Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Nine Layers of the Profound Pass

Outside Fang Can’s villa, a massive, dense crowd of people stood waiting. Nearly one-tenth of Z City’s entire population had gathered here, stretching out until they were lost to sight. Out of respect for Fang Can, the crowd remained remarkably quiet, all clustering at a distance of seven or eight meters, afraid to venture closer and disturb him.

Fang Can pulled his keys from his pocket, expertly unlocked the door, and stepped inside without acknowledging the throng behind him, closing the door firmly behind him. As the door clicked shut, a resentful female voice drifted into his ear.

"What exactly do you think you're doing? How could you bring so many people here!"

Watching Fang Can’s indifferent expression, Jiang Ning’an felt a sharp spike of frustration, as if she wanted to clutch her head and scream. She had sensed the sound of those tens of thousands of people moving from hundreds of meters away. The realization that they were all heading in her direction had deeply agitated her already stressed nerves, strained by the hostile environment outside. Had she not judged from the sound that the majority were ordinary people—and that even if they intended to kill her, they wouldn't be so foolish as to swarm her—she might have reacted defensively. Seeing the innocent-looking teenager before her, she felt an urge to give him a beating.

"They followed me on their own," Fang Can said casually. "Don't worry, Senior. They won't dare come in. As long as you stay inside this door, no one will know you're here."

With that, Fang Can hung his school bag on the rack as if nothing had happened and began his workout with a relaxed expression. Watching the oblivious boy, Jiang Ning’an felt her teeth ache with irritation. However, with a crowd blocking the way outside, she couldn't leave. She could only offer a helpless huff and retreat to the room on the second floor to meditate in silence.

Before she left, however, her steps faltered. She turned back, eyeing Fang Can with disbelief. "Your Mental Manifestation has already begun to take shape!"

"You mean that aura?" Fang Can recalled. "I was feeling a bit stifled at school, so I just tried it out against the whole class."

*Heh... hehe, he just 'tried it out'.* Jiang Ning’an’s cold, composed face stiffened. She was beyond speechless at his talent.

Outside, after ten minutes of waiting, the crowd began to panic as the esper failed to reappear, feeling like a body without a soul.

"What do we do now? What should we do?"

"I don't know. The esper didn't give us any orders. Even gathering here was spontaneous."

"We can't leave, though. It’s too dangerous to split up in the city."

A minor commotion broke out in the crowd due to the silence. Some, unable to contain their anxiety, tried to knock on the door to ask Fang Can for direction, but they were intercepted by a group of loyalists before they could get close.

"The esper has his own reasons for what he does. You just need to wait. Master Fang Can has a lot to consider," the students from Fang Can's class glared at the ordinary citizens trying to overstep their bounds. Having been in the same class as Fang Can for three years, they felt they had the "home field advantage" and had self-appointed themselves as guardians of his interests.

Looking at the guarded house, the crowd had no choice but to sit on the ground, waiting for whatever instructions Fang Can might provide next. Not long after, two middle-aged men pushed through the crowd, panting heavily as they shouted, "Who is the esper? Where is the esper?"

"The Principal! The Mayor!"

The crowd let out surprised gasps at the sight of the two men. They thought to themselves, *Hey! So you two haven't managed to flee the city either.*

Facing the surprised stares of the students, both men looked uneasy. The incident had happened so suddenly that they had received no warning, and they couldn't get in touch with any of the other espers who had previously been pampered by the city. Upon hearing that there was still an esper here, they had rushed over without a moment's delay.

Unable to withstand the collective gaze of the crowd, they repeated their question. A student proudly pointed a finger and said, "Master Fang Can is resting inside. It’s best if no one disturbs him."

Even when faced with the Mayor of Z City, the students didn't give an inch. The Mayor nodded cooperatively, saying, "Understood, understood. But did the esper leave any words for us?"

"This..." A few students hesitated. Finally, the history teacher passed on the last thing Fang Can had said before entering his home.

*He's letting us use his reputation to get things done?* The two seasoned politicians exchanged a look, their hearts racing. Could there really be such a stroke of luck?

"I understand. Since Master Fang Can has said as much, it is clearly his wish for us to consciously maintain order throughout the city. We must not let down Master Fang Can’s painstaking efforts," the Mayor said with a firm look, taking the lead.

"Exactly, exactly. These are extraordinary times. Since Master Fang Can has authorized it, we must fulfill our duties," the Principal added.

They might not be skilled in combat, but having reached their positions, they understood management. If they didn't know how to do something, they delegated the responsibility to those below them. Since Fang Can had signaled his stance, they immediately understood what needed to be done.

Without needing to be taught, they put on dignified expressions and began to address the seated crowd, speaking in Fang Can's name. Although the law had lost its efficacy, the backing of an esper provided the necessary credibility. Soon, former police officers and retired soldiers within the crowd were organized, and order began to tentatively return.

From start to finish, Fang Can never stepped out of the villa. Yet, relying solely on the prestige of being an esper, everything naturally fell into place. Perhaps, in a sense, the order of human society is also idealistic; as long as people believe, it naturally gains authority.

Ignoring everything outside the door, Fang Can continued his systematic training. This time, however, he did not spit out the arsenic, but allowed his stomach to digest it. As his body grew stronger, the arsenic could no longer cause serious damage; without the drug, his cultivation speed would drop.

A night passed, and under Jiang Ning’an’s numb gaze, Fang Can’s aura had increased significantly compared to the day before.

Observing his state, Jiang Ning’an speculated, "At this rate, I estimate it will take you at most seven or eight days to cross the First Barrier."

"The First Barrier? What is that?" Fang Can asked.

Believing now that the boy before her was truly a martial arts prodigy, Jiang Ning’an explained, "The Mortal Shedding Realm is divided into nine barriers. Each one you cross represents a ten-percent increase in the proportion of 'new blood' in your body."

"Once your mortal frame has completely faded away, that marks the peak of the Mortal Shedding Realm."

Looking at the 5.2% alienation rate on his interface, Fang Can nodded in understanding. So, every 10% increase in the alienation rate meant crossing a barrier, until reaching 100%, which would signify the pinnacle of the Mortal Shedding Realm.