Chapter 272: Qinghe Technologies

"You call it luck."

"Women are supposed to admire you."

"So when they don’t..."

"You blame me."

Lu Chen’s face twisted.

"Shut up."

Shen Tian kept walking.

"You say I’m arrogant?"

"I am."

A smile appeared.

"But at least my arrogance belongs to me."

His green eyes narrowed.

"I don’t need everyone else to agree with it."

Lu Chen roared.

He charged.

Shen Tian charged too.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Their fists collided.

This time...

Neither moved.

For one second...

They stood equal.

Pressure exploding.

Stone cracking.

Then...

Shen Tian smiled.

Lu Chen’s stomach dropped.

Sovereign Suppression.

WHOOOOOOM!

Lu Chen’s arm trembled.

His Qi destabilized.

Shen Tian twisted.

Punch.

BOOM!

Lu Chen stumbled.

Shen Tian followed.

Knee.

THOOM!

Lu Chen blocked.

Still...

His arms shook.

Shen Tian spun.

Kick.

Lu Chen ducked.

Counter.

Punch.

Shen Tian caught it.

Then...

He pulled.

Elbow.

BAM!

Lu Chen’s head snapped sideways.

Blood sprayed.

Shen Tian didn’t stop.

Palm.

Chest.

BOOOOOOM!

Lu Chen flew.

He crashed through a stone barrier.

Dust exploded.

Then...

Silence.

Shen Tian walked through the dust.

Lu Chen stood.

Barely.

His second Wolf Sigil glowed at his waist.

Shen Tian’s eyes moved toward it.

Lu Chen noticed.

His expression changed.

"No."

Shen Tian kept walking.

Lu Chen stepped backward.

"No."

Then...

He realized what he was doing.

Retreating.

His face twisted with rage.

He stopped.

Shen Tian smiled faintly.

"Good."

Lu Chen stared.

"Don’t praise me."

"Then stop improving."

"FUCK YOU!"

He charged.

Shen Tian met him.

Five strikes.

Ten.

Twenty.

Lu Chen fought like a man possessed.

And for several moments...

He genuinely pushed Shen Tian.

A punch grazed Shen Tian’s cheek.

A kick forced him backward.

Another elbow nearly landed.

Lu Chen’s confidence surged.

"YES!"

He attacked harder.

"THAT’S IT!"

Shen Tian’s green eyes narrowed.

Lu Chen punched.

Shen Tian moved.

Then...

Gone.

Lu Chen froze.

Behind.

"Too excited."

His eyes widened.

Shen Tian grabbed his shoulder.

Turned.

Then...

BOOOOOOOM!

Lu Chen hit the ground.

A crater formed.

His breath left him.

Shen Tian stepped down.

One foot planted against Lu Chen’s chest.

Not crushing.

Holding.

Lu Chen immediately grabbed his ankle.

Tried pushing.

Nothing.

Sovereign Suppression descended.

His strength vanished.

Shen Tian looked down.

"Still think we’re even?"

Lu Chen’s eyes burned.

"Get off."

"No."

"GET OFF!"

"Ask nicely."

Lu Chen’s face became purple.

"GO FUCK YOURSELF!"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Better than last time."

Then...

He reached down.

Lu Chen’s eyes widened.

"No."

Shen Tian grabbed the Wolf Sigil.

Lu Chen’s hand shot toward his wrist.

Shen Tian caught it.

Pinned it.

Then...

Pulled.

The sigil came free.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Silver light filled the maze.

The voice echoed.

"WOLF SIGIL TRANSFERRED."

Silence.

Lu Chen stared.

Absolute disbelief.

Shen Tian stood.

Two sigils in his hand.

His own.

And Lu Chen’s.

The system exploded.

[Ding!]

Major Fate Route altered.

Lu Chen’s claimed Wolf Sigil stolen through direct defeat.

Fate stolen: 12,000

Lu Chen Current Fate Value: 390,000

Shen Tian stared at the sigil.

Then...

Placed both into storage.

Lu Chen remained on the ground.

For several seconds...

Nothing.

Then...

He laughed.

Quietly.

Shen Tian looked down.

Lu Chen’s laughter grew.

Not happy.

Not sane.

Just...

Disbelief.

"You really..."

He slowly sat up.

"...take everything."

Shen Tian stared.

"Not everything."

Lu Chen looked toward him.

Shen Tian’s expression became colder.

"Just what you keep trying to use against me."

Silence.

Lu Chen slowly stood.

His body shook.

His fists tightened.

The hatred in his eyes returned full force.

But...

This time...

He didn’t attack.

He knew.

He’d lose.

Again.

And he hated knowing that.

More than the beating.

More than losing the sigil.

More than the blood.

His voice became low.

"I will beat you."

Shen Tian nodded.

"Maybe."

Lu Chen froze.

He expected mockery.

Shen Tian continued.

"But not today."

Then...

He turned.

The labyrinth rumbled.

A new pathway opened.

The ancient voice echoed.

"TWO SIGILS CLAIMED BY ONE."

Shen Tian stopped.

Lu Chen’s face changed.

"THE ALTAR OPENS."

Golden light appeared ahead.

A massive door slowly opened.

Beyond...

An ancient altar.

Wolf carvings.

A suit of black armor.

Two massive gauntlets.

A stone tablet.

And...

A floating silver core.

Xu Ning’s eyes widened.

[Host.]

The system appeared.

Heavenly Wolf Inheritance

Heavenly Wolf Body Scripture

Bloodsteel Combat Art

Ancient Spirit Weapon Fragment

Wolf King’s Battle Armor

Heavenly Wolf Core

Inheritance Fate Value Remaining: 26,000

Shen Tian smiled.

"Jackpot."

Behind him...

Lu Chen stared.

His entire body froze.

The inheritance.

His inheritance.

Open.

For Shen Tian.

The ancient voice spoke.

"HEIR..."

Lu Chen’s face twisted.

"No."

Shen Tian stepped forward.

"Don’t."

Shen Tian continued.

Lu Chen’s Qi exploded.

"I SAID DON’T!"

He charged.

Shen Tian stopped.

Then...

Slowly looked over his shoulder.

His green eyes became cold.

"Lu Chen."

The mercenary froze mid-step.

Something in Shen Tian’s voice...

Different.

No teasing.

No amusement.

No patience.

"You lost."

Silence.

Shen Tian continued.

"You challenged me."

"You tried to take my sigil."

"You lost yours instead."

"That’s the trial."

Lu Chen’s fists shook.

"Move."

"No."

"Shen Tian..."

"You wanted enemies."

Shen Tian turned completely.

"Then learn what being enemies means."

Lu Chen stared.

Shen Tian’s voice became calm.

Almost cruel.

"I don’t owe you mercy."

"I don’t owe you opportunities."

"I don’t owe you a fair chance to become strong enough to kill me."

Silence.

"You made your intentions clear."

"So did I."

Shen Tian pointed toward the altar.

"This..."

"...is mine."

Lu Chen’s eyes became bloodshot.

Then...

A new sound echoed.

BOOOOOOM!

The entire labyrinth shook violently.

Both men looked upward.

Xu Ning’s expression changed.

[Host.]

"What?"

[External intrusion.]

Shen Tian’s eyes narrowed.

[Someone breached the mountain.]

Lu Chen immediately became alert.

"Who?"

Shen Tian looked toward him.

"You can’t hear her."

Lu Chen’s eye twitched.

"Now is not the time!"

Shen Tian almost smiled.

Then...

Another explosion.

Far above.

BOOOOOOM!

The system flashed.

[WARNING]

External hostile force detected.

Qinghe Technologies simultaneous attack underway.

Shen Tian’s smile disappeared.

"What?"

Xu Ning’s expression became serious.

[Host...]

A second panel appeared.

Qinghe Technologies

Security breach in progress.

Primary target: Neural Defense Prototype

Gu Qingya present on-site.

Shen Tian’s green eyes became ice cold.

Behind him...

Lu Chen froze.

"Qingya?"

Shen Tian looked toward Xu Ning.

"How long?"

[Attack began minutes ago.]

"Who?"

[Xue Long’s people.]

Lu Chen’s killing intent exploded.

"XUE LONG."

Then...

Shen Tian looked toward the inheritance.

One second.

That was all.

Decision.

He walked toward the altar.

Lu Chen stared.

"What are you doing?!"

"Finishing this."

Shen Tian placed both sigils into the altar.

BOOOOOOM!

Golden light erupted.

The inheritance surged.

Then...

Instead of slowly accepting each piece...

Shen Tian opened system storage.

"Take all of it."

Xu Ning’s eyes widened.

[Host?!]

"Now."

[Integration will take time!]

"Store first."

She immediately understood.

[Yes!]

Golden light swallowed the chamber.

One by one...

The treasures vanished.

Wolf King’s Battle Armor acquired.

Heavenly Wolf Body Scripture acquired.

Bloodsteel Combat Art acquired.

Ancient Spirit Weapon Fragment acquired.

Heavenly Wolf Core acquired.

Then...

The Fate notification exploded.

[Ding!]

Heavenly Wolf Inheritance stolen completely.

Fate stolen: 26,000

Lu Chen Current Fate Value: 364,000

Lu Chen stared.

Everything...

Gone.

In seconds.

Then...

Shen Tian walked past him.

"Move."

Lu Chen looked toward the empty altar.

Then Shen Tian.

"You..."

"Qingya’s being attacked."

That stopped him.

Completely.

Lu Chen’s anger vanished.

Not hatred.

Not rivalry.

Mission focus.

"Where?"

"Qinghe."

Lu Chen’s expression became cold.

"Then why are we standing here?"

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

For once...

Good question.

He looked upward.

The labyrinth was already collapsing.

Stone.

Corridors.

Miles of mountain between them and the surface.

Shen Tian summoned the Heaven Piercing Spear.

Lu Chen stared.

"No."

Shen Tian looked toward him.

"What?"

"You are not doing what I think you’re doing."

Shen Tian planted his feet.

"Probably am."

"WE’RE UNDER A MOUNTAIN."

"Yes."

"THERE ARE PEOPLE ABOVE US."

"Not directly."

"HOW DO YOU KNOW?!"

"Spirit Perception."

"THAT DOESN’T..."

Shen Tian drew back the spear.

Lu Chen’s eyes widened.

"SHEN TIAN!"

Shen Tian thrust upward.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The ceiling exploded.

Golden Qi became a massive spear of light.

Stone shattered.

Layer after layer.

A vertical tunnel ripped upward.

The entire labyrinth shook.

Lu Chen covered his face.

Dust and debris exploded around them.

Then...

Moonlight.

Far above.

Shen Tian looked up.

"Shortcut."

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

Slowly looked toward him.

"I hate you."

Shen Tian jumped.

"Get in line."

Qi exploded beneath his feet.

He shot upward.

Lu Chen stared for half a second.

Then cursed.

And followed.

. . .

Qinghe Technologies.

2:31 A.M.

Glass covered the executive floor.

Emergency alarms screamed.

Red lights flashed.

Gu Qingya crouched behind a reinforced desk.

Two security officers protected the doorway.

Gunfire erupted outside.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

One guard returned fire.

"President Gu!"

"I’m fine!"

Her voice remained controlled.

But...

Her heart raced.

This wasn’t Red Scorpion.

These men were different.

Professional.

No shouting.

No random violence.

They moved efficiently.

They were after something.

Gu Qingya knew exactly what.

The Neural Defense Prototype.

Her phone had no signal.

Internal communications were dead.

Then...

A thought entered her mind.

Lu Chen.

[Qingya.]

Her eyes widened.

[Hold on.]

Gu Qingya froze.

The voice was distant.

But...

Strong.

[I’m coming.]

Her expression changed.

For once...

No lust.

No possession.

No arrogance.

Just concern.

Then...

Another thought.

[If Xue Long touched her...]

Gu Qingya’s eyes narrowed.

Still violent.

But...

At least understandable.

Then...

She heard something else.

Not Lu Chen.

Her phone screen suddenly flickered.

No signal.

Then...

One message appeared.

Impossible.

Shen Tian: Stay where you are.

Gu Qingya stared.

Another.

Shen Tian: I’m coming.

Her heartbeat changed.

Why...

Why did that make her feel safer?

She looked at the message.

Then...

A tiny smile appeared despite the gunfire outside.

One of the guards looked over.

"President Gu?"

She locked the phone.

"Nothing."

The guard stared.

Gu Qingya’s cheeks warmed slightly.

"Focus."

"Yes, ma’am."

. . .

Several floors below...

Tang Meilin stepped out of an elevator.

She had come to Qinghe earlier to review a joint family investment proposal.

Wrong night.

Very wrong night.

A security officer grabbed her arm.

"Miss Tang!"

Gunfire echoed.

"Stay behind me!"

Tang Meilin nodded.

Her face was pale.

Then...

Her phone vibrated.

One message.

Shen Tian: You’re there too?

Tang Meilin’s eyes widened.

How did he...

She typed quickly.

Tang Meilin: Yes.

Immediate response.

Shen Tian: Stay with security. Don’t move alone.

Her fingers paused.

Then...

Tang Meilin: Okay.

Another message.

Shen Tian: Good.

Tang Meilin stared.

That one word...

Her cheeks became warm.

Now?

Really?

She closed her eyes.

This is not the time.

Still...

A small smile appeared.

Then...

Gunfire erupted above.

Her smile vanished.

. . .

Outside Qinghe...

Three black vans blocked the rear entrance.

Masked attackers moved equipment toward the building.

One man stood near the loading bay.

Scarred.

Older.

Cold eyes.

Xue Long.

He looked at his watch.

"Five minutes."

A mercenary beside him nodded.

"Prototype team is almost in."

"And Gu Qingya?"

"Contained."

Xue Long’s expression remained calm.

"No unnecessary killing."

The mercenary blinked.

"Sir?"

"We need leverage."

He looked toward the city.

"Not bodies."

Then...

A distant sound.

WHOOOOOOOM...

Xue Long’s eyes narrowed.

Something was coming.

Fast.

Very fast.

Then...

BOOOOOOM!

A vehicle barrier exploded.

A black car tore through the outer gate.

Xue Long stared.

The vehicle drifted.

Stopped.

Door opened.

Shen Tian stepped out.

Blond hair.

Green eyes.

Black shirt.

A tiny cut still visible near his cheek from the earlier fight.

His expression...

Cold.

Very cold.

Lu Chen exited the passenger side.

Covered in blood.

Clothes torn.

Furious.

Xue Long stared.

Then...

Slowly smiled.

"Both."

Lu Chen’s eyes locked onto him.

Three years.

Three years believing him dead.

Three years carrying betrayal.

His entire body became still.

"Xue Long."

Xue Long smiled.

"War Wolf."

Shen Tian looked between them.

Then...

At the building.

Gunfire.

His green eyes narrowed.

"Move."

Xue Long glanced toward him.

"Young Master Shen."

"Move."

The mercenaries around Xue Long raised their weapons.

Shen Tian’s expression didn’t change.

Lu Chen slowly smiled.

Not at Shen Tian.

At Xue Long.

"You really picked the worst possible night."

Xue Long raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Lu Chen cracked his neck.

"Because I already hate someone else."

Shen Tian looked sideways.

Lu Chen stared.

"Don’t make it weird."

Shen Tian smiled faintly.

Then...

Xue Long laughed.

"Interesting."

He raised one hand.

The mercenaries prepared.

Shen Tian summoned the Heaven Piercing Spear.

Lu Chen lowered his stance.

Two enemies.

Side by side.

Neither liked it.

Neither trusted the other.

Both fully intended to resume hating each other afterward.

But right now?

Someone else had stepped into the middle.

Shen Tian looked toward Lu Chen.

"Try not to slow me down."

Lu Chen’s face darkened.

"I was about to say that."

"Too slow."

"I hate you."

"I know."

Xue Long lowered his hand.

The mercenaries attacked.

And for the first time...

Shen Tian and Lu Chen charged in the same direction.

--------

(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!