I Created a Containment Object at the Start, and Became a God

18: Trade! Combat skills and awareness!Zhao Tieshan suddenly turned around.

Standing at the alley entrance was a white-haired youth in casual clothes, who looked to be only eighteen or nineteen, quietly observing Zhao Tieshan.

This was precisely Lin Zhi—except his current appearance was completely different from before.

This was the ”Thousand Faces” ability Lin Zhi created using the power of the Kobold UMA, plus twenty containment points.

Although its combat power was almost zero, its advantage lay in the ability to change appearance at will—there was no need to devour a target like a Kobold; a perfect disguise could be achieved with a single thought.

This ability cost him quite a few points, but considering its powerful concealment, the investment was definitely worth it.

Zhao Tieshan glanced at the ”youth,” thinking he was just a passerby, and was about to turn and leave without speaking.

”Don’t you want to solve all the troubles you’re facing right now?”

Lin Zhi’s clear, cold voice made Zhao Tieshan freeze. He whirled around, warily staring at the seemingly harmless ”youth.”

”What do you mean?” Zhao Tieshan narrowed his eyes.

Lin Zhi smiled slightly and slowly walked closer.

As he walked, his young face began to change eerily—his features gradually matured, his white hair turned black, and his height increased by several inches.

In just a few steps, he had transformed from a callow youth into the appearance of a mature man around thirty years old.

Zhao Tieshan’s pupils suddenly constricted, and his intoxication instantly vanished.

He took a step back to widen the distance, his body instinctively entering a combat stance, his right hand already reaching for the military knife at his waist.

Even after retiring, he always carried a military knife, as it was the only way he felt safe.

”You... are not human.” His voice was low, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Years of military service had made him privy to many secrets unknown to ordinary people—that unknown life forms called UMAs truly existed.

Fifteen years ago on the Southeast Asia battlefield, he had personally witnessed the horrific slaughter of an entire reorganized company of the Southeast Federation by some non-human entity.

Those scenes still replayed in his nightmares to this day.

”Good reaction.” Lin Zhi observed Zhao Tieshan’s combat stance with interest. ”It seems you know more than the average person.”

Zhao Tieshan stared intently at every subtle movement Lin Zhi made, his heart pounding like a drum.

He clearly remembered the battlefield reports from back then—even the weakest UMAs could tear open armored vehicles with their bare hands; his military knife was no different from a toy in front of them.

”Relax.” Lin Zhi suddenly reverted to his original white-haired youth appearance and raised his hands to show he had no hostile intent.

Zhao Tieshan did not drop his guard, but his mind began racing.

Since the opponent could change forms at will, their strength must far exceed that of an ordinary UMA. Fighting head-on was hopeless, and running away was probably too late...”What exactly do you want?” he asked in a deep voice, his military knife already half an inch out of its sheath.

Lin Zhi tilted his head and showed an innocent smile—this expression looked especially eerie on the face of a ”youth” who had just demonstrated non-human abilities.

”I already told you, I’m here to help you solve your troubles.”

Lin Zhi reverted to the appearance of the white-haired youth and casually scanned the flickering surveillance cameras around them.

”These cameras are a bit bothersome.” He waved his hand carelessly, and all the surveillance equipment in the alley simultaneously burst into sparks. ”Come with me, if you truly need money.”

Zhao Tieshan loosened his grip on the military knife.

He genuinely needed money right now—the company’s debt, his parents’ retirement home, his wife and daughter’s living expenses; every single one was a heavy burden on his heart.

Moreover, if this non-human entity truly meant him harm, there would be no need to go to the trouble of changing locations...”Fine.” He responded in a deep voice, sheathing his knife and following Lin Zhi.

The two entered an abandoned warehouse deep inside the alley, one following the other.

Moonlight streamed in diagonally from the broken window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Lin Zhi casually sat down on a dilapidated chair, crossing his legs, his posture as lazy as an ordinary youth’s.

Zhao Tieshan didn’t waste words; he got straight to the point: ”You said you could give me money?”

Lin Zhi nodded lightly, his fingers tapping a strange rhythm on the back of the chair. ”Enough money for you to pay off all your debts and allow your family to live a comfortable life.”

”What price do I have to pay?” Zhao Tieshan crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. He knew all too well that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially not ”goodwill” coming from a non-human entity.

Lin Zhi’s lips curved slightly: ”It’s easy talking to smart people.”

He lightly snapped his fingers, and a bulging black duffel bag appeared out of thin air on the ground between them.

Zhao Tieshan’s pupils suddenly contracted—this supernatural phenomenon once again confirmed that the ”youth” before him was definitely not human.

He cautiously glanced at Lin Zhi, who made a ”please” gesture.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Tieshan squatted down and pulled open the duffel bag’s zipper.

Bundles of five-hundred-yuan denomination long coin were neatly stacked inside, emitting the fresh scent of ink. He casually pulled out a few bundles; they were all real banknotes.

”About eight million.” Zhao Tieshan looked up after a rough estimate. ”What do you need me to do?” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. ”I don’t have anything worth this much.”

Lin Zhi leaned back on the broken chair, the moonlight plating his silvery white hair with a cold sheen. ”Some things are priceless,” he said meaningfully.

Zhao Tieshan frowned: ”What things?”

”Your combat skills and awareness—” Lin Zhi’s voice suddenly became ethereal, ”including muscle memory, tactical intuition, and even...” His dark golden pupils contracted slightly, ”your numbness to death.”

The temperature in the warehouse seemed to drop abruptly.

Zhao Tieshan felt a chill creep up his spine.

Memories of the battlefield ten years ago surged like a tide—the roar of cannons, the screams of comrades, the sticky sensation of blood soaking his boots... Zhao Tieshan stared at Lin Zhi in shock, his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbing.

This method of reading memories out of thin air and materializing combat data completely exceeded his understanding of UMAs. Surely, only a god could do this.

”What exactly... are you?” His voice trembled slightly, and his clenched fists shook faintly.

Lin Zhi’s lips curved slightly, and his dark golden pupils shimmered with a starlike luster: ”As you think.”

His voice suddenly took on a rhythm that transcended human language; every syllable seemed to stir invisible ripples in the air.

Zhao Tieshan felt a wave of dizziness as those battlefield memories were pulled by some force, becoming increasingly vivid in his mind.

He saw himself crawling through the rainforest, felt the searing heat of a bullet grazing his cheek, and even smelled the mixture of gunpowder and blood...”Please make your choice.” Lin Zhi’s voice pulled him back to reality. ”Time is running out.”

Zhao Tieshan took a deep breath.

Yes, what he needed most right now was money.

The company’s debt, his parents’ retirement home, his daughter’s tuition... As for those combat skills? Since retiring, they truly had no practical use, apart from occasionally teaching a few hoodlums a lesson.

”I’ll sell.” he said in a deep voice, his tone so firm it even surprised himself...