As the spiritual energy flowed through his body—
**Breakthrough successful.**
**Black Iron Three Stars.**
The power levels in this world are ranked: Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Star Glory.
After an hour of practice, Yang Shung stopped. Training strained the body, and overdoing it wasn't wise.
He got up, stretched, and stepped out of his room.
On the sofa, Yang Ping lay sprawled, playing games. Their parents were nowhere in sight.
"Mom and Dad not back yet?" Yang Shung asked.
"Not yet. It's really late today. Are you going out?" Yang Ping replied, barely glancing up.
"Yeah. Still early, right? I'll be back before nine."
With that, Yang Shung slipped on his shoes and headed out.
The summer evening painted the sky in fiery hues. The clouds, red from the sun's afterglow, looked like dragon scales. Yang Shung admired the sight as he began his evening run.
His daily exercise was non-negotiable—not just to enhance his power but to build his body's foundation. A strong body, he believed, was key to mastering abilities.
Ten kilometers. Push-ups. Squats. Pull-ups. Every day.
As Yang Shung ran, a thought crept in: *Wasn't there a food street near the school?*
He smiled. "A reward won't hurt."
---
Fifty minutes later, Yang Shung sipped on iced lemon tea.
"This is heaven after a run," he muttered, enjoying the refreshing chill. He knew it wasn't a healthy habit, but once in a while wouldn't kill him.
As he wandered the food street, something caught his eye—a familiar figure by a barbecue stall.
"Yang Xi?"
Ahead, a teenager worked skillfully over a barbecue cart. The sizzling sound of meat and the rich aroma of spices filled the air. Yang Xi's handsome face glistened with sweat, and a long line of customers stood waiting.
Yang Shung smiled. *Business must be good.*
Then, a gruff voice interrupted the peaceful scene.
"…You understand the plan?"
Yang Shung turned to see a towering man giving orders to a group of shady-looking thugs armed with sticks.
His eyes narrowed. *This can't be good.*
The thugs moved toward Yang Xi's stall.
Yang Shung clenched his jaw. *Stay calm.*
He pulled out his phone and began recording. "Let's get evidence first," he whispered.
The video captured the gangsters approaching Yang Xi, their voices aggressive. The crowd buzzed with murmurs:
"Isn't that Liu Erli? A Black Iron Three Star."
"Yeah, and the others seem awakened too."
"That barbecue kid's in trouble…"
Yang Shung's eyes darted. *Two hundred meters to the police station. I can make it.*
He slipped his phone into his pocket and sprinted away.
---
At the police station, the mood was dull.
"Brother Chen, this shift is so boring," a young officer groaned, leaning back lazily.
Chen Qingfeng smacked him on the head. "Don't jinx it! Boring is good. Trouble is bad."
Before he could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps cut him off.
"Officer! Help! My friend's in danger!"
Yang Shung burst through the door, gasping for air.
"What happened?" Chen Qingfeng asked, stepping forward.
Yang Shung held up his phone. "A gang's harassing my friend at the food court. He's just trying to make a living. His parents died young. He supports his sister, works tirelessly, and now this!"
Tears welled up in Yang Shung's eyes as he spoke.
Chen Qingfeng frowned. "Show me the video."
The officers examined the recording. The young officer patted Yang Shung's back. "It's okay. We'll handle it."
"Let's go," Chen Qingfeng barked, leading his team out.
Yang Shung watched them leave, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath.
---
At the food court, Yang Xi wiped his brow.
"Business is great today. I can finally buy Xiaojing something nice," he thought. The thought of his sister made him smile.
[System Notification: **Task Triggered**
**Beat up the Gangsters:** Teach the thugs a lesson and show off your style.
**Reward:** Realm level +1 star, Negative Emotion Points +100,000.]
Yang Xi blinked. "Wait, what?"
Before he could process it, a loud *clang* jolted him.
A thug banged a stick against Yang Xi's cart.
"Hey, you. Yang Xi, right?"
Yang Xi's face darkened. "That's me. What do you want?"
"Your food made my brother sick yesterday," the thug sneered.
"I didn't sell anything yesterday."
"Doesn't matter. I say it did."
The thug raised his stick to strike the cart again.
Yang Xi moved without hesitation, kicking the thug's forearm mid-swing.
*Thud!*
The thug stumbled back, his face twisted in pain.
Yang Xi smirked. "You picked the wrong cart today."