[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts":3,"chapter-i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-chapter-38":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1865069,2473,"Chapter 38: The World Is Like a Game of Chess, Each Move Is New","i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>When Han Zhan realized it, it was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the tall building of the City Guardian Organization, the rumbling of fighter jets was heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire city sky was covered with dark clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many squads of Spirit Contract Masters, fierce and unfamiliar, appeared on the streets of Deep Blue City!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a large-scale operation, all just to capture the wanted criminal, Han Zhan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evidence was conclusive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of foreboding filled his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You three, get out of here quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go back to the villa area and find the Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll handle things here, go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhan spoke in a swift tone, and Yi Fan turned and ran without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two girls, urged by Han Zhan, quickly retreated with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next second, the entire room was shrouded in the aura of a strong individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air became instantly viscous,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhan felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer, collapsing to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his head, trying to see clearly who had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all he could see was a vast expanse of white light and shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suspect Han Zhan has been apprehended.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold, ethereal voice seemed to come from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shutong sat in the pavilion’s rattan chair, pouring two cups of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One for himself, and one placed across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if certain, someone would sit there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, in the next second, a figure, black as quantum mimicry, appeared out of thin air opposite him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So mysterious, yet we’ve been old friends for so long. Still hiding like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadowy figure didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the foremost figure of Great Xia, he boldly sat down and lifted the teacup for a sniff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You still love Qingzhou tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wish you hadn’t said that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The probing had already begun the moment they met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mention of \"Qingzhou tea\" confirmed the identity; it was one of the highest few remaining individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shutong caressed the cup, drinking the tea in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t seem anxious at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anxious? Why should I be anxious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because your chosen successor is already in dire straits, with undeniable evidence. He’ll be publicly executed tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you really have to target an old friend?\" Li Shutong looked across, his fists slightly clenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dense white mist behind him took the shape of a fierce tiger, growls faintly audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shutong’s calm exterior couldn’t hide the killing intent and anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if you destroy this quantum state clone of mine, it won’t help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Shang has prepared many quantum state clones for each of us, hasn’t he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shutong suddenly let out an \"Oh,\" and sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let’s continue drinking tea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his usual calm, as if the anger moments ago wasn’t even his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure across asked in a puzzled tone, \"Aren’t you worried?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worried.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shutong refilled his cup with Qingzhou tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added with a faint smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But life, like chess, is ever-changing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second War Zone, General Headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick report was delivered to Lin Jingxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Han Zhan has been captured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which military department acted?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t belong to the Eight Major War Zones, likely private forces raised by those big figures.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jingxuan’s face showed disdainful and mocking expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To solve external issues, one must first settle internal ones. Now the inside is getting even messier—power, power, it’s all damned power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To share hardships but unable to share prosperity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone doesn’t want the teacher to take on another disciple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commander Lin, do we need to reinforce?\" his subordinate asked from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reinforce? Why reinforce?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jingxuan replied with a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To a teacher who can produce someone like me, this is just a game of chess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who can guarantee that the junior apprentice brother isn’t the ’bait’ intentionally released by the teacher?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar situations occurred in other war zones, where Li Shutong’s other students, upon hearing the news, only asked the same question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did Lin Jingxuan make any moves?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving a negative response from their subordinates, they all calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even Lin Jingxuan wasn’t making any moves, why panic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the unconditional trust between fellow disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the prison of Deep Blue City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life wasn’t going well for Han Zhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands and feet were shackled with a suppressor, unable to harness the power of the Contracted Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The torturer delivered a punch to his abdomen, staining the metal cuffs with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still not confessing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha.\" Han Zhan laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took another heavy punch to his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, I’ve been toughened up since childhood, got beaten a lot at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve nothing to say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can hit me with all your might.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhan’s words sounded like mockery, angering the person across, who didn’t care about his identity. Here, he was only a prisoner!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Increasingly heavier punches rained down on Han Zhan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he claimed, he uttered not a single groan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, someone came in, raising a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The torture on Han Zhan was temporarily halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Han Zhan, wake up. Li Shutong, that old man, might not be able to rescue anyone now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are two choices before you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With your talent, as long as you grow, there will definitely be a place for you in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without life, what’s the use of pride?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker stood in the shadows,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhan couldn’t see his face clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, have you made a decision?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhan took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then exhaled a full breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded. As the figure leaned in with interest, he spat a mouthful of blood, hitting squarely on the other’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the scene, Han Zhan burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I choose the third option, damn you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1164,"2026-06-10T05:31:12.900Z",1,"novelbin.me","b9f49615c6c59efecc62d558c6faebc1c24ef609e9a7c3d1554f786daabeb0ad","i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-chapter-39","i-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-chapter-37",617,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-contracted-all-ancient-divine-artifacts-cover.jpg"]