The Battle Begins

The moment Nick Fury saw Zhan Liu's expression, he knew things were going badly.

Flexible enough to yield when necessary, he immediately apologized decisively.

"I'm truly very sorry. We were in the wrong about this. I'll immediately have everyone who has practiced Ultimate Limit Qigong come here to become your disciples..."

With a wave of his hand, Zhan Liu cut him off.

"These are two separate matters."

"Becoming a disciple before learning the art is the proper order. Becoming a disciple after stealing the art is not entirely unacceptable either."

"However, after becoming a disciple, privately leaking the cultivation method without the sect's permission is a grave taboo in every school and sect. It must be severely punished."

"And what exactly does this severe punishment entail?"

"I will reclaim her martial arts."

"She has already learned it. How can you reclaim it? Brainwash her until she forgets?"

"I will cripple her. It's that simple."

"What? That won't do."

This time, Nick Fury refused to budge. If it had merely been a fine, he would have written a check without a second word.

If there had been any other form of punishment, Nick Fury would have helped settle it as well.

But crippling her was absolutely not a solution Nick Fury would consider.

May had rendered great service by bringing Qigong back to S.H.I.E.L.D. If they could not even protect someone who had made such a contribution and simply allowed her to be crippled, how could he lead a team in the future?

Besides, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been throwing its weight around for so long. When had it ever truly suffered a loss?

The only reason he had been politely negotiating with Zhan Liu was that the man might possess considerable combat power, making the cost of containing him rather high. It was not because Nick Fury was genuinely afraid of Zhan Liu.

Nick Fury's face darkened as well, and his voice carried a threat. "Mr. Zhan, May leaked the cultivation method because S.H.I.E.L.D. ordered her to."

"So?" Zhan Liu's voice turned cold. "Are you saying S.H.I.E.L.D. is greater than my sect?"

"May is first a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and only second an Ultimate Limit Sect disciple."

"I have said before that status is irrelevant. Those are merely external appearances, utterly meaningless to a War God."

Zhan Liu turned to May. "May, let me ask you this: do you know your mistake?"

Now that both sides had openly fallen out, May saw no need to keep up appearances.

"Investigating the Martial Arts School was my assignment from the start."

Zhan Liu laughed in extreme anger. "Ha ha... So you refuse to admit your mistake?"

May responded with indifference.

She had never truly understood Eastern sect culture. To her, a so-called sect was fundamentally no different from paying a teacher at school to learn knowledge.

I learned knowledge from you, and you taught it to me. Once I learned it, that knowledge was mine. Whether I passed it on to others had nothing to do with you.

As for so-called sect rules, in her eyes, they were equivalent to school regulations—not even subordinate law.

She would obey them if she wished to. If she did not, then take her to court!

Zhan Liu snorted coldly, murderous intent suddenly bursting forth.

"Before you entered the sect, I told you that if you did not agree with our rules, you could leave. I would not stop you. But once you entered this sect, you had to obey its rules. Did you not hear that clearly at the time?"

May was getting impatient as well. "I am a Level Seven S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. First, I obey Federation law. Second, S.H.I.E.L.D. regulations. Only then do I consider anything else."

Zhan Liu had become completely disappointed in this stubborn disciple.

"So, you believe that pathetic Federation of yours is stronger than my sect?"

"I once thought you possessed the bearing of a War God, but now it seems you cannot even see past superficial appearances. You are rotten wood beyond carving."

Nick Fury grew angry as well. "Mr. Zhan, think this through. The ground beneath your feet belongs to the Federation and is under Federation jurisdiction. If you dare violate Federation law, don't blame us for being impolite."

He abruptly rose to his feet. "May, we're leaving."

May did not hesitate. She followed behind Nick Fury and headed outside.

"Leaving? You think you can still leave?"

Though Zhan Liu remained seated without moving, his murderous intent surged wildly and engulfed the two of them.

Before Nick Fury and May could even reach the door, they felt as if they had fallen into an icy abyss. Frozen from head to toe, they could not move at all.

Nick Fury inwardly cried out in alarm, but he could not move even a fingertip. Calling for support was impossible.

Then he felt a surge of electricity around May, breaking apart the murderous intent shrouding them both.

"Not bad. Being able to withstand my killing intent means your willpower is passable," Zhan Liu praised.

Once free, Nick Fury immediately pressed the button in his hand and sent a signal outside.

Only then did he feel somewhat relieved, turning to look at Zhan Liu.

With this kind of unruly alien, they would ultimately have to teach him a lesson before he would speak properly.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who had long been lying in ambush outside swiftly surrounded the Martial Arts School. Tanks on the ground and aircraft in the sky sealed off the entire school.

This gave Nick Fury an illusory sense of security, and he grandly announced:

"You are under arrest for attempting to attack a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. It is too late for regrets now."

"Ha ha... How utterly laughable. A pack of rats actually dares threaten a War God?!"

"Very well. Today, I'll let you see what a War God truly is."

Seeing that this trapped beast was still so arrogant, May flew into a rage. She gathered all her power, electricity racing through her body. Leaping into the air, she unleashed an Ultimate Emperor Leg directly at Zhan Liu's face.

"Ten thousand volts! Taste the power of electricity yourself!"

Zhan Liu remained seated where he was, not even raising an eyelid.

The heavy strike landed squarely on Zhan Liu's face, yet not even a strand of his hair was disturbed.

Nick Fury and May were both stunned. Nick Fury knew exactly how powerful May's kick was. That kick could turn even a tank into scrap metal, yet it had no effect whatsoever on Zhan Liu.

A terrible premonition suddenly rose in Nick Fury's heart. He wanted to call a halt, but it was already too late.

Zhan Liu lightly flicked a finger, sending out a faint current that struck May squarely.

The current looked insignificant, just like the one May had used in Nick Fury's office during her demonstration—tiny and dim. But after she was hit, she felt as if lightning had struck her entire body, and all her inner force immediately drained away.

With a thunderous boom, a figure was blasted out of the Martial Arts School, crashing through the encirclement outside and even overturning one of the tanks.

Thinking an attack had occurred, the agents hurriedly raised their weapons and surrounded the figure.

"Oh no, it's Agent May! Get the medical team here, quickly!"

"No need. I haven't lost yet!" May was covered in blood, yet she still struggled to her feet and looked toward the figure leisurely walking out through the breach.

"Again!" she roared, gathering electricity once more.

"Didn't you say that willpower was the core?"

"Didn't you say that fierce battles and a moment of insight could surpass ten years of bitter cultivation?"

"Then today, I'll show you just how strong my will is!"

"If ten thousand volts isn't enough, then... twenty thousand volts!"