The Night the All-Encompassing Heaven was wiped out, no one who went to the graveyard returned. However, this did not stop a certain piece of news from spreading. Zhang Chulan possessed one of the Eight Supreme Skills: the Origin of the Qi-Lithic. This news caused a massive uproar in the outcast world; Zhang Chulan's peaceful life was about to be shattered.
Two days later, just as Zhang Chulan finished the procedures to join Every Delivery and was preparing to return to campus to pack his belongings, he was stopped at the gates of Nankai University. The newcomers were dressed in Taoist robes. The leading youth had a transcendent aura and a handsome face—it was Zhang Lingyu of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
"Greetings, Zhang Chulan. I am Zhang Lingyu. I have come at my master's command." Zhang Lingyu nodded, his attitude composed. "My master wishes to invite you to Dragon-Tiger Mountain one month from now to participate in the Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice."
Zhang Chulan's heart skipped a beat—more trouble. On the surface, however, he wore his usual easygoing smile. "The Taoist Master is too kind. About this... I'll have to think it over." He spoke vaguely, attempting to stall.
However, Zhang Lingyu ignored the rejection. He continued, "Do not be in a hurry to refuse. Your grandfather had deep roots with the Celestial Master Mansion. Strictly speaking, you are a member of the Celestial Master Mansion as well. Furthermore, if you wish to know the truth about your grandfather's past, then come to Dragon-Tiger Mountain. You don't need to answer immediately. The Grand Luo Heaven Sacrifice doesn't begin for a month; you have plenty of time."
After speaking, Zhang Lingyu led his people away. Before Zhang Chulan could even react, another group surrounded him. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a genial smile—Feng Zhenghao, the Chairman of the Omni-Alliance.
"Young friend Zhang Chulan, I have heard much of your great name." Feng Zhenghao's attitude was almost overly enthusiastic.
"Hello. May I ask who you are? Is there something you need?"
"I am Feng Zhenghao, Chairman of the Omni-Alliance. You possess extraordinary skills, young friend; your future is limitless." Feng Zhenghao got straight to the point. "I represent the Omni-Alliance in sincerely inviting you to join us. As for compensation, I guarantee you will be satisfied." He added one more thing. "Of course, if you could introduce that young friend Ian, the Omni-Alliance would be even more grateful. The two of you may name any conditions you wish."
Zhang Chulan's mind raced, but his smile remained unchanged. "Chairman Feng must be joking. I'm just an ordinary student; I don't have any 'extraordinary skills.' As for Brother Ian... I'm not that close with him." He continued to play dumb.
Feng Zhenghao's smile didn't waver, seemingly unbothered by the deflection. "No matter. If you change your mind, feel free to contact me at any time."
While Zhang Chulan was busy dealing with various factions, Every Delivery Headquarters was occupied with something else. On the day after the graveyard incident, Every Delivery had sent people to Nankai University to find Ian. They came up empty-handed. Ian had seemingly vanished into thin air; there was no trace of him in the dorms, classrooms, or the library. The employees responsible for the search found nothing and could only report back.
Late that night, in the Chairman's office at Every Delivery.
Zhao Fangxu had just finished a day's work and was preparing to rest. A golden shimmer flashed briefly, and a figure appeared in the office without warning. It was Ian. He wasn't wearing that terrifying golden heavy armor, only ordinary casual clothes, but that invisible pressure remained.
Zhao Fangxu didn't show much surprise, looking at him calmly. "You've arrived."
"Chairman Zhao doesn't seem surprised."
Zhao Fangxu smiled. "There aren't many people who can appear here silently. Besides, Xu Si already reported the information about you." He gestured for Ian to sit.
The two began a long conversation that lasted through the night. No one knew the contents of their talk. All that was known was that at dawn, Ian left. Before leaving, he left something behind: a cubic object about one meter in size that emitted a faint red glow. It sat in Zhao Fangxu's office—a Redstone Block.
Zhao Fangxu looked at the Redstone Block on his desk with a grave expression. He immediately picked up the internal private line and dialed several numbers in succession.
In less than half an hour, the roar of engines sounded outside the Every Delivery Headquarters. Several military trucks arrived, and fully armed soldiers jumped down, quickly sealing off the surrounding area. Simultaneously, a team composed of top outcasts from headquarters assembled, each radiating a powerful aura.
Zhao Fangxu personally brought out a massive, specially made metal crate. Channelling his Qi, he lifted the Redstone Block and carefully placed it inside. The crate was locked behind multiple layers. Under the dual escort of the soldiers and the elite outcast team, the vehicle carrying the metal crate started up and headed toward the outskirts of the capital.
The destination: the Supreme Scientific Research Institute of China.
At the same time, in several different residences across the capital, several white-haired academicians renowned in their respective fields received emergency notifications almost simultaneously.
"Old Li, supreme instructions. Assemble immediately at Laboratory No. 1."
"Old Wang, drop everything you're doing and come at once. Highest priority."
"Professor Chen, emergency mission. A car is already waiting for you downstairs."
These top scientists, who usually lived in seclusion under layers of protection, were brought to the Research Institute at top speed. When they arrived, they found the perimeter of Laboratory No. 1 taken over by the military. The atmosphere was tense. Zhao Fangxu's motorcade arrived at almost the same time. He personally supervised the transport of the metal crate into the core area of the laboratory.
As the heavy isolation doors slowly closed, Zhao Fangxu finally let out a small sigh of relief. He didn't leave; instead, he whispered a few instructions to his subordinates. Then, he turned and followed the researchers into the heart of the institute.
Just as the doors shut, a message was released through Every Delivery's official channels, quickly spreading throughout the entire outcast world. The content was concise:
[Official Verification: The All-Encompassing Heaven 'Four Madmen' besieged the outcast Zhang Chulan and encountered intervention from a mysterious outcast.] [The Four Madmen joined forces but were easily crushed by said outcast. They are now deceased.] [Note: The outcast is under the age of twenty.]
A photo of Ian cosplaying as Goldie was attached. A youth not even twenty years old had easily defeated the long-famous Four Madmen of All-Encompassing Heaven working together—he had even prevented them from escaping. It was practically a fairy tale.
The outcast world exploded instantly. Countless factions were shaken by this officially verified news. Speculation, investigation, and apprehension began to fester. This was exactly the news Ian had authorized Zhao Fangxu to release. Only by doing so could he stir the pot and create more "fun."
Inside Laboratory No. 1 of the Supreme Scientific Research Institute of China.
Several top academicians wore sterile suits, surrounding the carefully removed Redstone Block. Various precision instruments were connected to it: detection rays, energy analyzers, matter structure scanners, and more.
"Energy readings are stable. Output power... is uncalculable!" An academician specializing in energy looked at the screen, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Try connecting a small motor," another physics professor suggested.
A moment later, a small motor was connected to the Redstone Block. The instant they were linked, the motor started up, maintaining full power immediately. One minute, ten minutes, half an hour... the motor continued to run without any sign of energy decay. During this time, more and more large appliances were connected; all of them operated stably at full capacity.
The red glow on the surface of the Redstone Block remained steady.
"The material structure analysis is in. It's a stable structure we've never seen before. Furthermore, after outputting a massive amount of energy, its weight hasn't changed in the slightest. The energy seems to be generated out of thin air."
The laboratory fell into silence. Then came uncontrollable excitement and thrill.
"This thing could change the entire world!" The usually composed academicians were now losing their cool. They looked at Zhao Fangxu, who was standing outside the glass of the observation room.
"Chairman Zhao!" The lead academician stepped forward. "Where did this come from?" His voice trembled slightly.
"Is there more?" the other academicians asked with expectant gazes.
Zhao Fangxu's face was expressionless. He simply shook his head. "The source is confidential. Currently, there is only one."
A flash of disappointment crossed the academicians' eyes, but they quickly regained their composure. They were all sharp; they naturally understood Zhao Fangxu's stance. The secrets involved here were not for them to pry into.
"Understood," the old academician nodded. "We will do our utmost to study its principles and find more applications." They threw themselves back into the research of the Redstone Block.
Zhao Fangxu looked at the busy figures and then at the faintly glowing Redstone Block. He knew that a brand-new era might be about to arrive.
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