17: identity

A deathly silence filled the car.

Tieshan secretly glanced at Su Chen in the rearview mirror, and the more he looked, the more shocked he became.

This young man was terrifying; not only was his strength unfathomable, but his temperament was also extremely ruthless.

Killing He Xing Tian and Xiang Feng, he remained expressionless throughout, as if he had only done three insignificant trifles.

Only at this moment did he realize his palms were covered in cold sweat.

Nan Yafu took a deep breath and bravely asked, “You… who exactly are you? Did you really not join any faction?”

Su Chen glanced at her and said indifferently, “Actually, my identity is similar to yours.”

“Oh?” The girl’s eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something.

“You could say that.” Su Chen curled his lips. “I’m also an Old Ancestor of a family now; I just took office yesterday.”

“Pfft—”

Nan Yafu couldn’t hold back and chuckled.

She couldn’t connect the decisive young man in front of her with the old-fashioned title of “Old Ancestor.”

She then thought that Su Chen’s strength might really be related to the popular Clan Luck Expedition game.

Immediately after, the girl shook her head, dismissing the idea.

“Our Nan Family still has some connections in the military,” the girl tentatively began, with a hint of recruitment in her tone, “If you’re interested, I can help introduce you…”

“No need.” Su Chen interrupted her, his tone flat but with an unquestionable firmness. “I’m used to being a lone wolf, used to my freedom.”

He paused, then looked at Tieshan and added, “Oh, and a reminder for you—don’t leave the city for the next three days.”

Although not a benevolent person, Su Chen ultimately felt a pang of compassion at the thought of watching this burly man, who had once spoken up for him, go to his death.

Tieshan was stunned, didn’t ask any more questions, and simply silently noted down the words.

Silence returned to the car, with only the low hum of the engine echoing.

Not long after, the car drove out of the highway toll station, where several business vehicles bearing the Nan Family’s emblem were already waiting by the roadside.

Before Nan Yafu got out, her gaze fell on the black Stone Lotus that Su Chen had casually placed on the armrest box.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, “That… are you willing to trade this Stone Lotus?”

“Yes,” Su Chen looked up, “but I only want heavenly materials and earthly treasures.”

This Stone Lotus was useless to him, but if it could be exchanged for several rare spiritual materials that would be scarce in the future, it would be put to good use.

Several treasures he remembered would double in value had already flashed through his mind.

After exchanging contact information, the two parties parted ways.

Watching Su Chen drive away, everyone fell into contemplation.

The black bodyguards also felt doubts; it was the first time they had seen the young lady pay such close attention to a young man.

“Who… exactly is he?”

...

The Jiang City Security Department, located by the Jiashan River, is a circular building entirely gray-black, resembling a seal embedded in the ground when viewed from afar.

At nine in the morning, the main conference room, usually somewhat empty, was now packed, and in the swirling smoke, faces were etched with solemnity.

“Have you heard? Someone on the Nine Provinces Continent server has already unlocked a family achievement and received a fifth-grade medicinal pill!”

“Why should we worry about this? The higher-ups probably established a special task force long ago.”

Zhou Yanfeng, head of the Intelligence Section, walked briskly into the conference room, clutching a freshly printed field report.

The heavy wooden door clicked shut, and the discussions inside immediately ceased.

“Gentlemen, an hour ago, a violent supernatural incident occurred on the Jiang City highway, K12 section.”

He raised his hand, and the large screen in the center of the conference room lit up, beginning to play a series of spliced short videos—it was footage of Su Chen confronting He Xing Tian, filmed by passersby.

“He Xing Tian and Xiang Feng, students of Yunshu Taoist Temple, have been confirmed dead.

The perpetrator is this young man, Su Chen.”

The screen froze at the moment Su Chen crushed He Xing Tian’s head, the bloody scene making several female investigators frown.

“Hiss—is that really He Xing Tian?” Someone gasped, “He just… died?”

“Too arrogant! He must be arrested immediately!” A young bespectacled investigator slammed the table and roared.

Zhou Yanfeng, however, shook his head, his tone calm: “Preliminary judgment, not guilty.”

“What?” Everyone was in an uproar.

Zhou Yanfeng didn’t rush to explain, but instead played more bystander videos along the timeline.

When they saw the footage of Xiang Feng snatching the Stone Lotus and He Xing Tian being aggressive, the commotion in the conference room gradually subsided.

“According to the ‘Regulations on the Handling of Internal Conflicts Among Cultivators’ promulgated ten years ago, a counter-kill triggered by the Loot the treasure is considered legitimate self-defense.” An old investigator with gray hair spoke, “Moreover, this young man also killed the Mist Lord, which should be credited as a merit according to regulations.”

“But his methods were too ruthless…”

“Ruthless? Try being cornered and robbed yourself.”

“Cough, cough!”

Zhou Yanfeng coughed twice, interrupting everyone’s discussion.

He raised his right hand, and numerous images and computational information appeared on the screen.

“Based on database analysis, Su Chen is very likely already a Solid Spirit Realm cultivator.

His movement technique far exceeds the limits of conventional body techniques, and in terms of strength, he is at a level that crushes the Ning Yuan Realm.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall instantly fell into a chorus of gasps.

“No way!”

“To be in the Solid Spirit Realm at such a young age, it’s insane.”

“Damn, I feel like all my cultivation for so long has been wasted, fed to the dogs.”

“Actually, that’s not even the half of it.” Zhou Yanfeng paused, then continued, “Just a few days ago, he was still an ordinary person unable to cultivate.

This is his personal information.”

Su Chen’s personal information was then displayed on the screen.

Looking at the gently smiling young man in the photo, everyone found it difficult to connect him with the cold cultivator who had just crushed someone’s head.

The large conference room was silent, so quiet that everyone’s breathing could be clearly heard.

Surprise, confusion, and bewilderment permeated the entire conference room.

An ordinary person, in a few days, became a top-tier cultivator at the late Solid Spirit Realm?

Soon, a common thought emerged in everyone’s minds— “Could it be… the Clan Luck Expedition?!”

“We must thoroughly investigate this kid!”

“This kid definitely has a problem, he’s likely a player who recharged early!”

The Clan Luck Expedition had been open for almost a day, and everyone attached great importance to this game, but their understanding and cognition of the game were still at a very rudimentary stage.

At this moment, upon learning that Su Chen might have gained such significant benefits through the game, everyone present could not suppress their inner excitement.

Just as everyone was arguing incessantly, with a soft “snap,” the man who had been silent at the head of the table finally stood up.

“Are you all done arguing?”

The speaker was Nan Mingde, Director Nan of the Jiang City Security Department.

His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

“We are the Security Department, the shield protecting the people of Jiang City, not bandits who seize opportunities and kill indiscriminately.”

He scanned the room, then said in a deep voice, “Furthermore, with the strength Su Chen has displayed, he already qualifies for equal dialogue with us.”

“My decision is—to recruit him.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the conference room immediately fell silent.

Everyone understood that for Director Nan to utter the words “equal dialogue” meant that Su Chen’s strength likely far exceeded what was shown in the video.

“Section Chief Li,” Nan Mingde looked at a short, plump middle-aged man beside him, “Su Corporation is in the high-tech zone under your jurisdiction.

Come with me.”

“Alright, Director Nan!” Li Qi quickly responded, a fawning smile on his face.

Looking at the name “Su Corporation Network Technology Co., Ltd.” on the screen, he felt it was somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall where he had seen it.

“Never mind, I must be mistaken.” He shook his head and quickly followed Nan Mingde’s footsteps.

At this moment, Su Chen’s car had already driven to the base of the Su Corporation building.