Chapter 2: Emerging into the Spotlight

After leaving the alley, Ji Chen followed the fleeting figure to a hidden underground bar.

Under the dim lights and amidst the deafening music, the air was filled with the mixed scent of alcohol and some kind of strange energy.

This was the gathering place for supernatural ability users in Yuncheng—"Yijing."

Pushing open the heavy metal door, Ji Chen felt as if he had entered a brand-new world.

Some people conjured a rose of fire out of thin air, some manipulated metal fragments dancing in the air, and others could turn invisible and disappear...

The various strange supernatural abilities made Ji Chen dizzy, his jaw almost dropping to the ground.

"Holy crap, this is too cool!" he sighed inwardly, feeling like a country bumpkin entering the Grand View Garden, wishing he could glue his eyes to others.

He hadn't expected there to be so many supernatural ability users here.

But he didn't forget the purpose of his trip—to find that mysterious figure.

He carefully wove through the crowd, his eyes scanning every corner sharply.

He knew that in this seemingly bustling place, many unknown dangers were also hidden.

Suddenly, a wave of energy caught his attention.

He saw a tall woman manipulating water, steadily delivering a glass of wine to a guest at another table.

The woman had neat short hair, cold eyes, and exuded an aura that kept strangers at a distance.

"It's her!" Ji Chen recognized at a glance that this was the mysterious figure he had seen at the alley entrance.

Just as he was watching intently, Ji Chen accidentally bumped into someone.

He quickly apologized: "Sorry, sorry." Looking up, he realized he had bumped into Ceng Yue!

Today, Ceng Yue was still in a black tight-fitting outfit, with no expression on her face, her eyes filled with cold indifference.

"Don't you have eyes when you walk?" She glanced at Ji Chen coldly, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"It's you!" Ji Chen was also stunned for a moment, not expecting to run into her here. Was Ceng Yue also a supernatural ability user?

"What, an Elementary Ability User dares to come here?" Ceng Yue crossed her arms, her tone mocking. "This isn't a place for small fries like you to hang around."

Ji Chen was provoked by her words, and a sense of defiance surged in his heart.

"Who says an Elementary Ability User can't come here? I..." People around began to notice the commotion here and gathered around, their eyes filled with the excitement of watching a show.

"Yo, isn't this Ceng Yue? What's the matter, did someone provoke you again?" a young man with dyed yellow hair said sarcastically.

"Just an ignorant Elementary Ability User." Ceng Yue glanced at Ji Chen contemptuously. "I don't know who gave him the courage to come here and make a fool of himself."

Ji Chen took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and a firm light flashed in his eyes.

"Make a fool of myself?" The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a confident smile. "Then let's wait and see!" Ji Chen was not a soft persimmon to be kneaded by others.

Provoked by Ceng Yue, the ability factors in his body boiled over like a pot that had exploded.

"Make a fool of myself? Fine, today I'll let you see what a real supernatural ability is!" He took a deep breath, and the drifting supernatural energy around him, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, surged madly into his body.

A faint golden light radiated from him, illuminating his determined face.

The crowd watching the excitement gradually quieted down, their surprised gazes focused on this Elementary Ability User.

This speed of absorbing energy...

It's simply too monstrous!

"Holy crap, what's going on?" The yellow-haired youth widened his eyes, his jaw almost dropping off.

Ceng Yue also frowned slightly.

Ji Chen felt the full power in his body, the corners of his mouth hooking into a confident arc.

He slammed a punch into a strength-testing instrument in the corner of the bar.

With a loud "boom," the numbers on the instrument jumped wildly, finally stopping at an astonishing value.

"How about that? Does this count as making a fool of myself?" Ji Chen looked at Ceng Yue provocatively, his eyes filled with triumph.

Ceng Yue's expression changed, but she remained stubborn: "It's just luck, what's there to be proud of?"

Just then, a burly Intermediate Ability User walked out, looking at Ji Chen with disdain.

"Kid, you just got lucky, don't think you're really that great." He patted his chest, making a "thump-thump" dull sound. "Come on, dare to spar with me?" The crowd around became excited and started booing: "Fight! Fight!" Ji Chen answered without hesitation: "Bring it on, who's afraid of whom!" His eyes were firm, and his fighting spirit was high.

An empty space was cleared in the center of the bar, and Ji Chen and the Intermediate Ability User stood facing each other, the air filled with tension.

"Kid, I'll let you know that an Intermediate Ability User isn't someone you can provoke!" The ability user sneered, his fists igniting with raging flames.

Ji Chen sneered and flashed away.

The Intermediate Ability User sneered, his flaming fists carrying heat waves, lunging straight at Ji Chen's face.

Ji Chen didn't dare to take it head-on, dodging sideways just in time, the scorching sparks brushing past his cheek, stinging him with pain.

He muttered to himself: "Damn, this firepower is really fierce!" His feet didn't stop, dodging left and right, like a flexible loach, struggling to survive under the opponent's fierce attack.

The flaming fists came one after another, carrying a whistling wind, the air seeming to be distorted by the heat.

Ji Chen felt the heat wave rushing toward him, cold sweat seeping from his back. He was like a small boat in a storm, ready to be overturned at any moment.

But he didn't panic, his brain working at high speed, looking for the opponent's flaws.

He discovered that although the Intermediate Ability User's attacks were fierce, the power was too concentrated, leaving some gaps instead.

Ji Chen thought to himself: "Hmph, seemingly powerful attacks are actually full of loopholes. Let me show you my real strength!"

The opportunity had come!

Ji Chen's eyes sharpened, and the drifting supernatural energy around him surged into his body like a tide, making him instantly full of power.

He suddenly accelerated, dodging the opponent's attack, and then like a bolt of lightning, carrying the supernatural energy surging in from around him, every strike seemed to carry world-destroying power. Wherever his fists and feet went, the space seemed to distort slightly. The Intermediate Ability User only felt like a fallen leaf swept by a storm, with no power to fight back.

Ji Chen slammed a punch into the opponent's abdomen.

The Intermediate Ability User didn't expect Ji Chen's speed to increase so much suddenly, completely unprepared, and was hit with a muffled grunt, his body staggering back a few steps.

Not letting up, Ji Chen seized the opportunity and launched another attack.

He used both fists and feet, every strike precise and ruthless, carrying a whistling sound, forcing the Intermediate Ability User to retreat repeatedly, the flames on his body dimming a bit.

The Intermediate Ability User was forced to retreat step by step by Ji Chen, roaring in frustration, but had no power to fight back.

"Bang!" With a dull sound, the Intermediate Ability User fell heavily to the ground, and the flames were completely extinguished.

He clutched his chest, looking at Ji Chen in disbelief. The crowd around erupted into deafening cheers. They didn't expect that an Elementary Ability User could actually defeat an Intermediate Ability User; this was simply too exciting!

Ji Chen stood in the center of the field, bathing in everyone's gaze, a strong sense of achievement surging in his heart.

He looked at the back of the Intermediate Ability User who left in a sorry state, his heart filled with pride. What a weakling, and he dared to be arrogant in front of him!

He turned his gaze to Ceng Yue again and found a hint of complexity in her eyes, no longer as cold as before.

He knew that he had finally gained her recognition!

"Awesome! This guy is really fucking fierce!" "Yeah, I really didn't expect an Elementary Ability User to be this strong!" "I feel like I've witnessed the birth of a new star!" The discussions and cheers around him reached Ji Chen's ears, making him feel like a star standing in the center of the stage, enjoying the attention of everyone.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly; all of this was just the beginning!

Just as he was immersed in the joy of victory, he heard someone whispering in the crowd: "Did you hear? 'Night Walker' is coming!" "Really? That's an Advanced Ability User!" "He's here, he's here! I can feel his powerful aura!" Ji Chen felt a hint of doubt and subconsciously clenched his fists. Who was this so-called "Night Walker"?

"He's here..." someone in the crowd exclaimed. ===== CHAPTER 3 =====