Late at night, undercurrents stirred in Green Leaf City.
The Public Security Bureau was punished on the spot. With a single sentence from Chen Changsheng, all their sinister schemes came to nothing.
The people at the Public Security Bureau didn't know what had happened.
But at least they knew the director and Wang Lou had gone to find Xiao Fan!
Now Xiao Fan was alive and well, while those two would never come back.
And what happened next? The higher-ups immediately launched an investigation into them.
There was no doubt about it: Xiao Fan was a big shot they couldn't afford to offend.
And from a few clues, they learned that Xiao Fan seemed to be in great need of enhancement-type martial arts. Without hesitation, they brought him three manuals!
Xiao Fan was astonished. Could something this good really happen?
Even more astonishing was that all three martial arts were ones he had never cultivated before.
Unfortunately, they were all third-tier!
He fused them into a fourth-tier martial art, bringing the mission list to (1/30).
Right after that, he fused the fourth-tier enhancement-type martial art into All-Round Enhancement Five.
His maximum strength rose once again, from 5,000 kg to 5,200 kg.
The increase was so small that Xiao Fan was puzzled. A third-tier martial art had previously raised it by 200 kg, so why did a fourth-tier one give him the same increase now?
"Xianhuo, do you know what's going on?" Xiao Fan asked seriously on the balcony.
Lin Xianhuo replied calmly, "Fan, your strength comes from stacking enhancements, right?"
"That's right." Xiao Fan nodded.
"The rules of heaven and earth impose limits. If you could keep getting stronger without end just by learning more enhancement-type martial arts, wouldn't that be outrageous?"
"Those people with extremely high realms, long lifespans, and great talent for comprehension could study enhancement-type martial arts every day. Wouldn't their combat power soar straight to the heavens?"
"So once you reach a certain point, the bonuses weaken. That's perfectly normal."
Xiao Fan nodded thoughtfully.
Xianhuo continued, "Fan, you're an All-Round Walker. You should develop in every area!"
"From now on, focus more on elemental power!"
Xiao Fan smiled slightly. I want it all!
After all, enhancement-type martial arts were what the mission required, and the key to upgrading his talent!
At that moment, he looked at his system panel and was shocked to discover that his martial arts cultivation speed had increased more than tenfold!
Sacred Fire Token was only at proficiency, and it gained 0.5% every hour. That was 12% a day, meaning it could go from proficiency to perfection in two days!
That was the benefit his talent brought!
From now on, he wouldn't have to rely solely on killing higher-stage enemies to force his cultivation progress up. He could even slack off while it progressed in the background!
Wait! Xiao Fan froze.
He saw that there was only one fourth-tier martial art of his choice in his system inventory!
How strange. That one should have been his reward for killing Zhou Qiong, right? What about the one for Wang Lou?
[Host, rewards are based on the difficulty of killing an enemy. Although you did fight above your stage, your opponent was too weak for you, so you could not complete the achievement!]
Xiao Fan was helpless. So that was it. Simply put, it meant he had to risk his life to earn rewards. No risk, no reward! That also explained why he hadn't received any rewards for killing higher-stage beasts on Beast Mountain before.
All right, time to open the fourth-tier martial art of his choice!
Nice, another enhancement-type martial art.
Mission progress: (2/30)!
Just then, Xiao Fan suddenly noticed that neither Shao Yan nor Lin Xianhuo seemed as lively as before.
"What's wrong with you two?" Xiao Fan asked.
Lin Xianhuo's expression was complicated. She shook her head and said, "Nothing."
She was clearly unhappy. Xiao Fan grew a little nervous and turned to Shao Yan. "What's wrong?"
Shao Yan forced a smile. "Fanfan, I really never thought..."
"What?" Seeing Shao Yan hesitate to speak, Xiao Fan felt an inexplicable panic.
"N... nothing." Shao Yan shook her head and fell silent.
No matter how Xiao Fan pressed her, Shao Yan didn't say another word.
Xiao Fan was at a loss too. Maybe they'll feel better in the morning?
But early the next morning, Xiao Fan... couldn't find Shao Yan!
He couldn't get through to her on the phone, and the school said Shao Yan had already left. She had resigned early that morning!
He rushed to her residence, but no one was there!
He asked her friends, but they knew nothing!
A whole living person-had she vanished into thin air!?
Lin Xianhuo followed quietly behind Xiao Fan, her heart twisting like a knife as she watched his anxious figure!
"Where did that woman go?!" Xiao Fan was growing agitated!
But just then, Lin Xianhuo stepped forward and gently patted him on the shoulder.
Xiao Fan turned around and saw Xianhuo's eyes trembling slightly as she held out a letter in her slender hand.
His heart trembled, because there were unmistakable tearstains on the envelope.
On the mountain path, he sat down on a stone block beside him and opened the envelope.
"Thank you, little sister Xianhuo, for giving this letter to Fanfan for me. Last night, you kept asking me what was wrong with us."
"The reason is actually simple. I may seem carefree, but I can't accept two women sharing one husband."
"Besides, I haven't felt much genuine love from you."
"More importantly, I know you too well, Fanfan. Your feelings have always been ambiguous because you were afraid of hurting either of us, weren't you?"
"It's all right. I've chosen to step aside!"
"Xiao Fan, thank you for spending these past few years with me. I was lucky to meet you."
"Do your best, and go shine in the Super God Class!"
"Shao Yan loved Xiao Fan."
"Don't think of me or miss me!"
The envelope was covered in countless dried tearstains. Xiao Fan suddenly felt as though he couldn't breathe, and the hands that wielded five thousand kilograms of force now trembled uncontrollably.
Without you behind me, watching me and cheering me on!
What meaning would that stage have, no matter how grand it was!!
Beside him, Lin Xianhuo watched Xiao Fan and felt her heart shatter.
Even when he faced an invincible enemy, he hadn't shown the slightest fear, dread, or pain. But now? His whole body was filled with a profound sense of helplessness.
Lin Xianhuo couldn't hold back. She stepped forward and embraced Xiao Fan, sobbing as well.
They said there was an order to love: first come, first served.
Sister Shao Yan had come first, yet she had also been the first to leave!
All she remembered from last night was Shao Yan asking whether she truly loved Xiao Fan. After she nodded, she lost consciousness. When she woke up in the morning, all that remained was a letter!
Suddenly, Xiao Fan's trembling stopped. He raised his head sharply, his gaze firmer than ever.
"I'll find her and get a clear answer!"
"I will!"
Xiao Fan clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead clearly visible.
Lin Xianhuo looked dazed as she said, "If... if Sister Shao Yan changes her mind..."
"Tell her I can actually accept it."
With that, Lin Xianhuo fiercely pressed her red lips to Xiao Fan's.
Xiao Fan didn't resist. The two embraced and kissed freely, expressing their love for each other and comforting one another!
But just then, a powerful aura of flame suddenly appeared high in the sky and hurtled down toward them at incredible speed!
Xiao Fan's expression shifted slightly. He scooped Xianhuo into his arms and immediately retreated dozens of steps!
Boom!
The spot where he had been sitting exploded like fireworks, and flames blazed across an area several meters wide!
Lin Xianhuo trembled in his arms. "My brother!"
"That's my brother!"
Xiao Fan frowned deeply and slowly set Xianhuo down, staring straight at the intense blaze!
A tall man with a wild shock of red hair slowly emerged from the flames, a ring of fire moving around him as he walked!
The man glanced coldly at Lin Xianhuo. "Stand back!"
To Lin Lianshen's surprise, the corners of Lin Xianhuo's mouth suddenly lifted, and she actually stepped back out of the battlefield.
That wasn't how things normally went. Shouldn't the usual script have the younger sister shielding that bastard with all her might?
What's this supposed to mean?
Does my little sister think he can beat me?
One glance told him everything: Martial Man Sixth Stage, Venerable talent!
A clay chicken and a pottery dog!
"You shouldn't have touched my sister!" Killing intent flashed in Lin Lianshen's eyes.
Xiao Fan was still in an agitated mood, so he gave a cold grin. "Thank you."
"Huh?" Lin Lianshen frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I said, thank you for showing up at a time like this and giving me someone to vent on."
"Vent on?" Lin Lianshen froze, then laughed in his fury. "I've seen people courting death, but never anyone so eager to throw his life away!"
"Fire Fist!"
As his words fell, Lin Lianshen's thick right arm bulged, bursting straight through his sleeve and revealing its sculpted contours!
Xiao Fan's expression didn't change as he analyzed the punch.
Elemental power and physical strength enhancing each other?
Interesting!
Demon Man Scripture, activate!
All-Round Enhancement Five, activate!
A black aura spread over Xiao Fan's body. He bent his knees, and just as the thick pillar of fire was about to strike him, he lunged sideways like a drifting cannonball!