My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 11: Li Ye’s Vision Surpasses All

“What are they talking about?” Shi Xiang felt like he was listening to gibberish. The more he heard, the more confused he became.

Holding the Dragon Emperor Technique aloft, he grew increasingly awkward as the group continued ignoring him. Finally, he couldn’t help but interrupt, “Who the hell are you people?”

Shi Xiang felt incredibly wronged. He’d thought himself the center of attention, believing this group had come for his Dragon Emperor Technique. But now, it didn’t seem that way.

These lunatics didn’t even spare the Dragon Emperor Technique a glance. Yet, during the fight, they’d clearly shouted his name, proving they knew who he was.

But now he was severely injured.

Why weren’t they trying to snatch the Dragon Emperor Technique? Instead, they were debating about whether they had cooperated well during a game of “football.” And that wasn’t even a real football—it was a severed head, for crying out loud!

“What kind of lunatics have I run into?”

“Ah, I almost forgot. We still have some captives, don’t we?” Li Ye’s wandering thoughts returned to focus as his gaze landed on Shi Xiang.

Cai Jun was still unconscious, and Xu Peng stood shakily in front of Shi Xiang, as if guarding him. But the trembling hand holding his blade and his eyes filled with fear betrayed his true state.

The night’s events had been too bizarre—far beyond anything he could handle. The sight of that severed head, unyielding and oddly elastic, had unnerved him further.

When Li Ye’s fiery gaze landed on him, Xu Peng shuddered involuntarily.

“Who are you people?” Shi Xiang asked again, lowering his voice and instinctively adopting a humbler demeanor. “Is there some misunderstanding between us?”

Better to live miserably than die miserably.

His master was a Grandmaster, and he had just acquired the revered Dragon Emperor Technique. The future was bright. He couldn’t let himself fall here to a group of lunatics.

“No misunderstanding. It’s no coincidence—we specifically came to rob you,” Li Ye replied, giving Shi Xiang a once-over before adding, “Shi Xiang, have you considered joining our club as a striker?”

Shi Xiang had prepared countless strategies for negotiating over the Dragon Emperor Technique, including threats, pleas, and displays of resolve. But Li Ye’s unexpected question left him dumbfounded. “What striker?”

Before Li Ye could answer, Liu Guangsheng and the others interjected in panic.

“Li Ye, why would we recruit him as a striker? He’s part of the Scarlet Flame Sect!” Liu Guangsheng protested.

“To me, the Scarlet Flame Sect is no different from any of you,” Li Ye said with a dismissive glance. “Your comprehension isn’t up to par, so I naturally have to find better replacements.”

“Li Ye, this was our first battle. We’re just not used to this cultivation method yet,” Fan Jie said anxiously. “Give us a few more chances, and we’ll improve.”

“Li Ye, I won’t hog the ball again!” Deng Wei quickly promised.

“Li Ye, he can’t even be a striker! You broke his leg!” Yu Qiang argued.

“Scarlet Flame Sect people are ruthless. If we spare him today, he’ll surely come after us for revenge once he recovers,” Zhu Gaojie added.

“Exactly, Li Ye. We’ve already offended him plenty tonight,” another chimed in.

Nobody cared about the Dragon Emperor Technique anymore. Having tasted the benefits of spiritual energy, the thought of being replaced filled them with dread. Li Ye’s mention of recruiting their enemy as a teammate stirred a flurry of protests.

They knew that if Li Ye discarded them, there would be no way back into the team. Li Ye’s authority was absolute.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Li Ye said coldly, his gaze sweeping across the group. “Anyone who says another word will be kicked out of the team immediately. There are plenty of people waiting to join.”

The ultimatum silenced the dissenters instantly.

Li Ye controlled the situation effortlessly. He was in a seller’s market, holding all the power.

Liu Guangsheng and the others glared at Shi Xiang, their eyes filled with hatred, as if wishing to skin him alive.

Li Ye paid no mind. Only a fool would put all their eggs in one basket. A smart person diversifies. Whether it was Liu Guangsheng’s team or Shi Xiang, they were all strangers to him. Why not pit them against each other?

As an outsider, Li Ye had no allegiance. The Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Scarlet Flame Sect were meaningless distinctions to him.

Besides, Liu Guangsheng’s group already had an established rapport. If they grew too strong, they could become a threat to him. Bringing in competitors from the start would keep them in check, fostering both internal competition and individual ambition. It was the perfect setup for maintaining control.

And most importantly, Li Ye still wanted the Dragon Emperor Technique.

Open confrontation might trigger Shi Xiang’s defiance, but offering him hope and shifting his focus to survival could lead to both the manual and Shi Xiang himself falling into Li Ye’s hands.

Shi Xiang was young, attractive, from a prestigious background, and carried the highly sought Dragon Emperor Technique. These qualities combined would make him an ideal star player for the club, far more marketable than the obscure Liu Guangsheng and his team.

Li Ye was determined to run this like a true football club and push the artifact’s potential to its limits.

Who said survival had to be passive?

True concealment lay in plain sight. By binding more people to him, turning enemies into allies, Li Ye could significantly improve his chances in this unfamiliar world.

The football club emblem symbolized unity, progress, glory, reputation, sport, profit, and management. Li Ye wasn’t foolish enough to wield such a powerful artifact just to make enemies everywhere. His only true foe was the demonic invaders of this world.

Shi Xiang’s connections to a Grandmaster made him a prime asset. Recruiting him could prove invaluable.

...

Shi Xiang took the bait.

He realized that Li Ye was not fully aligned with his team, and that hint of discord ignited a spark of hope within him.

Ignoring the hateful stares from the others, Shi Xiang stood on one leg and declared, “Li Ye, I’m willing to be your striker. I swear I won’t seek revenge.”

“What do you even know about being a striker?” Yu Qiang sneered, his jealousy evident.

“Li Ye has shown me great favor. I’m willing to scale mountains and cross fire for him,” Shi Xiang retorted sharply.

“Welcome to the Fun Seekers Club,” Li Ye said with a smile, extending his hand. “Shi, you won’t regret this decision.”

Confused, Shi Xiang stared at Li Ye’s hand.

“It’s our custom. A handshake—it signifies agreement and reconciliation,” Li Ye explained.

Awkwardly, Shi Xiang shook his hand.

The moment their hands touched, Shi Xiang felt an unfamiliar energy coursing into his body. He instinctively summoned his internal energy to resist, but the force dissipated harmlessly.

Recalling the night’s strange events, Shi Xiang was terrified. He jerked his hand away. “What did you do?”

And then he froze.

His fractured ankle and injured groin, both sources of excruciating pain, suddenly felt cool and numb. The swelling receded, and his ankle regained some mobility.

Shi Xiang glanced at his injuries in disbelief, then at Li Ye. His voice trembled as he asked, “Li Ye, what is this?”

“This,” Li Ye said with a smirk, “is what they call spiritual energy.”

He turned to Liu Guangsheng and the others. “Carry our new teammate’s companions back to the cave. Someone explain to Shi Xiang the legend of Li Ye.”