Chapter 260 - 191: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and You (Part 2)
Chapter 260: Chapter 191: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and You (Part 2)
"It’s just a name. Isn’t Awakening Hall kind of a corny name too?"
The masked man’s tone was a little awkward.
’But this was the name the boss had chosen, after all. Who knows what he was thinking.’
This time, Fang Xiu found he couldn’t argue. Compared to that, Awakening Hall did seem even more corny.
"The benefits."
Fang Xiu asked bluntly.
The man was clearly taken aback.
’This... This new guy really is different. The previous ones either attacked immediately or called for backup.’
’This one is actually asking about the benefits?’
’The fact that he’s asking about benefits is a good sign. It means he might be willing to join.’
"Of course there are benefits. We have massive resources, advanced Cultivation Techniques, all sorts of Equipment..."
the masked man said.
"The Awakening Hall has all that. Give me something more concrete."
Fang Xiu cut him off.
"What do you consider concrete? Go on, tell me."
The masked man gave Fang Xiu an interested look, his tone tinged with contempt and smugness.
It was as if he already had Fang Xiu figured out.
’As long as he’s asking questions, there’s a chance he’ll say yes—a very high chance.’
After a moment’s thought, Fang Xiu asked, "What’s the base salary? How is overtime for weekdays versus weekends calculated? When’s payday, and what’s the approximate monthly take-home pay? How long is the probationary period? Do you cover room and board? Is it a two-shift system? What are the hours, location, and job responsibilities?"
The masked man: ???
But Fang Xiu wasn’t finished. "Are there bonuses for perfect attendance, year-end, or birthdays? What about housing, transportation, or high-temperature subsidies? A night-shift allowance? Do you offer a full benefits package, like health insurance and a retirement plan?"
The masked man: ...
"Damn it, you think this is some kind of regular job?!"
The masked man was thoroughly infuriated. He felt like this rookie was making a fool of him.
"I don’t get involved in shady business."
Fang Xiu said with a perfectly straight face.
"..."
The masked man was silent for a moment before roaring in anger, "You’re asking to die!"
As he spoke, Spiritual Power surged, and the Water Attribute swirled around his body.
"Water Attribute, huh?"
Watching the water coalesce around the masked man, Fang Xiu grew cautious.
Although the Water Attribute wasn’t as combat-focused as the Ice Attribute, it was by no means weak.
If used correctly, its power was not to be underestimated.
A Water Attribute Talent could be used for Attack and Defense, and could even have healing properties.
"Water Dragon Surrounding!"
The masked man had no intention of probing. He used a Skill right from the start.
If recruitment failed, the next step was to kill.
That was their code.
After all, allowing an Awakened with such obvious strength and potential to become an enemy would be a source of endless trouble down the line.
ROAR!
The Water Attribute coalesced into the shape of a Water Dragon and shot directly toward Fang Xiu.
The rush of surging water sounded like the roar of a beast.
Watching the surging Water Dragon approach, Fang Xiu remained unhurried.
’This power... he must be around Level 43.’
Fang Xiu analyzed.
He then clenched his fist and said coolly, "Watch me shatter this with one punch."
As he spoke, the hand wearing the [Divine Artifact - Demon Dragon Gloves] clenched and shot forward in a punch.
"You’re asking to die."
Seeing Fang Xiu plan to meet his Water Dragon Surrounding with a bare fist, the masked man scoffed.
He was an A Level Awakener who had already reached Level 43.
In contrast, judging by Fang Xiu’s aura, he was only around level twenty-six or twenty-seven.
’And he dares to take it on with just his fist?’
"You will..."
Fang Xiu let out a low shout, "Break!"
As the word left his lips, Fang Xiu’s fist smashed into the Water Dragon’s head.
BANG!
A deafening crash echoed.
Fang Xiu’s punch blasted the Water Dragon’s head back to its basic form, dissolving it into pure Water Element.
"This... Impossible!"
The masked man was completely stunned.
He couldn’t understand how the boy had done it.
’How could one punch completely shatter my Skill?’
"No... I understand now. You’re from the Power System, and those gloves are Equipment that amplify your Power."
Just like Jian Ying and the others, he recognized at a glance that Fang Xiu’s gloves served to amplify his Power.
Of course, Fang Xiu had no intention of hiding it. Power-amplifying Equipment wasn’t particularly rare.
They just didn’t know that Fang Xiu’s gloves were a Divine Artifact.
Even though one was missing, it was still a Divine Artifact.
It even came with two pretty good Skills.
"Is that it?"
After dealing with the Water Dragon, Fang Xiu shot back disdainfully.
He had seen the masked man’s arrogance just moments before.
Now, Fang Xiu was returning the arrogance.
"You’re just relying on brute force. We have plenty of trash like you at Dianxing Studio."
The masked man was completely enraged by Fang Xiu.
He’d never imagined the Awakening Hall would send such a promising rookie his way.
But sending him here now was practically a death sentence.
At the thought of a potential genius about to die by his hand, the masked man couldn’t help but let out a villainous, excited cackle: "Kekeke!"
"So, Dianxing Studio is just a garbage dump that specializes in recycling trash? To think I was actually considering your offer a moment ago."
Fang Xiu wasn’t scared by the masked man at all.
After all, he had more or less figured out the masked man’s true strength.
That Skill might not have been his strongest.
But it had exposed some of the masked man’s weaknesses nonetheless.
Fang Xiu was confident he could make sure the masked man didn’t leave this place.
"Kid, you’re done for."
Fang Xiu had thoroughly ignited the masked man’s rage.
Spiritual Power surged once more as the surrounding Water Element gathered frantically.
"Transformed Whale!"
the masked man shouted in a low voice.
Fang Xiu remained dismissive. "Your dragon couldn’t do anything to me. What damn good is a whale going to do?"
"Hmph! We’ll see how tough you talk in a minute!"
The masked man snorted.
The Water Element condensed into a gigantic whale!
"Whale Clone!"
the masked man called out again.
The Water Element condensed frantically.
The single whale split into countless smaller ones.
They surrounded Fang Xiu from all sides.
"Go,"
the masked man commanded in a low voice.
The countless whales charged recklessly toward Fang Xiu.
"Tsk, tsk."
Fang Xiu hadn’t expected the scale of this attack to be so massive.
But Fang Xiu just stood his ground, not moving an inch.
"Heh, scared stiff? A rookie is a rookie, after all."
Seeing Fang Xiu frozen in place, just staring blankly, the masked man’s lips curled into a smile behind his mask.
"Phantom Cage!"
Just then, a low voice called out.
Kajimi had activated her Skill.
A cage materialized around Fang Xiu, shielding him.
All the masked man saw was Fang Xiu, seemingly trapped and motionless, enveloped by his skill.
He didn’t see that inside the Phantom Cage, Fang Xiu was watching everything with a smile.
"Heh heh... HAHAHAHA..."
The masked man’s cold sneer turned into a booming laugh.
The sound echoed all around.
As the whales crashed down one after another, the masked man eagerly awaited the sight of what would be left of Fang Xiu.
As the last whale dissipated, the wind blew away the clouds of dust.
"This... How is this possible? This is impossible!!"
As the dust settled, the masked man stared at the scene before him, stunned once more.
His Skill had clearly hit its mark, yet Fang Xiu stood in the same spot, completely unscathed.
Even his clothes were as clean as they had been before.
His handsome face was just as handsome as the readers’.
"So this is the Skill of a Level 43 Awakened?"
Fang Xiu said with a faint smile, "It’s nothing special."
In truth, that Skill was extremely powerful.
It was just that with Kajimi around, Fang Xiu had no reason to worry.
Never mind Level 43; even a Level 53 or Level 63 Awakener would be all the same in Kajimi’s eyes.
"Just who are you?"
The masked man looked at Fang Xiu, his voice filled with alarm.
Those were his two primary Attack Skills.
Yet both had been completely blocked by the boy in front of him.
His only option now was to escape.
He figured that with his Level 43 strength, the boy wouldn’t be able to stop him.
He just desperately wanted to know who this boy was.
That way, he could report it when he got back to Dianxing Studio.
"I’m Fang Xiu. Eighteen years old. A recent graduate of Qingzhou City First High School. My phone number is 15018... Got all that?"
Fang Xiu stated, enunciating every detail clearly.
Because he knew this man... wasn’t going anywhere.
And at that moment, the masked man also realized that Fang Xiu had no intention of letting him go.
For some reason, he felt an immense pressure from this boy who had only just Awakened!