Chapter 32

The moment The Wanderer phased through the thick porthole and stepped into Temple-One's command room, the atmosphere shifted.

There was no sound, no breach alarm—as if the ship itself had accepted his presence.

Lin Fan watched the old man float forward, his golden form flickering slightly, like a candle in the wind.

'So, he's not just some random Psionic energy user.' Lin Fan thought, tilting his head slightly. 'He's… something else.'

This ability—phasing through solid matter—was rare. The only one he could recall using it so effortlessly was Kitty Pryde of the X-Men.

And now, here it was again.

Before Lin Fan could react, Ebony Maw stepped forward, his voice sharp with indignation.

"You dare approach His Highness so casually? Such disrespect will not go unpunished!"

Lin Fan barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "Relax," he muttered. "Don't get all dramatic just yet."

But Ebony Maw wasn't one to stand down. Psionic force surged around him as he prepared to crush The Wanderer where he stood.

Lin Fan remained seated, merely observing. Would the attack even work?

The answer came instantly.

The wave of telekinetic force passed straight through The Wanderer—like wind through an empty hallway.

Ebony Maw stiffened. "Impossible."

The Wanderer's lips curled into a faint smile. "You cannot restrain what does not exist in your plane of reality."

Then, before anyone could react—Supergiant stepped forward.

Her white cloak billowed as she pressed her fingers to her temples, eyes glowing with raw Psionic energy.

BOOM!

A surge of mental force blasted outward, forming a visible ripple in the air.

This time, The Wanderer's expression changed.

His golden form flickered. For the first time since he appeared, there was a reaction.

Then, something glowed in his palm—a small, brilliant gem pulsing with golden light.

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed.

'The Mind Stone.'

The moment the stone gleamed, Supergiant's attack—her massive Psionic energy wave—was instantly absorbed.

The energy vanished into the Mind Stone like water into a bottomless well.

Supergiant gasped. A sharp pain lanced through her skull as she stumbled backward, coughing blood.

The Wanderer sighed. "A strong will. But still not enough."

Lin Fan exhaled through his nose. Alright, now he was interested.

"So, the Mind Stone, huh?" he mused from his throne.

The Wanderer's golden eyes locked onto him. "That's right." He took another step forward. "I did not come here for conflict, Anomaly. I came to make a trade."

Lin Fan raised a brow. "A trade?"

A cosmic artifact of limitless power… up for sale? That didn't make sense.

"Who in their right mind trades away an Infinity Stone?" Lin Fan leaned forward, resting his elbow on the armrest.

Unless...

Unless they wanted something even greater.

The Wanderer remained silent, standing just a few feet from Lin Fan now. His gaze was unreadable, but there was something off about him.

For the first time, there was hesitation.

It lasted only a second.

Then, a sharp gleam flickered in the Wanderer's golden eyes.

And suddenly, everything changed.

A blinding light erupted from his pupils—two burning rays of pure Psionic energy—aiming directly at Lin Fan's forehead.

At the same time, the Mind Stone flared, transforming into a miniature sun of golden light.

The Wanderer's lips curled into a sneer.

"What I truly want… is your body!"

The sheer force of his attack thundered through the command room, rattling the walls.

Lin Fan didn't move.

Because in that instant, he understood.

The Wanderer had never intended to trade.

He had spent centuries searching for the perfect host—a body strong enough to contain his existence.

And the moment he saw Lin Fan, he knew.

This was the one.

The ultimate vessel.

Now, he was making his move.

Lin Fan's lips curled into a slow smirk.

"Oh, you sneaky bastard."

Then he moved.

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