Chapter 69: Dominance [First Update]

After the birthday party had ended, everyone went their separate ways. Some people couldn't help but covet the spatial ring in Bai Ling Qin's hand; after all, it was a peerless treasure, something ordinary people could never possess. Even those who had begun to evolve lacked such a thing. Greed stirred within them, though Bai Ling Qin was unaware that they dared act on it.

As dusk settled, everyone happily returned home. Luffy took the driver's seat in Bai Ling Qin's SUV, while her parents sat in the back.

"Luffy, how did you come by such a miraculous thing? Where did it come from?" Qin Tian asked curiously.

"Luffy said he found it, didn't he? Don't ask questions, you old fool," Chen Qi laughed, scolding Qin Tian.

"I found it in a cave in the mountains," Luffy shrugged.

"Impressive. Today, your clothes and gifts completely outshone Wang San and Li Chao Dan. I never imagined your outfit would be so expensive. Where did you get it?" Bai Ling Qin eyed Luffy seriously, then continued driving, keeping an eye on the road.

"A friend gave it to me," Luffy replied, careful not to mention it came from the system.

"Oh, you really are lucky," Bai Ling Qin looked at Luffy with a half-smile, half-doubt.

"Of course. Who am I? Luck always favors me," Luffy said confidently. "But today, everyone saw you get the spatial ring. You should be careful. Someone might try to steal it."

"It's fine. If anyone tries, they'll never return," Bai Ling Qin said resolutely, continuing to drive.

Before they reached home, she parked the car. Luffy and Bai Ling Qin got out, opened the back door for her parents, and waited as they entered the house.

Luffy turned to Bai Ling Qin. "Go wash up first. I'll wait here for you."

"Alright!" Bai Ling Qin nodded.

Luffy headed home, as Bai Ling Qin walked toward hers. He saw his parents watching television, laughing together, and couldn't help but greet them cheerfully. "Mom, Dad, I'm back."

"Did you have fun?" Li Lian asked.

"It was alright," Luffy nodded.

"Go take a shower, you're covered in cake," Lu Haoran said with concern. It was a bit of a waste, but once was enough.

"Okay," Luffy replied, turned to change clothes, showered, then stepped out of his house and went to the round stone table in Bai Ling Qin's garden. He sat on a stone chair, and soon Bai Ling Qin arrived with a pot of tea and two cups.

She set a cup in front of Luffy, one for herself, poured fragrant green tea, and looked up at him. "Have some tea. Is there a secret you want to share with me?"

"No secret, really. I just wanted to talk about the upcoming zombie attack. What preparations do you have? My team can help protect our parents. I can go to the front lines with you."

Luffy spoke earnestly; the front lines were the most dangerous.

"Just leave five companions to guard our parents, the rest can come to the front lines. I'm worried Li Chao Dan might try something against you, so you must stay near me," Bai Ling Qin said seriously, sipping her tea. "Also, no one knows how many powerful zombies will appear, but the perimeter electrified fence has a mysterious function—it can discharge a hundred thousand volts instantly. If they enter, they'll be electrocuted."

"I see. Was that Dr. Huo's invention?" Luffy asked curiously.

"Yes. Dr. Huo is brilliant. We must protect Nine Continents, or everyone inside will perish," Bai Ling Qin said solemnly.

"I understand. We'll do our best," Luffy replied, taking the cup and drinking deeply. The tea was delicious; he took another gulp. "This tea is really good. What kind is it?"

"I picked it outside some time ago, can't remember," Bai Ling Qin looked up at the starry sky. "Why do you think that rift appeared?"

"An accidental event caused by an explosion of cosmic dark energy," Luffy mused.

"Oh, you really do have an imagination. That energy was indeed very dark," Bai Ling Qin assumed Luffy was inventing, smiled, sipped her tea, and gazed at the flowers nearby. Then she stood, holding the teapot and cup. "Time for bed. We have a few days before the zombie attack. Rest well now; we'll set out when the time comes."

"Alright," Luffy nodded, watching Bai Ling Qin's beautiful silhouette as she left, his gaze affectionate. Only after she entered her house did he rise and walk outside.

He sensed movement nearby. His eyes grew cold—the ones coveting Bai Ling Qin's spatial ring had arrived.

He went toward a distant building, and with a light leap, landed on the roof, standing before the intruder.

"You..." The man was shocked to see Luffy; he hadn't expected a mere third-tier youth to detect his presence.

"It's me. Are you here for the spatial ring?" Luffy saw that the intruder was Li Chao Dan's master, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in traditional attire, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes sharp and greedy in the moonlight.

"Indeed. Such a treasure is wasted on a little girl. Wouldn't it be more suitable for a seventh-tier expert like me? Wouldn't I make better use of it?"

"You think too much. I gave it to Bai Ling Qin. Even in death, I wouldn't let you have it," Luffy said calmly, hands behind his back, facing the old man.

"I'm here to take it, not to reason with you. Do you think I'll fear a mere third-tier? You might have detected me, but that only means your senses are keen," the old man said, not blinking, seeing Luffy as already dead.

"Oh, perhaps my senses are sharp, but you don't know that underestimating me could get you killed, especially since you want to steal Bai Ling Qin's birthday gift. You deserve to die," Luffy's eyes chilled. He suddenly raised his hand, his figure flashing as he unleashed the first and second layers of the Dragon Emperor's Dominance, combined with the 'Movement' secret of the Nine Seals.

In an instant, he was before the old man, his hand gripping the man's throat, slamming him against the wall.

With a thunderous crash, cracks spidered outward from the impact.

"You... you... how is this possible!" The old man's eyes widened in utter shock. He hadn't expected that, in a single move, this third-tier youth would pin him to the wall before he could react, unable to resist.

It was too fast; he couldn't discern Luffy's movements. And the strength was overwhelming. As a seventh-tier, one of the two strongest in the safe zone, he found himself helpless as a lamb before slaughter.

"I recall the last time the Sect Leader of the Evil Heaven Gate looked at me just as you do now—contemptuous. I killed him, took his spatial ring, and gave it to Bai Ling Qin. After you die, your belongings will be mine," Luffy declared domineeringly, his eyes gleaming with intimidating light.

(End of chapter)