"I know everything's fine now. But, kid, shouldn't you explain what an Ancient Martial Artist is?" Slickhead looked at his brother's sincere expression, then suddenly grinned, wrapping an arm around Chen Fei's head and yelling loudly.
"Damn it, don't mess up my hair! Hey!" Chen Fei immediately muttered in dissatisfaction. He reached out and vigorously rubbed the other's head as well, and the two of them horsed around for a bit.
After they finished their roughhousing, Chen Fei put on a serious expression again. "Ancient Martial Artists… you know about them now?"
"Yeah, I know. The Hee Family Clan Leader just told me. He also asked me to put in a good word for them with you, to plead their case," Slickhead said, a hint of awe in his voice. One had to understand, this was the clan leader of the formidable Hex Family of Macau. Yet, he had actually sought help from a nobody like him, asking him to plead on their behalf to Chen Fei. In any other situation, in any other place, with any other person, it would be simply unimaginable.
"Is that so? He's pretty clever, then."
Chen Fei muttered to himself before continuing, "The so-called Ancient Martial Artists are basically like the martial heroes from the wuxia novels we read. They might just be a little more exaggerated."
"Even more exaggerated? How exaggerated can they be? Surely they can't be immune to bullets, can they?" Slickhead couldn't help but ask, as this was the second time he had heard such a thing. More exaggerated than in wuxia novels? It couldn't be possible that there were people who weren't even threatened by bullets.
Chen Fei didn't speak. He just touched his nose, his gaze flickering. Bullets? To him now, they were probably about as harmless as toys.
"No way! Are Ancient Martial Artists really that badass? Even bullets can't threaten you?" Seeing his brother's expression, Slickhead couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. His pupils contracted as he spoke in disbelief. For ordinary people, firearms like pistols were ultimate weapons. But now, his brother's expression seemed almost… dismissive? This can't be possible, right? Are Ancient Martial Artists truly that powerful?
"Well, it's not that they can't be a threat. In our Ancient Martial Artist circle, the ranks from lowest to highest are Third Tier Ancient Martial Artist, Second Rate Ancient Martial Artist, First-Class Ancient Warrior, Half-Step Innate, and Innate Expert. As for bullets, someone at the level of a Second Rate Ancient Martial Artist should be able to dodge them, while a First-Class Ancient Warrior can withstand them head-on," Chen Fei couldn't help but explain.
"Third Tier, Second Rate, First-Class? So what level are you now? And that Hee Family Clan Leader seemed to be an Ability User. What's his level?" Slickhead was now like a curious child who had a whole new world opened up to him, his questions incessant.
"Me? I'm almost at the Half-Step Innate level. As for the Hee Family Clan Leader, I don't know his exact level, but he must be below A-Level. A-Level is…" Chen Fei said, first with a hint of pride, before beginning his explanation.
Ability Users were categorized into C-Level, B-Level, A-Level, Half-Step S-Rank, and S-Level, which corresponded to Third Tier Ancient Martial Artist, Second Rate Ancient Martial Artist, First-Class Ancient Warrior, Half-Step Innate Powerhouse, and Innate Expert, respectively. Below the level of Innate Expert and S-Level Ability User, an Ability User would always be a notch stronger than an Ancient Martial Artist of the same rank due to their inherent advantages.
As for the Hee Family Clan Leader, Chen Fei hadn't made an effort to assess his strength. Besides, it wasn't easy to observe in the first place. Ability Users appear just like ordinary people when they aren't using their powers. With no discernible aura, it's nearly impossible to judge their level.
Still, it wasn't hard to guess after a moment's thought. The Great Elder of the Chen Family was probably an A-Level Ability User. The Hee Family Clan Leader had to be weaker than him, right? So he was probably around the B-Level mark.
"So, you're saying that the mighty Clan Leader of the Hex Family of Macau is only around the level of a B-Level Ability User, while you're almost at Half-Step Innate, which is equivalent to a Half-Step S-Rank Ability User!?" After hearing Chen Fei's explanation, Slickhead's voice cracked with utter astonishment.
Now he finally understood why those people had been so nervous earlier.
Looking back, it wasn't just nerves; it was fear!
"Da Fei."
At this thought, Slickhead fell silent. After a long pause, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you think I could become like you? An Ancient Martial Artist, or an Ability User? Is it possible?"
"You want to learn martial arts?" Chen Fei was momentarily startled but not entirely surprised.
After all, if he put himself in Slickhead's shoes—an ordinary person suddenly given a chance to open the door to another world, to reach for a vaster and more brilliant sky—he probably wouldn't have been able to remain calm either, right? Just like back then!
"I want to try. If I had been an Ancient Martial Artist or an Ability User like you, with that kind of power, I wouldn't have been so helpless back there. I almost fell into despair," Slickhead said slowly, taking a deep breath.
"I understand…"
Chen Fei paused, a look of understanding in his eyes. He then said, "As for learning martial arts, you should forget about it at your age. You're too old. For now, just sit down, and I'll check something for you…" Martial arts training was best started from a young age. At twenty-five or twenty-six, Slickhead was long past the golden period.
However, being an Ancient Martial Artist wasn't his only ace. He was the inheritor of a legacy from a grand figure of the Cultivation World, which included a whole mess of Immortal Cultivation techniques! Though they couldn't compare to his Immortal Sect Divine Art, the "Scripture of Meditation," they were legendary and incredibly formidable on a mundane world like Earth. Of course, this all depended on Slickhead having the necessary talent and aptitude for cultivation; otherwise, it would all be for nothing. Even in that bizarre Cultivation World, those who could truly practice Immortal Cultivation were a minority. The vast majority of people there lacked the talent and aptitude, which was what made the status of Cultivators so noble and revered!
"Relax. Close your eyes and clear your mind." Once Slickhead obediently sat down cross-legged, Chen Fei extended his hand and slowly traced a pattern in the air, murmuring an incantation. A milky-white light then descended, sinking into the top of Slickhead's head—his Heavenly Spirit Cap.
"What is this… Ah! It hurts!"
Slickhead felt an inexplicably warm current enter his body, causing him to tremble and heat up. But an instant later, an excruciating, drilling pain erupted from his forehead. His body went limp, and he nearly collapsed.
Seeing this, Chen Fei frowned slightly, finally shaking his head with a touch of regret. "It won't work." Clearly, Slickhead's reaction proved he had no talent for Immortal Cultivation; his Heavenly Spirit Cap was completely inert, devoid of 'spirit'.
"It won't work? Then let's just forget it," Slickhead said with disappointment. He obviously knew such things couldn't be forced, so he could only shake his head.
Chen Fei didn't know how to comfort him, so he changed the subject. "Oh, right. What exactly happened between you and that Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect? Did he give you trouble?"
"Remember that piece of jadeite I got at the Shawan Club? I brought it here to participate in the XXX Jade Exhibition to build some momentum for the future. But on the day of the exhibition, that guy surnamed Junn tried to force a sale. He offered only one million yuan to take it, and of course, I refused. Later, someone lured me to the Nine Heavens of the Milky Way to gamble a little, and I ended up losing one hundred million," Hua Zhinan explained, his voice filled with indignation at first, but it trailed off into dejection. He felt the whole incident was because he had been useless, otherwise it wouldn't have ended up like this.
"What about the jadeite?"
"It's gone. The man from before took it. Said it was to cover my gambling debt."
Chen Fei stroked his chin. "I see," he murmured, then suddenly asked, "Do you want revenge?"
Slickhead was taken aback for a second before exclaiming, "Duh! Of course I do!"
"That's all I need to hear. Leave this to me. I'll go have a nice chat with that Hee Family Clan Leader," Chen Fei said, a glint in his eyes.
A flash of excitement crossed Slickhead's face, but it was quickly replaced by weariness. "You go ahead. I need to rest. These past two days have been exhausting." Indeed, he had been under immense pressure, and now that he could finally relax, the fatigue hit him hard.
However, Chen Fei seemed to guess his thoughts. He patted Slickhead's shoulder and said, "Don't overthink it. You're my brother. I'll do my best to help you achieve your dreams. Martial arts are out of the question for you right now, but there might still be hope with becoming an Ability User. Just give me some time. Wait for my word."
With that, Chen Fei walked out of the room.
"Brother, thank you… thanks…" Inside the room, Slickhead lowered his head again, his murmured words choked with emotion.
…
「About ten minutes later, in a presidential suite on the top floor of the Nine Heavens of the Milky Way.」
Chen Fei, Chen Yaoyang, and the One-eyed Elder were all present when a knock sounded at the door.
"Mr. Chen, the kid from the Hee Family is here," the One-eyed Elder said slowly, assuming it was Hee Yuanpei.
"Good. Let them in," Chen Fei nodded.
Although the day's events were mostly resolved, in his eyes, there was one loose end: that so-called Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect, Junn Yuanyi. That guy was the true instigator! Given his personality, Chen Fei certainly wouldn't let him off the hook!
"Mr. Chen."
"Mr... Mr. Chen."
Chen Yaoyang went to greet them. A moment later, the Hee Family Clan Leader, Hee Yuanpei, and his son, He Che, walked in, their faces filled with respect and awe.
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