Chapter 50: I've Never Been a Genius—Just an Ordinary Person

Outside the supermarket, Rongshan stepped out from within the Iron Coffin, his presence like a storm gathering on the horizon.

Chen Kong’s expression tightened instantly, every nerve on edge.

“Who are you?”

Rongshan smiled, calm and chilling. “Who I am doesn’t matter. You’re about to die— and a dead man doesn’t need to know much.”

“Though I’d love to chat a little longer, time’s not on my side.”

“Alright, Stellar Envoy·Chen Kong— are you ready to meet your end?”

Rising his hand, Rongshan unleashed a torrent of molten lava.

The searing wave tore through the air, instantly melting the glass door of the supermarket. It surged forward with terrifying speed, aimed straight at Chen Kong, who stood frozen at the cashier counter.

Chen Kong instinctively tried to dodge.

But then he caught sight of the cashier— a trembling, wide-eyed man, paralyzed with fear.

In that split second, Chen Kong made his choice.

He threw himself in front of the cashier, raising his right hand without hesitation.

Void Pattern · Return to Dust!

The moment the lava touched his palm, it didn’t burn. Instead, it vanished— as if it had never existed— dissolving like snow under a summer sun, vanishing into thin air.

“Huh?!”

Rongshan’s eyes narrowed. His breath hitched.

He had felt it—the unmistakable surge of a Stellar Source. Chen Kong had used some kind of ability to neutralize his attack.

But Rongshan couldn’t see how.

And worse—he couldn’t even guess what kind of Stellar Source Chen Kong wielded.

To a Stellar Envoy, that was the most dangerous thing of all.

Because the unknown was the deadliest force in the world.

So despite his mocking tone, Rongshan moved with cold precision.

Boom!

He didn’t close in. Instead, he fired another blast— but this time, not at Chen Kong.

The molten stream struck the shelves behind the stunned civilians, sending panic through the crowd.

Chen Kong’s face twisted in fury.

Yet even in rage, his mind remained clear.

He dashed to the nearest shelf, and with the same method as before, deflected the lava with his Void Pattern.

He blocked it again.

But this time, Rongshan’s expression had changed.

No longer wary.

Now, he was certain.

He had seen enough.

He understood Chen Kong’s nature.

And he knew the man’s greatest weakness.

“Honestly… I never expected this. Chen Kong, I never thought a ‘genius’ like you would care so much about ordinary lives. So much that you’d throw your own life away for them.”

“Chen Kong… you’re such a hypocrite. So noble. So stupid.”

“But knowing that? It actually… puts me at ease.”

“Since you love saving people… let me give you a chance to save everyone at once.”

Rongshan threw his arms wide.

His skin flushed red, then bulged— one after another— as grotesque, fleshy growths erupted across his body.

At first glance, they looked like tumors.

But upon closer inspection… they were volcanoes.

Boom—

With a roar, Rongshan unleashed his full power.

A storm of molten lava erupted from every volcanic mound on his body— a rain of fiery meteors, descending like a celestial wrath upon the supermarket.

Chen Kong couldn’t stop them all.

But the people inside— after their initial shock— had already begun fleeing.

They scrambled toward the back fire exit, away from the front entrance, seeking safety.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Chen Kong blocked seven out of ten blasts.

But the remaining three struck home.

They ignited flammable goods— plastic bags, cardboard boxes, dry goods.

In just a few breaths, fire erupted across the store.

Thick, black smoke poured from burning plastic, choking the air.

Flames roared like wild beasts, racing through aisles, consuming everything in their path.

People screamed, pushing forward toward the narrow fire exit.

But too many were rushing at once.

The passage clogged.

In the chaos, women and children were shoved aside— some fell, crying, struggling to rise.

A little girl in a bear-print T-shirt knelt beside a fallen shelf, her face blank, unaware that the ceiling above her was cracking— groaning under the strain.

“Look out!”

At the last second, Chen Kong lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down— shielding her with his body.

Crack!

A massive stone slab crashed onto his back.

He let out a pained grunt.

Warm blood trickled from his forehead, blurring his vision.

Every part of him screamed in agony.

But even then, his first thought wasn’t himself.

“Are you okay?”

He forced a smile through the pain.

His face— streaked with blood— was pale under the flickering firelight.

Only then did it truly sink in.

The boy who had protected everyone… was still just a twelve-year-old child.

Needing protection too.

The little girl didn’t understand what had happened.

But she nodded anyway— trembling, but alive.

Chen Kong exhaled. Relief.

He released her, then pointed toward the now-clear fire exit.

“Go. Run. Don’t stay here.”

She nodded again, then wobbled forward on her small legs, disappearing into the smoke.

“Still don’t get it… You’re dying— and yet you still care about strangers?”

Rongshan stood now, just ten paces away, inside the burning store.

His voice was cold, mocking.

“Don’t you fear death?”

Chen Kong rose slowly, pain wracking his body.

He looked up.

“Yes.”

“Then why don’t you run?”

Silence.

Then, softly:

“Because if I run… they have nowhere left to go.”

“And… I’ve never been a genius.”

He wiped blood from his eyes, his fingers trembling.

He reached for his waist.

Pulled out the Custom Black Gun— the one he’d carried since the beginning.

His hands shook— not from strength, but from fear.

But his voice?

Unshakable.

“I’m just… a lucky ordinary person.”

Bang!

The gun fired.

A black bullet tore through the smoke, the fire, the chaos—

aimed straight at Rongshan’s forehead.

But as it flew, Rongshan didn’t flinch.

He didn’t dodge.

Instead, he smiled— a twisted, eerie grin.

“Star, I’m heading to the supermarket to grab some snacks. You stay home and watch the house, okay? As for the meat-cutting… I’ll leave it to you. After all, your knife skills are far better than mine.”

“TIAN DAO!!!”

Ignoring the roar from inside, Tian Dao bolted out of the mansion’s front gate—

racing toward the nearest shopping district at lightning speed…

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Last but not least— good luck to all the readers heading into their college entrance exams!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end