Self-Beheading to Prove the Way

This was the truth.

Even the weakest little girl, Santai, was at the ninth tier. Moreover, her ability was top-tier with limitless potential. She was also a kid he had personally brought back, making her a trustworthy companion.

"Alright, time to answer my question, kid. How do you know about Zero Sum and the Origin Group?"

"My ability told me."

Naturally, Chen Guan couldn't mention the live stream comments; after all, no one would believe him even if he did.

"Ability... Are you from the Mythological type, or the Knowledge type?" White Tiger looked at the black iron coffin and frowned. "No, you're the Enhancement type... No, that's not right either."

As one of the world's top experts, White Tiger was suddenly completely baffled.

Just what kind of background did this kid have?

Now he was truly intrigued. Coupled with Chen Guan's earlier question about whether the Origin Group was short on people, he suddenly had a bold idea.

"Kid, you want to join the Origin Group?"

White Tiger stroked his chin. Currently, the Origin Group was only missing three seats, and as it happened, they were all his team members. Therefore, any newcomers would definitely be under his wing.

Well, this could be considered a direct hire by the boss.

"As you said, I'm not qualified yet." Chen Guan took out his scythe. White Tiger watched but didn't stop him; even ten Chen Guans couldn't defeat him, so what did it matter if he held a weapon?

Would you care about a child waving a knife around?

Then, White Tiger watched helplessly as Chen Guan placed the scythe against his own neck and gave it a violent pull.

Startled, White Tiger even uncrossed his legs.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen dead people before, but someone who had just been fighting to survive suddenly slitting their own throat without warning? Was this guy a lunatic?

Even though he was just a weak person, every step he took was so unexpected...

After a long while, he finally stood up and walked toward the fallen figure. He was very certain that this person was indeed dead.

He had just started to get interested. What a pity...

At such a close distance, it was impossible to fake...

Hmm?

White Tiger's eyes suddenly went wide.

This kid... how was he breathing again?

Even the wound on his neck was rapidly healing. Although it wasn't completely cured, it was at least no longer fatal. He had just bled all over the floor, which looked quite terrifying, but that was all.

A few seconds later, he watched as the young man he had just pronounced dead opened his eyes.

"Mr. White Tiger, what I'm gambling with you is a future." Although Chen Guan was still a bit weak, he looked at White Tiger. "I won't die, so every investment you make in me will absolutely never be a loss."

White Tiger looked at Chen Guan, whose neck was still bleeding, and fell into a rare silence.

Not strong enough, but ruthless enough.

He appreciated ruthless people. If a person wasn't ruthless, they couldn't stand firm.

He stood up and turned to walk toward his throne. A pill flicked from his fingertips and landed directly in Chen Guan's mouth.

Returning to his throne, White Tiger's voice turned cold.

"The Origin Group isn't a place for playing house. The path we walk is destined to make us enemies of the entire world, and it is filled with death. If you don't have the corresponding strength and resolve, you will only be a burden. You might not die, but there are many ways to make life worse than death."

"I have long been prepared."

The medicine White Tiger gave him was very potent. Even without deliberately refining it, Chen Guan was already fully healed. He stood up and looked at White Tiger. "I am willing to trade my future for your investment now."

He remained silent for another moment. This kid was indeed a bit weak, but... just as he had said, his future was quite worth investing in.

He didn't know when the three missing seats would be filled. That being the case, cultivating a child with a promising future wasn't a bad idea. Besides, he wouldn't need to give up anything precious.

To him, worldly possessions meant nothing. With his strength, he could just take a casual stroll outside and gather a huge pile of heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the eyes of others.

"I can spare your life." White Tiger looked up, his mask facing Chen Guan. "I can even give you a qualification for an observation period."

"Observation period?" Chen Guan asked cautiously.

"That's right." White Tiger walked to one side of the room, where a quaint wooden shelf stood. On it were scattered various bottles, jars, and tattered scrolls. He casually picked up a dusty little wooden box and tossed it to Chen Guan.

Chen Guan caught it instinctively. The wooden box was very light and cold to the touch.

"Inside is a fragment of an Origin Token, which also serves as a keepsake," White Tiger said flatly. "Keep it with you. When you feel your strength is sufficient, you can use it to contact me. Of course, I might not respond."

"In the meantime, you can continue being a good student at Huaqing and improve your strength. But remember, watch your mouth. If I find out that anything you've said today, or any information about the Origin Group, has been leaked by you to someone who shouldn't know... you know the consequences."

"The memories of your little friends have already been altered by me. They don't know the name Zero Sum; they only know that you were taken away by me. When you get back, mind your words."

Chen Guan gripped the wooden box tightly and said in a deep voice, "I understand."

"Very well." White Tiger nodded, seeming a bit weary. "Go on, return to where you belong. Your companions must be pacing around anxiously by now."

Chen Guan didn't hesitate. He immediately got up, put the wooden box away, hoisted the black iron coffin onto his back, and strode away.

When he reached the door, a teleportation white light appeared before his eyes. Passing through it would return him to his original location.

But he still couldn't help stopping and looking back at the man in white, who was still standing in the center of the room, his figure looking somewhat aloof and solitary in the dim light.

He remained exactly the same, nothing was different. On that unchanging mask, not a trace of emotion could be seen.

Chen Guan turned his head and walked step by step into the white light.

"White Tiger, have you taken a liking to him?"

A pitch-black projection rose from the armrest of his chair.

White Tiger looked at the little black figure by his hand and pulled off his mask, revealing an incredibly ordinary European face. He chuckled lightly, "I'm still short three teammates, brother Beidou."

"...Short on people, so you resort to hiring child labor?"

Even though it was just a faceless little black figure, White Tiger could still hear a hint of speechlessness in the tone.

"He's an adult, okay?" White Tiger said with certainty. "Besides, that kid can be considered a ruthless character. Being a reservist is pretty good for him. Plus, he really is quite unusual, even more bizarre than Santai."

"Isn't the Origin Group short on people? I'm helping the boss lighten the load. Didn't I bring that girl Santai back too? If you hadn't stolen the credit, would I be this pitiful?"

White Tiger's voice carried a hint of resentment.

"Suit yourself. If Boss Zero Sum asks about it, you can explain it yourself."

The little black figure helplessly spread its hands. Regarding the matter with Santai, he was indeed in the wrong. Seeing White Tiger bringing up the past, he instantly bolted, disappearing without a trace.

"Beidou, oh Beidou..." White Tiger muttered to himself. "You're going to misjudge this time. I once let that girl Santai slip away, but this time, I won't let another genius slip through my fingers."

"Since all the existing geniuses have already been claimed, why can't I, White Tiger, simply cultivate three new ones from scratch?"

"Huaqing Academy... perhaps it's time I pay these schools a visit."