continued. Huo Liang''s father was one of the latter, greedily betting a full million, twice as much as Russell.


    He thought the young man must be a pro¡ªafter losing eight rounds, making a sudden big bet was likely a calculated move to ensure a win. With gritted teeth and steely resolve, he wagered the million.


    But no one expected another loss. Nine rounds consecutively lost, and the stakes at this table were higher than others, drawing a crowd and stirring some commotion.


    "Damn, this guy really doesn¡¯t care about money!"


    "Tell me about it; he¡¯s lost nine rounds straight, and I haven¡¯t seen him flinch once."


    "Hah, that greedy boss is in for a rough ride, betting even more than that young guy."


    "Heh, haven¡¯t you heard greed is the original sin?"


    Ultimately, everyone saw through the greedy middle-aged man, and many were amused by his misfortune. The chatter and mockery helped Huo Liang realize why his father wore such a grim expression despite supposedly winning money.


    A million? His dad really lost a million? And all because of Russell?


    Huo Liang, full of frustration, joined his father in glaring angrily at Russell. Losing so much, even for the moneyed Huo family, was a heavy blow¡ªhe couldn¡¯t help but despise Russell.


    As the subject of everyone''s conversation, Russell noticed Huo Liang and Su Qing¡¯s arrival. He was surprised to find out that the greedy middle-aged man was Huo Liang''s father.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Upon this realization, Russell¡¯s indifferent expression turned slightly more amused. Spotting the father-son duo glaring at him, a smirk crept across his lips, a sight that left Su Qing momentarily dazed.


    "He looks so charming when he smiles..." she found herself thinking, her heartbeat quickening slightly.


    A man is known by his clothes and a horse by its saddle. Dressed in a sleek, fitted black Armani suit, combined with his confident gaze, devil-may-care smile, and poised figure, Russell captivated many women around him. Young, handsome, wealthy, and capable¡ªqualities many find irresistible.


    "He''s so handsome..." a young girl sighed dreamily.


    "Really that handsome?" Perhaps because of the super system enhancing his abilities, Russell''s hearing had improved, catching the girl''s awestruck murmurs entirely.


    This self-admiring guy couldn¡¯t help but touch his nose in pride¡ªbut can being handsome really achieve much?


    If he hadn¡¯t obtained the super system, he would still be a penniless nobody. Surely, things wouldn''t be as they were now, Russell reflected with slight self-mockery.


    His gaze shifted, and he pushed half of the two stacks of silver crystal chips in front of him¡ªright on the money, a total of one million: ten silver crystal chips.


    "One million on nine points."


    A ripple of excitement coursed through those near the table.


    This guy was upping the ante with each round. The first eight rounds he bet ten thousand each, fifty thousand on the ninth, and now a whopping one million on this tenth round.


    "My God, should I continue following or not?" This thought plagued the few daring followers left.


    The female dealer was also momentarily surprised by Russell¡¯s decisive wager. What gave him such confidence, or was this handsome young man really that indifferent to money?


    "Dad, don¡¯t follow, don¡¯t follow, he¡¯s definitely trying to trick you," Huo Liang quickly urged, trying to stop his indecisive father as Russell flashed him a faint smile¡ªan eerie smile given their past animosity.


    "Idiot, who would joke with a million of their own money?"


    "Heh, this kid sure knows how to care for his dad," someone chuckled at Huo Liang''s warning. Ironically, the foolish young heir was right this time¡ªRussell set a trap, and if Huo Liang¡¯s father fell for it, only tears would await him.


    Despite Huo Liang¡¯s attempt, it backfired; experienced gamblers know that trying to dissuade someone already blinded by losses only incites them further.


    "Move aside! I refuse to believe you¡¯re throwing that million away. You want to play, I¡¯ll play with you," Huo Liang''s father, his eyes red and breathing heavy, shoved his "precious" son aside and pushed all his remaining chips forward.


    Oh, he went all in!


    The intensity skyrocketed¡ªno one expected the middle-aged man to go all in like this. He had about 1.67 million left and bet it all.


    "Wow, his son deserves the credit."


    The female dealer calmly awaited the completion of all bets. Although the table was surrounded by several layers of people, only four placed bets, the rest were mere spectators.


    The four who bet included Russell. The other three were those who had been following Russell''s bets till now¡ªtwo men and a woman. Huo Liang''s father bet 1.67 million, more than Russell, while another tall fifty-something man bravely wagered 100k, and a woman with good looks put down 530k¡ªall in, just like Huo Liang¡¯s father.


    Showhand, a term akin to "all in," meant to stake everything one has. Upon losing, one is left with nothing but their hands.


    Yes, Russell found this translation fittingly poignant since if Huo Liang¡¯s side lost this round, they''d truly be left with just their hands.

 Chapter 23: The Second Bucket of Gold

    With a clear "ding," the dealer rang the bell to stop bets. Once it sounded, there was no turning back for anyone.


    "Roll the dice." The female dealer swept her eyes over the bettors and, seeing everyone nod in agreement, revealed the results: "1, 2, 5... eight points."


    A collective gasp rose from the table, except for Russell. The other three who had followed his bet stood there stunned¡ªbetting on nine but getting eight?


    This wasn''t a bet on big or small, where either eight or nine would win in small. This was about specific numbers.


    In Interstellar Galaxy, betting on eight points had odds of 8:1. If Huo Liang''s father had won with his 1.67 million bet, he would have taken home over 12 million, more than Russell would win.


    But was that possible? If such a scenario had unfolded, Russell''s careful planning would have been in vain. He might as well have bet on big-small. The reason for picking specific points was simply to break away from those following his lead.


    While the margin was just one point, it led to two people losing everything. The attractive woman took a deep breath and sat back down, her eyes lingering on Russell, making him slightly uncomfortable, before averting them.


    Huo Liang''s father, however, was less composed. Having lost nearly all of his chips, he stood abruptly, glaring daggers at Russell.


    His hateful stare seemed to want to consume Russell whole. Huo Liang''s father had also been a truck driver before he worked his way up in the logistics industry. Despite his wealth, his temper hadn''t changed much; remnants of his truck driver tough demeanor lingered. In many ways, the father was more daunting than the son, his glare quite intimidating.


    But he sat down quickly, his aggression evaporating. Cold sweat replaced it as Kaiser''s piercing stare, like that of a fierce tiger, focused on him. This fierce aura made the father and son feel as if they''d plunged into ice water.


    "Staring at me won¡¯t help; your opponent is the house, not me," Russell remarked coldly. Really, these two shared the same bloodline. They lost and blamed him, as if he hadn''t intentionally lost eleven rounds to shake off the greedy following.


    Russell met their stare with a cold one of his own, then pushed all his chips to the center of the table without looking back, addressing Huo Liang and his father, "If you want to win, feel free to continue following. This round is my safest bet. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you."


    "Fine, this time I, Huo Datong, admit defeat," grumbled the greedy middle-aged man, Huo Liang¡¯s father, choosing not to exchange more chips. Sinisterly, he commented, "Safest bet? Young man, it¡¯s best to leave some room for yourself in actions and words. Speak too much, and you¡¯ll regret it. I¡¯m out. Let¡¯s see how safe you really are."Stolen story; please report.


    "One million on fifteen points," Russell stated with a slight smile, ignoring the father and son as he placed his chips on the fifteen-point betting area.


    In Interstellar Galaxy, fifteen points had odds of 14:1. If Russell hit, he''d walk away with over 14 million.


    Sometimes, human nature is funny. When Russell wasn¡¯t truthful, no one minded; when he was, they didn¡¯t believe him. Understanding the father and son''s nature, he played exactly to that, saying what they wouldn¡¯t believe. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to be honest.


    This was Russell¡¯s final bet. Despite knowing the dice points, he took a deep breath as the moment of truth arrived, his gaze sharpening with focus.


    "Wait a moment, I¡¯m going all in." Just when everyone thought it would be a solo show for Russell, the attractive woman opposite suddenly paused.


    She quickly wrote a check and, within two minutes, returned with 500,000 in chips from the attendant, immediately placing them on fifteen points. She still wanted to follow Russell for one last round.


    Her actions caused a subtle change in Russell¡¯s expression. A 14:1 payout on 500,000 meant 7 million. The casino stood to lose over 21 million from this one round.


    "Does she have that much confidence in me?" Among all the spectators, only she dared to make such a move. With Russell having lost eleven rounds consecutively, no one else dared to place their bets with him so blindly. To continue now seemed like throwing money away.


    "Handsome, if this loses again, I''ll give myself to you tonight," she playfully teased Russell in a low voice, exhibiting a charm that was hard to resist.


    Indeed, the woman was quite beautiful, with a different allure from Hera¡¯s serene elegance, Li Yaner¡¯s pure beauty, or Messiah¡¯s voluptuous maturity. Hers was an elusive seductiveness, devoid of any vulgarity. Her fair skin and full lips, combined with provocative words, bewitched many onlookers.


    "Wow, this guy¡¯s so lucky."


    "Damn, I¡¯d give ten years of my life for a night with her."


    Her words ignited envy and admiration among the crowd. The young man¡¯s fortune seemed boundless.


    Only Russell smiled wryly. Despite her flirtatious fa?ade, the woman wasn¡¯t as frivolous as she appeared. Her teasing hinted at having seen through his strategy of losing to win.


    "It seems I still have much to learn." Russell touched his nose, replying impassively, "I really hope this time we don¡¯t hit the mark."


    Despite his words, he knew this was a guaranteed win. The female dealer uncovered the dice¡ª3, 6, 6¡ªa perfect fifteen.


    "We hit, damn, he hit!"


    "A master for sure, I¡¯ve never seen anything like it: 14 million in a snap. That¡¯s easy money!"


    "He who dares, wins. He who fears, loses. Haha, that greedy middle-aged man must be crying now."


    Sure enough, Huo Liang and his father were left fuming, both turning an unattractive shade of pale green.


    Logically, they¡¯d only exchanged chips worth a million, so losing it wasn¡¯t devastating, given their wealth. But they couldn¡¯t help but feel resentful. They followed eleven rounds but hesitated on the last, and they could have walked away with not just 14 million¡ªHuo Datong''s bets were always larger, potentially netting 20 million easily.


    Watching silently, Messiah could no longer stay calm, especially as the dealer pushed a mountain of silver crystal chips towards Russell. Her breathing quickened.


    Over 14 million, won without batting an eye¡ªcould this Russell be the same one who was once crushed under life''s burdens?

 Chapter 24: Is It Premium?

    Once outside the casino, Russell exhaled deeply, his entire body relaxing. Winning 14 million in less than an hour was surprisingly easy money, but for someone without any background, the pressure was unimaginable.


    However, it wasn''t time to fully relax yet. Winning 14 million openly in front of so many eyes meant it might not easily find its way into his pocket without issues.


    "Driver, please head to Finance Street on Heping Road, and step on it." Without hesitation, Russell hailed a taxi, jumped in, and handed the driver a wad of cash.


    He needed to leave the area quickly, and having Kaiser by his side provided a measure of reassurance.


    "Okay, sir, buckle up. I¡¯ll make sure no one follows you."


    The cabbie seemed well-acquainted with this routine. Many gamblers who win big prefer to leave quickly to avoid being targeted by those with bad intentions.


    The driver knew the streets of Macau like the back of his hand, weaving through traffic so expertly that his Volkswagen taxi nearly flew at Ferrari speeds. Within just a few minutes, Russell had reached his destination.


    Macau''s Financial Street, unlike other areas, is populated with securities firms, gold shops, and various investment companies. Russell¡¯s goal in coming here immediately was not only to leave the casino swiftly but also to complete his task quickly. After all, the sooner he completed his mission, the higher the rating for his reward points.


    Russell deeply understood how challenging it was to accumulate points. He knew that once his Shen Yuan power level exceeded 15 points, four incredibly useful host skills would be available for him to learn. Even in the worst-case scenario, he needed to quickly gather 500 points to eventually learn "Shen Yuan Enhancement."


    Thinking about the "Shen Yuan Enhancement" skill, Russell''s heart burned with anticipation. Imagining empowering Kaiser with it, he wondered just how formidable his beast slave could become.


    Without hesitating longer, he spotted a luxurious gold and jewelry shop within his line of sight.


    "This is it. Let''s hope everything goes smoothly." Taking Kaiser with him, Russell hurried inside.


    Though primarily a gold and jewelry shop, they also sold jade given their location in China. Russell headed straight for the jade counter.


    With his clear intent, expensive attire, and bodyguard, he immediately caught the eye of all the salesgirls. The young women at the jade counter, dressed in slim uniforms, eagerly approached. "Welcome, sir. What kind of jade are you looking for?"


    "Do you have any mutton fat jade? I mean premium large pieces of Hetian mutton fat jade!" With a million in his pocket and under time pressure to complete his task, Russell spoke with confidence.


    If he had come in without a mission and without cash in hand, facing these pretty saleswomen might have made him feel awkward. But money is confidence¡ªit had fueled his assertiveness.


    "Ah, premium mutton fat jade?" Clearly, the salesgirls hadn''t expected this handsome young man to ask for premium mutton fat jade right away.


    "If you don''t have it, don''t bother showing me these items worth tens of thousands." Russell frowned slightly, pointing to the white jade displayed in the counter. If they didn''t have what he needed, he''d have to move quickly to the next shop.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "We do, please wait a moment, sir." One of the senior saleswomen hurried off to get the jade.


    Another salesgirl offered a cup of hot tea with a polite gesture. "Sir, please have some tea, or we can sit over there while you wait."


    Russell declined the offer to wait in the lounge. Focused on earning points, he had no time for tea or for admiring the attractively dressed salesgirls.


    "How long will it take?"


    "Not long, very soon. However, since you requested premium mutton fat jade, we have to get it from the back," the jade counter girl replied, sweating slightly. This young man exuded a commanding presence that pressured them to meet his expectations.


    Premium mutton fat jade wasn''t the run-of-the-mill "mutton fat jade" priced at tens of thousands on display. These high-value pieces were typically not kept at the counter but reserved as the shop''s treasures.


    Fortunately, they didn¡¯t make Russell wait long. Within a few minutes, the senior saleswoman returned with a luxurious, ornate jewelry box.


    "Sir, please have a look." The senior saleswoman carefully opened the luxurious box, gently removed the cover cloth, revealing a piece of white jade inside.


    Pristine, pure, flawlessly smooth¡ªone glance told Russell it was indeed high-quality mutton fat jade, far superior to the counter items.


    "Let me see." Russell''s eyes lit up at the sight of the jade. It was substantial, though not enough for four pieces, but he hadn¡¯t expected to acquire all he needed from one shop anyway.


    He picked it up, warming it with his palm. In less than two minutes, the jade released a slight oily sheen¡ªa hallmark of true mutton fat jade, known for its "grease-like" appearance.


    Seeing this, Russell felt a surge of joy and immediately said, "I need a white daylight lamp."


    His request made the senior saleswoman realize she was dealing with an expert. Rightly so; with a piece worth millions, someone unprepared would be easily swindled.


    "Please take a look." The salesgirls recognized a major customer, their faces flushing with excitement, their tones increasingly respectful.


    Under the white light, the jade¡¯s previously pure white transparency revealed a faint pinkish hue. Yes, unexpectedly smooth sailing¡ªhe had indeed found premium mutton fat jade.


    Although the jade¡¯s pink hue wasn¡¯t very intense, it qualified as an excellent grade, suitable for creating spirit stones. Its size allowed it to be split into two pieces, meaning he was halfway to completing his mission, one foot into the path of divine cultivation.


    Suppressing his excitement, Russell nonchalantly took a sip of tea. It seemed to be top-grade Dragon Well, its fragrance invigorating, bringing clarity to his mind even with just a small taste. However, it couldn¡¯t quench the excitement bubbling within him.


    "Do you have any more jade like this?" Russell asked, holding onto the jade tightly.


    "Ah." The salesgirls were taken aback. Wasn''t one piece enough for him? Fortunately, the senior saleswoman quickly replied, "Sir, this is our only piece, acquired through extensive channels. Apologies, but it¡¯s our centerpiece item."


    "That''s fine, I¡¯ll take this one. Wrap it up for me." Russell, slightly disappointed, made the purchase directive without hesitation.


    "Very well. This exquisite mutton fat jade is priced at 23,850 per gram. Are you sure you want it?"


    "Of course, write it up," Russell replied, handing over his card with a hint of amusement at their reaction. His hasty demeanor had evidently startled them.


    With those words, a buzz swept through the jewelry store. The gold counter salesgirls peered over with envy. Selling this piece alone would likely earn them a commission of hundreds of thousands.


    Russell became the center of attention for the young women¡ªyoung, handsome, wealthy¡ªand crucially, they''d never encountered someone so boldly extravagant. He bought a prized piece of mutton fat jade worth millions without haggling. Without his expensive attire and Kaiser''s imposing presence, the salesgirls might have suspected a scam.


    Either a scam, they mused, or a member of a high-tech crime ring using someone else¡¯s card for an extravagant spree.


    Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. When the senior saleswoman successfully charged 4.79 million, Russell finally understood why rich kids never lacked for female attention.


    No need to chase after women¡ªsimply buying a piece of jade had landed him several calling cards from the salesgirls, complete with private numbers. Russell had no doubt that a call would guarantee results.


    Watching these attractive faces, clad in black stockings and high heels, Russell was in a quandary¡ªshould he call one of them up?

 Chapter 25: The Annoying Egg-Crusher

    While Russell was buying mutton fat jade, on the top floor of the Interstellar Galaxy, an area off-limits to the public, the core executives of the company held office.


    "Uncle Fu, what do you think that person''s background is?" asked a woman draped in a vibrant red chiffon dress, her brows slightly furrowed.


    "What do you think, Miss? You interacted with him personally; surely you must have some insights," replied the elderly man named Uncle Fu, lounging on the sofa in the woman''s office, leisurely brewing a cup of tea.


    "I''m really not sure this time," the woman, referred to as Miss, replied with confusion. "By all accounts, this young man''s demeanor didn''t match that of a rich heir, even though he had a formidable bodyguard by his side."


    "The only thing I could deduce was that he could precisely predict the dice numbers in every round. Is that possible? Is this world truly full of supernatural abilities, or am I too ignorant?"


    Had Russell been present, he would have been shocked to recognize the charismatic woman as the one who had followed his bets at the casino table.


    "From what I know, true supernatural abilities don¡¯t exist," Uncle Fu declared with certainty.


    And even if they did, those wouldn¡¯t be called supernatural abilities but rather supernatural wastes¡ªnothing of real use. Uncle Fu had significant knowledge in this area.


    He sipped his fragrant tea with great relish before continuing, "However, I have heard that there are indeed some ancient martial sects in this world. Those in the know call them the Ancient Martial Arts Sects. Perhaps that young man belongs to one of them."


    "Ancient Martial Arts Sects? Like the highly skilled martial artists you''ve encountered?" the woman asked, astonished. Although martial arts experts were rare in the modern city, someone of her status had come into contact with a few, including Uncle Fu, who was one of the best.


    "No, what you¡¯ve encountered are ordinary martial arts practitioners without the rigorous, systematic training. The Ancient Martial Arts Sects are hidden factions that have existed since the beginning of dynasties and continue to this day, unknown to most."


    "They sound incredibly powerful," the woman noted, her eyes showing a flicker of wonder, as it was the first time Uncle Fu spoke of such secretive matters.


    ¡°Indeed, although their numbers are few, each sect only takes one or two disciples per generation. There¡¯s a possibility this Russell is one of the latest disciples entering the secular world,¡± Uncle Fu suggested, though with some uncertainty.


    ¡°But what does martial arts have to do with dice games? Being skilled in martial arts doesn¡¯t mean you can see through the dice cup.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t about seeing; it''s about hearing. Martial artists develop a sense for distinguishing positions through sound. The masters you¡¯ve met wouldn''t come close to this, but if he¡¯s from a rare Ancient Martial Arts Sect, then the impossible becomes possible.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°That powerful? It sounds like a myth to me, determining dice points just by listening. How strong would one¡¯s hearing have to be? Is that even humanly possible? My family has run a casino for years, and this is the first time I''ve encountered something like this.¡±


    In reality, not everything could be like in the movies, where someone knew everything just by listening. Despite her years, the woman found it hard to believe. Yet, the young man had performed such feats, though subtly, it was apparent to someone like her who spent considerable time at the casino tables.


    "Whether you believe it or not is up to you. These people are very few, and that young man might have simply needed money, hence breaking his sect¡¯s rules. Let¡¯s just pretend it never happened," Uncle Fu remarked calmly.


    Having lived a long life, Uncle Fu had no ambition left and little curiosity about such matters. He had only heard about the Ancient Martial Arts Sects through stories, unsure if they even still existed. He hadn¡¯t encountered anyone like that in his long life.


    "What about the Western bodyguard? Could he be stronger than you?"


    "He certainly possesses significant strength. From the surveillance footage, he seems to have mastered a hard martial art akin to Iron Shirt Kung Fu. Still, if it came to a fight, I¡¯m confident I could subdue him," Uncle Fu boasted, not realizing he had misjudged him. Kaiser¡¯s abilities came from his natural attributes, not Iron Shirt Kung Fu, and would certainly have surprised Uncle Fu.


    "Do you think he¡¯ll come again?" the woman asked, intrigued. Since Bruce Lee''s fame had spread, Westerners often cherished Chinese martial arts even more than locals. She had met numerous foreigners who were formidable in Chinese kung fu.


    Moreover, when foreigners came to China to train, their dedication and perseverance were often astonishing.


    The woman was mainly curious about the young man possibly originating from the Ancient Martial Arts Sects. Even though Uncle Fu described it lightly, Li Yunshi could detect a hint of reverence, wondering if such fearsome sects truly existed, enough to make someone like Uncle Fu cautious.


    Meanwhile, several miles away, Russell had no idea he had been speculated to have such a background.


    Upon leaving the gold and jewelry shop, he encountered someone he wished he could kick off the planet. If such a thing were possible.


    "Master, big brother, boss! I''ll call you godfather¡ªjust take me in. Or I can introduce you to my little sister. She¡¯s absolutely pure, beautiful, wealthy, and definitely a virgin..."


    Begging and pleading with all his might, this person was seemingly ready to do anything. If not for being in a busy area, Russell couldn¡¯t guarantee he wouldn¡¯t act on impulse and let Kaiser vaporize him. This guy had clearly watched too many comedies, and his incessant chatter threatened to drive Russell insane.


    "Ah, boss, what are you looking for? Mutton fat jade? Don¡¯t bother, I guarantee the piece you just got was pure luck. I bet you won''t find another premium piece like it in all of Macau."


    Russell had no idea how this persistent individual had followed him from the casino, but he had worn Russell¡¯s patience thin. Additionally, this rich kid had a nasty habit of saying whatever came to mind.


    It had been two hours since Russell acquired that piece of premium mutton fat jade. He''d browsed numerous gold shops, jade stores, and auction houses but hadn¡¯t found another piece suitable for his spiritual stone requirements.


    They were either not up to standard, too small, or lacked the necessary thickness. Did he really need to travel to Xinjiang to acquire raw materials? Would he even have the time for it?


    "Enough! Didn¡¯t you say your father is powerful in Hong Kong? If you can bring me a piece of mutton fat jade matching this specification within five hours, I¡¯ll consider taking you in," Russell declared in frustration, waving the premium jade before the pestering young heir.


    "Hehe, you said it. Five hours. Please, Master, Boss, allow me to disappear for a bit," the young man grinned, taking Russell¡¯s challenge seriously and promptly vanishing from sight.

 Chapter 26: Willing Sacrifice

    Before the five-hour mark, Russell received a piece of mutton fat jade that could be cut into six standardized spiritual stones with a purity even higher than the one he previously acquired.


    Damn, a jade seal crafted from over 500 grams of premium mutton fat jade? Was such a rare gem becoming commonplace?


    Russell realized how lucky he was to acquire the previous jade piece. Even if he scoured every inch of Macau''s Financial Street, finding another like it was unlikely. It wasn''t that high-quality mutton fat jade was impossible to find, but rather such pieces were extremely rare and fortuitous to encounter.


    Yet this pestering rich kid managed to bring him one back, and it was carved with the name of Jiang Fuqi.


    Russell had heard of Jiang Fuqi, even though the distance between southern Beijing and Hong Kong was significant. This guy had brought back a jade seal of one of Hong Kong''s major family founders?


    "What is Jiang Fuqi to you?" Russell asked with an odd expression.


    "Hehe, Jiang Fuqi is my dad''s dad. Impressive, right?" The other man wore a smug look, almost provoking Russell into kicking him. Damn! Even if you stole your grandpa''s personal jade seal, don¡¯t bring that trouble to me. Such a legendary figure¡¯s private seal was not something to be trifled with!


    "Master, oh boss, can you take me in now? I guarantee if you come to Hong Kong, you won''t have to worry about anything, let alone need to carefully win a few million," O¡¯Neil boasted confidently.


    In Hong Kong, Jiang Fuqi might not be the most powerful, but he was easily ranked in the top five. In regions like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, where underground forces were deeply rooted, Jiang Fuqi was a figure who rose from the underground to become legitimate.


    "Fine, if you have the tenacity to stick it out, I can teach you," Russell conceded. This wealthy scion was pestering him for what Russell termed the "art of listening to dice," a skill O''Neil considered a king¡¯s technique from gambling movies. Of course, Russell didn''t possess such cinematic prowess.


    But since he had accepted the young man''s princely jade gift, he couldn¡¯t refuse him flatly. If this guy insisted despite being told otherwise, Russell would have no choice but to entertain his whims.


    Such idle rich boy antics could be deterred with some rigorous training; he¡¯d likely give up on his own. At worst, once Russell succeeded, he could compensate the rich kid with a few million for the jade seal. But as for the legendary Jiang Fuqi¡¯s jade seal? Russell wasn¡¯t about to let go. His determination to follow the path of divine cultivation was unwavering.


    "Hehe, boss, you won¡¯t scare me off that easily. I''m not one to back down," O''Neil bragged.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Unable to say more, the two spent the night in silence, taking a ship to Shenzhen and then immediately boarding a train back to southern Beijing. The haste was driven by necessity: Russell needed to vanish from Macau quickly to minimize attention, and returning to mainland China reduced Jiang Fuqi''s influence.


    Upon returning to southern Beijing, Russell kicked the rich kid out, arranging for him to stay in a hotel while he headed to a small laser engraving workshop.


    "Can you engrave inscriptions on jade here?" Russell asked as soon as he entered. "Money is no object; precision is key."


    Upon receiving a confident affirmation from the owner, Russell finally felt a burden lift from his heart.


    To complete his task and create the four spiritual stones, he had been stretched thin over the past few days.


    The spirit entrapment matrix required jade stones to be accurately cut to specifications and inscribed with precise runes on six sides¡ªonly then could they qualify as basic spiritual stones.


    In ancient times, engraving complex arrays of runes required the expertise of a highly insightful magic master, but on modern Earth, such tasks could be easily managed. What could be more precise than a machine? What intricate engraving couldn¡¯t a carving machine accomplish?


    Even the legendary master engravers would be challenged by modern technology.


    Thus, when Russell downloaded the necessary runes for the spirit entrapment matrix from the system into schematic forms, everything became straightforward.


    He didn¡¯t need to master the vast knowledge of rune lore and formation design, but could perfectly replicate an array of inscribed spiritual stones through mechanical precision.


    When Russell presented two large and one small premium mutton fat jade pieces to the workshop and requested they be precisely cut into small, specified pieces, the owner and craftsmen were stunned, wearing peculiar expressions.


    While they occasionally encountered eccentric requests from idle rich kids, like commissioning a large online game item, cutting several million-dollar jade into small pieces with engravings was quite the spectacle.


    Of course, despite their concern, the workshop owner eagerly accepted the job, ready to profit from this lucrative opportunity.


    With a promised fee of 50,000 for the precision work, the craftsmen, along with the owner, threw themselves wholeheartedly into the task. How could they not, with such a windfall at stake?


    Under the influence of generous payment, within two hours, Russell obtained eight pieces of jade measuring 4.49cm in length, 2.49cm in width, and 1.49cm in thickness.


    To prevent the secrets of the spirit stone from being exposed, Russell personally engraved the final critical rune. Even though without it, others couldn¡¯t harness the spirit stone''s energy absorption, he was careful to ensure all secrets remained hidden.


    Holding the eight lustrous, dense, and pure "white jades" in his hand, Russell¡¯s awaited system prompt finally appeared: "Obtained eight superior spirit stones; mission overfulfilled. Task completion time: 4 days 04 hours. Task rating: A+. Reward: Shen Yuan power cap +1, reward points: 495 points!"


    "Activated chain side quest 2¡ªFormation of the Divine Matrix. Build the Heavenly Witch Spirit Entrapment Matrix to gain Shen Yuan power cap +1 and a random item reward."


    The system''s back-to-back prompts resonated in Russell''s mind, leaving him overwhelmed with excitement.


    His Shen Yuan power cap was now 13, edging him closer to the 15-point advancement threshold. As he thought about unlocking the four greyed-out host skills, Russell was almost beside himself with joy.


    Of course, amidst his elation, he remembered to check his current total of 220 plus 495 points, reaching an unprecedented 715 points.

 Chapter 27: The Stellar Iron

    "Wow, with 715 points, I could almost buy another King Kong Beast Slave," Russell exclaimed in excitement, smacking the steel workbench hard with his fist, startling the craftsmen and the owner of the workshop. They shared a helpless smile, having just witnessed the peculiar hobbies of these young rich scions!


    "Heaven-defying, huh? Go ahead and defy the heavens in another world," the middle-aged owner, a regular on a certain Chinese web novel site, thought cynically.


    As for Russell, after he smashed the workbench, he calmed down. This drastic mood swing again left the others in awe, wondering if they could ever understand this young man''s mind.


    At that moment, Russell had no idea he''d been mentally labeled as a fool by the others. If they had to describe it more specifically, it would be "utter fool." Who else would cut two incredibly valuable, rare jade pieces into eight smaller ones? It was just throwing money away!


    Nonetheless, Russell couldn''t care less what they thought because he hadn''t expected that his punch on the steel workbench would trigger a system notification: "Discovered fallen extraterrestrial iron. Would you like to collect it? This fallen extraterrestrial iron can be sold in the shop for 3000 points."


    "Isn''t that happiness arriving too suddenly?" Russell''s forceful punch hadn''t damaged the workbench, but the sudden system prompt left him stunned, frozen on the spot!


    Extraterrestrial iron? 3000 points... Oh my, Russell stared like a hungry wolf at the workshop owner.


    "What on earth? This lunatic can''t be developing a special interest in me, a middle-aged man, can he?" The owner shivered, looking at Russell''s consuming stare, and began searching for an escape route. He feared being caught by the young man''s burly bodyguard and losing more than his dignity.


    Just as the workshop owner was about to flee, Russell jumped in front of him, holding a rough, black stone, and shouted, "Boss, I want this stone. How much, huh?"


    "This grinding stone? Take it, take it for free, okay?" The owner, bewildered by Russell''s wild antics, internally questioned the excitement over a mere stone.


    He couldn''t fathom the peculiar preferences of these rich young men. This black stone was picked up by an employee during an outing and had been deemed worthless after several appraisals. It had been left on the workbench ever since as a paperweight.


    "Hehe, I''d be honored to give you this stone, Russell. It''s nothing," the owner waved magnanimously, feigning generosity.


    Russell shot an inconspicuous glance at the owner, thinking how clueless he was about the stone''s value.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "3000 points." Russell was filled with a thrill, already seeing great value in the stone. Though it appeared as a mere rock on the surface, it was true metal inside¡ªextraterrestrial iron.


    Even though he knew nothing about stellar iron itself, Russell was certain that something valued at 3000 points by the system must be incredibly precious.


    Having discovered another way to earn points filled him with immense contentment.


    Three thousand points were a massive boon for Russell. He had barely managed to earn 500 points after a strenuous mission that warranted an A+ rating. Thus, even if the owner had demanded an exorbitant price, up to his total fortune of nine million, Russell wouldn''t have hesitated to secure it.


    Ignorance is truly frightening!


    Afraid the owner might change his mind, Russell hurriedly left with Kaiser, eager to secure the stone.


    "Was that necessary? It''s just a stupid rock. He looks happier than if he''d found gold," the owner shouted derisively after Russell bolted with his bodyguard.


    "Hehe, boss, that''s where you''re wrong. If you gave one of these rich kids actual gold, they wouldn¡¯t react as happily," one of the craftsmen quipped.


    "Right, old Xu, you''re spot on. To that young fool, gold is nothing. Didn¡¯t you see him playing with million-dollar jade pieces?" said the owner, laughing as he added, "Alright, it¡¯s getting late. Let''s hit New World for dinner, on me¡ªeat all you want, just no takeaways."


    With the substantial profit margin from this job, the owner decided to treat his team to a feast at the local food market. They were free to gorge on meat and drink and eat to their hearts'' content.


    While the workshop folks had their perceptions of Russell, the young man, now in possession of the stellar iron, didn¡¯t even think about the rich kid he''d left at the hotel. Eager to convert the stellar iron into points, he rushed home.


    No matter his curiosity about the stellar iron''s attributes, converting it into points felt more tangible. Selling this to the system store meant 3715 points¡ªmore than enough to buy a strong beast slave, assuming such options were available at 15 Shen Yuan power.


    "Hmm, should I get another King Kong Beast Slave first? Imagine having two Western brutes flanking me¡ªone as offense, the other as a shield. That''d boost my street cred like crazy," Russell mused on the tree-lined avenue leading to his villa, mulling over his points.


    His thoughts weren¡¯t just about flaunting wealth. Practicality was also key. Imagine having two King Kong Beast Slaves¡ªone for offense, one for defense, making operations smoother and safer.


    Ultimately, a single "Kaiser" wasn''t enough for comprehensive protection of his personal safety.


    Why so many bodyguards? Well, Russell realized his life was more precious now. He foresaw a prosperous future and embraced life passionately. He refused to admit any fear of death.


    While he daydreamed about how to use his 3700 points, he suddenly collided into a "brick wall."


    Looking up, he realized he was at his doorstep, with Kaiser ahead of him, ready for action, emitting a threatening aura.


    "Boss, someone means us harm," Kaiser said icily, moving towards the shaded groves ahead.


    Clapping followed, and a man emerged from the shadows¡ªa bald, muscular figure with a menacing glare fixed on Kaiser.


    "Initially, I mocked that fat pig for being too cautious, but seeing you, I admit he did at least one thing right," the muscular, bald man muttered, eyes locked on Kaiser, either ignoring or oblivious to Russell entirely.


    Behind him, nine more followed¡ªmuscular, tattooed men, armed with knives and steel pipes. Just one glance and Russell knew he was in deep trouble.

 Chapter 28: The Ferocity of the Beast Slave

    Who was behind the attack?


    As Russell faced the brutal men before him, countless possibilities raced through his mind. Was it Huo Datong? Or Chen Jincheng? Or was it simply fallout from his recent winning streak?


    Yet, he didn¡¯t have much time to ponder, as the muscular bald man in front of him pointed in his direction, barking an order: "Make it quick, take out the big guy first."


    Clearly, the bald leader was wary of Kaiser, the powerful presence beside Russell. As soon as he spoke, his nine heavily tattooed henchmen, brandishing blades and pipes, charged like a pack of wolves.


    It¡¯s often said that even the greatest martial arts can¡¯t stand against a blade!


    Especially when there are nine robust and ferocious fighters. Realizing this, Russell quickly deduced that the mastermind behind these men was no mere Huo Datong; he simply didn''t have the clout to command such a fierce crew.


    Each attacker was at least six feet tall and the kind who could flatten multiple street thugs.


    Unfortunately for them, they faced Kaiser, an extraordinary beast slave from another realm. In simple terms: "inhuman." Kaiser exceeded the capabilities of a typical earthly being.


    The first assailant to rush in wielded a solid steel pipe over a meter long, a weapon several times heavier than a typical street thug''s steel bat. With his massive muscles, he seemed capable of seriously injuring even a large buffalo with one swing.


    Seeing the threat, Kaiser''s eyes reddened, and he roared like a tiger in the forest, unleashing his mighty aura!


    This roar momentarily froze the advancing attackers. In the next instant, the man with the steel pipe found his chest caved in by a collision with the bear-like bodyguard.


    The crash was akin to being hit by a speeding small car; against this terrifying force, the steel pipe and muscles were frail.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Kaiser''s charge was more powerful than a 300-kilogram bear''s assault. The man with the pipe was propelled backward like a projectile, knocking down several companions in his path.


    The explosive strength of eighteen points was terrifying, seemingly only twice that of an average human, but unleashed through a robust physique, it spelled doom for opponents.


    With a single bear-like charge, four of the nine assailants were down. Blacking out from the impact, they lay gasping, unable to muster the strength to rise, suffering excruciating pain with each breath. They hadn¡¯t even engaged in a proper fight yet.


    It all happened in a flash. The second man, wielding a machete, was stunned but quickly steeled himself as Kaiser approached.


    Despite his own impressive build, he was no match for the Western bear before him.


    "I¡¯m gonna kill you!" he growled, swinging his machete at Kaiser with all the force he could muster, fear pushed to the back of his mind.


    The strike, motivated by terror and desperation, landed on Kaiser''s head with a resounding clang that reverberated around them like metal striking metal. This left the man with his hand vibrating painfully.


    His moment of bravado faded away, replaced by sheer terror. He had never imagined such a terrifying opponent. No, this wasn''t human.


    "Heh," Kaiser grinned cruelly. Normally reserved and silent, in combat, he was like a bloodthirsty tiger unleashed.


    The King Kong Beast Slave was a naturally warlike and ruthless species, which was why they evolved with hardened skin as a natural trait.


    The heavy blow against Kaiser¡¯s hardened skin left only a faint white mark on his forehead. Kaiser, with a chilling glare, gripped the attacker¡¯s wrist and twisted it sharply. Snap!


    The wrist snapped as easily and casually as breaking a matchstick. The machete clattered to the ground, but the encounter didn¡¯t end there. An ominous shadow loomed overhead as a massive fist descended, slamming onto the man¡¯s skull.


    The bear-like strike halted the advance of the other attackers. Their once-fearless comrade collapsed like a rag doll, eyes rolling back, neck grotesquely distorted.


    There was a collective hiss¡ªa stark reminder of the carnage.


    In just one exchange, two of the nine ferocious men lay in critical condition, while another three had yet to regain their feet.


    The eerie silence that followed the brutal altercation was deafening. Even Russell stood transfixed. Kaiser''s ferocious power, bringing two down in mere seconds, was a horrific revelation.


    Kaiser¡¯s ferocity, coupled with his raw power, was clear evidence of the dramatic shift in Russell¡¯s life since acquiring the super pet system. He was no longer the same reclusive loser.


    If not for Russell''s intervention, the tranquil tree-lined path would have harbored more than two bodies.


    "Chen Jincheng?" Russell shivered, a cold dread settling in. Had Kaiser not been formidable, he might not have escaped unscathed from this attack.

 Chapter 29: Ruthlessness

    On the rooftop of Chaoyang Construction Company, Chen Jincheng listened quietly to his phone, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. He never imagined that an ordinary employee of his company could turn the tables so dramatically in just a few days. That employee''s bodyguard had beaten up the thugs he had hired at great expense, even killing two in a bloody confrontation.


    "I¡¯ll wire you some money immediately. Take your men and lay low for a while. Don¡¯t come back until this matter is settled," he said before hanging up. His mind was awash with mixed feelings, including a hint of shock.


    Most people didn''t know, but that bald man he hired was a top underground fighter, with a known track record of deadly encounters. Not just any ruthless character, but a truly dangerous individual. Even with such force, they had failed to bring that kid in.


    "Dad, is that guy''s bodyguard really that formidable?" Chen Yi, standing nearby and being the sole heir of Chen Jincheng, couldn¡¯t help but ask. The anxiety in his father''s voice was clear over the phone, even from where he was standing.


    Hearing how his father had been outwitted and almost emasculated by an upstart had made him quite concerned. While he lacked any special qualities himself, he was aware of his reliance on his father¡¯s wealth. Without him, not only would his opulent lifestyle disappear, but he wouldn''t be able to manage the family business either.


    Therefore, even if he didn¡¯t care much about his father''s well-being, he feared any threat to his father''s safety. As long as no one contested the family fortune, his life of leisure would remain intact.


    "Dad, I have a friend who knows some special people. How about I hire a hitman to take care of him?" Chen Yi suggested cautiously.


    In Southeast Asia, he indeed had a "friend" connected to a major drug lord. With enough money, hiring a sniper to eliminate someone was a quick affair.


    As for taking a life? Pfft, Chen Yi had killed before, back in middle school. A fool had tried to stop him from pursuing the class beauty, leading to a brutal assault as a warning. To this day, he had never faced any consequences. In southern Beijing, while the Chen family wasn¡¯t the most elite, they were certainly feared. In his view, no matter how much Russell had succeeded unexpectedly, he wasn''t untouchable.


    There was no comparison in their underlying power¡ªRussell was simply a lucky upstart.


    "No need. It¡¯s the thought that counts. Your old man has been through worse. He¡¯s just a minor clown. Killing him alone wouldn¡¯t satisfy my grudge. Russell, I want you to regret ever crossing me," Chen Jincheng sneered viciously.


    Both father and son were cut from the same cloth¡ªarrogant and infamous among those in the know. Chen Jincheng gnashed his teeth with venomous hatred.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Russell, I admit I underestimated you. But if you think hiring a foreign bodyguard will shield you from my vengeance, you¡¯re sorely mistaken. You¡¯ll learn that incurring my wrath ensures a miserable end."


    Chen Jincheng¡¯s face twisted with malevolent satisfaction at the thought of his close call, nearly losing his manhood. At his age and with his wealth, his sole pleasure was indulging in women. Not only had Russell dared to strike back, but he had come perilously close to ruining his physical capabilities. His rage was boundless.


    "Hmm, I heard from that nosy neighbor that the kid has a lovely sister in high school. Yi, I leave her to you. Use any means necessary to bring Luo Xiner here. But remember, until I give the word, no one lays a finger on her. Understood?" Chen Jincheng instructed his son with a sleazy grin.


    "Hehe, don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll get right on it." Chen Yi left the office with a shadow of malice flickering across his face. He resented his father''s restrictions.


    Handling such matters was nothing new to him. He hoped Luo Xiner wasn¡¯t too captivating; having to hand her over to his father without touching her would be a waste.


    "Hey, Director He? You can send your people now," Chen Jincheng ordered over the phone once his son had left.


    ...


    Returning to his villa, Russell found the front gate open and the furniture and appliances inside wrecked. His heart raced with a premonition of impending danger.


    The mere thought of someone as beautiful as Hera falling into their hands was unbearable. He couldn''t fathom what horrors she might endure.


    Fighting the rising anxiety, he called Hera. To his immense relief, she answered, informing him that she had been in America on business for two days, thus avoiding any fallout from his actions. Russell exhaled heavily in gratitude.


    With one worry eased, Russell lit a cigarette, took a few deep drags, and began to think deeply.


    He had underestimated the old pervert¡¯s capabilities, not expecting him to discover that Russell was the culprit and find his new address in such a short time.


    What concerned him most was the safety of his family. Fortunately, there was a small grace: due to a clerical error, his ID had mistakenly listed his address as "Lo Stone Village" instead of the correct "Luo Family Village." Initially, he hadn¡¯t bothered to fix it, assuming his rural hometown didn¡¯t warrant scrutiny. But now, that mistake might help protect his family.


    At the very least, Chen Jincheng wouldn''t be able to quickly harm his distant family, given the considerable distance from southern Beijing to his remote hometown.


    But if this looming threat wasn¡¯t eliminated, it would remain a constant danger.


    "Chen Jincheng, you¡¯ve pushed me to this point," Russell thought coldly. Remembering the recent brutal attack and the destruction of his home, he realized there was no room for compromise.


    Deep down, he regretted his rash actions. Had he known Chen Jincheng¡¯s reach and ruthlessness, he would have delayed his revenge until he was more powerful.


    "Master, this threat can¡¯t be left unchecked," said Kaiser, sensing his master''s troubled heart, his voice brimming with murderous intent.


    In Kaiser¡¯s mind, eliminating such a nuisance was as trivial as killing a chicken. He didn¡¯t understand why his master hesitated.


    "Eliminate him?"


    It was daunting. Unless Russell planned to flee abroad, considering Chen Jincheng¡¯s status, avoiding retribution was nearly impossible. But if he didn¡¯t act, he wouldn¡¯t find peace. As Russell pondered this, his eyes grew colder.


    "Bang!" A loud crash shook the villa''s door.


    "Freeze, hands on your head, against the wall." The intrusion wasn''t the thugs, nor petty burglars, but a group of uniformed police officers.


    "We received a tip-off about a large drug stash here. Cooperate or be charged with resisting arrest," barked a captain in his thirties with a mustache, signaling his squad of officers to swarm in like wolves.

 Chapter 30: Increase in Shen Yuan Power

    "Drugs? How could I be hiding drugs? Is this a mistake?" Russell was shocked, but then a shiver ran through his body as he suddenly realized the truth. This wasn''t a mistake in intelligence¡ªthis was a setup aimed directly at him.


    "How vicious!" Russell had never experienced such a relentless assault. First, they tried using underhanded tactics, and now they were attacking openly?


    This strategy hit Russell at his weakest point. With his current resources, he wasn''t too worried about physical threats; Kaiser alone was formidable enough. Plus, with the acquisition of the extraterrestrial iron giving him nearly 3715 points, he could exchange for a few more fierce beast slaves like Kaiser if necessary.


    However, if his adversaries used the power of the Chinese authorities against him, he, as an ordinary citizen, was completely cornered.


    In a whirlwind of thoughts, Russell quickly decided to stop Kaiser from retaliating. Reluctantly, he faced the wall, knowing full well that the IDs and search warrants the officers presented were legitimate. Although these officers didn¡¯t represent the entire Chinese legal system, any resistance would only earn him a much more severe charge. They could use their authority to bury him beneath a mountain of bureaucratic power, the unfair fate of a common person.


    In seconds, two officers trained their guns on him and Kaiser, while the other five scattered to search the villa. It was only a matter of minutes before they returned with findings.


    "Captain, we found a large quantity of drugs, estimated to be over ten kilograms."


    "Captain, there''s more. We found an N18 police-issued handgun in one of the rooms. After verification, it matches the one stolen from our officer last month."


    "Hmph, no doubt about it. This is the gun stolen from Officer Xu Jian last month. Looks like we solved that case after all."


    The captain with the mustache sneered, "Kid, you''re in deep. Over ten kilograms of drugs, plus a stolen service pistol that seriously injured one of our officers? You''re done for. Prepare for a long time behind bars."


    As the captain issued orders for Russell and Kaiser to be cuffed and taken back to the station, Russell knew he had to act.


    "Do it, Kaiser," Russell shouted suddenly, deliberately drawing the officers'' attention to himself.


    Shit, Russell''s heart sank. Over ten kilograms of drugs and a stolen service pistol? His enemies were clearly determined to ruin him.


    In that moment, Russell realized there was no turning back. If they took him in, without any power or influence, he''d be doomed.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "What are you doing?" the captain shouted in shock.


    While Russell''s shout drew their focus, Kaiser, who had been ready, pushed off the wall with a powerful motion. Using the momentum to strike, he flung his captor aside and in a swift move, had the captain''s throat locked in his grip.


    "Drop your guns if you want to live," Kaiser growled. His agility wasn''t exceptionally high, only at 12 points¡ªsomething a well-trained underground fighter could achieve. But against these officers, it was more than enough, especially with Russell''s distraction.


    In mere seconds, as the other officers processed what had happened, Kaiser had already ''captured the king.''


    From the moment Kaiser acted, whether Russell was framed or not became irrelevant. If they were set on destroying him, he had no choice but to fight back.


    "Stand down, damn it! Everyone, stand down!" the captain shouted with fear. He could feel Kaiser¡¯s overpowering intent to kill, and knew any hesitation might cost him his life. It was clear this hulking bear of a man could crush his throat with ease. The captain had never imagined Russell would act so decisively.


    "Get a car ready. Tell your men to stay quiet, no following, or any tricks¡ªor your family will be arranging your funeral," Russell ordered with a glare full of wrath. If he could, he would have dealt with the captain then and there.


    Clearly, this captain was either bought by Chen Jincheng or was always his man. As for the other officers? Russell didn¡¯t have time to ponder their involvement. All he knew was that from now on, he was a fugitive.


    Originally a law-abiding citizen, he was being forced into exile. Could he not be furious?


    "Your mental fluctuations are highly agitated. Shen Yuan power stimulated, cap +1. Your Shen Yuan power cap has increased to 14 points."


    The system notification acted like a calming anchor in Russell¡¯s storm-tossed mind, the synthetic voice reassuring him.


    If he had to rebel, so be it. As long as the system stood by him, the world was his oyster.


    "Send this message to Chen Jincheng. Well played, he¡¯s driven me away... but expect my revenge, Russell will be back," Russell said with a wicked smirk, kicking aside a blocking officer as he slowly backed out of the villa.


    Rather than feeling trapped by the situation, his mindset had shifted. With nothing to lose, he could see who dared to challenge him.


    This unexpected turn of events forced Russell into action, and his worldview had shifted dramatically. He realized that in this world, strength alone didn¡¯t guarantee power. Without influence, he could never truly control his fate. He needed to build his own power base.


    Russell understood; he had planned to focus solely on spiritual cultivation, leading a peaceful life, but that was no longer possible.


    With the police captain as a hostage, Russell took off in a patrol car.


    Soon after he forced the officer into the car, the entire Xuan Yang district police force was mobilized, and Russell¡¯s name was added to the wanted list.


    ...


    "What do you mean he got away? How could he escape under the noses of officers with over a dozen guns?" roared Commissioner He, knowing the situation had escalated. This was no ordinary adversary. With a super bodyguard at Russell¡¯s side, they had effortlessly overcome two police contingents.


    Commissioner He couldn¡¯t believe the power Russell wielded with just two people.


    If Russell retaliated without restraint, raising a public uproar, He¡¯s aspirations for promotion would vanish, and his position would be in jeopardy. It was a disaster.


    "Someone, get me on the line with Chen Jincheng," He ordered, unease gnawing at him.

 Chapter 31: Trouble

    In the presidential suite of the Century Five-Star Hotel.


    "Boss, just relax. This is our Jiang family''s property. Even if our family''s influence is weakened inland, I, O¡¯Neil, doubt they dare to search here. It''s just a deputy director¡ªwhat''s the big deal?" The rich playboy O¡¯Neil rolled his eyes, his voice booming. He was like a chameleon; one moment full of disdain and arrogance, the next moment, he was all smiles, serving Russell tea, ingratiating himself with a sycophantic grin. "Boss, why not come back to Hong Kong with me? I guarantee nothing will happen to you, and there''ll be plenty of women."


    "Get lost," Russell replied irritably. "You want me to go back to Hong Kong just to have your grandfather chase me down?"


    That massive and rare mutton fat jade seal was a treasure money couldn''t easily buy. Russell understood well how those old folks cherished such seemingly useless things, treating them like family heirlooms. Now that this rascal had stolen it, if Jiang Fuqi realized his jade seal had been cut into pieces, he would be furious. Russell wasn''t foolish enough to walk into trouble by going to Hong Kong.


    "Hehe, don''t worry. I had a replica jade seal made that''s good enough to fool anyone. My old man doesn''t look at it often, and it''s stored securely. He definitely won''t find out. If he did, would we still be lounging here so leisurely?" O¡¯Neil lounged carelessly, completely unfazed. This rich heir''s attitude reminded Russell why there''s an old saying in China, "Wealth doesn¡¯t last three generations."


    With a prodigal like this, it only takes one to squander a family fortune, let alone several. Thankfully, the Jiang family in Hong Kong had yet to fall under his control.


    "How''s the information I asked you to gather?" Russell asked, knowing O¡¯Neil''s personality meant he couldn''t afford to be polite with him.


    "When Master O¡¯Neil handles things, there''s no question of success or failure." O¡¯Neil snapped his fingers, only to realize that the hotel manager''s fawning attendants had been sent outside by Russell. Dejected, O¡¯Neil retrieved a stack of documents himself.


    This dossier contained all the background and personal details of Chen Jincheng. In today''s information age, unless someone is extremely high-ranking or uniquely privileged, it''s usually not difficult to uncover personal histories. Chen Jincheng, a billionaire real estate tycoon, was notable in southern Beijing but far from untouchable.


    Russell took the documents and read them silently, his frown deepening with each page. After half an hour, he exhaled and rubbed his temples. "Jiang, I need to know the whereabouts of Chen Zhuonan and his daily routines."


    Having reviewed the data, Russell understood where he had erred grievously. It wasn''t just a lack of caution when selling contraband to Wang Nan; it was a misstep to act without fully grasping his adversary''s connections.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Chen Zhuonan, Chen Jincheng''s younger brother, was the district head and a standing committee member of the district party committee in Xuanyang District, the top official there. Russell had recklessly targeted his brother in Chen Zhuonan''s domain¡ªtantamount to courting disaster.


    Moreover, Chen Zhuonan''s wife''s background was even more staggering. His father-in-law was the former deputy secretary of the Jingnan City Party Committee. Although retired for several years, his established influence remained. This revelation was startling.


    The only piece of good news was that Chen Zhuonan''s wife had passed away years ago, and they had no children. Over time, the bond with his father-in-law had weakened, especially given the latter''s disdain for Chen Zhuonan¡¯s increasingly disreputable behavior.


    This discovery offered Russell a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.


    "If something were to happen to Chen Zhuonan, do you think his father-in-law would intervene?" Russell asked out of the blue, eyes still on the documents.


    O¡¯Neil, who had almost sunk into the leather sofa, was initially taken aback by the unexpected question. He then furrowed his brows and smirked. "He''d get involved, certainly. It''s his person, after all. But it depends on how far he''d go, since his daughter is long gone, and Chen Zhuonan didn¡¯t have any children."


    O¡¯Neil¡¯s insight offered Russell a new perspective on the seemingly frivolous heir. Despite his wasteful tendencies, O¡¯Neil understood family dynamics and power structures. Even prodigal sons of affluent families couldn''t be entirely underestimated.


    "A life extinguished..." Russell repeated the phrase silently to himself, then abruptly added, "What if Chen Zhuonan suddenly died?"


    "Suddenly died?"


    "What?" O¡¯Neil shot upright, his eyes gleaming. "Wow, boss, you¡¯re not thinking of..." Before O¡¯Neil could finish, Russell silenced him with a look.


    "I knew it. I knew you were no ordinary person. Anyone who can discern dice rolls so precisely can''t be anything less than a martial arts expert," O¡¯Neil chuckled. "Boss, if you won''t teach me the art of gambling, how about some martial arts? Or maybe Kaiser''s Iron Cloth skill?"


    The rich kid gazed at Russell with eager admiration, making him feel uneasy. What kind of imagination conjured someone like this?


    Russell sighed inwardly. The notions of listening to dice, mastery in gambling, and martial prowess were misaligned with his actual abilities. Yet, no matter how he explained, O¡¯Neil refused to listen.


    Resigned, Russell dismissed O¡¯Neil to handle some tasks, then returned his focus to the documents. After a while, Russell made up his mind, smiled coldly, and accessed the system shop.


    "Chen Jincheng, your good days are numbered."


    ...


    Three days had passed since the police escape incident at the Dafu villa compound. While traces of Russell could be followed that first night, now all trails had gone cold.


    Though these days seemed calm, Commissioner He couldn¡¯t shake the ominous words Russell had left behind. Although the primary target of vengeance wasn¡¯t himself, his role as an accomplice left He feeling deeply unsettled, with an instinctive sense of foreboding.


    He regretted involving himself in this treacherous situation. But it was too late for remorse. He could only hope his usually keen intuition was wrong for once.


    Unfortunately, just as he began to feel somewhat reassured, trouble arrived.


    "Director, Director, something terrible has happened..."


    "What¡¯s this racket? Have some composure. Are you not an important enforcement officer?" He scolded, though his heart dropped, noting the urgency in his subordinate¡¯s voice.


    "It¡¯s... some of our colleagues involved in the villa drug raid have encountered problems," his aide reported with a grimace, struggling to contain his shock as he relayed the news.


    "What happened?" He stood up abruptly, realizing that the matter was more serious than he had feared.

 Chapter 32: The Devils Hand

    "What exactly happened?" Commissioner He stood abruptly, demanding answers.


    "Zhang Huaming and the others were attacked last night. They were bitten by unidentified venomous insects and are currently in the city hospital," his aide reported in one breath.


    "Venomous insects? Was this intentional?" Commissioner He immediately thought of the attack on Chen Jincheng, where the assailant had used a similar method.


    "It has to be him," the Deputy Commissioner muttered, his eyes flickering with realization. After a pause, he asked, "Were any of the other officers from the drug raid affected?"


    "No, the others are fine. It¡¯s only our people who were targeted," the aide explained, which was precisely why he had rushed to report it. This was clearly aimed at them as retaliation from Russell.


    It was evident that Russell wasn¡¯t just the ordinary worker his records suggested. With a powerful bodyguard and an unknown background, he was more formidable than they had anticipated.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have managed to target Commissioner He so precisely, let alone identify those involved in apprehending him.


    If his aide could piece this together, surely someone in He¡¯s position could as well.


    "What about Zhang Huaming''s injuries?" Commissioner He asked, his voice hoarse.


    "The perpetrator hasn''t been found. We tried tracing any leads overnight, but there were no signs of forced entry at their homes. It''s very strange."


    The aide hesitated before continuing, "As for their injuries, they aren¡¯t life-threatening, but because of where they were bitten¡ªit¡¯s similar to Mr. Chen''s case from before¡ªit will take at least a year for a full recovery, if at all."


    "Whoo," Commissioner He exhaled sharply. This bizarre method was indeed shocking, particularly since it targeted men¡¯s most sensitive areas, which would send chills down any man''s spine.


    A few small bites in such sensitive spots were more than just minor wounds. Imagine the agony if any tension caused the wounds to reopen.


    "Could he be one of those legendary Miao practitioners, controlling venomous insects?" the aide speculated.


    "It''s possible. This matter is becoming quite troublesome." Commissioner He realized he had likely provoked a formidable opponent, feeling a deep sense of unease.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Regardless, treat this as a top priority case and allocate more resources to apprehend the culprit." At this point, that was his only option. Capture Russell, and no matter how strange his methods, they''d be rendered useless.


    "Yes, Commissioner," the aide responded, standing at attention. Once he left, He¡¯s expression grew increasingly stern. The prospect of endless retaliation loomed large.


    If a powerful police commissioner like him was intimidated by such tactics, he would be unworthy of his position. He thought it over and made a call, which was quickly connected.


    "Hello, I need Black Bear."


    "Who are you?"


    "You don''t need to know. Just tell him someone named He is looking for him." Without further explanation, He hung up.


    Soon enough, his line rang. Picking up the phone, He gave detailed instructions before slamming down the receiver. He refused to believe that with both legal and underworld avenues at his disposal, Russell could evade capture. As long as Russell caused trouble in the area, He would unearth him.


    No matter what mysterious powers Russell might wield, they would have to bow before the might of authority.


    Commissioner He felt somewhat reassured after exhausting all his resources. He decided to stay in his office, convinced Russell wouldn''t dare confront him directly. He also had all his office windows and doors reinforced with thick, tempered glass, confident that unless Russell controlled something as extraordinary as an alien, those little insects couldn''t possibly threaten him.


    Yet, he was in for a shock. The following evening, when his aide once again rushed in, He knew things had escalated.


    "What? They were bitten again? And in the same place? I ordered officers to guard them, didn''t I? What do you mean they fell asleep on duty? Worthless!" He¡¯s frustrations boiled over. Despite using every available resource, he had failed to root out Russell, and his men were attacked once more.


    Was this another warning? He hadn¡¯t felt such anger in years and vowed to double the watch, ensuring 24-hour protection. He was determined to stop the attacks.


    As for Chen Jincheng, the main target?


    He found it strange that Chen remained unscathed while his own men continued to suffer. Was Russell biding his time before targeting Chen directly?


    By the third day, Russell was still nowhere to be found, but the police station was in a state of growing panic. The situation had escalated.


    If the first two days were about using insects to harm them, the third day introduced venomous creatures into the mix. According to doctors, it was still unclear how they had been poisoned.


    Commissioner He visited the hospital and was chilled by his subordinates'' pale, fearful faces.


    This time, Russell had struck in broad daylight, yet the officers on watch had noticed nothing. The victims¡¯ conditions deteriorated simultaneously, marked by symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and nausea¡ªclear signs of poisoning. The hospital struggled to manage the symptoms but had yet to find an effective treatment.


    His men were on the verge of physical and mental collapse, constantly fearing more attacks. What if the situation worsened on the fourth day? What about deadly poisons or other terrifying methods?


    It felt like an invisible devil''s hand was pressing down on everyone involved.


    On the fourth day, the expected escalation arrived, but this time it involved a prominent figure, someone even He relied on.


    "Chen Zhuonan was involved?"


    "Yes, he''s dead," his aide confirmed with a trembling nod.


    Despite staying in the police station, never venturing out, He was hit by the news.


    With a loud clatter, the document in his hand fell to the floor. He stood frozen, overwhelmed by a fear he could no longer suppress.

 Chapter 33: Do You Believe?

    "How did he die?" It took He Youqiang a long time to ask with a dry voice.


    "A burst blood vessel," his subordinate replied hesitantly. "I heard he was engaging in vigorous activity at his lover''s house and died suddenly."


    The subordinate stammered, but finally added, "Multiple forensic experts confirmed it was due to a burst blood vessel."


    "Leave now. Stop talking and get out." He waved his hand to dismiss the subordinate, then stood and rechecked the window seals before collapsing heavily back onto the sofa.


    A burst blood vessel death was nonsense to him. He had never heard of Chen Zhuonan having hypertension, and it wasn''t like the Chen brothers were strangers to women. Was it really just a coincidence that he died during intercourse?


    He never expected it, never thought the person he had dismissed as a mere nuisance, using minor tricks to intimidate him, could unleash such a violent storm. Even the forensic experts found no other methods?


    Only now did He realize why Chen Jincheng had been untouched. It wasn''t that Russell hadn¡¯t acted; he was systematically removing the foundation of Chen Jincheng''s power. Russell was uprooting the very support that sheltered Chen Jincheng.


    "So, am I next?" As this possibility dawned on him, cold sweat poured down He Youqiang''s forehead. If even a district secretary could fall to such bizarre methods, what chance did a deputy district police chief have against someone so ruthless?


    Regret filled him. Suddenly, his private office phone rang. Among his three office phones¡ªone for official use, one for internal lines, and one personal line¡ªthis was the private line, known to very few.


    Aside from his wife and children, only a few extremely close relatives knew this number. Typically, it would not ring.


    Startled by the sudden noise, He nearly jumped from the sofa. He hesitated, eyeing the phone as if it were the harbinger of doom. While it was supposed to be family, an ominous feeling told him it might be the devil himself calling.


    He wondered if Russell''s mysterious, shadowy methods could somehow travel through the phone lines. The absurdity of the thought revealed how deeply rattled he was.


    Stripped of his official duties, he was just an ordinary man. If he were fearless, incorruptible, why would he have engaged in such underhanded actions for a promotion?You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Should I answer it or not?" He didn¡¯t ponder for long, knowing the danger Russell posed couldn¡¯t be ignored. The desperation of a cornered man could unleash terrifying power, especially in someone like Russell.


    Taking a deep breath, He forced down his fear and picked up the receiver firmly.


    Neither side spoke initially, leaving an eerie silence filled only by the sound of breathing. On Russell''s end, there was a steady rhythm, punctuated by the sound of exhaling smoke. In contrast, He''s breathing was labored and tense.


    "What do you want? I know it¡¯s... you." He finally spoke, trying to maintain a facade of calmness, but his trembling voice betrayed his fear.


    "Heh, you should ask yourself why you''re doing this," Russell replied with a cold laugh.


    Over the past few days, Russell¡¯s actions seemed simple, but the execution was fraught with danger. He could only control his pet beasts within a maximum distance of 140 meters.


    Twice he nearly fell into police ambushes and underground trap, narrowly avoiding them with help from O''Neil''s connections and precise information. Without it, he might have already been captured.


    Even with Kaiser, the sheer number of firearms and resources against them was overwhelming. Unknown figures even infiltrated Jiang''s Century Hotel yesterday, refraining from overt investigation due to the hotel''s reputation and influence.


    "You think you can threaten me? Let me tell you, I''m at the police station, guarded by dozens of guns, with my room sealed in tempered glass. The whole place is sprayed with high-concentration insecticide. Don''t expect to use those methods on me," He retorted harshly, more to reassure himself than to intimidate Russell.


    "Yes, you''ve fortified your nest well," Russell acknowledged, then shifted to a light, mocking tone, "But do you believe that in ten seconds, you''ll feel a sudden pain, then alternating chills and heat, and then?"


    "I don¡¯t believe it. I won¡¯t fall for your tricks, you devil. Wait until I catch you," He shouted back, slamming the phone down. Russell had achieved his goal and saw no need to continue the conversation with a man on the verge of breakdown.


    "8...7...6...5...4...2...3...1..." Despite his disbelief, He found himself counting down, unable to quell the fear that Russell¡¯s threat had planted.


    Reaching zero without incident, he laughed, relieved, though his eyes and forehead were damp with sweat.


    He was lucky¡ªhis determination and strength had withstood Russell¡¯s psychological warfare.


    "Ha, you thought you¡¯d scare me? Not a chance." For a moment, He felt a resurgence of confidence. His fortified room had indeed kept him safe. As long as he held his ground, Russell couldn¡¯t harm him, and he could continue tightening operations against him.


    "If you try to play me, Russell, I¡¯ll hunt you down..." His confidence rebounded, ready to order his team to tighten the net when suddenly his body froze.


    "What?" Suddenly, he felt a warmth spreading through his body. Was it just the adrenaline from the confrontation? No, something felt off; his body temperature continued to rise, his throat dry.


    "Impossible..."


    But as his temperature soared towards 40 degrees Celsius, it abruptly dropped, a chill as if he were plunged into icy water.


    A scream of pure terror echoed in the sealed room, though its soundproofing muffled the noise, leaving He''s cries unheard.


    "Russell, what will it take for you to leave me alone?" He finally acknowledged his mistake, calling Russell with desperation and pleading in his voice¡ªsomething unheard of for a man of his power.

 Chapter 34: Wait for the Blood Vessels to Burst

    "Have you heard how Chen Zhuonan died?" Russell answered He Youqiang''s call with a question of his own.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I have¡­¡± At this point, He was completely humbled.


    Authority? Dignity? None of that mattered more than life itself. Without life, everything else was meaningless.


    "Well, the insect poison you were bitten with is the same kind," Russell explained in a pleasant tone.


    The other end of the line remained silent for a long while before a voice finally stammered, ¡°Is there any hope for me? As long as you spare my life, Young Master Russell, I will do anything you ask. Anything.¡±


    He Youqiang, in a trembling voice, promised with emphasis.


    "First, clear all the charges against me for drug possession and assaulting an officer. Understand?" Russell demanded coldly. "If you can''t manage this condition, you''re as good as dead."


    "I can, I can do it. I''ll make it happen immediately. I''ll publicly announce that everything in the past few days was just a drill, a damn drill. Anyone who doesn¡¯t believe me, I''ll shoot them on the spot," He Youqiang assured promptly.


    Under normal circumstances, even as the de facto authority in the bureau, this would have been difficult for him to accomplish. Such a significant matter typically required layer upon layer of reporting and was already recorded in archives. However, since the charges were fabricated, He Youqiang had been careful to leave himself an escape route, thus hadn¡¯t filed the case officially. As long as he managed his internal informants, Russell¡¯s demands could be met, albeit at considerable personal cost.


    Relieved by Russell¡¯s willingness to relent, He slumped back into his chair, taking deep breaths. The suffocating dread he had felt vanished, replaced with the realization that life was indeed beautiful when not entangled with such a dangerous foe.


    ¡°Good, then go to the shop at No. 48, Guangxing Avenue, and ask the owner for the antidote. Take it and then call me back. Oh, and remember, you have only thirty minutes. Fail to get the antidote by then, and you can wait for your blood vessels to burst,¡± Russell said before hanging up.


    He exhaled deeply himself. After five days, his many crimes and warrants were finally expected to be cleared.


    Truthfully, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure it would work, but taking a chance had paid off.


    Of course, the so-called antidote was just a concoction of random supplements to confuse He Youqiang. In reality, the poison from the insect bite wasn¡¯t from any ¡°blood worm¡± that could escalate blood flow to dangerous levels.


    The blood worm used on Chen Zhuonan had been a one-time purchase for 300 points, making its cost nearly as much as a side mission. It was a one-use attack; once it injected its blood poison, the worm perished.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    He Youqiang, on the other hand, had been bitten by a less toxic insect, the Gongdoro flea. Though venomous, its effects were limited to alternating hot and cold sensations, lasting about thirty minutes.


    Nevertheless, this was enough to nearly break the police chief.


    Russell enjoyed his glass of red wine, savoring the classic 1982 Lafite. How could a vintage with such limited production still be consumed worldwide decades later?


    But Russell didn''t bother to dwell on it. The pleasure lay in the drinking, the sophistication, regardless of authenticity. Even if it was pretentious, it was still an enjoyable experience.


    Sipping the wine and lighting a special edition Huanghelou cigarette, he gazed out at the seascape from the floor-to-ceiling windows, relishing the life he was now living.


    The power he wielded offered him a sense of ease. The eight spiritual stones were soaking in the ice crystal bottle of the Ice Ember Crystal Fish, continuously absorbing the spiritual energy exhaled by the mother fish. Soon, they would become genuine spirit stones.


    The spiritual stones and the Ice Ember Crystal Fish mother, having emerged from a five-day rest, showed promising signs. Russell retrieved the ice crystal bottle from his pet pack and realized the fish mother was visibly bloated. He anticipated that tonight would bring the birth of the first batch of ice crystal fish fry.


    And yes, without a male fish, how could this pregnancy occur? Well, spiritual creatures, especially those cherished by ancient immortals, operated beyond ordinary biological conventions.


    The only regret Russell had was that, in five days, his Shen Yuan power had repeatedly been exhausted, funneled into developing the "Witch Refinement and Spiritual Cultivation Technique," yet progress felt elusive.


    He presumed that completing it would require more time, but this also meant the cultivation manual was profoundly mystical.


    Time flew, and half an hour passed quickly. Russell received another call from He Youqiang.


    Without hesitating, Russell informed him that the antidote he provided would last only 30 days. If He didn¡¯t take a second dose within the month, his emotions could cause a fatal burst of his blood vessels.


    Once bitten by the toxic insect, one carried a virtual time bomb. Without the stabilizing effect of its power, avoiding a fatal blood vessel burst required extreme self-control.


    While such torment was arguably worse than death, few could endure such fear and anxiety long-term. Consequently, He Youqiang was thoroughly subdued.


    "Young Master Russell, in the future, whatever you need from me, as long as it doesn''t cost my life, I will follow your orders," He Youqiang promised, humbled by his predicament.


    Aware of his situation, He resolved to submit to Russell¡¯s demands, whether or not the antidote¡¯s time limit was genuine. The power Russell wielded was beyond his means to resist. Perhaps aligning himself with Russell might lead to greater opportunities.


    This clear-headed pragmatic approach often characterized political animals, and He, having decided his course, felt a sense of relief and optimism.


    "Don''t mess with people randomly from now on, and for ordinary matters, I won''t bother you. Of course, for anything I explicitly ask you to do, you must do it with full effort, regardless of right or wrong, without questioning why," Russell instructed, leaving He with a simple directive before ending the call.


    He left He Youqiang no choice but to comply¡ªeither risk his life or submit.


    Russell would need time to assess if He¡¯s submission was genuine, never fully trusting loyalties. Yet, gaining He Youqiang¡¯s allegiance, even if inadvertently, was a significant advantage.


    At least now, in southern Beijing, Russell had acquired a "patron." A patron who, in many situations, could be more reliable than even his closest family.


    Indeed, if He had been a hard-headed antagonist with no fear of death, Russell would have faced a tougher challenge.

 Chapter 35: Constructing the Divine Array

    Just as Russell was securing his position in the fierce battle, Chen Jincheng was facing utter disaster. The news of Chen Zhuonan¡¯s death quickly spread among the key figures in Xuanyang district, reaching all the interested ears within half a day.


    With this powerful tree fallen, the first to suffer was naturally his elder brother, Chen Jincheng, who had relied heavily on Chen Zhuonan''s authority and influence to act arrogantly in Xuanyang district.


    "What? The Spia Building Materials Company has decided to stop supplying us? And they''re asking for immediate clearance of our outstanding steel accounts?"


    "Boss, the bank''s debt collectors are here too." Zhu Lu reported nervously, her heart pounding.


    At that moment, the office phone rang again urgently, undoubtedly more of the same issues cropping up.


    The saying "when the wall falls, everyone pushes" was proving true. At this moment, Chen Jincheng finally understood that he was done for. His company''s funds were tied up in operations, and with his brother¡¯s backing, he had never worried about cash flow. He had been playing a high-stakes game, leveraging everything on borrowed time.


    For instance, he would buy land at extremely low prices, then use the land as collateral to secure bank loans. Once the loans came through, he would start building a couple of floors to attract buyers, selling as he built to draw in funds to continue construction.


    Naturally, all building materials were acquired on credit. With a powerful district figure in tow, who would dare cross him? Even the construction workers'' wages were fronted by the construction company.


    This cycle allowed him to expand rapidly without using much of his capital, but it came with a major downside: a single problem in the chain could bring everything crashing down.


    And now, with his main support fallen, that crucial stabilizing link was broken, leading to an unstoppable storm that no amount of rescue efforts could mitigate.


    This was precisely Russell''s plan. Having worked in Chen Jincheng¡¯s company before, he knew this all too well. Bringing down Chen Zhuonan meant Chen Jincheng was nothing. Their roles had reversed dramatically. Now, Russell was not just a nobody; with a reliable figure in the position of a police chief behind him, he had a solid backing.


    "Why? Why did this happen? It''s him, it must be him..." Chen Jincheng never dreamed that the small ant he tried to crush would back him into a corner.


    He could not fathom how a seemingly insignificant person could unleash such power.


    There¡¯s an old saying, "Do not scorn a youth for his poverty." Many who ignore it meet a tragic end.


    With bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair, Chen Jincheng looked terrifying. Zhu Lu, unaware of her boss''s downfall, hoped to play the loyal subordinate role in this time of crisis. But she miscalculated.


    "Boss, calm down. I''ll make you a cup of ginseng tea," Zhu Lu cooed softly.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Slap." The room echoed with a sharp, clear sound.


    "Get out." "Get away, you bitch. Don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. Get out, I have no time to play with you." Chen Jincheng, pushed to the brink, roared wildly, instilling terror.


    The pitiable Zhu Lu could only cover her swollen face in fright, her eyes full of venom as she retreated.


    Little did Chen Jincheng know, this slap had severed his last hope.


    Soon after, his office door burst open with a loud crash.


    A group of menacing thugs stormed in, clearly uncaring for human life.


    "Who... who are you...?" In the face of death, Chen Jincheng''s madness, his rage, evaporated, leaving only fear. The essence of bullying the weak and fearing the strong played out vividly at this moment.


    He couldn''t understand how these people bypassed all his security measures on the 33rd floor without any warning from his informants.


    He had numerous contingency plans in place to protect against such revenge attacks, including cutting elevator power and using hidden escape routes. This time, though, there had been no warning. In that instant, he recalled Zhu Lu¡¯s resentful gaze as she left.


    "That wretched bitch." Always playing with women, only to be killed by one in the end¡ªwas this karma for the brothers?


    "Take him out, chop him up," the leader commanded. Without further ado, they charged with gleaming cleavers, hacking away.


    Their "boss" had instructed them that as long as they killed this old man, each would receive fifty thousand yuan. The more brutal the attack, the more they¡¯d earn.


    These men were seasoned; they didn¡¯t aim to finish him with a single strike but targeted non-fatal areas.


    Within minutes, the once thunderous Chen Jincheng lay on the floor, breathing his last. Though he remained alive for the moment, the horror of his screams made everyone¡¯s skin crawl.


    "Want to know who ordered this?" The leader asked, exhaling a smoke ring, clearly enjoying himself.


    Beside him, an atypical man with glasses recorded the scene on a digital camera¡ªevidence for the "boss."


    In the end, everyone in the office was elated, the job done and done well. Perhaps more money would follow, they mused.


    Pointing out the window, the leader said, "He told me to tell you his name is Pan Fan. I hope you remember him. Such a grudge¡­" With that, he led his men out. The entire affair took less than five minutes.


    Only Chen Jincheng, left gasping on the floor, remained, his gaze filled with fear and resentment.


    "Help me..." He wanted to cry out, but who would care now?


    He recalled Pan Fan clearly, even after two years¡ªa man whose wife he had raped, and whose high school daughter had not been spared.


    ...


    Not far from Chen Jincheng¡¯s company, in a suite of the Century Hotel, a young man with a roguish demeanor entered.


    "Boss, I have some unfortunate news," O''Neil said, wagging his finger and grinning smugly. "Your great enemy was hacked to death just minutes ago by a mob. Hahaha..."


    The so-called bad news jolted Russell. Dead? He¡¯s actually dead?


    But as relief washed over him, Russell relaxed. It was better this way; he needn''t clean up the aftermath himself. He wasn¡¯t bloodthirsty, but neither would he allow himself to be bullied, especially when his limits were breached. Even if reluctant, Russell wouldn¡¯t show mercy.


    He understood that mercy toward someone like Chen Jincheng would cost him dearly, a price he couldn¡¯t afford. Now that Chen was dead, Russell could let it go.


    Moreover, this reduced the risk of exposure. Using the "insect technique" to eliminate Chen Zhuonan had been risky.


    After all, Zhuonan was a district leader, a key figure with significant power. His sudden death would surely draw scrutiny, Russell doubted there would be no investigation. Fortunately, the blood worm''s silent strike, unnoticed even by Zhuonan¡¯s mistress, had left no trace.


    The fact that Zhuonan died in the midst of an affair¡ªa grave scandal on its own¡ªmeant the matter wasn¡¯t pursued further, to Russell¡¯s relief.


    With that threat neutralized, it was time to set up the Spirit Trap Array. Initially, he could have done this five days ago, but circumstances delayed him.


    Reflecting on this, an eager light crept into Russell¡¯s usually composed eyes.


    Completing this task meant more than just constructing a divine array; it marked his first system upgrade¡ªa milestone rich with potential.


    Russell felt a thrill at the prospect.

 Chapter 36: The Decision to Protect

    ¡°Hera.¡± After several days, Russell finally returned to the villa, and Hera had just returned from her business trip to America.


    The villa''s furniture and appliances had been almost completely replaced, much to Hera''s shock; she nearly thought she had walked into the wrong house. Of course, if Russell hadn''t appeared in time, she would have believed it.


    ¡°Ah Ming, what happened here?¡± Hera masked her surprise and asked calmly, ¡°Did something go wrong?¡±


    Given her intelligence and experience, she knew Russell wouldn¡¯t replace all the furniture and appliances without a serious reason. The original furnishings weren''t bad, and the cost of replacing everything would likely exceed hundreds of thousands.


    In her view, her younger brother shouldn¡¯t have the financial means for such an overhaul, yet it had happened.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Russell replied with a wry smile. Once they were seated in the living room, he confessed, ¡°A few days ago, I clashed with an old bully, and it led to some trouble here.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry, sis. It¡¯s all been taken care of, and it won¡¯t happen again, I promise.¡±


    Russell didn¡¯t hide the truth from her. Hera was clearly not a shallow, materialistic woman; she had immediately sensed that something was wrong. Any attempt to cover it up with a lie wouldn¡¯t work.


    ¡°Is it really over?¡± Hera¡¯s eyes flickered with concern for her younger brother. She hesitated for a moment before biting her lip and saying, ¡°I know some influential people. If your problem is too big, we can ask for their help.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s truly over. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have let you come back,¡± Russell reassured her, feeling warm inside. He believed in Hera¡¯s ability to help, given her background and the villa they lived in. It was obvious her past wasn''t simple, though something had caused her family to decline suddenly.


    But even if the issue wasn¡¯t resolved, he didn¡¯t want Hera to owe any favors on his behalf. Seeing her hesitation, Russell was certain that seeking help from those influential people would come at a price for Hera.


    ¡°Alright then, I trust you.¡± After staring at him for a long moment, Hera finally smiled, easing the tension. ¡°Okay, I believe you. You can stop being so serious.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Russell rubbed his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°Hera, why are you so good to me? I always feel like you¡¯re very familiar, like the kind elder sister from my childhood!¡±


    This was a question he had long wanted to ask. Initially, Russell thought Hera was grateful for his timely help, but soon he realized there was more to it.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Hera was momentarily speechless. After a pause, her expression dimmed slightly. ¡°I once had a younger brother. He was like you, silly and adorable. Haha, don¡¯t get mad, but I kind of see him in you¡­¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Russell had considered many possibilities but hadn¡¯t expected this outcome¡ªthat he was a substitute for someone else.


    Still, he wasn''t angry. Having a beautiful, kind elder sister was a comforting feeling. Based on his estimation, Hera¡¯s real age was probably around 27 or 28.


    As the eldest in his family, Russell had always shouldered the burdens of being a big brother. Deep down, he was just a young man who envied those with an elder sister to lean on.


    ¡°Hera, do I really resemble your brother?¡± he asked, curious. Although the topic might stir up Hera¡¯s emotions, since she brought it up, he assumed she had moved past it.


    ¡°They don¡¯t look alike. He was much more handsome; he was a real heartthrob even in middle school. It¡¯s just a pity¡­¡± Hera didn¡¯t finish her sentence. She instead playfully regarded Russell, adding, ¡°But you and he have the same silly charm, the kind that made me feel at ease when I first met you. I knew then that a guy with such charm couldn¡¯t be a bad person.¡±


    ¡°Hera, are you teasing me?¡± Russell felt a bit deflated that she saw him as a brotherly figure, but her words also filled him with warmth.


    It was a different kind of warmth from his relationship with his own sister, Luoxiner. There was no pressure, only a vague, indescribable sense of comfort.


    Still, the best times often hint at impending separation. After the incident with Chen Jincheng, Russell realized he didn¡¯t want his problems to affect Hera.


    Although she wasn¡¯t family, he didn¡¯t want her to be harmed in any way, no matter how slight.


    So, as they sat once more at the dining table, enjoying the meal Hera prepared, Russell hesitated several times before finally declaring, ¡°Hera, I plan to move out tomorrow and buy a house.¡±


    Beyond wanting to keep Hera safe, another reason compelled Russell to leave. Setting up the Spirit Trap Array required space unsuitable for the villa''s courtyard, and staying there with Kaiser wasn''t practical.


    ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I thought so. You wanted to say something during dinner, didn¡¯t you?¡± Hera¡¯s fleeting disappointment was replaced by a smile. ¡°I can tell that something significant has happened in your life, Ah Ming.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Russell agreed honestly, then added, ¡°But I¡¯m still the same Russell, the silly, clumsy younger brother you mentioned.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Hera gave him a teasing look, full of charm.


    It was then Russell realized how his sophisticated sister, when teasing, could so easily make one¡¯s heart race.


    ¡°Please, Hera, only look at me like that. Don¡¯t give other men that look again. Really, it could kill them,¡± Russell joked exaggeratedly.


    Hera¡¯s charming gaze indeed stirred him. If it were anyone else, it might genuinely captivate them, bringing trouble in its wake. Russell¡¯s feelings were mixed; he both feared and adored those stirrings of affection.


    ¡°Quite possessive, aren¡¯t we?¡± Hera placed a piece of pork rib on Russell¡¯s plate. ¡°Since you¡¯ll be moving out, eat more meat. You look so skinny¡ªI can¡¯t stand it.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ll keep your room. You can always come back for soup. There¡¯s plenty of room in this big house for just me.¡±


    ¡°Am I thin?¡± Russell pondered. His physique was standard, not lean. At 175 cm, his height wasn''t remarkable, but well-dressed, he cut a handsome figure. Yet to Hera, he was a younger brother to be nurtured and fed.


    Russell left Hera¡¯s villa with a sense of gentle loss and complex emotions.


    ¡°Heh, why am I acting like this? It¡¯s not a farewell forever, just moving to another place to buy a house, something I¡¯ve always wanted. Silly me, Russell¡­¡± he muttered to himself, a mix of emotions swirling within. Regardless of his conflicted feelings, he was determined to protect Hera.


    Sometimes, feelings develop suddenly and inexplicably. As he watched the distant white silhouette fade away, he resolved firmly to himself: whatever happens, he wouldn¡¯t let her get hurt.

 Chapter 37: Remodeling the Fish Pond

    "Are you Luo Sheng?" A middle-aged man approached a handsome young man walking by in the residential area named "Yulong Garden," located less than half a mile from the Dove Villa area.


    "Yes, I''m Russell, the one you spoke with on the phone." Russell nodded in confirmation, identifying the middle-aged man as the homeowner. Yulong Garden was the location Russell had chosen to buy a house. Given its proximity to Sister He¡¯s Dove Villa area, the property prices here were naturally astonishing, with an environment superior to other places.


    The entire garden consisted of about seven or eight residential buildings with a greenery coverage of 40%, a remarkably high figure. The eight buildings were strategically placed around a central artificial lake occupying over ten acres.


    To the north, Yulong Garden backed up to a large mountain, providing a residence that is both scenic and strategically advantageous with lush greenery, hills, and water. With an occupancy rate of over 95%, this added to the luxury and prestige of the place, making it prime real estate.


    Although Russell did not understand feng shui, upon entering the garden, he felt especially comfortable, as if his skin were touched by a refreshing breeze. The most satisfying aspect for Russell was the proximity to the back mountain, making the location more convenient and appealing.


    He had heard that this back mountain was extraordinary, with the manager boasting about its name, Bawang Mountain. Though not widely known, legend had it that eight dark streams converged here to form an underground dragon vein, flowing tirelessly beneath the earth.


    Experts referred to it as a "water vein," with some exaggeratedly calling it a "dragon vein," rumored to be part of an "Eight Dragons Transforming into a Dragon" formation, thus inspiring the name "Yulong Garden."


    Of course, believing even two-tenths of this would be naive, merely marketing exaggeration¡ªbetter overblown than disbelieved.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Regardless of belief, the design and layout''s sophistication attracted people¡ªcoming for the reputation, detached from the myths'' truth or falsehood, aiming for status and price.


    Those able to live here were generally affluent figures of the upper crust. If not for the middle-aged man''s property encountering issues, Russell¡ªdespite having money¡ªwould find it difficult to buy a property in Yulong Garden.


    "My surname is Lu, and my name is Deshuang. I didn''t expect you to be so young and accomplished, Mr. Russell. It''s a pleasure to meet you." The middle-aged man was pleasantly surprised to see Russell''s youth, accompanied by a seemingly extraordinary Caucasian bodyguard, which brought a smile to his face.


    "Lu Deshuang?" Russell was momentarily taken aback, barely suppressing a laugh. He composed himself, saying, "Mr. Lu, I''d like to see the house right away. If it''s suitable, we can finalize the deal immediately."


    "Sure, no problem. Please, both of you, follow me." Mr. Lu immediately replied.


    Yulong Garden was a development from two years ago, now almost sold out. The initial launch price was over 30,000 yuan per square meter, and now it has skyrocketed to nearly 50,000 yuan per square meter, with sellers still hard to find.


    Lu Deshuang''s property was rather special; he hadn''t bought it to live in but for speculation. However, due to certain reasons, while market prices soared, others sold off their properties, but he struggled to sell his duplex. Now, with a straightforward buyer like Russell, he couldn''t wait to sell and recover his trapped funds¡ªspeculating in real estate is most risky when capital is tied up.


    Guided by Lu Deshuang, they finally reached the destination¡ªRussell''s desired top-floor duplex apartment. Spanning two floors with a combined area of over 250 square meters, each floor offered more than 120 square meters of usable space.


    This G-building duplex was the closest to the back mountain, occupying the sixth and seventh floors. Despite being one of the most luxurious regions in southern Beijing, the seven-story building featured elevators, with security being top-notch, with three patrol teams covering the garden daily.


    Of course, property management fees were exorbitantly high, but this was trivial for the residents here¡ªnot just any wealthy individual could reside in such a place.


    Russell quickly toured the two floors in a matter of minutes, indicating around him, "I have two requests."


    "Please, go ahead," Lu Deshuang responded humbly, unconsciously adopting a respectful tone, influenced by Russell''s demeanor.


    "First, remove all the furnishings. I don''t want anything used or second-hand."


    "No problem, that''s doable."


    "Second, I want all the rooms on the upper floor...

 Chapter 38: Vision

    Five days passed, and Russell successfully acquired the duplex apartment in Yulong Garden. All other procedures, including the transfer of ownership, were completed with remarkable speed, thanks to the "enthusiastic" help of Director He. It''s undeniable: having connections in high places has always made things significantly easier, and it''s no wonder that so many people in today''s society are drawn to the allure of power.


    In retrospect, keeping Director He close felt like a strategic move for Russell. In modern society, mere physical power is insufficient when faced with military might and a large police presence dedicated to maintaining stability.


    Stepping once again into the expensive square footage of his new duplex, Russell felt a rush of sentiments. Once upon a time, he scrupulously calculated how to spend a hundred or so yuan. Now, he had spent over seven million yuan in the blink of an eye, acquiring only a duplex spread over two floors totaling just over two hundred square meters.


    Had this hefty sum been spent back in his hometown, it would have easily built a twenty-story building, not just two floors. Such was the disparity.


    Of course, the satisfaction and comfort that came with spending a substantial amount were profoundly different.


    The lower floor featured a spacious master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a guest room, a small study, two living areas, and two balconies. Although not large, the overall layout and design were suitable and practical.


    Upstairs, accessible by a spiral staircase, a "magnificent" swimming pool greeted the eye.


    The pool, measuring 9 by 13 meters and only 0.3 meters deep, occupied almost the entire upper floor, leaving a 50-centimeter-wide edge around it for walking. The drainage, water supply, and water circulation systems were well-implemented.


    Once filled with water, it would become a classic indoor fish pond¡ªsomething Russell had been eagerly waiting for.


    Choosing this location for the fish pond was far more discreet than planning to build it in Sister He¡¯s villa backyard.


    The windows of this floor were made of frosted opaque glass, styled with blinds. When tilted slightly downwards, anyone outside would see nothing unless they pressed their eyes close to the window.


    The door between the lower and upper floors was an advanced high-tech alloy steel door.


    It required no keys, only palm print or retina recognition, completing the process in a mere second. Convenient and safe, there was no other way to access the upper floor without destroying the door¡ªan unlikely feat without triggering Yulong Garden¡¯s vigilant security.


    More importantly, Lu Deshuang had perfectly implemented the most crucial "set point" Russell had specified: an escape route for the Ice Crystal Fish.


    If the fish detected danger, it could retreat through a concealed escape route, hiding deep within the floor layers.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Without extreme measures like breaking open the floor, capturing it would be impossible. Even if someone attempted such force, Yulong Garden''s security would quickly respond.


    The escape route was essential due to the Ice Crystal Fish''s rarity.


    Russell was confident that aside from the one fish he owned, no others existed on Earth. If it were taken, his efforts in cultivation would be in vain. This was why he had invested so heavily, deliberating where to place the fish pond in Yulong Garden.


    Russell spent the entire morning on the new home''s layout and decor. Sister He''s arrival further assisted in selecting furniture and other decorations.


    By afternoon, under the influence of financial power, the two-story duplex had been redecorated to be more pleasing. The lower floor embraced a cream and light yellow fabric theme, creating a brighter, warmer atmosphere. As for the upstairs fish pond, Russell made a call to summon craftsmen from the previous workshop, who used machinery to engrave pre-designed patterns onto the pool''s floor.


    By dusk, with nightfall approaching, Russell''s intricate "Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array" was finally complete with all its complex steps.


    In constructing the array pattern, machines delivered precision and efficiency surpassing even ancient masters, greatly enhancing the setup!


    "Ah Ming, are you sure there''s no problem with this duplex? I''ve heard many rumors about it, saying it¡¯s haunted and noisy at night. Otherwise, why would the previous owner sell it so cheaply yet have no takers?"


    When it comes to ghostly tales, no matter how outstanding and unique women are, they all share one common trait: fear.


    "No worries, I''ve told you before, my grandfather''s grandfather was a disciple of Zhong Kui, the Heavenly Master. I''m naturally not afraid of such minor things; I can really catch..." Russell boasted loudly without a script.


    "Stop it, stop it... I don''t want to hear it." Hera suddenly became frightened, covering her ears, shaking her head until Russell ceased speaking. She playfully hit her mischievous younger brother, chiding, "You¡¯re just trying to scare your sister on purpose, right? I see through you."


    "Hehe." Russell scratched his head, laughing. He hadn''t expected Sister He to show such a charmingly girlish side, which he found quite endearing. Her teasing demeanor almost short-circuited his brain.


    "All you do is smile foolishly." Hera found herself helpless against this cheeky brother. Checking the time, she hesitantly said, "Ah Ming, I can''t have dinner with you tonight for your new home. I need to head back and work on plans. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard tonight; if you¡¯re scared, you can stay at my place, I won''t ridicule you."


    "Oh." A faint disappointment arose as Russell sent Hera off, but upon returning upstairs, the disappointment vanished.


    His face showed only mild excitement; this was a crucial moment in completing the Spirit Trap Array. Despite his confidence in the machines'' precision, it was his first attempt, so he felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety.


    He stepped into the shallow pool''s bottom, protected by multiple waterproof layers. The topmost layer was etched with arcane, complex glyphs, with four rectangular slots left at each corner of the pool.


    These slots were clearly for embedding the array''s focal stones¡ªyes, focal stones. The Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap was the simplest of arrays, having no primary focal point, relying on the four secondary stones set in the pool''s corners.


    With a mixture of trepidation and determination, Russell placed the stones one by one until the last was secured in its slot.


    Immediately, the room transformed. The array''s center caused a soft blue-green glow to emanate from the pool''s corners. As Russell gaped and Caesar''s expression grew serious...


    A "hum" reverberated, seemingly expanding in his mind, as a lush green barrier enveloped the entire fish pond.


    Then¡ªintense winds erupted!


    At the instant the barrier formed, external airflow, beyond the blinds, was drawn in by the array, creating a small yet fierce whirlwind, sucked into the pond by an invisible force.

 Chapter 39: Reward Items

    The extraordinary event lasted for nearly a minute before finally dissipating, leaving Russell drenched in sweat and even Caesar, rarely seen perspiring, wiping his brow quickly. At this moment, Russell felt genuine awe for ancient peoples; even setting up a simple Spirit Trap Array could cause such a spectacle. Perhaps those exaggerated myths weren''t entirely false.


    The suction force just now was naturally the manifestation of the array drawing in surrounding spiritual energy. The reason it ceased soon was due to the lack of available spiritual energy to absorb. The visible barrier that had formed disappeared.


    However, Russell knew it hadn''t vanished entirely but merely lay dormant, invisible to the naked eye. This was akin to modern energy-saving modes in appliances; the array couldn''t continuously expend large amounts of energy visibly, but to assume its binding power was nonexistent would be a mistake.


    "Ding, side quest 2 completed: Setting up the Spirit Trap Array. Reward: Divine Energy +1, random item reward¡ªone bottle of Basic Genetic Enhancement Serum, please claim your reward in the Pet Space."


    As the strange effects of the Spirit Trap Array faded, the system''s completion notification finally arrived.


    Simultaneously, Russell felt a powerful wave in his mind, followed by the cold prompt: "Host''s maximum Divine Energy reached 15 points, initiating Super Pet System update..."


    The update didn''t keep Russell waiting long; about two minutes later, the composed system voice returned: "System update successful, promoted to level 2. The Level 2 system will open the ''Beast'' shop, please check host information."


    "Ding, main quest level-up task completed, reward: 300 points, reward: one mysterious item, please claim your reward in the Pet Space..."


    A series of system notifications bombarded Russell, leaving him momentarily dazed until a sense of deep satisfaction surged from within.


    Completing the Spirit Trap Array not only fulfilled the side quest but also successfully completed the main quest upgrade task. The 300-point reward was secondary; what piqued Russell''s curiosity were the two material rewards. What were they exactly?


    Moreover, there''s a mysterious item reward?


    Unable to wait any longer, even disregarding the newly completed Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array, Russell''s consciousness quickly entered the Pet Space.


    In one corner, two reward items were impossibly miniaturized and stored¡ªabout the size of rice grains. Without Russell''s consciousness scanning, his slightly nearsighted eyes would have had trouble discerning them.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Of the two items, one was a pale yellow vial resembling a laboratory test tube.


    Russell naturally recognized it as the reward for setting up the Spirit Trap Array¡ªthe "Basic Genetic Enhancement Serum."


    Unexpectedly, the Pet System offered more than just pet seeds; it included other items as well. This was something he hadn''t anticipated before completing his task. Without further ado, this ordinary-looking liquid was undoubtedly a high-tech, revolutionary creation.


    Russell''s thoughts fluctuated rapidly as he extracted it from the space, holding the finger-width, ten-centimeter-long test tube in his hand. It felt cold, but its value was undoubtedly extraordinary.


    Since the side quest lacked any point rewards, this little guy was clearly the main benefit.


    "I have to see what kind of genetic serum this is, capable of equating to hundreds of points." Russell muttered, focusing intently on the tube in his hand. Soon, information flooded back into his mind.


    "Basic Genetic Enhancement Serum, produced by Bayard Lanqi Corporation, a human enhancement liquid. It suits the usage requirements of most humans. Upon consumption, your physical attributes will elevate to a new level. Specific effects may vary, and the serum has no adverse effects. Repeated use is ineffective!"


    "Comprehensive physical enhancement? With no side effects? Wow, I''ve hit the jackpot. On Earth, this would be a priceless commodity."


    "Will I transform into a Super Saiyan with red underwear worn outside?"


    At this moment, Russell was genuinely excited. The Super Pet System, even though the strongest pet was still an external force, couldn''t compensate for his inherent weakness.


    Yet this small genetic serum could entirely change that disappointing narrative. Without further ceremony, Russell gazed lovingly at this small container, murmuring, "Open."


    A strange scene unfolded before his eyes; the sealed top of the small test tube melted away, revealing an opening.


    "Gulp, gulp," after a brief hesitation, Russell tilted his head back, draining the pale yellow liquid.


    Instantaneously, a fiery surge erupted in his stomach, feeling as if his body was being scalded by a blaze, blood rushing rapidly, and his mind becoming dizzy with boundless chaos.


    "This symptom feels like a burst blood vessel."


    "Damn it, who claimed this had no adverse effects? That Bayard Lanqi company must be a fraudulent, unscrupulous manufacturer. It seems not even aliens are trustworthy."


    Russell''s consciousness began to fade; this was his last coherent thought before he slumped into the fish pond with a thump.


    It was unclear how much time passed before Russell dreamt¡ªa tormenting dream where he found himself consumed by the scorching lava of a volcano, repeatedly turning his tender body into tiny carbonized particles, only to be reassembled by some mysterious force. Each cycle of dissolution and restructuring played out while he watched himself unable to die.


    "Ah." He awoke in the fish pond, jolting upright, gasping heavily for air.


    "Damn it, this is what they meant by no adverse effects!" Russell mused, filled with post-traumatic relief. If not for his decent willpower, optimism, and courage, he''d have been driven insane by the dream''s torment.


    "Dammit." He cursed under his breath, finally taking stock of his body''s changes.


    First, like the cliche descriptions in internet novels, a thick layer of grime clung to his skin¡ªa cleansing of years of accumulated impurities, all purged by the serum.


    His health had undoubtedly improved several levels, the most immediate benefit. Additionally, even while sitting, Russell could distinctly sense his body''s reactions felt entirely different.

 Chapter 40: Martial Arts Manual

    Russell noticed that his eyesight had dramatically improved. His previous near-sightedness of nearly 200 degrees was completely gone, and he could now clearly see even the leg of a small mosquito on the wall. His hearing had also sharpened; he could clearly hear the neighbors downstairs discussing him.


    "Ha, that fool upstairs with too much money must''ve got duped. There are definitely some spooky things in that place, and he insisted on moving in. Just now, that terrified scream, I bet he got scared out of his wits."


    "Honey, do you think we should inform security? What if he gets scared to death? They say saving a life is better than..."


    "Save your big head! If we inform security, what if we anger those spooky things? Are you trying to get me scared to death too? You''re sleeping on the couch tonight!"


    "Ah, the keyboard again! Honey, I know I was wrong, don''t do this. The kids are watching, it''s embarrassing."


    ...


    Listening to the neighbors, Russell couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Spooky things? Ghosts or something?


    In the past, he might have been a bit scared, as the fact that this duplex hadn¡¯t sold was indicative. But even if there were ghosts, what did it matter to him now? For Russell, it just added a layer of curiosity.


    If there were any spirits daring to show themselves, they¡¯d find themselves caught in the Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array he set up, which was far from ornamental.


    Plus, with Caesar¡¯s intimidating and powerful presence, Russell had no fear of any supernatural entities.


    This development was beneficial as it discouraged people from poking into what was happening inside his place. Now he could focus on the transformative effects of the genetic enhancement serum, which he realized was an absolute boon despite the harrowing side effects.


    His body was now more agile than ever, his strength had increased, and most importantly, his thinking was sharper. It was indeed a comprehensive enhancement, though he wasn¡¯t sure to what extent.


    He decided to check his personal stats:


    Host: Russell


    Points: 3715


    Strength: 12 (10)


    Agility: 15 (10)


    Spirit: 13 (10)


    Divine Energy: 3/15


    System Level: 2


    Host Skill: Divine Nourishment


    Pet Space: Ice Crystal Fish Mother, Hercules Ant, Gondoro Mite, Mystery Item Reward Bundle.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Russell gasped as he reviewed his stats. His strength, agility, and spirit attributes had all increased, with agility noticeably surpassing the normal value of 10.


    Clearly, due to his unique physical factors, the serum had boosted his agility the most, adding an impressive 8 points, followed by a 5-point increase in strength and 4 points in spirit. According to the system¡¯s analysis of these attributes:


    Strength represents overall health, vitality, and endurance, directly affecting physical power¡ªessential for evaluating one¡¯s "combat ability."


    Agility reflects one¡¯s quickness, flexibility, and explosive prowess, alongside the nervous system¡¯s reflex responses. Speed and quickness epitomize agility¡¯s importance, often surpassing strength in practicality. Now with his agility at 15, Russell was confident his punch speed could match some swift fighters despite lacking rigorous training. His reflexive responses were extraordinarily heightened as well.


    Spirit denotes mental power, inherent neuronal reflex speeds, memory, and more. This mysterious realm remains elusive to human understanding. High spirit correlates with better memory and computational abilities, significantly aiding in learning knowledge and skills. Russell¡¯s 13 spirit points allowed him to stand out among ordinary individuals.


    The effects brought by a single bottle of basic genetic enhancement serum were astonishing, difficult to describe with mere words.


    "Heh." Russell swiftly sprang to his feet from a grounded sitting position, his body moving fluidly and effortlessly¡ªa testament to his comprehensive enhancement.


    He realized he had grown taller, observing his height had increased slightly from 175 cm to approximately 178 cm, shedding his former average stature.


    Testing his newfound strength with a punch, he heard the air snap sharply. The combined boost in power and speed meant this punch could seriously hurt an average tough guy, possibly more bitter than swallowing a bitter herb.


    Russell eyed his fists with a grin, eager to test his mettle against street thugs.


    The idea of encountering bullies harassing a sweet junior seemed thrilling.


    "Should I visit my alma mater?" The thought ignited a spark of excitement in his mind.


    Ah, another fantasy involved having an H2 Hummer, stepping out with a polar bear bodyguard, and heroically rescuing a lovely girl¡ªa scenario that would be truly cool.


    Of course, these fantasies were unrealistic, hence the name fantasies.


    Russell could only indulge these dreams in his mind, as his current resources hardly sufficed to buy a Hummer, even if they were still being produced. Even a secondhand one was beyond reach.


    Taking a deep breath, he hadn¡¯t forgotten the other task reward item¡ªthe main quest upgrade¡¯s random item!


    Russell extracted the random reward package, took a deep breath, and opened it, revealing a rectangular wooden box.


    The box was crafted from an unknown material, emanating a sandalwood-like scent, yet it wasn¡¯t rosewood. Examining it, Russell felt a peculiar sensation, as if he was about to open a martial arts manual like those in wuxia novels¡ª"Nine Yang Divine Skill," "Great Shift of the Universe," "Demon Seed Heart Method," and so on.


    The wooden box¡¯s antique design and convenient size set the perfect stage for such a discovery.


    Could it really be a martial arts manual? His heart raced with anticipation, though he already possessed his mystical cultivation technique.


    Hoping for something new yet fearing redundancy, he opened the box¡¯s silk-covered lid with a delicate touch, revealing an old, yellowed booklet exuding a musty paper odor.


    It was indeed a martial arts manual.

 Chapter 41: The Sorrow of the Fish Mother

    As expected, lying inside the box was an old, tattered book, exuding the musty smell of cheap paper¡ªa so-called martial arts manual. But as Russell reached out to touch the fragile pages, ready to crumble to dust, he was struck motionless.


    "Hard Shell Technique?" What a joke! This cross-era talent book was disguised as a rustic antique¡ªif this wasn''t misleading, what was?


    The talent book, as its name suggested, was linked to skills and abilities related to armor or shell. Russell was concerned whether, as a human, he could even learn this.


    Clearly, his worry was unnecessary. As he gingerly touched the book, fearing it might disintegrate, an information prompt appeared: "Hard Shell Technique detected. Would you like to learn it? Yes or No?"


    Adding to the urgency was another note: "Due to the ancient nature of this talent book, it will turn to dust and vanish within 10 seconds once exposed to air."


    Presented with this countdown, Russell panicked. Initially, he intended to consider whether turning into a shell-covered being was worth it, but the system forced his hand, offering no time for deliberation. Still, he couldn''t let such a rare talent book vanish into thin air.


    Taking a leap of faith, Russell chose "Yes."


    As soon as he confirmed, the "Hard Shell Technique" disintegrated into dust and absorbed into his body through his fingertips, settling in his heart. Russell immediately sensed a peculiar tingling sensation emanating from his chest, growing more intense.


    Pulling open his shirt, he saw a pale blue, beautifully shaped rhombus scale emerging from his chest. Over the next few minutes, the scale grew from the size of a fingernail to that of a baby''s palm, its bluish hue shimmering elegantly, suggesting an innate nobility and life-like essence.


    After a few more minutes with no further changes, Russell smiled wryly.


    Now he had a blue scale on his chest¡ªalthough aesthetically pleasing, it was a bit too much. Meanwhile, he received more information about the Hard Shell Technique.


    It turns out, this was merely the first scale. With continual nourishment from his diet, it would absorb nutrients and gradually spread.


    The spreading would first cover his upper body, then extend to his limbs, and finally up his neck and head, ultimately covering his entire body with 108 scales.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    What about its defensive capabilities?


    Though the information didn''t specify, Russell instinctively felt its extraordinary nature, considering it was the first major reward from a main quest upgrade.


    However, if the blue scales spread entirely, how could he show himself in public?


    Thinking of this gave him a headache, but Russell figured he''d deal with it later. He believed there must be a way to control the growth of these scales since he''d mastered the talent.


    Russell fetched a fruit knife and gently pressed it against the single scale on his chest. To his relief, the scale resisted the blade''s pressure effortlessly, defending him against the weapon.


    Even applying seven-tenths force¡ªequivalent to an average adult¡¯s full strength¡ªfailed to penetrate. Russell nodded in satisfaction, reassured that his heart was now well-protected.


    With his current strength, exerting seven-tenths force equaled an adult''s full thrust, confirming the scale''s sturdiness beyond mere aesthetics.


    Having dealt with the two reward items, Russell left the fish pond to thoroughly wash away the accumulated grime on his body.


    The filth had tested his limits of endurance. After the scrub, his skin was as he imagined¡ªmany shades paler, smooth, and flawless, with a rosy sheen. His skin glowed beautifully.


    Fine, he thought, he''s become a pretty boy, but one with high combat power. Comforting himself so, Russell noted that after the genetic serum, his toned and well-proportioned musculature far exceeded his prior, somewhat unfit physique.


    Donning a white shirt, he returned to find the hundred-square-meter fish pond nearly filled with water.


    Sunlight filtering through the blinds made the water shimmer, indicating he''d been unconscious for at least a day after using the serum, which explained his hunger.


    Contemplating, Russell retrieved the Ice Crystal Bottle from his spatial backpack. Now expanded to a diameter of over ten centimeters, the bottle no longer held just a single Ice Crystal Fish Mother the size of his finger.


    Inside were ten additional smaller fish, no bigger than tiny fry, but their icy blue, transparent bodies were strikingly beautiful!


    Russell was unsurprised, knowing these small creatures'' adorable appearance could charm little girls and young women alike¡ªa surefire hit.


    Calculating the Ice Crystal Fish Mother¡¯s breeding pattern, it spawned regularly every five days, yielding five fish each time!


    Thus, the mini Ice Crystal Fish increased daily by one without external interference.


    By this growth rate, continually accumulating these fish would eventually lead to an abundance of spiritual energy.


    "Please, little ancestors, don''t die on me," Russell thought anxiously, deciding to release them into the pond. He sent a command to the Ice Crystal Fish Mother.


    Unexpectedly, this extinct being returned a wave of reluctance and resistance to Russell, but it couldn''t defy its owner¡¯s will. Reluctantly, it led its young out of the bottle into the pool.


    "Splash, splash, splash..." A series of splashes startled Russell; who would''ve thought such small fish could cause such huge splashes, hinting at their significant weight and density.


    "What?" Not long after hitting the water, the Ice Crystal Fish Mother projected emotions of despair and sadness, which unsettled Russell deeply.


    Glancing at the ten small fish in the pool, Russell broke out in a cold sweat, horrified to find the once-vibrant Ice Crystal Fish now belly-up, their vitality vanished, clinging to life by a thread.

 Chapter 42: The Second Piece of Blue Scale Armor

    "No wonder the Ice Crystal Fish Mother was so reluctant to follow my command; the baby Ice Crystal Fish can''t adapt to tap water. What should I do, what should I do?" In a panic, Russell acted impulsively, pouring the water from the Ice Crystal Bottle directly into the pool.


    Unexpectedly, this desperate act proved to be the right gamble! As the water from the Ice Crystal Bottle was poured into the pool, a chilling mist filled the upper room.


    "Wow, that''s cold!" Russell''s teeth chattered from the intense cold, caught off guard by the icy nature of the blue water in the bottle. Pouring in just half a bottle turned the entire pool into a misty ice haze, dropping the temperature by several degrees.


    It felt as though the temperature had approached freezing, but despite the biting cold, Russell forced himself to continue pouring the purified water from the bottle into the pool.


    He could clearly see that the ten small Ice Crystal Fish finally showed signs of life again. It turned out that the water contained in the Ice Crystal Bottle was extraordinary, possibly unique on the entire planet.


    As he continued pouring, Russell realized something unusual; after several minutes, the bottle still wasn''t empty. It seemed endless¡ªtruly a mystical object.


    Could this be water from the extreme north? Russell''s imagination ran wild.


    Before long, braving the increasingly cold environment, the anxious and sorrowful emotions from the Ice Crystal Fish Mother dissipated, replaced by lively energy.


    At that moment, Russell could no longer bear the cold. He dashed downstairs, vigorously rubbing his arms to warm them. Without the gene serum''s fortification, he doubted he could have endured this long.


    Upstairs, the fish pool''s temperature must have dropped to several degrees below zero. Such frightening cold, unimaginable in the peak of summer, with temperatures in the southern Beijing region exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.


    Fortunately, the Spirit Trap Array he had set up contained the cold within the room, preventing it from escaping. In that moment, Russell truly appreciated the array''s formidable power.


    Without it, even glass and walls would have shattered under the intense temperature fluctuations.


    After resting a bit, and dressing warmly in thermal and woolen clothes, Russell ventured upstairs once more.


    The ten small Ice Crystal Fish were now lively, swimming happily in the spacious pool.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    As their tiny mouths opened and closed, they released strands of spiritual energy, almost invisible to the naked eye, which drifted upwards until reaching the ceiling. There, an invisible lock gathered and concentrated the spirit energy produced by the fish.


    "This is promising!" Russell''s excitement grew as he observed the dense concentration of spiritual energy, proving his theories were becoming reality. Everything was ready, awaiting only a final push.


    "System, I want to check the progress on the cultivation of the Witchcraft God Refinement Manual," he asked, hoping for insight from the system.


    His understanding of the super system revealed it was highly intelligent, despite lacking consciousness. So, he held hope when inquiring.


    "The progress of the simulation is currently at 73%. Based on the host''s divine energy recovery rate, it is estimated that the entire task simulation will be completed in 126 hours."


    As Russell expected, the super system provided the information he desired. A little over a hundred hours meant that in about five or six days, he could see the cultivation technique of the ancient Immortals.


    Though Russell knew the path ahead might not be smooth, he was committed to seeing it through.


    In the coming days, Russell stayed home, enduring the cold and keeping his eyes fixed on the ten small Ice Crystal Fish, which continually produced thin strands of spiritual energy. This energy was gathered by the invisible forces of the array.


    After about two hours, a small, crystal-clear bead, smaller than a marble, began to form.


    The bead''s beauty defied description¡ªcould this be a "Spirit Bead" as mentioned in the Spirit Trap Array''s details?


    Russell''s eyes widened as he fixated on the increasingly brilliant bead within the array. Indeed, he hadn''t guessed wrong. It was part of the process described in the Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array¡ªcollecting energy into a bead!


    This meant compressing spiritual energy to a point where it solidified into a bead.


    The array''s primary function was to stabilize the internal environment, allowing the Spirit Bead to be taken outside without dispersing.


    "Come on, baby." With a simple gesture, Russell summoned the bead from the array, drawing it into his hand with an invisible force. Once in his hand, the bead felt cool to the touch.


    This small bead, no larger than a fish''s eye, contained three hours'' worth of spiritual energy generated by the ten small Ice Crystal Fish.


    "What will happen if I consume it? Hopefully, it won''t be too overwhelming." Hungry and exhausted, Russell decided to eat it. Opening his mouth, he swallowed the bead.


    Instantly, a cooling sensation spread from his stomach to his head, making him feel invigorated and refreshed.


    Another stronger wave of cool energy surged to his chest, precisely where the first blue scale had manifested.


    "What is this?" Shocked, Russell hastily unbuttoned his layers, witnessing something remarkable.


    Under the influence of the cool energy, a second blue scale began emerging from his chest, visibly growing in real-time. Although this scale wasn''t as mature or thick as the first, it was still a significant development.


    How could a small Spirit Bead initiate such a substantial transformation?


    "Heavens, didn''t the Hard Shell Technique state that each blue scale required a large amount of nutrient absorption? But here, devouring a single bead achieved a third of that...this can''t be right."


    Russell was stunned. Despite anticipating the bead''s potency, he vastly underestimated its effects. It was far more powerful than any miraculous elixir.

 Chapter 43: Who is the Fool?

    Russell was so absorbed in watching the formation of the spirit beads that he forgot everything else¡ªtime, hunger, and any other matters. He kept vigil beside the fish pond, watching as the "Spirit Array" gathered the second, third, and eventually the fourth spirit bead.


    Six hours slipped by, and once again the sky began to darken. He sat there, mesmerized, until Caesar finally made a rare appearance upstairs.


    "Master, it''s getting late," Caesar said, a hint of exasperation in his steady voice. His formidable size wasn''t without cost¡ªmaintaining such a physique required a substantial food intake, yet he hadn''t eaten since the previous day.


    "Mmm," Russell replied absentmindedly, his eyes still fixed on the third bead as it neared completion.


    "Master, Miss He has called five times, O''Neill three, and another call from Luo Daniu." Caesar reported dutifully, originally reluctant to disturb, now realizing his master was clearly in an unusual state.


    "Mmm, I understand," Russell responded, though it took him a while to truly process the information before snapping back to awareness. "What did you say? What time is it?"


    "It''s already the second evening, sir."


    "Wow, time flies," Russell sighed deeply, realizing how captivated he''d become by the spirit beads. Only now did he return to his senses, coinciding with the completion of the fourth spirit bead.


    With a gesture, three translucent beads flew to him, captured by an invisible force. After some thought, Russell opted not to consume them immediately to grow a third scale, but instead stored them in the test tube that had once contained the genetic enhancement serum.


    This test tube was clearly an advanced product¡ªthough it appeared to be made of ordinary glass, Russell knew firsthand that even a hammer would require dozens of blows to crack it.


    Now, it served perfectly to store the marble-sized spirit beads; its capacity could easily hold several dozen.


    Once the beads were safely stored, with a simple command, the test tube''s top automatically sealed. The trigger word for the voice-activated closure was "sesame close," a setting Russell had customized himself. This cross-era product, possibly from some alien company, was by his estimation at least a few hundred years ahead of Earth''s technology.


    With the spirit beads secured, Russell decided to call his old friend Luo Daniu, learning that Daniu wanted him to join for a meal. Russell promised to visit next time, feeling warmly reassured.


    Speaking with Daniu reminded Russell of the precious friendships he cherished¡ªall solid connections. Daniu often worried about Russell relying on instant noodles and frequently invited him over for meals to ensure he ate well.


    Russell chuckled, realizing his life had changed dramatically without Daniu knowing. He planned to visit his "fatty" friend soon, maybe check if his niece had been born.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    After ending the call with Daniu and finding Sister He''s line busy, Russell sent her a text explaining he was okay, jokingly claiming to have vanquished all ghosts and demons, and that he slept like a log. Finally, he called his wealthy friend Jiang Da.


    "Wow, boss, you were too busy to take calls since yesterday! Well, boss, as your loyal brother, I have to remind you, even if you''re fit, too much of anything can lead to trouble, you know..."


    "Stop, stop... what do you want?" Russell interrupted Jiang''s continuous chatter, veering into sensitive topics likely on purpose, nearly making Russell slam the phone down.


    "Uh, I wanted to invite you for morning tea, but now maybe we can meet for night tea?" Jiang timely adjusted his tone, knowing when to stop.


    "No night tea, let''s hit the street stalls for a late-night snack. I could devour an entire roast cow right now, you''d better be ready to splurge."


    In Southern regions and Hong Kong, people often have tea. Regular tea refers to the act of savoring it. Adding "morning" or "night" to tea implies something more akin to "afternoon tea," involving snacks.


    Russell''s hunger, driven by the genetic serum, made him feel capable of consuming a whole roast sheep, and with Caesar''s appetite to consider, a roast cow wasn''t far-fetched.


    Agreeing to meet at Xing Ji''s food stall, Russell arrived within half an hour to see the ever-jovial O''Neill already seated, grinning slyly as Russell and Caesar alighted from the taxi.


    This guy was something else!


    Dressed in attire worth tens of thousands, sitting nonchalantly in a street food stall with a leg casually crossed. Nearby, a multimillion-dollar Porsche was parked, his eyes tracking every heavily made-up woman passing by.


    "Damn it, could you lower your standards a bit more?" Russell nearly turned around to leave, tempted to disown the notoriously conspicuous Jiang Da in front of all the curious onlookers.


    "Hey, boss, you don''t understand the charm here. These women may look overdone, but their allure is like aged wine¡ªfar richer than any young girl''s," Jiang Da continued, undeterred.


    "Fine, enough, don''t say more... waitstaff, bring on the food, and a whole roast cow," Jiang swiftly redirected, noticing Russell''s glare and wisely ceasing his antics.


    Such a combination¡ªa second-generation rich kid, a bodyguard, and a supercar at a street stall¡ªwasn''t unheard of, but quite the spectacle.


    Thus, as Russell settled, he felt numerous odd stares directed his way, making him uncomfortable.


    Still, he chose not to care, thinking if he truly stopped caring, he''d outshine Jiang Da in audacity any day.


    "Did you really order a roast cow?" Russell, seated with Caesar, asked incredulously.


    "Of course, you asked for it, and I''m fulfilling your wish," Jiang grinned cheekily, leaning in to curry favor.


    "Get lost," Russell shot Jiang a disdainful look, incredulous at this foolish extravagance.


    A whole roast cow, even for a football team, would be excessive. It''s ludicrous to order it literally, regardless of pocket depth. Russell felt the pinch despite not caring about Jiang''s spending.


    Having recently invested heavily in a top-grade suet jade, a duplex costing over seven million, and replacing all furniture and appliances, Russell had eroded his winnings from Macau. His funds dwindled to five figures, leaving mere tens of thousands.


    Clearly, Russell''s lavishness was no better than Jiang Da''s foolish splurging.


    "Hey, the roast cow is here for everyone to enjoy."


    Unexpectedly, the stall''s service was uncharacteristically quick. As Russell sat, an entire roast cow was served, the owner himself presenting the dish. Russell was bewildered at the sight of what lay before him.


    "This is a roast cow?" Staring in disbelief at the dish, Russell almost exploded. Who was he calling a fool earlier?


    "Exactly, it''s our specialty¡ªimported Spanish Catalonian giant beetles, known here as the ''roast cow.'' Slimy goodness, young man. Don''t worry, it''s all clean, and these beetles flew in," the owner proudly explained. This unique dish could only be found here in the southern culinary scene.


    "Boss, didn''t I deliver? You said a whole roast cow and I''ve ordered a dozen," Jiang Da smirked. "And I''ve heard these beetles can enhance certain...capabilities."


    "Who''s the fool here?" Russell was speechless, utterly overwhelmed.

 Chapter 44: Caesars Desire

    After three rounds of drinks and a feast of dozens of dishes, Russell and his companion, Caesar, devoured the food with the efficiency of two high-powered bulldozers. They weren''t plowing through dirt, but rather leaving behind empty plates and skewers.


    Even O''Neill, usually unfazed, was left staring wide-eyed. He finally understood why Russell insisted on eating at a street stall; if they were at a five-star restaurant, the bill for such ravenous eating would be astronomical.


    Throughout the meal, O''Neill mostly watched as Russell and Caesar consumed huge quantities of meat and dishes, washing it all down with chilled beer.


    "Boss, have you not eaten for half a year?" O''Neill couldn''t help but ask with a hint of disbelief after seeing them finish kilograms of braised beef, along with hundreds of skewers of lamb, oysters, shrimps, and N servings of chicken wings and legs.


    It wasn''t just Caesar''s large appetite that amazed him¡ªRussell, typically a light eater, joined in such a culinary onslaught that it stunned O''Neill.


    The shock extended beyond O''Neill to the stall owner and other patrons, watching in disbelief. This amount of food would overwhelm even a robust football team.


    Were those two even human? Even with low street-stall prices, there was no need to wage a war against their stomachs!


    The usually "hearty" stall owner was also nervous, worrying that Russell and Caesar might eat themselves into a medical emergency, which would be bad for business.


    "That''s about it. I''ll likely continue like this for a while. Don''t be surprised," Russell remarked casually, wiping his mouth with a napkin after taking a sip of Tsingtao beer.


    Truth be told, he was genuinely hungry, and post-serum, even more so! His enhanced digestion was one thing, but this enormous intake was primarily due to the Hard Shell Technique.


    The growth of the blue scales largely relied on converting massive food intake into organic nutrients for their development.


    Russell''s second blue scale finally matured, absorbing about 90% of his food intake to solidify, leaving only a small fraction for his body''s actual needs. As for Caesar, well... it''s hard to describe this polar bear of a man with earthly terms.


    "Is the boss secretly practicing some skill that requires massive nutrition?" O''Neill speculated, his initial shock replaced with curious excitement.


    "Uh... you guessed right." Russell had to acknowledge O''Neill''s uncanny imagination, which saved him from a lengthy explanation, knowing this guy wouldn''t believe him anyway.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Hehe, I knew it! Boss, you''re extraordinary. Look at this table¡ªrefilled several times over¡ªhow can anyone have such a powerful digestive system? It''s enviable!" O''Neill exclaimed, beaming.


    Russell noted O''Neill¡¯s grin, recognizing it as a prelude to a request. This guy always had something up his sleeve when he smiled like a madam of a brothel.


    "Out with it. And no, I won''t be teaching martial arts or gambling techniques," Russell interjected, preemptively laying down boundaries.


    "No, no, not at all. I know boss''s secret techniques are family-taught, not for outsiders. What I actually want is..."


    "Hold on, there seems to be something you haven''t sorted out yet?" Russell interrupted, turning serious as he broached a matter concerning his family''s safety.


    "Ah, that guy seems to have vanished into thin air. I''ve exhausted all resources but haven''t found his whereabouts. It''s likely he fled abroad, back to his mother who remarried a foreigner. But don''t worry, boss, I''ve got people watching over your family. They''re safe," O''Neill explained earnestly, an unusual level of seriousness indicating the gravity of the situation.


    "Is that so?" Russell pondered quietly before raising his head and addressing O''Neill with grave solemnity: "Take care of my family''s safety, and consider it a personal debt I owe to your family."


    This promise was not lightly given. Owing a favor to O''Neill personally was one thing, but to the Jiang family was significantly more weighty. Yet for his family¡¯s safety, Russell made his stance clear without hesitation.


    Russell wasn¡¯t naive; he knew that while he and O''Neill got along well, no one helps for free. But with O''Neill currently on his side, he felt secure in his choice.


    "You''re too kind; it¡¯s nothing. Helping the boss with small matters is my duty. Haha...oh," O''Neill responded, trying to downplay the matter, though his beaming face betrayed his satisfaction.


    "Alright, so what''s your small favor?" Russell asked, used to O''Neill''s antics.


    "It''s not that big of a deal, really. Boss, I just need you to lend a hand. Here¡¯s what¡¯s happening..." O''Neill leaned in, whispering a long-winded explanation.


    "That''s it?" Russell asked incredulously. "That¡¯s ''not a big deal''?"


    "Really, that''s all," O''Neill answered sheepishly, face flushed.


    "Is it important to you?"


    "Well, sure, kind of important," O''Neill replied, avoiding Russell¡¯s piercing gaze, somewhat taken aback by his boss''s newfound intensity.


    "Alright, I''ll do it. I could use the money, anyway," Russell agreed, smiling knowingly. "I guess you''re not entirely irredeemable."


    Russell had noticed a brief flicker of sincerity in O''Neill''s eyes, prompting his decision to help. First, to repay the favor from the suet jade purchase and the help with the Chen brothers. Second, he genuinely needed money. A few thousand wouldn¡¯t sustain Caesar and his growing needs for long, let alone fund more experiments with beast companions.


    Third, Russell wanted to give his cheeky friend a helping hand, seeing that O''Neill had some ambition after all.


    "See, I knew your millions were almost gone, boss. No worries! As long as Caesar participates, there''s a guaranteed payout for each event, plus bonuses. It adds up," O''Neill explained gleefully, chugging a beer and inhaling deeply on a cigarette, clearly thrilled.


    "Let''s hope so. I¡¯d like to see Caesar in action. Caesar, what do you think?" Russell inquired.


    "Whatever you say, boss," Caesar mumbled through a mouthful of king crab, not lifting his head, though a glint of excitement betrayed his primal eagerness.

 Chapter 45: The Terrifying Lotus Snake

    Convincing Caesar to agree to O''Neill''s proposal wasn''t about participating in underground boxing for fun, but rather for competing over a share of the poppy quotas, not for ordinary material allocations, but for shares from Myanmar''s notorious drug lord Pocha King''s poppy fields.


    According to Young Master Jiang, this military chief in Myanmar had a unique penchant for armed combat. Therefore, the poppy quotas produced in his territory were awarded through brutal combat competitions, allowing various contenders to fight for them. The more formidable and surviving the representative sent by each party, the larger the share they would receive.


    The Jiang family of South Harbor initially made their fortune in the pharmaceutical industry before transitioning to electronics. However, the pharmaceutical business continued to thrive as insiders would understand that in the drug-making industry, one cannot avoid certain special auxiliary ingredients, poppy being one of them.


    In essence, this wasn''t considered smuggling since the Jiang family obtained the quotas through legal means. However, getting access to poppy isn''t something that just anyone can manage. Especially for a large, prosperous family like the Jiang''s, operating in the highly profitable pharmaceutical sector, their demand for poppy is particularly high. Yet, having a demand is one thing; whether or not you''re allocated the quotas is another.


    Hence, Pocha King cleverly devised the competition for poppy quotas under the guise of promoting martial prowess, thus avoiding offending any of his numerous major clients. Unfortunately for the Jiang family, although they previously employed some formidable individuals who ensured a supply that barely met their pharmaceutical needs, about two years ago, their ace was assassinated by a sniper. Consequently, their pharmaceutical endeavors have faced challenges over these last couple of years.


    Of course, no matter how unfortunate the Jiang family was, it wasn''t as urgent a matter for O''Neill, a third-generation rich heir.


    After all, in some large and prosperous families with many members, individuals like O''Neill aren''t typically the ones in line to inherit. Otherwise, the family wouldn''t condone their extravagant and unruly lifestyles.


    The reason families like the Jiang''s allow someone like O''Neill to live in decadence is singular: they hope the luxurious life funded by wealth will keep these direct descendants placated, preventing them from intruding on the family¡¯s predetermined line of succession. Ultimately, it''s a tactic to maintain internal harmony within large families.


    Thus, when Roselle caught a glimpse of O''Neill''s rare serious expression, he decided to lend a helping hand to his brother. After all, O''Neill had proven to be someone worth befriending as he had helped Roselle out of many troubles in critical moments.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "How many days until departure?" After another meal, Roselle, feeling the demand for green scales ease, asked.


    "Three days. In three days, we''ll head to Shanghai to first secure eligibility for the quota competition," O''Neill replied, shedding his usual casual demeanor for a more serious tone.


    "Alright, I''ll head back to prepare," Roselle responded without delay. Since he had promised to help, Roselle, being straightforward, would either not do it at all or do it to the best of his ability.


    "What? Haha, boss, I love you. Shall I drive you?"


    "Screw off, with your broken supercar, just two seats, who¡¯s going to fit?" Roselle pretended to kick him before leaving with Caesar, avoiding letting anyone in on the secrets of his home.


    ...


    Upon returning home, the first thing Roselle thought about was protecting the crystal fish mother. The secrets of his home must not be exposed, as the security at Yulong Garden could only deter ordinary people.


    Thus, overnight, he planted flowers and grass in two steel-sealed balconies upstairs, and during this process, he also planted a "vine" in each.


    These vines weren''t ordinary Earth vines but were the "Drunk Moon Vines" acquired from the shopping world. Despite their seemingly romantic and harmless name, those who knew their details would not think so lightly of them.


    The vine is not only exceedingly resilient compared to typical vines but also emits an enchanting, heady aroma. This scent isn''t classified as toxic but can attract unsuspecting creatures, such as birds and insects. When prey enters the range of the Drunk Moon Vine''s scent, they become ensnared, akin to consuming fine wine, gradually intoxicated until they''re incapacitated. The vines'' roots would then emerge from the ground to absorb the prey''s blood, fueling their growth.


    In short, it''s an unseen, intoxicating, and bloodsucking vine. While it might not kill humans directly, if a person succumbs within its hunting area, a continuous blood drain over several days could lead to fatal consequences.


    Roselle chose it for its silent allure and the five-day grace period it allowed, reducing immediate fatalities. After all, in a law-governed society, frequent deaths at home would pose a significant risk of exposure and legal trouble.


    On one balcony facing the northern rear mountain of Yulong Garden and another facing east, Roselle also placed five Hercules ants, leaving them to fend for themselves. The small birds and insects attracted by the Drunk Moon Vine alone would suffice to sustain the ants'' food needs, allowing Roselle to be less concerned about their feeding.


    It''s worth noting that the God Energy Feeding skill could expedite the maturity of juvenile pets but wouldn''t substitute the need for regular sustenance. Even if it could, Roselle wouldn''t waste precious Divine Energy on issues solvable with some money.


    After spending 200 points to purchase two Drunk Moon Vines from the beast category and securing the balconies, Roselle then turned his attention to the divine array of the fish pond.


    After browsing the market extensively, he ultimately decided to purchase a plant called "Lotus Snake" from the "Beast" category.


    As the name suggests, this plant resembles a cross between a snake and a lotus. It thrives on low-temperature water surfaces, appearing externally as a simple lotus leaf floating in water. Yet, beneath the surface lies a snake-like biological structure as thick as a baby''s arm, complete with a snake''s body, head, and fangs. The snake''s body boasts exceptional flexibility, allowing a mature Lotus Snake to extend up to 15 meters, sufficient to cover the entire apartment if placed centrally in the fish pond.

 Chapter 46: Divine Essence Enhancement

    As for its function?


    Its function is significant. The "snake" part of the Lotus Snake is incredibly fast, so fast that even the quickest reflexes in the world would be outshone by its sudden attacks. The snake''s fangs also carry a neurotoxin. If bitten, the victim is doomed¡ªthe neurotoxin will erode the brain. The initial symptoms include dulling and numbing of the five senses, leading to a loss of bodily sensation, followed by the brain gradually halting its functions, effectively turning the victim into a "vegetable," or in simpler terms, causing "brain death."


    This serves as Roselle''s final line of defense. Being the last line, it''s naturally designed to be the most ruthless. Between the life of the Ice Crystal Fish Mother and causing harm to intruders, Roselle would undoubtedly choose the former.


    The Lotus Snake costs 300 points to acquire, a sum that, while painful, is far more acceptable than the newer "Beast" category offerings that start at a thousand points. After spending 500 points, Roselle''s total points dropped to 3215, elevating the fish pond''s defense to a significantly higher level.


    Roselle was confident that even world-renowned assassins or mercenaries, if entering unprepared or without specific precautions, would be met with silent, unseen attacks and be taken down one by one.


    As for his current point reserves, the Drunk Moon Vines, Lotus Snake, and Herculean Ants should be sufficient to prevent any unforeseen incidents. However, Roselle wasn''t fully satisfied, as the Ice Crystal Fish Mother was too important to him. During subsequent days, he focused on enhancing the strength of his existing "guardian beasts."


    He began by using God Energy Feeding to quickly raise the two Drunk Moon Vines and the Lotus Snake to maturity.


    Then, he finally unlocked the Host Skills, which had been fully updated since upgrading to the level 2 system:


    God Energy Enhancement: Uses a large amount of God Energy to enhance the physicality of pet beasts, making them stronger than their kind. Learning cost: 500 points.


    God Energy Expansion: Expands a pet beast''s potential, allowing it to break genetic bottlenecks and achieve further growth. Learning cost: 5000 points.


    Wild Attribute Transplant: Transfers a wild talent from one pet beast to another permanently. Learning cost: 1000 points.


    Wild Attribute Possession: Extracts a natural wild attribute ability from a pet beast and permanently assimilates it as one''s own talent. Learning cost: 5000 points.


    After the upgrade, the Host Skills had undergone significant changes. Four previously greyed-out skills were now available for learning. Their original learning requirement of a 15-point God Energy limit had vanished, leaving only the point cost for learning each skill.


    Moreover, Roselle noticed two additional greyed-out Host Skills:


    Wild Attribute Healing: Once the God Energy limit reaches 30 points, you will instinctively grasp the Healing skill, allowing the use of large amounts of God Energy to perform healing techniques.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.Learning requirement: 30-point God Energy limit.


    Wild Attribute Duplication: Upon reaching a 30-point God Energy limit, you will instinctively comprehend the ability to split or host a part of your spirit into a pet beast.


    Learning requirement: 30-point God Energy limit.


    "My gosh, Healing and Duplication?" Upon fully understanding the two new Host Skills, Roselle was profoundly moved.


    According to the descriptions, once his God Energy limit reached 30 points, he would naturally be able to master abilities akin to "self-healing" and "cloning" found in games. Furthermore, these skills would be inherently understood, not requiring costly point investments¡ªwhat a sudden stroke of fortune.


    Having gained extensive insights into the Pet Beast System over time, Roselle was no longer groping in the dark like he used to be. He understood that skills prefixed with "Wild Attribute" were often applicable only to pet beasts.


    For example, Wild Attribute Healing suggested by its description that it wasn''t limited to treating pet beasts but an automatically acquired skill upon reaching sufficient God Energy.


    Similarly, Wild Attribute Duplication implied the ability to project part of one''s will to create clones, either through possession or coexistence with a pet beast''s consciousness.


    "Damn, this is thrilling." The original 15-point God Energy limit''s four Host Skills were already enticing, but the self-taught skills at the 30-point threshold were even more captivating.


    After being tortured internally by the allure of the two grey skills, the intense passion slowly subsided in Roselle''s heart.


    "Though I''d love to possess these skills immediately, everything must be done step by step. Consolidating my current gains is the proper path," Roselle calmly resolved within.


    He resisted the temptation to gaze at the self-taught skills, instead focusing on the unlearned "God Energy Enhancement" skill.


    "Learn God Energy Enhancement," he instructed the system.


    "500 points spent, God Energy Enhancement learned. You have mastered this Host Skill."


    As the notification ended, Roselle felt a blue light explode in his mind, gradually absorbing new imprinted information on utilizing God Energy for the enhancement skill.


    "God Energy Enhancement..." Wasting no time, Roselle directed this newfound skill toward the Lotus Snake in the fish pond.


    With a swift motion, a golden flame seed appeared in his palm, which he cast onto the lotus leaf of the "Lotus Snake" floating on the water.


    Unexpectedly, this action triggered another growth burst in the Lotus Snake, which should have only matured slowly over time.


    Simultaneously, Roselle felt a void at his forehead, indicating that using the enhancement skill had entirely depleted his maximum 15 God Energy points.


    This explained why the system initially mandated a 15-point God Energy limit for learning; even a slightly lesser amount wouldn''t suffice for God Energy Enhancement.


    The regrowth of the Lotus Snake didn''t take long, about half an hour, before the carnivorous plant ceased its growth.


    The formerly wheel-sized lotus leaf now expanded to the size of a small round table, with the lotus heart growing as thick as a large bowl, and the snake-like appendage beneath the water matching an adult''s arm in thickness.


    By visual comparison, it was clear the Lotus Snake''s vitality had increased several-fold, accompanied by growth in all exhibited traits, including combat efficiency.


    Despite lacking explicit data, Roselle couldn''t precisely determine how much stronger the Lotus Snake had become. Still, with it in place, his hideout would be undoubtedly secure for the time being.


    Roselle''s only lingering concern was hoping that no foolish intruders tried to break in, lest they suffer a gruesome fate.

 Chapter 47: The First Threshold

    In the following days, Roselle focused on restoring his God Energy, using it to strengthen the two Drunk Moon Vines¡ªalso known as the Bloodsucking Vines¡ªand even the five Herculean Worker Ants, which were transformed into more robust creatures through God Energy enhancement.


    Roselle was confident that now, if any man were bitten by these Herculean Worker Ants, which had grown formidable, they would no longer function as men. These ants had transformed from the size of mung beans and a fingertip length to the thickness of a pen and five centimeters long, thus becoming true giant ant kings.


    Of course, by growing larger, they lost their concealment advantage, but given that a single Herculean Worker Ant could now lift a water-filled cup with its "god-like" strength, this disadvantage could easily be compensated. It''s important to note that each ant was priced at only 10 points, suggesting that if Roselle acquired a dozen more of these powerful ants, they could potentially empty a jewelry store overnight. But of course, Roselle wouldn''t engage in such activities, not wanting to attract the attention of the authorities.


    "Awesome," Roselle exclaimed. By using God Energy enhancement, he managed to mutate and enhance his small collection of pet beasts, bringing a sense of satisfaction. Unfortunately, the only creature he couldn''t enhance was the Ice Crystal Fish Mother. The system indicated his God Energy was far from sufficient to enhance such a spiritual creature. With these tasks complete, three days passed without his notice.


    On the second morning, the rare sight of O''Neill, the rich second-generation heir, waking up early occurred, and he promptly called, announcing his arrival at Yulong Garden and that he was waiting downstairs at Roselle''s place.


    Roselle considered for a moment, realizing he hadn¡¯t left anything unfinished. He packed his things and, along with Caesar, headed downstairs.


    This time, O''Neill refrained from bringing his Porsche; instead, he came in a stretched white Lincoln limousine. Roselle didn''t know its exact value but felt the wealth and resources of a powerful family. Although O''Neill was a third-generation direct descendent of the Jiang family, he mainly indulged in a life of leisure, yet had access to such resources.


    The depth of such a powerful family''s resources inspired Roselle, cultivating in him the ambition to one day possess a deeper foundation than these powerful families, to wield power without being bound by common laws or rules¡ªa life of idealistic freedom he yearned for.


    To live a leisurely and untroubled life, one must possess extraordinary strength; otherwise, it isn''t true freedom but merely escapism. If troubles arise, one remains at the mercy of fate. True freedom lies in controlling one¡¯s destiny, and Roselle believed he had the confidence and the time to achieve this. He was certain he would live longer, driven by the evolvement of the Wu-refining and Spirit-cultivating technique nearing completion.


    Moreover, over these days, he was not idle. His ten-tailed Ice Crystal Fish produced one spiritual energy bead every three hours. In 72 hours, or three days, he had amassed thirty beads in his test tube container. With sustenance from the extensive meat consumption, his second blue scale solidified, and while the third blue scale had not yet appeared, the faint lines indicated its emergence. Overall, Roselle felt more grounded, with a greater accumulation of foundation than ever before, naturally leading to increased strength.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "How did you manage to get in here? Did the security at Yulong Garden let you in just because of this white beast?" Roselle''s expression turned sour as he pointed to the stretched Lincoln.


    If this was indeed the case, he would need to report this to the management¡ªso much for high-alert security! Was this the result of the so-called high-frequency, around-the-clock patrols by three security teams?


    "Boss, where''s your mind at? I have a place here too! Yulong''s security is decent in Jingnan; I''ve just always preferred staying in hotels. Living alone doesn''t compare to the comfort of having service girls at a hotel," O''Neill boasted.


    "Oh," Roselle nodded. "I see." "There¡¯s no need to brag about where you live."


    Roselle relaxed, saying lightly, "I don''t understand why you''re concerned about security when you''re so skilled and have Caesar the polar bear protecting you."


    O''Neill rarely expressed admiration. They bantered briefly before getting into the car. A touch of a button lowered a bulletproof tinted glass, completely isolating them from the driver.


    The interior of the Lincoln was undoubtedly soundproof, making their conversation inaudible to anyone outside unless they were intentionally shouting.


    Inside the car was another young man, around 25, with a sharp presence and laser-focused eyes that assessed Caesar like a peregrine falcon.


    After they all settled, the wealthy heir O''Neill brought out some red wine and cigars, relaxing the atmosphere.


    "Hehe, let me introduce you all. This is the warrior I hired, his name is Zhangzhou, quite capable. Hmm, Zhangzhou, this is Caesar, you can consider him your colleague. And as for this gentleman, you can tell from the address he''s my boss," O''Neill introduced.


    Zhangzhou gave Roselle, a young man, a surprised glance, nodding slightly in greeting. His gaze then shifted to Caesar, clearly drawn to Caesar¡¯s imposing presence.


    Roselle returned the greeting with a polite smile, letting Caesar and Zhangzhou size each other up while he and O''Neill discussed the first hurdle in the competition for poppy quotas.


    This initial hurdle to compete for the poppy share wasn¡¯t overly demanding in terms of requirements, with only two conditions. However, these conditions barred many in China''s market from entering this business despite their eagerness.


    The first requirement: a bank deposit of at least 50 million in cash.


    Theoretically, for the numerous wealthy individuals in China, this isn¡¯t a high threshold¡ªpossibly even low. However, it''s crucial to remember this pertains solely to cash deposits, not net worth, meaning even those with large businesses might struggle to mobilize 50 million in available cash quickly. Some entrepreneurs with assets over a billion may not have that liquidity on hand.


    The second requirement: the combat representative you send, while unlimited in number, must win five battles in the first elimination round without losing any. Victory can be consecutive or accumulative, but losing even once results in elimination.


    If you have multiple combat representatives, you can place your hopes on another if one falls, which is why O''Neill hired Caesar despite already having Zhangzhou. Regardless of Zhangzhou''s confidence in crossing the first hurdle, having an additional advancing representative increases their chances.


    This indicates O''Neill, typically laid-back and carefree, genuinely wants to accomplish something. No man willingly tolerates being labeled a wastrel or a second-generation scion.


    While a life free from responsibility and solely focused on enjoyment is indeed more comfortable than seeking challenges, sometimes people are driven by their aspirations or perhaps nothing specific at all, yet they still want to strive for something.


    "Boss, what do you think of Caesar¡¯s chances? I know Zhangzhou''s capabilities; he''s sure to clear the first elimination hurdle," O''Neill said seriously, momentarily shedding his usual frivolous demeanor.


    "Frankly, I can¡¯t gauge Caesar¡¯s chances until he¡¯s out there fighting. I don¡¯t know much either. We¡¯ll know once we reach the elimination venue," Roselle replied with a calm smile.

 Chapter 48: Lumberyard Combat

    As night fell, on the outskirts of Shanghai, luxurious and sports cars began to drive into a large abandoned lumber yard. Among these vehicles were a BMW X7, Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Ferrari F70, Porsche 911, Lamborghini LP640, Maybach 62, Bentley Continental GTC, Maserati Quattroporte, Rolls-Royce Phantom, and even a Bugatti Veyron.


    "Incredible," Roselle thought, realizing that amidst such an array of luxury cars, O''Neill''s stretched Lincoln was nothing special. Upon stepping onto the dirt ground, he finally got a glimpse of the elite class within China.


    "Young Master Jiang, I have the certification ready. Shall we go in?" asked the driver and assistant, a 40-year-old man with an honest appearance and steady demeanor, opening the car door for Jiang Da Shao and bending down to inquire.


    "Let''s go in, of course. Damn, China really is full of hidden talents," O''Neill, perhaps infected by the tense atmosphere of this year''s competition for shares, took a deep breath, visibly under pressure.


    "Boss, you go first." O''Neill''s serious demeanor didn''t last long; he quickly turned to Roselle with his familiar, cheeky look that seemed to invite a beating.


    "Save your expressions, I''ve never been to such an event before, I''ll just follow behind," Roselle rolled his eyes, mentally dismissing O''Neill''s bravado.


    The current scene was beyond Roselle''s experience; naturally, he wouldn''t strut to the front. However, he wasn''t intimidated by the presence of numerous dignitaries and wealthy heirs, as they represented worldly power. Even though Roselle wore worn-out attire, his mindset was transcendent¡ªthis was the aura his inner strength provided. There are various types of foundation, with wealth and power being merely two. Roselle''s foundation was raw power, a solid, genuine strength!


    Thus, he maintained an effortlessly superior, poised demeanor, an aura that slightly surprised the rich heir.


    "Hehe, well, perhaps I can show off in front of you just this once?" O''Neill said, donning stylish sunglasses and holding a cigar, adopting a deliberately showy persona as he swaggered ahead.


    Wearing sunglasses at night, Roselle, who knew O''Neill''s character well, was certain this was intentional. Sure enough, O''Neill''s behavior drew disdainful glances from many VIPs and wealthy youngsters¡ªcertainly eye-catching, yet clearly not in a positive way.


    Shaking his head, Roselle, along with the others, followed. Perhaps the driver was well-prepared, as upon entering the underground entrance of the abandoned lumberyard, he only needed to report a code and present a certificate for their group of five to gain entry.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    After navigating a meandering staircase several meters long, they entered an expansive underground martial arts arena.


    "Hiss," Roselle noted. Despite being in an old lumberyard, the arena was lavishly decorated, with bright lights illuminating a massive space capable of seating thousands in tiered rows, descending towards the center.


    At the lowest point lay an 8x8 meter square platform, constructed with highly elastic fiberboard, without any surrounding ropes¡ªpresumably the fighting platform.


    According to O''Neill''s driver, the middle-aged assistant Ping Yang, this flexible blue fiberboard could withstand up to 2,500 kilograms of impact. Even world champion boxers or heavyweights couldn''t shake it.


    Roselle and his group found excellent seats, three rows from the back, close to the fighting stage. They sat silently, absorbing the atmosphere, as the clock edged towards 8 PM. More and more figures of significance entered the venue.


    Bodyguards, assistants, beauties, and more filled nearly seventy percent of the thousands of seats.


    Around 8:30 PM, the central platform''s multi-sided screens flickered from static to a well-dressed male host announcing for combat representatives to enter the warm-up arena.


    "Zhangzhou, give it your all," O''Neill encouraged his representative with a pat.


    "Yes, boss, I''ll secure the ''Pocha King Ticket'' for you," Zhangzhou replied with cold confidence, casting a sharp glance at Caesar before heading to the warm-up arena.


    With half an hour until the fights began, the arena adopted a no-rules freestyle combat setup. Any means could be used save external weapons or causing fatalities. For participants, warming up was crucial preparation for the brutal fights ahead.


    "Caesar, aren''t you going to warm up?" After Zhangzhou left, O''Neill turned, puzzled why Roselle¡¯s powerful friend wasn''t moving.


    "No need," Caesar replied coldly, his eyes scanning the readying combat representatives, a savage excitement gleaming in them.


    The battle-hungry, brutal nature of the Jingang people resided deep within, and while Caesar had always appeared stoic as a beast slave, this was the moment his true instincts were exposed.


    "Great, I should celebrate getting the Pocha King Ticket already," O''Neill laughed cheekily, his expression one of smug satisfaction, making Roselle nearly want to hit him.


    Not warming up?


    It showed absolute confidence. O''Neill knew there were at least a dozen others in the venue similarly opting to skip warm-ups. In past years, the Jiang family''s masters would also forgo warming up, directly entering combat, a scenario that vanished as one by one their aces were assassinated.


    Meanwhile, the male host on screen announced that there were 378 participants in the elimination round from all over China. The rules were open combat; participants would be drawn randomly by computer, each match limited to three minutes. If no clear winner emerged after three minutes, both combatants would lose their entry ticket.


    It was a harsh competition, but for seasoned fighters accustomed to life-and-death battles, three minutes were ample unless they cowardly avoided confrontation.


    In simple terms, within three minutes, a competent fighter could throw at least 500 punches, land 200 kicks, or launch several hundred aggressive moves across the body.


    With such a relentless pace of attacks, fully engaging within the time, three minutes was not short at all. In comparison to the typical televised matches with gloves and numerous rules, this was entirely different.

 Chapter 49: The Tyrant

    In just thirty minutes of warm-up, the underground fighting arena commenced with a fiercely brutal battle at exactly nine o¡¯clock. Among the three hundred or so contestants, diverse in skill and capability, the brawling proceeded with impressive efficiency and speed. Even apart from the goal of securing a ticket, the bouts were intensely engaging and bloody.


    The audience, including many sons and daughters of wealthy families, along with their companions and escorts, gradually became caught up in the frenetic pace of the quick battles, their shouts and screams adding to the electric atmosphere. This frenetic intensity spurred the fighters on, flooding them with adrenaline.


    ¡°Damn, this is so intense! That guy called the Tyrant is insane, lifting over 200 pounds of the fat Bear!¡± someone exclaimed.


    In front of their amazed eyes, the heavyweight wrestler known as the Bulldozer of Japan was lifted overhead by a Westerner with a European face, then violently slammed down onto his own knee. Under this brutal impact, the wrestler''s fat defenses and heavyweight status became irrelevant. The Bulldozer¡¯s three-match winning streak was finally stopped.


    ¡°Tyrant, Tyrant, Tyrant,¡± echoed throughout the arena, the chant of his name growing louder.


    ¡°My God, this Tyrant is incredibly strong; if Zhangzhou encounters him, he''s done for,¡± O''Neill said, his face pale, clearly intimidated by Tyrant¡¯s sheer force.


    ¡°He¡¯s indeed very strong. Counting pure strength, he might exceed even Caesar,¡± Roselle mused, astonished. Tyrant¡¯s strength seemed to have reached, if not surpassed, a strength score of 20 points.


    It was hard to believe human potential could be developed to such an extent. This person, even on a global scale, was certainly elite. The three-hundred-plus fighters came from various regions, including Thailand, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, North Africa, and Western Europe. They all shared one trait: formidable strength and aggressive fierceness.


    Each fighter was more ruthless than the other, driven by the lure of profit, making the combat terrifyingly bloodthirsty¡ªworse than beasts. This was just the first step, the threshold.


    Unexpectedly for Roselle, the number of Chinese fighters hired by wealthy families was comparatively small. Zhangzhou was one of the few, but among the three hundred participants, only a few dozen hailed from China.


    ¡°Strange, isn''t it? I was puzzled too when I first encountered this. Keep watching, and you''ll understand, boss.¡±


    ¡°Tyrant has secured his ticket qualification. His sponsor is the Guangshi Consortium,¡± Pingyang, standing beside O''Neill and Roselle, quietly added.


    Guangshi Consortium, a giant in China''s pharmaceutical industry, employed Tyrant. Such a fearsome talent is rare; money alone sometimes cannot secure one. Pingyang, a driver and assistant, was well-informed, identifying nearly every contestant¡¯s representative, showing he had done extensive homework.


    However, there were always unexpected entries, like O''Neill''s sudden addition of a polar bear¡ªCaesar¡ªas a representative, not something that pre-compiled intelligence could foresee.


    ¡°Match thirty-seven, code 069 against 180. Contestants must enter within one minute; otherwise, it''s a forfeit.¡±


    ¡°Whew, 069¡­ that¡¯s Zhangzhou.¡± A native Chinese man, his physique was strong but, compared to the muscular, towering black or Western contestants, Zhangzhou, at under 1.8 meters tall, seemed a stark contrast to the 180-code black competitor.


    ¡°Begin.¡± The referee retreated swiftly, signaling the start of the match, the process seamless and without delay.


    The black contestant stood at 195 cm, with a sturdy frame and dark muscles. Ordinarily, most people would refrain from challenging him directly, even in groups, without considering weapons first. Hand-to-hand would be daunting.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    This black contestant was clearly above the mid to lower tier of the 300-something fighters, if not quite top-tier, then certainly in the upper mid-range.


    ¡°Roar.¡± The referee had barely stepped aside when the black fighter charged at Zhangzhou with a vicious expression.


    ¡°Thud, thud, thud...¡± His steps thundered across the platform, with his arms extending over two meters, effectively blocking any evasion by Zhangzhou as he maneuvered strategically.


    ¡°Roar!¡± With the ferocity of a beast, the black man lunged, his eyes red, but missed as Zhangzhou adeptly crouched low, moving like a sudden monkey squat to dodge, then surged forward with a series of moves: a headbutt, a grab, a pull, a slam, and a rip. Five bloody gashes appeared on the black man''s left flank.


    ¡°Well done,¡± O¡¯Neill shouted, standing up in approval. This attack had cut into the black man''s muscles¡ªhis flank, an important area¡ªsignificantly diminishing his mobility and flexibility.


    However, Zhangzhou paid a price for the successful strike. In pain, the black man reacted instinctively, swinging his long arm back and flinging Zhangzhou several meters away, nearly knocking him off the platform.


    This violent maneuver, coupled with the black man''s dense bones, left Zhangzhou breathless. Nobody expected O''Neill''s representative to face such a tough opponent in the first match.


    The 180-code fighter, lacking advanced combat techniques, relied purely on a fearsome physicality and robust bones, seemingly intending to crush the inherently weaker Eastern man.


    Against such an opponent, either a fighter stronger in physique or one who targets the few available weaknesses could win within the three-minute limit, a challenging task.


    Fortunately, Zhangzhou, exuding confidence, presumably had more tricks up his sleeve. After narrowly avoiding several frontal assaults, the black fighter¡¯s flank injury gradually took its toll, slowing and unbalancing him, tipping the battle''s outcome.


    ¡°Heh.¡± Zhangzhou dodged another attack, leaped behind the black fighter, and with both hands delivered a heavy blow to his temples.


    ¡°Boom.¡± The large black man crashed down, unconscious, leaving Zhangzhou triumphant, gasping for breath as he raised his left hand.


    ¡°069 wins, 069 elects immediate continuation. Opponent code drawn is 133. Contestant 133 must enter within one minute; otherwise, it''s a forfeit.¡±


    The male host announced Zhangzhou¡¯s decision for immediate continuation. Winning five matches, resting between rounds was risky as opponents later on might be stronger.


    Whether fighting continuously or resting posed both advantages and disadvantages: fighting rested allowed for peak performance each match but could lead to unexpected setbacks, such as facing an unbeatable opponent late in the game, nullifying earlier victories.


    Zhangzhou seemed aware of this principle and confident enough in himself to fight continuously, feeling he still held untapped potential.


    ¡°Contestant 133, you have ten seconds to enter. After ten seconds, it''s a forfeit.¡±


    For reasons unknown, contestant 133 failed to show despite being present, and with the ten-second countdown over, Zhangzhou won his second victory amid the crowd¡¯s discontented jeers.


    Having conserved energy and gained a moment to rest, Zhangzhou resumed his matches.


    The third match was against another Chinese contestant, code 99. Both shared similar physiques, making it a brutal contest of Chinese martial arts prowess¡ªprecision and mastery pitted against each other.


    In the previous match, Zhangzhou showcased two styles: the monkey and eagle forms of Xingyiquan. His iron palm training was evident, delivering savage, precise strikes that injured the strong black man¡¯s muscles, disrupting his balance.


    Contestant 99 employed the fierce Bajiquan. In a rapid three-minute exchange, the two martial artists showcased the essence of Chinese martial arts with agility, speed, variability, ferocity, and danger.


    Ultimately, Zhangzhou revealed his most aggressive form, the tiger style, executing a sudden and successful attack to claim his third victory. However, the swift bout drained him significantly.


    Thus, he stepped down to rest. Despite this, the applause from the audience was fervent. His first match was a clever triumph, the second marked by luck, but the third truly embodied the ferocity of the tiger form.


    "Tsk, what a surprise. The impression Zhangzhou gave me was of a fighter skilled in guerilla tactics and precise strikes, but his tiger form is ferocious. He''s well-hidden, but that''s great. At least the 50,000 I spent per appearance was worth it. Gahaha," O''Neill laughed, his spirits high, the situation looking promising, his excitement palpable.


    After Zhangzhou''s exit, the underground arena continued with a dozen more fierce battles until Caesar¡¯s code was announced for the first time.


    "Contestant 78 elects immediate continuation. Opponent code drawn is 309. Contestant 309 must enter within one minute; otherwise, it''s a forfeit."


    "309?"


    "Oh wow, 309 is Caesar. I remembered, hahaha. Finally, we get to see how strong the boss''s bodyguard is." O''Neill was initially stunned, then erupted in joy.


    The true extent of Caesar''s might was known to O''Neill mostly through hearsay; now was the chance to gauge the abilities of the people surrounding his leader.

 Chapter 50: The Audience Falls Silent

    Roselle''s eyes lit up. Truth be told, the series of battles he just witnessed had his blood boiling, making him almost want to jump in and test his own agility of 15 points to see just how fast that truly was. However, he knew that challenging these seasoned fighters, who had been through life-and-death struggles, was something that could only remain a fantasy. True combat isn''t something that can be reduced to mere numbers.


    Roselle had confidence in his ability to handle numerous ordinary people or thugs, but stepping into the ring with those ferocious fighters was a different matter altogether. Now, with Caesar finally stepping into the arena, Roselle was both anxious and excited. He had witnessed Caesar''s prowess against brutal henchmen before, describing it as overwhelming would be an understatement. But how would Caesar fare against the current crop of fighters? It was time to find out.


    "Boom." Within the allotted minute to enter the ring, participants needed to jog up, and Caesar was no exception. He charged from the seating area like a powerful black bear, leaping heavily onto the over-one-meter-high platform, causing the elastic surface to ripple under his substantial weight.


    "Wow, he doesn¡¯t look like a contestant at all; he seems more like a bodyguard. But damn, look how manly he is," exclaimed a typical fangirl.


    "With that long hair slicked back, doesn''t he look like that wrestler from the U.S.?" another spectator commented.


    "I think he looks more like a fierce lion king," said someone else.


    "Coming straight from the seating area, this guy must be a bodyguard. No wonder the assistant had no information on him."


    "It seems he''s the young bodyguard of Jiang''s second son. But who is this young man anyway?"


    Dressed in a black suit, Caesar cut an imposing figure. His golden hair was tied back, and his expression was a mix of coolness and mild cruelty. When the camera zoomed in on him, he captured the attention of the entire audience, especially since he had jumped straight from the seats onto the stage.


    "Hey, beat that Korean jerk up; just looking at him annoys me," O''Neill yelled haughtily, feeling even more exhilarated than Roselle, the actual host. His sunglasses, the symbol of his bravado, had long vanished in his excitement.


    "Oh, he''s taking off his clothes." Due to the one-minute time limit for entering the stage, Caesar began undressing on the platform, first removing his suit and then the restrictive black shirt.


    "Wow, check out those muscles. They look like they¡¯re cast in steel. Amazing, he''s so impressive!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The crowd was stunned!


    Caesar''s steel-like skin wasn''t just a figure of speech; it had the characteristics of metal. He had been designed by Roselle to be powerfully built, making his muscular physique the epitome of strength. Clothed, he appeared as a vigorous, strong man, but once stripped, the contrast was stunning enough to drop jaws.


    "White big guy, I¡¯m going to kick your head off and smash your balls," threatened the Korean fighter, clearly upset with the attention Caesar was drawing. Despite his two consecutive wins, he couldn¡¯t rival this bodyguard''s flair. Moreover, he intended to fight in a suit and shoes?


    Furious and envious, he was beyond words!


    "Ha... I''ll crush you!" As soon as the referee stepped aside, signaling the start of the bout, the Taekwondo expert launched himself at Caesar, driven by his raging jealousy, and unleashed a sweeping kick.


    The kick was so powerful it sliced the air with a crackling sound, attesting to its strength and speed. For an ordinary person, it would have been a concussion-inducing blow.


    But Caesar was no ordinary man, nor an average fighter. So when the Taekwondo master landed his kick squarely on Caesar¡¯s head, what should have been a knockout turned into an act of desperation as the Korean let out a wail of agony.


    "My foot!" he cried, though the crowd, amidst all the noise, didn''t catch the sound of bones cracking.


    "What happened?" Tyrant and several other top fighters stood from their seats, eyes wide, stunned by what they witnessed.


    However, Caesar, the recipient of this kick, gave no time for the audience to ponder. He had taken the hit, which was almost impossible to avoid, not because he intended to but due to the attacker''s remarkable skill. Otherwise, the Korean wouldn¡¯t have won two matches and still had enough energy to fight on. At least, his agility and kicking speed were tough to handle, similar to the first opponent Zhangzhou faced.


    Yet, the Korean''s luck ended here. As he cried out in pain, trying to distance himself from his opponent, he horrifyingly realized that a furious Caesar was already upon him.


    With a loud "snap," Caesar''s strong hand grabbed the Korean''s ankle, which hadn''t retracted in time due to the fracture. Then, the entire arena felt Caesar¡¯s beastly roar.


    "Oh, he''s lifted him up!" screamed a spectator.


    Indeed, seizing the ankle was just the beginning. Caesar pulled the Korean close, his hands like vice grips on the man''s armpits, his immense strength immobilizing the opponent.


    "Roar." With another beast-like growl, Caesar lifted the Korean over his head, creating an illusion of two heads facing each other, before hurling him bodily onto the platform.


    "Boom." The impact resonated throughout the arena as Caesar slammed the man down like a dead fish.


    Silence fell over the crowd¡ªcomplete silence!


    This move, usually seen only in American wrestling shows, was executed with greater violence and impact here, and why not? This wasn''t a show; it was wanton destruction.


    "Roar." Fueled by his innate savagery, Caesar roared triumphantly, echoing the commanding presence of a raging lion king, or a wrathful black bear.


    "He''s so strong." "Who brought him here?" "His opponent is finished."


    The arena remained silent for a long moment, except for Caesar''s ferocious roars. As for the Korean who had boasted of kicking Caesar¡¯s head off, he likely had his entire skeleton shattered, his fingers twitching occasionally, chilling spectators to the bone.


    "What¡¯s the name of this bodyguard?"


    "He seems to be the second most likely to earn a ticket, right after Tyrant."


    "Do you think he¡¯ll continue fighting?"