The Invitation

"Did you investigate me?"

"Investigate you? In modern society, information is public, especially records about workers on the Abyss Frontline. The Federation keeps those on file."

"I own an exotic beast farm in Star Iron Gorge, and the Zhenhai Group also supplies ingredients to some Abyss Safe Zones. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to learn about my business partners?"

"Besides, your father is a remarkable man. If I'm not mistaken, he must have been secretly sending you exotic beast meat all along, right? Otherwise, your vitality couldn't have improved so quickly."

Before Li He could respond, Sun Zhenhai continued, "There's something you may not have heard yet. Three days ago, an Abyssal outbreak occurred in Star Iron Gorge."

Li He's pupils contracted sharply.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. His father!

"But..." Sun Zhenhai changed tack. "You don't need to worry. The Federation reacted quickly. Before the outbreak could fully erupt, it activated emergency protocols and evacuated all noncombatants from the Safe Zone—including your father."

His gaze settled on Li He's face, carrying a hint of meaning. "What's more, our Zhenhai Group immediately sent an elite squad to assist the Federation with the evacuation and transport of supplies. Your father should have returned safely to your mother by now."

Li He felt somewhat relieved, but his guard remained fully up. Sun Zhenhai hadn't told him this out of simple kindness.

Sun Zhenhai walked to the window and pulled open the blinds.

His gaze turned toward the edge of the city, toward the vast, perilous wilderness beyond the faint energy barrier.

"An Abyssal outbreak. Do you know what the Federation will do?"

He raised his hand and pointed toward the Abyss in the depths of the wilderness.

"Look."

Li He followed the direction of his finger.

At the far edge of the horizon, a blinding white light suddenly flared.

A moment later, an immense mushroom cloud billowed upward. Even across the vast distance and through the city's barrier, the devastating force of the energy shock wave could be felt!

A nuclear bomb!

The Federation had gone straight to nuclear weapons!

And yet.

As the blast wave from the nuclear explosion tore through the wilderness and the mushroom cloud had yet to fully spread, an enormous fist shadow, stretching from heaven to earth, came crashing down from the sky.

BOOM—!!!

Despite the immense distance, Li He could clearly see the earth split and collapse beneath the fist shadow. The mushroom cloud that had just risen was swept away by that overbearing punch.

Li He sucked in a breath.

That punch from the heavens was even more powerful than a nuclear bomb. What kind of terrifying strength was that?

One day...

Li He's breathing grew heavier.

"Did you see that?" Sun Zhenhai said. "The nuclear blast was used to clear out low-level monsters and sources of contamination. That punch came from a fifth-tier martial artist, an Innate Grandmaster—the guardian deity of this region, Lord Qin Pojun. He personally acted to level the Abyssal passage node and cut off the source of demonic energy."

"Li He, if you want power like that, you'll need resources—an enormous amount of them."

"As long as you demonstrate your potential, the Zhenhai Group can provide all of it."

Li He suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart.

He had already been considering whether to sign with a company and trade his martial prowess for the resources he needed.

Jin Wancai was one option. But Sun Zhenhai's Zhenhai Group was undoubtedly a cut above him. If Sun Zhenhai's vision really came to pass, Li He could imagine the resources and attention he might receive.

"How do I demonstrate my potential?" Li He asked. "Beating Sun Jiaoyang probably isn't enough for you."

"Smart."

Sun Zhenhai smiled, his eyes full of even greater appreciation.

"Resources, especially top-tier resources, are always scarce. The Zhenhai Group's investments are made in stages, with an emphasis on keeping risk under control."

"If you're willing to join me, I'll provide basic cultivation resources in the first stage—enough to help you consolidate your current realm and break through the second-tier bottleneck. At the same time, I'll begin your initial publicity campaign, build momentum for you, and lay the groundwork for your image as a genius making a comeback."

"To qualify for the next stage of resources, you must take first place in the upcoming United Martial Arts Tournament."

Li He understood.

Everything Sun Zhenhai had said before was just a vision of the future, an empty promise. What he was laying out now was the plan they could actually put into action.

First place in the United Martial Arts Tournament!

It wouldn't be easy.

Every martial arts hall had its own geniuses and prodigies. Some even had established disciples like Yuan Lingling, who had registered at the very edge of the age limit.

And though Sun Jiaoyang had been severely injured, the Sun family had abundant resources. He would surely recover before the tournament, rise from the ashes stronger than ever, and face Li He again.

That was without even considering the possibility of opponents even stronger than Sun Jiaoyang.

First place?

Easier said than done!

"The October Martial Arts Hall's newcomers' tournament is an important stage where the Federation's major martial arts halls showcase their strength and compete for resources. It draws a great deal of attention," Sun Zhenhai said.

"I'll use every promotional channel the Zhenhai Group has to build momentum for you before the tournament. I'll present you as the beginning of a legend, a rising star who climbed up from the bottom and broke through the shackles of his natural aptitude."

"So you have no way out. You have to win."

"Only by claiming first place through sheer strength can you prove your potential is worth my investment—and that you deserve the shining road I'm paving for you."

"Otherwise..."

Sun Zhenhai smiled slightly.

"All that promotion will become a joke, and every investment will go to waste. And you'll fall from a star everyone expected great things from to a laughingstock who overestimated himself."

"That's my offer. It's the pressure I'm putting on you, and the way I'm giving you to turn your potential into reality."

"Tell me, Li He. Are you willing to join the Zhenhai Group and take on this challenge?"

Outside the window, the afterglow of the nuclear blast and the fist shadow had long since faded from the distant horizon. But in Li He's heart, a fiercer flame was now burning.

"I can agree, but I have one additional condition."

"Let's hear it."

Sun Zhenhai left, contract in hand and satisfied.

Li He left the hospital as well. The martial arts hall had covered all his medical expenses, and he was free to go whenever he wanted.

The sun was setting.

He headed home.

His backpack now held quite a few things, including employment contracts for his parents. The jobs were in the city center, with good pay and convenient commutes.

There were also three manuals: Rock Body Forging Technique, Buddha Vajra Body, and Furnace Hundred Forms Art.

All three manuals focused on hardening the body.

His fight with Sun Jiaoyang had shown Li He just how much he could gain from such techniques, making him especially eager to train in them.

In addition, Sun Zhenhai had given him a resource card for redeeming the materials needed to cultivate the three techniques. A costly portion of exotic beast meat would also be delivered to his home every day to support his training.

The days ahead would be full.

Li He glanced at the sky and quickened his pace. Before long, the familiar alley entrance came into view.

The faint aroma of food drifted through the air, mingling with children's laughter and play, filling the neighborhood with the warmth of everyday life.

He reached his front door and was about to push it open.

A deliberately muffled but still unmistakable burst of laughter slipped through the gap in the door.

His father, Li Jianguo, was home, fooling around with his mother, Zhang Xiujuan.

Li He paused with his hand in midair, feeling both helpless and amused.

Thanks to advanced biotechnology and the widespread practice of martial arts, people in this era lived much longer on average. In appearance and energy, people in their forties or fifties looked much like people around thirty in the old era, still full of life.

His father had spent years working away from home. He was strong and had a resolute face. His mother managed the household and took good care of herself. The two of them did look young and well-matched together, and their relationship had always been good.

He waited a little, until their playful laughter had died down somewhat. Then he cleared his throat and raised his hand to knock.