315: What is this living father trying to do?

As Linzhou City's largest underground Black Market, this place always presented a chaotic and bizarre scene of mixed elements.

The narrow streets were thronged with people, Professionals from all walks of life brushing shoulders.

On both sides of the street were all sorts of strange stalls and shops. Cries of hawking, haggling, and the occasional burst of an argument mixed into a unique underground clamor.

The sky here was perpetually gray.

A thick Dome, constructed from special materials, enveloped the entire Black Market, shielding it from the outside light and prying eyes.

Embedded in the Dome were countless crystals emitting a faint glow, simulating day and night.

Currently, it was 'daytime' in the Black Market.

The time when the crowds were densest and transactions most frequent.

Suddenly.

"Boom—"

A muffled, heavy sound echoed from a building deep within the trading district.

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating force, instantly overriding all surrounding noise.

The noise on the street momentarily paused.

Countless people subconsciously stopped walking and looked in the direction the sound came from.

"What happened?"

"Over there, isn't that the High-End Residential Area? Which blind fool dares to cause trouble there?"

"That sound wasn't small? Interesting, looks like there's a show to watch."

People started discussing, and the curious ones immediately began squeezing toward the source of the sound.

However, they hadn't taken more than a few steps.

A figure shot out from the breach in that building.

Immediately following that.

Under the astonished gaze of everyone.

That figure rose vertically on the spot, in a manner that completely defied common physical sense.

No running start, no skill light effects, and no use of any flying apparatus.

He simply shot straight up into the sky.

The speed was incredibly fast.

In the blink of an eye, he traversed dozens of meters in height, reaching just beneath the Black Market's Dome.

Then, he stopped.

He hung silently in mid-air, looking down upon the entire Black Market below.

The Black Market fell into a dead silence at that moment.

Everyone looked up, staring blankly at the figure suspended high above.

The person was wearing simple casual clothes, his figure tall and straight. Illuminated by the faint light of the Dome, only a blurry silhouette could be made out.

But the mere act of 'hovering' delivered a visual impact powerful enough to make ninety-nine percent of the Professionals present feel suffocated.

Flight!

That was a realm only accessible to High-Tier Professionals!

While the Black Market was indeed full of hidden masters, those capable of achieving this were absolute rarities.

Moreover, it was done in such a relaxed and effortless manner, as if it were as simple as eating or drinking.

"Who... who is this big shot?"

"I don't know, never seen him. He's too high up, can't see his face."

"What does he want? Flying above the Insect Dwelling, is he challenging Boss Chen's rules?"

Following the silence, an even greater uproar erupted.

Countless gazes, filled with suspicion, apprehension, or curiosity, all converged on that figure.

People began frantically guessing the mysterious powerhouse's identity and purpose... Meanwhile.

The central Management Tower of the Black Market, top floor.

In a luxurious office, a burly, rugged-faced middle-aged man was listening to his subordinate's report with visible impatience.

This was Chen Ao, the manager of the Black Market.

"...So, that batch of 'Fire Lizard Tails' was seized by Customs again?"

Chen Ao slammed his palm onto the desk, making the teacups rattle violently.

"Boss, we tried several routes, but they were all blocked. The scrutiny has been extremely tight lately, and the brothers don't dare to..."

The reporting subordinate was trembling, not even finishing his sentence.

"Scram!"

Chen Ao waved his hand impatiently.

"Useless! A bunch of good-for-nothings! You can't even handle this minor issue, what the hell am I feeding you for!"

The subordinate acted as if granted amnesty, scrambling out of the room.

Chen Ao irritably ran a hand through his short hair, pulled out a cigar from the drawer, but couldn't get it lit.

He didn't know what bad luck he was running into lately; everything was going wrong.

First, he was inexplicably roughed up by military personnel who told him to keep his people in check and stop causing trouble outside.

Then, several batches of important goods were blocked through various channels, resulting in heavy losses.

He wanted to stir up trouble, but the thought of those people from the Abyss Domain, and those from the Old Ghost Hall, filled him with a sense of powerlessness.

He was truly beaten into submission.

Now, even these small matters were giving him a massive headache.

Just then.

The huge commotion outside the window poured fuel onto his already irritable mood.

"What's all the noise about outside!"

Chen Ao angrily walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window and looked down.

And then, he saw the scene that would be seared into his memory forever.

The entire street of the Black Market was packed with people, all looking up like a flock of ducks awaiting feed.

And at the end of their line of sight, directly beneath the Black Market's Dome.

A person was suspended there.

Chen Ao's pupils contracted sharply.

Someone dared to cause trouble in the Insect Dwelling? And in this manner?

Suicidal!

He was about to erupt when a strange, extremely familiar sense of dread suddenly surged from the bottom of his heart.

This scene... this feeling... Chen Ao froze.

He squinted his eyes, trying desperately to make out the person's appearance.

Too far.

The light was too dim.

Only a blurry silhouette could be seen.

But that silhouette was like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely searing itself into the depths of his memory.

No.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

Wasn't that Lord in seclusion?

He personally watched him enter the Insect Dwelling... How could he be out?

Why would he come out in this manner?

Chen Ao's breathing began to quicken.

He recalled that day, the Sea of Lightning that covered the entire sky of Linzhou City.

He recalled that bolt of lightning, like divine punishment, precisely striking beside him.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

It was him!

It must be him!

Besides him, who else would have the guts! Who else would have this power!

Chen Ao felt his teeth chattering.

What is this living ancestor, this master, trying to do?!

If his seclusion was over, wouldn't it be enough to just leave quietly?

Why did he have to make such a huge scene!

Did he want to tear down the entire Black Market, or punch a hole in the sky?

The Lightning Spell that covered all of Linzhou City... Chen Ao felt his heart clench just thinking about it.

If that thing struck the Black Market... no, not even one strike, just one bolt!

The entire Black Market, including him, Chen Ao, would be wiped from this world!

The more Chen Ao thought about it, the more terrified he became, and the more dizzy he felt.

What was his living ancestor doing?

What exactly was he doing?!

Could it be that he hadn't been sufficiently accommodating these past few days and had displeased this Lord?

But he had clearly kept his posture extremely low and provided the best service!