Within the basement of Litchi Villa, a space transformed into a meditation chamber was fortified with special materials, making it bombproof.

The villa was home to Zhou You and Su Ting'er. Occasionally, Xuan Wei would visit for guidance from his master.

Zhou Yichen was another frequent visitor, initially by his own persistence but gradually becoming a regular.

The garden, now tended by Su Ting'er, underwent a drastic change. His preference for more rugged flora transformed the well-manicured garden into something resembling a primeval forest.

However, one day, while tending to the trees, Su Ting'er felt a powerful surge of spiritual energy. For a moment, he thought one of the trees had gained consciousness.

To his shock, all the plants turned yellow and withered before his eyes, leaving only dried twigs and leaves behind.

A bolt of lightning split the Litchi Villa in half. Panic-stricken, Su Ting'er rushed outside, muttering to himself, "What's happening? Is the apocalypse here again?"

Zhou You darted past him into the ruined house, heading straight for the entrance to the basement.

Shao Qi had been in seclusion for nearly a year, and no one knew of his whereabouts. Many could only speculate based on Zhou You's movements.

A year ago, Yang City welcomed a new commander-in-chief. With Zhou You overseeing the city, potential rebels among the elite dared not make any rash moves.

Xu Yintian resigned as the city's leader and rejoined the Huoyan Unit. He preferred the direct confrontations of battle over administrative responsibilities.

"Boom..." The basement door exploded from within. Zhou You stood still, shards flying past him without touching a hair on his head.

Moments later, a figure emerged, radiating an electric glow. Moving slowly, he resembled a lion awakening from a long slumber.

The man stepped out, bare-chested, looking lost amid the debris.

"Welcome back!" Zhou You approached and gently embraced him, only to be held tightly in return.

"Sorry for accidentally destroying our home." Shao Qi's voice was raspy from the long silence.

"It's nothing. Congratulations on your advancement."

Shao Qi whispered in his ear, "I feel an inexhaustible power within me. Let's find a place to... deeply connect."

Zhou You pinched his rigid waist, remarking, "There's no need; I believe a spar is what you truly require."