It was nine in the morning on the second day.
The Shan family was having Wang Fang's homemade egg noodles. Though not as luxurious as Shan Hu's "Rapid Heat" breakfast yesterday, it was the comforting taste of home after a long absence.
"Ding-dong—"
The doorbell rang. The family exchanged looks.
Shan Hu put down his chopsticks and smiled. "The main event is here."
Shan De and Wang Fang were still tense, but Shan Qing, unable to contain her curiosity, rushed to the door first and peeked through the peephole.
Shan Qing gasped and turned back to her parents. "There are three black Mercedes S-Classes outside! So many bodyguards! And the lead guy… ah, it's that arrogant Young Master Lu from the photo!"
Shan De and his wife's faces darkened, fearing a violent retaliation.
Shan Hu rose calmly and walked to the door, his tone relaxed. "Don't worry. Let them in."
He opened the door.
Outside, Lu Zhentian and Lu Shaoxiong stood side-by-side. Yesterday's arrogance and malice were utterly gone, replaced by profound panic and unease. Their hair was slick with sweat. Behind them stood a line of men in suits, but they looked more like witnesses than deterrents now.
"Are—are you Mr. Shan Hu?" Lu Zhentian stammered, his voice ten times hoarser than yesterday. Over the course of the night, he had endured the nightmares of his company's stock crashing, land being seized, and bank accounts being audited. He knew that the young man before him held the power of life and death over his empire.
Shan Hu folded his arms, leaning against the doorframe lazily. "Can I help you?"
"Mr. Shan! I am here to apologize to you and your entire family!"
Lu Zhentian sharply bent over into a ninety-degree bow, the loud crack of his formality startling the neighbors. Lu Shaoxiong quickly followed suit, bowing deeply alongside his father.
Shan De, Wang Fang, and Shan Qing in the living room were completely dumbfounded.
Shan De rushed forward. "Mr. Lu, what are you doing? Let's talk this out civilly!"
Lu Zhentian straightened up, took a folder from his assistant, and respectfully handed it to Shan De with both hands.
"Elder Mr. Shan, our Ascent Group's previous forced demolition attempts were due to severe high-level mismanagement and poor decision-making! I have fired all responsible personnel and have permanently revoked all development plans for the old district!"
He swallowed hard, pointing at the folder. "This is our Group's sincere compensation to you and your family: We are willing to purchase your current property for one hundred million Chinese Yuan (RMB)."
"O-one hundred million?!" Shan Qing shrieked, dropping her chopsticks.
The old apartment was worth at most two million! One hundred million was fifty times the value!
Lu Zhentian seemed to feel this was still insufficient. He produced another finely bound property deed and presented it to Wang Fang with both hands.
"Furthermore, this is a luxury river-view apartment in Longcheng's most prime area—Kowloon Bay—valued at eighty million! It has been fully paid for and registered under your name, as compensation for emotional distress and relocation expenses!"
Wang Fang's mind was blank; she felt dizzy.
Shan De trembled, pushing the documents away. "Mr. Lu, what exactly do you want? We can't accept this money!"
Shan Hu stepped in at the perfect moment, patting his father's shoulder, calm and composed. "Dad, since they are sincerely apologizing, just accept it. Let's separate the issues; the money is their sentiment, accept it."
He looked at Lu Zhentian, his eyes carrying a hint of warning. "Mr. Lu, I've seen your commitment. As for your Group… you don't need to change the name. Go reflect seriously. Just remember: from now on in Longcheng, if you see anyone with the surname 'Shan,' walk the other way."
"Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Shan is absolutely right! We will engrave that into our minds!" Lu Zhentian felt an immense sense of relief. He quickly led his son and bodyguards away from the housing complex, practically stumbling in their haste.
After the Ascent father and son left, the family collapsed onto the sofa in sheer ecstasy.
"One hundred million! Dad! Mom! We're rich! We can buy a private jet!" Shan Qing hugged the folder, almost fainting from excitement.
Shan De and Wang Fang felt like they were dreaming, repeatedly examining the property deeds and bank transfer receipts.
"Xiao Hu, what did you say to them? Why would they do this?" Shan De looked at his son, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.
Shan Hu calmly sipped his noodle soup and smiled. "Dad, Mom, I told you—I simply 'won with virtue.' I met some friends from a special department during my expedition, and they helped give the Group a little 'legal education.' See? Justice prevails, forced demolition is illegal."
This explanation, coupled with the three Mercedes and Lu Zhentian's utterly terrified demeanor, led Shan De and his wife to accept the unbelievable truth. Their son, having been gone for ten years, must have joined some high-level government agency and gained the ability to manage powerful social relationships and resources.
The family's lingering worries were completely resolved. Shan Hu had fulfilled his promise to protect them.
"Mom, I'm going upstairs to pack a few things." Shan Hu headed to his old bedroom and locked the door.
He sat on the bed, his gaze instantly turning deep and cold.
Protecting his family was just the first step in his return to Earth.
He knew the Martial Arts Association's probing would not stop. If Earth was truly undergoing a spiritual energy resurgence, then all kinds of ancient demons, ghosts, and cultivators hidden in history would be attracted or awakened.
He had to recover his strength quickly. Even a fraction of his Immortal Power would be enough to crush every martial artist on Earth.
Shan Hu sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and deployed his Emperor-level ability: the "Spirit-Seeking Heavenly Inquiry."
His Immortal Consciousness surged out like a tide, instantly blanketing the entire Longcheng city, and then stretching to a much wider area.
In his consciousness, the modern concrete, car lights, and bustling people all became transparent and illusory. He pierced directly through the mortal facade, scanning deep underground, checking mountain ranges, and river junctions, searching for any possibly surviving spiritual ley lines.
A minute later, Shan Hu retracted his consciousness, his brow slightly furrowed.
"The spiritual energy depletion on Earth is worse than I imagined. Around Longcheng, the main spiritual meridian is severed, and all subsidiary lines have withered."
But at the limit of his scanning, he finally found a faint thread of hope.
"Wait… In the eastern suburbs of Longcheng, there's an ancient place called Dragon's Hidden Mountain (Longyinshan). The mountain structure intersects with the underground water system, forming a tiny natural Spirit Gathering Array Core. Though the energy is minimal, it is secluded and still operational."
A slight smile touched his lips. A Spirit Gathering Array Core—even a tiny spark—was enough for an Immortal Emperor to ignite a raging inferno.
Just as Shan Hu was about to get up, his phone rang again. This time, it was an unfamiliar landline number.
Shan Hu answered the call, his tone calm.
"Hello, this is Shan Hu."
On the other end, a deep, magnetic male voice spoke, his tone devoid of yesterday's arrogance, replaced by caution and gravity.
"Mr. Shan Hu, I am Qin Muyue, the Chief Executive of the Huaxia Martial Arts Alliance Longcheng Branch. We have officially completed the highest level of background checks on your identity."
"We understand your strength is extraordinary—far beyond an ordinary martial artist. The Alliance sincerely invites you to come to the Longcheng Martial Arts Hall tonight at seven. This is not an order; it is a request."
Shan Hu glanced out the window. The sun was high; he had ten hours until seven o'clock.
"Qin Muyue?" Shan Hu repeated the name, sensing a much steadier presence than the Elder Chen from yesterday.
"Fine," Shan Hu answered calmly. "I will be there exactly at seven. However, I have no interest in joining any organization."
He hung up the phone, his eyes filled with anticipation. Tonight, he was curious to see what interesting "toys" this "Huaxia Martial Arts Alliance" could bring him.