An Xinning had already anticipated Chen Xiao's rebuttal. After a brief pause, she smoothly changed the subject.
"The National Fortune Game you're about to enter is far more complicated than you think. You'd better stay alert at all times."
Chen Xiao raised an eyebrow, instantly catching the implication behind her words."Oh? Do you have a warning for me?"
An Xinning gave a faint smile. "Nothing in particular. Just this—the captain of the Huaxia team this time is… extraordinary."
Chen Xiao chuckled. "Extraordinary? Coming from you, that's high praise."
She nodded. "All you need to know is that his surname is Cao—the most promising among Cao Baiqing's many descendants, and deeply favored by Old Master Cao."
"So?"
"So no matter what happens, he cannot die."
Chen Xiao burst out laughing. "In the apocalypse, someone 'cannot die'? That's interesting."
An Xinning shook her head slowly. "It's not that he cannot die… it's that he must not. And that's not even mentioning his own terrifying strength."
Her gaze locked onto Chen Xiao."I've said everything I should—and everything I shouldn't. So remember this: do not clash with him."
Chen Xiao smiled faintly. "Chief An, you seem to care about me quite a bit."
She let out a quiet sigh. "Regardless of anything else, I'm grateful you agreed to help me today. If you hadn't, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
Chen Xiao curled his lips. "No need for thanks. It's just a transaction. Don't forget—find the person quickly. When I come back from the game, I want to see my maid."
An Xinning's cheeks flushed involuntarily. The image of that outfit surfaced in her mind, making her feel inexplicably ashamed.
"Your face is red."
"Who's blushing?!"
"You are. Even your ears are red."
"I'm warning you—stop talking nonsense! And listen carefully: this transaction is strictly between us. It has nothing to do with the military region. You must keep it confidential!"
"Confidential?" Chen Xiao scoffed. "I, Chen Xiao, take a maid openly and aboveboard!"
"If you don't keep it secret, don't expect me to find your maid!"
"If you don't find her, I'll spread news of our transaction everywhere—let Old Pei and all your male colleagues hear about it!"
"Chen Xiao! You're shameless!"
"Hahahaha!"
Having dinner with An Xinning put Chen Xiao in an unusually good mood. Teasing this ice-cold beauty was far more entertaining than teasing Tang Shiran or Jiang Chuxue. Those two already belonged to him, and teasing them only resulted in even harsher "training."
An Xinning, on the other hand, was a woman no one dared to covet—and that only fueled Chen Xiao's desire to conquer her. He couldn't help wondering whether, after the National Fortune Game, she would obediently put on that bunny girl outfit just for him.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Chen Xiao was jolted awake by the landline phone in his room. He already knew who it was.
"Chief An, what's going on? I didn't fall asleep until four in the morning, and you're calling me at eight?"
"The siheyuan in the old city district has flashed."
An Xinning ignored his complaint and got straight to the point."It's confirmed. Get ready and come to my office. Chief Pei wants to see you."
The day Chen Xiao had been waiting for had finally arrived.The opportunity to awaken a second animal type was now within reach.
He washed up quickly, strapped on the Mountain and River Map, and vanished from the research district in a few rapid blinks.
When he entered An Xinning's office, Pei Tianyuan was pacing back and forth restlessly. An Xinning, meanwhile, sat comfortably in a swivel chair, filing her nails and humming a tune.
Chen Xiao dropped onto the sofa. "Old Pei, what's wrong? Isn't the Blood Moon supposed to appear tonight?"
Pei Tianyuan rushed over the moment he saw him."We can only enter the game tonight, but as a precaution, the Federation has decided to gather all participating Awakened Ones in the old city half a day in advance."
"Half a day?" Chen Xiao frowned. "That's basically a full day early."
"Exactly," Pei Tianyuan said. "That's why I had Xinning wake you up. I needed to give you something."
He opened a black box on the desk and took out what looked like a mask—thin as a cicada's wing, flesh-colored and nearly transparent.
The moment Chen Xiao took it, a line of text appeared before his eyes.
This is an opportunity?!
[Cicada Shell – Male]Description: A derivative of a talent, like a cicada's exoskeleton. The old shell perfectly resembles its former self.Effect: Assume the appearance of this shell's original owner.
Chen Xiao smiled faintly. "So you want me to become a completely hidden card."
Pei Tianyuan laughed. "Isn't that exactly what you wanted?"
Only then did Chen Xiao realize that the military region's methods far exceeded his expectations. This so-called "human skin" wasn't an opportunity at all, but a prop modified by a creation-type talent.
The moment he placed it on his face, a cool, damp sensation spread across his cheeks—like wet paper clinging to skin. His face tightened slightly.
Through the glass of the office door, he saw his reflection.
He had become Zhou Xun.
The man he had killed long ago—whose bright lamp still burned quietly within the Mountain and River Map.
An Xinning walked over. "From now on, you are Zhou Xun. Keep in mind, this skin only lasts about a week. Whether you can finish the game within that time depends on you."
Pei Tianyuan added, "We chose Zhou Xun for several reasons. Your heights differ by only three centimeters. Most participants have never met him in person, so this level of disguise won't be detected. His death hasn't been made public—only the three of us know. With his bright lamp as proof, your identity is rock-solid."
"More importantly," he continued, "Zhou Xun's awakened animal is a spider, and his talent is [Space Reforging], which closely resembles one of your own spatial abilities. If you truly want to hide, almost no one will be able to find you."
Chen Xiao took the replica of Zhou Xun's ethnic clothing and feathered headdress, then asked calmly,"You went to all this trouble to turn me into Zhou Xun… are you trying to stop me from acting?"
Something about the situation felt off.If they didn't want him to act, why recruit him?And if they did want him to act, why disguise him so thoroughly?
Pei Tianyuan had already anticipated the question. His expression turned serious.
"Chen Xiao, our intelligence confirms that the Euro Alliance has sent an SSS+-rank Awakened One into the game. Locals call him… 'Little Zeus.'"
Chen Xiao frowned. "So?"
"So if you encounter him, you must ambush and kill him in a single strike," Pei Tianyuan said grimly. "Otherwise, everyone will be in mortal danger."
Chen Xiao laughed. "Old Pei, do you take me for a fool? A monster like that—do you really think I can kill him with an ambush?"
"I don't know," Pei Tianyuan admitted. "But you're the strongest hidden card we have. This is the only option."
He placed a hand on Chen Xiao's shoulder."Trust me. He's arrogant—overconfident in his own strength. He won't pay any attention to someone like Zhou Xun."
Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes. "If we can get intel on him, what makes you think he can't get intel on me?"
"With the cicada shell as cover," Pei Tianyuan said firmly, "even if they have information, they won't be able to pinpoint you. This National Fortune Game is far more dangerous than we initially thought."
Chen Xiao fell silent.
"Little Zeus" was a legendary figure from his previous life—ranked eleventh in the global power rankings, even stronger than the Little Monk at his peak. His dominance came from the terrifying speed at which his talent grew. While the Little Monk might surpass him later through refined martial arts, in this era, super-top talents reigned supreme.
After a brief discussion about the game's details—most of which Pei Tianyuan knew little about and rarely repeated—Chen Xiao left the military region.
He sat in the backseat of a car. Pei Tianyuan occupied the passenger seat, while An Xinning sat beside him.
Chen Xiao's gaze wandered freely over her long, slender legs.This level of treatment was something the real Zhou Xun would never have enjoyed.
"Chen Xiao," An Xinning said coldly, "have you looked enough?"
"Not yet," he replied lazily. "Be patient."