Floating Island - Triple S Talent

The carriage carrying Lein and his entourage continued to move slowly through the city streets until it finally stopped in front of a large five-story store. The building was one of the branches of the famous Seed Store in Nagung City. In front of the store, a number of staff stood in neat rows, with two supervisors in the middle and a young elder positioned at the far right.

This young elder stood out. His face radiated a warm smile, with a friendly demeanor and an approachable attitude. He stepped forward enthusiastically as the carriage came to a halt.

"The Master has arrived," one of the supervisors whispered to his companion beside him.

"Yes, it's been a long time since I last saw Master Lein," replied the companion, his face lighting up with joy, a wide smile spreading across his lips.

The young elder approached the carriage door and waited respectfully. When Lein stepped out, the elder immediately bowed deeply, greeting him warmly.

"Welcome, Master," he said with great reverence.

"Thank you," Lein replied sincerely as he descended from the carriage. His gaze rested on the young elder with appreciation. Despite having lived in the Guandu Realm for quite some time, the loyalty and dedication of these elders remained unshaken. For Lein, gratitude was the least they deserved.

"You're welcome, Master," the elder replied humbly. His eyes reflected profound admiration, as if Lein was more than just a leader to him. "The Master remains as generous and understanding as ever," he murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself.

He then turned his attention to Laras, Bagus, and Madam Fatmawati, who began exiting from the other side of the carriage. Swiftly, he greeted them one by one.

"Welcome, Miss Laras, Mr. Bagus, Madam Fatmawati," he said politely.

"Thank you," Laras replied as she shook his hand. Her demeanor was gentle yet authoritative.

Bagus, with his relaxed style, merely nodded and said, "Yo," before stepping aside.

His gaze rose to the five-story building. In his mind, he thought the store seemed too small. "Isn't this store a bit too small?" he wondered. Lein had mentioned that all the staff of the Seed Store would gather here.

Meanwhile, Lein stood near the entrance, observing the row of staff standing respectfully. Their eyes were fixed on him, exuding admiration and reverence, almost like worship. To most of them, who were at the Qi Formation level (Tier-1), Lein wasn't just a leader; he was a figure akin to a deity.

"Hello," he greeted lightly, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

The staff seemed startled to hear such a direct greeting. For a moment, they were silent in confusion before a young man with a serious expression stepped forward.

"Hello, Master. Welcome. My name is Fang Chen," he said firmly, his voice slightly trembling but filled with enthusiasm.

Lein gave a faint smile at the introduction. Internally, he mused with a slight chuckle, "Oh, looks like there's an MC-type here."

People like Fang Chen often possessed great courage and an intense will to live. They were individuals who, when given the chance, would shine brighter than the rest. This was very typical, Lein thought. He could imagine numerous reasons why someone like Fang Chen had such qualities.

Lein's full attention was on the young man before him. Without Fang Chen realizing it, Lein's divine sense swiftly delved into his body and soul. Lein's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed deeper.

"Just as I thought..." he murmured softly, a clear tone of amusement in his voice.

In front of him, Lein saw Fang Chen's status panel. At a glance, it didn't appear much different from the status panels that Lein and other players possessed. However, upon closer inspection, Lein noticed a fundamental difference. Fang Chen's system was unique. It wasn't a system designed for a single race, like the ones Lein and the other players had. This system seemed tailored specifically for Fang Chen alone.

Curiosity arose within Lein. He asked a direct question.
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"How long have you been here?" he asked casually.

"A week, Master," Fang Chen replied calmly, showing no signs of fear. He was unaware that Lein had delved deep into his heart and uncovered his deepest secrets.

From behind, the young elder accompanying them stepped forward.

"Fang Chen is a young man I recruited, Master," he explained. He began recounting how he had found Fang Chen by a lakeside not far from the city forest's depths. At the time, Fang Chen's body was almost completely destroyed, in a condition nearing death.

However, the extraordinary determination and will to live within the young man moved the elder's heart. With his best efforts, he saved Fang Chen and gave him a job at the seed store.

Lein listened to the story without displaying excessive emotion. Only a light hum escaped his lips.

"Very cliché," he muttered softly, almost as if speaking to himself.

Lein's gaze returned to Fang Chen. His deep black eyes reflected thoughts that were hard to decipher. He remained silent for a while, contemplating something, before finally speaking.

"What's the power of the system you possess?" he asked briefly.

Lein's question was simple yet pierced straight to the core. To Fang Chen, it was like lightning striking on a clear day. Shock and fear engulfed his heart. This secret was his deepest and most valuable one; even the elder who had saved him didn't know about it.

"How does this man know?" Fang Chen thought, panicked. In his heart, a voice screamed, reminding him of the origin he tried to hide. He was a transmigrator, someone who came from another realm. Now, he found himself trapped in this body, living in the cultivation world of the Guandu Realm.

Fang Chen looked around and noticed everything had become still. There was no movement, no sound. The world seemed to have stopped.

"Is time frozen?" Fang Chen thought, his face growing even paler. Fear began to creep into him.

His eyes returned to Lein. The man still looked at him calmly, showing no signs of intimidation. However, it was precisely this calm demeanor that made Fang Chen feel immense pressure. His heart raced like a machine pushed to its limit. He was unsure of what to say and chose to remain silent, trying to hide his fear.

"Want me to use force, huh?" Lein muttered lightly, more to himself.

Lein raised his hand slowly, and with the dream element he controlled, he began to probe deeply into Fang Chen's body. Invisible energy flowed through Fang Chen's entire being, penetrating the layers of his soul forcefully.

"Aargh!"

Fang Chen screamed. A painful sensation enveloped him. He felt the foreign energy invading every cell of his body, spreading to his brain and heart. The pain was so real, as if his body and mind were being destroyed from within. His head throbbed intensely, as if it were about to burst, while the energy continued to ravage his soul mercilessly.

"Where are you hiding?" Lein muttered softly, his gaze still calm. Beneath his demeanor, Lein recalled Mharzan—a man who had once tried to steal his talent similarly while Lein was forming his soul. That experience solidified Lein's belief that such power must have a hidden place within someone. Determined to find it, he continued exploring every corner of Fang Chen's soul.

"Master... mercy... I'll tell you," Fang Chen cried out hoarsely, begging for mercy. But Lein paid no attention to the plea. He remained focused on uncovering the existence of the system he believed was hidden within Fang Chen.

"No! Please... it hurts!" Fang Chen screamed again. His voice echoed through the room, filled with pain and fear. Finally, after immense pressure, the system panel appeared before Fang Chen.