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That explosion reminded Qin Annian of a fire.

Any strong and capable government would never tolerate something like this happening.

Originally.

The situation in the Old District had progressed so quickly that it had already exceeded everyone's expectations.

In this rapidly changing situation, Mayor Qian and the other "war hawks" would certainly seize this opportunity to further expand the war.

They aimed to win the whole thing in one battle and reshape Taiyu City's order.

"Peace Officer Qin, once this battle is over and merits are rewarded, your contribution will certainly be considerable."

Captain Chen looked at Qin Annian with envy.

It was only his first day on the job, yet he had already made such a great contribution.

In the future historical records of the Security Bureau and even Taiyu City, this history-changing event would surely be recorded.

Who could refuse the chance to leave their name in history?

Back to the matter at hand.

Even if Qin Annian could emerge perfectly fine tomorrow, walking as briskly as ever, today he had to be severely injured—on the verge of death, almost killed.

After completing the handover with Chen Qintao, Qin Annian lay down on a Medical Team stretcher.

The ambulance drove for some distance.

Qin Annian declined the Medical Team's offer to take him home and got out midway.

He walked down the street.

He could clearly sense the worry written across the faces of the pedestrians around him.

The redevelopment of the Old District was a good thing.

But no one had expected the City Government's methods to be so iron-fisted.

If this went wrong, all of Taiyu City could descend into chaos!

Now.

The intensity of patrols across Taiyu City was clearly several times greater than before.

It was not quite a guard every ten steps, but Peace Officers from the Security Bureau were stationed on every major street.

Key locations such as hospitals, grain depots, and transport stations were guarded by powerful martial artists.

Taiyu City had entered Level Two combat readiness. Martial artists serving in key security positions at major corporations, in martial arts schools, and even at the city's only Martial Arts University had all been requisitioned by the Taiyu Municipal Government.

When Qin Annian returned to the Universe Tower.

He saw fully armed martial artists with grim expressions driving away one after another.

Beep—

The moment he entered his home, Qin Annian switched on the television.

Mayor Qian was delivering a citywide address.

"We will certainly eradicate the Cultivation Holders Association, an illegal violent organization that has occupied the Old District for many years and committed heinous crimes."

"I ask the residents of the Old District to leave in an orderly manner under the Security Bureau's guidance, undergo new-generation identity registration, and collect the latest personal identity cards. The City Government has already arranged temporary accommodation."

"I guarantee every citizen of Taiyu City that every resident of the Old District will be able to move into resettlement housing in the Old District."

The property rights for homes in the Old District were a complete mess.

In the beginning, the Old District's housing had been dormitories for major factories.

Logically speaking.

The property rights should have belonged to those factory enterprises.

However.

As the population grew, the factories relocated, and the Old District's economy declined, those factory enterprises no longer wanted to deal with this mess.

Thus.

Those dormitories became the homes of the workers who had remained in the Old District, passing down through their descendants.

Now.

What the Taiyu Municipal Government needed to do was conduct a thorough census and registration of the Old District.

It would establish control from the root and reduce the emergence of gang members.

As for the additional funds needed to build temporary housing and resettlement homes, they would naturally be provided by those five century-old great families.

Beep—

At that moment.

The door opened.

Han Xi entered, dressed in combat gear with her short hair tied back, carrying a pitch-black case as long as an arm across her back.

Qin Annian was somewhat surprised at the sight.

At such a critical time.

Han Xi, the deputy director of the Security Bureau's Operations Division, actually had time to come home?

"I came back to get something."

Seeing Qin Annian's confusion, Han Xi said calmly.

Before long.

She emerged from her room carrying a sharp longsword, its blade like autumn water and its design ancient and simple.

Instantly.

The temperature throughout the room dropped by several degrees.

A chill swept through the room, and even Qin Annian felt his blood slowing.

What a terrifying divine weapon!

Han Xi placed the longsword into the long case.

"Whether it is Qian Yuansen or Zhang Qifeng, they are martial artists before they are the mayor and bureau chief."

Before leaving, Han Xi reminded Qin Annian:

"Today."

"They both owe you a favor."

"Do not think that you are exploiting their gratitude. You can ask them for a weapon that suits you."

"And..."

Her voice paused slightly as Han Xi looked deeply at Qin Annian.

"You have already refined spiritual power."

"You can ask them for a secret manual to temper spiritual power."

Qin Annian knew Han Xi was teaching him how to deal with martial artists.

"What is spiritual power?"

Qin Annian understood the part about a suitable weapon, but he could only vaguely guess at the latter.

"Before the bomb exploded, did you feel as if you had foreseen it?"

At the time.

Han Xi had also been in the command center.

She had clearly seen Qin Annian step back before the bomb exploded.

"Yes."

Qin Annian nodded and said:

"It was like I saw the bomb exploding a few seconds later."

Han Xi unfolded one side of the long case, revealing five miniature throwing knives, each about the length of a finger.

"Once Life Development Power exceeds a hundred, as long as you do not suffer a fatal injury and receive treatment in time, you can survive."

"Once Life Development Power exceeds a thousand, the Force of Creation drawn from the Spirit Sea is no longer trapped within the prison of the physical body."

As her words fell.

Han Xi flicked her hand.

Buzz!

The five miniature throwing knives rose into the air, drifting around Han Xi before Qin Annian's suddenly narrowed eyes.

"Your Life Development Power has exceeded a thousand?!"

Qin Annian asked in surprise.

However.

Han Xi shook her head slightly and returned the miniature throwing knives to the long case.

"Not yet."

"I cultivated a Mental Secret Manual and refined spiritual power ahead of time."

"Only geniuses whose Standing Posture cultivation can enter the state of Sitting Oblivion can cultivate Mental Secret Manuals early."

So the state in which mysterious scriptures seemed to chant while he practiced the Standing Posture was called Sitting Oblivion?

"Sixth sense, intuition, telepathy—after the cultivation era began, all of these were collectively called spiritual power."

"Telepathy in the past was uncontrollable, but spiritual power can be controlled by martial artists."

"That is precisely why martial artists with Life Development Power above a thousand can use spiritual power to lift their bodies and fly through the air."

"If you still want to enter the Old District and take part in this war."

"You should use those two favors."

After all.

The war had already begun.

As the "chief culprit" who had ignited this war, Qin Annian was undoubtedly hated to the bone by the Cultivation Holders Association.

They would surely spare no cost and seize any opportunity to kill Qin Annian with all their strength.

Han Xi left again.

Qin Annian turned off the television and looked at the Status Panel.

Looking at the "1" beside the number of supporters, anticipation appeared in his eyes.

"Han Xi meant that favors owed by martial artists should be converted into my own strength as quickly as possible."

What she said made sense.

"Before they are the mayor and bureau chief, they are first martial artists with extremely high Life Development Power."

"In this era."

"Combat power is the most fundamental thing."

Power, money, status, and everything else all depended on a martial artist's combat power.

He drafted two emails and sent them to Qian Yuansen and Zhang Qifeng respectively.

A few minutes later.

Qin Annian received replies from both of them.