Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 175 - 169: In the Spotlight

The next day, as the Saint Awakenings from various nations departed, intelligence regarding the Kunlun Immortal Palace and the Elixir of Immortality began to spread rapidly among the world's upper echelons.

Beisha Country. Office of the Minister of the Beisha National Security Department. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Gleb Innovich, Minister of the Beisha National Security Department and one of Beisha Country's "Four Pillars," sat in a plush office chair. Known as "Li Zhu," he represented the core principle of "relaxation" in Sistema Combined Martial Arts. With his back to his desk, he gazed out from a massive, floor-to-ceiling pane of one-way, super-bulletproof glass, overlooking the entire military base.

His figure could be described with a single word: immense. A loose-fitting uniform was stretched taut over his muscular frame. His office chair was a specially widened model, with three times the seating space of a normal chair, and even then, it could barely accommodate his massive physique.

A mane of messy blond hair fell about his head, giving him the appearance of a lion. He unconsciously exuded an astonishing and oppressive aura.

He was like a Titan Giant from legend, possessing a talent and power that transcended humanity.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, a knock came at his office door.

"Come in."

His words were spoken softly, yet they boomed like a great bell, so deep and resonant that the glass vase on his desk trembled slightly.

This alone was enough to show that the man possessed terrifying physical prowess.p>CLICK!

The office door opened, and a tall officer in a Beisha Security Department uniform walked in, holding a file folder.

CREAK!

Gleb Innovich's office chair creaked slightly as he slowly turned around. Beneath the messy, lion-like mane of hair was the face of a handsome, middle-aged man.

He had standard Slavic features: deep-set, azure-blue eyes, a high-bridged nose, and pale skin. His gaze revealed a confidence and composure nurtured by great power and immense authority.

"General Tecolamas just transmitted a message. The intelligence on the Elixir of Immortality is largely accurate. Its potential value is inestimable, but so is the danger it presents. He hopes you will carefully consider how to handle this information."

The tall officer placed the file folder on Gleb Innovich's desk and spoke in a low voice.

"Risk and reward always go hand in hand. The Elixir of Immortality, you say? Though I trust in myself more than any drug, I can't deny its immense research value. The secrets it holds might offer us new insights, perhaps even revealing the true nature of the Celestial Demons."

Gleb Innovich said nonchalantly as he flipped through the folder. Suddenly, he paused, his eyes fixed on a particular page.

This page contained the report on Tecolamas's encounter and brief clash with Zhou Yuanjue. Tecolamas had dedicated considerable space to describing his opponent and the fight in its entirety, requesting that headquarters quickly ascertain the background and true identity of this unknown Saint Awakening from Donghua Country.

'Interesting. A Saint Awakening Martial Artist who just popped out of nowhere? All of Donghua Country's Saint Awakening Martial Artists should be accounted for. No new ones have emerged in over a decade. Who is this person? A recently ascended Saint Awakening?'

Gleb Innovich narrowed his eyes, his thoughts turning to the recent major events in the Donghua Martial Arts Realm, which had occurred at the behest of Donghua Country's high-level officials.

'Could he be a Saint Awakening who emerged from that major gathering in the Donghua Martial Arts Realm? But if he's newly ascended, how could he possibly have caused Tecolamas, one of the Four Pillars, to suffer a setback?'

"Mobilize all intelligence departments. Confirm this person's identity with the utmost speed. I want a detailed file on him."

"The most terrifying opponent isn't one you can see on the chessboard," Gleb Innovich said in a deep voice, "but the unknown one hiding in the shadows."

As the head of Beisha's national security, he could not allow an individual capable of defeating even Tecolamas to remain a blind spot. It could lead to a critical misjudgment and, consequently, catastrophic losses.

"Regarding his identity, sir, I mobilized our intelligence departments to run a full search the moment we received General Tecolamas's report last night. We've already made a preliminary identification. The relevant file is appended at the end of the document," the tall officer said in a low voice.

"Oh? Good work."

Gleb Innovich raised an eyebrow, pleased with his subordinate's initiative, and flipped to the end of the document.

Zhou Yuanjue. Native of Wuhai City, Tianlu Prefecture, Donghua Country. One of the reigning champions of the Southern Fighting Tournament. Disappeared abruptly a month and a half ago without a trace, withdrawing from the competition. Suspected to have achieved Saint Awakening. Current age: twenty-five. Practitioner of the Red Falcon Fist. Characteristics of his Fist Technique and movements are as follows...

"A twenty-five-year-old Saint Awakening..."

Seeing that number in the file, Gleb Innovich's pupils constricted. A wave of astonishment washed over him.

As a Saint Awakening Martial Artist himself, he knew exactly what that number signified. Moreover, if this identification was correct, it meant that in just a month and a half, this newly ascended Saint Awakening had managed to defeat Tecolamas.

The implications of that alone were terrifying.

In Gleb Innovich's view, "Saint Awakening" and "Saint Awakening Level powerhouse" were two different things.

A Saint Awakening was someone who reached that state through their own will and power alone. Each one was a legend in their own right, and only a fellow Saint Awakening Martial Artist could truly comprehend the hardships and difficulties of that path.

"Saint Awakening Level," on the other hand, referred to individuals who had obtained that level of power through various other means—for instance, General level Celestial Demons, certain special Symbionts, or the Super Warriors cultivated from birth by the Starry Sky Country.

These individuals had acquired immense power through various means, but their will and spirit had not actually reached the stage of a true Saint Awakening. Nevertheless, through these special methods, they still wielded the terrifying power of the Saint Awakening Level.

In Gleb Innovich's opinion, becoming a Saint Awakening through one's own power and mastering Saint Awakening Level power through other means were not to be mentioned in the same breath. The former represented far greater potential.

Of course, the path of technology relied on collective wisdom, and its potential for advancement was dependent on ongoing research, making it difficult to quantify.

"What a surprising fellow," Gleb murmured to himself. "It seems Donghua Country has gained another interesting rival."

After carefully reviewing Zhou Yuanjue's entire file and cross-referencing it with Tecolamas's description of the battle, Gleb Innovich was all but certain they were the same person.

"Flesh out this file, then leak it through back channels. Sell it to the major powers and organizations of the world," Gleb Innovich said, closing the folder.

"Sell it?"

The tall officer sounded puzzled by the order.

"There's an old Donghua saying: 'The tree that towers over the forest will be the first one broken by the wind.' A Saint Awakening this young... we can't allow him to mature so easily. I imagine many powers will be quite interested in him, won't they?"

A smile touched Gleb Innovich's face.

"Sometimes, shining too brightly isn't a good thing, is it? Like a meteor in the sky—incredibly brilliant, but gone in an instant."