Trying to fight Zhang Jiadong with fists? Is that guy out of his mind? He's not even that big!
This thought flashed through the minds of every prisoner watching.
However—
"Bang!"
With a thunderous crack, Zhang Jiadong's fist shattered, bone fragments splintering as he was sent flying backward by an invisible force.
"What—"
"Holy crap!"
Gasps rippled through the cafeteria. Every eye turned toward Liang Xiao, disbelief written across their faces — even the guards froze in shock.
Zhang Jiadong himself was horrified. His body slammed into the wall, blood dripping from his mangled hand.
Wasn't this guy supposed to be just at the Qi Refining stage?
No — his aura was too calm, too controlled. It was weaker than expected, almost deliberately so.
Zhang Jiadong's face twisted. He's hiding his true strength!
In the distance, the old man whose steamed bun had been stolen earlier paused mid-step, eyes gleaming. He turned back quickly, eager to witness what promised to be chaos.
Liang Xiao, meanwhile, continued eating his foul-smelling steamed bun as if nothing had happened. His expression didn't change.
The bun was sour and rancid, but he ate calmly — he wasn't a pampered young master.
That burly man's body had been powerful — clearly a body cultivator — his physique far superior to normal cultivators.
But so what?
Could he compare to the Destruction Needle?
Zhang Jiadong, lying on the ground, clenched his teeth. His mind was in turmoil. If I can't defeat him, my past dealings with the Longevity Cult will be exposed…
A wave of panic rippled through him. Then hatred. Then resolve.
Muscles bulged across his body as he roared and charged like a cannonball, his remaining hand slamming toward Liang Xiao's skull.
"You dare to kill me?!" a jailer shouted from afar.
But Zhang Jiadong ignored him, his sandbag-sized fist descending like a hammer.
Liang Xiao moved smoothly, the glint of a Destruction Needle appearing between his fingers as he met the strike head-on.
"Bang!"
Zhang Jiadong's other fist detonated in a burst of blood and bone. His body crumpled backward, screaming in agony.
Behind them, the old man's eyes widened in awe. This person… he's actually a genius! The hope for immortality has arrived!
Liang Xiao didn't even stand up. Still chewing the steamed bun, he stared coldly at Zhang Jiadong.
"Now can you tell me why you're targeting me?"
Zhang Jiadong trembled, leaning against the wall. His expression twisted into a sneer.
"Kill me if you want — but do you dare? You're not a citizen of honor yet, are you? I am!"
Before Liang Xiao could answer, a raspy voice cut in.
"I know, little brother. I know why this guy's targeting you."
The old man with the stolen bun approached quickly, glaring at Zhang Jiadong.
"I told you before, what goes around comes around — someone was bound to deal with you eventually!"
"You old codger…"
Zhang Jiadong's eyes darkened, his tone dropping to a growl.
"I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."
Liang Xiao's curiosity deepened.
"Old man, tell me. Why is this guy targeting me?"
"Because—"
The words hadn't even finished leaving the old man's lips before his palm flashed out, striking Liang Xiao's head without warning!
"You—!"
Liang Xiao instinctively raised his arm to block, but the impact numbed it instantly. He was blown sideways, his steamed bun exploding into crumbs.
For a moment, the entire cafeteria froze.
Then—
"Genius, die!!"
The old man's voice rang out, filled with wild excitement. His aura flared violently as he lunged forward, unleashing a devastating blow.
"You old bastard — are you insane?!"
Liang Xiao shouted, his body twisting midair. Kicking off the wall, he shot forward with lightning speed. A Destruction Needle materialized in his fist as he punched.
"Bang!"
The old man's arms shattered into pulp, sending him tumbling backward in a spray of blood.
Yet instead of fear, his face twisted into ecstasy.
"What a genius! That's amazing!"
And then — madness. The old man burned his essence blood, releasing a terrifying killing intent that rolled through the cafeteria.
The guards watching from afar frowned. Something was wrong.
One of them grabbed his communicator immediately.
"Requesting backup! Prison riot — spiritual contamination suspected!"
Others began rushing to activate the containment formation.
But before they could—
"You old fool! If you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Liang Xiao's eyes gleamed with fury as he charged again.
Just then, thirty percent of the nearby prisoners suddenly froze — then their eyes went red.
Their killing intent erupted.
"Kill him!!"
They lunged at once, spells and attacks flying through the air.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Tables splintered, the stone floor cratered under bombardment.
Liang Xiao rolled aside, barely avoiding several blasts. A razor-thin blade of light grazed his shoulder, slicing off a piece of skin.
"The Longevity Cult?!"
Someone shouted amid the chaos.
"Damn it! They're Longevity Cult fanatics!"
"Why are they targeting that guy?"
"Forget that! Stop them — suppress them before the riot spreads!"
The guards roared, activating their artifacts.
The half-crippled old man screamed with fanatic devotion:
"Genius, die!!"
He led the charge, dozens of deranged prisoners following behind him like rabid beasts.
Liang Xiao's expression turned ice-cold.
He rose to his feet, no longer concealing his power.
He snapped his fingers.
"Bang!"
A nearby prisoner's head exploded like a melon, body disintegrating on the spot.
The old man's pupils contracted. He tried to dodge—
"Bang!"
Half of his remaining body detonated, flesh spraying across the floor.
Another burly cultivator lunged from the side.
Liang Xiao's arm flicked. The Destruction Needle flared — half the man's torso blew apart instantly.
"How is this possible?! Kill him! Kill him now! Kill him and we'll all gain immortality!"
The half-bodied old man screamed in madness.
His words sent the other cultists into a frenzy. Burning their life essence, they hurled themselves toward Liang Xiao.
Suddenly, one vanished.
Liang Xiao's instincts screamed — his body shifted right, fist flying.
"Bang!"
A gaunt assassin appeared midair — only to explode instantly.
He dodged another energy blade, then kicked a second attacker square in the chest.
Not enough internal energy to kill every one of them outright.
"Kill him! Quickly—!"
The mangled old man howled again.
Liang Xiao's gaze sharpened.
He grabbed the crippled cultist by his leg, swung him like a club, and slammed him into another charging prisoner.
"Bang!"
Two bodies smashed together, one turning to pulp. The old man was now nothing but a shredded carcass.
Another cultist charged with a thick wooden table.
Liang Xiao whipped the corpse's remains with a backhand, shattering the table, then flicked his fingers — blowing another man's head apart.
Behind them, a jailer screamed — looking down to see a bloodied blade piercing through his back.
He turned, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You… how could you…"
His attacker — his own colleague — gave no answer, hurling his body aside.
The traitorous jailer struck a nearby array plate with his palm.
"Smack!"
A talisman flared to life.
"Weng…"
A strange wave pulsed outward — and suddenly, the entire underground formation collapsed.
Far below, several Qi Refining peak prisoners opened their eyes at once.
Their faces lit up with fanatical joy.
"Has the chance for immortality finally arrived?"
Surface, Law Enforcement Department
Captain Huang had just returned, holding a new Glory Citizen ID card in his hand — Liang Xiao's.
He'd used favors and resources to rush it through, completing the process a full day ahead of schedule.
After all, Liang Xiao's background was spotless — a family with military history, no record of misconduct.
He smiled faintly, ready to deliver the news.
Then—
A Foundation Establishment expert burst through the door, aura blazing.
"Something's happened at the prison! Everyone, move out — now!"
Before the words had even finished, the man vanished.
Captain Huang's expression changed instantly.
"Something happened at the prison?! … Liang Xiao!"
He turned pale, barking orders.
"Move! All of you, follow me!"
Back in the depths of the prison—
"Boom!"
The old man's body collided with another table, splintering it into dust.
He was mangled beyond recognition, bones shattered — yet through some foul secret art, he still clung to life.
"Bang!"
Liang Xiao flicked his fingers, blowing another cultist's head clean off.
As more prisoners charged at him, his eyes went cold as steel.
"Damn it… you forced me to do this!"
Without hesitation, he pulled out three Qi-Gathering Pills, swallowing them all at once — flooding his veins with power.