I Start with a Mysterious Island

If the man really did have mental problems, as he claimed, then his previous actions would make sense.

But Lin Li couldn’t bring himself to beat up a "patient" who had mental problems, had already bowed his head in apology, begged for mercy, and was offering to pay for the damages.

’Something’s not right! This guy managed to cultivate to the Second Order Middle Stage. How could he possibly have mental problems?’

Just as Lin Li was about to refuse the offer of compensation, a realization struck him. His expression soured as he spoke to Tie Qiu Heng.

"You’re lying. If you were just an ordinary person, I might have actually believed you. But you’re a Second Order Middle Stage Cultivator.

I’ve never heard of anyone who’s mentally unstable and needs medication to stay sane being able to cultivate to the Second Order Middle Stage."

"..." Seeing that Lin Li had exposed his lie, Tie Qiu Heng fell silent for a moment, then turned and fled.

"First you try to steal my car, and now you lie to my face? Do you take me for a fool? If I let you get away today, then I..."

Lin Li shouted after the fleeing Tie Qiu Heng, then kicked off the ground and shot forward, quickly giving chase.

With his Spiritual Energy and stamina nearly depleted, Tie Qiu Heng stood no chance of escape. He was being pursued by Lin Li, who had just eaten the small red fruit, achieved a breakthrough, and was now at his absolute peak.

"You’re as slow as a turtle, yet you think you can escape from me? You’re dreaming... Take this!"

Lin Li, who was much faster, instantly caught up to Tie Qiu Heng. He swung his right fist and punched him squarely in the back.

Tie Qiu Heng had just thought of turning to block the attack, but before his body could react, Lin Li’s fist slammed into his back.

THUD.

Another cry of pain followed.

"Aargh..."

Struck by Lin Li’s blow, Tie Qiu Heng pitched forward. He landed face-first, scraping his skin raw against the pavement as blood gushed from his nose.

His face, chest, and back—all three injuries were Lin Li’s doing. He clutched his bleeding nose with one hand and his aching chest with the other as he struggled to get back on his feet.

"That’s for trying to steal my car! Take another punch!" Seeing Tie Qiu Heng struggle to his feet, Lin Li stepped forward, closed the distance, and drove another fist into his chest.

"I’ll fucking kill you..." Covered in wounds from Lin Li’s repeated blows, Tie Qiu Heng could no longer suppress his rage.

He unleashed the last dregs of Spiritual Energy in his Dantian and activated his Superpower.

BOOM.

Tie Qiu Heng’s enormous fist crashed against Lin Li’s. The force of the impact shot up their arms and rocked their bodies.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...

Tie Qiu Heng, who had used his Superpower to become a small giant, stumbled back six steps, while Lin Li was only pushed back three.

’Damn, he actually transformed...’ Lin Li stared in surprise at the eight-foot-tall "small giant" before him.

The transformation into a small giant was a stunning visual. But Lin Li could perceive the Spiritual Energy Waves coming from his opponent.

If he had to sum up his enemy’s current state in a single phrase, it would be "a paper tiger": all bark and no bite.

"So you really are a genuine Second Order Middle Stage Cultivator. To have reached this level at such a young age... It looks like I’ve well and truly lost today." After trading that last blow with Lin Li, Tie Qiu Heng knew he had no hope of victory.

FWOOSH.

Lin Li raised his hands, and with a mere thought, two apple-sized Fireballs instantly materialized at his fingertips.

Tie Qiu Heng’s jaw dropped at the sight. Only a single thought remained in his mind.

’A Superpower... He’s a Second Order Middle Stage at such a young age, and he’s even awakened a Superpower. How unbelievably blessed by the heavens can one person be!’

The next moment, Tie Qiu Heng watched as the two small Fireballs floating above Lin Li’s hands changed shape, flowing down to coat his fists in flame.

He clenched his fists.

His preparations complete, Lin Li charged toward Tie Qiu Heng.

"I surrender."

"Huh???!!!"

Lin Li hadn’t even reached Tie Qiu Heng before he heard the man give up.

"This..."

Lin Li skidded to a halt, looking on with exasperation as Tie Qiu Heng reverted to his original form.

After deactivating his Superpower, the man simply sat down on the ground, his expression clearly saying, ’I give up. Do with me what you will.’

"Hey, don’t give up so quickly! Get up, let’s keep fighting!" Lin Li said, glancing at the flames still burning on his own hands before looking back at Tie Qiu Heng on the ground.

Tie Qiu Heng knew he was no match for this young man. ’If we keep fighting,’ he thought, ’getting hit by those flaming fists would be like getting branded with a hot iron.’

’Just thinking about it... a wound like that would be painful enough to make a man wish for death. Since there’s no hope of winning, I might as well surrender and get it over with!’

"..." Tie Qiu Heng remained silent. No matter how much Lin Li yelled at him to get up and fight, he just sat there on the ground, unmoving.

He was waiting for someone—the Investigator who had been relentlessly pursuing him.

’Damn, this guy’s completely given up. He’s certainly thorough when he surrenders...’ Seeing Tie Qiu Heng’s silence, Lin Li’s enthusiasm waned. He shook his hands, extinguishing the flames.

CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP...

A flock of birds flew overhead, glancing down curiously at the two humans on the road below—one sitting, one standing.

’What now? Should I call the Superpower Administration Bureau and report this?’

’I could call them, but when the Investigators from the Superpower Administration Bureau get here, they’ll inevitably drag me away to give a statement.’

’By the time that’s all done, and after I’ve grabbed a bite, gone home to shower, and rested a bit, there won’t be much time left to visit Dongwu City in the Spirit Realm.’

Lin Li didn’t plan on spending the night in the Spirit Realm. He quickly calculated that if he called the Superpower Administration Bureau now, he would lose one or two hours of his time to explore the Spirit Realm.

’Sigh... I should just call the Superpower Administration Bureau. If I lose an hour or two in the Spirit Realm, so be it. I’ll have plenty of time to go in the future, anyway.’

’This guy is a Second Order Middle Stage Cultivator who uses his strength to steal from others. If it had been anyone else, they might not have been able to fight back at all. I can’t just let him go.’

After a moment of deliberation, Lin Li made his decision: he would call the Superpower Administration Bureau.

...