Ch: 1-6
Chapter 1 This damn golden finger smells so good!
Xiang Tianming felt that his life might just be like this.
His name contained "Tianming" (meaning "dawn"), but his life had never brightened.
A fifteen-square-meter single room in an urban village was his only refuge in this first-tier metropolis. The air was perpetually filled with the greasy smell from the downstairs fast-food restaurant and the pungent odor from the public toilet next door. These two smells clashed violently, eventually fusing into an indescribable, nebulous "urban memory" unique to the struggling lower class.
"Damn it, I lost again."
In the dim room, only the computer screen emitted a pale light, illuminating Xiang Tianming's unremarkable, even somewhat dejected face. On the screen, the two scarlet characters for "FAILURE" seemed to mock him, as if he were not only useless in the game but also a complete loser in reality.
On the table sat a bowl of Kangshuaifu Braised Beef Noodles, already pale from being steeped too long and with the broth gone cold—that was his dinner. Beside it, several "little strong" (cockroaches) were brazenly partying around a greasy seasoning packet.
Xiang Tianming couldn't be bothered with them; he even felt a little envious. Look, how clearly those cockroaches lived—food, drink, clear goals, unlike him. He was twenty-five, with a four-digit bank balance, and a girlfriend... Oh, that only existed on the D, E, and F drives of his hard disk, neatly categorized and clearly labeled.
"Life, ah..."
He leaned back in the creaking second-hand gaming chair, lit a five-yuan pack of "Lion" cigarettes, took a deep drag, and in the swirling smoke, his eyes grew even emptier.
He was useless at everything, and ate everything without leaving a scrap. At work, his boss treated him like a dog; after work, his landlord hounded him for rent like a grandson. He wanted to go back to his hometown, but felt too ashamed. Back then, he had patted his chest and promised his parents he wouldn't return until he made something of himself. Now, looking like this, why go back? To inherit the family's three meager acres of land? Don't be ridiculous, he couldn't even tell the difference between chives and wheat seedlings.
This was his life, like a stagnant pool. Throw a stone in, and it wouldn't even ripple; it would just go "plop" and then sink into the depths, never to be heard from again.
Just as Xiang Tianming was puffing away, contemplating whether to continue slacking off at work tomorrow or simply follow the Douyin brothers and deliver food to "earn ten thousand or eight thousand," the second-hand computer he had spent three months' salary on suddenly made a "sizzle" sound, and the screen went blank.
Immediately after, a very crude, even shoddy-looking pop-up appeared in the center of the screen.
[Ding! Detected that the Host's current living environment is too poor, and his mental state is extremely dejected, meeting the minimum binding standard for the "Myriad Worlds Transporter."]
[Binding... 1%... 50%... 100%!]
[Binding successful! Newbie Gift Pack has been issued. Initiate first Transmigration?]
[YES / NO]
Xiang Tianming, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, froze for three seconds.
"Heh, are viruses this smart now? They even know how to CPU me." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, skillfully moved the mouse, and prepared to click the "X" in the upper right corner.
But he clicked for a long time, and the pop-up remained motionless, as if welded to the screen.
"Oh, you want to challenge me?"
Xiang Tianming was amused. His mood was already bad today, and this broken computer was provoking him. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, placed his hands on the keyboard, and clattered away, using Task Manager, Force Quit, and various Moves in succession.
As a result, the computer went blue screen.
On the blue screen, there was only that solitary line of text and two options.
[Initiate first Transmigration?]
[YES / NO]
Xiang Tianming was a bit bewildered. This situation was beyond his twenty-plus years of life experience. Could it be... that he, this lump of mud, was really about to be hit by some pie falling from the sky?
He had read plenty of web novels—System flow, Rebirth flow, Golden Finger flow—he knew them inside out. But which of those protagonists wasn't burdened by a deep-seated vendetta, or publicly jilted by a school beauty, or at least an orphan whose parents' sacrifice granted him boundless power?
Who was Xiang Tianming? Just an ordinary, unremarkable nobody who would get lost in a crowd.
"Alright, desperate times call for desperate measures." Xiang Tianming thought with a devil-may-care attitude, "Anyway, I've lived miserably enough. Can it get any worse than now? At most, the computer will be scrapped, and I'll go to an internet cafe tomorrow to submit my resume."
He stretched out a slightly trembling hand, gripped the mouse, and the cursor hesitated between "YES" and "NO" for a moment. Finally, he slammed it down on "YES."
"Come on, let the storm rage even more fiercely!" he shouted dramatically.
As soon as his voice fell, a dazzling White light suddenly lit up in the bathroom behind him. The light was soft but impossible to look at directly, illuminating his small, dirty bathroom as if it were the gate to heaven.
Xiang Tianming was dumbfounded. He stared blankly at the less-than-one-meter-wide bathroom door. Inside, it no longer seemed to be the yellowed toilet and clogged drain, but a brand new World leading to the unknown.
A mysterious suction force came from within the door. Xiang Tianming didn't even have time to utter a "holy crap" before he was swept in, along with his well-worn gaming chair.
In his last conscious moment, he only remembered that the shoddy pop-up on the computer screen quietly disappeared, replaced by a new line of small text.
[Destination: Marvel Universe - X-Men Plane]
[Time Point: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, early days of establishment]
[Wish you a pleasant journey, remember to give a five-star review, dear~]
...The dizzying sensation lasted for less than ten seconds. Xiang Tianming felt as if he had been stuffed into a tumble dryer and spun dry three hundred times.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself sitting in a dense forest. The gaming chair under his butt was still there, but one wheel had been jolted off somewhere.
"Ugh..."
He leaned against a sturdy pine tree nearby and vomited until he was dizzy, even contributing the takeout he had eaten at noon.
After a long while, he straightened up and looked around.
The air was incredibly fresh, carrying the fragrance of Earth and pine needles. Taking a deep breath, he felt as if his lungs had been cleansed. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled light spots. Birds chirped on unknown branches; everything seemed so tranquil and peaceful.
This was simply two Worlds apart from his urban village, filled with the smell of oil smoke and drains.
Oh, no, these were literally two Worlds.
"X-Men..." Xiang Tianming murmured, his mind racing.
As a seasoned loser, movies and novels were his few spiritual sustenance. Of course, he knew the X-Men: Mutants, Professor X, Magneto, Wolverine... these were all famous tough characters.
Just thinking about possibly living next door to a group of Mutants who would casually demolish buildings and destroy cities made Xiang Tianming's legs go weak.
"Other people's Transmigrations turn them into overbearing heroes, but my Transmigration... feels like a lab rat entering a laboratory." He made a bitter face and plopped back onto his three-wheeled gaming chair.
Just then, a soft White light appeared out of nowhere before his eyes. As the light dissipated, a palm-sized, sparkling "mystery box," packaged like Pandora's Box, floated in front of him.
[Newbie Gift Pack delivered. Host, please check.]
The mechanical, emotionless voice echoed in his mind again.
Xiang Tianming swallowed hard, then tremblingly reached out and touched the mystery box.
The mystery box opened in response, transforming into a golden light that instantly merged into his glabella.
"Boom—!"
An indescribably vast power exploded in his mind. In that instant, Xiang Tianming felt his Mental Energy infinitely elevated, breaking through the sky, overlooking the entire Earth. He could "see" every leaf around him, the veins on the leaves, the dewdrops on the veins; he could "hear" the sound of earthworms turning soil deep underground; he could "feel" the weight of a squirrel a hundred meters away, the tactile sensation of its claws gripping tree bark... Everything around him, from mountains and rivers to a grain of dust, seemed to become an extension of his body. If he wished, he could make the ground beneath his feet flip over, make the sky above him tremble.
This was the feeling of a deity, controlling everything, with words becoming reality!
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the gift of this local World: Omega-class superpower — Telekinesis.]
[Language proficiency acquired.]
"Tele... Telekinesis?" Xiang Tianming was stunned.
He subconsciously raised his hand, pointed at a fallen leaf in front of him, and silently willed: "Rise."
The fallen leaf floated up lightly, suspending above his palm.
"Holy crap!"
Xiang Tianming was so excited he almost jumped out of his chair. He then looked at a fist-sized stone nearby and willed again.
"Whoosh!"
The stone shot up sharply, hovering in mid-air. With a thought, the stone began to fly up and down, left and right, more obedient than the most agile drone.
"Again... a bigger one!"
His gaze locked onto a large tree nearby that would require two people to embrace. He took a deep breath and concentrated his Mental Energy.
"GET. UP. NOW!"
"Rumble—!"
The Earth began to tremble. The soil around the roots of the towering tree burst apart, and the massive roots were forcibly pulled out of the ground by an invisible force! The entire tree, roots and all, was lifted into the air by him!
Looking at this miraculous sight before him, Xiang Tianming—the loser—was completely dumbfounded.
This was... Omega-class power?
Damn, this was more than just getting rich; this was a direct leap to becoming a god!
His face flushed with excitement, he waved his arms, directing the large tree to perform a folk dance in the air. The frustration and dejection that had been suppressed for over twenty years seemed to find an outlet at this moment.
To Hell with the damn boss, the snobbish landlord, the cold reality!
I, Xiang Tianming, stand up starting today!
Just as he was having a blast, even starting to consider whether to use this ability to roll dice in Las Vegas and achieve financial freedom, a gentle, magnetic voice, without any warning, sounded in his mind.
"Hello, friend. May I ask... do you need help? I can feel that you seem to possess a very... very powerful force, but you don't seem to know how to control it yet."
The voice came too suddenly, like an internal speaker installed in his brain. Xiang Tianming—the god—was startled, his hand twitched, and his Mental Energy went out of control.
"Boom!!!"
The tree dancing in the air lost control, like a thrown javelin, it whistled and crashed into a magnificent manor not far away.
Xiang Tianming watched helplessly as the large tree smashed through the manor's wall, crushed a meticulously manicured garden, and finally, with a "Duang," half of its trunk embedded itself into the second-floor wall of the manor's main building.
The scene was a mess, with smoke and dust rising everywhere.
Xiang Tianming: "..."
The voice in his mind also fell silent for a moment, seemingly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
After a few seconds, the gentle voice sounded again, only this time, there was a hint of undetectable... exasperation in its tone.
"...It's alright, child. We have insurance. I am Charles Xavier, the head here. If you don't mind, would you like to come to my school and sit for a while? I think we have many... many things to discuss. For example, about how to properly use your talent, and... the issue of compensation for damages."
Xiang Tianming sat in his unique three-wheeled gaming chair, looking at the luxurious building not far away that he had poked a big hole in, and then felt the gentle voice in his mind tinged with a hint of heartache. He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Well, it seemed his first Transmigration started with Hell difficulty.
Not only did he smash someone's house, but he was also caught red-handed by the owner.
He sighed, pulled out the crumpled pack of "Lion" from his pocket, lit a cigarette for himself, and took a deep drag.
In the swirling smoke, he looked at the imposing manor, his eyes no longer dejected as before, but instead with a hint of cynical roguishness.
"Alright, since I'm here, I'll make the best of it."
He muttered, then controlled the gaming chair under his butt, slowly, leisurely, floating towards the manor named "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
Yes, that's right, floating. With Telekinesis, one can be that unrestrained.
Although the start wasn't smooth, Xiang Tianming felt an inexplicable sense of ease in his heart.
A brand new World, a brand new identity, and a power that could destroy the World.
This damn Transmigration, this damn Golden Finger... it's truly wonderful!
Chapter 2 I, Omega-level, work to pay off debts
In one's life, there are always moments that make you wonder, "Am I dreaming?"
For Xiang Tianming, this was one of those moments.
Yesterday, he was a corporate drone worried about next month's rent. Today, he was sitting on a three-wheeled gaming chair, slowly floating into a magnificent manor that looked even grander than the Forbidden City.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of freshly cut Advanced lawn, and in the distance, fountains sparkled with colorful light under the sun. If not for the half-broken tree trunk sticking out of the main building's wall nearby, and the messy dirt and broken flower branches all over the ground, this place would be a paradise on Earth.
"What a mess…"
Xiang Tianming looked at his "masterpiece," feeling a bit nervous. How much would this cost to repair? Would selling himself be enough? Or… should he run away while no one was around?
As this thought emerged, the gentle voice in his mind spoke again, as if knowing what he was thinking.
"Please come in, friend, the door is open. Don't worry, we won't harm you."
Xiang Tianming's heart skipped a beat. Good heavens, mind reading? What was the point of running now? They had a GPS in his head; he could run to the ends of the Earth, and they would still find him.
He sighed resignedly, completely giving up on the idea of escaping. Forget it, if it's not a blessing, it's a curse that can't be avoided. He wanted to see what the legendary Professor X was really up to.
Controlling the gaming chair, he floated through the grand archway and entered the manor's main hall.
The opulence of the hall made Xiang Tianming once again feel the disparity of social classes. The dome was ridiculously high, adorned with murals he couldn't understand; the floor was made of shiny marble that could be used as a mirror; a grand piano, which looked more expensive than his fifteen-square-meter rental apartment, stood quietly in the corner.
This damned capitalism!
A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, with impeccably combed hair, stood in the center of the hall. In front of him sat a bald… uh, a kind-faced, elegant middle-aged man.
He was sitting in a… wheelchair.
Xiang Tianming would bet his 200 GB of study materials on his D drive that this was the famous Professor X, Charles Xavier.
"Hello, I am Charles Xavier." The bald Professor smiled and spoke, his voice identical to the one in Xiang Tianming's mind, gentle like spring sunshine. "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
Xiang Tianming got off his dilapidated gaming chair, feeling completely out of place. He cleared his throat twice, forcing a smile he thought was friendly: "Hello, Professor, my name is Xiang Tianming. Uh… that tree outside… it was an accident, purely an accident. My hand slipped, really."
Charles's smile remained, his blue eyes seeming to see through people's hearts: "I sensed it. The power within you is immense, but it's like a newly awakened Beast, full of raw, uncontrolled wildness. You seem… unaccustomed to having it."
Xiang Tianming's heart tightened. This old man, he had something special.
He scratched his head and said, half-truthfully: "You're right, I don't even remember how long this thing has been with me. Usually, it's quite well-behaved, but today, I don't know what happened, maybe it's not used to the environment, a bit overexcited."
He couldn't exactly say, "Hey, I just opened a blind box ten minutes ago and I'm still in the beginner's protection period," could he? Transmigration was too shocking; it was better to keep it to himself.
Charles looked deeply at him, not pressing the issue, but gently said: "Many young people encounter similar problems when they first Awaken their abilities. This is normal, and it's the original intention behind founding this School—to help Mutants like you learn to understand and control your talents, and find your place in this World."
"Mutant?" Xiang Tianming caught this keyword and began to ponder.
It seemed Professor X had mistaken him for a newly Awakened wild Mutant. This identity was good, a perfect camouflage.
He seized the opportunity, showing an excited expression as if he had finally found his organization: "Yes, yes, yes! That's the word! I always thought I was a monster, but it turns out… I'm called a Mutant?"
His acting was so good, he even wanted to give himself an Oscar.
Charles's smile became even gentler: "You are not a monster, Xiang. You are just different. A talent, whether it's a curse or a gift, depends entirely on how you use it."
These words sounded like success Great Master's platitudes, but Xiang Tianming listened very carefully. He knew that this bald man in front of him, though seemingly powerless, was one of the most dangerous people in this World. His brain was more terrifying than a nuclear weapon.
"Then… Professor," Xiang Tianming rubbed his hands, showing an embarrassed expression, and began to get to the point, "Regarding that small… property damage outside, how do you think we should handle it? To be honest with you, I just arrived here, unfamiliar with the place, and my pockets are emptier than my face. No money. How about… I chop it down for you?"
He pointed to the half-broken tree trunk on the wall.
Charles was amused by his impudent remark, and he shook his head: "Money is a small matter. However, my students did put a lot of effort into maintaining that garden. Perhaps you could use your ability to help us restore it to its original state? Consider it… a special form of labor compensation."
"No problem!" Xiang Tianming patted his chest and agreed.
Are you kidding? Omega-class Telekinesis, let alone restoring the garden, even if he were asked to dismantle this building and rebuild it exactly as it was, it would only take a little mental effort. This was an incredibly good thing, not only did it waived his compensation, but it also seemed he could legitimately stay here.
Room and board included, plus technical training—this blessing was far better than Boss Ma's 996!
Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Two young people came down.
The one in front was a tall boy wearing red quartz sunglasses, with a cool expression, exuding an aura of "do not approach strangers." He saw Xiang Tianming in the hall, and the strangely styled three-wheeled gaming chair beside him, and his brows visibly furrowed.
Following him was a girl with waist-length red hair, fair skin, and beauty that seemed to have stepped out of a painting. When she saw Xiang Tianming, her eyes were full of curiosity, but also seemed to carry a hint of fear, as she instinctively shrank behind the sunglasses-wearing boy.
Xiang Tianming's mind was clear.
Alright, the original members of the X-Men, Cyclops Scott Summers, and Phoenix Jean Grey.
"Charles, I heard a loud noise, what happened?" Scott walked to the Professor's side, vigilantly staring at Xiang Tianming, his posture like a hen protecting her chick.
"Don't be nervous, Scott." Charles reassured him, "This is Xiang Tianming, our new friend. The noise just now was simply our new friend greeting us in a slightly… enthusiastic way."
"Enthusiastic?" Scott pushed up his sunglasses, his tone full of suspicion, "I felt… half the manor was shaking."
Jean, beside him, whispered to the Professor: "Professor, I can feel him… his thoughts… like an ocean engulfed by a storm, I can't see anything, but… that power, it makes me… it makes me feel afraid."
Xiang Tianming raised an eyebrow. Oh? Even Phoenix couldn't see through his thoughts? Was this a Transmigrator's benefit? Or did the Telekinesis become so strong that it could even block telepathy?
Whichever it was, this was fantastic news. In this World where everyone could read minds, what could be more important than "thought privacy"?
Charles was clearly also surprised; his gaze towards Xiang Tianming became more inquisitive, but he still smiled and introduced: "Xiang, this is Scott Summers, and this is Jean Grey. They are both my students."
"Hello everyone." Xiang Tianming waved very casually, "My name is Xiang Tianming, and from now on, we're neighbors, please take care of me."
Scott merely nodded coldly in response.
Jean quietly replied: "Hello."
The atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment.
Xiang Tianming didn't feel anything. As an old hand who had been in society for many years, he had seen all kinds of cold faces. These two, at best, were just two chuunibyou teenagers who hadn't left school yet; their level was too low.
It was Charles who broke the silence: "Alright, Scott, you and Jean go check on the other students and reassure everyone. As for here… leave it to Xiang and me."
Although Scott was reluctant, he still followed the Professor's arrangement and left with Jean.
Only Xiang Tianming and Charles remained in the hall.
"It seems you are even more special than I imagined, Xiang." Charles spoke slowly, his gaze deep, "Your mind is like a locked black box; even I cannot fully see through it. And your power… I have never seen such powerful Telekinesis."
"Is that so? Maybe my brain wiring is just naturally unique." Xiang Tianming chuckled, not wanting to delve deeper into this issue.
Charles smiled, not pressing further, but instead brought up the question Xiang Tianming cared about most.
"If you are willing, Xiang, the School is always welcome for you to stay. There are rooms, food, and systematic training here to help you better control your power. What do you think?"
Here it comes, here it comes, the olive branch!
Xiang Tianming was overjoyed inside, but on his face, he showed an expression of flattered hesitation: "This… how can I impose? I'm new here, and I've already caused you such a big problem…"
"As I said, talent itself has no right or wrong. I only hope that you can learn to use it to do the right thing." Charles's expression was very sincere.
"Then… alright!" Xiang Tianming "reluctantly" nodded, "Since Professor you are so enthusiastic, then I will respectfully accept! From now on, I'll follow you! Don't worry, all the dirty work, heavy lifting, wall repairs, and garden tidying, I'll take care of it all!"
Watching Xiang Tianming's secretly delighted expression, as if he had just gotten a huge bargain, Charles's lips curved into a subtle smile.
This suddenly appearing young man was full of mysteries. But the immense power, enough to change the World, was real. Keeping him here, under his guidance, was far safer than letting him wander outside, no matter what.
"Very good." Charles nodded, "The butler will take you to your room. Starting tomorrow, your first lesson will be learning how to… lift a feather, not a big tree."
A moment later, Xiang Tianming followed the butler into a luxurious bedroom large enough to be equivalent to ten of his previous rental rooms. A soft, large bed, a private bathroom, and outside the huge French windows was a picturesque lawn.
He closed the door, dove headfirst into the soft bed that could swallow a person, and rolled around several times.
"Damn, this is how people should live!"
From a fifteen-square-meter single room in an urban village to a capitalist's luxurious manor.
From a miserable corporate drone with a monthly salary of three thousand to an Omega-class Mutant(pseudo) with Divine Rank power.
This dream-like transformation took less than a day.
Xiang Tianming lay on the bed, legs crossed, humming an unknown tune.
Working to pay off debts?
Not shameful at all.
Especially in a place with free food and board, where he could learn the Dao of Dragon slaying, and his neighbors were all handsome men and beautiful women.
This debt, he would repay willingly, and with righteous confidence!
Chapter 3 This lesson will make the physics teacher cry
Xiang Tianming was woken up by the sound of birds.
It wasn't the cheap chirping of sparrows, but the clear, melodious calls of a species that sounded expensive.
He vaguely opened his eyes, and what greeted him was a magnificent ceiling chandelier, not the familiar, cracked, and mold-stained roof of his rented room.
For a moment, he thought he was still dreaming. It wasn't until he turned over and sank back into the incredibly soft Simmons mattress that he belatedly realized—
He wasn't dreaming. He had Transmigrated, become a Mutant, and caused a major destruction, currently serving probation to 'work off his debt.'
"New life, new beginnings," Xiang Tianming said.
Xiang Tianming stretched lazily and got out of bed. He pulled open the heavy curtains, and warm sunlight instantly flooded the entire room. Outside the window, dewdrops sparkled on the lawn, and the distant forest was lush and green.
This kind of environment, in his past life, he had only seen in real estate advertisements.
After washing up, Xiang Tianming, his stomach rumbling, walked out of the room.
As soon as he stepped out, he ran into a familiar face—Jean Grey, the red-haired beauty he had met yesterday.
The girl, dressed in a proper school uniform and carrying several books, seemed a little nervous when she saw Xiang Tianming. Her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she greeted him softly, "Good morning, Xiang."
"Morning, Jean," Xiang Tianming grinned, revealing a mouthful of White teeth, his demeanor as easygoing as could be.
He knew that this seemingly harmless girl next door harbored the Phoenix Force, capable of destroying the Universe. He had to maintain a good relationship with such a powerful being. If she ever went berserk, he could at least rely on their acquaintance to ask her to go easy on him.
Jean seemed surprised by his enthusiasm, paused for a moment, and then returned a polite smile.
"Are you… going to class?" Xiang Tianming asked, making conversation.
"Yes, I'm going to Professor Charles's ethics class," Jean nodded.
"Ethics?" Xiang Tianming was a bit surprised. "I thought you guys just trained every day on how to shoot lasers and control metal."
Jean was amused by his words and explained, "Professor said that while the growth of power is important, the growth of the mind is the key to determining whether we become heroes or villains."
"That makes sense," Xiang Tianming nodded in agreement. This indeed sounded like Professor X.
The two walked side by side down the red-carpeted corridor, the atmosphere quite harmonious. Jean seemed less afraid of him than yesterday and initiated a question, "Xiang, your ability… is Telekinesis, right? I felt that power yesterday… it was as vast as an ocean."
"Something like that, just moving things from a distance and such," Xiang Tianming said vaguely, "Nothing to mention, nothing to mention."
He was modest on the surface, but inwardly, he was delighted. Even Phoenix said it was an ocean, so it seems his Omega-class power is truly formidable.
Soon, the two arrived at the dining hall on the first floor.
The dining hall was large, and a long dining table was already laden with a sumptuous breakfast—milk, cereal, toast, bacon, fried eggs… The aroma was inviting, making Xiang Tianming, who usually survived on instant noodles and takeout, eager to eat.
Several young people were already seated at the table.
Scott, the "cool guy in sunglasses" he had met yesterday, was drinking milk, still wearing his cold expression when he saw Xiang Tianming.
Next to him was a "blue-furred monster" with an unusually robust physique, disproportionately large hands and feet, and covered in a layer of blue fur. He was wearing glasses and engrossed in a book, even forgetting to eat his breakfast.
There was also a handsome blond guy who looked like an Angel, currently observing Xiang Tianmingwith great interest, his eyes full of curiosity.
Oh, and there was the youngest-looking one, who was drawing on the table with his finger, leaving a thin layer of frost wherever he touched. He seemed to find it very amusing and was playing with great enjoyment.
Beast Hank McCoy, Angel Warren Worthington III, Iceman Bobby Drake.
The original X-Men, all here.
Xiang Tianming felt as if he had stumbled into a celebrity meet-and-greet, except these celebrities were all a bit "peculiar."
His arrival clearly caught the attention of these young people.
"Hey, are you the guy who planted a big tree in the wall yesterday?" It was Bobby, the kid playing with ice, who spoke. He seemed very lively and not shy at all.
Xiang Tianming's old face flushed, and he chuckled dryly, "An accident, purely an accident."
"I'm Bobby," Iceman introduced himself warmly, "Nice to meet you! Your entrance was really cool!"
"Hello, I'm Warren," the handsome blond Angel also smiled and nodded.
Only the blue "Beast" Hank merely adjusted his glasses, nodded at him, and then buried his head back in his book, looking like a scholar drowning in the "ocean of knowledge."
Xiang Tianming found an empty seat and unceremoniously picked up a piece of toast and stuffed it into his mouth.
Delicious!
Just as he was devouring his food and preparing to tackle his fifth fried egg, Professor Charles slowly entered the dining hall in his wheelchair.
"Good morning, children." His gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Xiang Tianming. "Xiang, it seems you rested well. After breakfast, come find me in my office. Your first lesson begins now."
...Half an hour later, Xiang Tianming stood in the garden he had messed up, looking bewildered.
Professor Charles sat on the lawn not far away, a gentle smile on his face.
"Xiang, before you learn how to use your power to fight, you must first learn… control," Charles said, pointing to the mess on the ground. "Your first task is to restore this place to its original state. Remember, use your ability."
Xiang Tianming looked at the huge tree, still half-embedded in the wall, and then at the large patches of soil and turf overturned by the roots, his mouth twitching.
"Professor, this workload… is a bit much."
"For your ocean-like power, this shouldn't be difficult," Charles smiled. "The difficulty lies in achieving precision. For example, moving this tree out intact, then 'planting' it back into its original pit, and even reattaching every broken blade of grass."
Xiang Tianming was dumbfounded.
Reattach blades of grass? Do you take me for a deity? That's even more outrageous than carving words on rice!
"This is control, child," Charles's voice echoed in his mind. "The more powerful the force, the more precise control it requires. Otherwise, you might want to save someone, but due to poor control of your strength, you could end up crushing their bones. Now, begin."
Xiang Tianming took a deep breath, knowing he had no choice.
He closed his eyes and slowly diffused his Mental Energy.
The vast Telekinesis instantly enveloped the entire area like an invisible net. The particles of soil, the veins of grass blades, the texture of the tree trunk… everything became incredibly clear in his perception.
He first tried to pull the big tree out of the wall.
"Rise!"
With a thought, the huge tree trunk began to shake slightly. But because he used too much force, there was a "crack," and a larger crack appeared in the wall, with gravel tumbling down.
"Focus, Xiang," the Professor's voice came at the right time. "Feel its every bit of weight, wrap your power evenly around it, instead of pulling it roughly."
Xiang Tianming composed himself and tried again.
This time, he carefully controlled his Telekinesis, like countless gentle hands, supporting the tree trunk, then slowly, little by little, he slid it out of the hole in the wall.
It worked!
He was overjoyed and controlled the big tree, slowly flying it towards the huge tree pit not far away.
The subsequent work became tedious and extremely mentally exhausting.
He had to piece back the overturned soil and turf, piece by piece, like playing a super-high-precision 3D puzzle game. He even genuinely tried to reconnect the broken grass roots and leaves.
This process was much harder than he had imagined.
His Mental Energy was depleted very quickly. After less than an hour, he was already sweating profusely, feeling as if his brain had been hollowed out.
Only then did he understand that Omega-class power was like being given a nuclear reactor, but your wires were still the most ordinary kind. The energy was too great, the circuits couldn't withstand it, and they would overheat and short-circuit after a while.
And what Charles was teaching him was how to upgrade these ordinary wires into ultra-high-voltage cables.
"Tired? Take a break," Charles's voice came.
Xiang Tianming sat down on the ground, panting heavily, feeling more exhausted than after working three consecutive all-night shifts.
He looked at his "labor results." Although the garden was still a mess, it was much better than at the beginning. The big tree was also crookedly standing back in its pit.
"How do you feel?" Charles came to his side.
"Tired, I feel drained," Xiang Tianming said truthfully. "Professor, this lesson of yours would make a physics teacher cry and a construction foreman kneel."
Charles was amused by his dark humor: "A very interesting analogy. But you did very well, much better than I expected. You are a quick learner, Xiang. You were born to wield this power."
Xiang Tianming, receiving the praise, still felt a little proud.
He looked at his hands, trembling slightly from overuse of Mental Energy, and then at the magnificent building not far away, and the young people studying and living inside.
A strange feeling arose spontaneously in his heart.
Once upon a time, he was just an ant struggling for survival in a jungle of steel and concrete.
And now, he was sitting here, playing a "garden reconstruction" game with Divine Power.
The World was truly different.
"Professor," he suddenly asked, "What do you think is the ultimate purpose of having such strong power?"
Charles looked at him, his blue eyes filled with the light of wisdom.
"That's a good question, Xiang. And it's a question you'll need to spend your life finding the answer to," he paused, then slowly said, "But for now, what you should consider first, perhaps, is… how to patch up that wall."
Xiang Tianming followed his gaze and saw the huge hole on the second floor of the main building, like a mocking mouth, silently "chortling" at him.
Xiang Tianming: "..."
Well, the revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard.
These days of working off debt are still long!
Chapter 4: You can be as strong as you want, I just want to "move bricks"
Repairing a wall is definitely a skilled job.
Especially when there's no cement, no scaffolding, and you're relying entirely on Mental Energy to do it.
Xiang Tianming was currently facing this Omega-class challenge.
He hovered in mid-air, fine beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. In front of him, the bricks, stones, and tiles that had been shattered yesterday were flying back into place, one by one.
This was a Rank higher in difficulty than repairing the garden.
Repairing the garden was at least like a "jigsaw puzzle"; close enough was good enough. But repairing a wall required a perfect, seamless fit. The position of every brick, the width of every gap, all needed millimeter-level micro-management using his Mental Energy.
Even more perversely, Professor Charles had asked him to try using Telekinesis to grind stones into powder, then mix them with soil and Water to create temporary "Telekinetic Cement" for filling the gaps.
Xiang Tianming felt less like a Mutant and more like an old master working on a construction site, one who brought his own complete set of tools and could do the work of an entire construction crew.
"Hey, buddy, you're doing a great job!"
A voice came from below. Xiang Tianming looked down; it was Bobby, the Iceman, holding a can of cola, looking up at him with a face full of curiosity.
Not far away, the handsome blonde Warren was leaning against a tree, watching with interest. Even Hank, the scholar, had put down his book and stood nearby, adjusting his glasses, his eyes gleaming with a look of study and analysis.
Clearly, his "bare-handed wall repair" stunt had stunned these "Mutant" second-generation kids who hadn't seen much of the World.
"It's alright, just trying to make a living," Xiang Tianming gasped, wiped his sweat, and kept up his playful banter.
"That's so cool!" Bobby said enviously. "My ability only lets me freeze things and make ice pops; it doesn't seem very useful otherwise. Yours is practically omnipotent!"
Xiang Tianming chuckled inwardly. Little brother, you just don't know that you'll be able to turn yourself into organic ice later, which is incredibly awesome.
He was about to offer a few more modest (Versailles-style) remarks when a discordant voice interrupted.
"Hmph, just some attention-seeking tricks."
It was Scott.
He stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a nearby porch pillar, his expression beneath the red quartz sunglasses filled with disdain and hostility. Jean Grey stood beside him, gently tugging his sleeve, signaling him not to go too far, but he was clearly unmoved.
Xiang Tianming stopped his "work," floated down, and landed in front of Scott, asking curiously, "Buddy, I don't think I've provoked you, have I? Why do you look at me like I killed your father?"
"Someone like you, whose power source is unknown and who can't fully control himself, is a huge threat just by being in this school," Scott said coldly and unceremoniously. "Yesterday it was a wall; tomorrow, will it be a classmate's head?"
Those words were meant to sting.
The smiles on Bobby's and Warren's faces faded, and the atmosphere instantly became somewhat tense.
The smile on Xiang Tianming's face also diminished.
He admitted that he had messed up when he first arrived. But this cool guy was taking things too far, acting like a "school disciplinary Captain," which was very annoying.
"First, I'm taking responsibility for my mistake, commonly known as 'working to pay off a debt,'" Xiang Tianming said, holding up one finger. "Second, whether I can control it isn't up to you; it's up to the Professor. Third…"
He paused, eyeing Scott up and down, a roguish smile playing on his lips: "Are you so nervous because my power is stronger than yours, making you feel insecure?"
"You!" Scott's face instantly flushed red.
Xiang Tianming's words precisely stepped on his sensitive and proud ego. As Professor X's first student and the Captain of the original X-Men, Scott had always considered himself the core of the team. The appearance of Xiang Tianming, this "transfer student," especially his unfathomable Omega-classpower, completely disrupted the original balance, making him feel an unprecedented threat.
"Want to fight?" Scott took a step forward, his hand unconsciously reaching for his sunglasses. A dangerous aura began to spread.
The air temperature around them suddenly dropped; it was the coldness Bobby instinctively emitted out of nervousness.
"Scott, don't be impulsive!" Jean quickly urged.
Xiang Tianming, however, was not flustered at all, and even watched Scott's hand with interest: "What? Want to treat me to a 'Heat Ray'? I'm telling you, I have bad eyesight. If I don't dodge it and accidentally twist your ray into a pretzel and shove it back into your eyes, that wouldn't be fun."
These words were utterly arrogant!
But Xiang Tianming had the capital to be arrogant. He could feel that while the energy in Scott's eyes was powerful, in front of his ocean-like Telekinesis, it was like a small stream, incapable of making any waves.
"You're asking for it!"
Scott was completely enraged, and he violently ripped off his sunglasses!
Just as the destructive red beam was about to erupt—
"Buzz!"
An invisible yet incredibly tenacious force instantly enveloped Scott.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment.
Under everyone's horrified gaze, Scott's impending red energy burst was forcibly "plugged" in his eye sockets, unable to shoot out even a fraction! His body was also firmly restrained by an invisible force, holding him in that firing posture, unable to move.
The most outrageous part was that his newly removed quartz sunglasses were gently lifted by Telekinesis, then slowly and gently put back on him, snugly and precisely in place.
The entire process was fluid, filled with… a sense of dark humor.
Xiang Tianming didn't even raise a hand; he just stood there quietly, still wearing that cynical smile.
The entire scene was dead silent.
Bobby's mouth hung open, unaware that the cola in his hand had dropped. Warren's handsome brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with shock. Hank's eyes were wide, as if he had witnessed a phenomenon that overturned the laws of physics.
Jean Grey's face was filled with disbelief. She could feel that the power Xiang Tianming released was as deep and vast as an abyss, unfathomable, yet at the same time, controlled with exquisite precision, targeting only Scott, without disturbing even a wisp of air nearby.
This… what terrifying control!
"Everyone, stop."
Professor Charles's voice echoed in everyone's minds simultaneously.
The force restraining Scott instantly vanished. He stumbled, gasping for breath, and his gaze towards Xiang Tianming, besides anger, now held a trace of… fear.
"Scott, your pride and vigilance are turning into prejudice against others. Xiang is trying to make amends for his mistakes, while you are instigating conflict," the Professor's voice carried a hint of sternness.
"And you, Xiang," the Professor's voice turned to Xiang Tianming, softening slightly, "Power is not a tool for showing off and provoking. I hope you can remember that."
"Understood, Professor," Xiang Tianming shrugged. "If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. I just wanted to quietly 'move bricks'; he was the one who insisted on disturbing my engineering project."
"Move… bricks?" Charles seemed to choke on this term from another World.
Xiang Tianming no longer paid attention to the pale-faced Scott, turned, and floated back into the air, continuing his great "wall repair" endeavor.
After this incident, no one dared to disturb him again.
The young X-Men's gazes towards him had changed. From previous curiosity and vigilance, it turned into pure awe.
This was a World where the strong were respected. And Xiang Tianming, in the most direct and "peaceful" way, showed them what absolute strength meant.
In the evening, as the last rays of sunset dyed the sky, Xiang Tianming finally completed his work.
The wall was restored to its original state, even smoother and flatter than before. If not for the difference in the new and old colors of the wall, it would be impossible to tell that a large tree had once pierced through it.
He descended from the air, looking at his masterpiece, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.
This feeling was much more satisfying than getting a God-like penta-kill in a game or solving a major bug in his code.
"Well done, Xiang."
Professor Charles had appeared behind him at some point.
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor," Xiang Tianming wiped away some sweat, chuckled, and said, "My wages… can I get them now? Dinner would be fine."
Charles shook his head with a wry smile and handed him a towel.
"Come on, the children are waiting for you to eat," he said gently. "Starting tomorrow, you won't have to 'move bricks' anymore. Come to my classroom, and I'll teach you some… more interesting things."
Xiang Tianming's eyes lit up.
Was this… about to impart core techniques?
He followed behind Charles's wheelchair, walking towards the brightly lit dining room, feeling delighted.
It seemed that these days of working to pay off debts were much more interesting than he had imagined!
Chapter 5 Welcome to "Professor X's Moral Education Class"
Xiang Tianming thought that what Professor Charles referred to as "something more interesting" would be advanced application techniques of Telekinesis.
For example, manipulating particles at a microscopic level, creating a Gundam by hand; or at a macroscopic level, triggering tectonic plates and continental drift. At the very least, he expected to be taught practical skills like how to use Telekinesis to pick locks or peek at the patterns of clothes drying in the neighbor's yard.
Instead, he was led into a… study.
This enormous, circular study had walls entirely covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, densely packed with various incomprehensible hardcover books. The air was filled with a mixed scent of old paper and leather, which smelled profound and… hypnotic.
In the center of the room, besides the Professor, sat two other people—his old acquaintances, Scott and Jean.
Scott still wore an expression that said, "everyone owes him eight million," and merely snorted from his nostrils when he saw Xiang Tianming.
Jean, however, smiled at him kindly, gesturing for him to sit in the empty seat beside her.
"Everyone is here, so let us begin." Professor Charles smiled, but today his smile had less of its usual warmth and more seriousness.
Xiang Tianming muttered to himself. This setup looked exactly like a teacher gathering two good students to tutor a struggling one.
"Xiang, yesterday I asked you, what is the purpose of having power?" Charles went straight to the point, "Today, I will try to answer a part of that question for you, and for all of you."
With that, he closed his eyes.
Before Xiang Tianming could react, he felt a gentle but irresistible Mental Energy softly enveloping his brain.
The next second, the scene before his eyes spun wildly.
He was no longer in that classical study, but standing on a bustling city street. Around him were unfamiliar buildings and hurried strangers.
"This is…"
Before he could ask, he saw a scrawny boy being beaten by several adults in an alleyway around the corner.
[Monster! Get out of our community!]
[Stay away from my child, you freak!]
Obscenities accompanied by punches and kicks rained down on the boy. The boy painfully curled up on the ground, his hands desperately covering his ears, his nails uncontrollably growing longer and blacker, glinting with a metallic chill.
"No… I am not a monster…" The boy's cries were filled with despair.
Immediately after, the scene shifted.
He "saw" a TV studio. A suited councilman was passionately speaking into the camera.
[The Mutant gene is a disease, a threat! We must pass the "Mutant Registration Act" to regulate all these walking nuclear weapons! For the safety of our children, for the future of our nation!]
Below, there was thunderous applause.
The scene shifted again.
In a dimly lit Underground Room, a girl trembled all over, scales constantly appearing and receding on her skin. Her parents looked at her with a mixture of fear and disgust, as if looking at a monster.
[Send her away… I cannot let others know I gave birth to such a thing…]
Despair, fear, anger, sorrow, loneliness… fragments of countless negative emotions surged into Xiang Tianming's mind like a tide. These were not movies, not stories, but the true reality unfolding in every corner of this World.
This feeling was even more shocking than seeing it with his own eyes, because he could clearly "experience" the suffering of every individual involved.
After an unknown period, the Mental Energy impact slowly receded.
Xiang Tianming suddenly snapped back to reality, finding himself still sitting in the study. His face was a little pale, his breathing rapid, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.
He looked at Jean beside him; the girl's eyes were red, clearly deeply moved. Scott's fists were clenched tightly, his knuckles white, and beneath his red sunglasses, volcanic rage was suppressed.
"Welcome to our World, Xiang." Charles's voice was calm but carried a hint of heaviness, "This is the reality we face every day. A World… full of prejudice, fear, and hatred towards us."
Xiang Tianming fell silent.
He leaned back on the soft sofa, lit a cigarette, and took a deep puff. Before Transmigration, he thought his life was messed up enough, but compared to what he had just seen, his worries about rent and instant noodles were simply making a fuss over nothing.
"So, you founded this school to… protect them?" He exhaled a smoke ring, his voice a little hoarse.
"To protect and to guide." Charles corrected, "Hatred only breeds greater hatred. If we let those bullied children grow up in despair, their power will eventually become a weapon for revenge against the entire World. That would be a disaster."
Xiang Tianming flicked the ash from his cigarette, laughing self-deprecatingly: "So, this lesson of yours is to tell me that with great power comes great responsibility? You want me to join you, become a superhero, and maintain World peace?"
"No." Charles shook his head, "I am not trying to instill some grand ideal in you. I am merely stating a fact—you, I, Scott, Jean, all of us, from the moment we possessed this power, can no longer remain outsiders."
"You can choose to use this power to bully the weak, to satisfy your selfish desires, just like those ordinary people who beat the boy."
"You can also choose to ignore all of this, hide away, and live your life in a daze."
"Or," Charles looked at him, his gaze piercing, "you can choose to use it to create a better future for yourself, and for your helpless kind, a future where you can be treated fairly."
The study was silent.
Xiang Tianming finished his cigarette, extinguishing the butt in the ashtray.
He had to admit, Charles Xavier, this bald guy, was truly amazing.
He didn't make grand promises or shout slogans; he simply tore open the bloody reality for him to see, then placed the choice in his hands.
This was more effective than any sermon.
"I understand." Xiang Tianming let out a long breath, "Professor, this 'morality and ethics class' of yours has given me a bit of indigestion. Simply put, there are many people out there who want to kill us, and if we don't stick together, we will be picked off one by one, is that it?"
He used his most "down-to-earth" and utilitarian language to interpret Charles's philosophical words.
Scott frowned upon hearing this, and was about to retort but was stopped by Charles's gaze.
"You can understand it that way." Charles nodded. He knew that to deal with someone like Xiang Tianming, who seemed cynical but was clearer-headed than anyone, the most direct approach was necessary.
"Alright then." Xiang Tianming slapped his thigh, "Are you officially giving me an offer? Then I need to ask about the benefits. How much is the salary? Do you pay for the five social insurances and one housing fund? Room and board are definitely included, but is there an annual bonus? When I go on missions, does it count as a work injury? Is there overtime pay?"
"…"
A series of highly realistic questions left Professor Charles stunned. Even the usually sentimental Jean couldn't help but let out a giggle.
Scott's face, however, completely darkened. He felt that discussing a sacred topic like "saving the World" with Xiang Tianming was an insult.
"Xiang, we are not a company." Charles explained helplessly, "We are a… family. We are here to help each other and grow together."
"Family? Then we definitely need to talk about money; even brothers settle accounts clearly." Xiang Tianming said righteously, "My Omega-class combat power is a top-tier strategic resource anywhere. You can't just expect me to work for love and only give me the title of 'family,' can you? My old boss, who used to make grand promises, often used this trick."
Watching Charles's exasperated expression and Scott's look of almost having a brain hemorrhage, Xiang Tianming secretly gloated.
He, of course, knew the X-Men were not in it for the money.
He did this partly out of his inherent down-to-earth nature, and partly to deliberately annoy Scott, the "overachiever" who always tried to push him hard.
More importantly, he wanted to use this method to define himself.
He, Xiang Tianming, was no savior, nor a hero. He joined this "family" primarily to survive and live better. As for saving the World… that depended on his mood and whether there were any benefits.
This was his most authentic and core principle of action as a "former down-to-earth guy" who had Transmigrated.
Charles looked at him deeply, as if seeing through his thoughts, and finally smiled and shook his head.
"The school's operation indeed requires substantial financial support. If you are willing, I can hire you as the school's 'Special Security Consultant,' and pay you a salary every month… How does that sound?"
Xiang Tianming's eyes lit up, and he suddenly sat up straight.
"Deal!"
Chapter 6: On the first day of work, I have to intercept a nuclear bomb?
It proved that as long as the money was in place, ideological awareness and such were not issues.
When Xiang Tianming received a Swiss bank black card with his name on it from Professor Charles, and was told it contained his first month's salary—a number with so many zeros he had to count them multiple times—he was instantly elevated.
The future of the World, the fate of Mutants, all became tightly linked to him!
"Professor, you can rest assured!" He righteously and solemnly tucked the bank card into his pocket. "From today onwards, I, Xiang Tianming, am a brick in our school; move me wherever I'm needed! For our common home, I am willing to dedicate all my light and heat!"
These words were spoken with such conviction, he almost swore an oath on the spot.
Scott, standing nearby, twitched his mouth as if he'd had a stroke, looking at him as if he were an excellent lecturer who had just graduated from a pyramid scheme.
Charles seemed to have anticipated his "rapid transformation," only smiling and shaking his head: "I'm glad you have such awareness, Xiang. So, as our newly appointed 'Special Security Consultant,' it's time to let you understand the school's security facilities. Come with me."
"Alright! Pre-job training, I get it!" Xiang Tianming eagerly followed him.
Passing through several heavy alloy doors, they arrived at the huge, empty "Danger Room."
"Initiate program, team collaboration, level two," Charles ordered.
This time, standing in the center of the room were all the original X-Men.
As the training began, various mechanisms and weapons extended from the walls, but the firepower density was significantly weaker than when Scott trained alone yesterday.
However, the scene was chaotic.
"Bobby, the ice slide is too steep, Warren almost hit the ceiling!" Scott shouted commands while accurately shooting down two targets.
"Hank, calculate your jump trajectory, you're blocking Jean's line of attack!"
"Jean! Don't space out! Use your Telekinesis barrier to block the flamethrower on the left!"
The five young people were in a flurry, barely coping with their powerful individual abilities, but their so-called "teamwork" was a complete mess, even interfering with each other.
Xiang Tianming watched from outside, shaking his head.
In his eyes, as a seasoned "keyboard warrior," this team composition was simply unbearable. The tank (Hank) was out of position, the marksman (Scott) only cared about his own damage, the mage (Jean)'s skill wind-up was too long, and the two agile assassins (Bobby and Warren) were flying around chaotically, without any strategy.
"This... is what you call teamwork?" Xiang Tianming couldn't help but whisper to the Professor, "It feels like a random match I play in games, five people doing their own thing."
"They are all still children, they need time to grow," Charles said, unconcerned.
Xiang Tianming pouted. Children? In a few years, these children would be carrying the banner of saving the World; their professional level was worrying.
Just then, a piercing alarm blared, without warning, throughout the entire Base!
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"
The Danger Room training instantly stopped. Scott and the others quickly walked out, each with a hint of tension and confusion on their faces.
Charles's expression became incredibly grave. He closed his eyes, and his powerful Mental Energyinstantly spread out.
This time, his expression was no longer just grave, but also tinged with sorrow and disappointment.
"It's him... Eric..."
"Come with me!"
Charles maneuvered his wheelchair, quickly leading them to the core of the Base—the Cerebro room.
When Charles put on the huge helmet, countless light dots instantly projected onto the walls of the circular room. But this time, his goal was not to find a weak Mutant, but a powerful signal source, emanating a crimson glow, strong enough to make the entire Earth tremble.
"Location: Castle Point Military Base, Florida," Charles's voice was deep and strong. "An old friend of mine... has taken control of it. He is using his unparalleled magnetic power to create a barrier that no metal can penetrate. All the missiles in the Base... are now under his command."
The projection on the wall switched to live news footage.
["...This station is breaking in with an urgent news flash. The Castle Point Military Base in Florida lost all contact with the outside World ten minutes ago. The Department of Defense is attempting to ascertain the cause... An unprecedented strong magnetic field reaction has appeared around the Base..."]
In the footage, the entire military Base seemed to be enveloped by an invisible cover, and any approaching aircraft or ships instantly lost control, twisted into scrap metal by the powerful magnetic force.
Xiang Tianming's heart sank sharply.
Controlling missiles... strong magnetic field... old friend Eric... Damn! It's Magneto!
What the hell, just out of the novice village, haven't even fought a small monster, and now he has to face the final boss of the version directly?
"X-Men, assemble!" Charles's voice was devoid of emotion, as cold as ice. "This is your first mission. Stop Eric, regain control of the Base, and absolutely do not let him launch any missiles!"
"Yes!"
Scott, Jean, and the others instantly shed the childishness of their training, replaced by a resolute determination to face death. They quickly changed into their uniform black suits and rushed to the hangar.
These were the true X-Men. On normal days, they might quarrel and make mistakes, but at the moment of crisis, they would step forward without hesitation.
Xiang Tianming stood still, watching all this, feeling his legs go a little soft.
What kind of international joke was this? That was Magneto! A ruthless individual who could overturn an aircraft carrier and move the Golden Gate Bridge by himself! And with these few "internet-addicted teenagers" who couldn't even coordinate as a team? This wasn't going on a mission; this was going to feed the enemy!
Just then, Charles turned his head, his gaze falling on him.
"Xiang, as the school's 'Special Security Consultant'—"
"Stop!" Xiang Tianming quickly raised a hand to interrupt him. "Professor, I must emphasize that my salary is paid monthly, and I haven't received a single cent yet. According to labor law, I'm still on probation. During probation, asking me to go head-to-head with a Terrorist who can control nuclear bombs severely exceeds the scope of work agreed upon in the contract!"
"I object to him joining!" Scott's voice came through the communicator, his tone unusually firm. "This is our X-Men's mission! We understand Magneto's terror; we've conducted countless simulated trainings for this! He's a newcomer; he'll only be a burden to us!"
"Scott's right!" Xiang Tianming quickly agreed. "I'm just a burden! You guys go, I'll support you spiritually! I'll take care of the house, ensuring you have hot food when you return!"
Charles ignored their back-and-forth, simply stating calmly: "Neither of you understands Xiang's true power. And Eric... doesn't understand either. Xiang, your Telekinesis does not fall within the scope of magnetic force. You are the only one who might be able to directly threaten Eric himself within his magnetic field."
"You are our... trump card."
Xiang Tianming almost spat out a mouthful of old blood after hearing that.
Screw your trump card! Making it sound so grand, isn't it still just sending me to be cannon fodder?
"Professor, this matter... can we discuss it again?" He said with a long face.
"Get on the plane, Xiang," Charles's tone was unquestionable. "This is an order. And it is your first duty as a 'Consultant' that you need to fulfill."
Xiang Tianming looked at the military Base on the screen, already enveloped by an invisible force field, as if he could already see the doomsday scene of countless missiles launching. He then touched the cold bank card in his pocket.
He let out a long sigh.
Damn it, money truly was the hottest potato in this World.
"Holy crap..." He cursed softly, resignedly running towards the hangar. "First day on the job, and I have to stop World War III... If I had known this, I would have rather continued being a slacker in the urban village!"
He felt like he wasn't going to start a job, but to be reborn.
And it was a super luxurious... expedited rebirth service.