A Card In Hand

Chapter 68: How Can You Be My Boss If You’re Not Formidable?

Li Ao turned around and saw a tall, handsome young man striding towards him.

Covered in thick, heavy silver armor, he moved silently, his steps so light that they barely touched the ground.

This radiant young man, with a brilliant smile and an affable face, was named Yuan Chi.

He possessed the talent of the Steel Elephant, giving him immense strength.

Only twenty-one years old,

his combat power had already exceeded a thousand,

reaching 1189.

He had effortlessly defeated Huo Quan in the family arena competition a year ago,

and from Huo Quan, he had taken over the qualification for the future head of the main branch of the Iron Clan in Silverlight City.

“Fourth Brother, you’re back? That’s great, I was just looking for you!”

Fuxi, seeing Yuan Chi, reacted as if he’d seen a savior, and he eagerly repeated his previous complaints about Huo Quan.

“Father has indeed gone out, but what Second Brother did was really underhanded. He didn’t even allow you guys to go in and give Mother the good news, which is too much! When Father returns, I’ll definitely tell him to make things right,” Yuan Chi reassured an agitated Fuxi in his resonant voice, patting him on the shoulder, “I’m on your side, Fuxi. Don’t be upset over someone like Second Brother; it’s not worth it! But Mother hasn’t been sleeping well these days. Hmm, how about this? Wait here for a moment, and I’ll check if Mother has woken up. If she has, I’ll take you in?”

“There’s no need to disturb Aunt,” Fuxi hastily declined the kind offer.

“I’ll come and get you myself when Father returns tonight,” Yuan Chi signaled Fuxi to wait a little longer.

“Thank you, Fourth Brother!”

Fuxi suddenly felt like the day had brightened.

“What war beast have you contracted?”

Yuan Chi asked warmly, also inquiring how much Fuxi’s combat power had increased.

“I contracted a Savage Tusk Boar in the Trial Grounds, really lucky, and later, Tie Zheng and Lie Feng gifted me a Bronze-grade Ironshell Earth Dragon. Now my combat power is over four hundred, reaching a high of 404. Yeah, I’m now a mid-level elite, haha!”

Fuxi shared everything openly with Yuan Chi, who looked after him attentively.

“Not bad, Fuxi, your combat power has increased quite rapidly!”

Yuan Chi asked a few more questions about Tie Zheng, which Fuxi answered one by one.

Aside from Li Ao and various issues with the Challenge List.

Whatever could be said,

Fuxi said it all.

Li Ao was quite speechless. Oh, great one, not everyone is Tie Zheng! Can’t you read the room?

However, Li Ao did not stop Fuxi, as long as he did not reveal his transformation into a great demon.

After chatting with Fuxi for a while, Yuan Chi turned to Li Ao with a full-faced smile and asked, “And you?”

Li Ao gently kicked the bored Rock Bear.

Understanding the cue,

it stood upright.

Raising its paws high, it then roared to assert its presence.

“Fourth Young Master, my war beast is a Rock Bear, contracted in the Trial Grounds, high-tier Black Iron, with a combat strength of 85. My own combat strength has reached a full hundred. Yes, I’ve got my graduation certificate,” Li Ao replied to Yuan Chi’s inquiries, suppressing his excitement like a rookie who had just been acknowledged.

“Your gains are not small either!”

Yuan Chi’s eyes briefly swept over the Rock Bear, his smile even warmer, “Keep it up and strive to enter the main house’s elite ranks soon! Once Father approves your entry into the elite ranks, I’ll gift you a Bronze-grade war beast!”

“Thank you, Fourth Young Master!” Li Ao’s face was filled with gratitude.

“Haha, when we’re alone, you don’t have to call me Fourth Young Master anymore, just call me Fourth Cousin. You are now a summoner; your status is different from before. Your combat power is a bit low right now, so here’s the plan: work hard on your own for a few years, and once you enter the Elite Hall, I’ll ask father to grant you a marriage. We have many sisters at home, pick whoever suits you best, and I’ll have father approve. Fuxi, and you, when the time comes, follow me. I’ll take you into my personal guard; Fuxi can be the captain, and you can be the deputy captain!”

Yuan Chi offered Li Ao extremely generous conditions with a radiant smile.

“I will definitely work hard, thank you, Fourth Young Master!”

Li Ao seemed to see a bright future, his expression extremely excited.

“…”

Fuxi felt increasingly uncomfortable as he listened to the two men’s conversation.

The more he heard, the more he felt something was off.

Fourth Brother, saying things like this.

Are you sure that’s appropriate?

Even if Li Ao isn’t a big demon king who even the great Tie Zheng speaks cautiously around, he’s still our little cousin from the Iron Clan!

What do you mean his combat power is a bit low and he should work hard for a few years on his own? Is there any truth to what you’re saying?

It’s all empty talk!

If Li Ao’s combat power isn’t sufficient now, shouldn’t you immediately lend him a hand by giving him a bronze-level war beast to help him out?

What’s the point of giving it to him later after he’s succeeded and entered our family’s Elite Hall?

And if Li Ao really does make it by his own efforts, Uncle will naturally arrange a marriage to win him over, so what does your recommendation have to do with it? How did these things become your credit?

And, it turns out we can’t even join your personal guard now?

We have to wait until Li Ao and I enter the Elite Hall?

What kind of crap about captain and deputy captain of the guard?

That’s less substantial than the squad leader position Fire Fist just casually offered to Li Ao!

At least that’s a real position, not just empty words!

Fuxi didn’t initially think much of it.

But seeing Li Ao’s reaction, he thought more and more that it wasn’t right, feeling increasingly that Fourth Brother’s words were too much.

Giving his heart like this to the Fourth Brother, who would have thought he’d get this attitude in return… Luckily he didn’t blurt out that Li Ao might turn into a big demon king!

You’re a future candidate for the family head!

Can’t you be a bit more magnanimous?

Did we ever say we were going to snatch your position? Why are you so afraid and so hypocritical?

“Fuxi, you guys go back first. Wait for my good news tonight!”

Yuan Chi didn’t realize Fuxi’s inner flame had died out, still maintaining his exuberant smile.

“Alright, Fourth Brother, we’ll take our leave then!”

Fuxi responded perfunctorily, pulling Li Ao to leave hastily.

He was afraid to stay longer.

He couldn’t keep his facial expression from revealing his inner annoyance.

It’s just having an initial-level Silver Iron War Elephant battle beast, just being a future candidate for the family head, and he’s not even the family head yet! He already treats us like servants! You’re twenty-one years old and think a combat power of 1189 is impressive?

When I turn twenty-one, I might even be stronger than you! On the challenge list, pick anyone at random; aren’t they all supernova prodigies with explosive talents? Do you see Shuanghan, Qian Nian, Qiqu, and Cang Yue looking down on others?

Would Lie Feng, Qiu Ye, Man Huang, and the great Tie Zheng directly treat others as their servants?

And this ‘servant’ can’t even be one immediately; he has to enter the Elite Hall first.

Thank you so much!

To hell with that damned captain of the guards!

I, Fuxi, am the big boss under the invincible great demon king, Li Ao.

In the future, even if I may not reach Legendary status or ascend to King level, I am certain there will be no problem in reaching Champion level!

I refuse to believe I’d be so worthless to have a big demon king as my junior only to pitifully become a menial servant at your beck and call!

Having left the main family’s doorway.

Fuxi looked apologetically at Li Ao, “Little Li Ao, I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would turn out this way…”

“It’s okay, this has nothing to do with you, and besides, I’ve gotten used to it over the years!”

Li Ao smiled at Fuxi, “It’s precisely because of this, we need to achieve something and show them!”

“Yes, you’re right!” Fuxi, invigorated, punched Li Ao again.

With a bang.

Rocks and debris flew everywhere.

Fuxi hurriedly turned around to check if anyone noticed them before he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Ao was preparing to bid farewell to Fuxi and return to his real home in the countryside.

But Fuxi stopped him.

With a bit of shyness.

Hesitating to speak.

“Little Li Ao, do you think I can… eventually reach the Champion level? I’m not talking about these next few years, but later, at the peak, do you think it’s possible?”

Fuxi suddenly felt a bit insecure, realizing his talents were far behind those of super geniuses like Shuanghan and Cang Yue, and he had also wasted a lot of time chasing pretty girls and not training hard enough in the past!

“Boss, you’re overthinking it!”

Li Ao waved his hand.

“So, I’m just an irredeemable good-for-nothing?”

Fuxi nearly burst into tears on the spot after hearing that.

“No, what I mean is that you don’t need to worry about these things. You will definitely be a legend in the future, at the very least a Legendary-level powerhouse!”

Li Ao reassured him.

“Am I really that incredible?”

Fuxi could hardly believe his ears.

“How could you be my boss if you weren’t amazing?”

Li Ao retorted.

“…”

Fuxi thought about it, and it made sense!

If that’s the case.

I really am quite impressive.

All those freakish geniuses on the challenge list were knocked down by Little Li Ao, and I was the only one without trouble, if that’s not solid strength, what is?

Thinking this way.

Fuxi’s confidence instantly returned.

“You’ll reach Champion level by the time you graduate from your showcase. You’ve just contracted the Ironclad Burrow Dragon, get used to it for now. In a while, we’ll go on an expedition to the Nine-Layer Ancient Prison. With your unbeatable luck, snagging a Silver-grade war beast will be a piece of cake!”

Li Ao told Fuxi not to rush.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you!”

Fuxi fully awakened, with the great demon king Li Ao in action, why should he worry about reaching Champion level.

Roar!

I will be a Legendary-level powerhouse in the future!

Let Yuan Chi, that damned captain of the guards, go die!

In the future, I will independently create my own family branch, not depending on anyone else’s face!

The more Fuxi thought about it, the more excited he became, feeling his blood boil as if he wanted to howl at the sky to tell the whole world, I, Fuxi, am a future Legendary powerhouse!

Having bid farewell to Fuxi, who was equally eager to return home with good news, Li Ao set out from the city with his war beast, the rock bear.

Along the main road.

He continued towards the countryside.

Step by step, he walked on this road that felt both familiar and strange, filled with gratitude… Whoever it was, for whatever reason, that allowed him to be reborn, he was immensely thankful!

This was not only a restart of his own life but also gave him the opportunity to make up for a great regret in his heart.

The old servant’s family who had raised him, even though he ultimately ascended to divinity and lit the divine fire, had not enjoyed any benefits.

Because they had been viciously killed by enemies long ago.

Having returned to life.

Whether they asked for it or not.

He was determined to ensure they would lead a secure and happy life.

In this life, he would definitely let their family, young and old, live a life with basic dignity, where they could stand tall and live proudly!

“Brother Li Ao?”

From under the shade of trees nearby, a girl with large eyes and a sweet smile, sporting a ponytail, suddenly popped out.

“You’re back? When did you return? Did you graduate successfully and become a summoner? Hey, is this big bear your war beast?”