Chapter 53: Old man, give me ten minutes—I’ll take it down myself!

If it were a level 6 warrior, Zhang Chu could still tough it out. Equal in strength and backed by the system, how could he fear an old local like this? But the situation was different now. Telekinesis was a form of spiritual attack, a psychic martial technique that only Dual Power Warriors could master. In the eyes of a Dual Power Warrior, a level 6 martial artist was nothing at all.

“Master, I wasn’t fully awake just now. Please don’t mind what I said. Give me all the heavy and hard work; I’m young and full of energy!” Zhang Chu hung suspended in midair, his throat nearly crushed. Now was not the time for stubborn pride—that would be pure folly.

Even Hu Sanyi was shocked. The iron-willed man had submitted so easily? Guan Zifang was also dumbfounded. “I was just talking nonsense, and you’re actually taking it seriously?”

Seeing Guan Zifang’s confusion, Zhang Chu realized his chance had come. If he could survive today, there might be a chance to escape tomorrow. He unleashed the eloquence he’d honed negotiating with clients in his previous life, delivering a torrent of words as powerful as a master mage.

He began with an apology for entering the villa without permission. Then, he played the sympathy card, explaining that he and Hu Sanyi had stumbled into this place by accident while fleeing a level 6 beast. He apologized again for his earlier disrespectful words.

After three sentences, Guan Zifang was completely disarmed. A dignified level 4 Dual Power Warrior was actually starting to feel sympathy—how absurd!

He relaxed his grip, and Zhang Chu dropped to the ground. Sensing hope, Zhang Chu dashed to stand before Guan Zifang, dropping to one knee without hesitation.

Anyone able to survive in a level 6 forbidden zone as a Dual Power Warrior had to be formidable, perhaps even unhinged. If he didn’t seize the chance to curry favor, he might be dead in moments.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Under Guan Zifang’s stunned gaze, Zhang Chu knocked his head three times against the ground, then shouted, “Master, thank you for recognizing my talent and accepting me as your disciple. I, Zhang Chu, am deeply grateful. I promise to keep your beast zoo spotless from now on!”

Hu Sanyi’s eyes trembled, tears welling up. His heart ached—Zhang Chu was sacrificing his dignity for his sake. If he ever escaped alive, he would owe Zhang Chu his life.

“What am I supposed to do with you two?” Perhaps because he hadn’t seen many people in years, even a four-star Dual Power Warrior couldn’t resist Zhang Chu’s tactics.

“Master, whatever you say, I’ll do it!” Zhang Chu replied resolutely, playing the obedient disciple to perfection. After all, he’d worked in an office before—sucking up to the boss was basic survival. He had the skills.

“You think you can just become my disciple? Let’s see if you’re worthy! If not, I’ll throw you both into the beast zoo as feed!” Guan Zifang, old as he was, still had his wits and quickly saw through Zhang Chu’s ploy. With a wave of his hand—

Zhang Chu and Hu Sanyi were lifted, one in each hand, and whisked out of the villa in a flash.

...

Zhang Chu had thought level 6 warriors were already fast—capable of running 120 kilometers an hour. Who could have guessed that a four-star Dual Power Warrior was practically inhuman, reaching nearly 300 kilometers an hour?

This was Canglong Mountain in the dead of night, two degrees below zero. The cold wind slapped their faces like icy whips. At first, Zhang Chu could still speak, but after an hour he couldn’t even feel his mouth.

Morning dawned; the sun rose. Zhang Chu and Hu Sanyi were barely alive.

It was a wooden villa. Guan Zifang casually hung Hu Sanyi on the clothesline out front, using spiritual energy as a rope. Hu Sanyi dangled like a sheep, just missing a layer of mud and a fire underneath.

Zhang Chu was thrown directly into the beast zoo.

Guan Zifang produced a steaming ear of corn from who-knows-where and perched at a second-floor window. “You’re interesting, kid. I’ll give you one hour. If you can kill ten beasts in that time, I’ll let you both go.”

A thunderous roar shook the ground, making Zhang Chu, still shivering, leap back in fright.

Damn!

A two-meter-tall black bear charged at him. Zhang Chu dodged quickly as the giant stone behind him was smashed to pieces.

A level 6 beast—an Earthforce Bear. It had no special skills, just immense strength. Failing its first attack, the bear grew enraged and charged again.

“Brother Chu, be careful!” Hu Sanyi, hanging from the clothesline, had even changed how he addressed Zhang Chu. If they got out alive, he’d call him father if necessary!

Guan Zifang munched his corn, looking on with gossip-hungry eyes, pulling out a wine flask from somewhere. Drinking at 7:30 in the morning—either a drunkard or a madman, but definitely with a violent temper.

The shock snapped Zhang Chu’s numbed mind back into focus. Equal footing, but with the system’s support—why should he fear?

The ground trembled as the Earthforce Bear lunged, jaws wide. With a thought, Zhang Chu summoned the Xuangang Greatsword from his storage ring. “Blazing Fire Thirteen Strikes!”

Originally a level 1 martial art, the system’s evolution had honed it nearly to perfection. One slash, thirteen sword shadows. The thirteen merged as one.

The giant bear was gutted in a single exchange, blood gushing as it rolled aside to meet its ancestors.

Even Guan Zifang was stunned. Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

What followed was like a cheat mode. Zhang Chu originally needed thirty-nine level 6 beast cores—this was a gift.

He kept up the act, pretending to be weak and trying to escape, all while dispatching the attacking beasts.

One! Two! … Ten!

With his final strike, Zhang Chu kicked a dog’s head aside. “Sir, I’ve completed the task—may we leave now?”

Damn!

Guan Zifang was speechless. Begging for mercy all night, calling him master, but after slaying ten beasts, he was already getting cocky. If he killed twenty, he’d probably call him ‘old man.’ Polite, but only just.

“You brat, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Guan Zifang shouted, whistling.

“Hey, old man, you’re a four-star Dual Power Warrior. If word gets out about this, wouldn’t you be embarrassed?” Zhang Chu could tell trouble was coming.

Sure enough, a powerful gust swept from behind. Over a hundred beasts in the zoo recoiled in terror.

Hu Sanyi was petrified, pointing skyward. Zhang Chu turned to see a giant twin-winged scarlet dragon diving from the sky, unleashing a jet of fire.

A level 6 flying beast—Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon. Speed, flight, and fire-breathing were its specialties.

Cursing Guan Zifang for his duplicity, Zhang Chu dodged frantically. Guan Zifang clapped in delight, watching the chaos as if it were a circus show.

After half an hour, Zhang Chu was exhausted. He shot Guan Zifang the finger, wondering if the gesture meant anything in this world. “Old man, if you give me ten minutes to recover, I’ll kill your dragon!”

“I like your temper, kid! Fifteen minutes, let’s see what you can do. If you kill my prized Twin-Winged Scarlet Dragon, I’ll call you master!” Guan Zifang grinned, whistling the dragon away.

Zhang Chu sat down, turned on the faucet for a drink, and pulled out his phone.

Hu Sanyi and Guan Zifang were bewildered—at a time like this, he was still playing on his phone? How addicted could he be?

But Zhang Chu quietly opened the “Martial Artist Shop” app. On the way, Guan Zifang had bragged about having water, electricity, and internet here. Zhang Chu tried—it worked.

He quickly browsed, spending 2.7 million on a top-tier level 5 movement technique: “Silver Flash”…