**Construction Group Building.**

Shi Quan sat in the main seat with his eyes closed, resting, while the senior executives waited in silence, no one daring to speak. Only his two confidants chatted idly.

"You think the new guy can hold his ground against the boss for how long?"

"I'd say, at best three days, at worst three months, before the boss completely sidelines him. This is the Construction Group, half of us are surnamed Shi!"

"That makes sense, but we still need to put on a show for appearances..."

The two chatted freely, while the other senior executives ignored them.

Just then, the roar of an aircar engine grew closer.

Before long, an aircar hovered outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. The windows slid open automatically, and a gangway connected to the aircar, from which a young man stepped inside.

Is this the newly appointed chairman?

The two confidants exchanged glances, unable to suppress a laugh—he looked so young...

A kid this age, how could he possibly compete with their boss in terms of strategy?

"Are you Chairman Chen?"

Shi Quan remained seated, motionless, gazing at the approaching youth with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I've been waiting for you; finally, you're here. Ahem…"

As he spoke, he suddenly coughed violently.

"My old bones are not much use anymore. Under my and Old Zhong's leadership, the Construction Group has been languishing. Now that you've arrived, I foresee a vibrant new energy!"

While he flattered, Shi Quan sized up the young man before him. He looked no older than twenty, and while he exuded a strong presence, it was to be expected—at this age, being entrusted with such a heavy responsibility would naturally make one stand out...

However, he was still too young.

Shi Quan's smile faded, and he adopted a solemn expression:

"You've arrived just in time... Have you heard about the factory explosion?"

"I saw it on my way here."

Chen Xiang walked calmly closer:

"Stand up, give me an explanation."

Shi Quan's expression froze momentarily, but he quickly recovered, slapping his forehead.

"Look at me, I've truly become muddled!"

He hurriedly stood up and offered his seat to Chen Xiang, taking a side chair himself, sighing:

"It was a group of thugs from the Eight Rings who did this. The key point is they deliberately chose your first day in office to blow up a factory. This is undoubtedly aimed at you…"

He paused, feigning anger:

"These thugs are utterly lawless. Old Zhong and I wanted to suppress them directly, but we worried that we couldn't control the fallout. We were considering whether we should just let it go... We could tolerate it, mainly for your sake…"

Chen Xiang watched the old man perform, raising an eyebrow slightly:

"What I need is an explanation. Under your and Zhong Chengfu's management, how could the Construction Group be so easily bullied?"

A flicker of shadow crossed Shi Quan's eyes—this guy was a bit troublesome...

His face immediately filled with a smile:

"Chairman Chen, you must see that we've indeed grown old; we haven't done many things well... But now that you're here, things can only get better, right?"

"If you're old, then go home and retire."

Chen Xiang showed no interest in his platitudes and spoke bluntly:

"The Construction Group doesn't need people who occupy positions without contributing. If you can't even handle this small matter, you and Zhong Chengfu should submit your resignations. Don't worry, the Construction Group will take care of you two in retirement."

Stolen story; please report.

Shi Quan's smile gradually stiffened:

"Chairman Chen, you're joking…"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Chen Xiang didn't want to waste time and got straight to the point:

"Two choices: one, step aside, and the group will guarantee your retirement; two, refuse to step aside, and the group will ensure your end."

The atmosphere in the conference room plummeted to freezing point.

Shi Quan's lips quivered, his expression turning cold, the smile on his face completely gone:

"Chairman Chen doesn't understand. Although Old Zhong and I are aging, the group has relied on us for many years. If we leave, the Construction Group will likely come to a standstill…"

He squinted slightly, continuing:

"If chaos breaks out throughout the group, and the academy holds you accountable, you might still have some trouble, so we can't back down…"

"Are you threatening me?" Chen Xiang asked with interest.

"I wouldn't dare; I'm just stating the facts."

Shi Quan pointed to his two confidants:

"Both of them—one is the head of security, and the other is the head of human resources. They control all armed forces of the group... They were raised by me and only listen to me."

The two confidants stepped forward, puffing out their chests.

Shi Quan stared at Chen Xiang:

"If you insist on having me retire, then the security and operations departments will follow me into retirement."

The driver accompanying Chen Xiang, assisting him in taking over the Construction Group, retorted angrily:

"Shi Quan, are you trying to create a split in the Construction Group?!"

"I wouldn't dare."

Shi Quan took a sip of tea, casually responding:

"It's just that the subordinates only trust me and listen to me; what can I do?"

Chen Xiang lifted his gaze slightly, turning to Shi Quan's two confidants with a smile:

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely." The security chief responded firmly.

"What do you intend to do?" the operations chief asked, holding his head high.

Chen Xiang merely smiled:

"Well then."

As soon as he finished speaking, the two felt their vision suddenly blur, and everything before them began to shatter...

Two heads exploded on the spot.

The conference room fell into instant silence.

"How dare you!!"

Shi Quan was enraged, instinctively shouting, but his expression changed drastically as he retreated, the ground beneath him suddenly crumbling!

"Chairman Chen, you've gone mad!"

Chen Xiang ignored him, crushing the smoke bomb while activating the Shadow Authority; the mist erupted, and he disappeared into it.

In the next instant,

A cloud of fog exploded beside Shi Quan, and Chen Xiang emerged from the mist, bones cracking, every muscle in his body surging with terrifying power!

Shi Quan had nowhere to hide, raising his hands defensively across his chest, urgently gathering heavy earth elements, but it was far too late!

In the instant Chen Xiang's fist came crashing down,

Shi Quan felt an unstoppable force akin to a landslide. Though he was an extraordinary being, he followed the external god sequence and his physique was even inferior to that of the madwoman from back then.

His arms, which he had crossed in front of his chest, were shattered, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing through six or seven walls before hitting the ground heavily!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, and the remaining high-level executives of the Construction Group changed their expressions in shock.

Shi Quan, embedded in the floor tiles, was completely dazed. Was this parachuted-in guy a madman?

How could he dare to do this?!

As Shi Quan stood there in a daze, a chill crept into his heart. Just that one punch was enough to reveal a lot... This guy's strength was far beyond his own!

At the same time, another cloud of mist erupted, and Chen Xiang dispersed into the fog, reemerging from another cloud of mist beside Shi Quan!

He aimed at Shi Quan's head, raising his right foot high!

"I'll step down! I'm willing to resign!!" The threat of death loomed over him as Shi Quan screamed:

"Chairman Chen! I know I was wrong!"

Only then did Chen Xiang slowly retract his right foot.

Grabbing the severely injured old man as if he were a dead dog, he walked back to the conference room along the shattered walls.

Chen Xiang tossed Shi Quan onto the floor and returned to his seat, straightening his collar:

"The group's head of security and operations have died in the line of duty, so the usual compensation will be provided. Additionally, we'll invest in a nursing home near the Seven Rings boundary and get it fixed up quickly; Old Shi is eager to move in."

The other executives nodded frantically, no one daring to oppose.

Chen Xiang turned his gaze to Shi Quan, who was struggling to rise, and asked calmly:

"Where's Zhong Chengfu? Why didn't he come?"

Shi Quan coughed up blood; the force of that punch had not only shattered his arms but also crushed his sternum, bone shards piercing his organs.

He lowered his head, hiding the venom in his eyes, and spoke with difficulty:

"Zhong Chengfu went to catch the thugs from the factory explosion…"

Chen Xiang leaned back in his chair:

"Tell me about the thugs."

"They're from the Eight Rings Fire Gate."

Shi Quan no longer held back. Since this Chairman Chen possessed overwhelming strength, Li Dongyun couldn't challenge him, so there was no need to obstruct him...

He would wait for other opportunities.

In this world, strength was not everything!

As he thought, a more sinister glint appeared in Shi Quan's eyes as he continued in a low voice:

"The mastermind is a member of the Fire Gate named Chen Shaoyan, and another named Chen Xin, who was a senior inspector at the Eight Rings Police Station. One is being blocked at the chemical plant by my men, while the other I had the governing department detain. He should be on his way here... The real trouble comes from Li Dongyun of the Fire Gate."

"Chen Shaoyan, Chen Xin…"

Shi Quan noticed that the rare occurrence of Chairman Chen lifting his head and staring at him closely.

"What audacity," Chen Xiang said.

"Indeed," Shi Quan instinctively echoed, "those thugs really have some nerve!"

Chen Xiang didn't respond. He simply turned his head and ordered:

"Forget about the nursing home; we'll build a graveyard instead."

At that moment, a fist loomed larger in Shi Quan's vision. His hair stood on end, his heart raced, and he desperately tried to move, but it was too slow—he was just too slow!!

He didn't even have time to gather elements.

*Thud!*

The fist pierced his chest, shattering his heart.

In the deafening silence, Shi Quan coughed up blood, his gaze becoming unfocused:

"W-why? I... I was willing to step down…"

No one answered him.