Chapter Fifty-Four: Concealing One's Strength

Chapter Fifty-Four: Concealing Strength

Ordinary awakened ones would have already hidden themselves away in some corner, never daring to show themselves easily.

Boom!

Below the building, an iron warrior landed—Bai Weiwei, her face cold.

“First Squad, do you copy?” she called.

“First Squad here, go ahead!” came the reply.

“Expand the sealed area by one kilometer. Coordinate with Second and Third Squads and execute immediately. Clear the field.”

“Yes!”

With that, Bai Weiwei charged at several virus-infected mutants. Her body was impervious to attacks; blades and swords could not harm her, nor would she bleed. Ignoring all dangers, she used her formidable iron physique to fling the infected beings about.

This sight sent a chill through those watching.

“This young woman is too violent,” someone remarked.

“She’s radiating dominance—I like it,” said another.

But even as they spoke, they were also subduing the infected. Their strength was formidable; it took them hardly any time to restrain one. Moreover, their numbers were great.

Suddenly, someone was infected by blood. Unable to shield himself in time, he transformed almost instantly into one of the infected. Before the change was complete, Shen An dispatched him.

Staring at the bloodstains on the ground, Shen An frowned. The infected were dealt with, but the ground was still covered in blood. Every drop carried the virus—it could not be ignored.

“That’s right, how could I forget!” Shen An slapped his forehead, remembering the fire he had absorbed from the myriad sources mountain in his spatial pocket. It had been useless until now.

He could release a bit of that flame to burn away the blood, purifying the contaminated ground.

With a thought, Shen An summoned the fire. Flames burst forth at his feet, soaring skyward, instantly vaporizing the blood. The bodies on the ground were scorched by the fire as well.

Seeing Shen An suddenly wielding flames, the experts present were startled. They had watched him fight for so long, yet had no idea he possessed such control over fire. Now, at the end, he revealed it.

Furthermore, the flame was evidently superior to Wang Yuan’s.

As their gazes turned to Shen An, their expressions shifted again—this young man who played the fool, just how many secrets did he hide?

From feigning injury in his fight with Chen Ziliang, to resisting twelve opponents underground, to killing his adversary, and now displaying his fire abilities—this man...

Within everyone’s mind, Shen An became a great enigma. The final meaning of that question mark was clear: he was someone never to be provoked.

Shen An was oblivious to their thoughts. After finishing up here, he left, having no time for conversation.

Chen Hailong was still alive, and his business was not yet concluded.

As Shen An departed, the assembled crowd exchanged glances. Among them was Chu Dongwang of the Chu family, father of Chu Yuxi.

“Come, let’s follow him—he must be heading to the Chen family,” he said, eager for the spectacle, as were the other bigwigs.

Thud, thud, thud!

When Shen An arrived at the Chen family estate, tremors like earthquakes resonated within the villa grounds. Flames soared, poisonous gas filled the air. Murky figures—Mu Linqiu, Wang Yuan whose flames were nearly spent, and the weakened Viper—were all present.

These people, once formidable, now appeared utterly exhausted and battered, unable even to flee.

Mu Linqiu could no longer stay invisible. Her body flickered between concealment and visibility.

Hiss!

Shen An saw a sword aura flash ahead. He quickly swung his black iron blade, releasing his own blade aura. In midair, blade and sword clashed, compressing the surrounding air in a violent explosion.

Chen Hailong emerged from the blast, sword in hand.

Wang Yuan and Viper attacked simultaneously.

Chen Hailong casually swung his sword. His swordplay was exquisite, as if honed over many years, reaching a subtle mastery.

Two blood trails appeared on Wang Yuan and Viper, who plummeted into the wall, smashing it down.

Chen Hailong saw Shen An.

“You’re alive after all—you didn’t disappoint me.”

Shen An ignored him, instead sensing the injuries of the others—severely wounded, all of them.

Though their deaths meant little to Shen An, they had aided him, so he felt obliged.

For now, he had no time for anything else.

“You know me well?” Shen An asked curiously.

“Of course,” Chen Hailong replied, standing firm. “I have plenty of information on you, but honestly, I don’t know you that well.”

“You, like me, prefer to conceal your strength. Your true power is far more than Second Grade. So young, yet in such a short time, you’ve seized the moment, rising from nothing to the apex of Third Grade.”

He spoke slowly, paying no mind to Shen An’s astonished expression.

Indeed, Shen An was shocked.

He had not expected this old man, merely from investigation, to deduce his Third Grade strength.

He had hidden it for so long, even from many experts. That was Shen An’s trait—his abilities were unusual, and many underestimated him.

“You do know quite a lot,” Shen An conceded, as if acknowledging the guess.

Their conversation was overheard by everyone present, and all their faces changed.

Another layer of concealment? Just how much was hidden?

They could hardly believe it. They had thought him at the peak of Second Grade, but now he admitted to being Third Grade.

Even Mu Linqiu and the others looked at Shen An in astonishment and complicated emotions.

He was terrifying—so many secrets concealed.

Wang Yuan couldn’t fathom it either; how could this young man be so strong? The gap between them was vast; he feared he might never lift his head again.

“Shen An, I admire you. Your strength unsettles me, but that’s all,” Chen Hailong said.

With that, his sword spun suddenly, sending a beam of light at Shen An.

Seeing this, Shen An shook his head. In his black-and-white pupils, his blade suddenly swept horizontally.

He moved his feet, and as Chen Hailong approached, their weapons crossed—blade and sword clashing, each seeking the other’s weakness.

“You think you’re strong?” Shen An parried and retorted. “You compare your childish strength to mine?”

His blade accelerated, power surging.

“Letting your own son take forbidden drugs—you’re unworthy as a father.”

Crack!

Chen Hailong shuddered.

Shen An’s blade struck.

Chen Hailong raised both arms to block. The sound of metal ringing out filled the air.

With a clang and a shower of sparks, a special alloy armguard appeared on Chen Hailong’s arm.

Shen An struck again.

Unable to withstand the force, Chen Hailong was slammed into the wall, blood trickling from his lips.

He sensed Shen An suddenly growing stronger, and terror crossed Chen Hailong’s face.