No Compromise

If anyone else had said something like that, Tony would have assumed they were crazy and ignored them completely. But when the person saying it had once blown up the Earth, he could not dismiss it as mere nonsense.

"Whenever the master has trouble, the disciple should shoulder the burden. If something like this happens again, just give me a call, Master. It would be better if I handled it."

"You? Can you really handle it?"

"Master, you’re underestimating your disciple. I’m the chairman of Stark Industries, after all, and I have plenty of connections and resources. In the end, every problem is just a matter of exchanging interests. It’s not that I don’t know how to use such methods; I just used to disdain doing so."

Zhan Liu shook his head and said to his hopeless disciple, "Tony, you’ve completely misunderstood!"

"Why are those people making trouble for me? Because my abilities are too powerful, yet outside their control. To people with a strong desire to control power, I’m an uncontrollable existence."

"What they need is a loyal dog as obedient as Captain America, not an independent individual outside their sphere of authority."

"You want to exchange interests with them? What could you possibly offer?"

"Let me tell you, in the supernatural world, nothing Stark Industries has is useful. Whether it’s money or weapons, everything can be replaced. The only irreplaceable thing is a superhuman."

"The only thing you can use for exchange is yourself! You’re also a Magnetic Field Rotation Adept. That’s the only thing you have to offer."

"Then they’ll be able to order you around, sending you here today and there tomorrow, like a firefighter rushing everywhere without rest. Just like Captain America during World War II, they’ll use you to death, sending you wherever the danger is."

After saying this, Zhan Liu looked at Tony and asked seriously, "Is that the life you want?"

Only then did Tony realize how naive he had been, and he fell silent. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the greed of those bloodsuckers; he simply hadn’t thought of it in time.

Now that Zhan Liu had reminded him, he immediately understood, and he even thought more deeply than Zhan Liu had. He had seen too many similar things since childhood.

Keeping everything under one’s control, and destroying anything that could not be obtained, was the instinct of creatures driven by power.

Zhan Liu continued, "Tony, you’re my disciple. I don’t want you to become someone else’s tool, acting like an idiot over some trivial matters."

"If you have time to waste your energy on these petty issues, you might as well spend it considering how to improve your own cultivation or enhance your Strong Magnetic Armor."

"Once you compromise for the first time, there will be countless more times."

"Why should we be the ones to back down first whenever the two sides come into conflict?"

"The weak yielding to the strong is a universally acknowledged law of the cosmos. How did things get reversed here on Earth?"

"Seek peace through war, and peace will endure. Seek peace through compromise, and peace will perish."

"So, Tony, if you run into something like this again, don’t think about compromise, backing down, or exchanging interests. Just chop off their claws! Let’s see who still dares to act arrogant!"

"You have to be bold when handling things. Go as big as you can. Establish your authority once, and you’ll have peace for decades."

"If you annoy me enough, I’ll go wipe out their base!"

"Even if the Earth gets blown up, we can always go live in another Cosmic Empire. As long as you’re strong enough, you’ll be welcome anywhere."

Tony’s face darkened. He was speechless at this master of his who seemed determined to throw the world into chaos.

"Master, it’s easy for you to say that when you’re not the one suffering. You have no family or friends and stand alone, so you can act without restraint. But I can’t!"

"I have a family and a business. And they’re both huge. I really can’t do something like that!"

Zhan Liu raised an eyebrow and scolded him:

"Useless! When the old is gone, the new will come. What use is that lousy company of yours? Once you’ve intimidated the world, countless factions will naturally be willing to join you. By then, what kind of company couldn’t you have?"

Tony immediately took offense and retorted, "Do you think I care about the company? If I want one, I can build another at any time. But what about the people who die? Am I supposed to ask the Sorcerer Supreme to resurrect them?"

Zhan Liu suddenly understood and laughed. "So that’s what you meant! Easy. Just have Pepper come here and become my disciple too. You’ll be fellow disciples, and then you can get married."

Tony ignored Zhan Liu’s strange laughter and protested loudly, "Who said I was talking about Pepper? I was talking about Obadiah. He’s an old man. What would he be doing practicing martial arts?"

"That’s not right. Look at that old man over there. He must be over sixty. He’s a homeless man here, the kind who wants to join the school to receive an allowance. He’s definitely not as well-preserved as Obadiah. If he can practice martial arts, why can’t Obadiah?"

Zhan Liu pointed outside the door. Tony turned his head and saw a Chinese old man in the courtyard, his hair half white and his back hunched. His clothes were a mess, and he was dressed like a textbook homeless man as he worked hard at his cultivation.

"He’s only here to get by for three months. How could he possibly become an initiate?"

"Heh, that’s hard to say. Under the accelerating effects of Magnetic Field Rotation, all weaknesses will be made up for. Age, physical disability, bone structure, and aptitude all become unimportant. The only thing that matters is willpower." Zhan Liu smiled meaningfully.

"Ever since he came here, he’s slept near the entrance every night. He has practiced every day without fail, regardless of wind or rain. And most importantly, he’s never attended any of those assorted parties you throw."

"It’s hard to say whether he can achieve Electromagnetic Rotation, but as for Current Drive, he has a great chance. He might very well become your third junior disciple."

"What? That wretched old man?"

Tony was shocked. He could accept having a superfan like Peter as his junior disciple, but he found it incredibly difficult to accept a homeless old man.

"Obadiah’s physical condition can’t possibly be worse than his, right?"

Tony hesitated. "Obadiah’s physical condition isn’t a problem. He’s always paid close attention to his health. But Obadiah is busy with business and can’t possibly devote himself to martial arts like that."

"The opportunity has been given to him. Whether he can seize it is up to him. I have no objections." Zhan Liu spoke indifferently.

"Then, Master, how about extending the assessment period?" Tony pleaded shamelessly.

"No. Not a chance. The rules are set and cannot be changed." Zhan Liu refused flatly.

If it had been someone like Captain America, a protagonist-level character, Zhan Liu might have made an exception. But for a minor villain like Obadiah, there was no need to show him any consideration.