Chapter 50: Please Grant Me Power

Shen Qi opened his eyes, looking at the Seventh Grade Martial Artist embedded in the wall opposite him, both shocked and delighted.

Qian Xiuxiu stood frozen on the spot, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

The other three martial artists were also dumbfounded, but the shock in their hearts did not stem from Shen Qi, but from Chen Che, who had a hand resting on Shen Qi's shoulder.

Shen Qi also felt the touch on his shoulder and turned his head to look at Chen Che, suddenly realizing: "Master, this dog has brought shame upon you!"

Having understood, Shen Qi was filled with shame; as a dog, needing his master to protect him was truly both a failure and a dereliction of duty.

Chen Che patted his shoulder with satisfaction and said, "You performed well today; even though you aren't a martial artist, you blocked in front of me several times without regard for your own life."

Chen Che picked a clean chair to sit on and slumped into it, somewhat exhausted: "I modified the Contract between us and added a few things. These three people are now yours to deal with."

Shen Qi was dazed, listening in a fog.

At this moment, Chen Che raised two fingers and said crisply: "Guide Qi Shift!"

As Chen Che's incantation fell and the Artisan Technique took effect, Shen Qi gave a start, his entire body feeling as refreshed as if he had been reborn!

A voice emerged in his mind, guiding him to speak the incantation that could change everything!

Shen Qi's expression was solemn; he crossed his arms against his chest, knelt on one knee facing Chen Che, and said piously and excitedly: "Master, please grant me power!"

Whoosh!!!

A tyrannical surge of True Qi appeared out of thin air within Shen Qi's body, and the floor beneath Shen Qi's feet cracked inch by inch under the fluctuations of this surging energy.

"Wow, power! I'm actually a martial artist too! Master, you are my god!"

Shen Qi yelled excitedly.

Chen Che leaned against the back of the chair, easing his exhaustion. Just now, while using the Artisan Technique to stop the bullets, he had invoked a massive amount of True Qi, nearly loosening the gate suppressing the poison.

His top priority now was to stabilize the "prisoner" within his body; as for those four martial artists, the current Shen Qi was enough to deal with them alone!

Qian Xiuxiu was dumbfounded; it was his first time witnessing a commoner break through into a martial artist in an instant, a shock akin to watching someone suddenly turn into a Super Saiyan.

As the saying goes, ignorance is fearless; Qian Xiuxiu was still immersed in the rage of revenge and immediately roared: "What are you all standing there for?! Even if he broke through, he's only one person! All four of you, go together and kill them for me!"

However...

Of the four martial artists, not a single one moved.

Qian Xiuxiu did not understand, but they were very clear about how inconceivable the scene just now had been.

The higher a martial artist's realm, the stronger their perception of True Qi.

They were all Seventh or Eighth Grade experts, figures who could be said to sit firmly in the first tier of the martial arts circle in Shanghai.

Precisely because of this, they clearly felt the entire process.

They felt that after Shen Qi shouted that brainless incantation, the True Qi on Chen Che's body was transferred to Shen Qi's body in a bizarre way.

Yet, it was this borrowed True Qi that directly enabled Shen Qi to complete the leap from a commoner to a martial artist!

And it was a realm they could not see through!

But judging from that surging momentum, it was definitely no lower than Sixth Grade!

Even so, they did not take Shen Qi too seriously; after all, borrowed True Qi was ultimately someone else's, and it was simply impossible for a commoner to fully master it.

Even if Shen Qi's strength now did not lose to an Eighth Grade, the four of them working together had the confidence to defeat Shen Qi.

But what they truly feared was not Shen Qi, but Chen Che.

To graft one's own True Qi onto someone else in a way that others could not understand—this was not something a martial artist could do, but an Artisan.

As for Artisans, the most common were Strange Gate Dunjia Masters.

But Chen Che's methods just now were clearly not the Mysterious Gate Dunjia Technique at all!

People will instinctively fear things that exceed their scope of understanding.

At this time, the Seventh Grade Martial Artist embedded in the wall jumped down, spat out a mouthful of blood, and warned: "His strength is at least Seventh Grade; there is no chance of winning."

The remaining three were shocked once more.

When Shen Qi threw a punch, he was also borrowing Chen Che's power—the True Qi entered his body from the arm Chen Che had placed on Shen Qi's shoulder, then erupted through Shen Qi's fist.

The True Qi transmission process itself would reduce the power, but it still erupted with strength not inferior to a Seventh Grade.

The four looked at each other, then simultaneously looked at Chen Che, who was sitting calmly behind Shen Qi, and a hair-raising feeling spread throughout their bodies.

"Eh? Why aren't you all coming?"

Shen Qi rolled up his sleeves and said eagerly: "Since you aren't coming, then I'm coming!"

Having said that, Shen Qi suddenly shot out, arriving in the blink of an eye before the Seventh Grade Martial Artist who had just jumped down from the wall.

Shen Qi's smile was ferocious and excited; amidst the other's terrified expression, too late to react, he hammered down with a punch.

Bang!

The Seventh Grade Martial Artist sprawled out in a star shape, embedded into the floor once again, but this time he could not get back up.

"Scatter!"

Xu Di, the Eighth Grade Martial Artist among the remaining three, shouted.

The three dispersed and retreated, but when they steadied themselves, Shen Qi's figure was gone.

Xu Di's expression was stunned, and he suddenly shouted: "Old Jing, above!"

Jing Yan's body shook violently, and without looking up, he threw a punch with all his might toward his head.

Shen Qi was getting carried away, and his fist missed by an inch, landing vertically beside Jing Yan's feet; the two successfully completed a perfect miss.

Jing Yan retreated rapidly, arriving beside Yan Zhen, who was also Seventh Grade, and stared at Shen Qi vigilantly, panting and still shaken.

Shen Qi stood up, patted the dust off his body, and said: "How about the three of you come together? I think I can handle it."

Xu Di gritted his teeth, his breathing heavy, and cold sweat flowed down uncontrollably.

To kill a Seventh Grade Martial Artist with one punch, and it was borrowed power at that!

Xu Di looked in astonishment at Chen Che, who was resting with his eyes closed, and stormy waves surged in his heart.

"A bunch of trash, did the Qian Family raise you to be jokes?! Hurry up and fight, what are you running for!"

Seeing one of her own experts easily killed, Qian Xiuxiu felt a surge of fury in her heart.

Xu Di cast a venomous glance at Qian Xiuxiu and muttered to himself, "Big-chested but brainless idiot Miss Qian, even if you can't fight, you should at least be able to see such an obvious gap in strength, right? Are you blind?!"

Shen Qi seemed to have discovered a new world, touching and pinching his own body; this feeling of being filled with power was just too great!

"Continue, I haven't had enough fun yet!" Shen Qi's eyes gleamed, looking like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.

Xu Di sighed, shook his head at Jing Yan and Yan Zhen, and the three of them knelt and kowtowed simultaneously.

"We admit defeat. We beg Master Shen Qi to spare our lives; we are willing to be your servants and follow your orders!"

The three said in unison.

Shen Qi looked dejected: "You're stopping already? I thought you were much stronger than this, what a letdown!"

"This... what is going on?!"

The sudden scene was like a basin of cold water, splashing with a 'whoosh' to wake Qian Xiuxiu from her whirlpool of anger.

Qian Xiuxiu was dumbfounded, her body trembling slightly as she looked at this scene in disbelief.

"Master Shen Qi's strength is unfathomable. We know we are no match for you; continuing to fight would only cost us our lives."

Xu Di spoke with earnest, humble, and submissive words: "We had no intention of offending Master Shen Qi, but as retainers of the Qian Family, we have no choice. We beg Master Shen Qi to be magnanimous and spare our dog lives."

Shen Qi shrugged: "Begging me is useless; everything depends on the master's will."

Xu Di and the other two followed Shen Qi's gaze to look at Chen Che, their hearts filled with immense shock.

Shen Qi's form of address for Chen Che was too explosive, but when combined with Chen Che's mystery and power, it was not hard to accept.

Chen Che opened his eyes and looked at the three of them, his tone carrying the oppressive aura of a powerhouse: "I can spare you, but the condition is that from now on, you three join the Qibao Association and obey my orders unconditionally."

The three of them shuddered, yet secretly felt relieved, and said in unison: "Yes, we are willing to join the Qibao Association."

"Rest assured, I have no grudge against you. If you can be absolutely loyal to me and show me results that satisfy me, it is not impossible for your cultivation realms to advance by leaps and bounds."

Chen Che said with an unruffled expression.

However,

His words landed in the ears of Xu Di and the others like a thunderclap!

Cultivation realms advancing by leaps and bounds! They did not doubt the truth of Chen Che's words at all; after all, Shen Qi was a living example!

Martial Artists possess greater strength than ordinary people and enjoy the superiority that power brings, so naturally, they yearn for even greater power!

The Qian Family is indeed a powerful clan in Shanghai, but the strength and mystery Chen Che displayed already far exceeded the value of the Qian Family!

The considerations in the hearts of Xu Di and the others required almost no hesitation; the three of them slammed their heads onto the ground and shouted in unison with great excitement: "Greetings, Master!"

Chen Che picked his ear, feeling that being called 'Master' by several grown men was a bit perverted.

"None of you are allowed to call me 'Master' in the future; call me Young Master Chen or Mr. Chen," Chen Che corrected.

Including Shen Qi, the four of them responded together: "Yes, Mr. Chen."

Chen Che suddenly turned his head to look at Qian Xiuxiu; the latter jumped in fright and fell to the ground, then hurriedly scrambled up, knelt on both knees, and begged for mercy:

"Young Master Chen, I was blind, I was stupid and clumsy, and I didn't know what was good for me. I actually offended you for the sake of a stinking man. Please spare my life; as long as you spare my life, I am willing to do anything for you!"

Qian Xiuxiu's face was full of obsequiousness and flattery, having completely abandoned the dignity and pride of a Qian Family eldest daughter; all she could think about at this moment was surviving!