Li Yin scrambled to his feet, eyes brimming with tears and snot. "Brother Hao, I knew you’d come to save me, boo hoo... I was scared to death."

Chu Hao replied, "Have you got no pride at all? Scared like this? How are you going to join me in living the high life in the future?"

Li Yin rolled his eyes. I’m not you.

Once Li Yin had calmed down a bit, he asked, "What about that monster?"

Chu Hao answered, "Dead, of course."

"Brother Hao, you’re too awesome! My admiration for you is like the endless flow of the Yellow River..."

"Stop brown-nosing. Let’s go home."

A few minutes after Chu Hao left, the police arrived. Only then did everyone realize they had been saved. Many were so frightened they wet themselves, believing they were going to become monster food, having already given up hope.

"Where is Master Chu?"

The rescued crowd wanted to express their gratitude to Chu Hao, but they were disappointed to discover he had already left.

Su Muyue was also saved. Looking at Arachne’s corpse, with a knife wound in its forehead, she was extremely shaken.

Arachne was dead beyond any doubt.

"Chu Hao! Just who are you?" Su Muyue exclaimed.

This disaster had been frightening but not perilous for everyone. The exception was Cao Shanhe, who was taken to the hospital; the deadly toxin in his system meant he was beyond saving.

A young, rich second-generation youth said, "Master Chu is indeed a remarkable person."

"Isn’t he just? If I could curry favor with such a person, I’d be willing to pay any amount of money."

Mu Xue, the woman previously stunned by Chu Hao, was breathing quickly. She couldn’t believe there was such a man in the world.

What should I do? If only I had known, I would have asked for his contact information. Mu Xue was momentarily lost in thought, completely captivated by Chu Hao.

「On the outskirts of Anli City」

A ghost skull fell from the sky. Yan Chen landed on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his expression ferocious.

"Chu Hao!"

Yan Chen’s bellow resonated through the sky, filled with immense fury.

He had suffered a great loss this time. To escape, he had used a black talisman—a life-saving artifact of inestimable value.

He was struck by fear. Having nearly died, he regretted underestimating Chu Hao, and his previous arrogance and confidence were shattered.

Especially Chu Hao’s toying with him. The act had inflicted a ten thousand-point critical hit to Yan Chen’s lofty ego, filling him with torrents of hatred.

"I will kill you."

Yan Chen clenched his teeth in rage. His lifelong pride was crushed, and now his only thought was revenge.

Yan Chen’s phone rang. The person on the other end said, "King Chu’s Tomb is about to open. Make haste and return."

King Chu’s Tomb! Yan Chen’s eyes lit up. This was the ancestral tomb of the Chu Family, once the premier demon-hunting clan. Perhaps within, there would be something that could enhance his strength.

On the other end of the phone, someone added, "Furthermore, there’s another important matter. Chu Hao must not be touched for the time being."

Yan Chen, agitated, asked, "Why?"

He most desired revenge at this moment. Being instructed not to act left him fuming. How could he be content?

The person on the phone explained, "Our Yan Family’s spy in the Su Family has sent a message. Chu Hao is a descendant of the Chu Family and is required to open King Chu’s Tomb. He must be the one to do it."

Yan Chen was astonished. "You’re saying Chu Hao is from the Chu Family?"

"Correct. He is the only known living descendant of the Chu Family in the present day."

Yan Chen hung up and couldn’t help but burst into sinister laughter. "Chu Hao, oh Chu Hao! I had no idea you were from the Chu Family. Good! This means the other six great families of Huaxia won’t let you off the hook. Just you wait! If I don’t get my revenge, I, Yan Chen, swear I’m not human!"

Dragging his weary body, he left the area.

The secret of Chu Hao being a descendant of the Chu Family had been leaked. The Su Family was troubled by this, realizing there was a traitor in their midst.

Chu Hao returned to Sanqing Pavilion and couldn’t wait to open the Semi-Diamond Treasure Chest.

"Open the treasure chest."

"DING... Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a Ghost Demon Crystal."

Item: Ghost Demon Crystal (Fusion Item) 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Rarity: ★★★

Ability: Fusing this item grants the Ghost Demon Transformation ability.

A nice find! Fusion items are very rare, especially three-star ones. This is already quite impressive.

"System, how many Pretentiousness Points to fuse the Devil Mask and the Ghost Demon Crystal?"

System: "Fusing the Devil Mask with the Ghost Demon Crystal requires ten thousand Pretentiousness Points."

Holy moly, isn’t that price a bit steep? I don’t even have a single Pretentiousness Point right now; this is somewhat awkward.

This also indicates that the item produced from the fusion must be freaking amazing. I’m very much looking forward to it.

"I’ve gotta show off! I have to show offfff!!"

With his Pretentiousness Points all used up, he particularly wanted to show off. He couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning, wondering how to act pretentious.

Showing off is an art; it must be done where there are lots of people.

Tossing and turning, Chu Hao kept thinking about how to raise his level of pretentiousness. Around one o’clock in the morning, his phone rang.

It was Liu Qingyan. She spoke tremblingly, "Master Chu, Cao Shanhe is dead... dead."

Chu Hao responded indifferently, "You’re calling me this late just to tell me this?"

Liu Qingyan’s heart trembled, and she hurriedly said, "Master Chu, I apologize for the offense and the disturbance. I’m really sorry."

Liu Qingyan was indeed scared. Chu Hao had said that Cao Shanhe wouldn’t live much longer, and just a few days later, it had happened.

As it turned out, Cao Shanhe’s death caused instability among the underground organizations in Anli City. His assets were vast, and countless people were itching to seize and divide his empire.

Chu Hao said, "Shouldn’t you be happy that you can get away from Cao Shanhe?"

Liu Qingyan chuckled bitterly. "Master Chu, the reason I’m calling is to ask if you’re interested in the Cao Family’s assets."

Chu Hao pondered, then sneered, "You’re the one interested, aren’t you?"

Liu Qingyan quickly replied, "Not at all! Absolutely not. Last time, didn’t you say that if I want to stay alive, I should follow you? Qing Yan has thought it through and is ready to leave the Cao Family to follow you. But I think this is an opportunity. With your abilities, you could easily take over the Cao Family’s businesses."

What Liu Qingyan said made sense.

However, Chu Hao couldn’t muster much interest in underground powers.

A bunch of Shamate engaging in continuous violence are nothing but social scum.

System prompt: "Hidden SS-rank mission triggered: Establish a super underground force, create a better world, serve the country and the people, contribute, and reduce crime."

"Long-term mission, with rankings from C, B, A, S, to SS."

"Completing the mission will earn varying Merit Points."

"Completing the mission will earn different Experience Points."

The sudden notification left Chu Hao stunned.

"System, I love you."

System: "Host, you’re too ugly. Please don’t love me. Take the mission seriously. The heavy responsibility of creating a super force for a better future now lies with you."

That sounded rather odd.

Thinking about it, if villains create forces, crime rates go up. What about me? If I were to create a super force, would all the Shamate on the streets become little red caps working for the motherland?