Achieving Demon Godhood from Unlocking Talents

A moment later, several black jeeps cut through the city block, linked up with the patrol team that was verifying identities, and parked on the side of the road by the square.

Amidst the THUD of car doors slamming, dozens of Superpower Members from the fifth team disembarked one by one. They expertly fanned out to establish a perimeter, merging with the team members who had arrived earlier to take full control of the area.

The sight brought passersby outside the square to a halt. Office workers in the high-rises and patrons in the nearby shops and restaurants all turned to look.

"Brother Lu."

"Leader Lu!"

Amidst a chorus of respectful greetings, Lu Chao shut his car door and stepped out. He was dressed in a black combat suit and black combat boots, an earpiece securely in place.

One after another, the Superpower captains stepped forward to greet him. The group included new captains like Yang Heng, as well as old acquaintances like Sun Jiayuan from the fourth team.

Among them was Yao Jin, his former superior. Seeing him arrive, she immediately walked over.

"Leader Lu."

"Sister Yao."

Lu Chao smiled and nodded.

Despite the change in their respective positions, he still addressed her respectfully.

Yao Jin's hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her form-fitting black combat suit accentuated her tall, graceful figure. Her fair-skinned features were elegant, enhanced by a touch of light makeup that gave her a fresh, refined look.

"So, are you nervous?"

Yao Jin teased with a smile, walking up to him.

She knew this was the first time Lu Chao was leading a security detail of this nature.

"Haha, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."

"But..."

With a small smile, Lu Chao glanced down at her left hand.

She was holding a silver longsword—her Fighting Weapon. Rumor had it she had once used it to slay a Rebel Law Enforcement Officer who had reached the Limit-Breaking Level.

"With Sister Yao watching over things, I don't think I'm so nervous anymore."

His intuition told him her Life Energy had already surpassed 160 points—her improvement was clearly not slow. She was not far from reaching the Exploration Level.

'With that kind of strength, even I would have a tough time dealing with her unless I activated my Titan's Power.'

"Haha, I never realized you were such a smooth talker."

Yao Jin gave a faint smile. Perhaps because they were now equals in status, their conversation felt more relaxed.

Then, meeting Lu Chao's curious gaze...

She raised the metal longsword in her hand and explained, "Her name is Silver Moon."

"It's forged from a manganese-steel alloy. She's my best partner."

The personification didn't surprise Lu Chao. For many Martial Artists who specialized in weaponry, their Fighting Weapons were indeed their companions.

As for the manganese-steel alloy...

He knew it was one of the advanced alloys, even tougher than silver steel. The technology was rumored to have come from an extraterrestrial civilization.

It was completely unavailable on the open market and was typically reserved for cutting-edge applications. Only the Superpower Bureau, the headquarters of the Five Major Enterprises, and the Rebels possessed the technology to refine it. Even an expert at the Exploration Level would find it difficult to damage, making it practically unobtainable.

"No wonder," Lu Chao said, nodding. "I knew there was something extraordinary about it."

A curious thought suddenly struck him: 'If I were in my Titan state, could I break an advanced alloy of this level?'

While the two of them chatted idly, the surrounding Superpower Members and captains remained on high alert, vigilantly guarding the area.

Through Yao Jin's explanation, Lu Chao learned that Ji Lixian had already left Red Maple.

"Mr. Ji is a very busy man. His visit to Red Maple was just a stopover; he needs to return to Yao Capital next."

"But ever since his visit, the patrol teams and the City Guard Army have become much more cooperative..."

Yao Jin's voice was filled with admiration, her eyes shining as she said with a hint of longing, "Sometimes, I feel so fortunate that the Alliance Country has him to rely on."

"I wonder if we'll ever have the chance to reach his level."

'Beyond the three major levels.'

Her words confirmed Lu Chao's suspicion.

Mr. Ji was indeed a Martial Artist beyond the Superpower Level.

A similar sense of longing welled up inside him. 'That's the level of power that commands respect from all the major factions, including the Five Major Enterprises.'

'If I could reach that...'

VMMMM!!

Suddenly, his train of thought was shattered.

A deep hum echoed from high in the sky, the sound of a pressure wave.

Looking up, they saw two silver-gray hovercrafts approaching from the horizon, trailing pressure waves in their wake.

One vehicle's hull was emblazoned with a six-pointed star within a circle—the insignia of the United Committee and the Superpower Bureau. The other featured a red maple leaf design, undoubtedly representing the City Lord's Mansion and the patrol teams.

"They're here."

Lu Chao and Yao Jin both fell silent, their expressions turning serious as they waited.

A dozen seconds later.

As the pressure wave washed over them, dust and debris on the square's paving stones began to swirl and dance.

Everyone—the Superpower Bureau, the patrol teams, and the nearby onlookers—watched intently. Lu Chao and Yao Jin, along with a few of their team members, moved to position themselves outside the hovercraft doors, remaining on high alert.

HISS... CLANK!

Finally, the bay doors hissed open, and several figures emerged from each hovercraft.

There were three delegates from the United Committee, all dressed in black suits. They were followed by several young assistants and a bodyguard—an expert at the Exploration Level from the First Superpower Bureau.

"Leader Yao."

The lead delegate was a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark gray woolen overcoat.

Her plain face, etched with a few wrinkles, made her appear to be around forty. She had a stern, no-nonsense air about her.

"Secretary Luo."

Yao Jin smiled and shook her hand; they were clearly acquainted.

Then, turning to gesture at Lu Chao beside her, she made the introductions. "This is the new leader of our Fourth Bureau's Fifth Superpower Team, Lu Chao."

"Leader Lu, this is the Secretary of the United Committee, Ms. Luo Xuan."

Oh?

Lu Chao was slightly surprised.

'The Secretary of the United Committee?'

That was undoubtedly a high-ranking position, considered a senior official even in Yao Capital.

"I've heard of you."

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged woman, Luo Xuan, gave him a serious look.

"Mr. Ji mentioned that you're very talented and quite excellent."

As they shook hands, she gave a nod of goodwill. "The Superpower Bureau and the Alliance Country are fortunate to have a genius like you. I am very glad for it."

Though her expression remained stern, her tone was one of genuine appreciation.

Lu Chao realized she must be a high-ranking official from the hardline faction.

He nodded and responded with due respect.

But moments later...

"So you're this 'Leader Lu'?"

A man stepped out from the City Lord's Mansion escort team. He was clearly an expert at the Peak of Limit-Breaking.

Dressed in a military green combat suit, he was exceptionally burly, like a raging bear. His bald head sat atop a face full of thick, brutish muscle, giving him a vicious look.

he asked with a frown, his tone laced with provocation.

His voice, just loud enough, made the surrounding atmosphere fall silent.

Lu Chao paused, then glanced over to see Secretary Luo Xuan's expression remain unchanged as she gave him a barely perceptible shake of her head.

"And you are?"

Lu Chao turned to the man from the City Lord's Mansion and asked calmly.

He sensed a faint wave of malice.

Contempt, arrogance, coldness—all these emotions radiated from the man.

"Who I am isn't important."

The bald giant, who stood over six-foot-three, took a few steps closer, towering over Lu Chao. He spoke with a condescending sneer, "I just wanted to let you know: this is Red Maple."

"Plenty of mighty dragons have tried to cross this river, but a good number of them ended up buried in the Red River."

His vicious gaze carried an unmistakable warning.

He stared hard at Lu Chao and said pointedly, "We will cooperate with the United Committee's business. As for you... I'd advise you to watch your step, lest you ruin the grand plan for the city-circle integration."

He gave a cold snort, then led the City Lord's Mansion's security team forward.

The man's presumptuous words made Lu Chao frown in bemusement, and the other Superpower Members shot hostile glares at his back.

Finally...

"His name is Du Lie."

After a moment's consideration, Luo Xuan spoke to Lu Chao in a low voice. "He's one of the security chiefs for the City Lord's Mansion. He used to hold a position at the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce."

Oh?

As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Chao understood the implication.

'He's one of the Tan family's people?'

'Or rather, he's from a faction within the City Lord's Mansion that's close to the Tan family?'

The thought flashed through his mind, and he turned his head to look at the bald brute, who was now barking orders at the surrounding patrol members.

As if sensing the gaze, the man turned to look back.

The viciousness in his eyes was undisguised, and it was mixed with a clear hint of provocation.

It was obvious his earlier actions had all been a deliberate provocation.