22: Sword Sect, Qi Sect!

Mo Xiaoyu quickly snapped back to reality and let out a giggle.

At that moment, Zhao Yuan walked over with a smile on his face.

"Ye Su, you came at just the right time. The Professionals in Suzhou-Hangzhou are having a small gathering today."

"We owe you our lives from last night and haven't had a chance to thank you yet."

Ye Su shifted his gaze to Zhao Yuan's face.

It looked like a harmless smile, but the timing was a bit too precise.

No sense of tact—didn't he see I was about to leverage the favor for a reward?

Or was this intentional?

Mo Xiaoyu had taken the skill, and naturally, the next step was for Ye Su to smoothly recruit her. Zhao Yuan diverted the topic at this moment, breaking the atmosphere.

This is a common tactic in business negotiations:

Playing dumb and changing the subject.

Ye Su didn't respond to that. Instead, he looked at Mo Xiaoyu and said,

"Professionals might form squads for future development. The authorities won't restrict Professionals like us from teaming up."

"From now on, you'll follow me."

Case closed.

Mo Xiaoyu nodded almost without thinking.

"Okay!"

Alright, secured!

In truth, Mo Xiaoyu had thought a lot after returning last night.

Her combat ability was just too weak.

Support Class Practitioners face immense difficulty in early-stage exploration. Having an incredibly powerful teammate would be a huge boon for her future growth.

In fact, she had discussed this issue with her Liaison Officer last night.

The other party felt the same way.

At the same time, they offered two choices:

Either join the authorities or follow Ye Su!

Yes, the authorities have the resources to support her development.

But there would be much less freedom.

The other option was Ye Su, a powerhouse among Professionals.

Unexpectedly, this happened today. For Mo Xiaoyu, it was simply the best outcome.

Zhao Yuan's heart began to roar.

Right before his eyes, the only Support Class Practitioner in Suzhou-Hangzhou had been recruited.

Squads.

This was official intel his Family had gone to great lengths to uncover.

He never expected Ye Su to already be taking action.

If Ye Su entered this gathering, who knows how far he'd expand his squad? Was he supposed to pave the way for him?

Damn it, he'd already spoken up.

"Ye Su—" Zhao Yuan spoke up, trying to find a way to stop Ye Su from entering the gathering.

Otherwise, this gathering would be tailor-made for Ye Su.

Ye Su's mind raced, almost seeing through Zhao Yuan's intentions.

The world had changed drastically.

Even if everyone started on the same line, the wealthy or powerful would still surge ahead.

Because of money, because of power!

Those who truly defied fate were ultimately few.

"I understand what you mean. I don't like making enemies, so you'd better not set your sights on me either."

Ye Su said bluntly.

Zhao Yuan was taken aback, then nodded.

"I get your point too."

In this covert clash, Zhao Yuan came off as utterly lame.

Like a clown from the old era putting on a show.

Watching Ye Su leave with Mo Xiaoyu, Zhao Yuan couldn't help but clench his fists.

'Ye Su, being ahead now doesn't mean you'll always stay ahead.'

'You know? On the black market, a light orb treasure chest costs one billion!'

'Wealth is the greatest power in this world!'

Zhao Yuan turned around.

Entering the hotel felt like stepping into a new era.

---Buzz, buzz, buzz--- Fighter jets roared.

Under the Great Xia's state of war, all military equipment began to roar in fury.

Using a cannon to swat a mosquito?

If a mosquito dared to step onto the stage as the world's protagonist, it deserved to be blasted by a cannon!

Plants.

You immobile things, dreaming of squeezing humanity's living space—humanity will respond with the fiercest retaliation.

All orbital satellites were searching for plant 'Kings'.

Once found, they'd be bombarded with firepower.

Even if it meant shaving a few meters off a mountain peak, it was worth it.

Accompanying the roar of fighter jets was a steel army.

Drones, armored vehicles, tanks, robots, robotic dogs, single-person aircraft—and more...

Frantically cleansing the ground.

After this cleansing operation, a large number of light orbs were seized.

Most of these light orbs ended up in the hands of the authorities, but under special circumstances, some would leak onto the black market.

Thus,

The price of one billion per light orb emerged.

In fact, this price was skyrocketing.

Anyone with half a brain knew what these light orbs meant.

They were tickets to the future, guarantees of future status.

Wealth was now unleashing unimaginable value and power.

Soon,

Professionals who had broken through their limits began sprouting up like bamboo shoots after rain.

This was the result of resource accumulation.

This was the legacy of the previous era's lingering power lifting them up.

Then came the exploration of Professional combat power.

Countless people got their hands on the video of Ye Su braving the mountain of blades.

In fact, many used Ye Su from this video as a benchmark for combat power.

As if reaching this level meant a true Professional had arrived.

As light orbs were cleared nationwide,

The first Professional assessed to be stronger than Ye Su in combat power appeared.

Then the second, third, fourth—Professional combat power rankings kept being refreshed.

By evening, Ye Su had almost become a mere combat unit!

But Ye Su knew nothing of all this.

Right now, he was diligently practicing Martial Arts with his little follower.

Martial Arts and Spirit Medicine had the highest drop rates from light orbs.

After returning from the hotel,

Li Qing had obtained several Martial Arts jade tablets—gifts from the Great Camp's Army during the nationwide cleansing.

After equipping the entire Black Tiger Squad, he gave one to Ye Su.

After all, Mo Xiaoyu didn't have one yet.

Mo Xiaoyu benefited too, finally gaining a Martial Art.

---"Hmph!"

Her palms danced, and the power of the Falling Flower Palm gradually manifested in Mo Xiaoyu's hands.

But compared to skills, the combat power from Martial Arts couldn't be immediately realized.

No matter how well she Cultivated this Falling Flower Palm, against Ye Su's 'Overlapping Wave Slash', it would be over in one strike.

So,

Mo Xiaoyu was a bit puzzled too.

"Ye Su, the combat power from Martial Arts seems pretty mediocre," Mo Xiaoyu said.

Ye Su handed Mo Xiaoyu a bowl of meat and said,

"My thoughts are the exact opposite of yours."

"Perhaps, Martial Arts are the true Righteous Path."

The heart ape galloped.

Ye Su's understanding of Ape Fist advanced by leaps and bounds.

In fact, he was beginning to grasp a secret technique within Ape Fist.

Once a Martial Art is Cultivated to the point of birthing a secret technique, its power rivals that of skills.

No...

It might even surpass skills!

Skills can be forgotten from skill slots.

But Martial Arts secret techniques are forever etched in the heart.

Skill slots have limits, but Martial Arts can be learned without restriction.

Which path is the Righteous Path? It's crystal clear!

It's just that everyone was dazzled by the immediate combat power of skills.

The dawn of global Professions.

Everyone had their own understanding.

To Ye Su, it felt reminiscent of the Sword Sect and Qi Sect of the Huashan Sect from the Jianghu tale 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'.

---Yunnan-Guizhou Region mountains.

Steel constructs roared.

They cleansed all mutated plants.

Suddenly,

Boom...

A massive vine burst from the ground, coiled around a tank, and yanked it underground.

Then came the sound of a violent explosion.