Statue of Heroes

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat oppressive.

Chen Guan leaned against the window, watching the night scenery race past outside.

As the car passed through the central plaza, its speed noticeably decreased.

“What’s that?”

Long Ao pointed toward a huge, newly built statue outside the window.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to it.

The statue depicted the back of a tall young man. He held a sickle in one hand and stood alone, facing the sea.

Its silhouette was especially striking against the night. Even from behind, it exuded an air of aloofness.

The driver arranged by Liu Chengjun was a well-informed man. He slowed down and explained respectfully, “That’s a monument the city built overnight to commemorate the nameless hero of the Oriental Pearl Tower incident.”

“I heard that the hero refused to reveal his identity, so they only sculpted an outline and left out the facial features to protect his privacy.”

Hong Yuan pressed her face against the car window and squinted at it. “I have to admit, the guy holding a sickle looks pretty cool.”

There was no doubt among them who the statue represented.

An Changqing’s gaze also fell upon the statue. He spoke gently, “Building this monument is meant to reassure the public. At the same time, it’s also a way of expressing a certain attitude toward that hero.”

“The attitude of the authorities—and of all high-level ability users—is gratitude.”

Liu Feiyu had remained silent the entire time. He never looked at the statue, merely keeping his head lowered as though lost in thought.

The atmosphere inside the car fell silent once more.

The vehicle passed through the bustling city center and entered the dimly lit old district. At last, it stopped in front of an aged building that radiated an aura of decay.

The Guotai Grand Theater.

The mottled plaster on its walls hung loose, swaying in the night wind. Its tightly shut doors were pitch-black and foreboding, quietly waiting for prey to come knocking.

“This is the place.”

An Changqing was the first to get out. He surveyed the building before him with a solemn expression.

The others followed one after another. Long Ao looked up at the plaque, which seemed ready to fall at any moment, and frowned.

“They chose a place like this? Anyone can tell they’re up to no good.”

Just then, several dazzling headlights appeared at the other end of the street. Several black sedans bearing leopard insignias came to a steady stop not far from them.

The doors opened, and a group of men in black suits, each radiating a heavy, imposing aura, quickly got out and established a perimeter.

An energetic-looking old man walked toward them at an unhurried pace, surrounded by a crowd.

“Grandpa Yin.”

Hong Yuan immediately went up to him, her tone urgent.

However, Yin Tianzheng merely nodded at her before his gaze passed over her and landed directly on Chen Guan at the back of the group.

He stopped in front of Chen Guan and gave a slight bow. The gesture left everyone he had brought with him stunned.

“Student Chen.”

Yin Tianzheng’s voice was steady and powerful, filled with genuine respect.

“You’re as impressive as ever, just as you were the last time we met.”

Chen Guan gave Yin Tianzheng a slight nod in response.

“You’re too kind, Old Master Yin.”

Yin Tianzheng smiled and did not dwell on the subject. He turned around and looked toward the deathly silent theater, the smile vanishing from his face in an instant.

“The situation inside is highly unusual.”

His gaze was sharp, as though he wanted to pierce through the heavy doors.

“Our people tried probing it with mental detection, but all their mental energy sank into the depths without a trace. There was no response whatsoever.”

An Changqing picked up the conversation. “The other side has erected some kind of mental barrier.”

“It’s more than a barrier.”

Yin Tianzheng shook his head and pointed at the tightly shut doors.

“Liu Xiao is a very intelligent man—or perhaps I should say, an arrogant one.”

“He knows you’ll come, and he knows we’ll come as well.”

Yin Tianzheng’s gaze slowly swept over everyone present before finally stopping on the dilapidated plaque above the theater.

Creak.

As if to prove his point, the heavy wooden doors emitted a harsh scraping sound and swung inward on their own.

“Since you’re all here, why don’t you come in?”

A voice processed through a loudspeaker drifted out of the darkness, calm and composed as it echoed through the silent street.

It was Liu Xiao’s voice.

“Why waste time talking to him? Let’s just smash our way in.”

Long Ao took a step forward. The joints throughout his body cracked loudly, and his barely restrained desire for battle was already surging.

“Exactly.”

Hong Yuan rested her huge axe on her shoulder and decisively moved to Long Ao’s side.

“There are so many of us. Are we really afraid of one coward hiding in there?”

“No.”

An Changqing immediately stopped them. He analyzed the situation calmly. “He’s clearly prepared. The theater must be filled with traps. If we charge in like this, we’ll be walking straight into his plan.”

Yin Tianzheng also shook his head at Hong Yuan and warned her solemnly, “Little girl, don’t act recklessly. Since he dared to set this trap, it won’t be something simple.”

“Then what are we supposed to do? Just stand here and wait?”

Long Ao frowned. He grew irritated whenever a situation required him to think.

“I’ll go in first.”

Yin Tianzheng had only taken two steps forward when the doors slammed shut with a bang.

He took one step back, and they opened again.

He moved forward.

Bang.

He moved back.

Creak.

After repeating this several times, Yin Tianzheng wore an exasperated expression.

“He doesn’t seem very eager to welcome me.”

“Old Master Yin, I’ll tear this door down myself.”

One of the men following Yin Tianzheng spoke up. He had a square, stern-looking face, and judging from the badge on his chest, he belonged to the Great Wall Security Department and was the security chief for this area.

So this incident had been classified as a security matter.

Chen Guan understood at once.

Yin Tianzheng did not stop him. The square-faced man held his breath and threw a punch.

Then nothing happened.

Unwilling to believe it, he pounded the door with several more punches containing terrifying force. Seeing their superior come up short, the people behind him joined in one after another, launching attacks at the door. They even brought out machine guns and began suppressing it with sheer firepower.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. It’s useless. This door has been reinforced with the power of a demon god. The only way to defeat magic is with magic. Unless Lord Bael takes action, you’ll have to follow that Liu Xiao’s wishes and play along.”

Baal delivered his assessment from within Chen Guan’s mind, clearly looking down on the square-faced man’s futile actions.

After hearing this, Chen Guan asked, “If I use Raging Flames, can I burn this door down?”

“No.”

Baal quickly poured cold water on the idea.

“Even if you copy my skill, it won’t change the fact that you’re only a mortal. You can’t unleash true flames capable of burning the world. You might be able to roast some skewers, but that’s about it.”

“Unless…”

Baal began conjuring up a wicked idea.

“You’re willing to hand your body over to Lord Bael. If you do, Lord Bael can use your body to unleash the true Raging Flames.”

“Even if its power still can’t compare to what Lord Bael could unleash through his true form, because your body wouldn’t be able to withstand it, it would still be far stronger than the mortal version you use.”

“It’s like having the same divine core. One cultivated personally by Lord Bael is naturally stronger than one you simply picked up. Of course, the tiny fraction you can draw upon is already enough to crush plenty of mortals. It only seems powerless in the presence of true gods and demons.”