Chapter Fourteen: The Organization Comes First

District 9, City No. 3—Doming City, Ability Training Institute.

Doming City, much like Fuxiang City, also boasted its own ability training institute, with a well-established ranking of its top ten members. And Luo Gang stood at the very top—number one.

He was the undisputed leader, with his brain development approaching an astonishing thirty-five percent. Both his awakened abilities were formidable: one the element of wind, the other water. With a perfect blend of offense and defense, moving as swiftly as a gale, and, being so young, he was the very definition of a prodigy.

However, after seizing the top position, Luo Gang became arrogant and domineering, caring for nothing and no one. His actions had long incited public outrage.

Now, within the ability training institute—

“Have you heard? Lord Luo Gang has posted another announcement, setting up an arena. Anyone who can defeat him gets a hundred thousand credit points. Last five minutes, get fifty thousand. Survive three, thirty thousand. Hold out for a minute, ten thousand credits.”

“Lord Luo Gang was already number one last year, and he awakened his second ability ages ago.”

“I heard from someone close to him that Lord Luo Gang’s brain development is nearing thirty-five percent—at the very least, it’s around thirty-four.”

“Incredible! Isn’t Lord Luo Gang only eighteen?”

“He was already number one when he was just seventeen.”

“They say Lord Luo Gang is still human.”

“A human taking first place? That’s terrifying.”

Most of those discussing him were Luo Gang’s fans—a majority of them women.

At the same time, quite a few other institute members eyed this group with thinly veiled discontent, muttering among themselves.

“Luo Gang is just too arrogant.”

“Right? Every other institute’s top ranks keep a low profile, but he struts around every day, just looking to show off.”

“I can’t stand Luo Gang. He may be strong, but his personality is disgusting.”

“What’s so great about him? Always acting as if he’s the best in the world. If only someone would put him in his place.”

“That’s easier said than done. Luo Gang’s strength was already top-tier, and after awakening his second ability, no one could beat him.”

“We have to admit, no one can hope to defeat the institute’s number one.”

“It’s infuriating!”

In truth, the Human Headquarters of District 1 had once turned a blind eye to Luo Gang’s behavior. But after he awakened his second ability, his arrogance spiraled out of control—he fancied himself above the rest of the world, believing he alone reigned supreme.

His cultivation slowed; he lost all interest in training.

His first ability, wind, was devastating in attack and could also boost his speed, making him a master of both pursuit and evasion. His second, water, excelled at healing and could form ice barriers for defense, freezing the enemy in their tracks.

The combination was nearly invincible.

Ever since he awakened both abilities, Luo Gang grew even more insufferable, often boasting he might one day master the elemental abilities themselves.

His favorite pastime became flaunting his skills—setting up challenges open to all. Beat him, or simply last a respectable amount of time, and win a hefty reward.

But if no one could even last a minute, didn’t that just prove his might?

Aside from this, Luo Gang loved dating girls. He wasn’t the least bit reserved, changing partners as often as he changed clothes—a true playboy, discarding each conquest once he lost interest. By now, the number of women he’d left behind was surely close to a hundred, if not more. Of course, perhaps it wasn’t fair to call them his victims. After all, it took two to play the game.

In Luo Gang’s eyes, with his extraordinary talent, even neglecting training put him above all others. Why not spend his youth enjoying himself?

Inside the institute’s small arena—

Once again, someone had stepped forward to challenge Luo Gang. The crowd had swelled to two or three hundred, more than half of them his devoted fans—girls hoping for an invitation from their idol. The rest watched with resentment, yearning for someone to last long enough to humble him.

“I heard someone’s challenging Luo Gang.”

“Brave, sure, but is he just acting on impulse?”

“Is he really strong, or just reckless?”

“Apparently, he broke up with his girlfriend over Luo Gang.”

“Luo Gang really is scum—he even steals people’s girlfriends.”

“I heard the girl broke up with him on her own.”

“She must be trash too. I feel bad for the challenger.”

“Ah…”

At first, when Luo Gang set up these arena matches, there were challengers. But eventually, few were willing to risk public humiliation. Still, exceptions arose—those provoked, those in a bad mood, those with old grudges. Maybe one challenger a month, making these matches rare.

Soon, this match began. As expected, Luo Gang moved, and a raging wind sent the young challenger flying—the entire fight was over in less than three seconds.

“With that pathetic strength, you dare challenge me?” Luo Gang scoffed, “Kid, what’s your institute ranking? You don’t even have one, do you? Just awakened your first ability, and it’s worthless at that.”

He gazed down at the youth sprawled on the ground, sneering. “Open your eyes. Don’t show off if you don’t have the skills. If you were even half as good as me, you wouldn’t embarrass yourself this way.”

The boy lay on the ground, teeth clenched in silent fury.

“What a boring farce! I have a date in a bit,” Luo Gang added with disdain. “Clear out, everyone. I don’t mind challengers, but don’t let any random nobody try. It’s ridiculous.”

The crowd’s reactions were split. His fans cheered, while the rest ground their teeth in frustration.

“Luo Gang is too much.”

“He stole the kid’s girlfriend and now mocks him.”

“Just because he’s strong, he thinks he can do anything. The tables always turn—never underestimate the underdog.”

“If only someone could defeat Luo Gang.”

“How? He’s the top of the institute. No one can beat him. Even the instructors can’t match him.”

“Exactly. Wind and water elements—too powerful together.”

The boy was nearly mad with anger. Luo Gang’s date that afternoon was his own girlfriend.

He knew this challenge was humiliating, but as a man, how could he just stand by and watch? If he did nothing, he might as well be dead.

He couldn’t bear to see his girlfriend go on a date with that scoundrel, only to be discarded. He’d told her, “That guy will never truly care about you. He’s just playing around. Why can’t you see that?”

She retorted, “He’s strong, good-looking, rich—why shouldn’t I? Don’t you think I can win his heart?”

The boy forced a bitter smile. His girlfriend was neither particularly beautiful nor wealthy, nor especially talented—she hadn’t even awakened any abilities. How, then, could she hope to keep the heart of such a playboy?

He desperately wished someone would step up to put Luo Gang in his place, to show everyone that Luo Gang was nothing special.

But why was there no such person?

Heaven, this world is truly unfair.

Just as the crowd began to disperse, another figure walked onto the arena—almost as if in answer to the boy’s silent cry.

He was different from all the rest.

Xia Yan’s expression was utterly calm as he stepped in front of Luo Gang.

The air turned icy.

“You’re the top-ranked member of this institute?” Xia Yan looked at Luo Gang. “You accept anyone’s challenge, don’t you? And if you lose, you pay out a hundred thousand credits? As it happens, I’m short on cash. Would you do me the honor of another bout?”

The crowd looked on with strange expressions—no one believed Xia Yan stood a chance. After all, Luo Gang’s strength was well-known.

“Who is this guy?”

“He’s not giving up?”

“He looks young—seventeen, maybe? A freshman?”

“No reputation at all. This is suicide.”

“Luo Gang looks annoyed. He won’t go easy on this kid.”

“Doesn’t know what’s good for him, interrupting Luo Gang’s date.”

Those who’d been about to leave all settled back in their seats. Though the outcome was not in doubt, they were curious to see the process.

A new student up against the top-ranked powerhouse—what a mismatch. The black-haired boy was sure to lose, though whether he’d be injured was another matter.

Luo Gang’s face had already darkened.

He was a powerhouse with over thirty percent brain development and two potent elemental abilities. How could an ordinary member possibly compete?

There was a sense of regret among the crowd.

“Heh,” Luo Gang snorted, looking down at Xia Yan. “You want to challenge me? Who are you, some nobody off the street? What gives you the right to challenge me? Are you even a member here? I don’t recall ever seeing you. Maybe you’re just an ordinary person?”

The crowd erupted in laughter. Many agreed—Xia Yan must be a regular person, not even an institute member.

“Kid, are you a member here?”

“Yeah, nobody here knows you!”

“Are you here as a joke? With an ordinary person’s physique, what if you accidentally die—would Lord Luo Gang have to take responsibility?”

“Did the monkey bring you here for laughs?”

Luo Gang’s fan club was in an uproar. No one recognized Xia Yan; not a single person.

“I’m not a member,” Xia Yan replied simply. Amid the crowd’s jeers and mockery, he continued, “But I used to be.”

At these words, shock rippled through the entire arena—even Luo Gang was taken aback.

A boy who didn’t even look seventeen, claiming to have once been a member? Did he mean he’d already graduated? Impossible. Or had he been expelled?

Indeed, Xia Yan was no longer a member of the institute—he was a Guardian. Only the institute’s top three qualified to join their ranks. But Xia Yan was no ordinary Guardian; his strength was already on par with a veteran.

There were four ranks: novice, regular, veteran, and captain. Xia Yan had already reached the third tier. For him to face the institute’s number one was like an adult bullying a child.

Luo Gang narrowed his eyes, a flicker of caution in his gaze. “Kid, you’re pretty cocky for your age. Are you sure you want to fight me? Lose, and you’ll be humiliated—or worse, injured.”

“You accept all challenges, don’t you? Then stop wasting words,” Xia Yan replied coldly.

“What’s your name? Which organization do you belong to now?” Luo Gang sneered, certain he could not lose to someone even younger than himself.

“Are we fighting or not?” Xia Yan’s tone grew colder. Not just anyone deserved to pry into his identity.

“Of course we’re fighting,” Luo Gang replied, full of contempt. “I’ll even sweeten the pot. The usual reward is a hundred thousand credits—if you win, I’ll make it two hundred thousand.”

“Thanks, but my superiors already promised me a million,” Xia Yan added, almost as an afterthought.

With that, Luo Gang’s arrogance vanished without a trace. His face turned ashen.

The duel began.