"Iron Blood Brotherhood?" Qu Jianlei frowned, "This name is really not just ordinarily bad... Are they very powerful?"

"Very powerful," Stone nodded without hesitation. "They've monopolized 80% of Celestial Heart City's food market."

"Food market?" Qu Jianlei frowned, from ancient times to now, those who can monopolize the food market are never good people.

But there seems to be a problem here, those who can monopolize the Celestial Hook Star's food market should not be from this planet.

Let alone a small place like Celestial Heart City.

He spoke solemnly, "Is this an organization from our Star Realm?"

"No, actually," Stone quickly shook his head, secretly taken aback, this one really doesn't mince words, immediately asking about Star Realms.

"Just a bunch of locals from Celestial Heart, with influence in the area, helping food giants with acquisition and sales."

"So they're a bunch of local hooligans," Qu Jianlei snorted disdainfully, "and dare to inquire about me; are they tired of living?"

"Boss, it's not like that," Stone quickly spoke, "They have more than one A-level... They call themselves the Four Heavenly Kings!"

"Five A-levels?" Qu Jianlei smiled indifferently, "Do they really think they're big shots?"

This kind of combat power, he truly doesn't fear at all. Even in an encounter battle, without the Cyan Blade Commerce Association's coordination, he'd dare to confront them head-on.

In fact, the kind of tactical coordination of Cyan Blade Commerce Association isn't something small forces can pull off at all.

One must know, even Cheng Qingshan suffered setbacks!

Master Cheng is the top person of the Engineering College, he has seen a lot of scenes, and yet he suffered losses.

It's not that he's too weak, but that the opponents are too strong, with Cyan Blade being a cross-star realm organization, coming from the famously savage Blade Star Realm.

The Iron Blood Brotherhood is just a local snake in Celestial Heart City; what kind of coordination can they pull off? At most, a few more ghostly fiend tricks.

Stone was stunned with his mouth wide open, "I mentioned the Four Heavenly Kings, how did you know there are five A-levels?"

After a day and a half of working as a tour guide, he already knew that the other party just arrived on Celestial Hook Star, virtually blind.

It's logical for newcomers to find a guide, so he was at ease.

But now, the other party openly calls out five A-levels, clearly... they are prepared.

Qu Jianlei raised an eyebrow, Four Heavenly Kings having five people, isn't that normal?

But there's really no way to explain this, and he doesn't want to pretend to understand without knowing, "I just casually said it."

Stone assumed the person had already investigated clearly, he could only smile wryly, "After the Four Heavenly Kings emerged, there are indeed five A-levels."

With Heavenly Kings and Celestial Empresses... Qu Jianlei couldn't help it, "Are these 'Heaven' all referring to Celestial Heart City?"

"You're right!" Only then did Stone realize, the other party is a powerhouse from beyond Celestial Hook Star.

So he briefly explained the situation.

The Iron Blood Brotherhood indeed has only four A-levels, and they're not entirely on the right path, half-black, half-white.

This kind of strength isn't outstanding in Celestial Heart, just not bad, because of their ruthless actions, no supreme power is lazy enough to provoke them.

Later, they partnered with a large cross-star realm grain merchant, the merchant valued their local influence, so they cooperated mutually.

To this day, they've monopolized 80% of the food market in Celestial Heart City, not relying on their own strength, but because they willingly act as enforcers.

In essence, it's the Imperial version of "choosing the right person to follow is very important."

Five years ago, a fire attribute A-level female appeared in Celestial Heart, incredibly beautiful and extremely combat-capable.

This combat capability isn't just talk, not only are her attacks strong, but her defenses are too strong.

In the general understanding of superpower warriors, the gold, wood, and earth attributes have strong defense, but water and fire... do they have defense?

But this woman truly does, the armor she wears, it's said not to be Fire Armor or Fire Armor, but Ion Purification Armor.

This name sounds a bit rustic, but in fact, it's very powerful.

The ion mentioned here isn't positive or negative ions but requires plasma state or plasma, a substance above the gas state.

To put it this way, hydrogen dioxide at its coldest is ice, a solid; next is water, a liquid.

Then water vapor, a gas; beyond that, it's plasma!

In short, for a material to reach the plasma state, it requires more energy.

This fire attribute A-level Celestial Empress's armor isn't just plasma but also purification.

No matter how strong the attack, when it meets her defense, it turns into gas or even plasma; how could it harm her?

To give an example, an Earth Attribute Awakened attacking her might use rocks or meteorites—how are these things vaporized?

However, they truly can be vaporized, meteorites cannot be vaporized, but the various substances composing meteorites can be vaporized.

Most commonly, silicon dioxide has a melting point and a boiling point, yes, even stone can turn to gas.

So, even a meteorite assault against this A-level can be blocked by the Ion Purification Armor.

Of course, these are all theoretical statements, in reality, it depends on the strength of the attack.

For a fire attribute cultivator able to wear Ion Purification Armor, the weakness is no longer a weakness, no one dares to underestimate.

Especially remarkable, this female Awakened is exceedingly beautiful.

She wanted to gain a foothold in the food market, so she clashed with the Iron Blood Brotherhood.

Beautiful? Qu Jianlei chuckled indifferently, he really couldn't appreciate the Imperial sense of aesthetics.

But all four A-levels of the Iron Blood Brotherhood were enchanted by her and warmly invited her to join.

So now, it's a situation of four kings and a queen, which could also be considered "four heavenly kings being five".

Qu Jianlei snorted coldly at the last line he heard, "So the one causing me trouble is this Celestial Empress Yuanyuan?"

"Not exactly," Stone shook his head, "It seems outsiders want to find you, the Iron Blood Brotherhood is just taking the job."

Qu Jianlei smiled dismissively, "Such nerve... By the way, what legacy does this Yuanyuan have?"

He hadn't seen the Ion Purification Armor himself, couldn't feel its true power, but even if exaggerated, it should be stronger than the Fire Armor.

Anyone who could improve fixed techniques is definitely not ordinary, especially since... it seems others haven't mastered this technique.

Stone shook his head upon hearing this, "She refuses to say, insisting her physique is special."

Not willing to say? Qu Jianlei's expression was a bit strange, "Are all Celestial Hook superpower warriors so kind-hearted?"

Stone spread his hands helplessly and answered, "Everyone speculates she must have a Supreme backing her."

Qu Jianlei slowly shook his head and spoke thoughtfully, "A single Supreme can't block this kind of coveting."

He had some understanding of the Supreme circle, such improved techniques could have too great an impact!

To think, he merely possessed the Electromagnetic Body Technique and it drew Zheng Ziyang and Steve's investigation.

And that was merely a body technique not shared by big forces, and an electromagnetic attribute one at that, which is very rare.

Fire Attribute Awakeners make up nearly a fifth of all Awakened, how much interest is there in this?

Stone shook his head slowly, "Anyway, no one's investigating her, and the Military hasn't intervened."

Qu Jianlei casually replied, "That's just what you don't know, it's unlikely no one is checking."

This time, the person he hired's information sensitivity was indeed lacking.

Stone gave a wry smile at the words, in the past, he focused on fighting and cultivation, interacting little with the outside world.

He always thought that improving his own strength was the right path, no need to mind trivial matters.

Unexpectedly, now seeking work outside, these small matters became obvious shortfalls.

But it's unimportant, he emphasized one point, "At least I found out this news and informed you."

"Tsk," Qu Jianlei clicked his tongue, his brows slowly furrowing.

Back in the Hope Star Realm, had he known such news, he would surely have proactively taught the other party a lesson.

But now Xiao Hu has begun improving the cultivation technique, frequent external disturbances are not a good thing.

Moreover, having been through the Mist Mansion, his body hasn't yet returned to peak condition.

The most crucial point is that he now has a new, very reliable identity.

If another storm of blood were to rise, he would again be fleeing for his life.

Heaven knows, he really likes staying home without moving, he detests a life of displacement.

Fortunately, there's a B-level hireling available for use, "I seem to have hired you to run errands?"

Stone hesitated a bit then nodded, "If it's fighting, against the Iron Blood Brotherhood... I'd hope you pay a significant sum upfront."

Qu Jianlei looked at him, his eyes full of a playful gleam, "You're not afraid of death?"

Stone replied calmly, "Compared to dying, I'm more afraid of poverty... And since you dare to act, I may not necessarily die, right?"

Indeed straightforward, Qu Jianlei smiled, "I won't let you fight, but I do need you to run some errands."

"By the way, let me ask first, Celestial Hook killing Awakened... is the investigation strict?"

Not letting me fight? Stone was taken aback before answering, "Depends on the identity of the killed Awakened."

"If they have a military or official background, the trouble will be much bigger, others... just don't get caught."

"That's true," Qu Jianlei nodded upon hearing this, "I wish to know, who entrusted the Iron Blood Brotherhood to investigate me."

He raised a finger, "I won't let you work for nothing, counting your proactive reporting, I'll give you a thousand silver coins if it succeeds... One day okay?"

Stone pondered a bit and steeled himself, "A day might not be enough... Three days at most, is that okay?"

"Three days? I'm afraid the other party could find me first," Qu Jianlei smiled indifferently.

His identity has already been leaked, finding out his watch number is not difficult.

Plus with an A-level Awakened making an appearance, especially one influential locally, pinpointing his location isn't hard.

Stone understood what he meant, and he shook his head.

"You can block the watch, just like earlier... Otherwise, waiting to be schemed against doesn't feel good."

Qu Jianlei thought for a moment, he actually didn't want to block the watch, living openly felt better.

If they really dared to sneak up on him, his counterattack could be considered self-defense.

However, the feeling of guarding against thieves was indeed unpleasant, he didn't want Xiao Hu to be interrupted randomly.

Finally, he reluctantly sighed, "Alright, then three days, let's see if you can earn that thousand."

(Update stops here, calling for monthly tickets, subscription, and recommendation votes.)