Chapter 009: Divine Powers

"Half-beast?" Tang Mubai cried out in astonishment. He could hardly believe that this robust, expressionless middle-aged man was actually a half-beast! Just two days ago, he'd encountered a pig-headed man; now, he faced a wolf-headed one. Since when had Red Maple City become so inundated with half-beasts?

"Brother, quick! Help me kill him!" The young man in black martial attire shouted, but instead of attacking, he spun around and bolted.

"Damn it!" Tang Mubai cursed under his breath, about to give chase.

Suddenly—a fetid wind swept overhead. The beastified, muscular middle-aged man, claws gripping the wall, leapt past Tang Mubai, landing squarely in front of the fleeing youth and blocking his escape.

"I—I didn't mean to. I swear, I won't breathe a word of this to anyone," the young man pleaded, retreating in terror.

"You swear?" The wolf-headed man spoke gruffly, his eyes blazing with murderous crimson.

"You dead is the best guarantee!" With that, he lunged. The young man resisted desperately, but lasted less than three seconds before the wolf-headed man's claws pierced his chest, blood splashing across the ground.

[Detected loss of life force. Would you like to recover it?]

"Yes!"

[Life force +83]

A prompt flashed through Tang Mubai's mind. Unmoved, he dashed toward his car. Passing the figure he'd knocked flying earlier—

[Detected loss of life force. Would you like to recover it?]

"Yes!"

[Life force +77]

Another prompt flickered in his mind. Clearly, the one he'd sent flying had held on until now, but finally succumbed.

"Trying to run?" The wolf-headed man's crimson gaze locked on Tang Mubai, growling deeply.

Tang Mubai, already beside his SUV, wasted no time. He dove inside and started the engine.

Vroom—

The car didn't move. The engine sputtered, then died.

A tremendous pressure pressed through the vehicle, weighing heavily upon Tang Mubai, pinning him motionless.

"This... is suppression?" Tang Mubai, his face flushed, fought desperately against the immobilizing force. Yet, the wolf-headed man's terrifying aura felt like a mountain, rendering even his fingers immobile.

"Am I going to die..."

[Pressure resistance +1]

Tang Mubai, unwilling to submit, suddenly paused.

"Resist..."

[Pressure resistance +5]

[Pressure resistance +10]

[Pressure resistance +20]

...

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! One after another, new prompts flashed through his mind. Tang Mubai sat in the car, both shocked and elated.

This system is incredible! It could even help him withstand external pressure!

Good...

["Pressure resistance" has reached 100. Would you like to expend ten years of lifespan to unlock the "Pressure Control" divine ability?]

A brand new prompt suddenly appeared in his mind.

Excited, Tang Mubai watched the wolf-headed man steadily advancing, and hurriedly shouted, "Yes!"

Buzz—

His body trembled as a profound, unfamiliar sensation surged through him. The wolf-headed man's oppressive aura abruptly vanished. Instead, Tang Mubai instinctively activated his new ability, releasing a pressure of his own that enveloped the wolf-headed man.

Standing before the SUV, the wolf-headed man's ferocious visage changed dramatically.

"You're a master-level martial artist?" he exclaimed.

Martial artist ranks: Amateur, Professional, Specialist, Master, Grandmaster!

An amateur was little more than an ordinary person. The wolf-headed man knew only a master or grandmaster could overpower him with aura alone.

Tang Mubai was so young, not yet twenty. Clearly not a grandmaster—he must be a master!

Such a young master-level martial artist left the beastman both shocked and wary.

Had he known Tang Mubai's true rank, he would never have tried to trap him with his aura!

Now, with Tang Mubai revealing his true "strength," escape was impossible. The wolf-headed man could only stand his ground and hope for a chance at survival.

"Awoooo—" The wolf-headed man threw back his head and howled, straining to break free of Tang Mubai's pressure. Claws slashed toward the windshield. A wild, savage, bloodthirsty aura surged forth, slamming into Tang Mubai.

"If you want to kill me, you'll have to pay the price!" the wolf-headed man roared, his beastly eyes locked on Tang Mubai.

Rip—!

Three deep gashes appeared on the SUV's windshield, shards spraying.

Tang Mubai ducked low, darted out of the vehicle, and continued to unleash his pressure upon the wolf-headed man.

Bang!

With a sound like shattering glass, the wolf-headed man broke free of the pressure and, like a shell fired from a cannon, hurtled toward Tang Mubai with a whistle.

Tang Mubai retreated swiftly. In true strength, he was no match for the wolf-headed man and certainly not a master-level martial artist!

The beastman had mistaken him for a master due to the "Pressure Control" ability Tang Mubai had gained at the cost of ten years of his lifespan.

Still unfamiliar with this power, Tang Mubai found its intensity lacking; the wolf-headed man could escape with effort.

Unable to fight directly, Tang Mubai retreated while rapidly mastering the ability, resulting in the wolf-headed man being alternately suppressed and freed.

After repeated "torment," the wolf-headed man grew so humiliated and enraged he nearly lost control. Yet, amidst this, he sensed something odd about Tang Mubai, the supposed master martial artist.

He tried attacking a few more times, but unable to harm Tang Mubai, and with Tang Mubai powerless to defeat him, the wolf-headed man decisively abandoned his assault. His massive frame flipped backward, leapt up, claws gripping the wall, and vanished at lightning speed.

Tang Mubai barely had time to release his aura before the beastman escaped.

But the wolf-headed man's departure was, after all, a blessing.

Having survived the ordeal, Tang Mubai wasted no time. He climbed into the SUV, started the engine, and reversed out of the deserted alley, returning to the main road.

He left the bodies of the two men behind, unwilling to deal with them—there were no cameras in the alley anyway. Besides, their involvement with half-beasts repulsed Tang Mubai.

His enhanced senses instinctively told him that meddling in such affairs would bring serious trouble.

Not wanting trouble, Tang Mubai steered his SUV—its windshield now bearing three deep scars—straight to the repair shop.

Upon arrival, he had the mechanic replace the windshield. Only then did Tang Mubai step into a quiet corner by the shop's entrance, relax, and exhale deeply.

Opening the system panel, his gaze settled on a new section.

"Divine Ability: Pressure Control (Beginner+)"

Beginner-level divine ability?