In the middle of his charge, Lin Fang’s eyes sharpened.

“Spectral Step.”

The world seemed to fold.

The distance between him and the towering avatar vanished in an instant, as if space itself had given way. One moment, he was meters away, the next he was already in front of the giant construct, his body flickering like a phantom as he reappeared right where the avatar’s chest loomed.

Lin Fang didn’t hesitate.

His right fist drove forward.

The punch landed high on the avatar’s chest, far above where Zack stood inside, yet perfectly aligned with the core of its unstable structure. The moment his knuckles connected, a deafening crack rang out, sharp and brittle, like glass being struck by a hammer.

Energy exploded outward.

The avatar was blasted backward, its massive form bending unnaturally as deep fractures spread across its surface.

The cracks multiplied in an instant, racing across the armor in jagged lines. Lin Fang withdrew his fist and dismissed the skill, his body drifting back as the giant construct crashed into the ground.

For a heartbeat, the avatar lay there, trembling.

Then it shattered.

The towering armor broke apart like glass, fragments of mana dispersing into the air before fading away completely.

When the dust settled, Zack lay on the ground at the center, his body battered and bloodied. He was breathing, alive, but barely able to move, his limbs twitching weakly.

Silence fell over the arena.

No one spoke. No one even breathed loudly. The hunters stared in disbelief.

Moments ago, many of them had mocked Lin Fang for fighting “cowardly,” for relying on flight and ranged attacks. Now, they had just watched him obliterate an avatar with a single, overwhelming blow.

Lin Fang slowly rose into the air, his expression calm as ever. He looked down at Zack. “You’re in no condition to continue,” he said evenly. “I win.”

He turned his gaze to the spectators. “If any of his friends are here, take him to medical care.” His voice carried clearly through the silent hall. “And remind him to fulfill the end of our deal before we leave for the Stellar Rift.”

Among the spectators, a middle-aged hunter narrowed his eyes, his gaze following Lin Fang’s retreating figure.

“That power just now…” he murmured. “It was borrowed.”

His companion frowned. “Borrowed?”

“Yes,” the man replied quietly. “The power of a Spirit King.”

His friend’s eyes widened as he looked again at Lin Fang, who had already returned to the upper floor and was speaking with Lin Mei before leaving with her and Adam. “What kind of background does that kid have?”

The expert’s expression turned serious. “Find out everything about him. Innate souls are extremely rare.”

In another corner of the hall, where the lights barely reached, a hooded figure stood in the shadows. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood seeping through his fingers.

“Lin Fang…” he whispered.

Killing intent flickered in his eyes like cold fire. “This time, I’ll kill you for sure.”

*

“That was amazing, little bro!” Lin Mei exclaimed as they walked away. Her eyes were bright, her earlier worry completely gone. “I really thought you’d face trouble, but you destroyed that arrogant bastard so easily.”

Adam laughed and nodded. “She’s right. I know Zack Walter. He’s a genuine A-rank hunter.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Destroying an avatar with brute force isn’t easy at all. I can’t do it that cleanly.”

Lin Fang smiled faintly. “Well, it wasn’t entirely my own power,” he admitted. “I borrowed my Spirit King’s strength.”

“Spirit King?” Lin Mei yelped, stopping in her tracks. “You’re an innate soul? I didn’t even know that!”

Lin Fang chuckled softly. “Jiejie, you know I was born without a mana core. It’s only because of my teacher, Master Li, that my life changed. He transferred his legacy to me.”

“You obtained Master Li’s legacy?” Lin Mei stared at him, stunned.

Adam looked just as surprised. “Wow. Brother, you must’ve done something incredible in your past life.”

Lin Fang laughed, then turned to Adam. “Oh, right. Bro, this is my sister, Lin Mei.”

He gestured between them. “Jiejie, this is Adam. My friend. He’s the one who taught me how to fight.”

Lin Mei blinked, then her eyes widened in sudden realization. “Wait… this is the same one? Your girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend? The one you bonded with?”

Lin Fang coughed twice, clearly caught off guard.

Adam smiled helplessly and nodded. “Yes,” he said politely. “That would be me, Ms. Lin.”

Adam walked alongside them, his earlier excitement settling into a relaxed ease. He glanced at Lin Mei with curiosity. “So,” he said casually, “what does Ms. Lin do?”

Before Lin Mei could answer, Lin Fang spoke up, his tone natural, as if stating something ordinary. “You can think of her as a civil servant. She works for the Ospana Republic government.”

Adam stopped for half a step, blinking in surprise. “Ospana? That’s… really far.”

Lin Fang nodded. “Yeah. Long story.”

Adam studied his face for a moment, then laughed softly and waved it off. “Fair enough.” He didn’t press further. Some stories didn’t need to be opened unless the owner was ready.

They continued walking. After a short pause, Adam asked, “So, how’s life treating you, bro?”

Lin Fang thought about it for a moment. Not deeply. Just enough to feel the weight of his answer. “Better than ever,” he said at last.

He counted without counting. His business. The steady growth. The title of A-rank hunter. The confidence that came with real strength. The quiet warmth of a relationship that grounded him. And now…

“I can protect myself,” he continued. “I have someone I care about. And I found my sister again.” He smiled and reached out, taking Lin Mei’s hand. “Honestly, I don’t think there’s much more I want right now.”

Lin Mei squeezed his hand gently, her smile soft and proud. For that moment, the vast ship, the dangers ahead, and the noise of the hunter world all faded away.

*

An hour later, a clear announcement echoed throughout the cruise ship.

“All hunters, please proceed to the theatre room. This is a mandatory briefing.”

The words repeated once more, firm and unmistakable.

The atmosphere on the ship shifted.

Hunters began moving through the corridors, their earlier leisure replaced by quiet focus. Lin Fang followed the flow along with Lin Mei and Adam. Nebula floated close at his side, its glow subdued, as if sensing the change in mood.

The theatre room was large, far more spacious than it first appeared from the outside. Rows upon rows of seats curved toward a broad stage.

By the time Lin Fang sat down, he estimated there were over a hundred hunters present. Many faces were unfamiliar, and more than a few didn’t look like they came from Zhonggou at all.

Low murmurs filled the room.

Then the lights dimmed.

The stage lights flickered on, illuminating a tall figure stepping forward. Feng Xiu appeared, dressed neatly, accompanied by several people in formal suits. Their expressions were serious, businesslike.

Behind them, the massive screen came to life, bathing the room in a pale glow.

The chatter died down.

Something important was about to begin.

Feng Xiu stood at the center of the stage, hands resting lightly on the podium as his gaze swept across the packed theatre. The room gradually quieted under that calm, commanding presence.

“Welcome,” he said, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. “Today, we have gathered A-rank hunters from all over the world for a single purpose. The Stellar Rift.”

He paused, letting the words settle.

“Some of you traveled across continents. Some of you arrived without knowing anything about the Rift beforehand, yet still chose to come, placing your trust in us.” He inclined his head slightly. “For that, I thank you.”

The screen behind him brightened.

“Today’s briefing concerns the Rift that has opened on Penglai Island. The Red Cloud Mercenary Group has completed initial scouting.” His eyes hardened slightly. “What they found is… unusual.”

He lifted a remote. “Before we proceed further, there are some things you need to see.”

The screen shifted, and the first image appeared.

A vast ocean stretched endlessly beneath a dark, alien sky. Something massive lurked beneath the waves, its silhouette barely visible, yet terrifying in scale.

A ripple went through the audience.

The next image appeared, clearer this time. A colossal creature breached the surface, its body covered in layered armor, eyes glowing like suns beneath the water.

A pointer circled it.

“King Tier.”

Another image followed. A serpent-like entity coiled around a spiraling current, its presence distorting the water around it.

“Emperor Tier.”

The room grew tense as the images continued. Then came one that made even veteran hunters inhale sharply.

An enormous shadow beneath the ocean, so large it dwarfed everything around it. The pointer lingered.

“Overlord Tier.”

Lin Fang felt his chest tighten. Around him, no one spoke. Even breathing seemed louder than usual.

Then the images changed.

Cities appeared. Structures built from coral-like material and luminous stone, rising from the ocean floor. Towers, bridges, and vast domes connected by glowing pathways. Clearly planned. Clearly inhabited.

“This…” someone whispered, “is a civilization.”

Only then did the full picture settle in.

“This world,” Feng Xiu said steadily, “is entirely a water world.”

The screen displayed a rotating planetary projection, almost completely covered in ocean.

“We’ve designated it Aquilonis.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep