Ye Li also noticed the ragged boy. Seeing him digging through the sand, he activated his suit's automatic translation function and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I..."
The boy looked at the completely dry sand in his hand, then suddenly dropped to his knees before Ye Li. Making a gesture Ye Li couldn't understand, he pleaded, "god, it hasn't rained in our town for a long time. Even the oasis has dried up. Please bring us rain!"
Well, damn. He had mistaken me for the Dragon King.
Still, this was right in my wheelhouse.
Ye Li sensed the air around them. The humidity here was indeed incredibly low—or rather, there was practically no moisture at all.
The disparity in this world really was absurd. Gwen Stacy and the others were happily going to school at Midtown High, while people here couldn't even find a drop of water.
"Come on, look up at the sky."
"What?"
The boy stared blankly upward.
Then, a raindrop fell onto his face...
"It's raining! God!!"
After spreading a little feudal superstition, Ye Li also learned about the situation in the area.
Upon hearing about an organization called the Ten Rings Gang, he flew directly to their gathering place.
The moment he arrived.
He saw someone firing out from inside a cave. The Ten Rings Gang members were about to rush in.
"What a coincidence."
"The one in the cave is Yinsen, right? Buying Stark some time?"
The next moment, Ye Li landed instantly.
A shockwave spread outward from him.
The ground shook violently. Everyone nearby lost their footing and crashed to the ground, while those closer to him were sent flying outright!
Even a sand dune near the gathering place was affected, collapsing inward and forming a small patch of quicksand.
If Ye Li unleashed his full power, he could bury this entire place beneath the desert.
The terrorists and Yinsen in the cave were all stunned. What the hell was that thing?
Training Jessica! I Am the Stock god!
"Demon! This guy's a demon! Kill him!"
A bearded man quickly came to his senses and ordered his men to open fire on Ye Li!
But the bullets only threw sparks from the suit, leaving not even a mark.
Then Ye Li raised a hand, and surging currents of air appeared around him out of nowhere.
Driven by the airflow, the loose sand and gravel around them spun faster and faster, until they sliced through the terrorists' throats like blades.
Being a mage really was better. If he had to kill them one by one with his fists and feet, it would have taken far more effort.
"Yinsen, are you all right?"
Behind the stunned Yinsen, a huge metal lump emerged.
"What just happened? Was that explosives?"
He clumsily stepped around Yinsen and glanced outside. "I nearly welded my helmet to my leg."
The next instant, he saw the corpses scattered across the ground.
Tony Stark froze. "...I'm guessing you didn't do this, Yinsen."
He guided the Mark I a little farther outside, finally spotting Ye Li in the middle of the pile of bodies.
"Black Spider?"
"I didn't expect a superhero to be the one who came to save me first."
Tony naturally knew about Black Spider, who occasionally appeared in New York. Surprised, he said, "Your business has expanded all the way to Afghanistan?"
"I don't really like the name Black Spider, Stark."
Using a deep voice, Ye Li put on an act. "I only saved you because when I needed to find you, you happened to get captured."
"...That's pretty willful."
Tony said sincerely, "No matter what, pal, you saved me."
He tapped his metal chest. "Too bad this big guy didn't get to be useful. I spent a long time making it."
"All right, Mr. Stark."
Ye Li's body gradually rose into the air. "I'll come find you after you return to New York."
"What?" Tony paused. "You're just leaving like that?"
"What else? Did you want me to fly you two out of here?"
With a sweep of his trench coat, Ye Li shot into the sky. Before leaving, he called back, "There's food and water here. Stay put and wait for the military rescue team."
Ghost-Spider Fan Club.
The club was no longer quite so proper. It even had a combat training ground.
It definitely could not compare to the professional facilities of an organization like S.H.I.E.L.D., but it was still quite impressive.
To the public, it remained closed.
In truth, it was constantly in use.
"Very good, Jessica."
"Left kick, right punch. Focus. Straighten those cute long legs a little more."
Ye Li leaned back comfortably in a chair, watching the news as he directed her. "Your foundation is strong, but you lack fighting techniques. That won't do. I'm going to train you into a true hero."
On the training field, Jessica wore a black fighting outfit consisting of a small tank top and shorts. Her fair arms and long legs flowed through all kinds of nimble moves.
Rainbow Piercing the Sun!
White Snake Spits Its Tongue!
Four Ounces Deflect a Thousand Pounds!
Lightning Five Consecutive... ah, never mind that one.
After practicing for a while, she stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm exhausted, big brother. Is this basic training you mentioned really useful? You don't exactly look like someone who knows how to fight either."
"Of course it is. This is mysterious martial arts from the East. You'll know how powerful it is once you use it later."
Ye Li was naturally confident. The moves he was teaching Jessica came with the Modified Golden Light Spell.
Hearing him say that, Jessica thought to herself, Then I'll try it on Gwen Stacy~ If it works, I'll have her learn it too.
With that in mind.
She grabbed a bottle of sports drink and asked Ye Li as she drank, "Big brother, are you ready? When are you planning to meet Ghost-Spider?"
"Soon, soon."
Seeing the pinned news about Stark's return, Ye Li stood up and told Jessica, "All right, keep practicing on your own. I'm going to sell all my Stark Industries stock."
"Pfft—sell all of it?!" Jessica sprayed out a mouthful of soda and said in shock, "Li, you're joking, right? Mr. Stark just came back from Afghanistan, and his company's stock has been rising nonstop!"
"What do you know? (ˉ^ˉ)"
Ye Li wore a confident expression as he declared forcefully.
"Buy first! Then sell! Then buy again!
Flip it several times over! Achieve—financial freedom!"
Jessica: Σ(っД;)っ???
"Big brother, be rational..."
Jessica said nervously, "Don't lose all our money, or I'll have to carry sacks to support you..."
Ye Li glanced sideways at her. "Relax~ Stick with me, and I guarantee you'll eat and drink well.
Carrying sacks? That's all the ambition you have, superhero?"
"Hehe~" Jessica flashed her pearly teeth and gave him a playful smile.
"Heh~ I am the stock god!" Someone turned around flamboyantly and strode away with great swagger.
Osborn Corporation.
Genetic Engineering Laboratory.
"No! You can't do this!"
Before you continue