Inside a cramped, ten-square-meter room, a man and a woman stared intently at a computer screen displaying a feed of an old house—Ethan Lin's family home.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" the man complained. "Ethan Lin hasn't come back, and we're supposed to just sit around here?"
"The higher-ups made the call. This area is under our jurisdiction, and with a suspected seventh-rank Supernatural detected, it's our duty to recruit him," the woman replied coolly.
"Di-Shisan," the man continued, "what if Ethan Lin's… dead? We're talking about the Huaxia Supernatural Unit, and even we haven't been able to track him since he left the Shaolin Temple. Not even his family has heard from him."
Di-Shisan's tone remained icy. "Tian-Jiu, you've seen the footage from that day. His power rivals that of a sixth- or seventh-rank Supernatural—he wouldn't go down that easily. We'll keep waiting; he could come back anytime. If he does, we'll extend an invitation to join the Huaxia Supernatural Unit—but only after a proper evaluation. We don't recruit anyone who lacks the strength."
"Tch, Di-Shisan, lighten up a little, will you?" Tian-Jiu grinned.
But his attempt at humor was met with an icy glare from Di-Shisan. "I don't smile, Tian-Jiu. If you're unhappy, feel free to find a new partner."
Tian-Jiu scratched his head, chuckling nervously. "No way! It was just a joke. You know, even with that ice-cold expression, you're still quite charming."
Just then, a voice crackled through their earpieces.
"Ethan Lin has returned!"
Tian-Jiu and Di-Shisan immediately recognized it as a message from Tian-Qi and Di-Ba. Four members of the Huaxia Supernatural Unit had been dispatched for this mission—two from the "Tian" (Heaven) group and two from the "Di" (Earth) group. Their orders were to demonstrate the Unit's strength and recruit Ethan.
The Huaxia Supernatural Unit wasn't an official government body. It was originally formed by a coalition of powerful Supernaturals, with martial clans later sending disciples to train and join their ranks. Although the Unit eventually received government recognition and collaborated on certain special operations, it remained outside government control.
Ordinarily, one or two Unit members would suffice for a recruitment mission, but with the recent lull in operations, they had spared extra manpower.
The screen refreshed, showing a young man approaching the house—Ethan Lin. Tian-Jiu perked up.
"Let's go!" he urged. With their target now in sight, he could finally escape the monotony of waiting.
"Tian-Qi and Di-Ba are already on their way. We'll stay nearby and watch," Di-Shisan advised.
"Fine, whatever you say," Tian-Jiu muttered.
"Here they come," Ethan noted as he sensed two figures rapidly closing in on him just fifty meters from his family's home.
In a flash, a man and a woman in their thirties appeared before him.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked calmly, showing no sign of alarm.
"We're with the Huaxia Supernatural Unit," the man, Tian-Qi, replied, flashing a badge to confirm their identity.
"The Huaxia Supernatural Unit?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. Such a mysterious, almost fictional organization actually existed in his era. Then again, after witnessing the feats of the Galactic Era—where beings with the strength to traverse the stars and live thousands of years existed—a powerful organization of Supernaturals seemed less surprising.
"I don't know much about your Unit, but I know we have nothing to do with each other. So why are you here, snooping around my home?" Ethan questioned.
"We're here for you," Tian-Qi replied politely. "Our goal is to recruit powerful Supernaturals across Huaxia, train them, and help them learn to coexist with ordinary people without causing harm. We also cooperate with the government on special missions, though we remain autonomous."
"Got it," Ethan replied curtly, "but I'm not interested in joining the Unit. I don't enjoy being bound by restrictions."
"Perhaps you'd reconsider if you saw our Unit's strength firsthand?" Tian-Qi offered.
"You think you can convince me?" Ethan scoffed.
Tian-Qi continued confidently, "We know you're powerful—likely around the sixth or seventh rank. But I'm a seventh-rank Fire Supernatural, and Di-Ba here is a seventh-rank Wood Supernatural. Either of us alone should be able to match you."
"Oh? And the two hiding in that building over there?" Ethan asked, casually pointing toward a distant house.
Both Tian-Qi and Di-Ba stiffened in surprise. "How did he know?" Tian-Jiu muttered to himself as he and Di-Shisan received an order over their comms.
"You've been made," Tian-Qi said, relaying the message to the two.
A moment later, Tian-Jiu and Di-Shisan appeared but kept a respectful distance of thirty meters.
"This is my home, and I don't want my parents alarmed," Ethan said coldly. "Let's move somewhere more private. If you beat me, I'll consider your offer to join the Unit. But if you lose, don't bother me again."
The four agents exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
"We'll take it outside the town," Di-Shisan suggested.
With their extraordinary abilities, the small town was soon behind them as they arrived at an empty field.
"Come on, all of you at once," Ethan said, waving dismissively.
"I'll handle this alone," Di-Ba said confidently, stepping forward and raising her hand. Suddenly, fine tendrils of wood sprouted from the ground around Ethan, twisting around him.
"Ah, so this is the power of a Wood Supernatural," Ethan murmured as the tendrils coiled around him. Despite his calm expression, he was quietly intrigued. These wooden tendrils were strong enough to bind an elephant, even immobilize a fifth- or sixth-level Physical Realm cultivator.
"Too bad you're up against me," Ethan thought.
Grasping a few tendrils, he tugged gently, snapping them as if they were straw.
"What?! Impossible!" Di-Ba gasped, and the other three members' faces grew tense.
They had clearly underestimated Ethan's strength.
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