This Sect Forbids the Private Disclosure of Its Techniques

Nick's face instantly darkened, though no one could tell.

As the king of spies, Nick knew Chinese, but he was used to speaking English, so he had introduced himself in English.

Worse still, he had understood Zhan Liu's question in Chinese.

Enduring an insult without retaliation was the basic virtue of a scheming old bastard. He shot May, who was snickering beside him, a vicious glare, then pretended not to have heard and apologized in Chinese with a smile:

"I'm terribly sorry. I forgot that Mr. Zhan doesn't speak English."

"Let me introduce myself again in Chinese."

"I am from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, or S.H.I.E.L.D. for short. I am Director Nick Fury. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Zhan Liu nodded slightly, but he did not shake Nick's hand.

So it was the black hard-boiled egg. Zhan Liu immediately remembered.

One look was enough for him to understand that May was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

However, he said nothing. Such superficial identities meant nothing to him. He was not a native of this world and held neither the Federal Government nor the Security Council in any awe.

"Hello. Please, let's speak inside."

He gestured courteously and invited the two of them toward the living room.

Although they had not shaken hands, Nick was still quite satisfied. At the very least, Zhan Liu's attitude seemed friendly.

As the king of spies, Nick naturally knew that not everyone used handshakes as a greeting. It was merely a common Western custom.

Therefore, Zhan Liu's refusal to shake hands did not mean he bore hostility toward him.

And Zhan Liu's microexpressions told Nick that he held no hostility in his heart.

The living room was furnished in a Chinese style as well. A square Eight Immortals table stood in the middle, with a landscape painting hanging on the wall behind it. There was a grand master's chair on each side of the table, and two rows of chairs farther to either side, arranged in parallel.

The three entered the living room and took their seats as host and guests. A registered disciple came over and served tea.

May stepped forward respectfully and apologized:

"I'm sorry, Master. I am actually a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent..."

Zhan Liu raised a hand to stop her apology and said with a smile:

"When you first entered the sect, I said that this sect does not discriminate by background and teaches all without distinction. So if you are apologizing over something as trivial as being an agent, there is no need."

What he did not say was that even if Hydra came to seek discipleship, he would accept them all the same.

"I accepted you as my disciple because of who you are, and because you successfully entered the sect and reached the Current Drive Realm within three months."

"As for your identity, it is irrelevant."

"Remember this: in the future, you will become a War God. These external things are like the hair on a person's body. There is no need to care about them."

Zhan Liu's understanding attitude gave Nick even greater confidence in the conversation to come.

"Mr. Zhan, S.H.I.E.L.D. is an organization dedicated to protecting Earth. We have a duty to monitor and manage all extraterrestrial life that may harm the planet."

Nick spoke very carefully, choosing his words politely for fear that Zhan Liu would turn hostile upon hearing them.

He had dealt with many extraterrestrial lifeforms. No matter what kind of life they were, they all disliked being monitored.

This was especially true of beings from higher worlds. They could not tolerate being monitored by a group of "insects," and it was common for them to turn hostile and attack on the spot.

Fortunately, Zhan Liu did not care about any of that.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I have no interest in worldly wealth or power. Right now, I merely want to carry forward the Ultimate Limit Sect and cultivate as many War Gods as possible."

Nick inwardly relaxed. The most dangerous moment had passed, and the rest should be much easier to discuss.

He immediately displayed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s goodwill.

"Haha, if it is convenient for you, Mr. Zhan, why not take up an advisor position with S.H.I.E.L.D.? With that identity, many matters will involve far less trouble."

"And if Mr. Zhan needs anything in the future, you can come directly to S.H.I.E.L.D. for help. We are an international organization with considerable influence."

Zhan Liu thought it over and nodded. "It would be good to have less trouble. It would save me from wasting too much time."

If he refused, the next group to arrive might be Hydra.

Nick smiled even more broadly, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Then I'll have May deliver your advisor credentials later."

Nick had always been the type to push his luck.

"Also, Mr. Zhan, would you mind if S.H.I.E.L.D. studied your Qigong on a large scale?"

"I don't mind. The more disciples like May, the better."

"Have them come and become disciples. So long as they pay respects to the patriarch, they will become disciples of my Ultimate Limit Sect."

How straightforward!

The more War Gods, the better!

As for being surpassed by his disciples—if he did not even have that much confidence, what kind of War God could he become?

Nick's eyes narrowed into crescents as he smiled, then he pressed further:

"S.H.I.E.L.D. also has quite a few scientists who are very interested in the scientific principles contained within Ultimate Limit Qigong. Would you mind if they conducted research into it?"

"Oh, there are scientists in the Martial God World as well. Moreover, Ultimate Limit Qigong can be aided through scientific methods, so of course I do not mind scientists coming."

"I have also done some research into electromagnetism, and I am willing to exchange knowledge and learn together with scientists."

Although the system could provide opportunities for breakthroughs, given Zhan Liu's character, he could not possibly place all his hopes on a single system. If he could gather the power of the world and break through this limit himself, that would naturally be even better.

To break through the limit of Fifty Heavens in Ultimate Limit Qigong, he could not abandon either path: combat insights and scientific research had to advance side by side.

Now that someone was voluntarily delivering scientists to him, Zhan Liu naturally welcomed them wholeheartedly.

Nick was now incredibly satisfied with this alien, Zhan Liu. This was practically a cheat code that God had bestowed upon S.H.I.E.L.D.!

He greedily asked for more. "Then would it be convenient for me to have the scientists set up some instruments and equipment here later?"

"I have no objections." Zhan Liu turned and surveyed the surroundings. "But this place is rather old, and I don't know whether it can fit everything. As I recall, much scientific equipment is quite bulky."

This was simple. Nick waved a hand and directly offered a grand gift package.

"This place truly does not match your status. How about this? S.H.I.E.L.D. will build a large Martial Arts School for you in the suburbs. When the time comes, you can move there directly with your students."

Since S.H.I.E.L.D. intended to show goodwill, Zhan Liu naturally would not refuse.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony." Zhan Liu smiled as he accepted the olive branch.

The two spoke happily until Nick let something slip.

Or rather, he had not realized the seriousness of the matter at all.

"Ultimate Limit Qigong can truly be cultivated regardless of talent, aptitude, or physical condition, relying only on willpower?"

"Of course. However, those with good aptitude naturally cultivate much faster. Some people can enter the sect in a single day. But the only factor that determines one's upper limit is willpower."

"That's wonderful. This is practically tailor-made for agents. May previously taught the Qigong to other agents, but not a single one managed to learn it. At the time, I didn't know that Magnetic Field Acceleration was involved around you, so I thought..."

Nick suddenly noticed that the smile had vanished from Zhan Liu's face, replaced by a dark expression.

He stopped speaking and quickly reviewed what he had just said in his mind, but found no problem.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"You just said that May taught the Qigong to other agents?" Zhan Liu asked coldly.

"...Yes!" Nick still did not understand what the problem was.

"Then do you know that this sect forbids the private disclosure of its techniques?"

A blinding red light flashed within the system in Zhan Liu's mind.

Mission: Cleanse the Sect

Mission Details: Severely punish the disciple Melinda May for privately disclosing the sect's techniques, intimidate all sides, and make an example of her.

Mission Reward: Sky Eye

Failure Penalty: None