Chapter 97

97. Chapter 97: Terrifying News (Alliance Leader Bonus: Yu Xian Qitian)

“Mr. Li, a pleasant cooperation.”

Beneath the Heping Financial Building, Zheng Lan smiled as she shook hands with Li Yi, signaling the deal was sealed; Li Yi promptly transferred five million over, with the remaining five million to be paid after project completion.

“Then everything is in your hands, Miss Zheng,” Li Yi said.

“Give me thirty days—I guarantee your financial building will be completely transformed,” Zheng Lan’s eyes flickered slightly. “Now that business is settled, do you have time for lunch, Mr. Li? I’d like to treat you and discuss some building details further.”

Li Yi politely declined: “I’ve been busy with cultivation lately; today I only stepped out on purpose. Thank you for your kindness, Miss Zheng, but I’ll invite you to dinner at my new home once I’ve moved in.”

“I didn’t expect Mr. Li to be not only young and accomplished, but also so hardworking. I’ll definitely attend your housewarming,” Zheng Lan smiled.

Li Yi replied humbly: “What accomplishment? I just got lucky. Well, Miss Zheng, I’ll be going now—call me if anything comes up.”

Zheng Lan immediately stepped forward: “Are you heading home? I drove here—let me give you a ride?”

“My place isn’t far—I’ll walk. No need to trouble you,” Li Yi said.

“What trouble? Come on,” Zheng Lan insisted warmly.

Li Yi no longer resisted: “Then just drop me off in the old district—the roads are narrow and always jammed. If you drive in, I’m afraid you won’t find your way out.”

“You’re too polite—it’s on my way,” Zheng Lan remained enthusiastic. “And calling me ‘Miss Zheng’ feels too formal. Just call me Lan, or even Lanlan. Wait a moment—I’ll get the car.”

She left with the keys.

A short while later, a plain family sedan pulled up and stopped before Li Yi.

Li Yi got in; as the car started, Zheng Lan smiled: “Li Yi, haven’t you ever wondered what relationship I have with Engineer Zheng? Why did he trust you to me so completely?”

“I don’t like prying into others’ private affairs,” Li Yi said, gazing out the window. “But today reminds me—I should probably buy a car. It’d make travel easier.”

Zheng Lan looked at Li Yi intently: “I’m Engineer Zheng’s cousin—we’re blood relatives. I heard about his mission last time. I’m truly grateful for your help; without you, he might not have returned.”

“He’s a good colleague, responsible. We help each other—it’s natural,” Li Yi shook his head slightly. “If I were in danger, he’d help me too.”

“Speaking of cars,” Zheng Lan suddenly smiled softly, “do you prefer a larger one or a smaller one?”

“Larger,” Li Yi replied casually.

Zheng Lan smiled without speaking, subtly straightening her full chest, a hint of pride in her brow.

Soon.

The car entered the old district.

The roads were narrow, mostly one-way, crowded with pedestrians—hard to drive, constantly stopping and starting.

Zheng Lan actively chatted with Li Yi; the two now felt less distant.

But then—

Suddenly—

A sharp horn blared on the road; Li Yi turned his head and saw a truck veering wildly in reverse, barreling straight toward them, smashing into several cars, instantly causing chaos.

Zheng Lan saw it too—her face paled, panic set in; she didn’t know what to do, as cars blocked her front and back.

Yet at that moment, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass.

With a shattering glass sound, a powerful arm reached in, seized Zheng Lan, yanked her from the driver’s seat, and swiftly pulled her to the roadside.

“Boom!”

The truck roared, smashing through multiple vehicles before finally crashing into the roadside wall and stopping.

Zheng Lan stared at the twisted, deformed cars, still trembling—she glanced at Li Yi beside her.

If not for Li Yi, she might already be dead.

“Zheng Lan, are you alright?” Li Yi remained calm, frowning slightly as he stared at the truck driver, instinctively on guard.

Was this aimed at him?

Or just an ordinary accident?

“I—I’m fine. Thank you, Li Yi,” Zheng Lan gasped, sweat beading on her forehead.

Li Yi didn’t answer—he saw the truck driver, seemingly unharmed, kick open the mangled door and stagger out.

“A cultivator,” he realized at once.

The driver was a cultivator—his physical resilience was astonishing. Such an impact should have crushed a normal person’s skull, sending them straight to the crematorium. Yet he stood unscathed.

“I don’t know this driver. This isn’t about me—it’s coincidence, not targeting,” Li Yi thought. He had no interest in this spectacle and prepared to leave immediately.

Sometimes, watching a spectacle invites trouble—and ordinary people without power couldn’t bear the cost.

But just as Li Yi turned to leave—

A voice shouted at him: “Are you Li Yi? I’m investigator Zhang Zhixiong from the Investigation Bureau. Help me stop that truck driver—he’s wanted. Don’t let him escape!”

Another car pulled up; from the passenger seat, a familiar face leaned out, urgently calling out.

Zhang Zhixiong?

Li Yi remembered him—he’d seen him on a mission two days ago.

“So it’s the Investigation Bureau chasing someone. Then I can’t refuse.”

Li Yi, who had just turned to leave, froze. As an external operative, he couldn’t stand idle—he was paid by the Investigation Bureau.

Thinking this, Li Yi exploded with terrifying force from his feet.

He shot forward like a startled hare.

In an instant, he reached the driver’s side—faster than sight.

“You dare attack me with only Spirit Medium opened? Get out of my way!”

The driver, bloodied and wounded, roared as he raised his hand to strike—no restraint, aiming to kill Li Yi instantly.

Next moment—

Thud!

A muffled impact rang out as Li Yi’s fist unleashed its power.

Technique?

The man’s face turned pale.

He never imagined a mere Spirit Medium cultivator could wield such a terrifying fist technique.

This miscalculation cost him dearly.

A cry of pain.

Blood sprayed as a powerful force ripped his arm clean off, sending it flying into the air.

But Li Yi immediately retreated—his expression darkened. His arm went numb, his fist throbbing with sharp pain; several cuts bled on his skin—he’d been injured too.

“Spirit Perception cultivator?”

If the man had been Spirit Medium, Li Yi’s punch would have crushed him—no injury possible.

The only explanation: the man’s realm was one level higher.

But he was wounded and caught off-guard by Li Yi’s technique—hence the loss of his arm.

After all, even a Spirit Perception cultivator was flesh and blood—hard to withstand a direct punch’s explosion.

“Good, good, good—I never expected someone so young in the old district of Tianchang City to have opened Spirit Medium and mastered such a terrifying fist technique. Looks like I’ve hit the worst luck possible,” the cultivator, drenched in blood, gritted his teeth, eyes locked on Li Yi.

“Surrender. Your condition is terrible—if you fight on, you’ll die,” Li Yi warned, keeping guard against escape or another strike.

“Die?”

Hearing this, the cultivator burst into laughter: “The world’s nearly over—why should I fear death?”

“What do you mean?” Li Yi frowned.

“Oh right—you’re only Spirit Medium, you know so little. It’s normal not to know. Cough, cough.” The man’s face was pale from blood loss. “Since I’m caught anyway, I might as well say more—might be my last chance.”

“The next Heaven’s Collapse event is coming soon. How many do you think will die this time?”

Second Heaven’s Collapse event?

Li Yi’s body trembled slightly.

Ten years ago, Li Yi was ten—his parents alive, family happy.

But one day—

Lightning split the sky, the earth shook, the heavens tore open, tilting and collapsing. Strange, supernatural forces flooded into the world with that disaster.

That catastrophe was called the Heaven’s Collapse event—countless cities destroyed, families shattered, loved ones lost.

Even now, Li Yi remembered it vividly, unforgettable.

“When will the second Heaven’s Collapse happen?”

Li Yi quickly steadied himself—he was no longer the boy of ten years ago. He was now the pillar of his family, bearing its entire weight.

“Who knows? Maybe six months, maybe a year, maybe two,” the cultivator sneered. “But does it matter? The broken world is counting down to extinction. Unless you become a Cross-Boundary Practitioner, death is inevitable for everyone.”

“Han Fei, shut up.”

As Zhang Zhixiong’s car stopped, a figure surged forward with lethal intent, trying to silence the cultivator before he revealed more.

“Let him speak.”

Li Yi stepped forward without hesitation to block the stranger.

The Heaven’s Collapse event concerned everyone’s life—and his own future. He couldn’t pretend not to hear.

“Who the hell are you to stop me?” The man roared, showing no respect, swinging a punch straight at Li Yi.

Fist wind howled, heavy and powerful.

“Another Spirit Perception cultivator?”

Li Yi felt the punch’s force—his face changed. Then, a violent killing intent surged in his heart.

He’d fought Spirit Perception cultivators before.

“Top Heart Elbow.”

With a killing technique from the Combat Art, Li Yi unleashed his fist power from the elbow, striking directly forward.

Boom!

Forces collided, wind howled.

The man was driven back by Li Yi’s killing strike, his body surging with chaotic qi, his fist visibly dented—he was clearly badly injured.

This was only because he came prepared; if he’d held back just now, his arm would’ve been ruined.

“Good fist art, kid. What’s your name?” The man’s expression turned cold as he fixed his gaze on Li Yi.

Only after direct confrontation could he understand just how terrifying this guy’s fist art was. No wonder Han Fei lost an arm after sparring with him—He’d assumed Han Fei was just injured and got caught off guard, but now it was clear that wasn’t the case.

“Tianchang City, Li Yi.” He stated his name openly—no need to hide it.

This man came with Investigator Zhang Zhixiong; his identity was likely no ordinary one. Checking Li Yi’s background would be effortless.

“I’m Chen Xiangxi. Li Yi, is it? Remember this day—you’ll pay for meddling in what doesn’t concern you.” Chen Xiangxi strode forward again, clearly unwilling to let Li Yi go.

“You think I’m afraid of you?”

Li Yi’s warrior blood surged. He set his stance, ready to punch even at heaven itself, showing not the slightest retreat.

“Calm down. Calm down.”

Investigator Zhang Zhixiong rushed over, stepping between them: “Li Yi is an external combatant hired by our Investigation Bureau. Chen Xiangxi, the order was for me to assist you in capturing Han Fei—if you lay a hand on Li Yi, you’re declaring war on the Investigation Bureau. Think carefully about the consequences.”

At these words, Chen Xiangxi halted mid-step.

He’d assumed Li Yi was merely someone Zhang Zhixiong knew—never imagining he was also with the Investigation Bureau.

“Just an external combatant? Zhang Zhixiong, you alone don’t speak for the entire Investigation Bureau. Have Zhang Lei come—if he’s willing.”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out. The car door opened, and a long leg stepped out. A tall, voluptuous woman with cascading waves appeared before them, smiling sweetly.

“Xu Qiu Mei, speak more respectfully,” Zhang Zhixiong’s face darkened.

“Respectful? You need the strength to earn it. A cultivator from a backwater town, at the Spirit Medium realm, dares attack us so brazenly? A lesson is the least you deserve.” The woman, Xu Qiu Mei, locked her gaze onto Li Yi.

“Kneel!”

She whispered the command.

The voice echoed instantly in Li Yi’s ears, as if a strange magic had burrowed into his mind, making him dazed, his body seized by an unseen force.

Li Yi moved involuntarily, as if truly about to kneel before this woman and beg forgiveness.

But at that moment—

A figure flashed into Li Yi’s mind: his own likeness, seated cross-legged on a lotus platform, hand forming a sacred seal—but now his expression was not serene. His eyes blazed with fury, like a Vajra subduing demons. He roared, shaking Li Yi’s skull with a deafening boom.

That Vajra roar snapped Li Yi back to clarity.

He broke free of the strange control.

“Hm?” Xu Qiu Mei’s expression flickered—she sensed her mind-control spell had failed.

But how?

Her mind-control spell should never fail against a Spirit Medium cultivator.