Chapter 153: Closing in

Hearing Cang Hai Yunfeng’s words, Chen Xiao tilted his head and smiled, saying, “Mr. Cang Hai, aren’t you afraid that this will put the Chimon Domain’s Abnormality Users Association in trouble? If they’re willing to offer one billion star coins, they’re clearly not ordinary people.”
Chen Xiao naturally understood what Cang Hai Yunfeng was thinking. Even if this matter targeted only him, after such a bounty, all the freelance hunters would surely turn away and no longer be fully committed to working for the association.
Cang Hai Yunfeng was momentarily stunned, then his face showed concern. He had indeed acted impulsively. Doing this could easily offend others. Previously, the Chimon Domain’s Abnormality Users Association had already refused to issue that mission. If they issued another bounty of one hundred million to capture that person—Cold Stone, the one who issued the mission—Chimon Domain might be destroyed by him by the next day.
“This…”
Cang Hai Yunfeng hesitated for a while. Before he could speak, Chen Xiao said with a smile, “Alright. I’ll offer one point three billion as a bounty for that person. Anyone who provides accurate information will receive one hundred thousand star coins as a reward, and those who capture him alive will get the full one point three billion.”
Cang Hai Yunfeng realized this was Chen Xiao giving him a way out. Fortunately, he didn’t bring up what had happened earlier and instead accepted Chen Xiao’s mission.
Soon, after completing the procedures, Chen Xiao left Chimon Domain after paying a 10% deposit of 310 million star coins.
“President, who is this young man? He acts so openly. Isn’t he afraid of bringing disaster upon us?”
After Chen Xiao left, several elders from Chimon Domain approached Cang Hai Yunfeng, puzzled.
“Afraid of disaster? Someone who can casually spend 300 million star coins? How could they be afraid?” Cang Hai Yunfeng smirked. “I think this young man is actually an unparalleled powerhouse.”
“An unparalleled powerhouse?” One of the association elders was confused. “But just now, I sensed his spiritual energy at only third level… Although on the surface of this world of abnormals, a third-level user can dominate a region, it’s still too weak.”
Cang Hai Yunfeng turned around and sneered, “Third level? Heh…”
The elders were left baffled by his laughter.
“By the way, how much star coin inventory does the association still have?” Cang Hai Yunfeng asked another elder.
“There are 18,635,431 star coins left,” the elder replied after quick calculation.
Hearing this, Cang Hai Yunfeng’s face flushed slightly, but it returned to normal in an instant.
“Ah, let’s put these 310 million star coins in the inventory as working capital for Chimon Domain,” Cang Hai Yunfeng said, shaking his head slightly.
“But that mission…” One of the elders hesitated.
“A mission? Hehe, who can catch someone who can intimidate the head of the hunters’ association and issue a mission to capture freelance hunters?”
Cang Hai Yunfeng sneered. Clearly, he already knew about the situation internally. The reason he went along and issued the mission in front of Chen Xiao was just for show.

“President, who exactly is that young man just now? Although he spoke of the glory of free hunters right away, his actions clearly were to help Chen Xiao.” At this moment, an elder of the guild spoke up.
“Chen Xiao has only been in the World of Abilities for a few days?” Canghai Yunfeng took a breath. “Less than two months! Two months ago, Mo Changli, the president of the Ability Association in the Flame Soul Realm, discovered him when his abilities had just awakened and brought him to the Flame Soul Realm to guide his abilities. Although we don’t understand why Mo Changli gave up on him in the end, his rank at the time of awakening was already third level! It’s likely that before long, another Damangxius will appear among the nine guilds in the World of Abilities.”
These elders took deep breaths, seemingly realizing as well.
He had reached third level right at the time of awakening, and just a few days ago, in the Flame Soul Realm, Chen Xiao had flung a fourth-level ability user away with a single slap. Such a rate of growth could only be described as terrifying.
Even now, it’s possible that some major families might recruit Chen Xiao and be willing to spend a lot of money for him.
…
“We didn’t catch a big fish; instead, we caught some unimportant little shrimps.”
After leaving the Hunters’ Guild, Chen Xiao didn’t leave through a teleportation array but headed deeper into the World of Abilities.
Not long after entering the deeper parts of the World of Abilities, Chen Xiao sensed that someone was following him.
“Kid, hand over your star coins if you know what’s good for you. We’ll spare your life.”
Those who chased after Chen Xiao were a group of five hunters led by a bearded man dressed in black combat gear. His two thick arms were covered in scars, clearly evidence of countless life-and-death battles.
The weakest among these five was already at fourth level, while the bearded leader was a fifth-level ability user. This group of hunters were true hunters who roamed the World of Abilities year after year, battle-hardened, not like those ordinary ability users who constantly switched between the World of Abilities and the mundane world.
Although the World of Abilities was extremely unsuitable for human life, there were many powerful ability users who preferred to stay here, even settling in certain realms.
In their eyes, humans in the mundane world were nothing but ants—powerful dinosaurs wouldn’t bother mixing among ants.
“Such foolish people who would risk their lives for money,” Chen Xiao said with a smile upon seeing the five of them. “If you become my subordinates, I certainly won’t treat you poorly. I have plenty of star coins.”
Hearing Chen Xiao’s words, the five of them were slightly stunned, their faces showing hesitation.
“Boss, what should we do? We’ll follow your lead,” they said after discussing briefly, all turning their gaze to the bearded man.
“By killing you, we’ll still get a lot of star coins,” the bearded man smiled. “Become your subordinates? We’re used to being independent and don’t want to be controlled by anyone. Attack!”
At his command, the other four rushed at Chen Xiao almost simultaneously, as if they had planned it in advance. Various colors of light burst from their bodies, indicating they must have practiced together for a long time—these four worked in perfect coordination.

The four of them joined forces and, in less than a breath’s time, blocked all of Chen Xiao’s escape routes. Meanwhile, a earth-yellow glow erupted from the bearded man as he threw a punch—its terrifying power, accompanied by a sound like an avalanche, rushed straight at Chen Xiao’s body.

“Ignorance breeds fearlessness.”

Chen Xiao snorted coldly. Suddenly, a blue vortex burst around his body. All those formidable attacks were shattered, dispersed, and consumed the moment they touched the vortex.

“My subordinates don’t need fools. You’ve already lost the right to be my subordinates.”

Chen Xiao’s body vanished like a ghost from its original spot. The next moment, he appeared right in front of the bearded man.

Thud!

With a crisp sound, a crystal-blue ice arrow pierced through the bearded man’s throat, killing him instantly. The bearded man didn’t even realize how he died.

Chen Xiao waved his hand again, and four streams of extreme cold struck the other four men, freezing their bodies solid.

“Even if a mosquito has few legs, it’s still flesh—nothing to be wasted.” Chen Xiao sent out a wave of green energy, absorbing all five men’s life essence and transferring it to the Black Tortoise Egg in the Main God’s space.

Only after finishing all this did Chen Xiao turn around. Behind him, an old man in white had appeared at some point. The old man had a very aged face and a gaunt figure; his age was hard to determine. It was Leng Shi.

“Old sir, you’ve been watching for so long—won’t you step in to help?” Chen Xiao wore a bright smile.

“Hehe, young man, you’re decisive in killing—truly an impressive person.” Leng Shi examined Chen Xiao carefully before laughing dryly a few times. “Was it you who issued the task to find me?”

“Of course,” Chen Xiao replied without any surprise, as if he had known all along. “Ah, it’s so hard to meet you, sir. I even wasted 300 million star coins because of this.”

As he spoke, Chen Xiao showed a look of deep regret.

The reason Chen Xiao went to such lengths to issue a bounty was precisely this. Over the past few days, he had visited several hunter guilds but found no trace of the Atlanteans. The Glory Temple’s incomplete intelligence system couldn’t even uncover a single clue.

Left with no other choice, Chen Xiao came up with this method to lure them into handing themselves over.

He didn’t expect those hunters to capture Leng Shi anyway. His goal was merely to spread the news.

But if he used himself as bait, it was likely that not only Leng Shi but also a bunch of crazy hunters blinded by star coins would be attracted.

“You and Chen Xiao must be related in some way, right?” Leng Shi studied Chen Xiao closely, seemingly trying to see through him to his very core. But right now, Chen Xiao was using the power of the Main God to change his appearance and even his temperament.

As an ordinary person at the Domain realm, Leng Shi couldn’t see through it.

“Of course I know Chen Xiao,” Chen Xiao smiled. “If you’re willing to follow me and work for me, I’ll naturally tell you where he is.”

Leng Shi shook his head and smiled, saying, “You’re quite arrogant. Even if you don’t say anything, I have ways to find out. Domain, activate.”
With a calm voice, Leng Shi spoke, and immediately, an invisible domain enveloped Chen Xiao’s body.
“Soul separation, memory retrieval.”
Two blue beams of light flowed from Leng Shi’s eyes and shot straight at Chen Xiao’s eyes.
Chen Xiao curled his lips and said, “It’s me who’s fishing. If I get bitten by the fish again, how can I face anyone?”
“Fishing?” Leng Shi was stunned. He realized that the soul beams emitted from his eyes had been blocked by some inexplicable force.
“A big fish has bitten the hook; it’s time to pull in the net.” At that moment, another voice sounded, and a faint golden light screen gradually took shape.