Impossible Power

A decrepit, aged factory complex, its towering structures covered in rust and its workshops low and sprawling, spoke of the glory it had once known.

Xu Yuchen stood outside the wall, looking through the gate at the factory grounds, nostalgia in his eyes.

"My father brought me here when I was little. It was so lively back then. So many worker uncles worked hard every day. Who would've thought that in barely over a decade, it would become this abandoned?"

Wenren Sheng had no interest in his sentimental melancholy and merely surveyed the surrounding terrain.

This place was located on the Eastern Suburbs Plain outside Dongshui City. The area was full of prime farmland, and villages that made their living growing vegetables could faintly be seen in the distance.

In truth, even if the market had not eliminated them, urban expansion, rising living standards, and the growth of the middle class would never have allowed Five Colors Group's steel mill to remain in Dongshui City—it was fucking terrible for property values.

"This huge plot of land must be worth quite a bit," Wu Shanshan said, her eyes lighting up. "Dongshui City has a river to the north and mountains to the south. The eastern plain is the best direction for expansion. Given this location, large-scale development will begin here within a few years."

"Exactly. It's because this land will definitely be valuable in the future that the banks kept lending to us, allowing us to hold on until now." Xu Yuchen nodded, then laughed at himself. "I never expected that even today, we'd still have to rely on the blessings left behind by our ancestors."

Xu Yunshuang said nothing. Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed as she stared at the locked factory gates.

On the crumbling, poorly maintained cement road before the gates were numerous muddy tire tracks. Clearly, this factory complex had not truly been abandoned. Someone was still using it.

Wu Shanshan turned to Wenren Sheng and asked, "Should we call the Black Shirts for backup?"

Wenren Sheng glanced at the Xu siblings and shook his head slightly. "If they get involved, they won't guarantee Xu Qingshu's safety."

"Can you handle it alone?" Wu Shanshan asked worriedly.

"A man can never tolerate being unable to perform." Wenren Sheng let out a breath, brimming with confidence.

After saying that, he instructed them, "Stay here and don't move. I'll be right back."

Xu Yunshuang looked at him, a trace of concern in her eyes, but she said nothing more.

"Forget it. I'm coming with you." Wu Shanshan insisted.

Wenren Sheng looked at her, considered it, and nodded. "Fine. You come with me. The two of them can guard the entrance."

"We'll be relying on you, Teacher Wenren," Xu Yuchen said obediently.

Only then did he reveal the youthful innocence appropriate for someone his age—seventeen or eighteen—instead of the maturity he had shown before.

Xu Yunshuang merely nodded.

The two continued observing the area for a while, chose a secluded spot, and then climbed over the wall.

Once inside the factory complex, Wenren Sheng carefully examined his surroundings.

Weeds grew everywhere. Deep tire tracks ran down the central cement road, leading toward a vast cluster of low blue-gray workshops in the distance.

Their opponents did not seem to have made much effort to conceal themselves.

Just as Wenren Sheng was about to head toward the workshops, Wu Shanshan suddenly said, "Wait. Let me scout first."

He did not refuse.

The next moment, he saw Wu Shanshan blink, and a lifelike Black Phoenix, no longer than her index finger, appeared at her fingertip.

This Black Phoenix was clearly different from the one she had shown Zhao Han before. There was a strange intelligence in its eyes, like the gaze of a person.

Without revealing anything, he watched the Black Phoenix swiftly fly ahead, burrow into the ground, and disappear.

Several minutes later, the Black Phoenix hurried back.

Wu Shanshan drew it back into her palm and closed her eyes. After a moment, her expression changed. "No. We need to leave right now!"

"Oh? Looks like there's someone dangerous inside." Wenren Sheng appeared thoughtful.

"That's right. It told me there's at least someone inside with strength comparable to yours. Xu Qingshu really isn't simple. How could an ordinary person dare to tamper with ancestral alien species? Leaving aside the financial cost, even obtaining the basic knowledge would be extremely difficult." Wu Shanshan looked annoyed. "It seems I underestimated him. I actually made the same mistake as that foolish girl. Unforgivable."

"Leaving is impossible." Wenren Sheng simply looked ahead and shook his head.

"Don't be stubborn!" Wu Shanshan's face showed some urgency as she spoke rapidly. "There are some things I can't tell you yet, but I absolutely, absolutely would never hurt you. Nor do I want to see anyone else hurt you. Are you really going to risk your life for Xu Yunshuang's mere uncle?"

"Uh, judging by your tone, it sounds as though you're the teacher and I'm the student." Wenren Sheng actually smiled.

"I'm older than you to begin with. You're only a teacher because you're a youthful genius." Wu Shanshan tugged at his sleeve and turned to leave.

But at that moment, a mass of grayish-white fog abruptly spread through the factory grounds. The outer wall, which had been right nearby, was nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it, we fell for it!" Wu Shanshan said in frustration.

Wenren Sheng remained unmoved, looking unfathomable.

A somewhat familiar voice came from the fog.

"Wenren Sheng, when did you discover our true nature?"

Wu Shanshan was instantly horrified. That voice was unmistakably Li Shi'an's!

Wasn't he an old stubborn fool whom Xu Qingshu had set up?

Could he be the true mastermind, with Xu Qingshu merely a puppet? "Li Shi'an? So they were the ones causing trouble behind the scenes?" she asked in shock.

"They? No. It's only Li Shi'an himself. Senior He really did die, and he died far earlier than either of us had believed." Wenren Sheng took a step forward and stood in front of her.

"I didn't expect you to know more than I had imagined," Li Shi'an's voice said, carrying a hint of surprise.

Wenren Sheng shook his head. "You're wrong. I know far more than you imagine."

"In that case, let me test you. Do you know why I put on that little performance at Dengke Tower and deliberately lured in the Patrol Division?" Li Shi'an's voice continued.

The grayish-white fog rippled faintly.

Wu Shanshan saw a mass of dark purple aura appear at Wenren Sheng's fingertips, making contact with the surrounding fog.

She understood. Both sides were analyzing and probing the other's true capabilities.

It seemed as though they were just talking nonsense, but in reality, they were like two boxers testing each other before throwing heavy punches.

Wenren Sheng smiled faintly, looking completely matter-of-fact. "Obviously, it was because my name shakes Dongshui, my might overwhelms the neighboring lands, and my glory illuminates the nine provinces... You were afraid I would discover your secret dealings, so you did the opposite—using a lousy book to win me over while conveniently diverting my attention."

By the time Wu Shanshan heard half of that, she wanted to crawl into a hole.

The other side remained silent for a long while, seemingly stunned by his shamelessness and narcissism.

"I was foolish, truly foolish," Li Shi'an's sinister voice came through. "If I'd known you were such an idiot, I should have left you alone just now instead of showing myself at this time!"

"Unfortunately, it's too late for that. I've recorded every word and deed of yours just now. This will be irrefutable evidence of your crimes." Wenren Sheng took out his phone and waved it.

"Oh, hahaha... you're wrong too." Li Shi'an's voice abruptly changed into that of a stranger. "I'm not Li Shi'an at all. I merely borrowed his name. What could a stubborn old man dying at home possibly do to stir up so much trouble?"

Wu Shanshan had nothing to say. Her admiration for the shamelessness of this old man and young man reached a whole new level.

The moment the old bastard heard that Wenren Sheng seemingly had not grasped the core of his identity, he immediately changed his story and denied everything without the slightest hesitation. That was what felt real. Only fools and fledglings would expose themselves just because someone casually tried to bait them...

Yet Wenren Sheng shook his head. "Whether you are him or not, what difference does it make to me? I only need to capture you as you are now."

"Good. Very good. I truly want to see what there is to fear in a junior like you!"

Li Shi'an's voice returned to normal. Where was the demeanor of a mentor supporting Wenren Sheng that he had displayed at Dengke Tower?

He sounded entirely like a demon preparing to devour someone! The instant his words fell, Wu Shanshan jolted in alarm. Her narrow eyes narrowed further as she turned sharply toward a certain direction! In her vision, the surrounding fog suddenly receded, and an enormous bullet gleaming with grayish-white light shot toward her from a distant tower!

She couldn't dodge it! She couldn't block it! She would die! Was there anything that could take her place?

Thoughts churned in her mind. She glanced at Wenren Sheng in front of her and closed her eyes.

Wenren Sheng remained unmoved. He simply struck out with the same palm as he had that morning, aiming toward the direction from which the bullet came.

"What a joke! You actually think you can intercept my 25mm Depleted Uranium Armor-Piercing Shell with detached Alien Power! You really are an idiot!"

Li Shi'an's mocking voice somehow arrived first, appearing in both their minds.

At the same time, a dragon-shaped current of dark purple aura slammed into the bullet.

Clang!

The bullet exploded in midair in the distance. A blazing fireball appeared in the air, and a torrent of high-speed metal fragments sprayed in every direction!

The cement ground was blasted into a crater riddled with cracks!

"This... this is impossible! With the strength of your Alien Power, how could you possibly withstand the combined force of myself and this technological weapon?"

Li Shi'an's astonished voice followed immediately after.

Wu Shanshan was speechless. Back at Dengke Tower, this old man had acted as if he despised technological weapons. Yet now, he was using one with tremendous enthusiasm!