Chapter 20: The End of the Black Market and the Convergence of Space (A Battle to the Death)

The light of dawn filtered through the mountains and forests, bringing a chilly morning air.

Traces of last night's battle still lingered in the woods—broken branches, swirling mud, and scattered leaves silently testified to the fierce life-or-death struggle.

Chen Ye crouched in the clearing, his grip on the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle still tight, sweat and dust mingling on his face.

His sister, Chen Xue, stood before him, her fingers lightly touching the ground. Her contractual power fluctuated slightly, but her breathing and will were already highly stable.

The three brothers surrounded him, their eyes alert, but their faces showed obvious exhaustion and relief.

In the distance, the remnants of the black market forces slowly retreated back to the road.

The leader, his face grim, gripped his hunting rifle tightly and shouted one last time in a cold voice, "Chen Ye... you're lucky today. The power of space and the contract didn't kill you... but next time, we'll be back!"

Chen Ye gripped his rifle, his gaze resolute, and slowly raised his head: "Xue, brothers, this time, we protected our home, and we protected this forest."

The air trembled slightly, and the spatial boundary slowly contracted.

System notifications appeared:

[Spatial Stable]

[Contract Power Completely Synchronized with Host's Will]

[System Intervention: Released]

[Warning: Power Still Requires Caution]

Chen Ye felt the return of the domain and contract power, gently falling into his control like a tide.

His sister exhaled softly, her fingers lifting from the ground. Whirlwinds and branches slowly fell, and the forest returned to calm.

Father Chen Jianguo emerged from the house, hunting knife in hand, his gaze sweeping across the woods. "Very good, you did it." Chen Ye stepped forward and grasped his father's hand. "Dad, Xueye... has mastered the power."

Father nodded, his gaze softening. "Remember, no matter how strong the power, it's just a tool. Protecting family, controlling the rhythm—that's what's most important."

His sister quietly approached Chen Ye, smiling gently. "Brother, I'll remember. Power isn't for fighting, it's for protecting everyone."

Chen Ye watched the leaves swirling in the woods and said softly, "From today onward, we are not only family, but also hunters protecting this space."

The black market forces had completely retreated, leaving only the sound of the wind and the occasional rustling of leaves in the woods.

The space stabilized, the contract power ceased its rampage, and the system entered a silent state, as if acknowledging the host's will.

Chen Ye, his sister, and the three brothers stood shoulder to shoulder in the woods, weary yet resolute.

The wind blew through the locust trees, the leaves swaying, as if paying tribute to this life-or-death battle.

The distant mountains appeared serene and vast in the morning light. They knew—the real battle might not end, but at this moment, they had won.

In the forest, space returned to balance, and the power of the contract was completely under the control of their will.

Chen Ye gripped his hunting rifle, his gaze fixed on the distance: "Family, friends, space… we will protect them, no matter how many challenges lie ahead."