When Han Zhan realized it, it was already too late.

Outside the tall building of the City Guardian Organization, the rumbling of fighter jets was heard.

The entire city sky was covered with dark clouds.

Many squads of Spirit Contract Masters, fierce and unfamiliar, appeared on the streets of Deep Blue City!

Such a large-scale operation, all just to capture the wanted criminal, Han Zhan!

The evidence was conclusive!

Han Zhan squinted his eyes to see, realizing he had fallen into their trap. But that wasn't the key issue; the key issue was that Li Shutong was in Deep Blue City. How dare they do this!

A sense of foreboding filled his heart.

"You three, get out of here quickly!"

"Go back to the villa area and find the Master!"

"I'll handle things here, go!"

Han Zhan spoke in a swift tone, and Yi Fan turned and ran without a word.

The other two girls, urged by Han Zhan, quickly retreated with him.

In the next second, the entire room was shrouded in the aura of a strong individual.

The air became instantly viscous,

Han Zhan felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer, collapsing to the ground.

He raised his head, trying to see clearly who had arrived.

But all he could see was a vast expanse of white light and shadow.

"Suspect Han Zhan has been apprehended."

A cold, ethereal voice seemed to come from afar.

...

Li Shutong sat in the pavilion's rattan chair, pouring two cups of tea.

One for himself, and one placed across from him.

As if certain, someone would sit there.

Sure enough, in the next second, a figure, black as quantum mimicry, appeared out of thin air opposite him.

"So mysterious, yet we've been old friends for so long. Still hiding like this?"

The shadowy figure didn't respond.

Facing the foremost figure of Great Xia, he boldly sat down and lifted the teacup for a sniff.

"You still love Qingzhou tea."

"I wish you hadn't said that."

The probing had already begun the moment they met.

The mention of "Qingzhou tea" confirmed the identity; it was one of the highest few remaining individuals.

Li Shutong caressed the cup, drinking the tea in one go.

"You don't seem anxious at all."

"Anxious? Why should I be anxious?"

"Because your chosen successor is already in dire straits, with undeniable evidence. He'll be publicly executed tomorrow."

"Do you really have to target an old friend?" Li Shutong looked across, his fists slightly clenched.

A dense white mist behind him took the shape of a fierce tiger, growls faintly audible.

Li Shutong's calm exterior couldn't hide the killing intent and anger.

"Even if you destroy this quantum state clone of mine, it won't help."

"Old Shang has prepared many quantum state clones for each of us, hasn't he?"

Li Shutong suddenly let out an "Oh," and sat back down.

"Then let's continue drinking tea."

He returned to his usual calm, as if the anger moments ago wasn't even his.

The figure across asked in a puzzled tone, "Aren't you worried?"

"Worried."

Li Shutong refilled his cup with Qingzhou tea.

He added with a faint smile:

"But life, like chess, is ever-changing."

...

Second War Zone, General Headquarters.

A quick report was delivered to Lin Jingxuan.

"Han Zhan has been captured."

"Which military department acted?"

"It doesn't belong to the Eight Major War Zones, likely private forces raised by those big figures."

"Heh."

Lin Jingxuan's face showed disdainful and mocking expression.

"To solve external issues, one must first settle internal ones. Now the inside is getting even messier—power, power, it's all damned power."

"To share hardships but unable to share prosperity."

"Those private forces chose to act at this time because they're absolutely confident. Capturing the junior apprentice brother is a way of sending a warning to the teacher."

"Someone doesn't want the teacher to take on another disciple."

"Commander Lin, do we need to reinforce?" his subordinate asked from behind.

"Reinforce? Why reinforce?"

Lin Jingxuan replied with a question.

"Don't forget, he's my teacher. People only remember his thousand-mile kill of the Three Great Insect Emperors, but who remembers his century-long planning for the Great Xia people?"

"To a teacher who can produce someone like me, this is just a game of chess."

"Who can guarantee that the junior apprentice brother isn't the 'bait' intentionally released by the teacher?"

Similar situations occurred in other war zones, where Li Shutong's other students, upon hearing the news, only asked the same question.

"Did Lin Jingxuan make any moves?"

Upon receiving a negative response from their subordinates, they all calmed down.

If even Lin Jingxuan wasn't making any moves, why panic?

This was the unconditional trust between fellow disciples.

...

In the prison of Deep Blue City.

Life wasn't going well for Han Zhan.

His hands and feet were shackled with a suppressor, unable to harness the power of the Contracted Spirit.

The torturer delivered a punch to his abdomen, staining the metal cuffs with blood.

"Still not confessing?"

"Haha." Han Zhan laughed.

He took another heavy punch to his stomach.

"Sorry, I've been toughened up since childhood, got beaten a lot at home."

"I've nothing to say."

"You can hit me with all your might."

Han Zhan's words sounded like mockery, angering the person across, who didn't care about his identity. Here, he was only a prisoner!

Increasingly heavier punches rained down on Han Zhan.

Just as he claimed, he uttered not a single groan.

Suddenly, someone came in, raising a hand.

The torture on Han Zhan was temporarily halted.

"Han Zhan, wake up. Li Shutong, that old man, might not be able to rescue anyone now."

"There are two choices before you."

"First, join us. You don't need to know who we are; you just need to know that Li Shutong might represent the past, but we can represent the future.

With your talent, as long as you grow, there will definitely be a place for you in the future."

"Second, you can continue as you are. Indeed, you're a tough nut to crack, but once tomorrow passes, even the hardest nut will be split in two under the guillotine.

Without life, what's the use of pride?"

The speaker stood in the shadows,

Han Zhan couldn't see his face clearly.

He exhaled a light breath and asked, "So, the Tier Four Insect Race Erosion Insect was intentionally discovered by Yi Ming, and brought back to Deep Blue City, wasn't it?"

"You can interpret it that way. For us, the Insect Race is not the enemy; if used properly, they can be the most invincible tool!"

"So, have you made a decision?"

Han Zhan took a deep breath.

Then exhaled a full breath.

He nodded. As the figure leaned in with interest, he spat a mouthful of blood, hitting squarely on the other's face.

Seeing the scene, Han Zhan burst into laughter.

"I choose the third option, damn you!"

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