At the thought, he glared at Wei Gaocheng, murder in his eyes. "You little punk, I've hated your guts for a long time!"
Bzz!
He opened his mouth and a jet of flame burst straight at Wei Gaocheng.
This was his awakened ability—Fire.
Wei Gaocheng sneered. "You dare raise a hand against me?"
His body swelled rapidly; on his torso the feathers that once grew there had turned into black armor after evolution via the soul crystal.
Facing the flames, Wei Gaocheng simply stretched out his left hand and swatted.
Boom! The fire exploded, the remnants hitting the white stone table and cracking it apart.
Everyone else quickly backed away.
Han Qi crossed his arms, four eyes fixed on the fight. "If we don't give this rookie a show-of-force, he'll forget who's boss."
Once the flames scattered, the three-metre Monster vanished from sight.
Somewhere in the hall, Cai Xiu—now invisible—charged the Birdman with a savage grin.
His huge frame sprinted across the floor without a sound; it was a new ability gained after becoming a Monster.
'Vanish into Silence'!
It granted invisibility and erased every trace of noise.
"Die!" He reached Wei Gaocheng's left in a flash, talons raking for the head while the tail behind him stabbed at the gut.
But Wei Gaocheng suddenly whipped a fist upward, smashing into his stomach.
Bang! The brutal punch bulged Cai Xiu's eyes; his body curled like a shrimp and he flew backward.
Crash! The blow slammed him into the hall wall dozens of metres away.
A Monster-shaped crater appeared in the metre-thick wall; only then did Cai Xiu's outline reappear.
"Idiot—never underestimate a bird's sense of airflow," Wei Gaocheng said, contempt dripping.
Though he couldn't see or hear Cai Xiu, he still caught the faint shift of air the movement caused.
'soul crystal-boosted Monsters are on a completely different level from ordinary ones.' Han Qi watched, reassessing the strength he and his comrades now possessed.
"Hmph! Anyone else want a shot? I'm game!" Wei Gaocheng's beak twisted in a vicious grin.
Yet no one dared step forward; Yun Xia and Ma Yuan, moments ago eager, abandoned the idea after seeing Cai Xiu floored with one punch.
Han Qi smiled. "Welcome to the Monster Association. Rest assured, we're strong—even the Xuanjian Division needn't concern us."
"My lord, how should we address you?" Yun Xia closed the eyes on her arms, though cracks still lined them; the single eye on her forehead wouldn't even shut.
Han Qi pointed to Li Yong and Wei Gaocheng and began the introductions.
Their status had risen again; the trio—including Dong Guangjie and An Conghao—were now Cadres.
But the three of them were front-line fighters; Dong Guangjie handled research while An Conghao carried out Jiang Yan's orders and personnel assignments.
"Lord Han Qi, how do we interact with the outside world now? The Xuanjian Division still sends people to check on us occasionally," said Cai Xiu, walking back; the punch had only hurt, not harmed.
His body reshaped, but the several-metre tail still swayed outside—too awkward to stuff into trousers.
Han Qi waved; a black-clad man at the doorway brought in a black case.
Opened, it revealed countless rice-grain-sized coloured crystals.
"These are illusion crystals," he explained. "Hold one, picture any appearance, and outsiders will see exactly that for five hours—cameras included. Use them whenever you leave…"
The Weaver of Illusions, fed daily by Jiang Yan with perfect laxative fare, now produced a hundred grains per stool—ample for the Association's needs.
While Han Qi's trio subdued Liyang Country's Fourth-level Awakeners…
Jiang Yan had already landed at Yinglin City airport deep within the White Mountain Federation, the continent's southernmost nation.
The Weaver perched on his shoulder, turning his face into that of an ordinary youth; four Bodyguards followed, Lei Xiangchen at his side.
"President, per the intel Xie Gongming lives in the suburbs," Lei Xiangchen said respectfully.
Jiang Yan, white shirt and black trousers, hair casually tied, reviewed Xie Gongming's file.
Though called a federation, White Mountain's population and territory matched Liyang Country's—defended by only four Fourth-level Awakeners.
Yet this tiny power had produced a prodigy neurologist whose debut papers had stunned academia.
But for unknown reasons he'd retired years ago.
"Let's go." Jiang Yan led them toward the address.
He valued talent—especially researchers—which was why he'd come in person despite his growing forces.
Xiao Yang had recommended Xie Gongming among others.
Outside the terminal three black luxury cars waited.
A driver opened a door at once. "President, Mr. Lei, please."
They boarded and headed straight for the suburbs.
Half an hour later high-rise buildings gave way to ageing residential blocks.
Soon they stopped at a secluded two-storey wooden cottage near the fields.
Farmers carrying hoes glanced curiously at the expensive convoy.
Jiang Yan stepped out, surprised. "He really lives here?"
He signalled; the Bodyguards checked inside—empty.
"Looking for Xie Gongming?" a voice called from behind.
They turned to see an old farmer holding a pitchfork.
Lei Xiangchen's eyes lit; he drew his wallet and fanned out ten thousand-blue-star-coin notes.
"Old-timer, tell us where he is and it's all yours." He waved the cash under the farmer's nose.
The farmer's eyes shone; half a year of crops couldn't match this. "That old geezer's drinking in a little restaurant five kilometres straight ahead. Only one place there—you can't miss it."
He snatched the money.
Lei Xiangchen looked to Jiang Yan.
"Let's move." Jiang Yan climbed back in.
The convoy left, the old farmer still grinning at his windfall.