Chapter 549: The Game

Chapter 549: The Game

Something felt off to Zhang Yi.

After absorbing Yuan Kongye’s core energy, he didn’t seem to have gained the overwhelming power she had once displayed.

Perhaps it was because her ascension had been too recent, leaving her foundation unstable.

Or maybe it was because her power had been stolen, and with her death, her core had rapidly dissipated.

As a result, Zhang Yi had only managed to extract a portion of her essence.

And since energy conversion always came at a loss, it was impossible for him to instantly leap to the level of a world-ending Epsilon-class superhuman.

Even so, the fragment of power he had absorbed had drastically enhanced his abilities.

The Shelter was filled with celebration.

Everyone was excited, believing that Zhang Yi’s newfound strength meant they were safer than ever.

But deep down, Zhang Yi had a concern.

The Jiangnan District Investigation Team.

Bian Junwu’s death—they would suspect him.

And after returning to Blizzard City, they would report everything to the higher-ups.

That was bad news for Zhang Yi.

Previously, his power had been low-key, and Jiangnan District had little reason to care about him.

But now?

He had killed Yuan Kongye.

It was obvious that he had absorbed her core power.

Would Jiangnan District ignore someone like that?

Of course not.

They would definitely try to recruit him.

But if he joined them, he might end up like Bian Junwu, constantly being sent on deadly missions, walking the razor’s edge.

And if he refused, he might make an enemy of Jiangnan District.

If their leaders were narrow-minded, they might decide:

"If he won’t work for us, then we can’t let him work for anyone else."

Which meant—they might eliminate him.

Zhang Yi wasn’t willing to gamble on that risk.

He needed to take control of the situation—before it got out of hand.

After some careful thought, he made a decision.

He would confront the investigation team directly and use them to achieve his own goals.

After spending some time chatting with the others, Zhang Yi left the Shelter alone, driving toward Qingfu Base.

On the way, he contacted Xing Tian and Baili Changqing.

Xing Tian had no objections.

In fact, he was surprisingly eager—even a little flattering in his tone.

Zhang Yi wasn’t surprised.

Right now, Tianhai City was, in every sense, his domain.

The Five Major Factions were as good as dead.

The Followers of the Snow God had been wiped out.

The three remaining bases had lost nearly all of their combat forces.

With his overwhelming power, Zhang Yi had become the undisputed king of Tianhai City.

Even Baili Changqing spoke to him with newfound respect.

His words carried a hint of recruitment, suggesting they could work together in the future.

"After all, we’re both in Jiangnan District. You’ll have to visit Blizzard City at some point, right?"

"Now that our captain is dead, we need some fresh blood."

Baili Changqing chuckled.

But Zhang Yi coldly smirked at his words.

"Your captain is dead... so shouldn’t you be looking for a new captain instead?"

A brief silence.

Then Baili Changqing’s voice turned a bit stiff, though he forced a laugh.

"Well... let’s discuss when you get here."

"Sure."

Zhang Yi’s voice was icy as he hung up the call.

Meanwhile, at Qingfu Base, Baili Changqing frowned deeply, his face clouded with concern.

With Bian Junwu gone, their team had lost tremendous strength.

He had hoped that Zhang Yi would join them, helping fill the gap.

After all, Zhang Yi was incredibly intelligent and had proven his strength in the Tianhai City battle.

And now, having absorbed Yuan Kongye’s core power, he was likely stronger than ever.

If Zhang Yi joined them, it could help them maintain their elite squad status.

In Blizzard City, resources were distributed based on contributions.

If they lost their elite ranking, their quality of life would suffer dramatically.

But from Zhang Yi’s tone, it was clear—

He wasn’t just looking to join the team.

He wanted to be captain.

A newcomer, demanding the top position right away—

And with his immense power, he was a real threat.

Baili Changqing felt uneasy.

By ranking, after Bian Junwu’s death, he was the most likely candidate for captain.

"That bastard... he’s got serious ambition."

Baili Changqing sighed.

Should he even let Zhang Yi join?

But without him, how would they make up for Bian Junwu’s loss?

Bian Junwu had been one of Blizzard City’s top fighters—a near-Epsilon-class superhuman.

Someone like that was rare, even among Jiangnan District’s elite teams.

Where could they possibly find another replacement?

Feeling frustrated, Baili Changqing headed toward the team’s quarters.

Inside, the investigation team members were recovering from their injuries.

Wu Di, though much better after several days of rest, had suffered permanent effects—his hair had turned silver-white, and it would never return to normal.

Others still bore various injuries from the battle against Yuan Kongye, having barely survived her devastating attacks.

As Baili Changqing entered, his grim expression caught everyone’s attention.

Seeing this, someone asked,

"What’s wrong?"

After some thought, Baili Changqing spoke bluntly.

"Zhang Yi said... if he’s going to join us, he wants to be captain."

Silence.

Then—an explosion of reactions.

Some were furious, calling Zhang Yi arrogant and power-hungry.

Others remained quiet, seemingly acknowledging that he had the strength to compete for the position.

After all—

Everyone knew he had absorbed Yuan Kongye’s core power.

And that meant his strength was now unimaginable.

Baili Changqing shrugged, playing the neutral observer.

"To be fair, it’s not unreasonable. Everyone wants to climb higher, right?"

"And let’s be honest—he was the key player in the Tianhai City battle."

"If we talk about raw power, he’s probably more than qualified."

"But… being captain isn’t just about strength. He has no experience working with us. There’s a big difference between being strong and being a leader."

He pointed at Bian Junwu’s example.

"Take Captain Bian. He wasn’t just powerful—his leadership made us trust him."

"But Zhang Yi? We barely know him."

The moment he finished speaking, Wu Di lost his temper.

"Zhang Yi? Who the hell does he think he is?! Just because he’s strong, he thinks he can walk in and take over?! If he joins, I’m leaving!"

Kong Sheng crossed his arms, frowning.

"That’s what he really said? That’s... pretty damn arrogant."

Qi Guangming spoke up immediately.

"The only person fit to be our next captain is Baili Changqing! Even if Zhang Yi is strong, he still needs to follow the rules."

Ye Jikang said nothing, simply frowning in thought.

Meng Siyu glanced at the others but chose not to comment.

They all knew Baili Changqing wanted the captain's position.

But none of them really objected.

After all, he had been vice-captain for years, and both his strength and character were respected.

Still, they also knew—they needed Zhang Yi.

Baili Changqing waved his hand, smiling.

"In the end, the higher-ups decide who leads. It doesn’t matter if I’m captain or not."

"What matters is making sure our team moves forward."

"Zhang Yi will be here soon. Let’s see how he presents himself before we make a decision."

Author's Note